Chapter 94

 

The cool moonlight came in through the half-open windows of the bedroom, illuminating a blurry curtain in the hall. Deep within the canopy’s corner, Xuyu suddenly woke up from her dream. She could still hear the lingering echo of the soft voice “Don’t come back” carried by the wind, refusing to dissipate.

It had been a long time since she’d last dreamed that recurring dream, but tonight, once again, she was roused by those insistent words.

Her heart was pounding, her thoughts scattered and restless. She slowly sat up, hugged the quilt, and curled up in the dim corner of the bed, her body motionless.

Tomorrow was the wedding day.

The emperor’s daughter’s wedding, though sudden and with little time for preparation, was handled with efficiency and meticulousness by the Ministry of Rites and Ministry of Imperial Clan. The ceremonies of accepting the betrothal gifts, inquiries into compatibility, the exchange of auspicious tokens, and the setting of the wedding date were all conducted in a flurry of activity yet without chaos, proceeding in an orderly manner. Three days ago, the dowry for furnishing the princess’s bridal chamber was delivered to prince consort’s Yongning Mansion where the princess would live after marriage. It was said that the dowry was selected by the emperor himself from the imperial treasury in the inner palace. Among them were treasures like a peacock-blue jade luminous pearl from the far western kingdom of Haixi, a curtain of ten thousand pearls crafted from South Sea pearls tributed by the southern kingdom of Zhenla, a gold-and-emerald canopy stretching over ten zhang and impervious to winter winds, a towering twelve-branch lampstand with a gold base and jade pillars, a bed made of tortoiseshell, coral, and fragrant wood for the couple, and a quilt embroidered with golden threads and silk, depicting a hundred children and mandarin ducks—all of them were treasures among treasures. On the day the dowry was transported, the convoy of carriages stretched for miles, its front nearing the gates of Yongning lane where the Pei family’s prince consort’s residence was located, while the rear was still on the streets near Xing’an Gate of the imperial palace. The spectacle drew half the city’s population, who lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the procession.

The dowry delivery was so grand, so one could imagine how grand the wedding scene would be.

While countless people outside were discussing and busying themselves with this wedding, Xuyu’s life was unusually peaceful.

After returning to the palace from Cangshan, apart from following up on the murals in Shenshu Palace every day, she spent the rest of her time accompanying the emperor or being alone, painting, and never went out.

She thought she wouldn’t have too many mood swings, and that was true.

These days, she didn’t feel much joy about this wedding that she planned and obtained herself, but she didn’t feel any sadness or regret either.

However, tonight, the old dream came again unexpectedly, and she woke up to the sound of her mother’s admonition in the dream. It must be that the moonlight coming in through the window was too cold, and the new bedroom she moved to seemed too desolate. For a long time, she still felt uneasy. And suddenly, she missed her grandfather very much.

The man who would become her husband tomorrow was the one that her grandfather had chosen for her.

She finally married him as her grandfather wished.

If Grandpa knew, he would be extremely happy, right?

Xuyu recalled the scene when her grandfather talked to her about the engagement, and he praised the young man of the Pei family endlessly. The corners of her lips could not help but curl up slightly in the night. Then, before she could help herself, her eyes suddenly became sour.

She finally couldn’t control herself anymore and her eyes became a little blurry.

She didn’t like this. She threw off the quilt, got off the bed, lit the lamp, put on her clothes and went out. Yang Zai’en, who was guarding the princess on the last night before her wedding, led people to follow the princess with lanterns, silently passing through palace gardens and corridors, and finally found to their surprise that they had come to the ruins of Yong’an Palace deep in the palace, which was considered a forbidden area.

Yang Zai’en watched as the princess walked alone across the desolate grounds in front of the palace, now overgrown with autumn grass. She ascended the crumbling white jade steps, almost completely overtaken by creeping vines, passed by a few broken dragon-carved columns so large that it would take several people to encircle them, and finally stopped before a fragment of wall deep within the ruins.

It was on this charred and mottled broken wall that, many years ago, a brilliant and colorful mural was painted. Once upon a time, this palace and that peerless painting were regarded as the pinnacle of the glory of this dynasty.

However, a fire set by the rebels burned down this great palace along with all its glory and splendor.

He didn’t understand why the princess suddenly came here on the eve of her wedding. Suppressing the many surprises and questions in his heart, he waited silently outside the ruined palace, observing from afar. He saw her stand beneath the moonlight, facing that section of wall, now reduced to less than half its original size. With her face slightly tilted upward, seemed lost in thought.

Under the ruins, there were piles of countless huge stones from the palace walls and roofs that collapsed that day. Man-high weeds stubbornly grew out of the cracks in the stone piles, swaying in the night wind, making a rustling sound.

Xuyu stood there for a long time, stroking a blurred and mottled piece of wall with her fingertips, and prayed silently in her heart, praying that her grandfather would know that she was going to marry the young man he liked.

She also hoped that Heavens would bless her and allow her to see her grandfather again soon. No matter how much time had passed or what the situation was, she would always be Grandpa’s Xuyu, the little girl who got a new name on a rainy day and was taken out of Chang’an by him.

When Xuyu came back, her depressed mood finally dissipated. She deliberately passed by the Ziyun Palace, saw the lights still on inside, and stopped.

After returning from Cangshan, her father had become more and more silent as the wedding approached. In these past few days, aside from summoning his ministers a few times, he was rarely seen, and even Xuyu found it difficult to see him.

This evening, when she went to see him, she discovered that he had shut himself away again in his vihara, with the doors tightly closed. She wanted to knock on the door and go in, but Zhao Zhongfang informed her that His Majesty hadn’t slept well the previous night and had been busy all day discussing matters with the wedding officiant, Prince Ning, and others, and had just lay down to rest. He asked her not to worry, and have a good rest and prepare for the wedding tomorrow. He then assured her that he would take care of His Majesty’s meals, medicine, and daily life.

Xuyu turned into Ziyun Palace and came to the vihara again. The lights were on inside, but her father was not there. At first, she thought he had gone to the West Palace. She went over there, but she didn’t see anyone. She only heard from the palace eunuch that His Majesty did come here after dark, sat alone in front of the mural of the Queen Mother of the West for a long time, and then left accompanied by Zhao Zhongfang.

Xuyu was very surprised and asked Yang Zai’en to go and find out. He soon came back and said that the palace guards saw His Majesty leave the palace through the side gate and Jiacheng Road at the end of the Xu hour (7-9 pm). As for where he went, they didn’t know.

The palace clock had rung three quarters past Zi hour (11 pm – 1 am).

Her father left the palace late at night, which was already unusual, and such a long time had passed, but he still hadn’t returned.

Where would he go?

Her first reaction was the old Prince Ding Mansion, now the Zanxing Nunnery. But she quickly rejected this idea. Jiacheng Road was in the east of the city, and Zanxing Nunnery was not in that direction.

She pondered for a moment, and then thought about her father’s abnormal behavior in the past few days. She was really worried, so she told Yang Zai’en to prepare the carriage immediately and go out along Jiacheng Road to have a look. Yang Zai’en complied, and Xuyu hurried out. When she was about to reach the door of Ziyun Palace, she heard the sound of footsteps echoing along the silent palace paths late at night. Looking up, she saw a group of eunuchs carrying a sedan chair, followed by another sedan chair behind them.

The people in the sedan chair reflected by the palace lanterns were none other than the emperor and Zhao Bandang, who had been granted special favors because of his disability.

The sedan chair stopped in front of the palace gate. Zhao Zhongfang came to the emperor’s side, assisting him down from the chair alongside the other eunuchs. The emperor slowly made his way toward the gates, with Zhao Zhongfang at his side. Behind them, the other eunuchs carried several baskets filled with various items, following silently in their wake.

Xuyu felt relieved, and she quickly walked out of the palace door, lifted her skirt and ran down the palace steps to greet him.

“Father!” she cried.

The emperor’s eyelids were drooping, the corners of his eyes were red, and his expression appeared melancholic and dazed. Suddenly, he heard her voice. He lifted his gaze, his steps pausing, and immediately broke into a smile.

“Hao’er! It’s so late, why still staying here instead of getting rest?” the emperor asked with a smile.

Xuyu came to his side, helped him up the palace steps, walked into the palace door, and went inside.

“I just woke up and couldn’t sleep, so I came to see you, Father. but then I found out that you left the palace through Jiacheng Road. It’s so late, Father, why didn’t you rest? Where did you go in the middle of the night?”

Xuyu spoke while accompanying the emperor into the vihara, took off his outer robe for him, and helped him sit.

“Father couldn’t sleep either. Seeing that the moonlight was good tonight, Father asked your Zhao Bandang to accompany Father out of the palace and take a casual stroll.”

This was clearly an excuse meant to placate her. Besides, Xuyu had just seen the things in the baskets carried by the eunuchs earlier, which were sacrificial objects such as incense burners and incense sticks.

“I saw the thing you brought, Father. Did you go to the east of the city to offer sacrifices?” Xuyu dipped the face towel into a basin of warm water brought by the palace servant. As she wrung it out and handed it to the emperor to wipe his face, she spoke with quiet insistence.

The emperor’s sacrifices, in addition to the sacrifices to heaven and earth, the altar of grain, and the ancestral temple, also had fixed locations and rituals for the other sacrifices such as the spring equinox and winter solstice. For the emperor to leave the palace in disguise late at night and perform what resembled a private family sacrifice was highly unusual—almost unprecedented.

The emperor seemed unwilling to answer. He took the warm towel and wiped his face. Then he avoided Xuyu’s gaze and coughed as if to cover up.

At this time, Zhao Zhongfang also came with a bowl of medicine that had been warmed on the small stove, and reminded softly: “Your Majesty, it’s time to take the medicine.”

The emperor seemed relieved and took it immediately.

“Princess, His Majesty heard that in the eastern suburbs there is a temple dedicated for goddess who blesses marriages, so we went out of the city to offer sacrifices, praying that the goddess will bless your marriage, that everything will go well for you, and that you and your husband live in harmony until old age.” Zhao Zhongfang explained.

What kind of temple to the goddess in the eastern suburbs could be so miraculous as to compel the emperor himself to act?

Xuyu looked at her father. He had just finished drinking the medicine, put down the bowl, and nodded with a smile: “Indeed. You will get married tomorrow. Once a thought takes hold, Father couldn’t sleep. So, Father decided to go out of the city to offer sacrifices. She will definitely bless you!”

Xuyu knew that the emperor’s abnormal behavior in the past few days must be related to the marriage. Knowing that he was in poor health, and while he couldn’t sleep late at night, he still went out of the city to pray for her, she felt very touched. She sat down beside him and said softly, “Father, rest assured! I will live a good and happy life!”

The emperor stared at her for a long time, and finally nodded slowly: “Father knows! Father can rest assured!

“It’s getting late. You’re going to be a bride tomorrow and there will be a lot to do. Go back to bed.”

“Alright. Father, you should rest too.”

Xuyu stood up and told Zhao Zhongfang not to see her off, but to take care of the emperor and let him rest, then walked out.

“Hao’er!”

Suddenly, she heard the emperor calling her again from behind, and she stopped and turned around.

The emperor looked at her, his eyes seemed to turn red: “Hao’er, if that Pei’s son dares to bully you and treat you badly, you must tell Father! Father will skin him alive!”

Xuyu couldn’t bear it any longer and ran back to the emperor.

“Father!” she called out, her eyes red, and threw herself into the emperor’s arms.

The emperor stroked his daughter’s hair, then laughed again, and waved her away: “Alright, alright, go! Father needs to rest.”

Xuyu unexpectedly fell into a good sleep during the remaining hours of the second half of the night.

She slept soundly. When she woke up to the familiar sound of the morning drum, it was already the eighth day of the Firth Month.

The wedding day had arrived.

It was a fine day, with clear skies and bright air. To celebrate the princess’s wedding, the curfew in Chang’an was lifted. The whole city was filled with joy, and everyone was talking about the wedding. People started to reserve seats on both sides of the street from the palace to the prince consort’s Yongning Mansion early in the morning, fearing that if they were late, they could only squeeze in the back and not be able to see the princess’ wedding procession.

Pei Xiaoyuan’s parents had both passed away, and before and after the wedding, all matters involving relatives were handled by his uncle, Cui Daosi.

In the afternoon, in the new bridal room of Yongning Mansion, Pei Xiaoyuan finished changing clothes with the help of He shi. Through a tall, ornate dressing mirror adorned with peonies and lotus motifs inlaid with turquoise, which was a part of the princess’s dowry, He shi glanced at Pei Xiaoyuan’s reflection.

The man in the mirror wore a brand-new crimson ceremonial robe, its brocade fabric shimmering in the light. His waist was cinched with a gold-and-jade belt, and on his feet were elegant black boots with cloud patterns. The groom’s attire only enhanced his striking appearance and imposing demeanor. However, who would have known that under this stately outfit, there was a bandage on his left shoulder.

The princess might remain unaware, but matters like changing clothes and tending wounds required more than just Qingtou’s help. Thus, He shi, too, had learned of his injury.

He shi‘s gaze turned from the dressing mirror to her master.

Last night, in order to remove the poison, the doctor scraped the wound with a knife, deep into the shoulder bone, and then washed it with strong liquor before applying medicine and bandaging it. Pei Xiaoyuan’s face had turned pale as paper, but he remained silent throughout the ordeal. Later, he didn’t close his eyes all night. When he just got up this morning, his face was dark and his eyes were full of bloodshot. Though he appeared livelier now, as if nothing had happened, a closer inspection would reveal his face still looked pale, his brows darker than usual, and his gaze, despite its brightness, carried an unmistakable, abnormal hint of illness.

She couldn’t suppress her worries, hesitated for a moment, and said again: “Master, your wound is so obvious that it will hurt if you move your arm. Let alone anything else today, I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle the formalities. Let the princess know as soon as possible! With her taking care of you, you can be more relaxed today.”

Pei Xiaoyuan smiled: “This injury is nothing to me. Besides, we are just going to welcome the bride, not to fight.”

“But you can’t hide it from the princess tonight. Why not let her know earlier?” He shi really couldn’t understand why he was so stubborn.

Pei Xiaoyuan paused: “I have my own way tonight.” He said vaguely. Just then, Qingtou ran in and said that it was time to set off and Uncle Cui was urging them.

“Don’t worry, Amu. I’m going first!”

Pei Xiaoyuan smiled at He shi and walked away.

Cui Daosi was talking in the front hall with Yang Zai’en and several officials from the Ministry of Rites who came to pick him up from the palace. Suddenly, they saw Pei Xiaoyuan appear. Everyone’s eyes lit up, looked at him, and nodded faintly.

“The princess has finished dressing up. Please come to the palace to welcome the bride, Master Pei.” Yang Zai’en bowed to Pei Xiaoyuan and said with a smile on his face.

Pei Xiaoyuan endured the pain in his injured shoulder when he raised his arm, bowed to everyone as if nothing had happened, then walked out the door, mounted his horse and went to the palace.

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