Li Yuangui and his servant rode out of Guangde Ward, galloping east along the transverse street until reaching the first right street by the imperial city, then turning north. Passing the imperial city, they entered Yanxi Gate on the Heavenly Street and arrived outside the Crown Prince's Palace.
The journey was not short. By the time they reported their names and verified their identities at Chongming Gate, the sun had already sunk low in the west. A large flock of crows cawed as they flapped their wings over the gate tower, heading toward some abandoned palace deep within to roost.
Li Yuangui could enter the main gate of the Crown Prince's Palace, but he could only wait under the corridor inside while guards relayed his request to the palace secretaries, who would then report it further inward, layer by layer, until someone came out to escort him in—if Crown Prince Li Chengqian agreed to receive him.
Chongming Gate was quite a distance from the main hall of the Crown Prince's Palace, Xiande Hall, separated by four or five gate towers and pavilions. Standing inside the gate, only a corner of Xiande Hall's dark, soaring eaves and owl-tail ornaments could be seen, stretching quietly against the sunset.
The Crown Prince's usual residence, Lizheng Hall, lay even farther behind Xiande Hall. The guards' relay of messages took considerable time. No matter how anxious Li Yuangui was, he could only wait—until the sun completely disappeared behind the towering buildings of the palace, the sunset's brilliant hues faded, and the first beat of the Dusk Drum sounded from Shuntian Gate. The drumbeats rippled outward like waves, triggering a dense, prolonged series of strikes from the gate towers of the imperial city and the outer walls.
Thud, thud, thud...
As the drumbeats shook the earth, a figure finally emerged from the palace at a jog. Only when he reached Li Yuangui did it become clear it wasn't a palace secretary but a eunuch messenger, panting and forcing a smile:
"Prince Wu, my apologies for the long wait. The Crown Prince has ordered: He is unwell today, and as it is late, it is inconvenient to receive guests. He requests the Fourteenth Young Master return in a few days."
Li Yuangui was bitterly disappointed. Li Chengqian surely knew why he had come. Refusing to see him like this was a deliberate attempt to avoid discussing the matter face-to-face. Return in a few days? What if His Highness was still "unwell" then?
If Li Chengqian wished, he could hide in the depths of this heavily guarded palace, claiming illness for the rest of his life, never giving his furious uncle a chance to speak privately. Meanwhile, he could continue his tyrannical and perverse actions, joining forces with a wicked woman to persecute a helpless young girl...
"I have urgent military and state secrets that require an immediate audience with the Crown Prince. If His Highness has already retired, I can kneel and report outside his bedchamber screen," Li Yuangui said, staring at the eunuch messenger and emphasizing each word. "This cannot be delayed. Otherwise, neither the Crown Prince nor I can bear the consequences!"
The drumbeats from the gate tower were deafening, forcing Li Yuangui to raise his voice until he was practically shouting. Yet no matter how much he pressured or raged, the eunuch only smiled apologetically, repeating, "The Crown Prince has clearly ordered Prince Wu to return. Please depart quickly, or you'll violate the curfew," refusing to relay the message again.
It seemed he had strict orders from the Crown Prince to drive Li Yuangui away without compromise.
Frustrated and desperate, Li Yuangui instinctively reached for the sword at his waist—only to grasp empty air. He remembered he had surrendered his blade to Yang Xinzhi before entering the palace. At Chongming Gate, Yang Xinzhi had handed over both their swords to the gate guards.
This rule, no doubt, existed to prevent hot-blooded youths from drawing their blades and storming the palace in a fit of rage...
Yang Xinzhi watched him with a helpless, bitter smile. "Fourteenth Young Master, perhaps... we should return tomorrow morning?"Li Yuangui shook his head. He knew it was futile, and so did Yang Xinzhi. Even the eunuch envoy's face betrayed a hint of pity. Today, they had at least managed to enter the Chongming Gate, but tomorrow, the gates of the Crown Prince's Palace might well be barred to him.
"I will wait here until His Highness the Crown Prince recovers and is able to see me," Li Yuangui said through gritted teeth. He turned and strode to the corridor where the imperial guards sat during grand court assemblies, then knelt on the ground. Raising his face to the envoy, he declared, "Go back and deliver my message!"
"This—Prince Wu, please reconsider. This is hardly proper..."
"Is it proper for a nephew to deny his uncle even this small courtesy?" Yang Xinzhi interjected. "The distinction between ruler and subject is paramount. Prince Wu dares not defy the Crown Prince's orders, so he waits respectfully at the gate. Surely this does not violate court protocol?"
As he spoke, he walked over to Li Yuangui and sat down beside him in solidarity. The envoy attempted further persuasion, but seeing the two youths resolute in their stance, he could only sigh, bow, and retreat back into the Crown Prince's Palace.
By now, the Dusk Drum had struck three thousand times, and darkness had fully descended. The palace gates were locked, and the night curfew was in effect. Even if Li Yuangui had a change of heart and wished to return to the Great Peace Palace, it was nearly impossible. But he would not waver—if Li Chengqian was truly determined not to see him, he would sit here all night beneath the Chongming Gate corridor, freezing himself into injury or worse, forcing the matter to escalate. Let the consequences fall where they may.
He had no other recourse left, and he feared no further loss—for he had nothing left to lose...
The late winter night turned bitterly cold with alarming speed. Once the sun vanished, the wind grew sharper with each gust. Li Yuangui wore a lined robe, which had been stifling under the midday sun as he rode, but now felt as thin as nothing, the night air piercing straight through to his skin.
At least Yang Xinzhi’s large, warm frame was close by... Li Yuangui glanced at his companion and noticed he had deliberately positioned himself upwind to the northwest, shielding him from the biting wind like a living barrier.
There was little to say between them. They sat in silence, waiting for an unknowable length of time, their bodies and spirits sinking into an icy numbness, until at last a faint light appeared in the direction of the Xiande Hall, swaying slowly toward them.
As the light drew nearer, they could make out a small procession—men and women, two or three carrying large bundles. The lantern was held by a maidservant dressed in male attire, her hair in double buns. Behind her walked a woman wearing a veil. When they reached the two waiting men, the veiled woman bowed deeply to Li Yuangui and spoke:
"This humble servant has been ordered to invite Your Highness Prince Wu inside."
Li Yuangui tilted his head up to respond, only to find his voice hoarse. He coughed twice before asking,
"Has His Highness the Crown Prince finally consented to receive us?"
The veiled woman bowed again and gestured. Behind her, two young eunuchs stepped forward and unfolded the bundles they carried—two thick cloaks, which they presented to Li Yuangui and Yang Xinzhi.
The gesture, at least, was a kind one. Li Yuangui had no reason to refuse. He tried to push himself up from the ground, but his legs had stiffened beyond use. Yang Xinzhi helped him to his feet. Once both men had wrapped themselves in the cloaks, the veiled woman turned and led the way, the small group following the lantern back into the depths of the Crown Prince's Palace.Li Yuangui had been familiar with the route to the Crown Prince's Palace since he was seven or eight years old, when he and his brothers would go there to study and attend lectures. Though the heavy darkness obscured the buildings and walls, he estimated they had passed the Xiande Hall and were somewhere between the Chongjiao Hall and the Right Chunfang, not far from the Lizheng Hall. They were led by a veiled woman into a warm, small chamber.
This detached hall stood alone, a single room with a charcoal brazier inside. The curtains, cushions, and screens were exquisitely arranged, and the bright flames from the bronze candlesticks on the tall stands illuminated the space. After bringing Li Yuangui and his companion inside, the veiled woman bowed and said, "Prince Wu, please wait here for a moment," before withdrawing.
This maidservant carried herself with such self-importance—she was likely a favored attendant of Crown Prince Li Chengqian... Just as Li Yuangui thought this, he suddenly heard a woman's soft cough from behind the screen in the room.
"Prince Wu, please forgive me. His Highness the Crown Prince is truly unwell and exhausted today, unable to receive his Fourteenth Uncle," the woman's gentle voice said. "This humble wife has taken the liberty of inviting Prince Wu to rest here for the night. Tomorrow, we will respectfully escort you back to the Great Peace Palace."
Li Yuangui froze, realizing only then that he had been deceived.
Li Chengqian still refused to see him and, fearing he might cause a scene at the palace gates that could lead to trouble, had ordered someone to trick him into entering and settling in this small hall for the night. Thinking this, he turned and strode to the door, pushing it forcefully—only to find it barred from the outside.
Frustrated, he banged on the door a few times, and someone outside responded, "This servant is at Prince Wu's service." At the same time, the soft female voice behind the screen inside spoke with a hint of panic:
"Prince Wu, please calm yourself! This humble wife has something important to say!"
There was something odd about the way this woman spoke... Li Yuangui took a deep breath to steady himself, walked closer to the screen, and asked in a low voice:
"Who are you, madam?"
There was a pause behind the screen before a slightly embarrassed reply came:
"This humble wife is the Crown Princess... Su Shi."
It was Li Chengqian's newlywed wife, the future Empress Su of the Tang dynasty—locking herself in a small hall late at night with her husband's younger uncle.
Li Yuangui was startled and instinctively took a step back, bumping into Yang Xinzhi. Glancing up at Yang Rou-ta's towering figure, he felt slightly reassured and bowed respectfully toward the screen, clasping his hands:
"Yuangui pays his respects to the Crown Princess. Please forgive my rudeness, Princess Su."
"This unworthy wife has acted improperly, presuming to speak with an unrelated man late at night, violating propriety and shaming myself beyond measure," Princess Su's voice trembled slightly. "But the matter is urgent, and I had to choose the lesser evil. Fourteenth Uncle, please understand... I will be brief. Is your urgent request for an audience related to the marriage alliance involving the Seventeenth Princess?"
"Exactly!" Li Yuangui replied fervently.
"Prince Wu, please lower your voice—you are aware that the daughter of Imperial Censor Wei is to be enfeoffed as a princess and sent to marry the Tibetan ruler?"
"Yes." Suppressing his emotions, Li Yuangui lowered his voice, understanding that Princess Su did not want the servants outside to overhear their conversation.
Princess Su took a deep breath behind the screen and said slowly, "Then does Prince Wu know that Yi Niang, the daughter of High Truth Master Prince Consort Chai, is also to be sent as a bride to a distant barbarian land?"
"......"
The news was so unexpected that Li Yuangui's legs gave way, and he collapsed onto the floor cushions. His mouth hung open for a long moment before he managed to murmur:
"Chai Yiniangzi... she entered the Taoist order... a Female Taoist Priest... sent to marry... barbarians? What kind of..."Unfazed by his incoherent speech, Consort Su merely let out a sob that was half laughter, half tears from behind the screen:
"My maidservant had already learned of the news about the marriage alliance involving the Seventeenth Princess and Wei Niangzi last night... The Crown Prince usually visits the Great Peace Palace in the mornings to pay respects to the Supreme Emperor. Today, after returning to the Crown Prince's Palace at noon, he was urgently summoned back to the Great Peace Palace, saying the Supreme Emperor's condition had taken a turn... He didn't return until evening, and when he did, he was seven or eight parts drunk. When I asked about the Supreme Emperor's health, he didn't answer at all. After muttering to himself for a while, he began weeping and laughing hysterically, saying he wanted to exile High Truth Master Chai, his cousin, as well—to make her renounce her vows and become the Seventeenth Princess's marriage escort, to be wed to Gaochang together..."
To be wed to Gaochang together.
Li Yuangui suddenly recalled the wooden terrain model of the northwestern frontier he had seen in the Emperor's Imperial Study. Among the cities marked on the sand table, apart from Chang'an and the Tuyuhun capital Fuqi, there was Gaochang to the north—only these three cities... Earlier, he remembered someone mentioning that the Emperor's expansion strategy was to befriend distant states while attacking nearby ones, advancing step by step. After pacifying Tuyuhun, the next target would be Gaochang, the gateway to the Western Regions...
Since ancient times, Han princesses sent in marriage alliances had the duty of serving as the Emperor's informants, spying on the barbarians for their homeland—a perilous task that could cost not only their lives but also the goodwill between the two nations. To show the importance of this mission, the court intended to send the Emperor's own younger sister, a true princess, but the Seventeenth Princess was only twelve, naive and ignorant—it was impossible to expect her to shoulder such responsibility. Thus, they also wanted to send the Emperor's clever and capable niece, Chai Yingluo, to accompany her, protecting the Seventeenth Princess and serving as Tang's informant in Gaochang... This was truly a masterful move.
"The Seventeenth Princess is a poor little girl who has lost her mother. A Fen is my dearest friend from the inner chambers. And High Truth Master... she is the only one who truly cares for those two unfortunate women. Now even she is to be exiled... I... my heart..." Consort Su gasped rapidly behind the screen, steadying her emotions. "And that's not all... the Crown Prince... he also wants..."
"What else does the Crown Prince want?" Li Yuangui asked, his own voice sounding weak even to himself.
"Somehow, he has angered the Empress. These past few days, A Niang has been giving him cold looks." Consort Su's voice was filled with sorrow. "Those three women are all people the Empress favors. The Crown Prince doesn't dare to propose his marriage alliance plan to the Empress himself, so he ordered me to go to the Hall of Established Governance tomorrow to report it and seek the Empress's approval... and... he insists it must succeed, with no refusal allowed. Otherwise, he will... I... I truly..."
Amid the uncontrollable sobs behind the screen, Li Yuangui sat hunched on the floor mat, his mind gradually clearing.
Li Chengqian, the seventeen-year-old Crown Prince, a brilliant youth who had successfully overseen state affairs for several years, was now tasting the thrill of power for the first time, eager to prove himself. Secretly planning state and family matters behind his parents' backs, yet lacking confidence—so much so that he didn't dare discuss his plans with his own mother, sending his wife instead... What a pitiful display.
"Crown Princess, do not worry," Li Yuangui spoke up. "Yuangui knows what must be done."
The sobs behind the screen quieted, though Consort Su's voice remained thick with tears: "Is that so... It's good that the Fourteenth Uncle has a solution. I had thought... to ask the Fourteenth Uncle to inform High Truth Master, so she could plead before the Empress tomorrow... The Empress has always doted on High Truth Master and would surely be reluctant to send her away in a marriage alliance. If that could dissuade the Crown Prince from these mad ideas, it would be for the best..."Li Yuangui shook his head. Consort Su had only recently married into the Crown Prince's Palace and was still unfamiliar with the imperial family, hence her naive thinking. It was true that Empress Zhangsun doted on Chai Yingluo, but if it ever came to sacrificing for the state, she could bear to part with even her own daughter, let alone a niece. As for the seventeenth princess and Wei Shufen, they were even less significant.
"At dawn when the palace gates open, I will go to Prince Consort Chai's residence to seek the High Truth Master," Li Yuangui assured from behind the screen. "Leave this matter to me. Please return to your palace, Crown Princess."
(Note: For live images of Li Yuangui and the others causing a scene at the Crown Prince's Palace with crying, tantrums, and threats of suicide, please check the author's Weibo for chapter annotations. Search for the ID "Tang Dynasty Tour Guide Forest Deer" on Sina Weibo. Welcome to discuss!)
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