Chapter Seventeen
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The days following the ceremony were clear, turning partly cloudy. Gusts of north wind suddenly blew, just enough to unfurl the newly made banners of the White Deer Lingying Palace and to lift the palace mistress’s cloak, making it flutter in the breeze.
The officials of the Astronomical Bureau had calculated the timing. Although it was not considered an auspicious day on the zodiac calendar, the deity of joy was in the west, which favored travel. Thus, today was indeed the right day.
There were actually many things she needed to take with her. The entourage included palace maids, eunuchs, guards, Daoist priests, and the largest number of laborers. None of them would set off empty-handed. Even without counting her own ten thousand coins, her luggage bundles, and the various Taoist scriptures, ritual implements, and ceremonial vessels destined for Shu, the provisions to sustain such a large group daily would require a substantial amount of supplies. These could not rely solely on resupply from the counties and districts along the way, so they had to be brought from Bianjing from the start.
Though the supplies were considerable, she saw no grand procession of horse-drawn carriages.
Bianjing was a city with highly developed waterways. Traveling westward to Shu was not primarily by foot—neither by her own nor by pack animals—but by vessels of various sizes.
Not far behind her was a splendid large ship waiting at the dock.
From the Bian River heading north, entering the Yellow River, then west past Tong Pass, exiting the Yellow River, and entering the Wei River, the route led straight to Xingyuan Prefecture.
It sounded somewhat arduous, but considering that traveling by boat was far more comfortable than by carriage, she had no complaints.
This dock outside the Shuntian Gate was very close to Jinming Pool. The navy frequently passed through here transporting supplies, so the place was usually bustling. Although ordinary citizens were forbidden to visit Jinming Pool except on the first day of the third lunar month, this was the training ground for the Imperial Guards’ naval battles. Where there were Imperial Guards, there was naturally purchasing power, and where there was purchasing power, there would be people.
Vendors sold food and drink; gamblers were invited to place bets; singers and dancers on high balconies waved their wide sleeves, enticing the young and generous Imperial soldiers to look their way.
Now, all the officers and soldiers stood in solemn ranks, silent and upright against the wind. Their axes, halberds, spears, and pikes gleamed with a cold, menacing light, bristling with deadly intent. Anyone who saw them would feel reassured—such a magnificent city deserved a well-trained, fearless army to protect it.
She cast a distant glance toward them. Like her own flowing sleeves, their armor was gently stirred by the wind beneath the clouds.
Their armor was made of cloth lined with yellow silk, with layers of colored threads embroidered to resemble armor plates. On the chest was a fierce human face, and on the back, a splendidly embroidered soaring serpent. From afar, it looked like real armor, majestic in its appearance. This was called the “Five-Colored Armor.”
The Ninth Brother, dispatched to escort her out of the city, stepped forward.
“Yo-yo,” he said, “the mountains are high and the road is long; the journey will be difficult. From now on, you must not be reckless, nor act on your own whims.”
She was briefly brought back to herself by the beautiful patterns on that Five-Colored Armor.
“Ninth Brother, I understand.”
“If you suffer from the change of environment or feel homesick, write back without hiding anything. This box of trinkets is for you to amuse yourself along the way.” The Crown Princess handed her a box heavy with gold bracelets and hairpins, the favorite toys of any girl.
“How benevolent the Sovereign is, surely he will not ignore your letters.” The Princess of Yun immediately added a word, presenting a slightly smaller box, but inside were lustrous, rounded pearls of the same exquisite quality as the Crown Princess’s gift.
The two princesses stood side by side, their dazzling beauty magnified, remarkably similar in appearance. Although the relationship between the Crown Prince and the Prince of Yun was delicate due to the Sovereign’s favor, their wives were sisters. Among the commonfolk, there was chatter and petty remarks suggesting that no matter which prince ascended the throne, the Zhu family would ultimately win.
She glanced left and right, almost unable to suppress a smile.
“Sister-in-law’s kindness is deeply appreciated,” she said. “To cultivate the Tao at Lingying Palace and pray for my father, a foreign land is home. How can I fear the change of air and water?”
A soft murmur of admiration arose, mingled with a few vague teasing remarks.
Look at the Imperial Princess—she certainly knows how to say the right things. Had she learned to behave earlier, she wouldn’t have been banished from the capital. Fortunately, the Sovereign is merciful and permitted several close relatives to see her off, clearly still recognizing her as his daughter.
And what about the gifts from the two princesses—was there some hidden message?
Some who ought not to have appeared were present after all.
Rarely brought out, Ning Fu, who followed the Crown Princess, stared at her with envious jealousy, making her feel somewhat awkward.
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“I have money now,” Zhao Luming smiled, “but I can’t withdraw it yet, so I can’t share it with you.”
Ning Fu’s cheeks flushed. “Who wants money!”
“Then why are you staring at me like that?”
“You get to leave the capital and see the vast world outside,” she said, “Isn’t that wonderful?”
Suddenly, she stopped smiling.
“If fate allows in the future, perhaps my little sister can leave the capital and see the world too.”
“Really?” Ning Fu was both surprised and delighted. “They say Sister’s words always come true, so I truly believe it!”
She reached out and grasped the little girl’s hand tightly.
“Not only can you leave the capital, but by then, you can go wherever you wish and stay wherever you like,” she said slowly and deliberately. “Except Father, no one can stop you.”
The Crown Princess and her sister exchanged a glance, puzzled by the sudden change in the Imperial Princess’s demeanor. She spoke with solemnity and gravity, as if uttering an inevitable prophecy.
Zhao Gou seemed uninterested in dwelling on that statement and suddenly interjected:
“Today, as we send you off, Yo-yo, is there anyone you are thinking of?”
Zhao Luming frowned in confusion.
Thinking of? By etiquette, there were many she should be thinking of! Besides Father, the Crown Prince brother, the Prince of Yun brother, Consort Qiao, and Consort Wei all deserved her thoughts. Father had diligently expanded the royal family from the decline experienced during Emperor Renzong’s reign, giving her fifty or sixty siblings. Brothers married, sisters wed; she had many nephews and nieces, nephews and nieces on the maternal side as well. Even with diligent study and practice, it would be difficult to recall all their names at once. Suddenly asked, she didn’t know whom to think of.
Ninth Brother raised his brow and stepped aside, as if shifting a living statue, making way for Cao Ershiwulang.
The two sisters-in-law smiled silently, joined by the female attendants, palace maids, eunuchs, Daoist priests, Imperial Guards, three fourteen-year-old Gao Jian’guo boys, and an old middle-ranking nobleman with a stooped back, all watching this childhood friends, innocent scene.
Zhao Luming’s scalp tingled.
Cao Ershiwulang had been soundly beaten by his father, no doubt about that. His wounds were not yet healed, and coming out of the city to see her off left him looking haggard.
His skin was utterly bloodless, shining with an ivory-like pallor; his lips pale and withered, like flowers wilted in the snow; his eyes remained jet black, lashes long, and within them swirled restrained yet profound, tender yet painful light.
With all this, he perfectly embodied the Song dynasty’s ideal of feminine beauty. Today, he had even dressed carefully!
A jade-colored brocade robe, a red plum blossom patterned belt, still slight in stature but exuding a melancholy charm that stirred the heart! What else could be called a noble, elegant young gentleman? Both delicate and strong, graceful and passionate!
Hey! You three Gao Jian’guo boys over there! Look at Bianjing’s top tier, the future “human standard”! Now look at yourselves! “Reeds and jade trees” indeed refers to you!
Everyone’s gazes wandered about, delightfully and contentedly. What might have been a cold and pitiful scene—a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl banished from the capital for a misspoken word—was made all the more compelling by this addition.
It even ended the long farewell ceremony that might have otherwise dragged on for hours until nightfall!
Because upon seeing her handsome and passionate cousin, the Imperial Princess could no longer feign the calm composure of a mature youth.
This slender, delicate girl wrapped in a snow-white cloak, evoking sympathy, held back tears and gazed at him with sorrowful tenderness, saying:
“Cousin, this journey is a thousand miles away with no promise of reunion. Forget me, please!”
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After speaking, she bowed to the group of brothers, sisters-in-law, siblings, and cousins who looked on with pity, wiping their tears and sniffing, then boarded the ship without looking back.
Boarded the ship!
The ship!
The ship!
The wind on the Bian River stirred up waves that beat against the splendidly decorated, brilliantly adorned large ship. The waves shattered against the freshly painted wood, instantly breaking into snowy, fine foam, just like Cao Ershiwulang’s heart.
Prince Kang reached out and patted his shoulder.
“This is the Sovereign’s grace,” he said, “do not grieve without restraint.”
Cao Ershiwulang turned his head, choking back emotion as he bowed.
“This grace is as vast as heaven and earth; I would rather die than forget it!”
The Princess of Yun glanced quietly at her sister and whispered, “Has the news not yet reached the palace?”
“That depends on the Sovereign’s judgment,” the Crown Princess replied without looking away.
On the very day Zhao Luming left the capital, a rider came galloping from the north, a swift horse entering Bianjing bearing monumental news.
Wanyan Aguda is dead!
Though the Song had not contributed a single effort to this, it was still tremendous news! The rider could not shout along the way, his face flushed from holding back.
When the news reached Genyue, the Sovereign leapt from his chair.
Wasn’t this the northern dragon Yo-yo had dreamed of?
Heavens! Heavens!
Yo-yo’s dream was not a baseless fantasy meant to bite Wang Fu! That dream had indeed come true!
Wanyan Aguda was dead! His brothers and sons would surely fight among themselves, and the Song dynasty’s realm would be as solid as a rock from then on! No more worry that the Jurchens would see the weakness of the Song army and suddenly march south!
All thanks to the blessings of the Immortal Lord! The result of his devoted cultivation, moving heaven and earth!
Of course! Even the Immortal Child was the result of his diligent cultivation, moving heaven and earth!
Emperor Huizong of Song was moved to tears.
Wang Fu’s fate as a court eunuch was certain, and how to deal with him was still undecided, but his obedient daughter had been banished from the capital. Although he could not call her back for face’s sake, he could reward her!
And so quell the court and capital’s criticism, to support her!
He would give her a grand reward!