Chapter 810: The Princely Investiture Ceremony

The Yunchi Alliance was the greatest event to occur recently between Qian and Chu.

The version circulating in Qian said... the Emperor of Chu had wept bitterly, crawled on his knees before the Qian Emperor, and cried about the Yan dogs’ lawlessness, how they ravaged the state and poisoned the common people, begging the Qian Emperor to help Chu resist Yan.

The Qian Emperor had solemnly helped the Chu Emperor to his feet and said:

“In years past, the Four Marquises opened the frontiers and rendered merit to Xia. Their states were established there by Heaven’s Mandate. Now the Yan rebels have lost virtue and brought violence upon a brother state. Jin has fallen, Chu has been wounded, and Heaven and man alike are enraged. Great Qian shall naturally conclude a fraternal alliance with Chu, punish violent Yan, restore clarity to all Xia, and seek peace and protection for the people beneath Heaven.”

The version circulating in Chu... was that their own Emperor had been seated upon the imperial throne when the Qian Emperor came rushing over in panic, begging Chu to hold on and continue resisting Yan while listing example after example of how, when the lips perish, the teeth grow cold.

The Qian Emperor had even compared Qian to a concubine, saying that without Chu holding the line and bearing the pressure from Yan, Qian itself would long since have ceased to exist.

How widely a rumor spread never depended primarily on whether it was true.

It depended on whether the audience enjoyed hearing it.

Chu confidence rested on this:

They might have lost again and again, but those were battlefield defeats. After every defeat, the Yan still had to withdraw.

Qian confidence rested on this:

They had not lost any territory to Yan, and the south of the Great River remained rich and fertile. Now the Emperor had roused himself to action, righteous officials filled the court, and the day of Great Qian’s rise could not be far away.

No matter how they spread the story, no matter how much they decorated it, one fact could not be changed.

Under the ever-swelling pressure of Yan...

Qian and Chu had no choice but to set aside their pride and restraint and huddle together for warmth.

The Yan had been winning so much they were practically numb to it.

When news of the Qian-Chu alliance reached them, most Yan people simply did not take it seriously.

The overwhelming majority of Yan commoners remained naïve.

They believed Prince Pingxi Residence in eastern Jin... no, now Prince Pingxi himself... was already enough to suppress Chu alone.

As for what remained, surely handling Qian would be easy.

Whether Heaven chose rain or wind... life still had to go on.

And if one had to live either way... one might as well give oneself something pleasant to hope for.

...

The Chu Emperor’s imperial carriage entered Chen Commandery.

The Chen Clan received it according to the exact requirements of court ritual.

Not one step beyond.

While the head of the Chen Clan led clan elders and promising juniors to pay respects before the imperial carriage... the Emperor of Chu himself, dressed in a plain blue robe, appeared inside Meng Shou’s residence.

Only two people accompanied him.

One was a swordsmith.

The other was an extraordinarily handsome young man.

The swordsmith looked even more disheveled than before.

He had not returned for Dugu Mu’s funeral.

The head had not been recovered.

There had been no intact corpse to bury.

He had not wanted to go.

The handsome youth beside the Emperor possessed pale skin, red lips, white teeth, and a face whose every movement carried devastating beauty.

A man, too... could be beautiful beyond description.

A light rain was falling.

The swordsmith stood alone beneath it.

The young man held an umbrella over the Emperor of Chu.

Once they entered the courtyard... the swordsmith sat alone beneath the threshold, leaning against the doorframe. He took small sips from the tea brought by a servant child while gazing at the rain beyond the eaves, where the world looked as though ink and brush had bled across silk.

The Emperor of Chu sat facing Meng Shou.

Meng Shou brewed tea with great seriousness.

His movements were slow.

The Emperor did not stop him.

Nor did he help.

The handsome young man sat upright nearby.

A shallow smile rested at the corners of his mouth, yet his bearing remained solemn.

“We regret something.”

The Emperor of Chu spoke first.

Meng Shou shook his head.

“This subject does not believe Your Majesty regrets it.”

“Oh? So now even We cannot tell whether We regret something?”

“The late Emperor of Yan summoned this subject several times to ask about compiling histories. After returning to Chu, this subject saw something of that late Yan Emperor in Your Majesty.”

“That is interesting. Everyone already knows that Nian Yao, that slave, worshiped Yan’s Prince Jingnan. Now we can add that We ourselves worship the late Emperor of Yan. Sovereign and subject both admiring the other state’s sovereign and subject. It seems Great Chu has finally found the reason it ended up like this.”

“The blue comes from indigo, yet surpasses it.”

Meng Shou placed a cup of tea before the Emperor.

Then he took another and handed it to the handsome youth.

“In affairs of state, fall one step behind and every step afterward falls behind as well. We often reflect upon Ourself, yet gain nothing from it. Many people at court believe We moved too quickly in cutting away noble fiefs and stripping noble authority, creating the hollowed-out Great Chu of today and giving Yan its opportunity. We have never agreed. What We did was to extend Great Chu’s life. Otherwise, Great Chu’s destruction would only have been a question of sooner or later. When Qu Tiannan was trapped to death at Yupan City, We were still busy exchanging interests with Great Chu’s noble houses for their support and trying to stabilize the situation. The Imperial Clan Guards still had to suppress the realm internally and could not be dispatched. That was what forced Qu Tiannan to march into Jin alone. Put another man in Our position and in those circumstances, and it would have been very difficult to do better than We did.”

At the time, the present Chu Emperor had been only one imperial prince rising from the chaos among the princes.

The men he needed to defeat were not merely his brothers.

They were the great noble houses standing behind those brothers.

Under those circumstances... he unified the state’s political factions, created a situation where all strength could be directed toward national affairs, and at the same time ordered Qu Tiannan, himself both a member of one of the Four Great Noble Houses and a Pillar of State, to lead troops into Jin and seize a piece of flesh while Jin collapsed into chaos.

He had already done very well.

“When Yan mobilized the entire strength of the state to attack Chu, We handed nearly all of the Imperial Clan Guards to Nian Yao and had him build an iron wall before Zhennan Pass. We surrendered authority. We also forced Great Chu’s noble houses to contribute private troops, grain, provisions, and military equipment with all their strength. But who could have imagined the Yan would come by water? Who could have imagined Qu Peiluo’s Azure Luan Army would collapse in a single battle at Qingtan? We are Emperor, not a general charging across a battlefield. We had already done everything an Emperor possibly could. We exhausted every effort. Yet We... yet Chu... kept losing. We do not know whether you read the battle report from Fan City. We did. After finishing it, We nearly laughed until no sound came out. Nian Yao acted on his own initiative, sent a surprise force through Jin territory into Mount Meng, and tried to seize Fan City in one stroke. Dugu Mu mobilized the Dugu Clan’s private troops and advanced on Fan City from the south. And yet who could have imagined that the young master of the Qu Clan, the homeless dog Zheng Fan beat like a pig at Qingtan, would hold Fan City for that long? More ridiculous still, that Zheng bastard mobilized every elite he possessed, marched west out of Zhennan Pass through Shanggu Commandery, and ran all the way to Fan City.”

The Emperor of Chu lifted the teacup and drained it in one swallow.

He no longer bothered savoring it.

Meng Shou nodded and sighed.

“A man’s life is like reading a book of history. At first, one delights in the freshness of opening pages. Turn enough of them and you gradually learn what loneliness and frustration are, and what it means for worldly affairs to be impermanent.”

“We are Emperor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The people below may admit defeat. Only the Emperor cannot.”

“Your Majesty speaks truly.”

The Emperor of Chu closed his eyes.

At that moment... the handsome youth rose and bowed to Meng Shou.

“This boy of the Xie Clan, Xie Yu’an, pays respects to Lord Meng.”

“Are you the thousand-li colt of the Xie Clan?”

“This boy does not dare. This boy is ashamed.”

The Emperor of Chu opened his eyes.

“We have decided to send Great Chu’s final remaining Pillar of State, his father Xie Zhuyang, north to replace Nian Yao in his former post and command the Imperial Clan Guards along the Wei River!”

“Your Majesty is wise.”

“We simply refuse to believe in evil fate.”

The Emperor pointed toward Xie Yu’an.

“The Yan say their Marquis Pingxi single-handedly broke three of Great Chu’s Four Pillars of State. Fine. We will send the final Pillar of State as well. If he has the ability, We will let him complete the set. If he does not, then let us see whether Our Pillar of State from the Xie Clan can hold the situation together for Us! You say a man’s life is like turning through a book of history. But in Our view, the vast chronicles of dynasties rising and falling contain only two characters: Heaven’s Mandate!”

Meng Shou nodded.

“This subject does not know whether to congratulate Your Majesty or remonstrate with Your Majesty.”

The Emperor raised one hand.

“Say only what is truly in your heart.”

“This subject believes that wagering one’s own fate is no different from a gambler in a gambling hall whose eyes have turned red from losing.”

“Lord Meng, you are wrong.”

Xie Yu’an spoke before the Emperor could.

“Oh?”

Meng Shou looked toward Xie Yu’an, this young man whose beauty bordered upon the uncanny.

Xie Yu’an clasped his hands.

“Lord Meng, what His Majesty wagers is not His Majesty himself. It is Great Chu’s national fate!”

...

Fengxin City was unusually lively today.

Outside the western gate... nearly every commoner in the city had poured out.

The court’s imperial commission had finally arrived.

The people of Fengxin City had little interest in the imperial commissioners themselves.

Nor did they care very much about the imperial decree.

But they understood one thing.

This time... the commissioners had come to make their Marquis... a Prince.

Their livelihoods depended on him.

Their honor depended on him.

Even the future of their sons and grandsons depended on him.

The soldiers and civilians of Fengxin City were probably even more excited than Prince Pingxi himself to see their lord keep climbing upward.

And with two of his ladies already pregnant... the sense of security was almost impossible to describe.

The imperial procession had traveled very slowly.

By now, Eunuch Huang had probably already returned to Yanjing and reported before the Emperor.

Yet the commission was only now reaching Fengxin City.

But the two journeys could not really be compared.

First, Eunuch Huang had already been tempered by years of travel.

Second... the imperial procession was enormous.

The new Emperor had clearly decided to give that Zheng fellow the greatest possible ceremony.

He did not want the investiture as Prince to look hurried or perfunctory.

The chief imperial commissioner was an old acquaintance.

Former Prefect of Yingdu, Mao Mingcai.

After leaving Yingdu and returning to the capital, Mao Mingcai had spent some time without office. He was later sent to Sanshi Commandery as Prefect for a period. After the late Emperor’s death and the new sovereign’s accession, he was summoned back to court and appointed Acting Chancellor.

The deputy imperial commissioner was the former Fifth Prince, Ji Chengwen, now serving as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works.

The Emperor’s Chancellor and the Emperor’s own brother had been sent together to preside over the investiture.

The honor could hardly have been deeper.

As the imperial procession approached Fengxin City... file after file of cavalry rode out in immaculate formation.

The common people around them separated in orderly ranks and cleared the road.

Mao Mingcai, seated atop a Pixiu, could not help feeling surprised.

He had been Marquis Zheng’s neighbor for a very long time.

But he had never personally entered the territory governed by Marquis Pingxi to inspect it on the ground.

Seeing it today... was genuinely shocking.

Not because of the cavalrymen who had only recently returned from the war in Chu and still carried traces of blood and slaughter around them.

Because of the common people.

They understood order instinctively.

Mao Mingcai had governed local territory.

He had served as a great frontier official.

To him, a population like this represented absolute control from above over those below.

At the same time, it represented absolute response from below to those above.

In practical terms... the instant war required it... these people could be organized at once into auxiliary troops, labor corps, local production units, and every other supporting function, with assignments and mobilization carried out in perfect clarity.

“WOOOOOO!”

Desolate horn calls rang out.

Then... the entire line of war drums atop the city walls began to thunder!

Of the commanders under the former Marquis Pingxi Residence in eastern Jin... all had returned for the investiture except Gou Moli, who still remained in Chu guarding Fan City.

The Sword Saint stood among the crowd holding his youngest son, his wife at his side.

His mother-in-law, by contrast, possessed an official post.

So she was currently leading a group of women along Fengxin City’s main road, carrying out the final cleaning and preparations.

The Garrison Commanders under the Residence had already formed ranks with their personal guards.

The troops responsible for Fengxin City’s defense had deployed around them as well.

The man overseeing those arrangements... was Qu Peiluo.

Everything was ready.

Only the principal figure had not yet appeared.

...

“Master, everyone outside the city is waiting.”

“They’ve already waited this long. A little longer won’t matter.”

Zheng Fan reached out and embraced Siniang.

Siniang’s hands did not stop moving.

She was fastening the final cords on Master’s black armor.

Once she finished, she gently pushed him away.

She looked him over for herself.

And seemed fairly satisfied.

Prince Pingxi, dressed in black armor, smiled.

“The time I was most excited was when I was made Count at Snow Sea Pass. Becoming Marquis after that, and now becoming Prince, somehow feels more like going through a procedure. There isn’t much feeling left.”

“That sounds very Versailles, Master.”

“Heh-heh.”

“Your Highness.”

At that moment, the Princess, dressed in full ceremonial splendor, was already waiting outside.

Her belly was considerably larger than Siniang’s.

But on a day like today... as one of the Prince’s women... she needed to appear.

“Master, go with Little Sister Liqing,” Siniang said.

Zheng Fan smiled.

Xiong Liqing entered.

Behind her, several maidservants carried trays bearing ceremonial robes.

“Siniang, you should change too.”

Siniang looked at Zheng Fan.

“Master knows this servant does not like these spectacles. Master also does not need to worry that this servant will become jealous over something like this.”

“I like this kind of spectacle,” Zheng Fan said.

Siniang looked toward Xiong Liqing.

Xiong Liqing smiled faintly.

“We’re a Prince now. There are not many people left we need to fear or care about. All the more reason to seize the time and do what pleases us. Liqing secretly had these clothes made for you. They certainly won’t be as good as your own needlework, but if you personally stitched ceremonial robes like these, it would spoil some of the anticipation and meaning. Be good. Listen to me. Put them on. You promised me before. In bed, you take the lead. Outside bed, I take the lead.”

The Prince and First Madam discussed such intimate husband-and-wife matters as though no one else were present.

None of the surrounding maidservants dared laugh.

Every maid in the Residence had been trained by Siniang.

They understood the rules.

Even the Princess showed no change in expression.

The two women often discussed certain experiences and insights with each other anyway.

“Fine. Then this servant will put them on.”

Zheng Fan nodded in satisfaction.

“Come. Attend this Prince’s Princess Consort while she changes.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

This was the first time Zheng Fan had changed his self-reference to “this Prince.”

Everyone else felt nothing strange about it.

That was what he was supposed to call himself now.

But Zheng Fan himself found it fascinating.

While the Princess helped Siniang change... he went outside first.

“This Prince.”

“This Prince.”

“This Prince.”

Zheng Fan was still intoxicated by the novelty when he noticed Tian Tian and the Crown Prince walking toward him hand in hand.

Both children looked curious.

They had no idea what kind of sound their “godfather” was practicing.

Prince Pingxi did not blush.

He continued seamlessly:

“Honk, honk, honk,
Neck curved, singing toward the sky.
White feathers float on green water;
Red feet paddle through clear waves.”

“This Prince just composed a poem called *Ode to the Goose*. Did you two remember it?”

“Yes. Your son remembers.”

“Your son remembers too.”

The Crown Prince scratched his head.

“Ode to the Goose... is that really how geese call?”

Tian Tian explained:

“When a goose chokes on water, it goes honk, honk, honk.”

“Oh. Elder Brother is amazing.”

“Heh-heh.”

Zheng Fan walked over to the two children.

For today’s investiture ceremony, the Crown Prince wore a robe embroidered with a four-clawed golden dragon.

It was truly noble and magnificent.

Tian Tian wore a brocade robe.

He remained a plump, adorable little good-luck doll.

Zheng Fan had beaten him the last time.

But a few days later, Zheng Fan had gone back to eat breakfast as usual.

Tian Tian had peeled the salted duck egg for him as usual.

The child had not sulked.

Had not cried about being wronged.

Had not demanded an apology.

Sometimes... that made Zheng Fan feel he was rather a failure as a father.

The child was already this sensible.

Yet he himself still clung stubbornly to his pride.

Perhaps... it was because the child was too sensible.

If Tian Tian had been a little more ordinary, perhaps Zheng Fan himself could have relaxed more.

Unfortunately, that kind of thought was not something one could say aloud.

Other people would only think you were deliberately showing off.

“Congratulations on Uncle Zheng’s enfeoffment as Prince.”

The Crown Prince stepped back half a pace and bowed seriously.

Tian Tian did the same.

“Congratulations on Dad becoming Prince!”

Zheng Fan pointed at Tian Tian.

“The Crown Prince changed into formal robes. Why didn’t you?”

“Me?”

Tian Tian looked confused.

Did he... have formal robes too?

“Someone.”

“This subordinate is here.”

Xiao Yibo approached with several maidservants.

Each carried a tray.

On the trays lay a cap, robes, boots, and ornaments.

“Your First Mother embroidered these for you herself.”

Tian Tian blinked.

Xiao Yibo stepped forward.

“Young Master, come with this subordinate to change.”

A child changed clothes quickly.

There was no need for all the elaborate hair arrangements women required.

Before long...

Tian Tian emerged in an Heir’s formal python robe.

The robe did not make him look especially martial.

Instead... it made him look even more adorable.

Zheng Fan crouched.

He adjusted Tian Tian’s collar.

The collar had already been perfectly straight.

After Zheng Fan worked on it, it somehow became slightly crooked.

Tian Tian smiled.

“Thank you, Dad, for the clothes. Thank you, First Mother, for all the work.”

Zheng Fan shook his head.

“These clothes were earned for you by your biological father.”

With that...

Zheng Fan scooped Tian Tian into his arms.

The little fellow was getting heavier and heavier.

“Today Dad is being invested as Prince. You’re attending the ceremony with Dad.”

Everyone beneath Heaven already knew that Prince Jingnan’s Heir was being raised inside Marquis Pingxi Residence.

It was practically an open secret.

Today...

Prince Pingxi intended to tear away the final veil.

Before, the secrecy had been a tacit understanding.

Under that understanding, the child remained safest.

All they needed to guard against were hidden arrows.

Now... they no longer needed to fear open spears either.

Old Tian.

I’ve become Prince.

Your son... doesn’t need to be hidden anymore.

Holding Tian Tian in his arms, Prince Pingxi even pointed with interest toward Crown Prince Ji Chuanye standing nearby.

He smiled and asked:

“Tian Tian, do you like the pattern on your little brother’s robe?”

The Crown Prince froze.

Tian Tian shook his head.

“Tian Tian is fatter than Little Brother. I can’t fit into it.”

[End of Chapter 810]