Inside the courtyard wall, beneath a large willow tree, two greyhounds barked and growled as they fought over a bone. Yang Xinzhi stood chatting and laughing with the foreign girl Fen Dui, their interaction harmonious and relaxed.
As guests at the Pei family estate, Fen Dui no longer needed to wear her veiled hat to conceal her appearance. With her hair simply tied up and no ornaments adorning it, her petite figure stood beside the hulking Yang Rou-ta, her snow-white face tilted upward as she listened to him speak, filled with admiration and joy.
Li Yuangui sat cross-legged by the railing on the second floor of the southern pavilion, silently watching his guard and maidservant below for a while before sighing and turning his gaze to the road beyond the courtyard wall, the greening woods, and the surging Wei River.
This two-story pavilion was slightly worn and in need of recent repairs, but it was built in the latest style popular in the capital Chang'an. The window panels on all four sides of the second floor could be removed, transforming it into an open, unobstructed summer retreat. Bamboo blinds hung from the eaves to block the sun, preventing prying eyes while allowing the owner to enjoy the scenery outside, burning incense and dozing off into long, pleasant dreams.
It was early February, and the high winds were chilly. The estate's owner, Pei Lvshi, had invited Li Yuangui up to the pavilion, removing only the southern window panels. The two sat facing each other, sipping tea and basking in the sun.
Yes, sipping tea.
Li Yuangui watched with a stiff expression as Pei Lvshi busied himself among a pile of boxes, jars, and bowls on the table, pulling out a black, hard lump he called "tea." He hammered, chiseled, broke, and ground it, with salt, ginger, and cheese set aside to add to it. A young servant fanned the stove below to boil water. Li Yuangui would have preferred a jug of freshly brewed wine from the Pei estate's new grain—he was a northerner, well-read, and had heard of the southerners' strange habit of boiling dried leaves into bitter water for daily consumption. Pei Lvshi had picked up this local custom while accompanying his exiled father to Bashu and now, back in Chang'an, was determined to drag Prince Wu into "trying his handiwork." Though it was meant as a friendly gesture, Li Yuangui wanted nothing more than to kick over the stove and table and roar:
"Go find my seventeenth sister! What are we wasting time here for?"
But he could only endure it. He had already kicked and roared the night before, to no avail.
Late last night, the Pei estate's steward, Zhang Zhuangtou, had finally been summoned to the main hall. A burly, straight-backed man in his fifties with a thick accent, he was furious and outright refused the estate owner's order to "help the Fourteenth Young Master find someone":
"...Last winter was terribly dry. Now that the ground has just thawed and there's been rain and snow, we don't have enough oxen or hands to plow the fields, let alone search for some foreign girl! You youngsters only know how to eat and sleep, with no idea about farm work, just spouting nonsense! If we delay planting now, we'll all starve come autumn!"
Li Yuangui and Pei Lvshi explained, argued, threatened, and cajoled, repeatedly emphasizing the urgency of finding "a Han girl kidnapped by foreigners." But Old Man Zhang remained unmoved:
"...Two days ago, the Jing River flooded, breaking the western gate of the Three-Limit Sluice. I sent five strong men to repair it, but only three went. Liu Shiwu's section of the canal has been clogged since autumn—he was lazy and didn't clear it before the freeze, so the water still can't pass. It makes me stamp my feet in anger! Even the women in his family are out there with shovels! The Bai family's manure carts hauled thirty loads to fertilize thirty-six acres, but only ten and a half acres have been done so far! At this rate, if we don't finish spreading the manure before plowing, all our winter efforts will be wasted!
"...What? Pah! Of course, there's no one! You only know about plowing—there's so much more to it! First, spread the manure evenly, then plow shallow furrows with oxen, followed by harrowing and dragging to cover the seeds. If the soil isn't covered properly, the wind will dry it out, and no seeds will sprout!
"...Before sowing, each acre must be plowed five or six times and covered seven or eight times. How do you cope with spring drought? Three inches of water under the hoe! You just don't understand—grain seeds aren't sown randomly either. Rough seeds go into black, thin soil first, while better seeds are sown later in high, white soil after the Cold Food Festival, when elm seeds are eaten. Then come beans, sesame, millet, and sorghum—all need careful attention!
"...And that's just for grain. Our estate is close to the city, so we plant vegetables every year, which yield ten times the profit. But gardens require even more labor—one acre of garden equals ten acres of field! Yesterday, I sent a dozen men to plant cabbages and lettuce in the western garden. The winter turnip seedlings are ready too—if we don't transplant them in the next day or two, they'll freeze! The eastern garden still needs melons, white beans, and small beans. I'm worried about finding enough hands for all this!
"...Right now, labor is short everywhere, not just our estate! That minister's estate to the east is completely empty, with no one watching it. Who knows how their storeroom caught fire, burning years of savings? What a sin! At this time, who can spare hands to search for some nobody?"
After much persuasion and a mix of threats and promises, Steward Zhang finally agreed to "ask around after I finish overseeing the gardens," grumbling as he left. Before going, he warned Li Yuangui and his servants not to "go around asking questions yourselves—those foreign merchants are sharp, and if outsiders stir things up, it'll only make things worse."
So Li Yuangui had no choice but to send his two young servants back to the Great Peace Palace to inquire about court news while he waited with Yang Xinzhi and Fen Dui at the Pei estate. He asked Pei Lvshi, "What's this Steward Zhang's background? He acts like he's killed kings and saved emperors!"
Pei Lvshi smiled wryly. "He's just a local elder. Rumor has it he served as a prefectural soldier in his youth but gained no real benefits. Now he holds a nominal post in the military prefecture with no official rank. He's naturally blunt but is an excellent farmer. If the Fourteenth Young Master blames me for indulging my subordinates and upsetting order, I won't deny it. But... well, there's a reason for this..."
The fertile, irrigated fields along the White Canal north of the Wei River were densely dotted with estates belonging to the imperial family and nobility. During the WuDe era, when Pei Ji was at the height of his power, he was granted vast lands here. In the early Zhenguan years, the Pei family fell from grace and was exiled in haste. With their influence gone and in desperate need of cash, their estates were quickly seized by the new elite at bargain prices, leaving only a few under Steward Zhang's management still in the Pei name.
At the height of the Pei family's glory, neither the old nor young masters had ever heard of Steward Zhang. He kept a low profile and received no special favors. But when the Pei family "fell into hardship," the old man, seeing other estates change hands one by one, grew indignant, calling it "unjust—everyone kicks a man when he's down." He stubbornly fended off those trying to take advantage, preserving a foothold for the Pei family outside the capital.
For this reason, the Pei siblings treated the old steward with great respect during their stay at the Xianyang estate, not treating him as a mere servant. If Steward Zhang refused to help Li Yuangui find someone, they had no way to force him—the old man was highly regarded locally, and even the county officials deferred to him.
Li Yuangui reflected that he, too, didn't want to make a scene, and he truly had no better way to find his sister. Reluctantly, he suppressed his temper and waited at the Pei estate for Steward Zhang's reply.
A faint, bitter aroma wafted from the boiling pot—Pei Lvshi's "tea broth" was ready. He skillfully poured it into a celadon teapot, then filled two celadon cups halfway with the brown liquid, smiling as he urged, "Your Highness, please try it."
I'm not sick—why should I drink medicine? Li Yuangui lamented inwardly but, not wanting to offend his host, reluctantly raised a cup to his lips. Finding it too hot, he blew on it to cool it before taking a cautious sip.
Sure enough, it was bitter and murky, nearly impossible to swallow. Li Yuangui immediately shook his head and set the cup down, signaling he'd done his duty.
Pei Lvshi merely smiled, sipping the bitter tea with relish as he made small talk with Li Yuangui. Born in Hedong and raised in the capital, he, too, had once been unaccustomed to tea. Years ago, when exiled to Jingzhou with his father, overwhelmed by endless troubles, he felt exhausted daily. His wife, mingling with local officials, learned to prepare and serve tea, eventually bringing the practice home. Pei Lvshi gradually came to appreciate the invigorating effects of the leaf broth, growing addicted until he couldn't go a day without it.
"Your wife is truly virtuous," Li Yuangui praised before asking, "Did she not come to see my sixth sister-in-law off to her wedding?"
For a maiden's wedding, the lady of the house should preside. Pei Lvshi paused before calmly replying:
"After my late father passed, escorting his coffin and observing mourning left me grief-stricken and weary. At the time, my wife had recently given birth and was weak. She caught a chill and fell ill, following my father to the netherworld to serve him."
Li Yuangui regretted his thoughtlessness and murmured condolences to the widower. Pei Lvshi smiled and shook his head, indicating it was fine, then turned to gaze at the early spring scenery outside.
When the Pei family built this pavilion, they chose the site carefully. From the upper floor, one could clearly see travelers on the road outside the estate. Now, during the busy spring planting season, farmers leading oxen, carrying manure, or pulling plows passed by in groups, chatting and laughing. Further south stood a grove of willow trees, their tops shrouded in a faint green mist, beyond which lay the silvery-white surface of the Wei River. In the height of summer, a cool breeze would surely make this spot delightful.
Pei Lvshi gazed out the window, his eyes slightly moist but his expression calm and serene. Not yet forty, he had lived through the chaos of the Sui collapse, the uprising to establish the Tang, his family's meteoric rise and swift decline, and now carried an air of detached tranquility, unshaken by fortune's whims.
Born into prominence, with no lack of talent, yet unable to resist the tides of court politics, drifting to his current state... What will I become when I reach his age? Li Yuangui wondered.
His mouth still bitter, he unconsciously reached for the teacup and took another sip. This time, it didn't seem as unpalatable. Frowning, he swallowed, calming his mind as a faint aftertaste lingered.
On the table were plates of salted plums and dried persimmons. He picked one up and popped it into his mouth. The sweet and sour flavors mingled with the tea's bitterness, refreshing his senses. Noticing his reaction, Pei Lvshi smiled. "Beyond refreshing the mind, tea also aids digestion and dispels stagnation. When I was in that desolate place, exhausted and despairing, yet unable to abandon my father and family, this tea sustained me. Try it a few more times, and you'll understand."
After the Tang's founding, Pei Ji reached the pinnacle of power and luxury. Most of his children were born during the WuDe era, around Li Yuangui's age, with Pei Lvshi being the eldest son capable of handling affairs. Whenever Pei Ji couldn't attend to matters personally, his legitimate son Pei Lvshi took charge... Suddenly, Li Yuangui remembered something and sat up straighter:
"Commandery Duke Pei, I have an important question. This matter is crucial to me—I hope you'll answer truthfully."
"Of course," Pei Lvshi replied, surprised. "My siblings and I owe our future to your help, Fourteenth Young Master. If you command, I'll gladly die for you."
"I've been tasked by His Majesty to secretly investigate a case related to the Eastern Palace poisoned wine incident from ten years ago. That case was reopened nine years ago, reportedly under your late father's direction. Do you know the details?" Li Yuangui fixed his gaze on Pei Lvshi.
"The Eastern Palace poisoned wine... Could it be the time His Majesty..."
"Yes, when His Majesty faced mortal peril," Li Yuangui confirmed, watching Pei Lvshi's expression grow solemn as he set down his cup and straightened his robes.
In the eighth year of WuDe, after a night banquet at the Eastern Palace, Prince Qin Shimin vomited blood and fell unconscious. The Court of Judicial Review, the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, and the Eastern Palace Inner Service Bureau hastily concluded it was "Prince Qin's stomach ailment acting up." The Prince of Qin's faction was dissatisfied, and public sentiment largely sympathized with Prince Qin, condemning Crown Prince Jiancheng for harming his brother. A year later, after the palace gate bloodshed reversed the situation, Prince Qin Shimin was named Imperial Crown Prince and soon ordered the case reopened. According to Pingyang Princess's consort Chai Shao, Pei Ji was put in charge.
As the former emperor's favorite minister, Pei Ji was already treading carefully to save himself and thus threw his full effort into the investigation, concluding it was "Eastern Palace poisoning to harm the younger brother." However, the identities of the mastermind and the perpetrator remained vague, with the heaviest punishment falling on the Eastern Palace Director of Banquets, Ren Gui.
"To be honest, Fourteenth Young Master, the situation was delicate then. My father faced obstacles everywhere. For this case, I did most of the legwork, so I remember many details. But... why ask about this after so many years?" Pei Lvshi inquired.
Li Yuangui replied that he was "acting on a secret imperial decree and couldn't disclose the reason." Pei Lvshi pondered briefly before nodding and beginning his account.
Nine years ago, after receiving the imperial order, Pei Ji sent his son to stay in the Eastern Palace Guards' Quarters, where he questioned all the palace servants and maids with his subordinates. Naturally, no one admitted involvement in the poisoning, nor did anyone accuse others. Pei Lvshi also interviewed the princes and consorts present at the banquet, asking what they'd witnessed. After the palace coup, everyone was on edge, answering all questions truthfully but providing little useful information.
Several mentioned that Prince Qi Yuanji had first suggested having the eldest princess propose a toast and that he later kicked over a lamp tree when leaving to relieve himself, dimming the lighting where the wine was poured. The Pei family found these points highly suspicious and thus questioned former Prince Qi's associates. Unfortunately, the enmity between the Qin and Qi factions ran deep. On the fourth day of the sixth month, the Prince of Qi's mansion saw brutal slaughter, with nearly all of Li Yuanji's close attendants killed. The few survivors under court control claimed to know nothing about the poisoned wine.
The investigation hit a dead end, stalling for days. Pei Ji grew increasingly anxious, even considering "torturing a confession out of a servant." Then, something unusual was discovered in the Eastern Palace kitchen.
"What was it?" Li Yuangui pressed.
"A food box," Pei Lvshi answered. "A crude wooden box for delivering meals to those under house arrest in the Eastern Palace, with three layers. At first glance, it seemed ordinary, but someone had scrawled words on the bottom with a charcoal pencil."
"What did it say?" Such important words must still be fresh in his memory.
"Eight characters: 'Eastern Palace poisoned, threw pot into well.' The handwriting was crude and illegible, like a servant's, and the meaning was vague. A kitchen servant noticed the writing and reported it to the supervisor we'd stationed there, who brought it to me. I puzzled over what 'threw pot into well' meant..."
"Was it referring to the pot used to pour the poisoned wine for Prince Qin?" Li Yuangui guessed. "Didn't the Court of Judicial Review investigate the cups and pots back then?"
"Prince Qin left the banquet feeling unwell immediately, supported by Huai'an Wang back to his mansion late at night when the palace gates were tightly secured. The Eastern Palace claimed they didn't learn of the poisoning suspicions until noon the next day. By then, the kitchen staff had already washed all the cups, bowls, and dishes from the banquet as usual—there was nothing left to investigate," Pei Lvshi shook his head.
Li Yuangui scoffed. "Since when do those lowly servants work so diligently? If they'd washed everything, what does 'threw pot into well' mean?"
"The banquet was held in Xiande Hall, which has a well in its southwestern courtyard. The Eastern Palace kitchen often drew water from it," Pei Lvshi explained. "It was the closest well to Xiande Hall. I had two skilled Kunlun slaves lowered down with ropes to investigate. Sure enough, they found something at the bottom—when they pulled it up..."
"It was a wine pot?" Li Yuangui asked.
Pei Lvshi nodded. "Not just any wine pot—a gilt dragon-horse patterned... double-heart pot."
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