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Although there had been unrest on the borders in recent years, the Great Yan Dynasty had not seen two hunting expeditions in a single year for a long time. Luo Wei’s proposal was met with opposition from the entire political council. When Song Lan came to see her at noon, she merely said indifferently, “Emperor Gaozu gained the empire through military might and was diligent throughout the four seasons, with spring tours and autumn hunts. How can Your Majesty not emulate the bravery of your ancestor?”
Song Lan, toying with a glass bead in his hand, relented and agreed.
Not long after Yu Qiushi and his faction were executed for treason, it was Song Lan’s birthday. The young emperor, now of age, was to be granted the nation’s grand rites. Bianjing celebrated for three days, and the Qianfang Palace also removed the crystal beaded curtain, which, though long unused, symbolized the regent’s significant power.
Previously, the empress and the grand tutor jointly assisted in governing. Now that the grand tutor was dead and Emperor Zhao had taken personal control, the empress’s position inevitably became somewhat delicate.
Many officials had long been dissatisfied with women meddling in politics. Although they knew of the deep affection between the emperor and empress and could not speak openly, their memorials contained subtle sarcasms. Fortunately, the empress had already taken the initiative to “set aside the curtain and not attend court,” and now she even handed over the regent’s golden seal at the political council meeting, stating directly that she would no longer interfere in state affairs.
Consequently, all the officials greatly praised her, and for a time, the empress’s “returning the seal from behind the curtain” became a widely told tale.
Song Lan had initially thought it would take some effort to retrieve the golden seal from Luo Wei after Yu Qiushi’s death. Seeing her respectfully offer the golden seal, he was quite surprised. He couldn’t say much in front of the assembled officials, but his hand tightened as he helped her up.
Was it because she keenly sensed his intentions, or did she have other plans?
Her submissive demeanor, however, left him momentarily speechless.
After Luo Wei handed over the golden seal, she proposed the Double Ninth Festival autumn hunt.
To resist Xiye, Emperor Gaozu had built the Deer Whistle Hunting Ground outside Guyou Mountain, hunting for half a month around the autumnal equinox. However, subsequent monarchs did not favor military attire, gradually abandoning the site and moving hunts to the outskirts of Bianjing, shortening the duration to three or four days.
This spring’s late spring hunt was not fully enjoyed due to the assassination attempt.
When Luo Wei brought up the matter, Song Lan knew that the golden seal would certainly not have been handed over so easily. However, with Yan Lang about to leave the capital, he was curious what Luo Wei intended to do, so he went along with it and agreed.
After the court session dispersed, Luo Wei met the aged Lu Hang in front of the Imperial Library.
After Lu Hang wandered outside for several years and Xue Wenming fell from power, Emperor Gao recalled Lu Hang to court, reinstating him as Imperial Censor. After the Lantana assassination case, Xue Wenming defected to Yu Qiushi, and Lu Hang took the opportunity to retire, taking only a sinecure in the Qiongting, no longer concerning himself with court affairs.
Thus, he had lived peacefully until now.
After their parting on East Mountain, they had only met in court. Luo Wei was surprised to see him, and thinking of the unknown Qiu Xueyu, her heart was filled with mixed emotions. Lu Hang stepped forward and bowed, “Your humble servant greets Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Elder Lu is polite.”
Luo Wei handed a few scrolls to Zhang Suwu, instructing him to go ahead, then slowly walked with Lu Hang. She was not surprised to hear him ask, “I heard Your Ladyship has removed the curtain and returned the seal, and will no longer concern yourself with state affairs?”
Luo Wei smiled and said, “It was originally a last resort. Now that Your Majesty has come of age, why should I bear unwarranted blame and cling to power? Power and fame are like fleeting clouds, Elder Lu knows this better than I.”
Lu Hang, however, shook his head, “Your Ladyship, your humble servant doesn’t believe Your Ladyship is unaware that His Majesty... is not the former Crown Prince.”
These words were extremely treasonous. Luo Wei’s gaze chilled, “What does Elder Lu mean by that?”
Lu Hang showed no fear, only saying, “Although His Majesty has now come of age, observing his three years of governance... if it weren’t for the Grand Tutor and Your Ladyship suppressing his temper, your servant is only worried...”
Luo Wei interrupted him, “His Majesty is resolute and has the spirit of a young man.”
Lu Hang sighed repeatedly, “Does Your Ladyship not know what your humble servant means?”
He turned his head and saw that Luo Wei showed no sign of anger, only a faint smile. His heart stirred, “Could it be that Your Ladyship has other plans?”
Luo Wei remained silent. Just as Lu Hang was about to ask again, he heard a voice say, “Teacher.”
Looking up, he saw Xu Dan. Xu Dan, seeing Luo Wei also there, came over, both surprised and delighted, to salute. Luo Wei scrutinized him, a little surprised, “So, Young Master Xu is a disciple of Elder Lu?”
Lu Hang said, “Let’s not mention the teacher-student relationship. I’ve semi-retired, and honestly can’t offer Boming much in terms of career prospects.”
Xu Dan replied, “It’s just a matter of affinity.”
Luo Wei looked up at the sky, bade farewell to the two, and before leaving, said meaningfully, “Elder Lu has taken on a good student.”
Zhang Suwu had already been sent back to the palace by her. After bidding farewell to the two, Luo Wei walked alone for a long time along the long path in front of the Imperial Library. Following the end of the red wall, she ascended the palace wall to gaze into the distance.
It was sunset, and the distant sky was filled with vibrant, magnificent clouds.
The sky was vast and the clouds high. She closed her eyes, slightly spread her arms, and let the wind ruffle the strands of hair at her temples.
The clouds that day were exactly like those when she confronted Yu Qiushi and Song Lan behind him on the Censorate platform years ago.
Only, the opposite side was now empty and distant, and no “Elegy for Jintian” was heard from below the platform.
The high sky remained as it was, and every absurd play, after all, eventually came to an end.
She opened her eyes and turned around, unexpectedly seeing Ye Tingyan standing in front of Mingguang Gate below the palace wall, looking up, intently watching her.
He was dressed in crimson official robes, holding a clean white tablet, wearing a straight-cornered fu hat, its long wings trembling slightly in the wind, a meticulously proper appearance.
He must have passed by this spot on his way out of the palace and looked up to see her.
She wondered how long he had been standing there.
The two gazed at each other across the autumn wind. The sun gradually set, enveloping her in a golden light. Ye Tingyan narrowed his eyes, bowed, and then turned to leave.
They had met so many times, yet this seemed to be the first time he had left first, Luo Wei thought.
________________________________________
As the autumn wind rose, Yan Lang entered the palace to bid farewell to the Emperor and Empress, then, along with the dozen soldiers he had brought, embarked on the journey back to Youzhou.
On the same day, Song Yaofeng was enfeoffed as Princess Chen and was scheduled to leave the capital after the Double Ninth Festival to return to her fief.
Song Lan sent people to escort Yan Lang all the way to Pingshao Pass, outside Youzhou city.
Luo Wei also sent many people to attend to Song Yaofeng, protecting her within the Princess’s Mansion. The Princess’s Mansion was heavily guarded, impenetrable.
A quiet understanding existed between the Emperor and Empress, yet tensions gradually escalated.
This confrontation was known to no one but the two of them.
In the eyes of the officials, the Emperor had taken personal control and was beginning to show his capabilities, while the Empress had retired, focusing on palace affairs. It was a perfectly peaceful state of affairs.
Although the Guyou Mountain autumn hunt was initially opposed, after repeated discussions in the political council, it was decided that for the Emperor, who was newly in power, establishing his authority through an autumn hunt would be beneficial to the nation.
After a few days of silence, the two Censorate departments also strangely submitted memorials supporting the proposal.
On the Double Ninth Festival of the fourth year of Jinghe, Emperor Zhao reopened the hunting grounds outside Guyou Mountain and held the first grand autumn hunt in three dynasties, with the Empress accompanying him.
Yan Ji, the leader of the Imperial Guards promoted by Song Lan, and Zhu Que accompanied them, while Ye Tingyan was left in the city.
On the first day, the Emperor arrived outside the hunting grounds and ordered a high platform to be erected for viewing.
The next day, after a brief rest, the guides released the deer. Song Lan, holding a carved bow and golden arrow, shot wide, only grazing the deer’s neck.
The startled deer scattered, and his subordinates quickly unfurled banners, enclosing it within a human wall.
Luo Wei stood beside Song Lan and smiled, “Your Majesty need not be anxious.”
Song Lan glanced at her and suddenly said, “A-jie’s archery is far superior to mine. Why don’t you string an arrow yourself?”
Luo Wei looked back deeply, watching him for a long time before finally saying, “Alright.”
She casually picked up a bow nearby and drew an iron arrow from a soldier. Song Lan was surprised she would agree and was momentarily stunned, but then he heard her say, “Your Majesty, let us shoot together.”
So they both tightened their bowstrings, moving their arrows with the startled deer. Yan Ji, seeing this, quickly ordered everyone to beat the drums to add to the momentum. The drumbeats grew increasingly frantic. After a round, at the most urgent moment of the drumming, they both shot their arrows.
Song Lan put down his bow and watched as Luo Wei’s ordinary iron arrow passed by his golden arrow, actually deflecting the golden arrow by an inch in the strong wind!
Thus, both arrows hit their mark. The golden arrow struck the deer’s leg, causing it to cry out in pain, while Luo Wei’s iron arrow entered the previously grazed deer’s neck, killing it instantly.
Someone pulled out both arrows and joyfully shouted, “Emperor and Empress shoot together, great fortune for the Yan Dynasty!”
Song Lan turned to look at her, and a drop of cold sweat suddenly trickled down his forehead.
Luo Wei did not look at him,
smiling as she adjusted the longbow in her hand, and sighed with unclear meaning, “A deer in Zhongzhou will surely draw pursuit from all under heaven. Your Majesty obtained the deer in the forest, but your aim was insufficient. Even if it were released below the platform, it would still have benefited your humble concubine. I concede.”
He reached up to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead and felt a subtle, exhilarating sensation, as if something was breaking through the earth.
After so long of scheming behind curtains, today, he finally confirmed what the other party wanted.
Luo Wei watched Song Lan’s expression change repeatedly, but she said nothing.
She didn’t urge him. Finally, it was Song Lan who first suppressed his displeasure, grasped the longbow in her hand, and praised with a loud laugh, “A-jie’s archery is still so good, truly...”
Song Lan didn’t finish his sentence. Luo Wei understood tacitly and laughed heartily with him.
The surrounding soldiers, not understanding the meaning, continued to beat the drums, preparing to summon the soldiers from the capital’s grand camp to come forward for the emperor’s review.
The two jointly watched a military parade from the high platform.
That night, Ye Tingyan received a secret letter from Song Lan that arrived late at night at his residence.
The letter instructed him to immediately take the jade token Song Lan had previously bestowed upon him and enter the palace to meet Yan Ping, Yan Ji’s brother in the palace. First, he was to protect Empress Dowager Chenghui, then disperse the remaining Imperial Guards at the thirteen gates of the inner and outer imperial city, and observe for any unusual movements.
Song Lan’s handwritten letter was detailed and unhurried. Moreover, the several Imperial Guard commanders mentioned in the letter, including Yan Ping, were his closest subordinates.
He had kept these people in the city in advance, as if he had prepared for this long ago.
Ye Tingyan read the letter three times, his hands trembling more and more. Zhou Chuyin rubbed his eyes and entered the room, snatched the letter, took a look, and instantly sobered up, murmuring in astonishment, “What does this mean...”
“Just as I thought, the trip to Guyou Mountain...” Ye Tingyan said with strained effort, almost biting his tongue, “The Empress is planning a rebellion!”
He threw the letter on the ground and said bitterly, “How could Song Lan not have guessed her intention? Impatient, too impatient!”
After saying this, he pressed his temples and calmed down for a moment before saying, “Fine, bring me my sword.”
Zhou Chuyin said nothing and placed the sword directly into his hand.
________________________________________
That night, Luo Wei and Song Lan slept in separate tents. Around the third watch, Luo Wei brought a bowl of soup to Song Lan’s tent to find him. The guards at the entrance lowered their gaze and allowed her to pass. Luo Wei dismissed everyone, put down the bowl, and slowly walked to the couch.
She had just called out “Zilan” when she suddenly realized that the couch was empty.
Song Lan was not here!
Immediately, someone at the entrance blew a whistle. The Imperial Guards rushed in, surrounding her. Yan Ji, the leader, cupped his fists and bowed to her, saying with a hint of sarcasm, “Your Ladyship, His Majesty requests your presence.”
Yan Ji and Yan Ping, who was in the palace, were both brothers of the Lady Yan who was close to the Empress Dowager, and thus Song Lan’s close maternal relatives.
Luo Wei calmly asked, “Oh, where is His Majesty now?”
Yan Ji arrogantly replied, “Your Ladyship will know when you get there.”
Surrounded by soldiers, she was placed in a cramped carriage that galloped rapidly, leaving the hunting ground camp. It ascended the mountain path of Guyou Mountain and stopped in front of a slightly old temple at the summit.
Luo Wei looked up, recognizing in the night that it was the temple of Emperor Gaozu, the founding emperor.
On Guyou Mountain was Emperor Gaozu’s Chong Tomb, and on the summit was the Chong Tomb Imperial Ancestral Temple. However, Guyou Mountain was too far from the capital, and years ago, Emperor Xuan moved the Imperial Ancestral Temple to the outskirts of Bianjing.
This place was not used for sacrifices and was a royal garden, so it was rarely visited by people, with only palace servants for cleaning and guarding.
Luo Wei passed through four layers of palace gates, walking towards the deepest part. Song Lan had lit many red candles in the inner hall, wrapped in a dragon robe, holding a string of Buddhist beads, quietly waiting for her on the couch.
The candlelight flickered, casting shifting shadows on his face.
Someone closed the hall door behind her with a “bang.” Luo Wei looked back, showing no expression on her face. She didn’t even salute him, but simply walked around the burning red candles to his side.
“Zilan.”
Song Lan opened his eyes and smiled at her: “A-jie, you’ve come.”
Luo Wei spread her hands and sighed, “Today you’ve captured me. What’s the charge this time?”
Song Lan smiled, “How can A-jie say ‘captured’?”
Luo Wei said, “Last time you suddenly came to my palace in the middle of the night, wasn’t it to capture me?”
Song Lan said, “Wronged, wasn’t it A-jie who tricked me into going?”
Speaking of this, his expression remained unchanged, but his chest heaved. He swallowed with difficulty, then smiled and asked, “But, since you’re here, tell me the truth.”
Luo Wei asked, “Oh, what does Your Majesty want to ask?”
Song Lan closed his eyes, and after a long while, he asked with difficulty, “Have you ever...”
He didn’t finish. Luo Wei, as if unable to restrain herself, bit her lip and started to laugh. Then she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling and saying, “You guess.”
A vein throbbed on Song Lan’s forehead. He gripped Luo Wei’s arm tightly and pulled her to his side. The Buddhist beads in his hand scattered with a clatter onto the ground.
Luo Wei stumbled, falling in front of the couch. She supported herself on Song Lan’s arm and looked up, still smiling: “Yu Qiushi has been dead for two months and four days. You finally can’t keep up the act?”
“Oh, no, it’s the first year of Jinghe, even earlier, after the Lantana incident, four years, eight months, and twenty-four days. You finally... couldn’t keep up the act?”
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