There was rarely a sunny day during March in Chang’an. Generally, the air was heavy with humidity, there was a dull fog that enveloped the city and it was forever about to rain.
Lu Yan returned to the Supreme Court at noon, after having carried out an autopsy under the guidance of Coroner Zhou. For a person with an obsession with hygiene, carrying out an autopsy was a form of torture. What he had eaten before the autopsy was what he would eat for the day. He could not imagine himself taking another bite. Even after having washed his hands, scrubbing them raw, he still had the impression the disgusting feeling of rotting flesh lingered on the tips of fingers. Before entering his office, he took another turn at cleaning them.
Sitting down at his desk, Lu Yan massaged his brows pensively, drinking a half-cold tea. Yet another report to write. He worked diligently, not even noticing how the sun moved from the eastern window to the western one. As the brush finally slipped from his fingers, a crushing sense of exhaustion washed over his whole body. The sky was dimmed by evening as much as by heavy clouds, the wind rustled against the window panes, while raindrops fell on the uneven, rocky roads. It was time to leave before curfew started. As diligent as he might have been as official, he would certainly not spend the night at his workplace.
Taking his black hat off, closing the file in front of him, he got up and walked out the Supreme Court, crossing its gates in a stride full of purpose. His carriage rolled forward, stopping in front of the Bi’an statue. Before bowing to him, Zong Yang tentatively opened his mouth, appearing very troubled.
(Translator’s Note: Bi’an is a legendary, tiger and dragon hybrid, one of the dragon’s nine sons. Powerful and interested in prisons and judicial cases, people would engrave his image on prison gates. His image is used to enhance the majesty of prisons and to intimidate criminals.)
Frowning and very unhappy at the thought some other annoyance would befall him, Lu Yan hissed like a snake.
“What now?!”
The loyal guard coughed lightly, unable to meet his master’s eyes.
“Her Highness, the Princess Royal had just had a message delivered.”
“What did it say?”
Yang Zong would have given everything in his poor, empty life not to be obliged to speak. In fact, had it been anyone else who had sent the message, he would simply not passed it to the Young Master. But it is the Princess Royal who had spoken … Taking a deep breath, accepting the inevitable impending storm that would arise and deciding to endure the ensuing pain with fortitude, he rushed through his words.
“Her Highness, the Princess Royal said that if Young Master did not return to the Ducal Estate, he need not come back in this lifetime!”
No one knew Princess Royal Jing’an better than her own son. She had an unyielding temper. If he dared not go back that very evening, the Supreme Court would be burned to the ground first thing in the morning. Literally. Thinking it through, his shoulders slumped in defeat. He would be going back to the Ducal Estate, as tired and broken as he felt.
Sure enough, as soon as his feet stepped past his own Suning Hall’s threshold, he was welcomed by the leisurely figure of his charming mother. Seated in one of his pavilions, she slowly drank the best of teas, knowing full well he would come at her order. Lu Yan took the lacquered umbrella hanging over his head and held by Yang Zong. He stepped forward, treading unhurriedly towards his mother. Princess Royal Jing’an’s slender, jadeite fingers caressed the edge of her cup of tea, her lips lifting into a charming smile.
“I am happy to note that you have not forgotten the way back home.”
Lu Yan, straightening his back and lowering his head, solemnly spoke.
“This unfilial son has worried Mother. He is guilty of the crime of not honoring his parents.”
At his words, a torrent of rain started pouring onto the tiles of the garden, making a crackling sound mixed with the chill of the raging wind.
“Hah!”
The Princess Royal covered her mocking smile with the back of her hand.
“But who would blame you, dearest. That delightful, and oh so popular, Pingkang Lane girl has stolen your soul, has she not? Who would remember filial piety in such a situation”
When extremely angry, the Princess Royal became extremely charming.
Lu Yan knew his mother’s smarts. Sooner or later, his prolonged absences would make her suspicious. Therefore, he had settled that Yunzhi as his nominal lover early in the morning, becoming her only sponsor and generously taking upon himself all of her living expenses. Although he did not plan on taking advantage of all the returns on such an investment, Yunzhi was happy with his largesse, serenely swimming in jade, gold, silk and money. Her procuress for her part would remain tight-lipped, even under duress.
Seeing as her son did not deign answer, the Princess Royal spoke once more, her voice a bit higher than before.
“Her name is Yunzhi, is it not?”
At the mention of the name, a smile, full of tenderness, appeared the corner of Lu Yan’s mouth. He had the appearance of a man lost to sensuality who would not long keep his head cool.
“Did Mother go to find her?”, he spoke at last, tenderness replaced by worry.
Jing’an clenched her fists, losing all of her mocking frivolity.
“Why? Afraid I might have gone to wrong her?!”
His mother was an open book for Lu Yan. No matter how angry she might have been, she would never have condescended in gracing Pingkang Lane with her royal presence, let alone stooped so low as to embarrass some little singer. He anger was to be swallowed by her majesty.
Grabbing onto the fine porcelain cup she threw it to the ground in a movement of rage.
“Are you planning on making her cross the threshold to this household?!”
Lu Yan’s voice was faint when he answered.
“Such an idea has never crossed this unfilial son’s mind.”
Princess Royal’s face scrunched into an ugly expression, between uncontrollable anger and deep anxiousness. Staring into each other’s eyes, the Princess Royal sighed deeply before resolutely concluding:
“Lu Shiyan, it is time for you to start a family.”
The crackling of the rain became heavier, and after a while, the Chinese banana leaves in the yard started falling crookedly to the ground. The Princess Royal’s stare never wavered, probing through her son’s soul, or at the very least endeavouring to do so.
“You grandmother got ill during your stay in Yangzhou. Even while feverous, she never stopped calling your name. The Old Madam is getting older and weaker as time passes. Yet, she insists on fasting and praying Buddha every day. In the name of hope. Hoping that your life will be smooth-sailing, that you will be strong and healthy and that you will marry soon.”
Lu Yan did not say a word. Rather, he broke eye contact with his mother, moving towards the spring grass that was being ravaged by wind and rain.
“General Mu has been taken to the Central Judicial Office yesterday, while the Third Prince has been put under close arrest. The court is at its most volatile at the moment. It is better to marry earlier than later. I have already spoken to your father about it and he agrees with me. A girl from the Yun or the Wang family will do very well. Both are good, fine girls with pristine pedigree and reputation. Your choice will be ours.”
Jing’an paused for good measured, continuing after a while.
“Lu Shiyan, you must live up to your identity and shoulder all your responsibilities.”
The Grand Duke Zhen’s Household did not ask for Lu Yan to marry from a prominent family. Rather, it would prefer a like-minded one. This was the main reason the Princess Royal has acquiesced for that Meng girl to be brought to live in the Ducal Estate. It had obviously led to nothing but failure in that quarter. But whoever cared about the Meng girl?! The Yun and Wang families had also this one characteristic in common that made them as attractive as the Meng family. Namely, they were loyal to no one but the Emperor.
Jing’an would not tolerate for differing opinions on this matter. She would not accept any party disputes. Loyalty to the Emperor is all she demanded.
Listening to his mother’s words, Lu Yan’s eyes darkened while he started subconsciously turning the ring on his finger.
“Lu Shiyan, as much as you may like that girl, you know this is the only way to take. The Grand Duchy of Zhen will never accept for a singer to be brought back. And I will never accept for my daughter-in-law to suffer such ignominy, such humiliation. The Lu family is no such family.”
“From tomorrow onward, I expect you to come live back at home. Don’t stay away any longer. Mother admits she has made a mistake where the Meng girl was concerned. I should have consulted with you before making any decisions concerning your life. This being said, Grand Duchess Yin will be holding a polo match next month. I have already agreed upon your attendance in your name. If ever you are too busy to come, know that there will be the month after and so on.”
The meaning behind her words was crystal clear. She had little time to lose on thoughts about his not caring for the Meng girl. There was no shortage of marriageable ladies in the capital! Her aggressive tone seemed to be saying:
‘This year, I shall at last get you married.’
Lu Yan’s expression might not have changed, but the top of his hands were uncontrollably shaken by tremors. It was not the first time his family attempted to coerce him into matrimony. It was, however, the first time the Princess Royal was so determined to succeed. But for him, it was impossible to marry. Not now, not like this. What would happen to her, if he were to be married?!
A few months ago, he had rescued Shen Zhen to solve the mystery behind the bizarre, realistic dreams that were leaving him no rest as well as that ridiculous heartache he experienced at the most ill-timed moments. As for why he had touched her? He admitted himself less inured against the inferiority of man than he had ever thought possible. In fact, he admitted it generously, without trying to find other excused for his behavior.
At first, he had assumed that as soon as he found a cure for his heart disease, he would pack her up, ship her to her brother in Yangzhou, settle the two of them as far away from Chang’an, and himself, as possible, donate the property he owned there. In that way, he would placate his conscience, making it seem she had not in vain suffered his assaults on her body. As well, it would make him feel like he owed her nothing, having paid for everything in the clean fashion one does when visiting a brothel.
But now?! Lu Yan wondered.
‘Could she be sent elsewhere?’
Their identities had not changed. Nor has she, the one dwelling in Chengyuan, changed. He has been the one who had changed.
The moment he had decided to take Bai Daonian into the Palace to meet the Crown Prince, everything had changed. If the Crown Prince’s illness were to be cured, he would firmly take his seat in the Eastern Palace. With his personality, the first thing he would do would be vindicating Marquis Yunyang. It was very doubtful he would stay imprisoned for two years. Lu Yan, official of the Supreme Court that he was, was more aware of these things than anyone.
Smiling nonchalantly, he handed Princess Royal Jing’an his unused cup of tea with a firm hand.
“Mother should not fret.”
Jing’an frowned, slowly enunciating every word:
“Lu Shiyan, is your mother a joke to you?”
“This unfilial son has been staying away from the estate these past few days indeed. However, he has not been in the company of prostitutes.”
Princess Royal Jing’an sneered.
“What is this? Are you denying your faults now?”
“This unfilial son has only kept away in fear he would worry grandmother.”
At those words, Lu Yan deliberately coughed twice.
“The evidence of the Mu family’s illegal sales of salt and financing of private soldiers was brought back from Yangzhou by this unfilial son. However, he was injured on his way back to the capital.”
As soon as she heard these words, the cup in Princess Royal Jing’an’s hand rolled on the table. She was left in a daze. He would never be making jokes about such things!
“Where have you been injured?!”
All the anger in her eyes dissipating into worry. Lu Yan simply pointed behind himself.
“All is right now”, he added faintly.
But his mother would have none of it. She needed to see for herself. Dragging him back into his own apartments, she lit a lamp and had him undress so she could assess the damage for herself. At the sight of two dazzling scars, her eyes reddened immediately.
“How could you say everything was alright now?”
It was perfect timing. Looking back at his mother’s tear-filled eyes, Lu Yan whispered in a pleading voice:
“There have been many things happening at the Supreme Court of late. This unfilial son will be unable to attend the cuju game, does Mother agree?”
The Princess Royal stared at her son dark, deep eyes. He was as pitiful as he was hateful. He had indeed been injured in the line of duty. He was also truly using it to provoke sympathy in his mother and have his way, driving her to insanity in the process. Princess Fu’an had been right when she had said that children would come to collect the debts their parents had incurred in a past life.
(Translator’s Note: The only Princess Fu’an I can think of would be Emperor Renzong of Song’s ninth daughter (Northern Song Dynasty). She has been described as very frugal and filial, begging the Heavens that she could shoulder all of her father’s suffering when he was sick and disliking opulence for the sake of the people. If you wish to read a very romanced rendition of her life, you can try “Held in the Lonely Castle”, which is being masterfully translated at the moment by NyaNovels – I am warning you, it is heart wrenching and tragic.)
The Princess Royal could not understand why this son, who had never been cause for worry, who had been outstanding since the youngest age, had suffered such a drastic change in behavior.
