Winter had arrived, and the scene of streets lined with women in flowing gowns in Chang'an was gone. The first snowfall of the twelfth lunar month fell not too late, draping the magnificent city in a layer of silver armor. The snowscape at Taiji Palace was always breathtaking, but unfortunately, few were qualified to stand on its high ground and compose poetry.
The Grand Secretaries of the Wenyuan Pavilion or Shuhua Pavilion were certainly qualified, but alas, composing poetry now was rather inappropriate, as the war in the Northwest had begun. After the first battle, with troops emerging from the Wolf-Ru Mountain Gorge, the declaration of war, jointly written by several Grand Secretaries, had finally been sent out and was expected to reach the Mongols in about half a month.
His Majesty's edict against the Mongols had been issued a month earlier, proclaimed throughout the country. As expected, the people did not resist the court's military action. Especially after learning that nearly three thousand people had been brutally murdered by the Mongols in Fangu City, their anger was difficult to quell.
Some ignorant and impetuous men even privately blamed His Majesty for dragging out this war for a year. In their view, it was like a conflict with a neighbor; if you punch me, I'll naturally retaliate. They wouldn't bother to think about how much preparation was needed for this war.
From the people's perspective, this war was a matter of course. Not only should it be fought, but it should be fought fiercely. The Mongol barbarians killed three thousand of our Great Sui people, so at least thirty thousand must be killed to make it worthwhile.
Of course, no one doubted that this war would be lost.
On the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, the people, who had just drunk Laba porridge the day before, got up early, put on thick cotton clothes, and went to clear the snow. The snow had fallen intermittently for a day and a night, and when they went out, they found that it was already nearly a foot deep. According to the rules of Chang'an Prefecture, after the snowfall, each household was responsible for clearing the area in front of their own door, and then the government would send people to haul away the snow with horse-drawn carts.
The city gates had barely opened when the people surged into the streets to shovel snow. They preferred to clear the streets first rather than their own yards, for if everyone else's yards were already cleared while theirs remained covered in snow, they would be laughed at for being lazy.
The bustling activity on the streets was shattered by the rapid sound of hooves. A dusty soldier rode through the city gates, shouting as he urged his horse forward, signaling the people to make way.
"Urgent military report!"
The soldier had clearly traveled through the night; remnants of snow still clung to his clothes. His white horse was smeared with mud and water, turning a grayish-black color, and the white breath from its nostrils betrayed its exhaustion. This was a soldier who had come from the far northwest of the Sui Dynasty to deliver a message, enduring countless hardships along the way.
The people immediately parted to see the soldier off.
"Looks like the military situation is urgent?"
Someone speculated.
"It doesn't sound like a victory report. If we had won, we should have announced a border victory, right?"
"You're just talking nonsense! Do you think our Sui Dynasty's border troops could lose? Besides, General Li Yuanshan of the Right Valiant Guard is stationed in the Northwest. When have you ever heard of our soldiers suffering a loss?"
"That's true!"
Amidst the murmurs of the people, the dirty man and his dirty horse disappeared from sight.
His Majesty the Emperor had moved back from Changchun Garden to Taiji Palace and was now residing in the East Warm Pavilion behind the Taiji Hall. It could be said that Emperor Tianyou, Yang Yi, was the most diligent and least womanizing emperor of the Sui Dynasty. He rarely returned to the harem, and even rarely summoned his concubines to the East Warm Pavilion for his nights. The shrewd and outspoken censors couldn't find any excuse to criticize the emperor's private life.
After the morning court session, the emperor hurried back to the East Warm Pavilion. The soldier sent from the Northwest to deliver the message was waiting outside the door, not having had time to change his clothes. The soldier carried a bundle on his back, its original color obscured by the same filth as his clothes.
In the crisp morning air, he held the oiled paper bundle in his hands, wolfing down steaming hot buns—a gift specially given to him by the eunuch Su Buwei after he entered the palace. He seemed to have eaten nothing the night before, completely unconcerned about the scalding heat, wolfing down the food.
"Come in with me."
The emperor paused as he approached, waiting for the soldier to swallow the last bite of bun before continuing. He stopped the soldier from bowing and strode into the east warm pavilion.
"Give him a cup of hot water!"
The emperor removed his boots and sat down on the earthen bed, instructing the attending eunuch to pour the soldier a cup of water. The soldier first kowtowed in gratitude, then gulped down the water. The warm feeling in his stomach made him feel comfortable. He had traveled swiftly from the northwest, barely stopping to rest except for changing horses at post stations.
"How is the situation in the Northwest?"
The Emperor asked.
The soldier untied the bundle on his back, opening layer after layer, revealing a very clean wooden box sealed with sealing wax. He handed the box to Su Buwei, who took it, used a knife to pry open the sealing wax, and pulled out an urgent military report, handing it to the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, a month and a half ago, General Li Xiaozong was ordered to lead 5,000 men out of the Wolf Breast Mountain Gorge to scout the main army. He engaged in a fierce battle with Mandulang, the enemy general of Niepan City in Mandu Banner. Mandulang even ordered all the herdsmen to the battlefield, surrounding Li Xiaozong. General Li fought valiantly, killing over 10,000 enemies, but nearly all of his 5,000 men were also wiped out… However, the gorge was held. When I set out, General Li Yuanshan had already led his troops through Wolf Breast Mountain."
The Emperor listened to the soldier's report while reviewing the military report. When he heard that 5,000 elite soldiers under Li Xiaozong had perished, his expression changed slightly.
"To attack Eastern Chu... five thousand elite troops could sweep a thousand miles into Eastern Chu territory in one go!"
He sighed slightly: "To attack the Mongols, five thousand men were wiped out before they even left the valley... Continue, has Li Yuanshan captured Nirvana City? Have Mandulatu's troops arrived yet?"
...
...
Early in the morning, the Imperial Guards began cleaning the courtyard themselves. There were many servants in the palace, but they were not allowed to move freely within the Imperial Guards' quarters. Luo Weiran, wearing a mink cloak, strode quickly through the snow into the back courtyard. At the gate, Hou Wenji, the Commander of the Imperial Guards, was already waiting.
"Has His Majesty's decree arrived?"
Hou Wenji asked. Luo Weiran nodded and said, "This morning, His Majesty sent someone to summon me and questioned me carefully about what we had investigated over the past six months. Since there was no one or anything to prove Fang Jie's connection to Buddhism, His Majesty ordered him to be released temporarily. This matter is finally over."
"His Majesty is in no mood to deal with this matter now, but... if it weren't for the war with the Mongols, Fang Jie might have been released long ago."
Hou Wenji smiled and said, "His Majesty is focused on the war in the Northwest all day long; how could he have remembered that he was holding a little fellow captive? I wonder who whispered something in His Majesty's ear, and only then did he remember there was still a troublesome person locked up."
"It must have been Dean Zhou."
Luo Weiran Once inside, he took off his cloak and stood by the fireplace, rubbing his hands. "I heard Dean Zhou went to the palace yesterday. Perhaps it's because we've delayed long enough that if Fang Jie doesn't appear at the Martial Arts Academy soon, no amount of lying can stop people's suspicions. The New Year is in just over twenty days. According to custom, Fang Jie, as the top student of the Martial Arts Academy, is supposed to represent the students in the imperial court and attend the grand banquet. Saying he's cultivating in the back mountains is clearly inappropriate."
"Just like that, he's released him?"
Hou Wenji poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to Luo Weiran. "Although I expected this, why do I feel a little unwilling?"
"Why?"
Luo Weiran asked. Hou Wenji smiled and said, "We haven't found anything. There's no proof that he has no connection with the Buddhist sect, and there's no proof that he does. Releasing him like this... I feel it's a bit inappropriate."
Luo Weiran rolled her eyes at him and said, "Then why don't you release him?"
Hou Wenji said, "Your words are a bit biased, but you're right. No matter what, he's your nephew."
"Let's release him then."
He rubbed his temples and said, "Because of the war in the Northwest, Grand Scholar Niu Huilun suggested to His Majesty that on New Year's Day, the students of the Martial Arts Academy should parade in red and colorful decorations to boost morale. It's a terrible idea, but I reckon it'll have some effect. At least it'll show the people that the Martial Arts Academy still has so many capable people."
Luo Weiran nodded, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes for some reason.
"I heard... there's an urgent report from the Northwest."
He muttered softly. "Yes..."
Hou Wenji was silent for a moment, then patted Luo Weiran's shoulder and said, "After the New Year, I'll be heading to the Northwest. You'll be left to handle everything in the capital; your burden will be much heavier."
He looked at the steam rising from the cup, his eyes devoid of joy or sorrow.
...
...
This was the first time Fang Jie had seen a mirror in the secret prison of the Imperial Guards in so long, so he was startled when he saw the person in the bronze mirror.
"Is that me?"
He raised his hand to stroke his beard, then turned to look at his waist-length hair. The figure in the mirror was somewhat unfamiliar, very different from the self he remembered. Fang Jie took a while to adjust before finally sighing, "Time is indeed a cruel mistress."
Zhuo Buyi, who was watching him with a smile, picked up a pair of scissors and handed them to Fang Jie, saying, "Your hair is too long, get it cut."
Fang Jie didn't take them, but smiled and said, "I'll keep it; it looks alright. But I can't keep my beard, otherwise it wouldn't do justice to my reputation as a handsome young man."
He picked up the razor, dipped it in water, and began shaving in front of the bronze mirror. This was Fang Jie's first time shaving since arriving in this world, so his movements were a little clumsy. He couldn't quite get the angle and pressure right, making the shave a bit difficult. Qiu Yu, who was sitting to the side, stood up, walked over to him, took the razor, lifted Fang Jie's chin with one hand, and gently shaved his cheek with the other.
"This pose..."
Fang Jie turned to look at himself in the bronze mirror, and couldn't help but sigh, "It looks like I'm the one being teased."
Qiu Yu ignored his teasing and asked, "Have you thought about it? How are you going to explain your disappearance for the past six months when you reappear in front of the Martial Arts Academy students?"
"Explain my ass."
Fang Jie spoke cautiously, chin held high, as if afraid Qiu Yu's knife would cut his face: "I'm the top student in the Martial Arts Academy, do you think I can explain it to them? Besides... that old guy you smashed the table, he'll figure out what to say."
"That old guy is right here."
A voice drifted from the doorway, startling Fang Jie.
He turned around and saw Luo Weiran and Dean Zhou, whom he had hated for a long time.
"Although I'm a little angry that you called me an old man,"
Dean Zhou walked over slowly, looking at Fang Jie, and said, "But there's one thing I really like... You're the top student in the Martial Arts Academy, why do you need to explain yourself to them after disappearing for half a year or a year?"
"You mean, locking me up for so long is like a fart, something you can just let out whenever you want?"
Fang Jie still raised his chin, his eyes defiant.
Dean Zhou wasn't angry, but after a moment of silence, he said seriously, "So what if it's a fart? You can let it out freely, but can you also take it back freely?"
Fang Jie was taken aback, then nodded: "That seems to make sense."
Dean Zhou hummed in agreement: "Very reasonable."
He tossed the bundle he was carrying onto the stone bed, pointed, and said, "A new set of clothes."
"A new set of clothes and you expect me to let it go?"
Fang Jie asked.
"What else do you want?"
Dean Zhou asked. Fang Jie thought for a moment, then said in a serious tone, "At the very least, you have to treat me to a meal at Keshengju, and then go to Hongxiuzhao to invite everyone to dance a 'Flowing Flower Water Sleeves' dance."