012—Promise of a Noble (1)

“My son has been diligent. When We left, was all well within the court?”

Fu Hong deferentially replied, “Father Emperor, everything is well.”

Fu Jian nodded his head, gratified. “Since the Crown Prince is so diligent in handling state affairs, We have decided that it is perhaps suitable to pass on this dirty.”

Fu Hong repeatedly bowed. “Father Emperor is wise in military affairs. I am young and foolish, and cannot compare to Father Emperor’s wisdom and experience in government.”

“Hong-er, you are too modest.”

Fu Jian continued. “Is the Empress Dowager well?”

Fu Hong’s expression suddenly became heavy.

“What is it? The Empress Dowager, she…”

“Father Emperor, the Empress Dowager is well. She merely misses you.” He looked at Xuan Cheng, as if there was a hidden meaning to his words. “The Empress Dowager went to Imperial Uncle’s residence, but came back in low spirits. She says that Imperial Uncle still refuses to forgive her.”

Fu Jian sighed, and turned to look at Xuan Cheng. His voice was gentle. “Younger Brother, do you hear that? Those matters have already long passed. Furthermore, you promised me in Luoyang to visit her in the palace with me.”

Xuan Cheng hesitated, quietly saying, “I did agree, but you cannot simply drag me to see her right now.”

“You,” Fu Jian sighed, patting his shoulder. “It’s already been so long and you’re still arguing with me like a spoiled child.”

Xuan Cheng refuted, “You’re the one acting spoiled.”

Immediately, the two men in front of him stared at him blankly.

Fu Hong’s mouth opened, his expression sluggish.

Fu Jian’s eyes were filled with astonishment but also joy.

Why was he happy?

Xuan Cheng couldn’t handle the stares directed at him, lifting up his robes and leaving.

Fu Jian called to him from behind. “Younger Brother, you’ve agreed. You’ll see the Empress Dowager.”

Afterwards, there was the sound of Fu Hong talking. He spoke quietly, but the city walls blocked the sound of any wind.

“Father Emperor, Imperial Uncle seems to have changed.”

Afterwards, there was silence.

Xuan Cheng didn’t hear Fu Jian reply. He slowed down his pace, concentrating on his surroundings, and wondered what the other party had to say.

In the end, there was nothing.

He quickened his gait again, hurrying back to his residence.

The Yanping Duke’s residence was not far west from the imperial palace. It was an average-looking building, and not conspicuous at all to the eye. It was only with careful observation that the classic northern architectural characteristics were noticed, with the meticulous edges and corners of the construction denoting him as a northern royal.

Xuan Cheng had only just stepped through the front gate when he was greeted by several men. He didn’t recognize these people, but something in his consciousness told him that he had met them before. Anyhow, the faces were familiar. Although, because he couldn’t name any of them, he elected to ignore them instead.

He strode inside his residence, the group of men carefully following behind him.

He felt that this was very awkward. Turning around, he said, “All of you are dismissed. I’m going to take a walk by myself.”

But those men did not move. They looked at each other silently, apparently in awe.

Xuan Cheng did not bother to say anything else. He could only ignore them, turning around to walk to the garden.

He furrowed his eyebrows, muttering underneath his breath. He found himself to be familiar with the garden, his mind remembering all of the pathways throughout.

At this time of the year, the wintersweets were in full bloom. The entire garden was filled with fiery red blossoms, forming a dazzling scene.

Xuan Cheng couldn’t help but think of Wang Anshi‘s famous poem, “A Solitary River in Snow.”

He had the plum blossoms, but it was a pity that there was no snow. He couldn’t help but feel a little depressed.

The snow in the winter months formed the most magnificent scenes. When the snow piled thick over the tree branches, as the bitter winter wind blew past, the branches would shake and cause the snow to gently sift onto the ground. Sometimes, the snow would fall onto the ground all in one large clump. When the snow was especially thick, stepping on it was extremely satisfying, and could make even the strongest of men shake in their hearts with joy.

He wanted to see snow, and that beautiful moment when a thick blanket of white enveloping everything from the heavens and earth. In Nanjing, it was rare to see snow. The northern winters were always too mild.

Which is why he had agreed to return to Chang’an.

However, this time he had been disappointed. He reached out his hand to the side and grabbed a plum blossom. With a forceful twist, he managed to pinch off the small blossom and press it between his fingers.

Raising it to eye-level, he observed it closely.

It was not as bewitchingly red as it he had thought. Perhaps the fertilizer had not been nutritious enough, or perhaps the winter had arrived to late. He could only guess why.

As he observed the flower, a pair of light and hurried footsteps emerged from behind him.

“Yanping Duke.”

Xuan Cheng turned around. A maid had appeared on one of the footpaths, quickly walking to his side. She bowed, quietly saying, “Yanping Duke, the Emperor is coming.”

“Fu Jian.” Xuan Cheng said, startled. He accidentally crushed the flower in his hand to pieces.

“Didn’t he just return to the palace? What is he doing now?”

Bewildered, he watched as the figure in the distance approached.

Underneath the stretch of cloudless blue sky, Fu Jian’s black robes were all the more distinct.