Spring Remains the Same - Chapter 78

Dim yellow palace lanterns shone idly, and the ceremonial canopy was silent and still.

Puyang moved with light steps, walking toward Wei Xiu.

She was still dressed in a wide, dark robe, her hair fastened with a jade coronet and a fragrant tassel hanging from her waist. There was nothing extravagant about her, yet she always possessed an air of elegance, as if born with it. With a mere raise of her eyebrow or a tilt of her head, she radiated endless brilliance.

Puyang’s eyes were filled with unexpected joy. As she drew near, she gazed intently at Wei Xiu, as if trying to make up for the longing of the nearly a month they had been apart, and also to confirm that she had been well recently. A smile touched Wei Xiu’s lips as she allowed her to look.

The night had deepened. From across the city wards, the clamor from Vermilion Bird Avenue could be faintly heard. The festive celebration of the Lantern Festival steeped the vast night, making this night seem different from any other.

A beautiful time, a beautiful scene, a companion as lovely as a flower—it gave rise to endless joy.

The two finally returned to their senses and bowed to each other according to etiquette. Puyang then stepped forward, taking over from the servant to push Wei Xiu’s wheelchair, and asked softly, “Sir, why have you come?”

“I had nothing to do this evening, and hearing it was the Lantern Festival, I came out for a walk,” Wei Xiu replied. She looked straight ahead, but she could feel the sense of peace that came from having the princess standing behind her.

“Was the palace banquet enjoyable?” she asked again.

Puyang lowered her head to look at the hair at the back of Wei Xiu’s head. The strands were soft and black, impeccably combed and fastened with a jade coronet. This was the coronet she had gifted her last time. Seeing it now, a soft spot in her heart was touched, and tenderness filled Puyang’s eyes. With Wei Xiu by her side, she felt the same sense of peace.

“It was the same as in previous years. First, a sacrifice to the Grand Monad, then a banquet by the Taiye Pool. Palace banquets are always so formal and restrained,” the princess recounted slowly.

Qin Kun, who was waiting nearby, heard this and couldn’t help but smile to himself. At next year’s Lantern Festival banquet, the princess and Sir Wei would attend together. And by next year, “Sir” would have to be changed to “Prince Consort.” He looked up at the sky, then stepped forward with a smile and said, “It is still early, and the festivities in the city are just beginning. Your Highness and Sir, why not go for a stroll and enjoy the celebrations with the common people?”

The customs of the Great Wei were open-minded, and their status was already decided. If they were to stroll together now, even if people found out, no one would say anything, at most teasing them for their youthful romance.

But who has never been young?

Puyang stopped and looked at Wei Xiu. Wei Xiu turned her head and saw that Puyang’s eyes were full of interest. She smiled slightly and said, “I will wait here. Your Highness should go and change out of your formal attire.”

Joy instantly colored Puyang’s features. To Wei Xiu’s eyes, it was a picturesque moment, timeless and long.

On the night of the Lantern Festival, fireworks burst one after another, falling like scattered rain. Lantern lights and the music of pipes and flutes flickered and drifted melodiously.

They rarely went out together like this. With a simple carriage and a light retinue, taking only a dozen or so attendants, they headed toward the most bustling part of the city.

The crowd gradually grew denser. Magnificent lanterns hung high along the road, filling the streets with brilliant, flowing colors that cast flickering shadows of the people. The folk crafts were naturally not as exquisite as those in the palace or mansions, but they had their own unique charm. Lanterns of various designs—like flower balls, geometric shapes, auspicious knots, or twin fish—hung from the eaves or were carried in the hands of pedestrians, dazzling the eyes.

There were also tunes played on pipes and flutes, drifting from some unknown place, lingering in the air. The clamor of voices was deafening, yet it didn’t feel noisy; instead, one was infected by the festive atmosphere.

The crowd was large, and the attendants followed vigilantly, intentionally or not, keeping the princess and Sir Wei separate from the throng. The lantern light reflected in Puyang’s eyes, making them appear exceptionally bright. She smiled as she took in the sights along the way.

Seeing her happiness, Wei Xiu also grew joyful, a deep smile rippling in her eyes.

Lanterns were an indispensable decoration for the festival. Tonight, everyone carried a lantern, and merchants selling them were everywhere along the streets. Children ran and played in the streets or gathered around the merchants, tilting up their small heads and pointing at the dazzling array of lanterns.

Further ahead, there was a Nuo opera performance.

Nuo opera evolved from the ritual of exorcism. A group of performers wearing masks danced the Nuo dance around a blazing fire, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers. Cheers rose continuously from the crowd. Many commoners also donned masks and danced along with abandon.

Puyang found it interesting and ordered an attendant to buy a mask.

The mask was carved from camphor wood, depicting the face of the Nuo Duke. The Nuo Duke was a gentle and upright deity who could bless people with peace and happiness. Puyang took it and turned around delightedly, only to see Wei Xiu holding a lotus-shaped lantern, smiling at her. When she saw Puyang turn, Wei Xiu offered the lantern to her, a hint of anticipation on her face.

Puyang’s eyes lit up, and she took it without hesitation. She examined it closely, and soon her expression showed that she liked it. Wei Xiu let out an imperceptible sigh of relief, her anticipation turning into happiness, and her face grew slightly warm. Puyang, holding the lantern herself, bent down and placed the mask in her hand onto Wei Xiu’s face. Wei Xiu leaned back slightly but quickly stopped, allowing the mask carved in the likeness of a deity to settle on her face.

Seeing the usually reserved and steady Sir Wei wearing a somewhat playful mask, Puyang couldn’t help but chuckle. Under the waning lantern light, her smile was enchanting. Wei Xiu’s heart burned, and her gaze, fixed on Puyang, was like an entire river in spring—gentle and filled with endless affection.

It was an unforgettable night.

It wasn’t until nearly midnight, when the crowds began to disperse, that they followed the flow of people and returned to their residences.

Puyang carried the lantern herself, not handing it to an attendant. Wei Xiu also held the mask in her hand, glancing at it from time to time.

“Has Sir had sweet dumplings today?” Puyang was still full of spirit.

“I had a bowl during the evening meal,” Wei Xiu replied. “And Your Highness?”

“I was with His Majesty in the palace and had some as well,” Puyang said with a smile.

The Princess’s residence was just ahead. Armored guards stood before the gate, and the palace lanterns hanging under the eaves seemed about to burn out. Walking from the bustling market street into this dark and quiet inner lane, it was as if the splendor had suddenly turned cold and desolate, leaving one feeling disoriented.

Puyang also felt a little ill at ease. She now understood that Sir Wei had come today specifically to stroll through the streets with her. At this thought, Puyang felt even more delighted.

They had arrived at the Princess’s residence. The armored guards at the gate saw the princess and bowed in unison.

Wei Xiu signaled for the servant behind her to stop and looked up at Puyang. Puyang was reluctant to part, but she knew there always came a time for farewells.

The bright moon hid behind dark clouds, and the night wind grew cold. Wei Xiu squeezed Puyang’s hand. Her palm was cool, and Wei Xiu couldn’t help but feel a pang of tenderness. She urged, “It is late. Your Highness should enter the residence and rest early.”

Puyang was still reluctant, but she quickly thought that she only had to endure a few more months before she could be with Sir Wei every day. A considerate tenderness appeared in her eyes. She reached out to straighten Wei Xiu’s collar and said, “Sir, travel safely on your way.”

Though they lived in separate places, their hearts were unknowingly drawing ever closer.

After the Lantern Festival, the visits from friends and relatives dwindled. The Wei residence gradually returned to tranquility and began preparing for the wedding. Wei Xiu personally oversaw the arrangements, and going through them one by one, she noticed a lack of musicians and performers. There would certainly be banquets on those days, and a feast without music would not be fully enjoyable. She dispatched people to procure some skilled musicians and also sent someone to the Music Academy to see if there were any well-rehearsed dancers.

Although her household was small, once a person reached a high position, no detail could be overlooked.

Though the matters were miscellaneous, Wei Xiu’s mind was clear, so arranging them was not too difficult. She even had spare time to look through the reports submitted from below and see what recent news there was at court.

The war between Qi and Song had stopped, using the excuse that with the New Year approaching, it was not appropriate for large-scale slaughter. Since Song had taken the initiative to withdraw its troops, Qi was naturally eager for it and immediately took a step back as well. The Wei army had not even marched south, yet it had easily prevented a war.

This was good, but the internal politics of Qi seemed to be growing unstable. The Emperor of Qi was showing increasing favor to the Prince of Yuzhang while growing more distant from the Crown Prince. Seeing this, the ministers of Qi also gradually drew closer to the Prince of Yuzhang and away from the Crown Prince. If this continued, the Crown Prince of Qi would likely become isolated and without support.

The influence of a ruler on court politics was truly immediate. The Emperor of Qi was indulgent and pleasure-seeking, and the ministers followed his example. The Crown Prince of Qi, in contrast, seemed out of place. Although he had virtuous ministers, it was ultimately of no avail.

The struggle for the position of heir in Wei was even more severe than in Qi. Yet, in the Wei court, the government remained upright. Although the ministers had their allegiances and fought amongst themselves, they did not dare to neglect their duties. This was inseparable from the Emperor’s methods.

In the first month of the year, Taicu, when all things begin to stir, no major events had yet occurred at court. However, the History of Zhou, which had been in compilation for many years, was heard to have been completed before the new year. It could have been promulgated throughout the realm after the new year, but for some unknown reason, the Emperor suddenly issued an edict ordering the Grand Historian’s office to temporarily halt its release. They were first to compile a collection of poems and prose from antiquity to the present. Once that was completed, it would be promulgated together with the History of Zhou.

History books were the final arbiter of justice. How later generations would judge a person depended largely on how they were recorded in the annals of history. All scholars, without exception, valued their posthumous reputation.

For the era of the Zhou dynasty, the History of Zhou compiled by Wei held the most weight. Wei Xiu could not help but attach importance to it. Seeing it suddenly postponed and a new work commissioned, she sensed that there was likely some secret matter involved.

Since it was an imperial edict, it was inextricably linked to the Emperor. However, this was something that could not be inquired about. Interfering with the compilation of history was not a glorious affair; even if something was being done, it would surely be kept secret. The Grand Historian’s office, even more so, would not leak a word.

Wei Xiu couldn’t help but feel some suspicion.

Just as she was thinking, she heard a servant come to report that the Prince of Donghai had come to visit and was now outside the gate.