Seeking Truth with a Sword

Chapter 389 - 340 Qixi

Atop Purple Cloud Pavilion, guests were seated on both sides, raising their cups to drink together and enjoying the melodious sounds of string and woodwind music, as well as elegant dances.

Envoys from minor nations were intoxicated, as if in a trance. Emissaries from major countries had flushed faces; even in their drunkenness, they sat upright. They were careful to avoid being captured in their indiscretion by a Yu Country court painter sketching the scene from a corner, fearing they might lose face for their nations.

The Emperor and Empress, their faces brimming with joy, sat in the place of honor. To their left were the Faith Cultivation Cardinal, the Nanzhou Imperial Uncle, and others; to their right sat the Academic Palace Master, the Crown Prince, and the Crown Princess Consort.

At the banquet, many were covertly watching the expression on Crown Prince Li Si’s face.

Everyone knew that the Emperor was fonder of his fourth son, Li Hui. The scale of this wedding far surpassed that of the Crown Prince’s wedding a few years prior.

The event had cost a million strings of coins, not to mention the attendance of the Faith Cultivation Cardinal and envoys from various nations to witness the ceremony.

The implication of such a gesture was thought-provoking.

In this atmosphere, Li Si maintained perfect etiquette. His demeanor, smile, and words were impeccable; he revealed no discontent or envy. As if, or perhaps truly, he was happy for his brother’s marriage.

In contrast, the Crown Princess Consort, hailing from a family of lesser officials, couldn’t "perform" quite so flawlessly. A trace of nervousness mingled with her smile.

"Mom, eat this myrobalan. It’s a specialty from Tianzhu, said to enrich qi and replenish blood; it’s good for the body," said Prince Guang, Li Shan, placing several lotus-seed-like fruits into a bowl before the slender-faced noble lady seated in a corner of the banquet.

Princess Consort Hui, Li Shan’s mother, was surnamed Wu.

"Mm."

Regaining her composure, Princess Consort Hui tore her gaze from the front of the banquet and looked back at her only son.

Since returning from Suzhou, Li Shan’s eyes and teeth remained bright, but his skin had darkened considerably from the sun, and he had lost quite a bit of weight.

"Shan’er, you’ve lost weight," Princess Consort Hui said, a whirlwind of emotions stirring within her as she held her son’s hand, fighting back tears.

Both were princes. Yet Prince Yue, Li Hui, merely had to meet with scholars and literati in Chang’an, engage in poetic conversations, and participate in trials with absolutely no danger to receive the Emperor and Empress’s affection, the ministers’ favor, the common people’s praise, and even an invitation to study at the legendary Taihao Mountain Zhanquan.

Her son, however, had gone to Suzhou to handle the dangerous Water Poison epidemic and protect its people. He returned with pain and injuries, yet received scarcely any praise in the Chang’an court. At this moment, he could only sit in a corner of the banquet. All because his maternal family bore the surname Wu.

"Mom, the painter is looking this way," Li Shan warned, his gaze clear as he gently patted the back of his mother’s hand.

The journey to Suzhou had not been entirely without gains. At the very least, the Emperor now occasionally visited Princess Consort Hui, making life a bit easier for his mother in the palace.

Li Shan’s gaze swept over the entire banquet, taking in the varied expressions of the ministers who supported either the Crown Prince or Prince Yue. He sighed deeply in his heart.

The imperial family was the most ruthless. The Crown Prince and Prince Yue factions opposed each other, and behind it all, the Emperor himself was the primary instigator. Perhaps the Emperor was using the friction between the two factions to control the court officials, perhaps he was trying to choose the most outstanding successor, or perhaps he truly intended for Li Hui to ascend the throne...

Undercurrents surged atop Purple Cloud Pavilion.

Below, in the green hut, Li Leqing and other noble ladies of Chang’an sat beside the bride, whispering words of comfort.

The green hut was a small, round-topped tent. Its interior was supported by interlocking white wooden poles forming a diamond-patterned framework, and the exterior was draped with decorative curtains.

Both inside and outside the hut, felt blankets were laid out on the ground—a custom passed down since the Han Dynasty, requiring the bride to tread on the felt throughout the ceremony, never touching the grass.

"Sister Xuan, would you like to eat something?" whispered Li Leqing.

The bride, Yan Xuan, who was also the legitimate daughter of the family of the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Industry, looked slightly pale. She shook her head, nervously fidgeting with the ceremonial dress she wore.

It was a light cyan, cross-collared robe with large sleeves integral to the garment, embroidered with nine rows of colorful sparrowhawk-and-pheasant motifs on a deep blue background.

Underneath was a white gauze undergarment. Its collar was decorated with serpent-shaped fu embroidery, and the knee cover, matching the lower garment in color, was adorned with two rows of Reeves’s pheasant motifs.

The ceremonial customs of Yu Country were intricate and complex, especially for a prince’s wedding, where every design element served a specific purpose.

The ceremonial dress Yan Xuan wore represented a status equivalent to that of a Crown Princess Consort’s wedding attire.

Though there were subtle differences in the finer details from an actual Crown Princess Consort’s wedding dress, it was enough to signify the implications behind this wedding. Once she stepped out of this green hut, she, and her parents’ families, would be swept into the turmoil.

"I’m fine."

Yan Xuan managed a weak smile, taking a few deep breaths to calm her nerves.

Li Leqing saw the unease on her friend’s face, her own emotions equally complex.

She had helped plan the wedding for so long. However, the bridal gown delivered by a palace eunuch today had suddenly replaced the original one.

The implication left Li Leqing somewhat lost and helpless. Li Hui and Li Yue were her full-blooded brothers. She didn’t want to see either of them hurt. But...

As she remained silent, the other noblewomen of Chang’an found it awkward to offer further consolation. Consequently, the atmosphere in the hut grew somewhat stagnant and oppressive.

TAP, TAP, TAP.

A maidservant entered the hut, taking small, careful steps across the felt carpet, and whispered a few words into Li Leqing’s ear.

"Hm?"

Li Leqing raised her eyebrows in surprise. She quietly stepped out of the green hut and saw Li Yue standing nonchalantly in the shadows outside.

Li Leqing was astonished. "Brother?" she whispered, "What are you doing here? Go back quickly! It’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding!"

"Tch! We’ve seen each other countless times already. What’s all this about luck?" Li Yue scoffed. "Anyway," he continued, a casual air about him, "didn’t you make plans to go shopping with that Li Ang kid? You need to get to Golden City Square right now! My servant told me they saw your friend Qiu Feng in a carriage heading to Golden City Square, holding a sachet."

Li Yue crossed his arms, lips curling. "It’s Chinese Valentine’s Day, and she’s giving a sachet," he said. "I don’t need to spell out what that implies, do I? If you don’t hurry over now, Li Ang and Qiu Feng might actually end up together! He has a special status and no elders at home. If they really pledge themselves to each other, even father would find it awkward to force him to break off the engagement or arrange another marriage for him."

"Ah..."

Li Leqing’s mouth hung open, her expression somewhat dazed.

It seemed he was right.

Instinctively, Li Leqing took a step forward, then stopped, as if rooted to the spot.

She had been frail since childhood. The Imperial Physicians dared not tell the Emperor and Empress the truth, but privately, they all believed she wouldn’t live past twenty. Even after consuming countless precious medicinal ingredients and now studying cultivation methods at the Academic Palace, her heart still occasionally ached faintly.

Qiu Feng was a friend she had known since she was seven or eight years old. They had played together, studied, and shared sweets. Back then, Qiu Feng had been her bridge to the world outside the Great Ming Palace. Qiu Feng was healthier, more cheerful, and more radiant than she was. Whenever Qiu Feng spoke of her arduous experiences working with Li Ang in the sick house, the corners of her lips would turn up unconsciously. She and Li Ang were both doctors. They shared much in common, including the ambition to heal the sick and serve humanity. When Li Ang was tormented by the Water Poison epidemic, Qiu Feng could comfort and console him. When Li Ang agonized over reforms for the sick house, Qiu Feng could offer suggestions. And she herself... she knew nothing, could do nothing. Perhaps Qiu Feng deserved this love more, deserved their friends’ blessings more.

Li Leqing’s expression shifted rapidly, her raised arm slowly falling.

"I,"

Li Leqing forced a smile, murmuring softly, "I don’t want to go anymore."