Chapter 113: A Duel of Masters, Renjie Briefly Outmatched

Di Renjie remarked, "Divorcing the Crown Princess is no trivial matter. That is why the Empress had people spread the rumors..."

Li Wei gave a muffled snort. The so-called spreading of rumors was merely a way to further destroy Yang Min's reputation, ensuring that scholars would be unable to petition against the divorce, making the dismissal of the Crown Princess a natural progression. The sensation caused by bamboo paper had been achieved using similar methods.

"But this has bought us a little time. If she were truly divorced, would she ever be allowed to enter the Eastern Palace again?"

"Your Highness, may I speak more plainly?"

"Since divorcing the Crown Princess must be announced to the world, the imperial edict would inevitably contain some language that sounds disrespectful. However, the edict has not yet been issued. If Your Highness were to beg the Emperor and Empress to allow the young lady of the Yang family to be a secondary consort instead of the Crown Princess, the requirements would be more lenient. Furthermore, she has committed no grave moral failing, and the Yang family shares certain kin ties with the Empress..."

As he spoke, he watched Li Wei. The method was indeed ingenious. By changing her status, the common people could understand, and the ministers would have no grounds for opposition; it would cause far less turbulence than a forced divorce while resolving the Crown Prince's heartache. Yet, Di Renjie feared that if the Crown Prince remained stubborn—insisting on making the young lady of the Yang family his Crown Princess—it would be a headache indeed.

"This... could work," Li Wei mused. He had no other strong opinions. With the imperial harem—the three palaces, six courts, and seventy-two concubines—the Emperor’s consorts numbered over a hundred according to the Tang Code. The Crown Prince’s household was smaller, but a full complement of wives and concubines still numbered several. It was impossible for everyone to be the Crown Princess. If one spoke of grievances, Bi'er was the truly aggrieved one. Still, he asked worriedly, "I only fear that the Emperor and Empress will not grant it."

"That is of no concern. As long as Your Highness agrees, you can write a letter to the Western Capital, asking Madam Yang and her daughter—or other relatives of the Empress—to come to the Eastern Capital to apologize to the Empress. If they no longer seek the title of Crown Princess, and since human hearts are made of flesh, the Empress may well grant it."

"This plan is sound."

Di Renjie finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The reason Xu Jingzong had acted as he did was simply to exploit the Crown Prince’s deep affection for the Crown Princess, forcing a confrontation between the Prince and the Emperor and Empress. Where there is conflict, there is discord, and that would be his chance to strike. Moreover, his petition was couched in high-minded, moralistic language, appearing to be for the good of the nation and the Crown Prince. Even the shrewd Empress could not fathom his malicious intent.

It was fortunate that he himself remained in the shadows; otherwise, facing such a man directly in a battle of wits would be no easy task.

With the Crown Prince’s tacit agreement, the problem was no longer so dire.

The carriage had already arrived at the Di residence. Di Hao and Di Hui came out to welcome them, wearing thick veils. Di Hui was naturally clean and pure, favoring white clothing; she wore a long white skirt with a white undergarment beneath. Di Hao, fond of painting, preferred vibrant colors; she was dressed in a blue-violet skirt with small floral patterns, over a lake-green undergarment, even the undergarment featuring intricate designs.

Li Wei was slightly taken aback when he saw them.

It was not that he did not recognize them; it had only been a few months since they last parted. Even with veils covering their faces, the veils could not hide their graceful figures. He was simply surprised by the conservative nature of their dress. The Tang Dynasty, influenced by nomadic cultures, had very liberal fashions. In such sweltering heat, many ladies wore thin silk skirts, their undergarments cut very low to stay cool. Since everyone did so, no one thought it improper.

It was not just the women on the streets; the palace was the same. Many palace maids dressed very lightly, which was quite a sight for the eyes. It was only hard on the guards stationed in the palace, who, in the prime of their youth, were constantly met with the sight of these beautiful maids with their swelling bosoms and snowy arms...

However, women of well-bred families still wore veils when going out, though social norms were shifting, and the veils had become quite thin. For the sake of coolness, the undergarments worn beneath were also being cut lower and lower. Yet, the undergarments worn by Xiangxue and Hualiu were not only wrapped up to their necks but were made of thick fabric, completely out of step with the trends of the era.

Of course, how one dressed was a matter of personal preference, and he could not speak to them about it.

After exchanging courtesies, Di Renjie said, "Your Highness, these two foster daughters of mine are of virtuous character. Usually, they do not even step half a pace outside the house."

Li Wei finally understood. Di Renjie wanted to send them into the Eastern Palace, and having learned the lesson of Yang Min, he was forcing Xiangxue and Hualiu to act like rigid, dogmatic nuns.

Why suffer so?

He did not hope that if these two beautiful young women were to enter the Eastern Palace one day, they would become as foul and long-winded as those corrupt scholars. However, he also thought of another matter: both these girls were in their early twenties, and from women in their twenties down to the eight-year-old Shangguan Wan'er, his appetite seemed to be growing more and more voracious...

Walking into the Di residence, the space was truly narrow. Li Wei had brought very few people this time, only about a dozen, yet standing in the courtyard, it felt crowded. Fortunately, there were three old trees growing lushly, casting a thick shade that blocked the scorching sun, making it not too hot.

Di Hui and Di Hao poured tea for Li Wei. Although Li Wei thought their dress was conservative, the two women did not seem to feel so. Once inside, they removed their veils. Bi'er said, "The two sisters are still as beautiful as before."

"Miss Jiang, we dare not accept such praise," they said in unison.

They had truly matured; to have preserved their purity in that great dye vat of a world was in itself an extraordinary feat. Do not underestimate Bi'er just because she was younger and a palace maid; she had been personally summoned by the Emperor, and after returning from prayers, she had been praised by the Emperor himself in the presence of all the officials.

She was very sensible.

After speaking, Di Hao looked at Li Wei and said, "That I was able to be preserved back then was due to Father and Your Highness the Crown Prince. I am deeply grateful."

"It is nothing."

"Your Highness, I have nothing to repay you with. I have learned to prepare some small dishes; might I be so bold as to invite Your Highness to dine?"

This was not a breach of protocol; even the Emperor sometimes dined at the homes of close ministers. After she spoke, she looked at Li Wei eagerly. Li Wei joked, "Is it edible?"

But his tone was already one of tacit consent. The two beautiful ladies began to busy themselves in the kitchen. In truth, there was no pollution in this era; whether it was birds in the sky, beasts on the land, or fish and shrimp in the rivers, the taste was exceptionally fresh. Even the later invention of "monosodium glutamate" was but a fleeting cloud; the flavor of the food was far superior to anything in later times.

After a while, they brought out a few small dishes. As for the taste, it could only be described as barely passable, but the two girls were naturally artistic. The way they arranged the dishes made them look like intricate carvings. Li Wei, holding his chopsticks, said, "Is this edible?"

The two instances of asking "Is this edible?" carried entirely different meanings.

As the Crown Prince ate, Di Hui began to play the zither, and Di Hao played the lute. It was a piece called "Yang Ban'er." In truth, Li Wei was oblivious to the fact that the people of the time preferred foreign music, and few remained who could play refined melodies like the "Qingshang Music." Historically, by the late years of Wu Zetian, of the more than sixty "Qingshang" melodies, the musicians could only play eight: *Mingjun*, *Yang Ban*, *Xiaohu*, *Qiuge*, *Baixue*, *Tangtang*, and *Chunjiang Huayue*.

In fact, among the great musical repertoires of the Tang, none were as elegant as the "Qingshang Music," even if it included decadent tunes like "Jade Tree Flowers in the Rear Courtyard." Seeing the Crown Prince and realizing he was not ill-disposed toward them, the two girls played with an even lighter, more cheerful rhythm. Since "Yang Ban'er" was already a bright and lively piece, the room was suddenly filled with the breath of spring, as if one had returned to the third month, with its bright flowers and green willows.

"I am reminded of the Jiangnan," Li Wei said, listening to the music.

"The 'Qingshang Music' is originally from the south," Di Renjie replied.

"Master Di, have you ever been to the Jiangnan?"

"Due to official business, I have been twice. Though it was not in the spring, the scenery was quite fresh and elegant, distinct from the north."

"Jiangnan is good. I wonder if I will ever have the chance to see it."

"Your Highness, that must not be," Di Renjie quickly cautioned. "Do you remember Emperor Yang of Sui?"

The Crown Prince's thought was a very dangerous one. For him to visit the Jiangnan while still a Crown Prince was clearly impossible. Even a trip to the Shaolin Temple, whether for prayers or not, was not far from Luoyang, but would the Emperor agree to him going to the Jiangnan? If the Emperor were to pass away and he ascended the throne, he could go to the Jiangnan. But for an Emperor to descend to the Jiangnan, how much manpower and resources would it cost?

Li Wei had only sighed, yet it had given him a great fright. However, it also showed that the two girls' musical skills were excellent; otherwise, someone as half-informed as Li Wei would not have felt the spirit of the Jiangnan, nor would he have had such a thought...

"Master, Madam Yang and the young lady have gone to the Eastern Capital," the old servant said.

"They are beautiful, and the Crown Prince dotes on her, so naturally, they are not content," Xu Jingzong said, finishing with a mocking, cold snort.

"But, but..." The old servant stammered for a long time without managing to say more.

"What are you trying to say?"

"Master, I hear that the Emperor and Empress are very affectionate toward the Crown Prince now, and the Crown Prince's position is more stable than before. Master, let him be."

Plotting against ministers was one thing, and for the most part, plotting against ministers was done at the behest of the Emperor and Empress. But plotting against the Crown Prince made even this trusted servant tremble with fear in the manor.

"You do not understand. The more it is so, the more I worry. I have met the Crown Prince once; this man is full of caution toward me and harbors ill intentions. I am not afraid, but my body is failing more and more. If I fall, what will become of my grandsons? In fact, the Crown Prince is at a critical juncture of advance or retreat. If he advances, his position might truly be secure; if he retreats, he will be even worse off than before."

The servant did not quite understand.

As a trusted old man, and with Xu Jingzong getting on in years, he spoke a little more freely, explaining to him: "Because of the contribution of the bamboo paper, the pressure on the Emperor and Empress has eased, and they naturally think of the Crown Prince's merits. However, with the Emperor's illness recovered and the Crown Prince and Empress reconciled, they cannot help but have other thoughts. Look at the Empress; she does not necessarily trust her son, watching him grow stronger day by day. The matter of the bamboo paper has passed, but these contradictions remain. If they are exposed, the Crown Prince may not be able to sit securely. Besides, the Crown Prince’s skills are all superficial; the Two Sages may not be truly happy."

"But Master, the Crown Prince is, after all, their own flesh and blood."

"Own flesh and blood? Do you believe there is much family affection in the imperial house? Let me ask you, how did the Empress’s eldest daughter die? How did Crown Prince Li Zhong die? Of course, if this Crown Prince were to truly die of illness, perhaps the Emperor would regret having suppressed and guarded against him so tightly, treating him so poorly. But as long as he has not passed away, the suspicion will not diminish. However, the Yang mother and daughter going to the Eastern Capital is marvelous. You must immediately go to the Eastern Capital and notify Ming Chongyan; the time is ripe."

"What time is ripe?" the servant asked, emboldened.

"In truth, the Crown Prince is not without a way out. If he were to make the Yang girl a secondary consort, it would be the best of both worlds. The Empress has kinship with the Yang family; if he does not seek the title of Crown Princess, a secondary consort is acceptable. But when Ming Chongyan left the Western Capital, I instructed him. At the right moment, he can use sorcery or similar tricks to imply that the young lady of the Yang family is the reincarnation of Daji or Baosi. So, since the engagement was set with the Crown Prince, these years have gone from bad to worse."

"That is a brilliant idea! Then even if the Yang girl is the Empress’s own niece, she will not be given a shred of status." Although he called it brilliant, the old servant was sweating. It wasn't brilliant—it was too poisonous!

"This was my true trump card from the beginning. To give her not a shred of status, and even strictly forbid the Crown Prince from seeing the Yang girl, the Crown Prince will inevitably have objections, and then he will come into conflict with the Two Sages. In reality, I am also doing this for the good of the country. The Crown Prince's benevolence is fine, but is his illness not a chronic one? Is he truly cured? Look at the Emperor; were it not for the burden of his health, how much more prosperous would the country be? Fortunately, there is a wise Empress, unprecedented in history, to assist, so there have been no major disasters. By comparison, I favor Prince Pei. His natural talent exceeds that of the Crown Prince; he is well-read, polite, and in good health... That is the blessing of the imperial court."

"Yes, Master is truly loyal to the nation and the court," the old servant said, while sweating profusely once more.