Chapter 445: Hold It In

The Regent entered the sleeping hall and saw his younger sister sitting beside the table with her head slightly lowered.

She had been waiting for him.

Once he drew near, the Princess raised her head and looked at her elder brother.

A smile appeared on the Regent’s face.

“I heard something happened to you. I was terribly anxious, but Tian Wujing happened to press down on Zhennan Pass at the same time, so I was delayed handling matters there.

“Once I finally stabilized the situation, I hurried here.

“You look well. You haven’t lost weight either.

“Yes, the servants below already reported that much, but as your elder brother I still needed to see it with my own eyes before I could truly relax.

“You grew up beside me from childhood. This is the first time you’ve traveled so far away alone. Of course I worried.”

The Regent sat down nearby.

“Pour your brother a cup of tea.”

The Princess rose, poured the tea, and carried it to him.

In the past, every time he went to visit their Empress Mother, this little sister would take out the imperial pastries and pressed tea cakes she had secretly saved and give them to him.

Their father Emperor had loved Great Marsh Fragrant Tongue most of all.

She had hoarded quite a bit of it.

She herself could hardly bear to drink any.

She saved it all for him.

The Regent accepted the tea and said:

“Brother will ask you one more time.

“What happened to you— who was involved?

“The Mi Clan?

“I don’t think that fits.

“Little Sister, say it without fear.

“If your elder brother cannot even protect his own blood sister, then how could I possibly protect the millions of people of Great Chu?”

The Princess shook her head.

“It’s all in the past.”

The Regent looked at his younger sister for a long time without speaking.

The Princess smiled faintly and repeated:

“It really is all in the past.”

The Regent nodded.

“Fine.”

That counted as agreeing not to investigate further.

“I hear Qu Peiluo comes to see you often?

“I’ve met the boy.

“He’s not bad.”

“If Elder Brother thinks he’s so good, Elder Brother can marry him yourself.”

“Nonsense again.”

The Regent did not become angry.

He had never truly been angry with this obedient younger sister.

He had never even spoken a harsh sentence to her.

Those born into an imperial household learned from childhood how to scheme and struggle against their own brothers.

The so-called flesh-and-blood affection of an imperial clan was no more than red paper pasted around a lantern.

Poke it once and it tore.

Shake it once and it burned.

Only when he was with her could he relax inwardly and enjoy even a little of the ordinary warmth of family.

The Princess said:

“I can’t see what’s so good about him.”

“Little Sister, trust your brother’s judgment.

“As long as I live, that boy will never dare treat you poorly.

“And second, even among the many great noble clans of Great Chu, Qu Peiluo’s material is considered excellent.

“At his age, there truly are not many better than him.”

“Not necessarily,” the Princess said.

Xiong Liqing had already made the comparison herself.

Inside and out.

Category by category.

The more she compared the more useless Qu Peiluo seemed.

Of course, Qu Peiluo had simply suffered bad luck.

Of all the men he could possibly have been compared against, he had been placed beside Count Pingye.

“Still angry?” the Regent asked.

The Princess did not answer.

“If you’re angry, then vent it at your brother.

“Once it’s vented, you’ll feel better.

“But don’t direct it at Qu Peiluo.

“After all, I’m your elder brother. Since ancient times, where has there ever been an older brother who truly gets angry at his own younger sister?

“But Qu Peiluo is still a son of a great noble house.

“He possesses pride of his own.

“You are going to marry him eventually.

“Don’t ruin the relationship just because venting your temper feels good for a moment.

“It isn’t worth it.”

These were heartfelt words.

They were also the logic of managing a household.

Many times, one could not insist on absolute right and wrong while living a married life.

Nor could one simply follow one’s temper however one pleased.

Otherwise the person who ultimately lived uncomfortably would still be oneself.

For the Regent of Great Chu to sit down and discuss these trivial matters of marriage and household harmony showed clearly enough that he genuinely cared for this younger sister.

“Brother.

“I don’t want to marry.

“I truly don’t want to marry.”

“Be obedient.

“The date is already fixed.”

“Brother, why?

“You promised me before that whoever I married would be my own choice.

“You are the ruler of a state.

“How can your word mean nothing?

“A ruler’s word is not spoken in jest!”

“I am not Emperor yet.”

“But what difference is there between you and the Emperor?”

He was Regent in name.

Yet when court convened he sat on the dragon throne.

The Regent shook his head.

“An Emperor may have the name without the reality.

“But there has never been a man who possessed the reality without eventually possessing the name.

“If you want to blame someone, blame Father Emperor for dying too suddenly.

“At the beginning, your elder brother had not yet finished preparing everything.”

Had the Emperor of Chu died one year later or even half a year later the Regent was confident Great Chu could have avoided the internal conflict among the princes.

That civil struggle had caused Chu to miss one enormous opportunity.

It had also forced them to stand by and watch Yan swallow most of Jin.

Even when Qu Tiannan later led the Azure Luan Army on campaign, Great Chu had not truly committed its full strength.

That expedition had been more like a final attempt to make up for what had already been lost.

Had there been no internal conflict, Great Chu’s armies could have entered the struggle for the lands of the Three Jin immediately after Yan destroyed the Wenren and Helian Clans.

At that point it would have been far more difficult for Yan to establish itself in Jin.

“No matter how you explain it, you’re always the one with reasons.

“You have hardships.

“You have difficulties.

“And I, your younger sister, for the sake of your great enterprise, have to sell myself.”

The Regent frowned slightly.

Then relaxed his brow again.

“Girls grow up.

“They have to marry eventually.”

“I won’t.

“I refuse.

“Why should I?

“Why!”

“Because you are a Princess.

“From the moment you were born, you wore brocade and ate delicacies.

“In summer you could drink ice.

“In winter you could admire snow.

“The imperial house gave you a life of wealth and honor.

“So you must also contribute yourself to this household.

“Do not ask why.

“Do not ask on what grounds.

“A daughter born into a poor family—if she has an elder brother or younger brother—may still be sold by her own parents like merchandise so the bride-price can pay for her brother’s marriage.

“How many women inside brothels and pleasure houses genuinely chose that profession themselves?

“Most came from families too poor to survive and were sold there by their own parents.

“And daughters of great noble houses— are political marriages somehow rare among them?

“Why did they not ask why?

“Why did they not ask on what grounds?

“In this world, where are there so many perfect stories like those sung on stage?

“Whether commoner or imperial clan, everyone has to keep living.

“And if you want to live— you have to compromise.

“There is no principle beneath Heaven that says you may only take and never give.

“Little Sister.

“You need to be sensible.”

Xiong Liqing opened her mouth.

Her white teeth bit down on her lower lip.

Then she said, one word at a time:

“I don’t want to be sensible.

“I only want my elder brother to keep spoiling me the way you did when we were children.

“To keep taking care of me.

“I only want to remain beside my elder brother for my entire life.”

“Stop saying such foolish things.

“We are brother and sister.

“Blood brother and sister.

“People eventually have to grow up.

“Be good.

“So long as your elder brother remains here, I can guarantee nobody will bully you for the rest of your life.”

“But the one bullying me— is you!”

The Princess shouted.

The green python beneath the bed sensed her emotion and slowly poked its head out.

Whenever the Princess’s fury reached a certain degree, it would automatically awaken and devour whoever stood before her.

But when the green python saw the Regent sitting there it quickly withdrew under the bed again.

“Brother.

“You came all the way here just to tell me this?”

“My younger sister is getting married.

“As her elder brother, of course I had to come and see her.”

“Or were you afraid I’d cause too much trouble and ruin the relationship between you and the Qu Clan?”

The Regent no longer particularly wanted to continue speaking.

He rose.

Apparently preparing to leave the sleeping hall.

The Princess remained seated.

She did not stand.

When the Regent reached the door, he stopped.

Then said:

“Brother would also like to tell you one thing.

“If you’re unhappy marrying, then we simply won’t marry.

“But I have no choice.

“That Emperor of Yan has made his ambition to annex the realm perfectly clear.

“He will not give your elder brother much time to prepare.

“And I do not have much time left to waste.

“I truly have no choice.”

Xiong Liqing lifted her head and looked at the Regent.

“You can choose not to become Emperor.”

The Regent’s face instantly turned cold.

He rebuked her directly:

“If I had not fought for this position and allowed one of our other brothers to take it, you would not be sitting here throwing a tantrum at me over not wanting to marry.

“You would be exiled to the Great Marsh together with me!”

The Princess laughed.

It was a bleak laugh.

“I would be willing.”

The Regent fell silent.

One person stood.

One sat.

For a very long time, neither spoke.

The atmosphere inside the sleeping hall congealed into stillness.

...

Count Zheng sat inside the carriage.

He did not wander around at a time like this.

Nor did he go watch the Swordsmith inspect Hero Chen’s sword.

He simply sat quietly and drank tea.

Zhao Cheng stood nearby and did not dare speak much.

Even so, their gazes occasionally met.

Neither exchanged anything useful.

*You came?*

*Oh, you came again?*

*Oh-ho, you really came again today?*

*Yes. I came in. Then I went out. Now I’m back in again...*

Count Zheng desperately wanted a cigarette right now.

For one thing, he had nothing to do and waiting was boring.

For another, his emotions were somewhat unsettled and he wanted a way to vent them.

But in the end, Count Zheng restrained the impulse.

Cigarettes were simply too distinctive.

Phoenix Nest might very well have already gathered intelligence showing that Count Pingye possessed this habit.

With nothing else to do, Zheng Fan’s thoughts began wandering.

Then he suddenly remembered something.

He had already met the Emperor of Yan.

He had met the Emperor of Qian.

He had met the Emperor of Jin.

He had met the Savage King.

And now he had met the “Emperor of Chu.”

Wow.

Even envoys traveling between states normally specialized in only one country and met only one Emperor.

But on his side apart from the Barbarian King he was almost at a complete collection.

There probably were not many people in this world who, like him, had met so many “Emperors” face-to-face and personally spoken with all of them.

Thinking about it like that it felt strangely similar to Pokémon.

“Heh-heh.”

Count Zheng could not help laughing twice.

Zhao Cheng, standing beside him, instinctively shuddered.

By now, Zhao Cheng had completely lost any ability to judge Zheng Fan’s identity.

He knew only that the man was terrifyingly mysterious.

And mystery was one of the greatest sources of human fear.

At that moment, hoofbeats sounded outside.

Soon after three men dismounted and began walking toward the inner courtyard.

Two middle-aged men stopped outside the entrance and knelt directly.

Qu Peiluo walked straight inside.

The two men kneeling at the entrance were Qu Peiluo’s uncles younger brothers of Qu Tiannan.

That morning, Imperial Clan Guards had entered the imperial villa.

At the same time, Phoenix Nest operatives had gathered there.

The Qu Clan leadership in Ju’an City immediately received urgent reports.

Several of the Qu Clan’s decision-makers understood at once who had arrived.

So these two uncles personally accompanied Qu Peiluo on horseback to the imperial villa to request an audience.

The Regent was traveling incognito.

But the Qu Clan had to understand propriety.

Every necessary ritual and posture had to be shown.

Besides, with the wedding approaching, the Regent coming here personally already gave the Qu Clan enormous face.

The two uncles both held general titles.

They knelt outside and did not enter.

They had come primarily to kneel.

The Regent had not displayed the full imperial carriage and ceremonial escort, meaning he had come mostly in the identity of “family.”

So naturally, Qu Peiluo—the man about to become family—should be the one to enter and speak with the Regent and Princess about household matters.

After entering the inner courtyard, Qu Peiluo first saw the Swordsmith helping Hero Chen examine his sword.

Clearly, he knew the Swordsmith.

He immediately stepped forward and saluted.

“Peiluo greets Uncle Dugu.”

The Dugu Clan was a Great Chu aristocratic house on the same scale as the Qu Clan.

One of Qu Peiluo’s grandaunts had married the Swordsmith’s second uncle.

So by generation the Swordsmith ranked one generation above Qu Peiluo.

Add his status as one of the Four Great Swordsmen and it was perfectly natural for him to put on the airs of an elder and accept the salute.

A junior about to be married had greeted him.

Naturally, the elder had to give some token in return.

The Swordsmith had prepared something in advance.

He drew a short sword from inside his robes and tossed it directly to Qu Peiluo.

“For you.”

“Many thanks, Uncle Dugu.”

A sword forged by the Swordsmith was obviously an excellent sword.

That much required no discussion.

Qu Peiluo did not decline.

He accepted it with great respect.

Then his gaze landed on Hero Chen.

The Swordsmith introduced him:

“A swordsman of Qian.

“Hero Chen.

“He was sent by Master Yao.”

Qu Peiluo immediately cupped his hands.

Hero Chen acknowledged him while holding his sword.

The Swordsmith narrowed his eyes and smiled.

“There’s another young Mr. Su farther inside.

“He is Master Yao’s personal disciple.

“Extremely talented.

“In a little while, you should go greet him.

“On the day of your wedding, perhaps he’ll even write a poem or lyric for you.”

“Yes.

“This nephew understands.”

Qu Peiluo continued inward.

Then he saw a carriage.

And Zheng Fan standing beside it.

Although Count Zheng intended to steal the man’s wife—and had already sampled quite a bit of his fiancée ahead of schedule—Count Zheng genuinely did not recognize Qu Peiluo.

The last time Qu Peiluo had stood outside reciting poetry while Count Zheng held the Princess inside.

Count Zheng had heard the future Prince-Consort’s voice.

But never seen his face.

Only when Zhao Cheng knelt before Qu Peiluo and greeted him did Count Zheng understand.

“This servant pays respects to General of Tiger Might.

“May the General enjoy health and peace.”

“Rise.”

“Many thanks, General.”

Oh?

So that was him.

Count Zheng immediately slipped into the role of the man next door and began examining Qu Peiluo.

His looks...

Mm.

Genuinely good.

Qu Peiluo truly was handsome.

Put him in later generations and he would look even more striking than those fresh-faced celebrity idols.

That was undeniable.

Even Old Wang Zheng had no choice but to admit it.

But Count Zheng immediately sneered inwardly:

*What damned use is a pretty face?*

Qu Peiluo naturally had no idea what Zheng Fan was thinking.

Once he learned that Zheng Fan was Master Yao’s disciple—and heard the Swordsmith acknowledge him personally—he treated Zheng Fan with extraordinary courtesy.

“Greetings, Mr. Su.”

Zheng Fan smiled faintly.

He modestly retreated half a step while returning the salute.

“Greetings, General.”

“Mr. Su being willing to attend Peiluo’s wedding banquet brings Peiluo great honor.”

*No.*

*You’re going to regret that.*

“Peiluo has always loved poetry and lyrics and admired the literary culture of Qian. I hope Mr. Su will not hesitate to offer instruction. Peiluo would be deeply grateful.”

*No.*

*You absolutely will not be grateful.*

“Not at all, not at all. Brother Qu possesses impressive bearing and is truly a refined gentleman of Great Chu. This Su has also long heard of Brother Qu’s literary reputation.”

After all that day, he had been holding the man’s fiancée while listening to him chant about snow outside the door.

“Mr. Su is too courteous.

“This Qu is unworthy of such praise.”

The reason Qu Peiluo was so polite to this disciple of Master Yao was exactly as the Swordsmith had said earlier.

He hoped this “Mr. Su” might compose a poem or lyric for him on the day of the wedding.

In this era, poetry and lyrics possessed enormous power to spread and shape reputation.

Especially when “Mr. Su” carried the title of Master Yao’s disciple.

Nobody wished for their wedding to be ordinary.

Everyone hoped it might become something future generations remembered.

Zhao Cheng stood to one side with his head half lowered.

He did not speak.

Did not move.

Displayed no expression.

As the only person present who knew the truth—

Eunuch Zhao felt the conversation between the future Prince-Consort and Zheng Fan, the mutual admiration and mutual flattery, was saturated with an almost absurdly comic shade of black.

...

Inside the sleeping hall, silence had lasted a long time.

The Regent had failed to obtain what he wanted here.

He knew his younger sister carried resentment.

He had come prepared to let her vent.

As an elder brother, he hoped she could live happily after marriage.

As the “Emperor,” he hoped his younger sister would successfully complete the political alliance between himself and the Qu Clan.

Truthfully, whether this marriage took place or not, the Qu Clan could only remain bound to him.

Because the Qu Clan had already lost nearly fifty thousand Azure Luan troops for the Regent.

They had also lost the current head of their clan a Pillar of State.

They could no longer get off the carriage.

This marriage alliance was actually meant for the other great aristocratic houses to see.

It was a public declaration of position.

So the Regent did not want his younger sister carrying resentment into it.

But her reaction surprised him.

She should have already resigned herself to fate.

Yet now she seemed extraordinarily resilient.

That made the Regent, a man accustomed to holding everything in his hand, feel uncomfortable.

All rulers preferred the sensation that their will could control everything.

None liked resistance.

Add the feelings his younger sister had openly and secretly revealed toward him over the past few years and the Regent’s mood inevitably carried a trace of irritation.

He turned back toward the Princess.

“Liqing.

“At this point, the wood has already been made into a boat.

“The wedding is imminent.

“I hope you can wake up and think clearly.

“You are my younger sister.

“I watched you grow up.

“So I know my sister is intelligent.”

“Is Elder Brother threatening me?”

“This is not a threat.

“This is an imperial command.”

“An imperial command?”

“My command.

“You will smile— and marry.”

Even if it was only acting she had to perform the role properly.

He knew she possessed that ability.

She was not nearly as delicate and weak as she looked.

The Princess sat in her chair and stared at her elder brother with slightly unfocused eyes.

At that moment, the Regent pushed open the sleeping hall doors.

The first person the Princess saw was Qu Peiluo standing outside the doorway.

*Alas.*

*He came again.*

Then, the Princess saw Zheng Fan standing beside Qu Peiluo.

*Eh?*

*He came again too!*

Perhaps Count Zheng’s appearance was simply too shocking.

All the suppression and anger she had accumulated during her conversation with her brother was abruptly interrupted.

A smile appeared directly on the Princess’s face.

The Regent noticed it.

And finally relaxed.

His younger sister was still willing to listen to him.

She still understood propriety.

Qu Peiluo saw the Princess smile upon seeing him.

A sincere smile immediately appeared on his own face in response.

Count Zheng saw Qu Peiluo smiling so happily.

And he too...

No.

Couldn’t.

Hold it in.

Do not laugh.

[End of Chapter 445]