Chapter Thirty-Nine: Taiyi at Zhongnan, Clouds Stirring in All Directions (Part Two)

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PS: The second explosive update has arrived. Please, I ask for your collections, recommendations, and the Three Rivers Award. If there’s anything else, even better (secretly covers mouth and laughs). The third update will come before four in the afternoon, and the fourth before ten at night.

Of course, the madams were unwilling as well. Fragrant Snow was the pride of the Incense Pavilion, a priceless treasure. But once she entered the Duke of Zhou’s residence, this priceless treasure would become, like an original scroll from Wang Xizhi, a forgery after a single night’s ordeal. Not only would Fragrant Snow’s value plummet, but the Incense Pavilion would suffer grave losses.

She said, “I’ll have someone hold off at the front. Fragrant Snow, think of a way to escape and lay low for a while.”

“Madam, where could we possibly escape to?” Fragrant Snow replied with a sorrowful smile.

That single question stumped the madam. As Li Wei had said, he held the moral high ground, but Helan possessed real power, subordinates, and wealth. Even if they managed to escape tonight, what about tomorrow? What about the day after? If they defied the Duke of Zhou, their fate would be even worse.

“What should we do then?” The madam paced in distress. At least for now, Fragrant Snow brought fortune to the Incense Pavilion, and the madam still felt some affection for her, worrying for the pavilion as well.

Painting Willow and Fragrant Snow wept silently. Even as they discussed this, disaster arrived at their door.

The madam, older and wiser, suddenly said, “Fragrant Snow, I have an idea.”

“Madam, tell me.”

“Fragrant Snow, don’t you know the Crown Prince?”

“I do. That day we happened to meet at the East Market gate, then he left.”

“Not exactly. Two days ago, at the Eastern Palace’s labor banquet, the Crown Prince mentioned your name again when entertaining the officials and elders.”

“So what?”

“In the capital, seeking help from others is unlikely. Only the Crown Prince, who is benevolent and at odds with the Duke of Zhou, might aid you. This is the only path.”

“Madam, you make sense, but he’s the Crown Prince. How can I see him?”

“Just try. Perhaps heaven will have mercy. How did the Duke of Rong become like this after Lady Rong passed away?” The madam beat her chest and stamped her feet.

Helan Minzhi had visited here before, but not in his current terrifying state. He was handsome, jade-like in demeanor, outwardly charming, inwardly composed, and knowledgeable—a famed gentleman of the capital. Not only was Yang Min close to him then, even the young Li Lingyue liked this cousin. If not for the later scandals and his conflicts with the Crown Prince, more of his deeds would’ve come to light. At that time, Helan Minzhi fancied Fragrant Snow, and she might have wished for it.

Li Hong had handed Li Wei this sorry body, not too bad, but compared to Helan, it was nothing.

Helan had visited the Incense Pavilion a few times, never behaving excessively. Like others, he joked with the courtesans, but never crossed the line.

Why dwell on these things? The madam pushed the two lovely girls forward, saying, “Go quickly, or the front won’t hold much longer.”

The two maidens, along with Fragrant Snow’s maid, slipped out the back door, lost and anxious. They hailed a carriage and headed straight to Yanxi Gate, where they stopped.

Getting off the carriage, their eyes were blank. The Crown Prince was not easily seen; even Di Renjie and Wei Yuanzhong, two wise men, hadn’t managed to meet him. They hesitated because the Crown Prince’s relations with outsiders were sensitive, seeking a safe way. Could a minor legal official or a young scholar simply send a card and see the Crown Prince?

Fragrant Snow, slightly older, steeled herself and approached the soldiers. “Excuse me, could you inform the Crown Prince that Fragrant Snow and Painting Willow wish to meet him?”

“Are you out of your minds?” If not for the girls’ beauty, they might have been chased away at sword-point. But the soldier reconsidered, “Are you Fragrant Snow from the Incense Pavilion and Painting Willow?”

“Yes, we are.”

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The three greatest courtesans of Chang’an had never been seen together; their fame was like a tree’s shadow. In appearance, the two might not surpass Yang Min, but their reputation made them appear ever more charming. The soldier’s tone softened, “Young ladies, do you know what hour it is? Even in the daytime, it’s difficult to see the Crown Prince.”

He skipped the middle sentence: no matter how beautiful, they were still courtesans.

“Please, just inform the Crown Prince. Fragrant Snow and Painting Willow are in grave trouble. If His Highness does not help, we may not survive the night.”

“Young ladies, if there’s trouble, you can report it to the authorities.”

“It’s the Duke of Zhou summoning us to his residence.”

The soldiers guarding the palace were not from obscure places; most were sons of good families in Chang’an, some descended from meritorious officials. They immediately understood the girls’ predicament.

“But…”

Fragrant Snow pulled Painting Willow’s hand and knelt gracefully. “We beg you, sirs. By chance, I met His Highness once, and he was not displeased with me.”

The soldiers suddenly realized—not only did the Crown Prince favor Fragrant Snow, but those poems and the words exchanged with Lord Cui of Qinghe had been spread by her, deliberately praising the Crown Prince.

Still hesitating, they said, “But it’s very late.”

“Please, help us.” She pulled out a gold bar from her bosom.

Gold wasn’t a currency, but its value was undeniable. It could be exchanged in pawn shops—sometimes for ten taels of silver, sometimes eight, not very stable. One tael of silver was roughly equal to a string of coins, also unstable. A string of coins could sometimes be eight hundred if copper was scarce. Roughly, one tael of gold equaled eight thousand coins.

The gold bar was over ten taels—a significant sum in these times. That candy shop, even with good business, only earned about a hundred thirty strings of coins a day. The soldiers were tempted.

“We beg you,” she touched her head to the ground again.

One captain said, “Very well, we’ll try, but the Eastern Palace guards may not be easy to persuade.”

Fragrant Snow understood and took off her hair ornament, handing it to him. “Please help us.”

“In that case, we’ll deliver your message. Whether the Crown Prince sees you or not, we can’t guarantee.”

Who could guarantee? Fragrant Snow sighed, “Naturally.”

………………………………

This time, Fragrant Snow and Painting Willow had misunderstood Helan Minzhi.

Now, his interest was in the Hu women. Unlike the women of the Central Plains, the Hu were open and suited his tastes. But a few people arrived—more precisely, his friends: the city magistrate and grand scholar Li Shan, and Liu Yizhi, a direct scholar of the Hongwen Academy involved in state affairs.

Neither held high office, but both were close to Helan Minzhi, especially the former, whose relationship was very strong. Oddly, Helan Minzhi lost his recent ferocity in their presence and became very respectful.

Both men were upright and disapproved of the Hu dancers, especially those dressed in scant veils. Upon hearing the servants’ report, they sent them away.

Li Shan said, “Your Grace, it’s best not to disturb Fragrant Snow and the others.”

“Ah, you two have come from afar, I am honored. Inviting three courtesans for entertainment, what harm is there?” Helan Minzhi had not yet heard that Returning Swallow had been redeemed as a merchant’s wife.

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Li and Liu frowned slightly. These three courtesans were not ordinary; their reputations were excellent in the capital, admired by many scholars. They hadn’t expected Returning Swallow to be ruined by Helan Minzhi.

Seeing their expressions, Helan Minzhi immediately said, “Scholar Liu, Scribe Li, I only invited them to perform for you. When you leave, they’ll be returned right away.”

Li Shan’s lips moved, but he said nothing. Though Helan Minzhi respected him greatly, Li Shan was a famed scholar of the Tang, his commentary on the ‘Selected Works of Zhaoming’ was popular, used as a reference by scholars everywhere. Yet it was Helan Minzhi who recommended him for official office.

It was Helan who changed the subject. “Why are you two free tonight to visit?”

Li Shan couldn’t help but say, “Your Grace, your ‘Preface to the Sacred Teachings Collected from Wang’ is considered alongside Chu Suiliang’s ‘Preface to the Sacred Teachings of the Wild Goose Tower’ and ‘Preface to the Sacred Teachings of Tongzhou’, and Wang Xingman’s ‘Preface to the Sacred Teachings of the Zhaoti Temple’—the four great Sacred Teachings prefaces of the Tang. The ‘Famen Temple Stele’ is also widely copied.”

“Scribe Li, you flatter me.” Helan Minzhi was accomplished in calligraphy, and in his twenties, it was a source of pride.

“Not flattery. I am frank by nature and speak my mind. Besides, Your Grace’s writings—your memorial on monks bowing to their parents, I still remember… ‘After the carriage, spirits are hidden. Purple aura not yet spread upon bird traces. When Liu Zhuang’s essence was stirred, his thoughts were entrusted to the eastern stream. Yin Xi’s sincerity soared, observing the westward migration. Thus, the dragon palace transformed with Buddhist grace, spreading compassion through the world. Reticent, pure, and true, tranquil and vast within the realm. Even when distant, the heavenly aura is clear and effortless. The essence is complete, the merit profound, salvation extensive. All are guided by the imperial law…’”

That memorial was indeed ornate, substantial, and clear in thought—one of Helan Minzhi’s proud works.

But Li Shan shifted the topic, “Your Grace, I shouldn’t, nor have authority, to question your affairs. But lately, your actions are puzzling. To indulge in music during mourning is improper, but repeatedly clashing with the Crown Prince—why? I am your humble friend, and it worries me.”

………………………………

The soldiers guarding the South Gate of the Eastern Palace were far more loyal to Li Wei than those at Yanxi Gate, being from the Eastern Palace’s own ranks. Hearing the report from Yanxi Gate, they hesitated—it wasn’t proper.

If it were noble ladies, perhaps, but Fragrant Snow’s fame was great. Men gossip, after all. There were rumors of some ‘spiritual connection’ between her and His Highness; he had praised her twice, the last time publicly at the labor banquet before civil and military officials, though only in passing. If they didn’t help, and something happened at Helan Minzhi’s residence, would His Highness not blame them?

Thinking this, they entered the Eastern Palace, not daring to disturb Li Wei, who had long since retired after the second watch. So they summoned Biyer.

Biyer frowned. After much thought, she woke Li Wei.

Li Wei, deep in sleep, was stunned upon hearing the news, finally saying, “Let them in.”

“Your Highness…”

“Let them in,” Li Wei was clear-headed now. These two girls, though courtesans, had kept themselves pure for ten years in such an environment—how could he allow Helan Minzhi to sully them?

“Your Highness, they are…”

“Let them in!” His voice grew louder.

Biyer had no choice but to inform the soldiers.

Thus, in the dead of night, the Eastern Palace admitted two famous courtesans…