LF Chapter 47
by VolareThe Lantern Festival arrived, a full moon hung high in the azure sky, with twinkling stars dotting the celestial canvas.
The small city’s liveliness faded quickly, and the two returned to the manor in just over an hour. Stepping out of the carriage and walking into the courtyard, Yan Wanzhi kept her hands outstretched, rubbing them frequently as they grew cold.
With the personal guards following behind, Jiang Yinghua couldn’t show too much concern. She had no choice but to say, “It’s freezing today. Everyone, there’s no need to stand on ceremony; you don’t have warm stoves like I do. Walk briskly and hurry back inside.”
Everyone obeyed, gave brief farewells, and quickly disappeared. Yan Wanzhi followed her foolishly, bringing her hands close to her mouth, warming them with her breath.
Jiang Yinghua chuckled, “Scholar Yan has been exhausted for most of the day. Go back to sleep quickly; I don’t want to see an ice sculpture when I wake up tomorrow.”
Yan Wanzhi had no choice but to bid farewell. Jiang Yinghua watched her jogging figure disappear into the distance before leading her maids into her own bedchamber.
This year, the weather was particularly cold, and the snowfall was more frequent than in previous years. However, Jiang Yinghua had asked the officials who understood farming, and they said that although the weather was cold, the timely snow was a sign of a bountiful year. That was the best news. The common people depended on the heavens for their livelihoods. The season suitable for cultivation in the northern lands was already short, and if the climate was unfavorable, the annual food supply would be uncertain.
After the Lantern Festival, the year’s rest came to an end. The government’s holiday ended, and they began to manage the affairs of the new year. Following the old practice, Yan Wanzhi blocked many of the ceremonial visits and invitations for Jiang Yinghua, while Jiang Yinghua, as usual, hid away in the warm pavilion to enjoy some peace and quiet.
On the nineteenth day of the first month, a capital official came to the manor, stubbornly requesting to see Prince Zhao, not even giving Yan Wanzhi, the Imperial Scribe, any face. The steward had no choice but to bite the bullet and go to invite her. Jiang Yinghua, filled with anger, went to the front hall with a stern face, determined to see who had such prestige that they dared to act wildly in her manor.
When she entered with swift steps, the previous dignified solemnity was swept away. She saw the person, stunned for a moment, as if she couldn’t believe it. After a moment of hesitation, she tentatively said, “Little Uncle, is that you?”
The man laughed loudly and bowed slightly. “Your Highness Prince Zhao, long time no see. The little rascal from the past has actually become a graceful lady, eh?”
“Please sit down. Why didn’t you send a message before coming? Your nephew has been impolite. When did Little Uncle return from Shu Prefecture? I imagine you came here after returning to the capital?” Jiang Yinghua stepped forward quickly, gave a graceful salute, and warmly greeted the man to reminisce about the old days.
The visitor was Jiang Yinghua’s uncle, Jiang Huaijin, the King of Jialing, the youngest brother of the late Emperor. This person was only three years older than Your Majesty and had devoted himself to the mountains and fields since childhood. He was physically weak and entered a Taoist temple in Shu Prefecture, living a carefree and leisurely life of a country immortal, rarely returning to the capital. Jiang Yinghua probably hadn’t seen him for more than ten years.
“You’re such a clever devil. I came from the capital to deliver a message to you from Your Majesty and to see you in passing.” King Jialing said, taking out a wax-sealed letter from his bosom and handing it to Jiang Yinghua. “You should prepare yourself; you’ll be busy. I’m going to travel to the Xing’an Mountains in the east, so I won’t bother you at your manor. We’ll meet again when fate allows.”
Jiang Yinghua took the letter, not in a hurry to open it. Seeing that the person was leaving after completing his errand, looking like a living immortal who didn’t care for worldly matters, Jiang Yinghua really didn’t know what to do.
She hurriedly got up and took two quick steps to block him. “Uncle, you came in such a hurry. It’s already a sin that Hua’er couldn’t greet you properly. I can’t bear to let you leave like this. You are an enlightened master, so please don’t bother with a worldly person like me. Stay for a simple meal before leaving.”
“Haha, you’re an interesting girl. Very well, I’ll eat with you once to fill my stomach before hitting the road. But let’s get this straight, you can’t stop me again.” King Jialing’s expression remained calm and detached, as if he didn’t yearn for the luxury of the royal manor or the bonds of kinship.
“Of course, Hua’er is far from reaching Uncle’s pursuits, so I wouldn’t dare disturb your cultivation.” Jiang Yinghua’s face was full of smiles, but her heart was somewhat bitter. Among the imperial offspring, few could live as freely and happily as he did, even according to countless history books.
The people in the manor busied themselves for half the day, and no one dared to neglect this royal uncle. Jiang Yinghua personally accompanied and served him, treating him well until he left. Yan Wanzhi was deeply surprised; she had accompanied Your Majesty for many years, yet she had never known there was such a person so closely related to Your Majesty and Jiang Yinghua by blood.
After seeing off the distinguished guest, Jiang Yinghua went alone to the study, opened Your Majesty’s personal letter, and read it carefully. Her expression gradually became serious, and her brows furrowed slightly. After reading, she waved and summoned a maid, “Go and ask Imperial Scribe to come over immediately.”
A moment later, Yan Wanzhi hurriedly entered the hall. Jiang Yinghua dismissed all the attendants, leaving only Yan Wanzhi in the hall. She beckoned her to sit with her and handed Your Majesty’s handwritten letter to Yan Wanzhi, “Did Your Majesty mention this news to you?”
Yan Wanzhi quickly read through it, and suddenly shook her head. “No. Your Majesty has never personally toured since ascending the throne. This is the first time, and she’s coming to the north. We’ll be very busy. You must make proper arrangements with the Zhenwei Army, Your Highness.”
“Why do you think Eldest Sister chose the northern route? If it’s an inspection, there should be a key issue. I’ve been stationed here for years without any major incidents, and the border defense is considered stable. Imperial tours are costly, so it can’t be a whim. Does Scholar Yan have any ideas?” Jiang Yinghua frowned deeply, unable to understand Your Majesty’s intentions in coming here.
Yan Wanzhi stroked the patterns on her cuffs, pondering for a long time. “The key points of the northern border are the national gate and military preparedness. If we talk about importance, then it’s reasonable. Your Majesty acts with propriety, so Your Highness doesn’t need to worry. Besides, Your Majesty can’t find your precious younger sister anywhere else, can she? Maybe she’s coming for you.” Yan Wanzhi initially spoke seriously, but as she spoke, her words turned into teasing.
“The situation is urgent, and you’re still in the mood to joke. Hurry up and get everything in order in your jurisdiction. Warn those who need to be warned, and prepare what needs to be prepared. Stop giggling like an idiot and get to work!” Jiang Yinghua pretended to be annoyed and sent her away. She herself clutched the letter in her hand, furrowing her brow in thought.
That night, at midnight, Jiang Yinghua stood by the window. When a dark figure floated in, Jiang Yinghua said coldly, “Have people secretly monitor King Jialing. I want to know every move he makes. Also, you must all hide in half a month and stop moving until I give the order.”
The dark figure bowed, “Master, are we still monitoring the Imperial Scribe?”
Jiang Yinghua raised her eyelids and glared at him, “Ask again, and you’ll be slapped. Do you only know my rules today? Step back!”
The black-clothed man didn’t dare to say more and retreated in response. Jiang Yinghua seemed extremely tired, and her lonely figure standing by the window showed a hint of desolation.
A month later, the Emperor’s ceremonial procession slowly headed north from the capital, followed by civil and military officials, with gongs clearing the way and banners waving. The procession stretched for dozens of miles, a grand and magnificent sight.
The Emperor’s tour was a great blessing, and wherever the procession went, the local officials were eager to use all their means to treat them properly. These people racked their brains, searched for rare treasures and auspicious signs, and talented and extraordinary people, hoping to gain the Emperor’s favor and rise to prominence in one step. Therefore, after another month and a half, Your Majesty’s procession slowly entered Jiang Yinghua’s territory.
Jiang Yinghua received the news early and dared not take it lightly. She rehearsed all the procedures several times and tidied up her manor to be neat and new, serving as the Emperor’s temporary palace.
When Your Majesty’s carriages arrived, the silence was broken by the sounds of whips and water was splashed on the streets. Jiang Yinghua, along with the important officials from the state and military, wearing formal court attire, went sixty miles outside the city to welcome them.
The spring breeze was gentle, and the orioles sang sweetly in the forest. The morning mist slowly dissipated, and the first ray of dawn passed through the trees, with brilliant light illuminating the green grass of the countryside.
The Emperor’s imperial carriage vaguely emerged from the official road in the distance, like moving beans, looming in the shadows. There were no less than a hundred officials in the fief, and at this moment, they stood solemnly, as if the world only contained fragrant grass and the songs of orioles, with no messy sounds to be heard. From this scene, one could see how much effort Jiang Yinghua had put into this.
But today, Yan Wanzhi was not standing by her side. According to the official rank, there were still third-rank officials here, so Yan Wanzhi had to retreat behind them. It didn’t matter; as long as they were standing together like this, with her in her eyes and her behind her, their hearts would be at peace.
The flags came into view, and the ceremonial guard was magnificent. Jiang Yinghua looked as far as she could, and when the imperial carriage was less than fifty meters away, she waved her hand to signal and led the officials behind her to pay their respects. In an instant, the sound of mountain shouts shook the sky.
Such orderliness was rare. Jiang Yinghua didn’t imitate the other local officials, doing fancy and superficial things, but instead followed the rules and etiquette, welcoming them with the utmost respect.
Of course, Yan Wanzhi’s private reminders were indispensable for this idea. Having accompanied the Emperor for many years, Your Majesty deeply hated the hypocrisy of local bureaucrats, but this had always been the case throughout the dynasties, and there was nothing to say. If Jiang Yinghua followed suit, Your Majesty might be dissatisfied.
Therefore, when Your Majesty approached, inside the wide carriage, she heard no distracting music, only the shouts of the officials. For a moment, she was surprised, and a hint of satisfaction flashed imperceptibly in her eyes.
“Stop the carriage, summon Prince Zhao inside.” A majestic voice came from inside the carriage, and the old eunuch hurried forward, almost jogging to find Jiang Yinghua. When he reached her, the carriages had already slowly stopped. The old eunuch bowed and respectfully helped Jiang Yinghua up from the ground, “Your Highness, Your Majesty invites you.”
Jiang Yinghua quickly entered the carriage and gave another long bow, “Your Majesty, your subject respectfully wishes Your Majesty good health.”
“Come in.” A simple sentence was spoken, and Jiang Yinghua immediately stepped onto the tall carriage, lowered her eyes, and bowed, “Eldest Sister.”
“You’re sensible now, sit down.” Your Majesty was wearing the crown and robes of the Emperor, looking dignified and upright, but only the person wearing them knew how difficult the weight was, making it impossible to move.
Your Majesty came north on tour and would naturally stay at Prince Zhao’s official residence. Seeing that no one had any instructions, the guards went straight to the residence.
Jiang Yinghua sat down as instructed, and Your Majesty closed her eyes to rest, seeming quite tired. Jiang Yinghua didn’t speak, and the two were unusually quiet inside the carriage. Since there was nothing to order, specifically ordering her to come in, Your Majesty was giving her face.
Since receiving the news yesterday afternoon, Jiang Yinghua had been checking the patrols all night, fearing that there would be the slightest oversight. Before dawn, a group of people had set off to meet her, and at this time, if it weren’t for the makeup covering her, Jiang Yinghua’s eyes would have already been dark, and even her head was dizzy, but she was just putting on a brave face.
Jiang Yinghua lowered her head and emptied her mind, not letting go of even a moment of leisure, trying to alleviate the fatigue caused by the days of toil.
“You’re more tired than I am, even though I’ve been on tour for a long time.” Your Majesty, who didn’t know when she had opened her eyes, glanced at Jiang Yinghua’s tired face and saw her sitting there foolishly dozing off.
Jiang Yinghua’s head buzzed, and she quickly raised her eyes and said softly, “Your Majesty, forgive me, I was rude.”
“You built a Buddhist temple under the guise of Mother, is it completed now?” Your Majesty looked at her with a faint gaze and a calm tone, and raised her hand and tapped the tea table in front of her.
Jiang Yinghua understood and stepped forward to pour a cup of hot tea for her, “It was just completed at the beginning of the month. Would Eldest Sister be willing to honor it with a visit?”
“Hmm, you make arrangements. Tomorrow at Chen time, I want to see what you’ve been up to.” Your Majesty took the teacup, took a sip, and pointed to the Zisha teapot next to her, “Drink the rest, or the Censorate will not spare you if you doze off again.”
Jiang Yinghua lowered her eyes and smiled softly, and replied in the affirmative. Jiang Yinghua had obtained the list of accompanying ministers. The Censor-in-chief had already been replaced, and she didn’t know where the Lou family had been sent by Your Majesty in these two years. Yan Wanzhi had not mentioned this change to her.
While drinking tea, Jiang Yinghua lowered her eyes and pondered the key points. Your Majesty saw through her little thoughts at a glance and said in a deep voice, “Lou Shan is dead, no need to think about it.”
The hand of Jiang Yinghua holding the teacup involuntarily paused. Although she did not show any abnormality on her face, she had already beaten a drum in her heart.
“It wasn’t I who killed him, what are you thinking? The Marquis of Xiangling’s family did it. I posthumously granted him the title of Grand Master of Light, are you satisfied?” Your Majesty snorted coldly, glancing at Jiang Yinghua as if dissatisfied.
“Eldest Sister, I didn’t think anything, it’s, it’s you who overthought. My uncle always cherished his reputation the most. He should be able to rest in peace with a smile, Your Majesty has compassion for your subjects, it is naturally a good story in the court.” Jiang Yinghua put down the teacup, and then selected a can of tea, using a golden spoon to scoop out some into the mortar, grinding it very carefully.
In short, she made sure she had something to do in her own right, so she didn’t have to be stared at and thought about by that person.
Your Majesty had no intention of arguing with her, and closed her eyes to rest again. Half an hour later, the carriage slowed down, and Jiang Yinghua’s official residence was close at hand.
Looking out from the curtain of the carriage, Jiang Yinghua saw Yan Wanzhi and others lined up in front, waiting for Your Majesty to get out of the car. Jiang Yinghua was somewhat relieved. No one in the Wangfu was causing trouble or losing face for her, thanks to Yan Wanzhi’s careful teaching.
Jiang Yinghua flashed out of the carriage and reached out to help Your Majesty. Your Majesty stood on the tall carriage, glanced at the mansion, and stepped out of the car, “I built this mansion for you with my private treasury. I haven’t seen it yet, take me for a walk?”
“Yes, I obey.” Jiang Yinghua carefully supported Your Majesty into the mansion and went straight to the main hall. Jiang Yinghua had given up her palace for Your Majesty’s arrival, and the main hall had already been cleaned up according to Your Majesty’s preferences.