Spring Remains the Same - Chapter 65

The common people were easily stirred to passion, and just as easily calmed and made to forget. The talk criticizing the new dynasty, sparked by Chen Du’s suicide by pillar, was gradually replaced by praise for Princess Puyang’s virtue. Before the Prince of Runan was even buried, talk concerning him had already become scarce.

Of course, this was partly due to the court’s deliberate efforts, but also because people are naturally forgetful. One new thing followed another, and the new always replaces the old. The title cishi, or Inspector, was also called zhoumu, Provincial Shepherd, meaning to shepherd the people on behalf of the Son of Heaven. That word, “shepherd,” was truly exquisite.

A small disturbance arose in the country—though it couldn’t truly be called a disturbance, as it was quelled in a few days, merely leaving the Emperor resentful and angry—but it provided some entertainment for the Prince of Yuzhang, who was still in Luoyang.

He secretly remarked with sarcasm to his Royal Tutor, “What does it matter if the northern lands are powerful and prosperous? The House of Wei is not the legitimate line.”

The Royal Tutor sighed and said earnestly, “This is another country’s internal affair. Your Highness need not pay it too much mind.” What he was actually thinking was that the foundation of the House of Wei was stable. Now that the last emperor of the House of Zhou was dead, even if the House of Wei was not originally the legitimate line, it wouldn’t be long before it became so.

The Prince of Yuzhang brought this up merely to add to his own prestige. If the House of Wei was not the legitimate line, wouldn’t that make Puyang, a princess of Wei, not so “noble”? He, however, was an imperial prince of the state of Qi, which had already lasted for several generations and had no deficiencies in terms of legitimacy or righteousness. Thus, he was more than worthy of marrying the princess.

He replied nonchalantly, “You are right, Royal Tutor.” After a moment’s thought, he added, “Has the Royal Tutor spoken to the Grand Herald about the marriage proposal? We should hurry them along. The situation in our own country is perilous; we cannot stay here for long.”

The Emperor of Song was volatile; who knew when he might dispatch his troops. If this dragged on any longer, even if they secured good relations with Wei, it would be too late.

The Royal Tutor had been worrying about this matter for the past few days. He had to say, “It would naturally be a good thing to win the princess’s hand, but if the Emperor of Wei is unwilling to form a marriage alliance with our country, we should not force the issue. The alliance itself should be the priority.”

A marriage alliance was, after all, just one means of securing a political alliance.

But the Prince of Yuzhang simply wanted the princess. He frowned, extremely reluctant to give up. The Royal Tutor knew his old habit was acting up again and had no choice but to try and persuade him.

None of this had anything to do with Puyang; the court would naturally handle and reject it.

Wei Xiu was ill, and since there were no major events these past few days, she could recuperate in peace. Puyang often stayed by her side, sometimes learning medicine. With one teaching and the other learning, the two of them were in great harmony.

Wei Xiu’s illness was of the heart, and Puyang’s daily companionship coincidentally became her heart’s remedy. These past few days, she rarely thought of other matters. Her heart was as tranquil as the summer moonlight, and she savored the quiet passage of time.

The differences in pulse conditions were subtle, difficult to distinguish, and hard to memorize. The 【Pulse Studies of the Lakeside Recluse】 was merely an introduction; to master it required diligent study. Puyang sat on the couch, holding a book and concentrating, reading and memorizing as she went. When she came across obscure and difficult passages, she would ask Wei Xiu.

Wei Xiu, for her part, was wrapped in furs by the stove, holding a container of game pieces and studying the Go board set up on the small table.

Outside, snow was falling; inside, fragrant incense smoke curled upwards. It was a rare moment of comfort and peace.

This was the first snow of winter. It came on fiercely, sharp and unstoppable, blanketing the heavens, earth, mountains, and rivers in a silver-white coat. Wei Xiu felt an urge to go out and see it, but Puyang persuaded her to wait until the snow stopped. So the two remained indoors, each amusing themselves.

The Go problem was difficult to solve. Wei Xiu surveyed the entire board and, after some effort, found an opening and broke the position. She dropped the few pieces she held back into the container, and looking up, saw the princess’s focused expression. She smiled, turned her wheelchair, and went to the incense burner to add a spoonful of incense.

This was a plum blossom incense blended according to an ancient formula. Its fragrance was as light and clear as plum blossoms, and it had the effect of calming the mind and spirit. It was Wei Xiu’s favorite.

“Sir.” The princess’s voice came from behind her. Wei Xiu turned her head and saw the princess looking at her.

Their eyes met. The princess smiled, and the entire room seemed to light up, as if illuminating all its shadows. Wei Xiu also curved her lips into a smile. She placed the spoon back on the small table and returned to the princess’s side.

The princess’s gaze rested on her, and as she drew near, her expression softened. The most difficult thing to repay in this world is affection, especially when one has also developed feelings. Then the heart is no longer at ease. Wei Xiu realized that in these past few days, she had rarely thought of other things, nor had she felt the usual weight on her mind. It was as if she had been separated from her past, and was now simply a person in love.

“Sir…” Puyang lowered her head, pointed out an obscure and difficult sentence, and asked Wei Xiu for guidance, “What does this mean?”

Wei Xiu glanced at it and explained it to her in detail. The princess understood immediately. It was probably a gift; she learned everything quickly, was willing to work hard, and thus made great progress.

After understanding, Puyang took her hand, placed her fingertips on her wrist, and listened to her pulse. She rested her fingers lightly on her wrist. Wei Xiu felt a slight tickle, but couldn’t tell if it was on her wrist or in her heart.

After listening for several breaths, Puyang furrowed her brow and said in frustration, “It’s not quite the same as what the book says.”

“How can one follow the book to the letter?” Wei Xiu withdrew her hand, feeling a little reluctant to let go, but her expression remained natural. She comforted her, “The book only provides a summary. In practice, there are many more situations. Your Highness should not be impatient.”

Puyang deeply agreed. She put the book down and walked to the window. She saw that the wind and snow outside had stopped, and in the courtyard, two servants with brooms were each sweeping one side, clearing a path.

Looking up into the distance, the dark clouds in the sky had dispersed. It seemed there would be no more snow today.

“Sir has been in the capital for a long time. Have you ever been out on the streets of Luoyang to see its sights?”

Of course she hadn’t. Wei Xiu’s mind was filled with serious matters; how could she have the leisure for such things? Since the princess had brought it up, she must be interested. Wei Xiu couldn’t bear to disappoint her, so she said, “Does Your Highness wish to go for a walk?”

Puyang stood by the window, smiling at her without speaking. Wei Xiu understood her meaning and said, with a mix of resignation and gentleness, “I will have someone make the arrangements. After lunch, I will accompany Your Highness on a trip to the West Market.”

Wei Xiu’s arrangements were, of course, impeccable. After lunch, the two of them, accompanied by a dozen or so servants, headed out to the streets.

They weren’t in a hurry to go anywhere in particular, just strolling aimlessly. Puyang rarely came out for a leisurely stroll either. She often galloped past on horseback, but she had never stopped to browse and enjoy the sights in detail.

The wind and snow had not made the streets deserted; on the contrary, there were even more people. A few young children with their hair in tufts were chasing each other and playing. They were brightly dressed, clearly from wealthy families. Sure enough, not far away, three or four old servants were watching them, occasionally calling out “Young Master” as they looked after their young charges.

Puyang watched with amusement and said to Wei Xiu, “When I was little, I was just as playful. The Empress Mother assigned several palace attendants to watch me, but they couldn’t keep an eye on me.”

Not expecting her to have been so mischievous as a child, Wei Xiu pictured the scene and felt a sense of contentment. Her smile was as hazy and tranquil as the mountain moon shining on an autumn forest, carrying a gentle night breeze that drew people closer.

Qin Kun, who was accompanying them, saw that both were in high spirits and chimed in with a smile, “Your Highness wasn’t being playful, just curious like any child.” He had served in the Empress’s palace from early on, so he knew a few things. Seeing that Sir Wei was also looking at him, he continued, “Her Highness loved to go to the Chongwen Hall. At that time, all the princes were studying there, and Her Highness liked to sit to the side. One time, the tutor teaching the classics and histories asked the princes about the state of the world and what a king should do. While the princes were still pondering, Her Highness cried out, ‘When Qin lost its deer, the world chased after it.’ Her childish voice echoed in the hall, earning endless praise from the tutor.”

Before the Zhou dynasty was the Qin. The Qin dynasty lasted three hundred years before it fell. Various righteous banners were raised, and the realm disintegrated. In the interim, many feudal lords proclaimed themselves emperor, but it wasn’t until several decades later that the tripartite standoff between Zhou, Qi, and Song was established. However, in the nearly one hundred years since, the realm has never been unified again.

“How old was Her Highness at that time?” Wei Xiu asked.

Qin Kun thought for a moment before replying, “About six or seven.”

To have uttered such astonishing words at six or seven, that tutor probably still remembers it vividly to this day. Wei Xiu sighed inwardly. Perhaps the princess was born to walk this path.

Puyang, however, didn’t remember it and didn’t pay it much mind. Instead, she asked Wei Xiu with great interest, “Sir, were you also this mischievous when you were young?”

Her childhood? Wei Xiu recalled it and felt only endless exhaustion and darkness. Day and night, she was constantly learning—learning medicine, strategy, astronomy, learning everything she would need for the future. There was never enough time; one quarter-hour had to be split into two. After several years of this, she didn’t even know what the chirping of cicadas outside the window sounded like.

For a moment, Wei Xiu was in a daze. Puyang was still waiting to hear if her Sir had also been so innocent and playful as a child. Wei Xiu looked up at her and smiled, “I suppose so. Children are always playful.”

Although she said that, Puyang found it quite difficult to imagine what a playful Sir would look like.

The group walked as they talked. They passed a shop and saw hairpins and rings displayed inside, which looked quite exquisite. The two of them went inside. The shopkeeper hurried forward to greet them. Seeing their attire and overall bearing, he knew they were of no small origin. He attended to them carefully from the side, not daring to be noisy, only speaking up to give an introduction when Puyang picked up a hairpin.

It was a hairpin for a man, made of green jade. Its texture was simple and dignified, its color as green as lake water, and its style was archaic. One end was carved into the head of a phoenix. Puyang was captivated at first sight and held it up to Wei Xiu’s hair to see how it looked.

The shopkeeper opened his mouth, about to address her as “madam,” but then saw that Puyang was not dressed as a married woman. The words on the tip of his tongue were hastily changed: “Only this hairpin is worthy of the young master’s elegant bearing.”

This hairpin was made from fine jade, meticulously carved by a craftsman over several days. It was a superior piece, suitable even as a token of love.

Puyang signaled for Qin Kun to pay, while she herself removed the bronze hairpin from Wei Xiu’s hair and replaced it with this jade one. Wei Xiu turned slightly to accommodate Puyang’s movements. Once it was done, she smiled and asked, “How is it?”

Puyang took a step back and gazed at her intently. After a long moment, she broke into a brilliant smile and said, “Now that you’re wearing my hairpin, Sir, you belong to me.”