"Forgive my bluntness, but with Your Highness being so close to Huan She, how can Cao Ling not feel disheartened?"
Damn Lu Shuang, you're just a childhood playmate from Luoyang. What makes you think you understand me so well?
Silence fell, and Qin'er's reply remained unheard. Cao Ling was secretly surprised to find herself somewhat disappointed. Lu Shuang continued, "Does Your Highness still remember when Huan She broke his ribs? I advised him on how to treat it and even sent him fresh bird livers for treatment." Finally, she heard her say, "Was it Cao Ling who instructed you to relay the message and personally hunt the birds?" Lu Shuang smiled, "Bo Ji is proud and arrogant, unwilling to stoop so low to please Your Highness, but he did discuss his insights on bone injuries with me, and I remembered them." Li Weiying said, "Thank you, Commandant Lu, but how could Cao Ling possibly know so much about bone injuries?" Cao Ling was so weary she wanted to cut off her ears. Fei Heng indeed spoke up, "Your Highness probably doesn't know that Cao Ling once jumped off a cliff for you!"
"What!" she exclaimed.
"When Cao Ling heard that the princess was in danger in Longyou, he jumped off Xixiu Ridge. Fortunately, he was stopped by Yun Song and landed on a stone platform halfway up the mountain. The emperor sent sixteen guards to search for him for two days before he was found. By then, both of his legs had been broken."
Cao Ling felt a faint mist spreading before her, like the gentle waves of spring water in a sea pool, or like the twilight mist swirling around Xixiu Ridge. Was it you crying, Qin'er? Qin'er?
Fei Heng sighed, "But he was determined to die and refused to go down the mountain. The soldiers forcibly carried him back to the Cao residence. His Majesty came to visit him, but Cao Ling remained silent and refused to take any medicine. Later, His Highness Prince Wei visited the residence and was furious that he had caused you to flee far away and encounter danger, and that you had committed this suicidal act. In a fit of anger, he drew his sword to kill him. Your Highness, please look at the wound on his chest!" He then began to unbutton Cao Ling's clothes.
"Enough!" Cao Ling roared suddenly, but her chest was already exposed, and a dark red scar near her heart pierced Li Weiying's bright eyes like a sharp blade that had just been licked with blood. "Ah!" Tears streamed down her face as she recalled the shattered jade flute on the grassland, the ominous Li hexagram in the fourth line, the nightmares of the night, and the blood-soaked figures in her dreams—all of it was real.
Cao Ling repeated, "Enough!" His voice was no longer angry but still cold: "Does Mr. Fei want to tell Your Highness how pitiful Cao Ling is? But Mr. Fei has never witnessed the scene firsthand. Why don't I tell you? Lu Shuang hasn't heard of it either, so let's all have some fun." He turned his head away, avoiding Li Weiying's tearful eyes. "Ling has always been afraid of death, all talk and no action. That day, I don't know why I suddenly mustered up the courage. Cough, maybe I just drank too much and slipped and fell." In the past, Cao Ling was dashing and carefree, but after being divorced, he only indulged in drunken despair. Today, his self-deprecating humor surprised Li Weiying, who felt a pang of sadness.
Cao Ling coughed, "The scenery was quite nice, the wind whistled past my ears, the green mountains and trees flew by, the white clouds turned into my sleeves, my mind was no longer in my body, it was as if..." His voice dimmed, "...as if I saw you wearing a white shirt and green skirt, waving and smiling at me... I fell on the rocks, unable to move, looking up at the clouds in the sky, every single one of them was your figure, and you said, Cao Ling, why are you ignoring me?"
He turned his face slightly away, ignoring Li Weiying who was weeping with her face covered, his gaze unfocused as he stared blankly at the azure sky outside the window. Fei Heng gestured to Lu Shuang, signaling him to leave together. Cao Ling's gaze drifted back to the bedside, and she sneered, "The story isn't over yet. Just now, Mr. Fei said I was determined to die and didn't want to go back with the Wei family soldiers. That's wrong. Imagine, those desolate mountains and wilderness are quiet and wonderful. Why would so many busybodies bother me? They said that the King of Wei was angry that I caused the princess to flee and encounter danger, and that he was so angry that he drew his sword to kill me. But no, it was clearly me who insulted the King of Wei. What does it matter to you whether I live or die? Qin'er... it's me, not you. Why the hell aren't you going to snatch the Crown Prince and instead come here to bother me? That hit a nerve, ha..." Suddenly, she choked on a mouthful of blood, splattering it on Li Weiying's apricot-colored dress, and laughed wildly, "I even dared to shoot the princess, what else wouldn't I dare to say!"
"Cao Ling!" Li Weiying hugged Cao Ling, only to find that he had fainted again, with clear tears slowly flowing from the corners of his eyes.
After urgently administering medicine to Cao Ling, Fei Heng continued to Li Weiying, "Cao Ling almost lost his life from that sword wound; it was extremely dangerous. Fortunately, several renowned doctors and I worked together to save him, and we managed to save his life. It's a pity he didn't cherish it. At the same time, Madam Xue asked her father and brothers to file a complaint with the Ministry of Personnel, accusing Cao Ling of failing to fulfill his responsibilities as a husband after marriage. The Ministry of Personnel's mediation failed, and they granted a divorce."
"Divorce!" Li Weiying was stunned. Fei Heng shook his head, "Cao Ling was fined a year's salary for this, and Lord Cao Jing also felt sorry for the Xue family, so he resigned and returned to Luoyang with Yang and Liu." Li Weiying choked up, "But are we leaving Cao Ling alone in the capital? He was so badly injured." Fei Heng said, "Master Cao was already furious, and Cao Ling was half-dead anyway, and he didn't talk to anyone, so what difference would it make if one more or one less person was around? Later, His Highness learned that the Emperor planned to attack Gaochang and wanted Cao Ling to go with Lord Hou, so he barely managed to recover. Alas, his health is really poor."
Li Weiying gazed at Cao Ling's sickly face. That once smiling, charming face was now etched with absurd mockery, a cruel laugh that lingered even in her unconscious state. "Cao Ling," she thought, "I should have retreated far away to Longyou, to forget each other, so we could no longer be harmed. Yet you've spent the last three years in pain and despair, a hundred times more tormented than before. When you first saw me in Qu Zhixiu's room, did you feel even a sliver of joy? But I had already fallen in love with Huan Lang, shattering your rising happiness completely. You saved Huan Lang, forbidding me from eloping with him; I know your heart was set on me. One of the spirit stones I painstakingly obtained for you was used on Huan Lang, and the other he used on me. You love me so much, yet I can no longer repay you even a fraction of it."
★★★★★
How dare someone criticize me! You! I've tolerated you for so long, and now I'm exposing you. After reading your posts for so long, you still wrote 桓huán (wood radical) 涉 as 恒héng (heart radical) 涉! Then why would Huan She need to laugh at himself as a piece of rotten wood, and why would Xiao Qu need to scold Huan She for "paying back money and debts"?
Why do the passengers have to leave again just because Jiajia and Lengyue Ningxiang have returned? What could possibly require more than a month of internet access? Field archaeology? Oil drilling? What kind of world is this? Are we all taking turns going back to our home countries? Is there no justice in this world?
Passenger: Holding a bouquet of flowers that could cover my whole body, I cried and said: Please come back soon, don't delay. If you have the chance to go online, you must come and see me. Don't be stingy with money.
The two debaters argued that Cao Ling had previously saved Huan She's life, and later, when Cao shot and wounded Li, Huan angrily rebuked him, saying, "She owes Minister Cao a life; I'll repay it." Cao might not have considered that Huan owed him anything, but hearing Huan's words must have been unpleasant. Therefore, when Huan turned around and saved him, Cao said, "Now we're even," as a way of returning the favor. Everyone should still have faith in Cao.
Chapter 31
31. [Drinking Together]
I haven't updated for two or three days. What excuse should I come up with? Oh right, I'm getting wisdom teeth, and my knees hurt a lot, and my head hurts too. Of course, all three of these are true, but they're not the real reasons.
The heavy snow fell for two whole days before finally stopping in the afternoon. The gloomy sky cleared up, and the warm, golden-red sunlight happily rushed into the arms of every soldier from Guazhou who came out to bask in the sun. The Qiang flute played the tune of willow green, and the pipa played a new tune of pomegranate sentiment. If one did not see the vast expanse of white snow on the ground, one would mistake it for the third month of spring.
Everywhere was crowded with noisy groups of soldiers, and Cao Ling, quite disgusted by their commotion, took his wine and found a secluded spot against a wall to drink alone. Suddenly, he heard a voice: "Brother Huan, you can move around here. We brothers will go over there for a stroll." Cao Ling saw two soldiers escorting Huan She out for some fresh air, sighed inwardly, but was too lazy to get up and avoid them, so he lowered his head and continued drinking. After a while, he heard a clanging sound. Cao Ling was already annoyed and was about to curse when he looked up and saw Huan She, his hands and feet chained, squatting on the ground, scooping up handfuls of snow to wipe his face until it was red, then pouring it over his head. His handcuffed hands were laboriously held together above his head, and he smiled as he looked at his indistinct reflection on the snow, his fingers spread as he combed his tangled, disheveled hair. Seeing his delighted expression, Cao Ling couldn't help but sigh, feeling utterly dejected. Unexpectedly, Huan She also sighed softly at the same time.
Huan She then noticed Cao Ling's presence, stood up and looked at her. Huan She wondered if he should greet her, but based on his previous interactions with Cao Ling, he really didn't want to speak. Cao Ling, however, went straight to the point and said, "Why are you sighing like that!" Huan She then generously replied, "If Wei Ying were here, she would definitely tidy up my hair properly. She likes me when I look neat and tidy."
Cao Ling listened with a somber expression: "She tied your hair?" He shook his head slightly, raised the wine jug as if to down it in one gulp, but the sunlight overhead stung his eyes. Huan She, seeing him sway, quickly supported his shoulder, "You must have drunk too much, sit down and calm down." Cao Ling grunted and let him help him sit down. Huan She also sat against the wall, swaying back and forth with his arms wrapped around his knees, sucking in the cold air. Cao Ling stared at him coldly for a moment, then said, "Huan... Commander Huan, let me ask you something, those tattoos on your face..." Huan She frowned: "Treason and concealment of stolen goods, a life sentence of exile. I have many scars on my face, can't you see them?"
Cao Ling suppressed her anger and tried to remain calm: "I mean, why doesn't Commander Huan remove this tattoo? Even just burning it with fire to create a scar would be better than these words." Huan She said leisurely: "Wei Ying has never looked down on me because of this, so how can I belittle myself?" Cao Ling glanced at Huan She again: "I think I understand why Qin'er likes you." A smile appeared on Huan She's face, melting away the cold wind.
“I don’t mind having a sip.” Cao Ling handed over the wine pot: “It’s the worst local wine.” Huan She took it with a smile: “Isn’t Minister Cao a fourth-rank official? His salary is several times higher than mine. He must have received quite a reward for pacifying Gaochang.” Cao Ling scoffed: “Those rubbish have long been replaced with grape wine and Sanle wine. What I’m spending now is money I got from Lu Shuang.” Huan She’s hand, which was about to drink from the pot, stopped. Cao Ling said: “So you won’t drink it just because you heard it’s Lu Shuang’s money?” Huan She lifted the lid and drank it all in one gulp: “I should drink more.” Cao Ling laughed: “Then I’m afraid he won’t be my creditor anymore.”
Huan She, his chest and abdomen burning with rage from the drinking, stripped to the waist and lay sprawled on the thick snow. Suddenly, he reached under his armpit and pinched something, bursting into laughter. Cao Ling was surprised: "Brother, with such a refined and elegant demeanor, are you imitating Wang Meng, picking lice while talking?" Huan She laughed: "I don't know that guy. He's been locked up for a month, and he's certainly gotten some lice. It's so dark in the cell; you can't catch them even after a whole night. Now I'm showing off my agility." He patted the snow beside him: "Brother Cao, what's the point of a man basking in the sun? Instead, you're using the snow as a pillow, making the world your dwelling. How delightful!"
Cao Ling suddenly felt a surge of heroic spirit and lay back down as well. She noticed a thin iron chain around Huan She's neck and asked curiously, "Brother Huan, locking your hands and feet wasn't enough, you even locked your neck?" Huan She paused, adjusting the jade pendant that had been askew behind his shoulder to his chest. "It's this." Cao Ling hesitated, "She gave it to you?" Huan She hummed in agreement. Cao Ling asked, "Why is it tied to an iron chain?" Huan She replied with shame, "I used that silk sash to tie my hair, and she probably just grabbed any chain to match and gave it to me."
Cao Ling gazed upwards, as if trying to see through the sky: "Suibian? This black bird jade pendant was bestowed upon her by the Emperor when she was three years old and was promoted to Princess Xianyang. Tell me, besides her father, who else could untie her pendant?" Huan She exclaimed in surprise: "Ah? So precious? I..." Suddenly, he felt flustered and uneasy. He pressed the jade pendant to his heart, watching the lifelike, exquisitely detailed black bird rise and fall as if it were about to pierce his chest through the wind and clouds. Thinking of the love and devotion he had shared for the past three years, he felt his heart burning with desire.
Cao Ling glanced at him sideways and said, "Are you afraid you can't bear the responsibility?" Huan She gripped the jade pendant tightly: "No, it's just that Wei Ying gave me so many things, but I acted rashly, and now I don't have any left. I'm afraid I'll lose them again, and then I'll have let her down." Cao Ling closed her eyes, but her mind was filled with images of Li Wei Ying: "Let her down, let her down... Huan She, don't say that word to me again." She forced a smile and opened her eyes: "Wei Ying should have arrived in Chang'an by now."
Huan She let out a long "Oh," and said, "Chang'an, two thousand miles away. I wonder if it's snowing now? Wei Ying is afraid of the cold; I wonder how she is." He recalled the nights he held her as they slept in the desert, and felt a pang of melancholy. Cao Ling coughed heavily. Huan She said, "It's terribly cold in this snow; you should go back inside." Cao Ling glared at him, "You just tricked me into coming here to lie down, and now you're telling me to leave? This place is perfect; I'd rather sleep forever." She coughed violently again.
Huan She smiled helplessly: "Brother Cao, let me ask you something too. This is a harsh and cold border region of Guazhou. Officials come and go as soon as they arrive. Why don't you go back to Chang'an to recuperate?" Cao Ling snorted: "Master Fei said I'm seriously ill and can't withstand the bumpy journey of over two thousand miles. Besides, what would I do if I went back? Who would I see?... Lu Shuang went to the capital to receive her reward, and me? I almost killed the princess. Am I going back to be executed?" Reaching for the wine pot, she realized that Huan She had drunk it all. So she picked up the empty pot and got up. Just then, a soldier came to take Huan She back to the prison. Cao Ling took out some loose silver from her pocket and asked him to bring some more wine. The soldier said, "Then Brother Huan..." Cao Ling said impatiently, "I'll interrogate him here!" Cao Ling was a fourth-rank official, two ranks higher than the highest-ranking officer in the army, Zhechong Duwei. The soldier dared not neglect him and quickly brought wine. He set up a low table by the wall and lit a small red clay stove to warm the wine for them. After drinking two ounces of yellow liquor, both Huan She and Cao Ling were tipsy.
Cao Ling paused, and several copper coins left over from serving wine jumped up from the table, spinning around. Huan She saw him staring intently at the coins and suddenly felt that the scene was somewhat familiar, so he said, "Are you divining?" Cao Ling exhaled a breath of wine fumes: "Sixty-four, Wei Ji."
"What?" Huan She didn't understand. Cao Ling explained, "This is the final hexagram of the I Ching, named Wei Ji (未济), which means 'not yet' in the future and 'crossing' in the Ji River." Huan She was delighted upon hearing this: "Great fortune!" Cao Ling asked curiously, "Why?" Huan She smiled and said, "This name is good, as it means that 'not yet full' and 'I' each take half of it." This means that "Wei" is the "not yet full" in the hexagram, and "Ji" is half the same as "She" (涉).
Cao Ling was startled. The wine, which had seeped into his liver and intestines, instantly tore him to pieces. He cursed, "Nonsense! I'm the one who struck this copper coin, and the divination also refers to me. The hexagram is number sixty-four, 'Not Yet Crossed,' with the lower trigram Kan and the upper trigram Li, symbolizing that things are not yet accomplished. A little fox almost crosses the river, but gets its tail wet, and there is no benefit. Do you understand? It means that I am like a little fox crossing a river, getting its tail wet, and I will not have a good end." He slammed his fist on the table, saying, "You should not have crossed the river, but you did, and you fell into the river and died. What can be done about it!" He drank the wine in large gulps, quickly emptying the entire pot, and choked, coughing again. "Cough cough, I didn't die after all. Isn't that fulfilling the poem?"
Huan She said, "Brother Cao, that's not how you drink. If you get drunk and fall into the river again, it'll be really dangerous." Cao Ling thought for a moment, "You all say I fell into the river because I was drunk, but otherwise, that little bit of wine wouldn't have made me drunk." Huan She also drank a cup, thinking to himself, "Then you're just asking for trouble." Cao Ling pondered for a while, the icy waters of the Hulu River splashing against his burning heart again. Yes, he had drunk a few cups that day. Standing at the bow of the boat, his legs were a little weak. With the surging waves, he saw a figure in the water, pale and haggard, coughing and panting constantly—truly repulsive to gods and ghosts. He then threw his cup at that figure with all his might…
Seeing that he was lost in thought, Huan She shouted and slapped the coins, which jumped high and scattered with a clatter. "How is it?" Cao Ling looked at them and said, "Need, there is sincerity, there is light and success, perseverance brings good fortune, it is advantageous to cross the great river." Huan She smiled with satisfaction when he heard that it was auspicious, advantageous, and that he also had his own word "cross". Cao Ling said, "Need symbolizes waiting. Waiting in the suburbs, waiting on the sand, waiting in the mud, waiting for blood, waiting for food and drink, entering the cave. All six lines are dangerous, but if you hold on, you will have good fortune."
Huan She was startled by the six lines of the hexagram, which indicated a bloody and muddy location. He reflected on his own past misfortunes and his current imprisonment, with Wei Ying not by his side. He wondered when this would end. Thinking this, he became melancholy, took a sip of wine, and then smiled, saying, "Wei Ying's question was indeed auspicious. Hmm, sixty… 'Sincerity in the center,' I will have a good title…" Cao Ling interjected, "Sixty-one, 'Inner Truth,' the overall hexagram is not bad, but there are also auspicious and inauspicious lines. The way of the I Ching is inherently about the alternation of good and bad fortune, constantly changing. It's all about how one responds to change. Did Wei Ying also consult the I Ching? Good, it's worth it for us to be fellow disciples. How did she handle it?"
Huan She, immersed in the snowy season, thought, "She chose the most auspicious hexagram, saying I had a good title, and we should go together to find some kind of spirit stone." He couldn't help but laugh. Cao Ling was startled: "What spirit stone?" Huan She smiled: "She read some book from the Western Regions and wanted me to go with her to find a spirit stone." Cao Ling's expression changed: "What for?" Huan She hesitated: "Well… she originally wanted to ask for it to win you back." Cao Ling laughed until tears streamed down her face: "Foolish child, foolish child… Huan She, you're helping her do such a foolish thing!" Huan She looked down at his wine cup, but it was calm, without a trace of her: "But what harm is there in making her happy?" Cao Ling was speechless: "Fine, two fools. Have you found it or not?" Huan She said: "But it all seems to be about me and her." Cao Ling nodded: "So you already know that it's the spirit stone?" Huan She sighed: "But what harm is there in making her happy?"
Cao Ling walked away without saying a word, his back hunched. Snowflakes fell again, landing on his head, making him look as lonely as if he had grown white hair. His scarlet fourth-rank official robes were like the setting sun, the red light of which gradually dimmed.
Chapter Thirty-Two
32. [Observing Virtue]
Outside the Mingde Gate of Chang'an, drums and music resounded as civil and military officials lined up to welcome the emperor. The emperor himself rode out of the city to welcome Hou Junji's army, which had returned victorious from their expedition to Gaochang. After reprimanding the generals, he turned to Li Weiying, "Qin'er, what a mess you've made!" She knelt down and said, "Father." The emperor scolded, "If it weren't for Hou Qing's report, I would never have known you would be so willful and capricious, completely disregarding propriety, law, and the nation." Li Weiying wept, "Your daughter begs for punishment, Father." But the emperor laughed, "Punish you for what? I am delighted by your audacity, stubbornness, and deep affection. Your courage is commendable, just like mine back then." He reached out and helped her up, "This is the kind of courage we, the children of the Li family, need." Li Weiying smiled through her tears, "Father still loves me the most." The emperor took her hand and they boarded the imperial carriage together, followed by a vast army with fluttering banners.
The snow on both sides of the road had been swept away, and the tall carriage rumbled along the wide Zhuque Avenue. The emperor gently patted his daughter's shoulder, "In the fourth year of Wude, when I was twenty-three years old and the Prince of Qin, I led my troops to conquer Luoyang. There I met Wei Gui. Her ex-husband was implicated in the rebellion of Yang Xuangan of the Sui Dynasty and was executed, leaving behind only a daughter. Despite her status and the fact that she was two years older than me, I fell in love with her at first sight and could never forget her. Not only did I marry her immediately, but after ascending the throne, I also made her a Noble Consort, ranking her first among all the concubines. Although people at the time..." "I don't say it outright, but I know they'll inevitably have their complaints." Li Weiying was deeply moved by her father's candid words. "Father, if you truly love Consort Wei, why would you care about the world's opinions? Empress Zhen, the wife of Emperor Wen of Wei, was also Yuan Xi's wife, but she was deeply respected and loved, even Emperor Wu of Wei praised her highly." The emperor held her hand and said, "When I brought Consort Wei back to the palace, I asked the late emperor, and he said, 'As long as the Second Prince likes her, that's fine.'" Recalling his deceased father, tears welled up in the emperor's eyes. "Father truly doted on me."
Li Weiying gently patted her father's shoulder, and the emperor sighed, "I dote on you just as your grandfather did on me back then. That's why when I heard the news from Xizhou, I wasn't angry. I just wondered what kind of man could make my most beloved daughter run away in the dead of night, even abandoning Cao Ling?"
Li Weiying was embarrassed, then laughed and said, "He is as brave and resourceful as Father Emperor, as decisive and bold as Father Emperor, as affectionate as Father Emperor, and as handsome and dashing as Father Emperor..." The Emperor quickly said, "Alright, alright, I thought I was the best gentleman in the world. Now that you say that, someone can compare to me. I'm very unhappy." Li Weiying looked smug, "Father is such a hero, so my beloved Huanlang must be no less than Father Emperor." The Emperor said, "But I heard that your Huanlang has tattoos on his face. Where is his handsomeness? People will laugh at him. Don't you care?" Li Weiying said, "That only makes me love and cherish him even more. Huanlang is innocent and upright, yet he was framed like this. But he is neither humble nor unyielding. His conduct is always upright and honorable. I respect and value him. I have never had any other thoughts about him."
The emperor nodded. "Good, this is the true spirit of men from this region. Qiao Shiwang reported back that he did not want any reward and was willing to return to the army to be interrogated. Is that true?" Li Weiying said, "Huan Lang is upright and outspoken. I am just afraid that he will be tortured again."
By this time, the carriage had entered the palace city. The emperor remained silent, taking his daughter's hand as they ascended the jade steps of the Taiji Palace. Gazing upon the rows of misty city walls and towering palaces, all draped in silver, a solemn scene in the wind, he sighed, "Since my ascension to the throne, I have been single-mindedly devoted to serving the late emperor and those who criticized my ascension. I have not dared to neglect this for a moment. Now, fourteen years have passed, and I can boast of both civil and military achievements. However, the late emperor has passed away, your mother has died, and my relatives and friends are passing away one by one. In the second year after you left the capital, three of my closest relatives and friends died in succession: your uncle, the Duke of Qiao, the Duke of Hu, and the Duke of Yongxing. And this year, your uncle, the Prince of Hejian, has also passed away." The emperor, who had spent half his life on the battlefield and whose power had swept across the land, was now so sorrowful and lonely. Li Weiying hugged her father, "Father, your daughter is still by your side." The emperor stroked her head, "But Qin'er has reached marriageable age and has found someone she loves. I don't know how much longer I can keep you here. Well then, while Huan She is still imprisoned, please spend more time with me, okay? Consider it a little selfishness from your father." Li Weiying wept, "Even if I have someone I love, I will always be your child, Father."
The Emperor smiled. "I'm pleased that you say that, Qin'er. Don't worry, Huan She has already saved you, which is a meritorious act according to the Eight Deliberations. The officials dare not lightly take his life or his life." Li Weiying said with delight, "Thank you, Father." The Emperor gently wiped away her tears. "If I hadn't sent your uncle, the Prince of Jiangxia, to welcome you, and had your uncle Ashina accompany you, would you have really lived in Guazhou your whole life? I heard you cried your eyes out when you left, is that true?" Li Weiying's eyes reddened again upon hearing this. The Emperor said, "I won't say anymore. The water in the sea is about to rise again. Let's go back to Taiji Palace with your father."
On the 5th day of the 12th month of the 14th year of the Zhenguan era (1547), a grand ceremony was held in the Guande Hall of the Western Inner Garden to present the captives and announce the victory. Qu Zhisheng, the former king of Gaochang, and a group of rebel leaders of the false dynasty bound themselves with white silk and begged the emperor for leniency. The emperor rebuked Gaochang for its perverse actions, but then showed leniency and pardoned them. He appointed Qu Zhisheng as General of the Left Martial Guard and Duke of Jincheng, and Qu Zhizhan as General of the Right Martial Guard and Duke of Tianshan. Many of the former officials of Gaochang also received new positions. The people were moved to tears and swore allegiance to the Tang Dynasty.
The emperor rewarded the six armies and granted a three-day feast in Chang'an. The people and officials drank and reveled together. In the palace, Qu Zhizhan played the transverse flute, accompanied by Qu Zhisheng on the konghou. Musicians played drums, flutes, bili, pipa, and copper horn. The dancers wore white jackets with brocade sleeves, and their boot straps and headbands were all red. Their movements were elegant and unrestrained, magnificent and grand, with both Han and non-Han styles. The emperor, who loved music, was overjoyed and ordered that the music of Gaochang be included as one of the ten music groups.
Li Weiying listened quietly, recalling the turbulent three years she and Huan She had spent in Gaochang. A wave of emotion washed over her. She occasionally exchanged a glance with Qu Zhizhan, and they both smiled calmly. When the banquet ended and everyone had left, Qu Zhizhan bowed to her from afar, saying, "Your Highness, if you hear any news of A-Xiu, please persuade him to think more positively." Li Weiying nodded. Qu Zhizhan stepped outside the hall, the biting winter wind hitting his face. He shivered and muttered to himself, "So this is how cold the Tang Dynasty is." He laughed heartily and tossed his flute into the silent night.