Chapter 206

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

Shaowei inside the carriage sat with perfect posture.

The carriage procession passed through the long street; through the hanging gauze, Shaowei even saw commoners along the way prostrating themselves to her.

What the commoners worshipped was the shaman deity who prayed for rain and dispelled calamity, the Heavenly Mechanism that could bring auspicious fortune and a turn for the better.

In the palace's grand hall, receiving the imperial edict and ennoblement, Shaowei was unmoved by favor or humiliation — no, to say she was unmoved by favor or humiliation wasn't entirely accurate; it should be that all manner of favor could leave her unmoved, but a single shred of humiliation against her absolutely would not do —

In short, Shaowei was perfectly at ease; facing the court and Emperor who benefited from her, even though she knew herself to have committed deception, she did not feel the least bit unworthy of receiving it, and under the gazes of those civil and military officials, she could not help but still carry some of the proud, imposing spirit of a youth enfeoffed as a marquis.

But now, having left the palace, faced with the commoners' devout prostrations, Shaowei could no longer maintain that arrogant, imposing bearing; she knew very well she had never truly done anything for these commoners — since coming to the capital, her every action had stemmed only from her own will, her every means only to achieve her own ends.

Just like last time when she left the city to treat the epidemic, she still wanted to conjure hemp ropes, bind the prostrating people straight, and forbid them from kneeling and bowing in disorder.

But different from before, Shaowei this time was no longer as agitated as then, no longer single-mindedly wanting to shut her eyes and block her ears, to not see, not hear, not care, not mind.

Gazing through the light carriage gauze, she saw many people still holding cracked porridge bowls in their hands as they knelt — presumably they had just received relief rice porridge at some porridge shed.

There were old people leaning on sticks, and people holding infants; one could hardly find a few whose clothing had no patches, and whether old or young, narrow, fine bones were commonly seen.

Shaowei thought, even in Chang'an City, the times were not all that good; if a true great calamity were to come, with bones so fine, even if chaotic warhorses did not trample them directly, merely startling them into falling would mean these people would find it very hard to climb up and continue living.

Perhaps because of Qin Fu's existence, Shaowei had since childhood single-mindedly wanted to become strong, yet she never admired the strong; on the contrary, toward things stronger than herself, she first felt threat, and therefore had always held an arrogant obsession to raise her saber upward and chop them down — as if only that could count as safety.

And because of Mother's existence, although she was extremely afraid of becoming weak herself, she never had a heart that despised the weak; toward the weak, her heart always held the most primal understanding and protection.

Previously she had no leisure to attend to others, but now her own heart was at peace; trying to open her eyes to look, open her ears to listen, the true-self fire in her heart was fatefully magnified, burning with youthful stubborn spirit as fuel, blazing up a vigorous new crimson flame.

Shaowei returned all the way to the shrine; Yu Si Wu had long since brought people to await her.

The Great Shaman Deity, who had recuperated for many days after praying for rain at the Lingxing Terrace, had returned once more, and now bore an additional identity as Marquis of the Spiritual Pivot; the entire shrine, high and low, was stirred and uplifted.

Lu Hou, who had delivered her, watched with hands behind his back from the rear; he only saw the young lady stride across the shrine's main gate and head toward the divine hall, and along the way countless shamans bowed in salute — the young lady was like a tiger; wherever she passed, all things bowed down.

The midday autumn sun shone down, gilding the fine dust in the air a bright gold; the young lady halted outside the divine hall, looking at the statue within, listening to the shaman bells ringing under the eaves.

Sunlight, statue, shaman bells — like heaven-and-earth magical treasures and divine implements, they illuminated the mountain-tiger true form latent within the young lady's body; a pure-yang physique born within a heavy-nine utmost-yin life destiny — truly a person born defying heaven and defying fate.

Qi mechanisms gathered around her body; the youth's heart-fire blazed; that mountain tiger inside her, with the curiosity of a newborn, explored restlessly, eager to dash and pounce, eager to roar, as if it absolutely had to crash out some earth-shaking commotion before it would count as not having come in vain, before it would willingly settle down in peace.

But what exactly was to be done?

"Crack—"

Shaowei sat cross-legged behind the desk, one hand propping her chin, one hand eating jujubes, yet could not think of a concrete direction.

Jiang Fu gave no explicit instructions, as if she was only responsible for opening the Heavenly Mechanism, and everything else she had washed her hands of, not caring whether it lived or died on its own.

The only advice was that single, exceedingly broad sentence: "Whatever the Heavenly Mechanism wants to do, let it do."

Thinking to this point, Shaowei couldn't help but think: she indeed had a matter she wanted to do, had to do.

Shaowei had already had Jiang Fu take her pulse and examine her; the result left Shaowei perplexed, but not enough to make her abandon the thought of revenge.

Only Jiang Fu reminded her that she now dragged her family along, and was a noble shaman-fox of two surnames; although she could do as she pleased, she should still try to be more smooth about it — the implication being, best not to implicate her master, who had already prepared to retire in comfort.

While gnawing jujubes and pondering, Shaowei asked: "What major matters does the shrine have to prepare for next?"

After reporting all affairs, Yu Si Wu still unwilling to withdraw remained quietly kneeling to the side.

Today's Yu Si Wu, because of extreme devotion, had her originally stern countenance softened considerably; and at this moment, besides devotion, she also harbored enormous gratitude — the rumored Heavenly Mechanism Star had actually descended into the shrine; beyond her great joy, she also had great worry, fearing that in the future the divine fox would only serve as the Heavenly Mechanism and no longer look upon the shrine with favor.

Fortunately, besides the enfeoffment, she still retained the position of Tai Puzhe; this happiness that seemed stolen from the Dao Sect — how could it not move her to tears of gratitude?

Her countenance changed, and her tone of reply now balanced loyalty and benevolence: "It is already late July; in August there is the Zoujin Sacrifice, the Autumn Hunt in September is likewise a first-rate major event every year... and after that, it is the year-end's most important Winter Solstice Sacrifice to Heaven grand ceremony."

Shaowei listened and asked: "Where is the Autumn Hunt held?"

"According to custom, usually in Shanglin Park; the Emperor personally presides every year." Yu Si Wu said: "The jujubes the Shaman Deity eats come from Shanglin Park's Jujube Garden."

Shaowei looked at that plate of sweet jujubes, green and red intermingled, picked up another, took a bite, and nodded: "September is indeed a good season for hunting."

Seeing her interested, Yu Si Wu then spoke a bit more about the grand spectacle of the Shanglin Park Autumn Hunt.

Shaowei listened attentively, until a Wu Nu entered to announce: "Tai Puzhe, Lady Xiangzhi has been brought."

This Wu Nu was Yu Si Wu's confidant, responsible for bringing Xiangzhi to meet the Tai Puzhe.

Xiangzhi entered; Yu Si Wu took her leave at the appropriate moment.

Seeing no one else present, Qingwu's face immediately revealed excitement she had suppressed for a long time: "Shaowei younger sister, I heard you were enfeoffed as the Spirit... Spirit-something Marquis?!"

"Spiritual Pivot!" Shaowei answered with a straight face: "Marquis of the Spiritual Pivot!"

"Right, that's it!" Qingwu repeated: "Marquis of the Spiritual Pivot!"

Shaowei had already risen from behind the desk, strode over holding the gold seal and purple ribbon for Qingwu to see, then took the Guanzhong Marquis's crown and belt and had Qingwu wear them; Qingwu was both excited and afraid: "... How can this do, I cannot wear this! If seen by others, you'll have trouble..."

"This is my territory, no one dares intrude without permission." Shaowei's voice was small, her eyes bright: "Elder sister, I'll secretly enfeoff you as Marquis of Taoxi Township!"

Qingwu let out an "ah" with smiling eyes, couldn't help covering her mouth; Shaowei pulled her to the mirror, the two played and frolicked, whispering privately.

"Elder sister, everywhere is not too peaceful now; when the time comes and you receive your reward, if you're willing, you can also settle a home in the capital... Aunt's side should have news at the latest in these few days."

"Ji Jin and Uncle's side should also have some clues; just waiting for more exact news to return..."

Qingwu nodded with eyes full of hope: "When the time comes we'll reunite, and together go stroll the markets... Mother and Father used to always say they didn't know what the Imperial City looked like; Yan Family Brother, though well-traveled and knowledgeable, has also never been to Chang'an."

She also smiled: "Only if Yan Family Brother learns that Jiang Sister has already become a Guanzhong Marquis, he'll surely be scared out of his wits..."

As the two spoke, someone suddenly knocked on the door; Qingwu was startled badly, her hands flustered like a frightened green bird about to flap its wings and fly away on the spot, hurriedly removing the arrogant crown and belt, tidying her gentle hair bun.

Shaowei gave Elder sister time to calm her shock, only asking through the door: "What matter?"

Still Yu Si Wu's voice: "Tai Puzhe, Yan Xiangguo's mansion's young master has come here to worship the deity, and privately asked someone to pass word, wishing to see Miss Xiangzhi."

Qingwu was somewhat surprised; Shaowei looked at her: "Elder sister, are you acquainted with this person?"

"We happened to travel together on the way to the capital... I'll tell my sister the details later." Qingwu feared the messenger had waited long, and hurriedly said, "Let me go see him first!"

Yan Chu was off duty today, having offered incense at the Shen Dian, and waited in the rear hall courtyard beneath a Shizi tree.

Hearing footsteps, the youth looked back, saw Xiangzhi, and a smile immediately filled his face: "Your complexion is excellent; it seems that overwhelming fright has been completely suppressed and gone."

Yan Chu's appearance was quite pleasing, but most striking was his cheerful and witty demeanor; though warm and enthusiastic, he gave no pressure.

It was only that Qingwu had been tense before, fearing discovery as a spy, and couldn't help but be on guard against him; now, seeing this person again on Shaowei's turf, with ample security, she was much more composed, and asked in a low voice, "Young Master Yan, what brings you to seek me?"

Yan Chu instead stepped back a step, smiling and saluting: "I came, having heard your name, to visit the hero who captured Prince Liang."

Qingwu couldn't help but feel hot and flustered: "It was merely an accident; please stop teasing me..."

Yan Chu was even more amused by her appearance; the youth's laugh was clear and bright, and finally he scratched the back of his neck, saying with self-reproach: "Xiangzhi, you truly make me look at you with new eyes this time, and I feel ashamed... I was previously being sentimental and overestimating myself, thinking I could help you with something."

Qingwu looked up at him: "On the way to the capital, Young Master Yan has already helped me a great deal."

Yan Chu again sighed self-mockingly: "But I've also caused no small amount of trouble..."

When they first met, he traveled with the boats escorting the family's children, mistaking the sorrowful and frightened Xiangzhi for someone about to jump into the river, and rushed to save her.

Afterward, the two traveled back to the capital together; he often played the flute or joked to comfort her, and also resolved difficulties caused by the palace attendants for her.

It was just that Yan Chu hadn't expected that the weak woman, sorrowful and silent like green moss, would not only repeatedly refuse his help after entering the capital, but stubbornly survive under the fierce sun of Jingji; this time she had achieved such a great deed, as if a straight, thorny stem had sprouted from the moss, blooming an unexpected flower.

"Once the Prince Liang case is completely concluded, the Court will surely bestow rewards; Xiangzhi, what are your plans afterward? Will you still remain in the Imperial streamer as a family child? Perhaps you can take this opportunity to request an edict to leave the palace..."

Qingwu looked at the courtyard bricks beneath her feet: "Everything must be discussed with my family before a decision can be made..."

"You can bring your family to the capital together; if you need my help, you must speak up."

"..."

The two spoke beneath the tree, while Shaowei, worried about her older sister, peeked from behind the rear hall wall corner.

Shaowei was not close by and couldn't hear their conversation, but soon saw Yan Chu take the jade flute from his waist and play; the melodious flute music, like singing and lamenting, was heard very clearly.

"Tai Puzhe..." Yu Si Wu, creeping over on tiptoe, poked his head in and called out softly.

Until now, Yu Si Wu had never imagined that one day he would actually be sneaking about in this Shen Ci; in the past, this would have been a Ghostly Cultivator's behavior that she would severely scold.

Shaowei turned her head and quietly instructed Zhan Zhan: "You watch over her and protect A Jie."

Zhan Zhan: "I swear not to disgrace the mission! I swear—"

Shaowei reached out to drive away and interrupt the little bird's loud response: "Be more concealed!"

Zhan Zhan clamped his beak shut and flew toward the Shizi tree, openly passing before Yan Chu's eyes, and then openly and concealedly hid himself behind the Shizi tree leaves.

Shaowei came to the front Shen Dian and saw He Pingchun and his wife Lady Teng, who had come carrying an infant just one month old.

Lady Teng had been injured by poisonous insects before the Yang Festival, but fortunately the Shen Ci detoxified her in time; afterward she successfully gave birth to a child, and today came to thank the deity.

"The grace the Witch God bestowed that day, this concubine has always kept in mind; now that I have finished my confinement month, I have hurried to come and offer thanks!"

Lady Teng was originally of common birth and had a somewhat coarse manner, but she was strong and enterprising; after marrying He Pingchun, she did not neglect reading and writing.

The two combined made her whole person appear dignified and generous, frank and open; though in the Capital she had a reputation as a shrew, she was also a type of learned and reasonable elite shrew.

She spoke with eyes full of piety about the Great Witch God praying for rain, and finally added: "On the way here I only learned that the Witch God was just today bestowed the title of Ling Shu Marquis; truly well-deserved, and we three on this trip just happened to bask in this great joy... Speaking of which, my daughter has only taken a small name; I wonder if I might have the honor of asking the Witch God to help give her a formal name?"

He Pingchun had not expected his wife to make such a greedy and bold request, and the Great Witch God usually did not like to chat with people; he was about to speak to smooth things over, but saw the Witch God had already readily nodded.

Two thoughts surfaced in Shaowei's mind: first, astonishment and sudden realization—had she actually reached the age and qualification to name another family's newborn?

Though somewhat flustered, she still made a calm and steady nod—she faintly sensed that if she just established this naming bond, her relationship with the He family would advance a great step; for a moment she only felt her shoulders a little itchy, as if fledgling feathers were about to grow.

Shaowei had naming experience: one was Zhan Zhan, two was Shan Gu, but both belonged to the type that even if she named them badly, no one dared intercede.

Now having to name another family's child, she inevitably lacked the ease of speaking off the cuff; Shaowei appeared to think seriously on the surface, while inwardly she bit her fingers, and tilted her head to observe the infant's appearance in the swaddling clothes.

The child's face was extremely round; seeing her look, he opened his dull eyes, with quite a bit of joyous air.

Shaowei suddenly felt inspired: "How about calling him He Xi?"

This name was pleasant to the ear, meaningful yet common, and suited the purpose of this trip; it exactly matched Lady Teng's aesthetic as an elite shrew, and for a moment she felt double auspiciousness, with no reason at all to be dissatisfied.

After chatting for a while, Lady Teng departed happily.

Where some rejoice, others worry; at this moment in Rui's Imperial harem, though incense pills for calming the spirit were burning, they still could not dispel the anxiety between Rui Ze's brows.

"How did Tianji's identity change, and the plan to have Tianji become the Crown Prince's consort change along with it!" He paced uneasily, guessing: "There must be something fishy in this..."

"Leaving aside whether the so-called Tianji now bears a grudge in her heart and thus deliberately opposes us..."

Saying this, Rui Ze stopped, turned to look at the youth kneeling silently to one side: "I fear the greatest fishiness is that His Majesty's heart has also changed along with it!"

?? Thank you all for your precious monthly votes, follow-up comments, and various tickets.

? Thank you book friends Stars and Moon Ten Thousand Miles, Mist Island sss, Meow Meow Meow Fist, Book Friend, Book Friend, etc. for your generous rewards.

? Good night.