020—As Beautiful As a Painting (1)

The palace walls seemed to twist and turn a hundred different ways. A patch of multiflora roses bloomed dimly in the corner. Snow pressed down against stooped branches.

Multiflora roses in winter.

The green walls surrounding the palace provided a spectacular view of the lake. Icicles hung one after another on the trees, as if giving the frigid, barren wasteland a small smattering of glittering light.

Of course, the light was still cold.

A thick layer of snow had accumulated over the lake, emitting a faint silver light.

Xuan Cheng thought, If I step on it, the sound will definitely be good.

The flowers and plants that lined the hallway had all withered. Only the provocative plum blossoms resisted, loftily blooming in the frost.

The northern winters were always so illustrious. The entire landscape was drowned in white, and it was impossible to distinguish between the heavens and earth.

He stood alone, white mist curling around him, not knowing if he was still in the human world or a frozen wonderland.

Xuan Cheng couldn’t help but become lost in the scenery.

However, the palace servant by his side was quick to interrupt him. “Yangping Duke, we must hurry. His Majesty is anxiously expecting you in the Inner Palace. It is best if we don’t keep him waiting.”

Xuan Cheng felt annoyance brew inside him at the unwelcome interruption. “You lowly servant, I am his younger brother. If he waits for me, then let him wait. What am I to be afraid of?”

The palace servant immediately bowed down deferentially. “What the Yangping Duke says is correct, what the Yangping Duke says is correct. This servant has says too much.”

Xuan Cheng wanted to reply, only for someone behind him to speak before he could open his mouth. “Who has such courage to anger Our good Younger Brother?”

“Fu Jian.”

As expected, when Xuan Cheng turned his head, he saw Fu Jian walking towards him. He was dressed in an unassuming and rather plain light grey robe. A gentle smile formed on his face.

“All of you, withdraw.”

“Yes.”

The palace servants left, leaving only the two of them behind.

“Younger Brother, were you so unwilling to enter the palace when We directed you to?”

Xuan Cheng indifferently replied, “Am I not here now?”

Fu Jian walked closer, until he was standing to Xuan Cheng’s left. The two of them were of similar heights, so their current positions could be considered to be truly shoulder-to-shoulder.

“Are you here because of Jinglue, or for Us?”

Xuan Cheng looked at the pristine snow that had piled over the lake. He pointed in front of him. “Look at how thickᵗʰᶦᶜᶜ the snow is this year.”

Fu Jian followed his line of sight. The towering layers of snow were like tall hills. “We know that this winter is particularly cold. You may not be willing to enter the palace.”

He seemed to faintly recall something. “In previous winters, you would accompany Us to the palace. You said to me, once, how you remembered horseback riding and frolicking in the snow in the wilderness of Linwei. How beautiful it was, then. Nobody possessed a heart stained with blood, there were no thoughts of power struggles. Our only thoughts were to continue in our merriment. We did not kill anyone, or harm anyone, or plunder, and especially, we did not conquer.“

He continued, “We thought for a while, and realized that your words were right. Those memories from the past were so bright and hopeful. Our time at Linwei may not have been the most remarkable period of Our lives, and yet We cannot seem to forget it in Our heart. Now, Our people reside in Chang’an. Although We cannot forget Linwei, We are unable to return.”

“Younger Brother, do you know why it is? We yearn to return back to Linwei, but yet, We do not dare.”

Linwei (临渭) is a region in the Shaanxi province.

As Xuan Cheng listened, he found his heart conjuring a scene before his eyes.

Two people. A pair of horses. An immovable mountain. A swath of forest.

The Fu Jian in his memory grasped onto the ji at his side, which gave him a noble and heroic appearance. He looked back at Xuan Cheng, slowly murmuring, “Younger Brother.”

The ji, or Chinese Halberd, an ancient Chinese polearm.

“Brother Wenyu.”

Fu Jian dismounted the horse. Then, he reached out his long sleeves, offering his hand to Fu Rong. “Younger Brother, come.”

Fu Rong fell into Fu Jian’s embrace, wrapping his arms around his older brother’s neck. “Brother Wenyu, you’re so brave and valiant. No wonder Father always takes you out on his expeditions, but never allows me to come along.”

Fu Jian rubbed Fu Rong’s red nose affectionately. “Look at you, do you think going out to battle is all fun and games? It’s something that could result in you losing your life. Forget it, it’s better that you learn how to ride horses and shoot arrows with me. When we occupy Chang’an, I should throw you in here by yourself.” He smiled mischievously.

“Oh, go ahead. All you know how to do is trick me.” Fu Rong knew at an instant that Fu Jian was lying when he saw his older brother’s strange smile.

The Di people were fighting a brave battle against all fronts. They had already conquered many cities, and had established good relations with the Jin Dynasty to their southern border. With the Jin Emperor’s support, occupying Chang’an was a matter that would happen sooner or later.

Fu Jian clasped his hands together, walking out onto the white expanse over the withered wilderness. With his every step, the snow made loud crunching sounds, satisfying to the ear.

He reached up and broke off a large branch above him, using it to tie the stray strands of his long hair back. “Younger Brother, if we really do occupy Chang’an, you must remember that we are doing this for the Di tribe’s glory, not for invading or expanding our territory.””

Although he didn’t understand, Fu Rong nodded.

This was his trusted older brother. He knew that Fu Jian would never lie to him.

Fu Rong asked him, “Our Di tribe already possesses a lot of glory. If it isn’t for the sake of invading, Fu Jian, tell me why we need to attack Luoyang?” He casually spoke our Fu Jian’s name without any use of honorifics.

He wasn’t afraid of how the person next to him would react with such a casual address.

Because he knew that no matter what he said, or what he did, Fu Jian would never hate him.