Chapter Twenty: Three Strategies for Taming Horses—The Sage’s Far-Reaching Wisdom (Part One)

As soon as they met, the two were at loggerheads.

The Yang family was at a loss. The Crown Prince was their future son-in-law, his status supremely distinguished. Yet Helan Minzhi was the Duke of Zhou, hardly someone their family could afford to offend.

It wasn’t that Helan Minzhi was unfilial. In the past, when the Lady of Rongguo, his great-aunt, noticed this handsome nephew, she insisted he accompany her at night. Naturally, he had no interest in a ninety-year-old woman, but for the sake of wealth and status, he had no choice but to comply. Night after night, having an old woman covered in goosebumps sleep in his arms, and still being forced to perform his “husbandly duties” once or twice—what kind of feelings could that possibly inspire? How could he ever develop filial respect for the Lady of Rongguo? So, the moment she died, he indulged in revelry, a clear celebration.

But how could he say so? That he wasn’t unfilial, but rather it was his grandmother who forced herself upon him, acting wrongly first, and thus he could not be filial in return? The bitterness was unspeakable. His face turned livid before quickly returning to normal. He ignored Li Wei and walked straight to Yang Min, saying, “Cousin Min, the day after tomorrow, you and I agreed to go boating at Qujiang Pool. I’ll invite a troupe of foreign dancers to liven things up. What do you think?”

Yang Min’s expression changed.

They were relatives, so they interacted occasionally. Helan Minzhi was handsome and witty, unlike the former Li Hong, who was so rigid. Deep down, she was fond of Helan Minzhi. Last year, when Li Hong came to speak with her, she intentionally snubbed him and chatted and laughed with Helan Minzhi to provoke Li Hong.

Though her heart was now gradually settling on the Crown Prince, she still did not reject Helan Minzhi. There was indeed an outing planned, but not just the two of them. Helan Minzhi’s deliberate misrepresentation, combined with their prior relationship, made the situation seem highly ambiguous.

Had it been before, she might have agreed just to annoy Li Hong. Now, however, she didn’t dare—nor could she explain herself. Least of all did she expect Helan Minzhi to openly provoke Li Wei, regardless of his princely status, right upon meeting.

This also led Li Wei to misunderstand. There was nothing he could do; he couldn’t very well stage a dramatic scene in the Yang residence to snatch his bride.

He stood up and said to Yang Sijian, “Commander Yang, since you have a distinguished guest, I won’t intrude. Farewell.”

Li Lingyue still didn’t understand what had happened. She stared wide-eyed at Li Wei, then at Helan Minzhi, but Li Wei took her hand, and together with Biyer and Liu Qun, left the Yang residence.

Only then did the Yang family react. Yang Sijian said, “You troublemaker, why don’t you hurry after him?”

Yang Min rushed out, but by then Li Wei’s carriage was already gone.

The whole family was alarmed, yet none noticed the instigator’s lips curl into a cold, triumphant smile.

After sending Li Lingyue home, Li Wei returned to the Eastern Palace. Biyer softly said, “Your Highness, don’t be angry. Once you have taken action, what woman in the world could you not marry?”

But that was not necessarily so. Even the emperor couldn’t marry just anyone he wished; he had to consider the opinions of the people and the ministers. Yet even as Crown Prince, aside from the Crown Princess, he could still take secondary consorts—the Ladies of Rank. Many beautiful and virtuous ladies from prominent families were willing to become secondary consorts. If he was unwilling, he could simply claim the Crown Princess was of poor conduct and refuse to take a consort; even his parents would be helpless. Of course, that would send the Yang family into ruin.

“Why would I be angry?” Though he said this, his mood was far from good. Today, he had gone out to quietly lay the first foundation for his own development and found a way to ease his mother’s resentment and mend their rift. He was quite content—until he swallowed a fly at the Yang residence.

Just then, someone reported that Yang Min was seeking an audience.

Li Wei said angrily, “Biyer, go tell her that this is not the Garden of Pleasures. She cannot come and go as she pleases. I will not see her.”

Biyer went out and soon returned. “Your Highness, I think it’s a misunderstanding. The outing the day after tomorrow is indeed real, but several other youths from official families are also going. Mistress Yang is crying terribly at the palace gate. Please forgive her this once.”

“Why are you speaking for her again?”

“Last time, she deliberately snubbed Your Highness. This time is different. It was the Duke of Zhou who provoked Your Highness; Mistress Yang is innocent.”

“No push, no fall; no fall, no death—how can you call that innocent? Go out again and tell her: ‘Confucius said, men and women should not touch hands.’”

“Your Highness, isn’t that a bit harsh?”

“Did you ever hear the Empress tell Emperor Taizong about taming horses? A wild horse, fierce and unruly—if you treat it with nothing but kindness, it only grows bolder. There are only three things to deal with it: a whip, a hammer, and a dagger. If the whip fails, use the hammer. If the hammer fails, better a short pain than a long one—use the dagger to kill it. What use is a wild and unmanageable horse? That’s why there must be laws in this world. Go.”

Biyer thought to herself that since the Crown Prince’s recent illness, he had become more gentle and approachable, but also much more resolute. This time, Mistress Yang would have a hard lesson indeed—but she knew this was a good sign. After all, a future ruler who is always weak is no good either.

She got up and went out again.

…

The Yang family’s dining table was laden with delicacies, but no one touched a bite; instead, both front and rear doors closed simultaneously.

Yang Sijian asked, “The Crown Prince only said that one sentence?”

Shrinking into a corner, Yang Min nodded as she sobbed.

Madam Yang said, “What does the Crown Prince mean by this? If men and women shouldn’t interact, why did he associate with Min’er before?”

“It’s infuriating. Is he saying he won’t interact with Min’er anymore? The wedding is only months away—why not? Or is he saying Min’er shouldn’t associate with the Duke of Zhou? Can’t you tell?”

“That’s too much. Isn’t it normal for young men and women in the capital to be friendly? Besides, our families are related. What did Min’er do wrong tonight? If anyone is at fault, it’s the Duke of Zhou for provoking the Crown Prince. Who does he think he is? Just the Empress’s nephew. Besides, the Lady of Rongguo has passed, as have Lady Han and Lady Wei. The Crown Prince is the Empress’s own son.”

“Oh dear,” Yang Sijian groaned.

“Elder, what has happened now?”

“We were wrong too. When the Crown Prince and the Duke of Zhou argued, we shouldn’t have stood by and watched.” There’s a world of difference between watching passively and actively supporting the Crown Prince.

“What could we do? Besides, the Crown Prince is strange: he was humiliated by the Duke of Zhou, so why take it out on his own consort?” Madam Yang was still indignant.

“Nonsense. This unfilial girl is your doing. The Crown Prince is a man of such principle that because the Chronicle recorded the Prince of Chu’s patricide, he refuses to read Zuo’s Commentary. In recent years, he’s been steeped in ritual classics, becoming refined and kind. How could he tolerate his consort fraternizing with other young men?”

“If he can’t tolerate it, why marry into our family? There are plenty of other noble families with well-bred daughters.”

“Nonsense. Do you think the Crown Prince can’t marry from the seven great families? Let me tell you something: this morning he went out to inspect the disaster victims and didn’t rest until afternoon. But when he came to our house, was he out of breath? Was he weary? Did he cough or spit? What does that mean? His consumption is getting better! How many in history have recovered from it? Heaven favors him!”

“If Heaven favors him, why make him sick in the first place?”

“Mencius said, ‘When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on someone, it first tests them with suffering and hardship.’ Look at the histories—how many Crown Princes are as virtuous as he? Or as talented? Even Liu Rengui and General Jiang praise him. Even Dai Zhide and others do. Heaven is deliberately tempering the Crown Prince. Now that he’s coming of age, his health is improving. (At that time, people were rather superstitious; even Sun Simiao’s Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold contained many references to spirits causing illness.) Our Tang dynasty is about to produce a sage. Understand?”

Madam Yang shivered. The Crown Prince was kind, beloved by ministers and generals, and now seemed poised to inherit the throne; all that stood in his way was his health. She replied unwillingly, “If he’s a sage, shouldn’t he be more magnanimous? Why quibble over every little thing?”

“You’re still making excuses for this unfilial girl?”

“Who is Yang Min? She’s the Crown Princess, the future Empress, mother of the nation. Will the Crown Prince tolerate her misbehavior?”

“So a group outing at Qujiang Pool is misbehavior? Even Emperor Taizong valued Pei Ju. At worst, the engagement is off. I don’t believe Min’er can’t find a good match.”

“Oh dear,” Yang Sijian groaned again, clutching his chest. “You’re talking nonsense. If the Crown Prince breaks off the engagement, what reason would he give? That the unfilial girl is of bad character! What would Their Majesties think? That we let our future daughter-in-law run wild? Would our Yang family have any future? With her reputation ruined, could she still find a good match? How could I face court?”

The more he spoke, the angrier he became. Finally, he seized a stick and beat Yang Min, scolding as he struck, “You wretched girl! What’s so good about that Helan Minzhi? Just a pretty face! No character, no talent. During the mourning period for the Lady of Rongguo, he threw wild parties—dozens of singing girls in sheer