Klares Wasser und wunderschöne Berge

Kapitel 55

On this day, several people in the palace knew that there had been a debate about the funeral arrangements for Consort Zhang. Most of them believed that since the Emperor intended to posthumously confer titles upon her, it would be better to move Consort Zhang's coffin to the Imperial Ceremonial Hall. However, Zhang Weiji strongly opposed the idea, saying that the matter should be discussed with the prime ministers the next day before a decision was made.

After Wen Yanbo was dismissed from his post as chancellor, the current emperor recalled Chen Zhizhong and reinstated him as chancellor. The next day in court, Wang Gongchen argued vehemently before the assembled officials, insisting that the funeral be held in the Imperial Ceremonial Hall. Seeing that the current emperor shared this view, Chen Zhizhong finally agreed, appointing Liu Hang, the Vice Chancellor, as the supervising envoy, along with Shi Quanbin and others, to handle the funeral arrangements.

When the news reached the Forbidden City, Zhang Weiji burst into tears, bowing his head and kowtowing in the direction of the main hall until his forehead was covered in blood.

"Your Majesty!" he cried, raising his voice in question, "If you cannot properly distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate children, how can you maintain order within and outside the court, uphold dignity, and bring peace to the realm?"

He was not the only one who resisted the matter of Consort Zhang. The next day, the current emperor announced a seven-day suspension of court. Four days later, he posthumously conferred upon Consort Zhang the title of Empress. Subsequently, he issued a series of edicts to establish a minor memorial service for her, build a shrine for her, and to have music played at the Empress's Temple. Each of these decisions was opposed by most of the officials, led by the Censors and Remonstrance Officials. Memorials and petitions were submitted to the current emperor in an endless stream. But perhaps, as the Empress said, the current emperor felt that this was the last thing he could do for Consort Zhang, so he ignored these opponents. The only one he adopted was the suggestion from Sun Mian, the Vice Privy Councilor, to revise Consort Zhang's posthumous title.

Initially, the current emperor bestowed upon Lady Zhang the posthumous title "Gongde," a title that was clearly inconsistent with her life's deeds, and was met with disdain by the court officials. Later, Sun Mian offered a reason that the current emperor could more easily accept: "The posthumous titles of Emperor Taizong's four empresses all used the character 'De,' which was derived from their temple names. What is the basis for the posthumous title 'Gongde'?" Ultimately, the current emperor granted his request and changed Lady Zhang's posthumous title to the lukewarm "Wencheng."

Because their remonstrances were not accepted, several officials from the Censorate requested to be reassigned to other posts. Subsequently, the funeral rites for the Zhang family exceeded the prescribed regulations. Wu Chong, the Assistant Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Doctor of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and Compiler of the Imperial Academy, and Ju Zhenqing, the Chief Sacrificer of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and Compiler of the Imperial Academy, transferred the officials in charge of the funeral rites to Kaifeng Prefecture for punishment. This angered Liu Hang and others, who were in charge of the funeral arrangements. They then suggested to the Emperor that Wu Chong be appointed Prefect of Gaoyou Army and Ju Zhenqing Prefect of Huaiyang Army.

Soon after, a court report containing news about Feng Jing was secretly circulated among the palace staff: Feng Jing, who was in charge of the Jixian Academy, judge of the Southern Bureau of the Ministry of Personnel, and co-editor of the daily records, was removed from his post as co-editor of the daily records.

The details are not hard to find: He had previously submitted a memorial arguing that Wu Chong and others should not have been demoted, speaking frankly and directly. He said that Wu Chong and others had acted in the name of upholding ritual and ceremony and had done nothing wrong. On the contrary, the funeral rites for Wen Cheng had exceeded the prescribed limits, making it seem that the current emperor favored his concubines over the Imperial Ancestral Temple, which greatly damaged his virtue. Those in charge of the funeral should be punished. The regent Liu Hang was furious and immediately requested the current emperor to send Feng Jing to Haozhou as prefect. However, this time the current emperor refused, saying, "What crime has Feng Jing committed by speaking frankly?" Therefore, he only temporarily relieved Feng Jing of his post as co-editor of the daily records, preventing him from making the actual records during this period.

However, the current emperor always held a deep affection for this top scholar who had caused a sensation in the capital city of Tokyo, as if he were his own son. A few months later, he reinstated him to his original position and ordered him to revise the daily records of the emperor's life.

Throughout the first year of the Zhihe era, the palace and its surroundings were shrouded in the shadow of a series of events triggered by the death of Wen Cheng. In October, Zhang Weiji, a loyal eunuch devoted to the Empress, passed away. It was not only the Empress, whom he had served for many years, who was saddened by this, nor were his colleagues, friends, or subordinates such as Pei Xiang, Deng Baoji, Zhang Maoze, and myself, but also the Emperor, who had refused to heed his advice and insisted on posthumously bestowing the title of Consort Zhang upon her.

On the day he heard the news of Zhang Weiji's death, the current emperor was also in tears, personally went to pay his respects, and bestowed upon Zhang the posthumous title of "Zhong'an".

The best news for the court officials that year was probably that Ouyang Xiu had been summoned back to the capital.

In September of the first year of the Zhihe era, the current emperor appointed Ouyang Xiu, who had been stationed in the provinces for many years, as a Hanlin Academician and concurrently as a compiler of the Imperial History.

I didn't meet him until the first month of the second year of the Zhihe era. That day, Zhang Chengzhao and I went out for some reason, and when we passed by the Hanyuan Academy, we happened to see him carrying a scroll of documents. Zhang Chengzhao quickly whispered for me to look, and pointed at him, saying, "That's Ouyang Xiu!"

If Wang Gongchen left me with the impression of being austere and Feng Jing was beautiful, then what words should I use to describe this famous scholar whom I have long admired?

Time and vicissitudes.

Yes, the years of hardship have turned his temples white, his eyebrows are slightly drooping, and there are two or three wrinkles between his brows that cannot be smoothed out, making him look as if he is frowning and sighing even in such a calm state.

He walked past us without looking to the side, his steps were slow and even, his face had obvious eye bags, and his eyes were sunken. There was a spirit in his eyes, but it was not as bright as Feng Jing's, or as sharp as young censors like Tang Jie. It was a kind of brilliance that did not show any sharpness, like the water in an ancient well that was shimmering with light.

After he had walked away, I asked Zhang Chengzhao, "How old is Scholar Ouyang this year?"

He looked up at the sky, counted on his fingers, and said, "It seems to be forty-eight years old."

"Only forty-eight?" I was surprised. "He looks so old."

“Yes, he’s aged quite quickly,” Zhang Chengzhao said. “I heard that when he returned to the capital last year to report on his duties, the Emperor saw that his temples were gray and his face was full of wrinkles. He couldn’t help but shed tears and asked him repeatedly, ‘How old are you this year? How many years have you been away?’ Not long after, he summoned him back to the capital and has now promoted him to Hanlin Academician. He’s treating him very well. Look, it seems he’s been summoned to the side hall again… He’s holding up a document, I wonder what kind of edict it is.”

Later we learned that what Ouyang Xiu cited that day was not an imperial edict, but rather a memorial he himself had submitted to the emperor. Previously, the emperor had announced his intention to pay homage at the ancestral tombs, but the court officials realized that he actually intended to use this as a pretext to offer sacrifices at the Wencheng Mausoleum. Although Ouyang Xiu was no longer a censor, he still drafted a memorial to discuss this matter, stating that the emperor's virtue and benevolence should not be allowed to be interpreted by those both inside and outside the court as an attempt to commemorate favored concubines and use the pretext of paying homage to ancestors, thus tarnishing his virtuous character. He added, "Your Majesty's actions are a model for all ages, and you must be extremely cautious."

This remonstrance was accepted by the current emperor, and thereafter, when the current emperor visited the mausoleum, he would pass by the Wencheng Temple without entering.

Before the Dragon Boat Festival in the second year of the Zhihe era, the current emperor ordered the Hanlin scholars to write several Dragon Boat Festival couplets, including some for Wencheng Pavilion. At this time, Wang Gongchen had been promoted to the position of Commissioner of the Three Departments and was no longer in the Hanlin Academy. The Hanlin scholars looked at each other, none of them willing to write for Wencheng Pavilion. Later, the couplets assigned to other pavilions were submitted to the palace, but those for Wencheng Pavilion were delayed. The current emperor was displeased, and the scholars, hearing this, were filled with anxiety, but still lacked the inspiration to write. Finally, Ouyang Xiu took on the task.

His post was quickly sent to the inner palace, where everyone gathered to see it. They saw that he had written four poems for Wencheng Pavilion; the first three were:

Dense leaves and blooming flowers produce seeds; swallows lead their young to new nests. Your heart is filled with nostalgia; who will offer you the talisman to ward off war?

The rising sun shines through the curtains, its radiant glow illuminating the vibrant hibiscus. Beauty fades easily, but how different is this flower's glory?

Who says colorful threads can prolong life? The jade box remains empty, locking away lingering fragrance. The white-haired former supervisor grieves for the passing season; the pearl pavilion is deserted, the summer days long.

But I think what he really wanted to express is in the fourth poem:

The festive season lingers, the years have passed, and the passing of people and blooming flowers only deepen our sorrow. The wise and virtuous ruler is free from temptation; he needs no incense from the Western lands to bring back souls.

The Lonely City Closes (The Princess Who Fell in Love with a Eunuch) Falling Flowers and Gentle Autumn Rain 46. Yingniang

Chapter word count: 2657 Update time: 08-08-21 16:19

46. Yingniang

Some subtle changes regarding the princess also began in the second year of the Zhihe era.

On the day of the Beginning of Summer, I went to the princess's room as usual in the early morning, intending to attend to her after she had finished washing up. However, Xiaoyan'er came out and told me that the princess had gotten up early, washed her hair with fragrant water, and then went to the flower garden in the backyard of the pavilion to practice playing the konghou.

I immediately went to the backyard to find her. Before I even entered, the sound of a flowing harp melody drifted on the wind and towards me.

The voice was melodious and graceful, full of emotion and charm, as if telling a story. It made people's thoughts drift, and the world became clear and quiet. Even the birds on the branches seemed to have suddenly forgotten to sing.

Since the acquisition of the konghou, it seems that the princess and I can no longer talk about anything. She has become accustomed to weaving some of her secrets into her konghou music, so that every time I listen to her play, it feels as if I am unconsciously trying to figure out what she is thinking.

I slowed my pace and approached gently.

She stood before the white jade railing of the peony garden. She wore a wide-sleeved gauze robe and a pure red pomegranate skirt around her waist. Her long hair, still damp from her bath, cascaded down her back, the ends spreading across the pleated red skirt. Her pure black hair curved into soft, graceful arcs. She knelt behind a black lacquered and gold-inlaid harp, her brows lowered as she strummed the strings.

She was focused on the music and didn't notice my approach until the piece ended. Then she slowly stood up and turned to look at me.

"Huaiji, you've come." She smiled at me, her figure exquisite and her face beautiful.

My gaze passed over her and landed on the flowerbed behind her—where the peonies were a vibrant, pure red, just like the color of her pomegranate skirt, and were in full bloom.

She turned eighteen that year. I always thought her childhood was very long. Although I had thought that she would grow up one day, I did not expect that day to come so quickly. I was not prepared at all, and she had suddenly grown up.

She had mastered the harp so well that she could present her music as a precious gift to her parents on special occasions and in public. For example, on the Queen's birthday in October of that year, the only birthday gift presented to the princess that the Queen accepted with a smile was her harp piece.

The controversy surrounding Wen Cheng's posthumous investiture has gradually subsided, and the Emperor seems to have felt remorse towards the Empress and intends to make amends, treating her very well lately. At the birthday banquet that day, the Emperor specially invited many of the Empress's relatives and family members to attend, including Cao Yi and his son.

The birthday banquet was held in the Qunyu Hall in the rear garden, with a curtain separating the men of the royal family from the palace ladies. After several cups of wine, a eunuch announced the princess's arrival. The princess, dressed in her finest attire, entered and played a harp melody from behind the curtain.

She chose to play "Qing Ping Yue". As her ten fingers first twirled and produced the first string of notes, Cao Ping outside the curtain slightly opened his eyes and looked towards where the princess was.