PS:
Duke of Qiao, Chai Shao; Duke of Hu, Qin Qiong; and Duke of Yongxing, Yu Shinan, all died in the twelfth year of the Zhenguan era.
The Li family was a military aristocracy in the Guanzhong Plain. During the uprising against the Sui Dynasty and the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, many members of the family went to the battlefield, and two relatives of the rank of Prince, Li Xiaoji and Li Daoxuan, sacrificed their lives for it.
Li Xiaogong, Prince of Hejian: A cousin of Emperor Taizong of Tang, he achieved remarkable military exploits and was the most distinguished member of the Tang imperial family in terms of military achievements besides Emperor Taizong himself. During the Wude era, he was enfeoffed as Prince of Zhao, and during the Zhenguan era, he was changed to Prince of Hejian. Because Li Xiaogong belonged to Li Jiancheng's faction, he was stripped of his military power during the Zhenguan era. This general, who had fought on the battlefield, was unable to lead troops for fourteen years. He eventually died of illness in his residence at the young age of fifty, though Emperor Taizong was deeply saddened by his death.
Li Daozong, the Prince of Jiangxia, was Emperor Taizong's cousin. At the age of seventeen, he and his younger brother Li Daoxuan, who was only fifteen, accompanied Prince Qin on a military campaign. Prince Qin was not yet twenty at the time. Li Daoxuan was unfortunately killed in battle, while Li Daozong dedicated himself to expanding the Tang Dynasty's territory and fighting on the front lines. Emperor Taizong's affection for him was even stronger than that of blood brothers. Emperor Gaozu of Tang praised him as being as capable in battle as Cao Zhang, the Prince of Rencheng, son of Cao Cao, and thus also bestowed upon him the title of Prince of Rencheng, later changed to Prince of Jiangxia. Princess Wencheng was escorted to Tibet by Li Daozong. In the early years of Emperor Gaozong's reign, Changsun Wuji unjustly killed Prince Li Ke of Wu, and a large number of Tang Dynasty imperial relatives and nobles were also killed or exiled. Li Daozong was also exiled to Xiangzhou (now in Guangxi), where he soon died at the age of fifty-four. Alas, even if he had escaped Changsun Wuji's wrath, he probably would not have escaped the later ruthlessness of Empress Wu Zetian.
Chapter Thirty-Three
33. [Framed]
Ending 1: On the walls of Gaochang, Qu Zhixiu tied Li Weiying to the top of the wall. The moment she appeared, Cao Ling below immediately recognized her, her heart breaking. Li Weiying smiled sadly, then jumped, falling from the wall.
(This was originally planned for release on Children's Day, but I was busy watching Daniel Wu's "Bishonen" that day. The plot was weak, the boy was incredibly handsome, and I was so sleepy for two hours that I didn't write it.)
Ending 2: On the Hulu River, Cao Ling fell into the river, and Huan She rescued only a cold corpse.
Ending 3: Huan She is pardoned by the emperor and accompanies Li Weiying back to Chang'an, while Cao Ling has already passed away peacefully under a mound of yellow earth at Mount Li.
Okay, that concludes the story quickly and concisely. You can consider this the end of the article. One playthrough, three endings! I really wanted to follow the example of "Qin's Legacy" and give everyone ten endings, but I'm just too lazy to think of any.
And so, the curtain fell perfectly.
＊
＊
＊
＊
＊
Lu Shuang, the Commandant of the Vanguard, was still in the capital and had not returned. The newly appointed Left and Right Commandants of the Vanguard, He Pei and Zhuoran, were in charge of the entire army. On a fine winter day, they were busy repairing the fortifications of Yumen Pass. Only when the twelfth lunar month was approaching did they have time to inquire about Huan She.
Cheng Yi led Huan She out of prison and they ran into Chen Ti, who had been demoted to Zhaowu Colonel and had been repairing the camp defenses at Yumen for days, still covered in dust and grime. The two stood there looking at each other. Huan She saw that Chen Ti, though only in his early thirties, already had graying temples, and a pang of sadness swept through him. He called out softly, "Zuo Guoyi." Chen Ti seemed to pause for a moment, then walked straight to the tent, his boots kicking up a cloud of yellow dust.
Huan She entered the tent, and He Pei cut to the chase: "Colonel Huan, is there anything else you wish to say this time?" Huan She replied, "I did not steal any treasures, nor did I collude with the Turks to harm my Tang brothers." He paused, listening to his heartbeat, feeling the warmth of the jade pendant on his chest, and said solemnly, "Brother Chen knows best what happened that day. Your fire-throwing machine accidentally injured our own troops. When the Turks arrived, I led men back to protect you and help you escape. I fought the enemy and, exhausted, jumped into the river. As for those stolen goods, you handed them to me. I only knew how to transport them and did not keep a single piece for myself."
Cao Ling cried out, "What fire-throwing mechanism?" Huan She calmly replied, "Minister Cao once wrote to Lu Guoyi, discussing this idea. Lu Guoyi told Chen Guoyi about the method, and he tried to make it himself." Cao Ling said sadly, "Me? It was me?" Chen Ti cried out, "Huan She, how could you fabricate such a story? If so, why didn't you mention it when Lord Wang was here? You only brought it up now that you've been arrested, which shows it's all nonsense. You're the one who committed the crime, why are you framing me?" Huan She gripped the iron chain on his wrist, showing a hint of pity. "Brother Chen, I only did this to protect you and repay the kindness of your Chen family, but unexpectedly, it has only made you sink deeper. The wound on my lower back has long since healed, yet you still refuse to let go?" Chen Ti's face twitched uncontrollably.
Zhuoran said, "Commander Huan, where are the catapults now? How can you be sure that Chen Guoyi injured our army back then?" Huan She smiled, "Those catapults have been destroyed, and I have no way to prove it. But every word I said is true." He Pei said, "Since you say that Lord Lu knew about the catapults back then, let's wait until he returns to his army and ask him again to find out the truth." He then put Huan She back in prison.
The next afternoon, Huan She slowly dragged his shackles out and walked around. He saw Cao Ling shouting at Cheng Yi, "It's me... Yongjia..." Huan She was confused, but Cao Ling also saw him and quickly pulled Cheng Yi away.
In mid-December, a Turkic soldier named Quliji, who had surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, suddenly reported to the Left and Right Yi Commanders that he had seen Huan She talking with the Turkic leader Hanlifa during the Tang-Turkic battle three years prior. Huan She had been carrying a small box at the time, and they wondered if it contained the lost treasure. When Huan She was questioned, he was both surprised and furious. He had never seen Quliji before and didn't understand why he would make such a false accusation. He Pei also expressed doubt, saying, "But Huan She returned to the camp that day with nothing of value on him." Zhuoran said, "If that box contained stolen goods, why would he bring it back to the camp? He must have hidden it somewhere else first, either by the Hulu River or in a village on the south bank. Take men and search again."
After investigating, the soldiers unearthed a small box near the house of the family that had rescued Huan She. Upon inspection at the camp, it was found to be full of Turkic-style jewels; the enormous luminous beads were so bright that everyone in the tent could barely open their eyes. The box was bound with a nine-pronged silver belt. Huan She gasped; this was the belt required for a seventh-rank official. He looked at Chen Ti with shock and anger, his face also filled with astonishment. Cao Ling, however, said, "Huan She! The evidence and witnesses are all there; why don't you confess?"
Huan She asked, "Admit it?" He looked at him carefully. "It's you?" Cao Ling said, "What do you mean 'you' or 'me'? How disrespectful to a high-ranking official of the court. He Guoyi, if the criminal doesn't admit it, why not use torture?" He Pei hesitated and said, "He is among the Eight Deliberations..." Cao Ling said, "The Eight Deliberations means that if a serious crime is determined, it must be presented to the Emperor for personal review. Right now, you only need to determine whether he has committed a crime. This is your duty, so don't hesitate."
The soldiers stripped Huan She of his upper garment, pinned him to the ground, and were about to carry out the execution when Cao Ling suddenly said, "Wait." She walked to Huan She's side, removed the jade pendant from his neck, and Huan She struggled desperately as his hands and feet were held down. "Give it back!" Cao Ling put the jade pendant into her bosom, walked out of the tent without a word, and behind her came the increasingly loud blows of the cane.
***
He vaguely felt a pair of chilling gazes fixed on his back, where he had been flogged. Huan She, curled up in the corner, shifted slightly, and the wounds on his back reopened. The seeping blood soaked his cotton robe, refusing to dry, clinging and tangling on his scarred back. The old bone wounds returned, dull and howling. He struggled to prop himself up on the cold stone wall with his right shoulder, turning his head slightly. He saw the flickering candlelight casting shadows on the gloomy, murderous face of a man outside the cell door, the light and shadow tearing at his motionless crimson robe. Huan She suddenly grinned, a smile that suggested the difference between inside and outside the cell was merely a thought. The man looked more like a condemned prisoner awaiting execution.
Cao Ling brushed aside his smile, "I came to inform you."
"Alright, I fainted yesterday, what was that supposed to mean?"
"Those who commit theft or are imprisoned but refuse to defend themselves in court and injure others shall be exiled for two thousand miles and exiled."
"And what about the heaviest one?"
Cao Ling said, enunciating each word clearly: "Treason, strangulation."
Huan She flinched, then leaned quietly against the stone wall. Cao Ling asked, "You...don't you hate me?" Huan She hummed leisurely, "Of course I hate you, it's like my spine is about to break." Remembering the jade pendant, he roared at her, "Give it back!" Cao Ling said, "Destroyed it." Huan She clenched his fist but then gradually relaxed it, "I don't believe it. The person Wei Ying once loved wouldn't be a despicable person." Cao Ling said coldly, "Wrong. I've always been treacherous, cunning, greedy, and unreliable. Before Wei Ying left, she told me, 'Cao Ling, please take care of Huan Lang. You're the only person I can entrust to the Guazhou army right now.' I was furious when I heard that. Not only did I ignore you for the past few days, but now you've even framed me. You two are a pair of fools, why should you believe me?" Huan She gasped for breath, "I'm just wondering where you got so many jewels if you can't even afford sake?"
Cao Ling didn't answer, silently watching his body tremble slightly with pain. She took out a letter from her bosom and placed it over the wooden bars into the cell. "This is a letter from Wei Ying to you. There were also two jars of Langguanqing liquor, but you don't need them, so I kept them." Huan She tried to move, but gave up. "I can't move. Read it for me." Cao Ling took the letter back, unfolded it, and read, "My dear Huan Lang..." But she suddenly felt a swelling and pain in her throat and couldn't continue reading. She threw the letter back into the cell, coughed, and leaned against the bars. Huan She asked, "Why did you stop reading?" Cao Ling replied, "Huan Lang, Huan Lang, she calls you that, and I'm so jealous." Huan She found it slightly strange. "Calling me Huan Lang is quite normal. Not only her, you can call me that too. Or I can call you Cao Lang." Cao Ling said bitterly, "No, Wei Ying never calls me that. So, among all the Cao Langs, I only call myself Cao Lang. I feel embarrassed when I hear it, and she always laughs at me." Huan She closed his eyes and recalled her sweet smile, and couldn't help but smile. "If I were you, I would definitely encourage her to call me Cao Lang more often. Just seeing her smile is more beautiful than anything else."
Cao Ling nodded. "Huan Zishen, you are indeed different from me from head to toe. Because of your special status, the army will review the report three times and send you to the capital tomorrow." Huan She smiled foolishly at the thought of seeing Wei Ying, but suddenly called out to Cao Ling, who was about to turn away: "Brother Boji, please don't tell Wei Ying." Cao Ling shook her head. "Whether it's her or you, I never keep my promises." She took the candlelight with her, leaving behind a long, trailing shadow.
***
After returning to the capital, Princess Xianyang, Li Weiying, stayed by her father's side. She also stayed at Qingshan Palace, which was converted from the old Li family residence in Wugongyuan, for some time. It was not until noon that day that she went to Chang'an to visit the residence of her fourth brother, Prince Wei Tai. During the meal, Li Tai asked Yuwen Shuo, "Has the renovation of your newly purchased mansion been completed?" Li Weiying asked in surprise, "The Yuwen family has acquired another mansion?" Yuwen Shuo replied, "Actually, our family doesn't lack houses. It's just that Cao Ling asked people to sell houses everywhere. Since we've known each other for a while, we asked Father to buy it. The house is in a good location. Yongjia Ward, where it's located, has always been a place of great prestige. It's also close to the Longshou Canal, so it's cool and quiet. It's also elegantly and exquisitely built. He was eager to sell it, so he offered a low price, which is why Father is quite satisfied with the purchase." Li Weiying exclaimed in surprise, "Why did he sell the house? Doesn't he plan to return to the capital?" Li Tai laughed and said, "Qin'er, don't you know? I heard that Cao Ling returned from Guazhou at the beginning of the month. Without a house, he sleeps in the Ministry of Works' office every day." Du He, who had by then become the consort of Princess Chengyang, Li Weiying's sister, also said, "It seems that he hasn't been seen even at the Ministry of Works these past few days. I wonder what he's busy with."
Upon hearing this, Li Weiying felt even more uneasy and hurriedly took her leave. When she arrived at the Ministry of Personnel, she was greeted by Sun Fujia, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review.
"Your Highness has arrived at just the right time. I am accompanying you to visit an old friend."
"Huan She? He's already been escorted to the capital?" Li Weiying asked anxiously.
"He has come, but I am not referring to him. Your Highness, please allow me to explain in detail."
The Dali Temple prison was relatively clean, and the thin quilt wasn't filthy, but it still couldn't ward off the severe cold of the first month of the lunar year. Huan She was so cold he couldn't sleep. He huddled in a corner, wrapped in the quilt, shivering, still feeling extremely cold. So he covered his face with the letter Li Weiying had written on a piece of paper, smelling the faint scent of ink, and silently reciting her words. Half asleep, he heard the sound of the prison door opening, but he was too lazy to move. Suddenly, the corner of the quilt was lifted, and the letter on his face was also uncovered. A pair of slender, warm hands touched his cold face. "Huan Lang." Then he fell into the tenderness he had dreamed of day and night. "Weiying." He hugged and kissed her tightly, as if a frozen cliff had suddenly turned into a pool of spring mud.
"My dear Wei Ying, is that how I should address you?"
"Huan Lang, Huan Lang, my dearest, if I don't become your dearest, who will?"
The jailer, standing with his back to the entrance of the dungeon passage, called out from afar, "Your Highness, Lord Sun is waiting outside. Please bring Lord Huan out." Li Weiying shyly released Huan She, who stood up, patted the straw off his clothes, and reached out to shield her head, saying, "Be careful not to bump your head." He then guided her, bending down to walk out of the cell.
Sun Fujia ordered Huan She to be removed from his shackles, saying, "Congratulations, Commandant Huan, on finally being exonerated." Huan She looked bewildered, "Is that all? Wasn't I accused of treason and sentenced to be hanged?" Li Weiying said, "Cao Ling sold his mansion in Yongjia Ward to buy jewels to save you." Sun Fujia continued, "He pretended to Chen Ti that he had framed Commandant Huan out of jealousy. Chen Ti, knowing your death sentence was already sealed, relaxed and went with him to escort you to the capital. Cao Ling went to the Ministry of Works to report on his work, lamenting the arduous and demanding nature of the ministry, where construction work often required him to be outside the capital throughout the year. He suggested that if he had any silver, he should offer it to Minister Hou Junji of the Ministry of Personnel, and perhaps he could be transferred to the Ministry of Personnel or the Ministry of Revenue. Chen Ti, already depressed after being demoted, was tempted by this and secretly took out his hidden jewels to exchange for money, but it was intercepted by the registrar of the Court of Judicial Review."
Huan She was shocked by every word, never expecting Cao Ling to devise such a plan to save him. He stood there speechless, stunned, when he saw Cao Ling, dressed in ordinary clothes, following behind a Dali Temple official, nodding to them. Sun Fujia said, "Xue Qi, the Supervising Censor, is a cousin of Cao Ling's ex-wife. He impeached Cao Ling for framing a court military officer, and according to the law, he should be punished accordingly. However, Cao Ling refused to defend his intentions and willingly accepted the punishment. Fortunately, His Majesty took pity on him and only dismissed him from his position as Vice Minister, demoting him to the position of Registrar of Jiucheng Palace."
Cao Ling laughed, "Brother Zishen, I've been demoted to the lowest rank of the ninth grade. I'm afraid I won't even be able to afford cheap wine anymore." Huan She's heart warmed. "Brother Boji, thank you for saving me. If I have any spare money, I'll definitely treat you to a drink." Cao Ling said, "Excellent, excellent! I just told His Majesty that I was unwilling to be just a low-ranking official and was willing to accompany the Prince of Jiangxia to escort Princess Wencheng to Tibet. His Majesty promised to consider my promotion after I return. Ha!" Li Weiying choked up and said, "Cao Ling, it's thousands of miles to Tibet. Please take good care of yourself."
Cao Ling rubbed her eyes. "Qin'er, I'm leaving now. Would you mind calling me Cao Lang?" Li Weiying asked in surprise, "Call you Cao Lang?... Cao Lang..." Hot tears streamed down her face. Cao Ling said to Huan She, "See, you tricked me again. I told you it wouldn't be appropriate for Weiying to call me Cao Lang." She took out a jade pendant from her bosom and handed it to him. "When you were being tortured, I took this pendant away because I was afraid that the cane would not only beat you half to death but also shatter the pendant. It doesn't matter if you die, but I can't afford to pay for this pendant even with ten heads." With a flick of her sleeve, she didn't say anything more and drifted away.
On the fifteenth day of the first month of the fifteenth year of Zhenguan (645 AD), Prince Li Daozong of Jiangxia escorted Princess Wencheng, a member of the imperial clan, to a marriage alliance. The emperor, officials, princes, and princesses all accompanied him. The entourage was large, and Li Weiying seemed to have only caught a glimpse of Cao Ling before he was swallowed up by the crowd. Standing there forlornly, she gazed into the distance, seeing only the countless glazed lanterns and jade lamps lighting up in succession, their reflections transforming into a thousand blossoms in her tearful eyes. She tried to wipe away the stinging in her eyes, but her hand landed in Huan She's broad, warm palm. "The Lantern Festival in the capital is truly lively. I hope to see it with you every year, my dear Weiying," she murmured, nestling into his arms. Amidst the vast sea of people and the flickering lanterns, she saw only her beloved in this life.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Fifth Division General
34. 【Thousand Oxen】
After being released from Dali Temple prison, Huan She, lacking his own residence, temporarily stayed in the guardhouse. Early on the morning of the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, a eunuch summoned him to the palace to meet the emperor. Huan She was startled. Although he had accompanied the emperor and officials when they escorted Princess Wencheng to her marriage the previous day, his rank was too low, placing him at the end of the procession. Amidst the magnificent robes and carriages, and the overwhelming presence of officials, he couldn't even see the emperor. If Princess Xianyang's eunuch hadn't led him to Li Weiying after the crowd dispersed, he probably wouldn't have even found her. Now, hearing of the emperor's summons, even Huan She, usually so bold, couldn't help but feel uneasy. He straightened his clothes and cautiously followed the eunuch.
Heading north, he first left the imperial city, passed through Changle Gate into Taiji Palace, then through Gongjing Gate, then through Qianhua Gate, and then through Shenlong Hall. He walked seven or eight miles in one go, and his legs were sore from exhaustion. The three-hundred-step-wide street, the majestic and solemn palaces, and the hip-roofed halls made Huan She feel insignificant for the first time.
From the fifteenth to the seventeenth of the lunar month, it was the Lantern Festival period, and the emperor did not attend court. Therefore, the eunuch led Huan She to the Ganlu Hall, where the emperor studied and wrote in the inner palace. Entering the deep and spacious hall, Huan She could see the emperor in the distance. The eunuch announced, "Huan She, Commandant of the Zhechong Prefecture of Guazhou, Longyou Circuit, pays his respects to His Majesty the Emperor." Huan She immediately knelt and bowed. Hearing "Rise," he straightened up, still slightly demure, not daring to look directly at the emperor. The emperor smiled and said, "Qin'er, tell him to come closer." Li Weiying also smiled and said, "Huan Lang, come here quickly." Huan She looked up and saw Li Weiying standing beside the emperor, and felt slightly relieved. He cautiously stepped forward.
The emperor, dressed in a bright yellow robe and wearing a white gauze hat, had a face like jade and a gentle demeanor, not as stern as Huan She had imagined. The emperor said, "Minister Huan, you look surprised. Is something on your mind? What kind of emperor do you think I am?" Huan She replied, "Your Majesty has personally led troops on the battlefield for many years, and your fame has spread far and wide. You are a war god in the hearts of all the soldiers. I never expected that when I met Your Majesty, I would only feel your kindness and warmth."
The Emperor laughed heartily, "That's a pleasant way to put it." He scrutinized him for a moment, "He is indeed handsome and refined, a young man of good looks and spirit. Qin'er has good taste." Li Weiying smiled, but said, "Father, you're teasing me again." The Emperor said, "Huan Qing, you have saved my beloved daughter many times. How can I possibly thank you?" Huan She hurriedly replied, "It was only my duty to protect the princess. I do not seek any reward." Li Weiying frowned and glanced at Huan She, then tugged at her father's sleeve, "Father, how can he say what he wants when you ask him like that? Reward him according to his merits, and bestow upon him the title of Duke. He has performed such great service and suffered so much injustice; a Duke title is not excessive. Huan Lang is from Xingyang, so Duke of Xingyang will suffice." Huan She repeatedly said, "I dare not, I dare not."
The Emperor chuckled, "Qin'er, you have quite the nerve. When I first led troops to conquer all sides, I was only granted the title of Duke of Dunhuang." He then said to Huan She, "I am deeply grateful for your contributions, but granting you a title is still somewhat difficult. Even if I were willing, the officials of the Secretariat would have to reject my decree. So, you will be a Qianniu Beishen in the Right Palace." Huan She was confused and muttered to himself, "Leading oxen? I was already leading horses, and now I'm being demoted to leading oxen. Oh no, it seems His Majesty dislikes me." Seeing that he didn't answer, the Emperor said, "Minister Huan." Huan She quickly replied, "Yes, yes." Seeing Li Weiying giving him repeated winks, he hurriedly said, "Your subject thanks you."