Schlimme Dinge passieren oft

Kapitel 25

He smiled slightly and said, "My name is Zhao Hao."

Pang Di suddenly realized: "You are Prince Qi, Hao."

Note: The second half of the poem "Regretful Parting" attributed to Wang Pang in this section is not good. I will continue to refine it and revise it later.

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Drinking Horse

Hao originally thought that the Hehuang region, or the foot of Helan Mountain, or some Liao battlefield would become his burial place.

He loved the feeling of donning armor and galloping across the battlefield. A simple, clear purpose brought him equally simple, clear joy. Each time he heard the sounds of horns and bugles from all sides, his long-dormant ambitions would awaken, and even more than just ambitions; they included the desires he should have for all things in the world. For over twenty years, he had rarely experienced these desires; they seemed detached from his body and soul, bound by his character, status, and circumstances, sealed away for a long time. But the sight of the golden armor and iron horses of the western frontier, far from Tokyo, seemed to instantly break this seal. All his desires escaped, merging into a single, clear point—the desire to win. Thus, besieging cities and watering horses became the activity in his twenty-plus years of life where he could most freely indulge his rare passion.

Moreover, his wisdom and strategy finally found a place to be put to use. He felt happy, even though military life was actually monotonous and austere, not as romantic as the poems described, where one could always drink fine wine to the sound of a pipa before falling asleep on the battlefield.

After leaving the capital at the beginning of the year, he went to the western frontier to join Wang Shao. He then led his troops to build Weiyuan Fort, marched straight to Mobang Mountain, crossed Zhuniu Ridge, and launched a counterattack against the Western Tibetan tribes that refused to submit to the court. The enemy was quickly defeated, and for him, it was merely a small test. Their successive victories shocked the tribes west of the Tao River, who marveled at how the usually weak Song army had swept away its decline and emerged as if heavenly troops had descended.

Their greatest adversary, Mu Zheng, could no longer contain himself. He led his troops across the Tao River to support and rally the defeated Western Tibetan tribes, consolidating all his forces and establishing a stronghold at the foot of Mount Mobang, continuing his battle against the Song army commanded by Wang Shao and Zhao Hao. During the stalemate, Zhao Hao carefully studied the situation and consulted with Wang Shao. On one hand, he left capable generals to hold the southern route of Zhu Niu Ridge, continuing the standoff with Mu Zheng; on the other hand, the two of them would lead troops in a surprise attack from the eastern valley route on Wusheng, a key town in the Hehuang region, which the Western Tibetans had neglected to defend. This campaign was indeed a resounding success. In August of the fifth year of the Xining era, the Song army recaptured Wusheng and, according to Wang Anshi's plan, renamed it Xizhou City. The recapture of Wusheng was of great significance for future resistance against the Western Xia. Wang Anshi was overjoyed upon hearing the news and wrote to Zhao Xu, saying, "Since the west of the Tao River is now inland, and Wusheng is now a trading hub, it will inevitably become a major city. The Tao River, located upstream of the Western Xia, is sufficient to control their fate."

After the victory at Wusheng, Wang Shao and Zhao Hao decided to continue their attack on Mu Zheng, targeting Mu Zheng's stronghold, Hezhou. Hao first led his army through the southern route of Lugushan Mountain into Taozhou, decisively defeating Mu Zheng's brother, Bazhanjiao, and driving out all the Qiang tribes in the area. Faced with the Song army's relentless advance, Mu Zheng was forced to flee Hezhou. The remaining generals of Hezhou, unable to resist, surrendered the city. The leaders of the surrounding Min, Dang, Tao, and Die prefectures also submitted to the Song. Mu Zheng continued his westward escape, wandering among the remaining tribes of the Western Barbarians.

During this period, the Song army marched for fifty-four days, covering over 1,800 li (approximately 650 kilometers), and recovered five prefectures. When the news of the victory reached the capital, Emperor Zhao Xu was overjoyed and received congratulations from his court officials in the Zichen Hall. In rewarding meritorious service, Wang Anshi was first commended, highly praised for his advocacy in pacifying the barbarians, and Emperor Zhao Xu personally removed his jade belt as a reward to him. Subsequently, Wang Shao was promoted to Left Grand Counselor and concurrently Academician of the Duanming Hall.

After returning to the capital in triumph, Wang Shao submitted a memorial stating that the strategies for these battles were mostly devised by Prince Qi, and that he felt deeply apprehensive as to be the sole recipient of imperial favor. He earnestly requested the emperor to bestow honors upon Prince Qi in recognition of his achievements.

Zhao Xu did not reply, but that very night he summoned Zhao Hao to the Miying Pavilion.

Xu coldly watched Hao kneel respectfully before him, and only after Hao had completed all the actions did he slowly speak, "Second brother, rise. You and I are brothers, there is no need for such a grand ceremony in private."

Hao naturally knew how to answer: "Your Majesty and I are brothers, but Your Majesty is the ruler, and I am your subject. I will remember the proper etiquette." Since Xu ascended the throne, Hao had developed the habit of addressing his elder brother with the most solemn "Your Majesty," while never forgetting to refer to himself as "your subject." This was a matter of principle, and Xu emphasized this point in almost everything he did for him. Hao understood that he regarded this as a form of politeness, a respect due to his elder brother's imperial power and status. Of course, there were other reasons, which they tacitly understood. Therefore, Hao would never forget to perform the grandest salute to Xu and use the most respectful form of address. His attitude was respectful, but his behavior and voice contained absolutely no trace of the servility usually found in obsequious people.

Xu said to Hao, "Wang Shao has asked me to bestow honors upon you, and the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager are also waiting for me to do so. Now, I would like to ask you, how do you wish me to bestow honors upon you?"

Hao replied, "If Your Majesty allows me to continue leading troops to completely pacify the Western Barbarians, in preparation for the future destruction of Western Xia and resistance against the Khitan, that would be the greatest reward for me."

Xu frowned slightly: "You enjoy fighting so much? Aren't you afraid of getting hurt on the battlefield, or even losing your life?"

Hao replied frankly, "Since Your Majesty has given me the opportunity to protect my country, I am deeply grateful and will fight with all my might. Even if I die on the battlefield, it will be a great honor for me, which is more meaningful than living a mediocre life in Bianjing." During the battles, Hao was always the vanguard, facing thousands of troops without fear, putting his personal safety aside, and had long since developed a magnanimous mindset that transcended life and death.

Xu stared at Hao for a long time, trying to fathom his true thoughts. Was he truly unafraid of death, or was fighting the Western Barbarians really such a simple matter, one that anyone could easily win and retreat unscathed to receive rewards? No, judging from his tone, he seemed to want to continue fighting the Western Xia and Khitan, even making it his own request before Xu had made such arrangements for him. He didn't want rewards, preferring to choose a more powerful enemy. What was he thinking? He seemed completely disregarding the honor and benefits brought by the victory at Hehuang. Had he already considered victory over the Western Xia and Khitan inevitable, thus pre-positioning the potentially greater benefits into his own scheme?

He appeared so confident. This confidence gave him a certain air of brilliance and power. "No, how can I describe him as 'brilliant and powerful'? That's an adjective reserved for emperors," Xu thought. But his appearance easily evoked that word, and one can never control what others think. What would the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, and the court officials think?

Prince Qi, Hao, was his outstanding younger brother. If he had continued to lead troops against the Western Xia and Khitan and achieved victory, later historical records would likely have described him as follows: Hao was exceptionally gifted and particularly fond of learning. He was skilled in archery and calligraphy, and loved books, seeking out rare and valuable editions. He was a man of outstanding martial prowess, having led armies to pacify the Western Barbarians, subdue the Western Xia, and destroy the Khitan, earning the admiration of all.

Moreover, he would gain more military power when fighting against the Western Xia and Khitan. Would an emperor's younger brother, who is exceptionally gifted and holds military power, still be an obedient brother?

Xu suddenly realized how naive his previous thoughts had been, almost pushing him into a dangerous situation.

He smiled and said to Hao in a gentle tone, "I regretted ordering you to go to war in the Hehuang region without careful consideration last time. I was always worried and couldn't eat or sleep whenever I thought about your arduous military life and the dangers you might face at any time. The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager also resented me for sending you to the battlefield without brotherly affection, and they often urged me to recall you to the capital as soon as possible. Now that you have returned victorious, I will reward you handsomely. From now on, you can stay in the capital to share my burdens and let the two empress dowagers enjoy their family life without any worries. You don't need to worry about military matters anymore, Second Brother."

This was undoubtedly bad news for Hao. He knelt down again and said, "Your Majesty, I have vowed to fight for you in the north and south to recover lost territories. Now, the war against the Western Barbarians has only achieved the first stage of victory. There are still remnants of tribes that need to be eliminated. Moreover, I have always regarded the pacification of the Western Xia and Khitan as my own important mission. I beg Your Majesty to grant my request."

Emperor Xu ignored his request and said, "My mind is made up; my second brother need not say more."

Hao continued to plead: "Your Majesty has always cherished every opportunity you have given me. Your Majesty has already given me a chance to defend my country, so I repaid Your Majesty's kindness by defeating the enemy and returning in triumph. But why is Your Majesty unwilling to give me another such opportunity now?"

"Opportunity? Cherish?" These two words suddenly reminded Xu of something else. He sneered, then asked Hao, "Do you really know how to cherish every opportunity and everything you get?"

Hao was taken aback. After a moment's thought, he replied, "Yes."

Xu stood up, slowly walked to Hao's side, stood with his hands behind his back, and stared straight ahead without looking at him. However, he said to Hao, word by word, "Hao, I have always wanted to know how Wan'er died."

Wan'er? This name once again confirmed Xu's feelings for her. So he had always believed she hadn't been cherished by him. Hao thought, a wave of bitterness washing over him, followed by a dull ache.

He gave a bitter smile, his eyes filled with boundless sorrow.

Then he said to Xu, "Brother, I also want to know how she died."

Water Spirit

A beautiful woman, alluring and leisurely, picks mulberry leaves by a forked road. The supple branches sway gently, and the fallen leaves flutter gracefully.

From a young age, whenever Hao read phrases describing beautiful women, the image of Wanji would always come to mind.

A woman of unparalleled beauty, possessing not only a gentle and intelligent heart, but also a refined and elegant demeanor, made one feel as if the world instantly brightened upon seeing her, bringing joy and peace to the heart. To him, she seemed to exist not merely as an ordinary beautiful woman, but more often as sunshine, spring breeze, dew, fragrance, hope—all the beautiful things he cherished. However, he was ashamed to reveal his feelings, afraid that others would discover his deep affection for her. Moreover, he felt a strange sense of inferiority in her presence; he always believed he was unworthy of her, that she could never love him, and that she only saw him as a cute younger brother. Therefore, he never harbored any expectations, content to silently observe her and admire her from afar. He wouldn't deliberately seek opportunities to approach her; sometimes, getting too close made him uneasy, and he would often find excuses to escape, as if burned by her unparalleled beauty.

But when his grandmother told him that Wanji would marry him, his first reaction was an overwhelming sense of joy and disbelief. It wasn't just joy; there was also a dizzying feeling of being instantly swept away by a vortex of happiness.

He knew he loved her; she was the perfect fairy he had admired since he was old enough to understand. And finally, one day, this fairy descended gracefully, giving him the chance to hold her hand and grow old together.

He decided to cherish her for the rest of his life.

Hao was not entirely unaware of Xu's feelings for her. However, he told himself that it was only natural for a woman like Wanji to win everyone's love. Although Xu loved Wanji, Wanji might not love him in return. In fact, he couldn't see any difference in Wanji's attitude towards the brothers. Since their feelings weren't mutual, his marriage to Wanji couldn't be seen as stealing someone else's love.

Although the Empress Dowager had issued a gag order for Xu to cause a scene in the Emperor and Empress Dowager's palace for Wanji, forbidding the palace servants from revealing the details, Hao had heard some of it. He felt vaguely uneasy and mentioned it to Empress Dowager Cao, but the Empress Dowager waved her hand and said that Xu was just like that by nature; he would fight for anything good, and even if he got it, he might not cherish it. Why should you feel guilty for him?

That sentence put his mind at ease, leading him to make a mistake that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

From the day of their engagement to the wedding ceremony, Wanji appeared unusually calm, showing no sign of joy or sorrow. Hao wasn't surprised; he had long been accustomed to Wanji's quiet and serene expression over the past decade. He thought it was normal that marriage couldn't elicit any change in her expression; she had always been this nonchalant.

On their wedding night, after hesitating for a long time, he finally nervously loosened her sash. She remained unmoved, neither pleased nor angry, and did not reject him. But then she began to weep. At first, she only sobbed quietly, but when he noticed, he hurriedly asked her why, and she finally could not hold back and burst into loud sobs.

Startled, he immediately got up and stood helplessly in front of the bed, not knowing what to do.

She cried all night, and he stood all night.

The next day, he still couldn't think of a way to comfort her, but she seemed to have completely forgotten what happened the night before. She calmly got up and washed, and carefully used foundation to cover up the traces of crying before going out to greet her parents and grandmother.

He was like a frightened bird, and dared not touch her for several days. She seemed to feel quite apologetic, and gradually became tender towards him, becoming a virtuous wife who cared for her husband and respected her parents.

However, Hao felt that their marriage was not as perfect as outsiders praised, because his lips could never dry the tears in her eyes, and his embrace was still powerless to warm her cold heart. One night, she quietly rose from beside him, put on her morning robe, and drifted out of the house. He noticed and secretly followed her. She stopped in the garden, looking at the waning moon, bathed in a soft, gentle light, and softly murmured: "The moon is waning, the moon is waning, why does she not return..."

He didn't understand why she kept repeating that sentence, and felt a pang of sorrow: they were only inches apart, but their souls were clearly wandering in two different worlds.

In the first month of the fourth year of the Zhiping era, Emperor Yingzong passed away, and his elder brother, Emperor Xu, ascended the throne. At the imperial family banquet celebrating Xu's ascension, members of the imperial clan, accompanied by their wives, offered their congratulations in turn, according to protocol. When it was his turn with Consort Wan, he knelt and bowed with undivided attention. After rising, he noticed that Consort Wan remained motionless, gazing at Xu as if she had forgotten him, while Xu gazed back at her. Then, almost simultaneously, she lowered her gaze and gracefully bowed, and Xu returned the gesture with a clasped-hands bow, seemingly forgetting his imperial status. Their demeanor was unusually solemn and dignified, like a wedding vow exchange between husband and wife.

In that instant, Hao understood the love between them. Perhaps he had already guessed it, but simply refused to admit it. For others, sworn brotherhood was a union of fate, but for them it was a severance of fate, representing separation, each burying their past love in marriage to someone else.

She remained living in her own dreamlike world. She began playing her harp day and night, a way to numb her spirit, much like a man drowning his sorrows in alcohol.

Finally, after hearing her break three strings on her zither one night, Hao asked her sadly, "Sister Wan, was it a mistake for me to marry you?" He waited for her affirmative answer with a heavy heart. He felt ashamed of the good reputation others had given him; he was selfish after all. Even though he knew his brother also liked her, he still didn't have the courage to give her away like he would give away a pear.

She was taken aback, then surprisingly smiled. She turned to look at him and said gently, "Hao, I love you."

This gave him a glimmer of hope. He began actively seeking advice from the dashing and handsome Wang Pang on how to win a woman's heart. He asked him why, and Wang Pang briefly explained. After only a few words, Wang Pang burst into laughter and asked, "You actually called her 'Sister Wan'?"

Hao was confused. Was there anything wrong with this way of addressing her? He had called her that since she was a child.

Wang Pang told him, "Women always hope to be cared for and protected by men, so older, more mature men are more likely to give them a sense of security. It's okay that you're a little younger than Wanji, but you shouldn't always call her 'sister,' reminding her that you're older than her. This makes her feel that she should be taking care of you, her little brother, rather than you taking care of and protecting her. This is one of the reasons why she finds it difficult to develop romantic feelings for you. In her subconscious, you are still the younger brother she has always thought of, and you haven't yet transformed into the husband she is now. From now on, don't call her 'Sister Wan,' but rather 'Wanji' or 'Wan'er.'"

Hao understood, and after changing his form of address, he gradually learned to cherish Wanji as a husband. He also learned from Wang Pang how to create an atmosphere she liked based on her preferences, racking his brains to make her happy. He even went out of the capital to travel to several famous mountains, just to find the spices she liked.

However, when he returned a few days later, weary from his journey, and placed the spices he had found in front of her, she asked him casually, "I haven't made incense in a long time, didn't you know?"

His enthusiasm vanished instantly, and he forced a smile, saying, "Then let's throw it away."

She gazed at him for a long time, then suddenly walked over and, for the first time in her life, took the initiative to hug him, nestling her face against his chest, and softly said, "But I am very grateful to you, Hao."

From that day on, he felt the happiness born of love that he had been searching for. Although it was a little late, he already felt it was a gift from heaven, especially when Wanji told him with a shy smile two months later that she was pregnant with his child.

Overjoyed, he immediately rushed out of the palace to tell Wang Pang the good news. He spoke incoherently, describing Wan Ji's expression one moment and holding Wang Pang's hand the next, desperately thanking him for his guidance on love.

Wang Pang smiled and said, "I've known you for so long, and I've never seen you so excited before."

Upon returning to the palace, they discovered that Consort Wan was not there. A palace maid explained that she had gone to Qingshou Palace to inform the Empress Dowager of the good news.

Finally, she returned. He asked her about the Empress Dowager's reaction, and she only said, "She said it was very good, and she was very happy." Then she fell silent, looking somewhat lost in thought. When he asked again, she snapped out of her reverie and greeted him with a smile.

He was happy that day and didn't pay attention to her unusual behavior. But when he suddenly woke up in the middle of the night and reached out to find that she was no longer beside him, he was immediately filled with panic.

As I got dressed and got up, before I could even open the door, I heard screams and cries of pain mingling together outside, creating a noisy commotion.

He opened the door and saw a dark mass of palace eunuchs and maids kneeling on the ground, but they immediately fell silent when they saw him come out.

He asked, "What's wrong with you all?"

He noticed his voice trembling.

At first, no one dared to answer. He asked again. Finally, a eunuch wept and said to him, "Your Highness, please accept my condolences. The Princess has passed away."

She drowned in the Yaojin Pond in the rear garden. Dressed in white with her long hair flowing down her back, the palace eunuch on night watch in the rear garden said that when he first saw her float down and fall into the pond, he thought she was a flower fairy. But the more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed, so he quickly asked someone to retrieve her. But by the time she was pulled out, it was too late.

So she committed suicide by drowning. But why? Didn't she love him? Didn't she want to have his child? But when she told him the news, she was clearly happy and looking forward to what their child would be like. At that time, she didn't seem to smell anything related to death. Why did she end Hao's hard-won happiness in such a way in just half a day?

Hao spent his days in despair. Several days later, he remembered that her death might be related to her visit to the Empress Dowager at Qingshou Palace. So he searched for the four palace maids who had accompanied Wanji when she left, wanting to ask about the details. However, the head eunuch told him some devastating news: three of the four palace maids had already hanged themselves to follow their mistress, and the remaining one had been taken in by the Empress Dowager at Qingshou Palace.

He rushed to Qingshou Palace and found the only surviving palace maid, Ruosang, only to discover to his surprise that she had become mute. The Empress Dowager calmly said to him, "She wept day and night after Wanji's death, eventually losing her voice. She used to be a palace maid in Qingshou Palace. Now I'm bringing her back. You don't mind, do you?"

Of course, he couldn't possibly mind. His doubts, however, deepened, and he finally couldn't help but ask the Empress Dowager about what had happened at Qingshou Palace that day. She replied, "Nothing much. She told me she was pregnant, and I was very happy. I kept her company for a while and told her to take good care of herself."

This was not the secret he wanted to know. The Empress Dowager noticed his silence and spoke again: "Don't think too much about it. Perhaps she was just in a good mood and couldn't sleep, so she went for a walk by Yaojin Pond and accidentally fell into the water."

She paused, then added, "It has nothing to do with anyone else."

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Osprey

"Did you have any argument with her before she fell into the water?" Inside the Mi Ying Pavilion, Xu walked up to Hao, looked him straight in the eyes, and asked this question.