Qu Wentai's eyes welled up with tears. Although he disliked his mother, he had loved and pitied Qu Zhixiu when he was just learning to speak. To beat him like this hurt both his hands and his heart. He discarded the broken cane and said in a hard voice, "What sins have I committed to give birth to this unfilial son? Drag him away and when he wakes up, ask him if he admits his mistakes. If he doesn't, don't give him water or food. If he dies, I will ask Buddha to grant him leniency and spare him from Avici Hell."
***
Li Weiying poured a bucket of cool well water, wiped the sweat from her brow, and her face flushed red in the spring sunshine. Last year, she tried to make wine from the grapes she had personally tended. However, her experience was limited; the yield from a single tree was already limited, and she ruined a lot while treading the syrup. She didn't get the amount of yeast mixed in right, and she failed several times during the steaming process. In the end, she used up the last few grapes, producing a thin jar of wine, its color a lovely bright red. But she didn't have the courage to taste it herself, so she quickly sealed the jar and buried it in the cellar. She hoped for a good harvest this summer, so she could brew it properly again. But would she really have to wait until the wine was fragrant and full of life to find Huan Lang again?
"My lady, the young lady of the Li family!"
Li Weiying straightened up and looked up: "Lord Yao!" It was Yao Siding, who had escorted her to Jiaohe. He was the Sima (military officer) of the Tian Di Gong Qu Zhizhan's mansion, and had saved Li Weiying's life that day, a memory she had always cherished. Yao Siding looked anxious, "The Tian Di Gong invites you to come with me to the capital. We can discuss the details in the carriage."
After Qu Zhixiu was flogged, Qu Wentai sent a physician to examine him, but upon regaining consciousness, he stubbornly refused to admit his mistake. This happened several times, enraging Qu Wentai, who then forbade anyone to give Qu Zhixiu food or water. For three days and three nights, Qu Zhixiu, deprived of food and water and severely injured by the flogging, was practically dead. Qu Zhisheng and Qu Zhizhan defied their father's orders and brought him water. He managed to drink a little while still unconscious, but refused to drink any more as soon as he regained consciousness, vomiting it out even when forced to drink. Upon hearing this, Qu Wentai was furious. He had already ordered Qu Zhixiu's execution, but then an envoy from the Western Turks arrived, keeping Qu Wentai busy. Qu Zhizhan secretly withheld the imperial edict and summoned Yao Siding with Li Weiying.
Li Weiying was shocked by what she heard, never expecting Qu Zhixiu to be so fierce. "But Lord Yao, even if I go, the little prince might not be willing to give in." Yao Siding said, "Lord Tian has no other choice. The little prince still thinks of you, so perhaps it can be of some use. The lord will return soon. I only hope that before he returns, my wife can persuade the little prince to change his mind."
Jiaohe is 160 li (approximately 80 kilometers) from the capital of Gaochang, and it would take at least half a day by carriage. Li Weiying, hearing Yao Siding's description, grew anxious: "In that case, why take a carriage? Lord Yao, quickly untie the harness and ride there directly!" Yao Siding was slightly surprised: "My lady knows how to ride a horse? Yes, yes, stop the carriage!"
The two rode swiftly into the palace. Li Weiying was startled as soon as she entered the room. Qu Zhixiu was lying naked on the bed, the blanket only lightly covering his waist. His back was covered with layers of open wounds, and his face, with its eyes tightly closed, showed no sign of life.
Qu Zhizhan sat far away by the window. Hearing Yao Siding's voice, he didn't turn his head. "Father will be returning to the palace soon. I can't manage all this anymore. You all handle it." His tone was already very disheartened and weary. Li Weiying still remembered seeing him at the banquet last time. That gentleman who played the flute was so gentle and refined, with a calm and composed demeanor. He was completely different from the man before her. Without saying much, she picked up a brush and hastily wrote a few words, instructing Yao Siding to present them to Qu Wentai immediately.
Yao Siding asked doubtfully, "What is this?" Li Weiying replied, "It's in the style of the Little Prince's handwriting. Just say you made a mistake." She remembered that when she handled documents for Qu Zhixiu, his handwriting was in the style of Zhong Yao from the Three Kingdoms period. Although Li Weiying wasn't proficient in that style, she could still roughly write it. Considering Qu Zhixiu's serious injury and Qu Wentai's inner turmoil, who would seriously bother with a serious argument? Even if Qu Wentai came in person, Qu Zhixiu would be unconscious in bed. They could easily claim he struggled to write it while conscious, insisting he had admitted his mistake. It wasn't difficult to fabricate a lie, and it wouldn't be exposed anytime soon. Yao Siding took the forged document and hurried away.
Then she ordered someone to help Qu Zhixiu up to drink water, but he still clenched his teeth and refused to drink a drop. Li Weiying simply ordered him to be tied to a chair, pinched his nose, pried open his mouth, and forced water down his throat. Qu Zhixiu refused to swallow, and water flowed from his lips. Li Weiying said, "If you die now, no one will be able to dissuade your father in the future. The destruction of Gaochang was entirely due to your willful actions, your inability to assess the situation, your failure to understand the king's heart, and your reckless behavior." Her voice grew louder: "Qu Zhixiu, as a son, you have failed your father. You eat the king's food but cannot understand the difficulties. This is because you are short-sighted and incompetent, and you cannot blame anyone else."
Qu Zhixiu's throat bobbed for a long time before he opened his red, swollen, and dry eyes, staring intently at Li Weiying, making soft hoarse sounds. He hadn't drunk water for days, and his throat was so sore he could barely speak. Li Weiying quickly forced him to drink water again, which he drank all of. The servants untied him, carried him back to bed, and he quietly closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Qu Zhizhan turned his face and sighed heavily, "Axiu often scolds me for being useless, and he's absolutely right. I'm worrying in vain, but I can't save him." Li Weiying, on the other hand, had a good impression of Qu Zhizhan and comforted him, "The Second Prince is so affectionate towards his younger brother that he's overly anxious, and it's inevitable that he'll lose his composure for a moment. I'm an outsider, and it's none of my business, but I can still offer some advice." After hesitating for a moment, she still asked him, "Second Prince, actually the Little Prince doesn't like you and has repeatedly spoken ill of you. Why do you still love and help him so much? How disrespectful of you, brother! Are you a true friend to your disciple?"
Qu Zhizhan did not answer, but sat down beside Qu Zhixiu's bed and gently stroked his disheveled long hair: "Because Axiu dares to do what I dare not do." He lowered his head and fell silent again, then looked up at Li Weiying with a bitter smile, straightened up and bowed deeply: "Please take good care of me, my lady. I will be eternally grateful." He then left without looking back.
After that, Qu Zhizhan often came to visit his younger brother, thanking Li Weiying profusely each time and giving her repeated advice before leaving. Li Weiying tried to tell him she was leaving several times but couldn't bring herself to do so. Twenty days later, Qu Zhixiu gradually recovered from his injuries and was able to walk again.
*
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PS:
In *Journey to the West*, Xuanzang is depicted as becoming sworn brothers with Emperor Taizong of Tang, who personally gifted him a white horse. However, at that time, the Tang Dynasty was at war with the Turks, and there were strict restrictions on those leaving the country. Xuanzang fled without a permit, reaching the Jade Gate Pass, where an arrest warrant was issued. Fortunately, he received help from some Buddhists and managed to cross the border illegally. When he arrived in Gaochang, Qu Wentai was extremely hospitable. Besides having monks step on his thighs to ascend the altar (as mentioned in my previous writing), Qu Wentai also became sworn brothers with Xuanzang (this is the origin of the term "Imperial Brother"). When Xuanzang left, Qu Wentai generously provided him with one hundred taels of gold, thirty thousand silver coins, various clothing and thirty sets of ceremonial robes, four attendants, and twenty-four letters to various countries along his route, each accompanied by a bolt of fine silk. He also presented five hundred bolts of silk and two cartloads of fruit to the Western Turks to facilitate Xuanzang's journey. Without these gifts, where would Xuanzang have gotten the funds to travel to India to obtain Buddhist scriptures? More than a decade later, Xuanzang returned to the Tang Dynasty. Emperor Taizong of Tang, considering that he had already done postdoctoral research and was a returned overseas student, did not hold his illegal behavior against him.
The Lingyin of Gaochang was equivalent to the prime minister, and the Wancao Langzhong was equivalent to the vice prime minister.
Everyone keeps asking me where Huan She is. Sigh, hasn't any comrade noticed a detail?
Chapter Twenty-Three
23. [Qixi Festival]
That evening, Li Weiying heard a commotion below her window. Looking down, she saw several servants planting a grape tree. The tree looked increasingly familiar, and she suddenly cried out in a trembling voice, "My tree! My tree!" Qu Zhixiu entered her room and placed his hand on her shoulder. "I had it moved from Jiaohe." Li Weiying pulled away, exclaiming in shock and anger, "This will kill the tree! How long are you going to keep harming me?!" Although Qu Zhixiu had just recovered from a serious injury, he was stronger than her and forcefully grabbed her shoulders, saying, "You're the one who made me stay here! You have to stay with me! I know you cherish this tree the most, so I painstakingly had it dug up and moved here. Aren't you grateful?" Li Weiying's face turned pale with anger: "I harmed you?" If it weren't for Qu Zhizhan's deep love for his brother, who would want to stay by Qu Zhixiu's side?
Qu Zhixiu said coldly, "I have been stripped of my title and am no longer the Duke of Jiaohe. I am now like a commoner, trapped in this palace. Who is responsible for this?" Li Weiying struggled fiercely, "You angered the King yourself. Losing your fief is a light punishment. What does it have to do with me?" Qu Zhixiu's hands dug even tighter into her flesh, "Isn't it because my eldest and second brothers volunteered to resign from their posts to apologize? Humph, whether I did anything wrong or not, why should they apologize? Instead, they reminded Father that he should strip me of my official position and fief and imprison me in these high walls. You and my second brother are the closest. I have long been disgusted by the faces of you two dogs."
Li Weiying stopped resisting, letting him squeeze her shoulder bones until they cracked, the pain so intense she felt like her teeth were about to break. Qu Zhixiu sneered, "So you've admitted your mistake too?" Li Weiying said softly, "It was your eldest brother who repeatedly mentioned resigning from office to apologize to the emperor. Your second brother wasn't interested in politics; he just agreed with your brother. Perhaps the eldest prince has ulterior motives, but your second brother truly loves you. I think he's the person who cherishes you most in this world. Why can't you understand?" Before she finished speaking, her eyes were already brimming with tears.
Qu Zhixiu froze, then released his grip. Li Weiying could no longer hold back; she ran downstairs, sobbing uncontrollably, and threw herself against the newly planted grape tree, weeping bitterly, disregarding the presence of the garden. Qu Zhixiu leaned against the window and watched her for a while before coming downstairs to her side. He said, "Hmm, I think you want this." Li Weiying glanced at him; he was holding a small jar of grape wine that he had brewed himself. She lowered her eyes. "If you want to smash it, then smash it. No need for this act." Qu Zhixiu gave an "oh," instructed the servants to take the wine jar to the palace cellar for safekeeping, and then told everyone to leave, leaving her alone.
Li Weiying was utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally, and had no strength left to argue with Qu Zhixiu. Ignoring his gaze, she slowly strolled back to her room and sat limply by the door. She didn't know how much time had passed; it was late, and the room was dimly lit. She vaguely heard a noise, assuming it was Qu Zhixiu, and made no fuss. A moment later, something furry jumped onto her lap. Li Weiying was startled to see a small, glossy brown dog, only six inches tall and barely a foot long, wagging its tail playfully. Upon closer inspection, she noticed a long, emerald-green ribbon tied around its neck, the end of which was nowhere to be seen.
Li Weiying, curious, pulled at the jade ribbon, but it only grew longer and longer, seemingly endless. She chuckled and said to the little dog, "Little Fulin, what trick are you playing?" She continued pulling, and Qu Zhixiu emerged from the other end of the ribbon, holding a brocade box connected to the ribbon. He released it, and the box slid gracefully into Li Weiying's arms.
Sigh, that Qu Zhixiu, he always slaps someone and then comes back with a smile. She was quite helpless, and opened the brocade box to take a look—
It was her own Xuan Bird Jade Pendant and two spirit stones; the dim light couldn't diminish their shimmering brilliance. The iron chain on the jade pendant was still intact, and the spirit stones were wrapped with silk thread like a diamond-shaped sachet for the Dragon Boat Festival. Li Weiying held the jade and stones in her arms, as if she were embracing Huan She again, her heart surging with emotion.
Qu Zhixiu remained silent for a long time before finally sitting down beside her. In the dim twilight, a glint of light flashed in his eyes. Li Weiying felt a vague unease and took a step back.
Qu Zhixiu said, "You like this dog, don't you?" Li Weiying smiled slightly, "A Fulin dog, it's very cute." Qu Zhixiu said, "In the first year of Yanshou (this was Qu Wentai's reign title, equivalent to the seventh year of Wude of Emperor Gaozu of Tang), at the beginning of my father's reign, he sent envoys to pay tribute to the Tang Dynasty, presenting a pair of male and female Fulin (Eastern Roman) dogs. Before that, China had never had this breed of dog. Therefore, it was very precious and was only kept in the palace. You actually recognize this dog."
Li Weiying's expression changed.
Qu Zhixiu asked coldly, "Who exactly are you?"
He gazed at her face for a long time. "Don't tell me you're a palace maid or something. You can use a name, but you can't learn this kind of demeanor." Li Weiying smiled gently, put the puppy on the ground, and let it run around. She said, "I really didn't dare to underestimate you." Qu Zhixiu said reservedly, "Of course. When you recognized the black fox fur coat, I already had some suspicions. It was a gift from my father to the current emperor to celebrate his ascension to the throne." Li Weiying asked curiously, "So what? Although black and silver fox fur coats are precious, they are not uncommon in the homes of some high-ranking officials, except in the imperial palace."
Qu Zhixiu chuckled, "But you seem to have forgotten that you came to Yanqi to visit relatives. You're so clever, elegant, and poised. If you're going to act, you should learn from me." Li Weiying said calmly, "Don't I know that my family has fallen on hard times?" Qu Zhixiu reached out and pinched her chin. "Tsk tsk, you really do look like the emperor." Li Weiying pulled away. "Since you already knew, why bother trying to test me with all these tricks?" She stood up and walked to the window.
Qu Zhixiu remained seated on the ground, eyes closed, and after a long pause said, "I brought this puppy here just to please you; I had no intention of testing you." Li Weiying ignored him, clearly disbelieving. Qu Zhixiu said softly, "Whether you believe me or not, actually, back in Chang'an, I was relieved not to find out your specific situation. Wouldn't it have been better if we had just pretended to be confused year after year? But..." Li Weiying turned to him, "But what?" Qu Zhixiu's expression turned solemn, "Today I learned that the Emperor officially issued an edict to attack Gaochang the moment I left Chang'an. Now that your identity is clear, I can no longer deceive myself. From this day forward, we are enemies. When the Tang army besieges the city, I will tie you to the rooftop. If the Tang army refuses to withdraw, I will rape and kill you. Don't blame me."
Li Weiying's face turned deathly pale. "Don't waste your time. I'll kill myself now." She gritted her teeth and climbed onto the windowsill.
Qu Zhixiu smiled mischievously, his teasing voice drifting over: "Aren't you waiting for your lover? Escaping from Chang'an to the Western Regions isn't easy." These words reminded Li Weiying. Yes, Huan Lang hadn't been found yet; how could she abandon him, unsure of his safety? Besides, he didn't even know her feelings. How could she give up so easily? She tilted her head slightly, raising her face, her dark eyes looking at Qu Zhixiu with unwavering resolve. "Either you push me down, or if you can't bring yourself to do it now, just wait and see my Great Tang destroy your entire country."
Qu Zhixiu quietly watched her stern face in the twilight. The biting wind made her clothes flutter. He was silent for a moment, then strode over.
Li Weiying closed her eyes, loosened her grip on the window frame, and was about to fall. Qu Zhixiu lunged forward and grabbed her skirt tightly, furious, "I'm here to help you land, why are you jumping! The Tang princess is so reckless and suicidal, you've disgraced your father!" With a forceful pull, he dragged her down, and the two of them tumbled back into the room. They struggled to their feet, glaring at each other angrily.
Qu Zhixiu summoned his servants: "Keep a close watch on her every step of the way. If anything goes wrong, you will all be sent to the Turks as slaves!"
Day after day, night after night, I lay listlessly by the window. I was forbidden to step outside, forbidden to go downstairs to tend the tree. I stretched my arms out the window, trying to touch it, but it was all in vain. I closed my eyes and imagined myself resting under the tree, its dense shade shielding me from the scorching sun and the wind and sand. So gentle, so protective, as if Huan Lang were beside me.
Even with my eyes closed, I could still feel the twilight gradually enveloping the surroundings, signaling another long night ahead.
A clattering noise came from under the window, which greatly displeased Li Weiying. Was she not even allowed this moment of peace? Opening her eyes, she saw several people walking by, carrying lanterns and coughing as they went. The dim light cast a desolate glow on the blooming spring flowers.
Li Weiying asked the attendant who had been standing behind her, "Who are those people?" The attendant replied, "They are here to dredge the well channels. After winter, the soil in the wells becomes soft due to the snowmelt, and it is very easy for them to collapse. Therefore, every spring, some workers are sent down into the wells to repair them. Otherwise, if a well channel collapses or gets blocked, the entire network of wells will dry up, and the grape trees that you planted will certainly not survive."
Seeing that the laborers were all covered in dust, hunched over, and trembling, Li Weiying figured they were exhausted. The grape tree's survival was thanks to their hard work. Feeling a mixture of pity and gratitude, she said to her attendant, "Have someone send some cakes down." The attendant obeyed and led people to deliver the food, which the laborers immediately cheered and shared.
She turned away from the window, and faintly heard a voice say, "Hey, leave some for Zishen. He hasn't come up yet."
I chuckled to myself, thinking that these people are quite loyal and righteous.
Spring passed and summer arrived, yet there was still no news of the Tang army. Every time Qu Zhixiu came, he would mock him. Li Weiying calmly said, "Your father said the Tang army wouldn't come, but you contradicted him, saying they would attack soon. Now you're saying this again—aren't you contradicting yourself?" Qu Zhixiu's face flushed red. A few days later, he came to boast to Li Weiying, "My father listened to my advice and made an agreement with the Western Turkic Khan, Yibi Dulu, to cooperate in times of crisis." He picked up a brush and began to write on the table, pointing out, "The Yabghu is stationed at the Khan's Stupa City north of Tanhan Mountain, while the Khan himself has a large army stationed west of Zuhe Mountain." "Come and see." Li Weiying carefully read it and said admiringly, "Excellent! The Khan's army and Gaochang are in perfect coordination, while the Yabgu's army and yours are almost in a pincer movement. The deployment is appropriate, and the offense and defense are well-coordinated. It is indeed quite thoughtful." Qu Zhixiu was extremely pleased: "My dear, my father usually scolds or beats me, but this time he praised me. It wasn't in vain that I traveled back and forth between Gaochang and the Turks for days, exhausting my words. Alas, the gold and silk I spent were heartbreaking. That greedy Yu Gu She (another name for Yibi Dulu Khan) won't open his eyes without money."