Chapter 77

 

Yesterday, the news spread like wildfire and was known to everyone, saying that before today’s military review, the emperor might announce something important.

What on earth was it that had to be announced on such occasion? Even the ordinary soldiers participating in today’s military review were extremely curious, not to mention the princes and nobles and ministers who served in the court all day. The emperor’s temporary change of mind might affect their status and well-being, not to mention that the Palace Office had spread such a rumor.

Last night, after Liu Ceye, Feng Zhenping and others escorted the emperor into Qingrong Palace and left, they did not care about the fatigue of the day’s journey. They either tried every means to find out the inside story overnight, or secretly summoned their confidants to meet in private to speculate in order to be prepared.

No one would have thought that this would happen. The princess of the current emperor, who had always lived in rumors, was actually alive. Today, the emperor brought her back to the eyes of the world in such a glorious and even unconventional way.

Apart from the sounds of elegant music played by bells, golden chimes, drums, and flute, there was no other noise in the venue. Everyone held their breath, and countless eyes from all directions secretly looked at the phoenix carriage that was being led by the ceremonial guards.

The princess was riding in a green jade carriage. Its structure was solid and weighty, with crimson-painted spokes wheels, and colorful patterns of flowers and auspicious birds and mythical beasts painted around it. Atop the roof of the carriage stood a golden phoenix, its radiant form gleaming brilliantly under the sunlight. Under the golden phoenix, a jade-decorated phoenix bell hung on each side. As the jade carriage moved forward, the phoenix bells swayed gently, producing a continuous, clear, and melodious resonance. At the front of the jade carriage, the outermost pair of dust screens woven from brocade had been parted to either side, revealing a layer of semi-transparent crimson-and-emerald silk gauze. Behind the gauze, the faint silhouette of the princess in the carriage could be seen hazily.

The phoenix carriage drove towards the central of Zhuque Terrace. When it arrived, the ceremonial officers stepped forward, gently lifted the red gauze, and respectfully invited the princess to get off the carriage.

She got off the carriage, and her cloud-head palace shoes fell on the gorgeous mat under the carriage.

As the princess’s jade carriage arrived in full view, those nearby were expected to lower their gazes and bow respectfully to show reverence. However, there were still many frivolous young men who took the opportunity to peek boldly during the salute. This scene left even the 120 warriors, poised to perform the Battle Formation Dance, momentarily dumbstruck. As the princess got off the carriage, her flowing sleeves swept gracefully, and her skirt rippled faintly with her movement, many people even seemed to smell a cool and elusive fragrance coming from the princess’s jade carriage. Enchanted, they discreetly savored the fleeting scent, hoping to imprint the memory of that ephemeral, almost otherworldly aroma.

On the path, palace maids in two rows on the left and right, holding peacock fans, gradually removed their fans, leading a path to the Zhuque Terrace.

The current Princess Shouchang was led down the jade carriage by the ceremonial officer. The golden-armored guards who were standing on both sides of the central staircase of the Zhuque Terrace bowed to her one after another.

She climbed up the platform step by step.

The flower hairpin and crown she wore on her bun today were inlaid with gold beads, southern pearls, green jade and inlaid jade leaves. Her ceremonial dress was made of colorful silk and brocade woven with five-thread silk. Draped over her shoulders was long cape covered with golden phoenix flowers. As she slowly walked up the stairs, the long cape dragged on the steps behind her, its exquisite patterns shimmering in the sunlight. A radiant brilliance of gold and jade hues rippled with her every step, casting dazzling patterns of light and color.

At this time, the emperor stood up from the throne, stepped down from the ceremonial canopy, and personally welcomed his beloved daughter. Through the fabric of her sleeve, he held her hand and guided her to the center of the Zhuque Terrace. With deep emotion, the emperor proclaimed: “Zhen has only this one daughter in life. When she was young, she was called Zanxing, and Zhen cherished her as the most precious treasure. Yet fate was unkind, during the national tragedy, we were torn apart while she was still but a child, and nearly twenty years have passed since that separation! Fortunately, Heaven still cares for Zhen. Now that Zhen is old, it has shown mercy, allowing Zhen’s daughter to return safe and sound!”

The emperor’s words were heard in the wind, his tone neither hurried nor slow.

It had been a long time since the emperor appeared in public like this. In fact, many people present today had last seen his face at the triumphal ceremony three years ago. It was rumored that he was seriously ill. At this moment, although he looked a bit sick, his voice was full of vigor, solemnity, and affection.

At this moment, he looked not like an unfathomable emperor, but a father with all sort of feelings welling up inside.

After saying this, his tone changed.

“Zhen feels joyful but also filled with profound reflection. During the turmoil of war, Zhen lost one’s beloved daughter. Though heartbroken, Zhen could do nothing but endure. Therefore, on this day of martial display and military review, Zhen have brought the Princess here so that all of you present, so that the entire realm may understand: in peace, one must never forget the perils of war.

“A country, a dynasty, must not crave war nor indulge recklessly in violence. Yet, it cannot neglect preparedness, nor can it forsake martial strength! This is the sole purpose of today’s battle-formation performance and military review.

“The princess has return, Zhen is very relief. This must be a sign of peace and prosperity.

“So today, Zhen declare that in accordance with the will of heaven, the princess will beat the drum for you warriors to show your might!”

The emperor’s voice became increasingly passionate, and when the last word was spoken, it was transmitted to the entire audience.

After a brief pause, suddenly, in front of the Zhuque Terrace, the 120 warriors in red, white and black armor shouted in unison, “Long live His Majesty the emperor, long live, long live, long live without end!” and “Long live her highness the princess, long live, long live, long live without end!” Then, like ripples caused by a stone thrown into the water, the shouts continued, from near to far, from the center to all directions. In the end, more than twenty thousand voices echoed in perfect unison, kneeling as one in a thunderous display of homage.

“Long live His Majesty the emperor, long live, long live, long live without end!”

“Long live her highness the princess, long live, long live, long live without end!”

Under the pressure of the noise, some vassal officials and envoys on the viewing platform could not help but feel fear in their hearts and shock on their faces. They followed the officials and soldiers of the Holy Dynasty and knelt down towards the emperor and princess on the Zhuque Terrace, not daring to raise their faces.

Amid the earth-shaking cheers, Xuyu gently lifted her exquisitely adorned face, today embellished with elegant gold-foil floral designs, gazing toward the south of Zhuque Terrace. Slowly, she raised her arms from beneath the trailing sleeves of her ceremonial robes, palms turned skyward, lifting them to shoulder height in a gesture of graceful acknowledgment.

With her movement, the resounding cheers gradually subsided, and the ceremonial music came to a halt. Countless eyes focused on the noble and beautiful princess of the Holy Dynasty on the high platform.

“Go ahead.” The emperor turned to Xuyu and commanded softly.

The crowd went silent.

Under the gaze of her father with a hint of pride and smile, under the gaze of countless eyes behind her and everyone presence, Xuyu turned around and walked towards the golden drum placed at the highest point of the platform.

She passed by Crown Prince Li Mao under the Zhuque Terrace.

After his initial huge shock, the expression on his face now was more of embarrassment that he wanted to hide as much as possible.

For Li Mao, he did not have much familial affection with this sister who was lost in childhood.

Since he was a child, Li Mao was afraid of Prince Ding, who had a cold and irritable temper like fiery stone. Prince Ding, in turn, regarded his eldest son with little favor, often dismissing him as weak-willed and cunningly pliant. Therefore later, even if his father emperor appointed him as the crown prince and hired the most famous scholar of the dynasty as his tutor, but so what? Occasionally, Li Mao would think of his younger sister, though the only impression that lingered was the resentment that she had once stolen their father’s affection.

He also thought she had died long ago. Over the years, with an almost indifferent and even secretly watching the show, he watched his father emperor build Zanxing Nunnery in her memory, preserving the old pomegranate tree, and holding birthday ceremonies meant for no one. But never in his wildest imaginings did he expect that one day, this half-sister would quietly return as a court painter.

And before this moment this morning, he hadn’t noticed it at all.

But all previous doubts seemed to be resolved.

No wonder the emperor was so fond of this little painter. Yesterday they even traveled together in the same carriage and he allowed him to stay in Yeyue Tower. All these undue favors that have caused countless people to speculate behind his back.

Not to mention, at this moment, the emperor asked her to beat the golden drum.

He was the crown prince of the current dynasty, and even he could not enjoy such glory.

Then how will others view him, this crown prince for over ten years?

Li Mao suppressed the deep jealousy and shame that surged in his heart at this moment and stood stiffly, motionless.

Xuyu then walked past Jinwu General, Han Kerang.

This general, usually so imposing with his beard like a bristling spear, was not particularly adept at distinguishing women. In his eyes, once a woman had powdered her face and adorned it with floral ornaments, they all looked more or less the same.

Yet at this moment, when the emperor’s princess, who everyone thought was dead, descended upon the scene in such a grand and unprecedented manner, Han Kerang didn’t need to see the appearance of the person in the jade carriage to realize that the little painter must be the princess. Otherwise, who could bear such a favor from the emperor.

However, until this moment, when Xuyu passed by him at close range, he still could not believe his eyes. The princess in front of him, adorned with a splendid hairpin crown and draped in resplendent ceremonial robes that swept the ground, was actually the same palace painter he remembered: dressed in plain blue, her face bare of adornments!

Han Kerang was stunned. When he came to his senses, the first thought in his mind was Pei Xiaoyuan.

He couldn’t help but turn slightly and glance at the Pei’s son who was standing under the dragon flag behind him.

He had also stood up, standing straight, looking solemn and dignified, like a sword. This was the most standard military etiquette.

However, Han Kerang soon discovered that his eyes, which should have been looking straight ahead at this moment, slightly lowered when the princess passed by him, and his gaze seemed to fall on the ground.

Suddenly, a gust of wind from the top of Cangshan Mountain swept across the Zhuque Terrace. The flower hairpins and the golden and jade crown on the high bun trembled slightly, the rings and pendants tinkled softly, and the embroidered ribbons fluttered in the wind.

The gorgeous skirt that shimmered slightly as she walked also passed in front of Pei Xiaoyuan’s boots.

Then, she stepped onto the drum platform. The guards knelt down to greet her, holding the drumstick in their hands.

She took the black lacquered drumstick with dragon whiskers tied to it, and facing the howling mountain wind coming from the foothills of Cangshan, she swung her arms and beat the golden drum.

After the sound of the gongs and drums that shook people’s heart like splitting clouds and breaking through the fog, the ceremony was announced by the officials and the music for battled formation dance began.

Accompanied by the majestic and powerful music of battle formation, the young men of each guard who had been waiting impatiently danced to the music. The formation was sometimes round, sometimes square, like flying dragons and flying geese, flexing and stretching in an alternating manner, and fighting back from head to tail.

In this group of the most elegant and noble soldiers in Chang’an, the sudden appearance of the princess that fell from the sky subtly shifted the atmosphere. Everyone exerted themselves even more than before, eager to showcase their military discipline and majestic demeanor, hoping to stand out among the crowd and leave a lasting impression in those bright, captivating eyes.

As the music end, Chengping and Yuwen Zhi in the team stopped dancing, their chests rising and falling slightly. Because of the dance just now, or because of their excitement, they were both a little out of breath, but at the same time, they stared at the figure on the high platform in front of them, who had retreated to sit next to the emperor.

They have begun to look forward to tonight’s banquet in Qingyuan Palace.

Princess Shouchang would definitely attend the palace banquet with the emperor tonight.

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