Chapter 23: “Qing Yanxi”

Chapter 23 *Qing Yanxi*

Early in the morning, Huo Ling was turning the place upside down, and Wu Mo asked what she was looking for. Huo Ling replied, "That black cloak I wore the day we first arrived in Chang'an County—where did you put it?"

Wu Mo thought for a moment. "The ankle-length one with the hood lined with fox fur? I think I stored it in the innermost chest."

Huo Ling found it and put it on, tugging the hood over her head. Before leaving, she suddenly remembered something and turned back into the room to retrieve the deer-shaped jade pendant.

Prince Duan caught sight of the pendant at her waist and was overjoyed. Sitting in the carriage, he reached out a hand to her.

As expected, Huo Ling didn’t refuse and stepped into the carriage with his assistance.

At that moment, the gates of Changle County were a hive of activity.

He Tai’s convoy had just arrived when Zhou Jiamu and Huo Shiming stopped them with their troops.

Of course, Zhou Jiamu’s public pretext was that He Tai had served at Xingtang Pass for many years, and if not merit, at least toil was due him. Now that He Tai was leaving Yanxi, and given the wartime circumstances, it was inconvenient to hold a farewell banquet. Still, the high-ranking officials of Xingtang Pass, including Zhou Jiamu, had come personally to see him off.

He Tai pasted on a smile. "Now that the greetings are done, General Zhou can stand aside, can’t you?"

"Ah," Zhou Jiamu said disapprovingly, "why the hurry, General He? His Royal Highness Prince Duan hasn’t arrived yet."

Though He Tai had been stripped of his duties, he still held an official rank, so he could still be addressed as "General."

Huo Shiming also feigned sincerity. "General He is leaving in such a rush that he’ll likely spend the New Year on the road. So we’ve prepared some gifts for you—Yanxi delicacies that are hard to come by in the capital. Just a small token of our appreciation—please don’t refuse."

He Tai’s jaw tightened imperceptibly.

Truly, a tiger brought low becomes prey for dogs.

Zhou Jiamu mocking him was one thing, but what right did Huo Shiming, of all people, have to look down on him now?

As the three of them stood in tense confrontation, an ornate carriage appeared at the end of the street.

Soon, the carriage stopped before them, and Prince Duan and Huo Ling stepped out together.

In public, Prince Duan offered He Tai a few rote words of praise. To an uninformed observer, it would be impossible to imagine that the two had nearly come to open warfare.

Only after Prince Duan finished his formalities did Huo Ling step forward slowly from behind him.

"General He, we meet again."

He Tai’s smile didn’t reach his eyes as he stared fixedly at Huo Ling’s face. "It’s been days, Miss Huo. You remain as radiant as ever."

Huo Ling raised a hand and made a show of lowering her hood. "But General He looks much more haggard than before—not at all like the man who towered so imperiously in his gleaming armor that day."

He Tai’s expression darkened instantly, like a thundercloud. "I find myself suddenly looking forward to your arrival in the capital, Miss Huo."

He lowered his voice so only Huo Ling, standing closest to him, could hear.

"Do you really think Prince Duan will be able to protect you and take your side at every step in the capital the way he does here in Changle County? I’d love to see what you’ll use to fight me then."

Huo Ling countered smoothly, "There’s no need for Lord He to trouble himself over that."

He Tai gave a derisive snort and was about to continue his threats when a thunder of hooves sounded outside the city gates. As the sound grew louder, someone on horseback raised a token and shouted, "Imperial Household Department on official business! Make way!"

The commoners queuing up to enter the city scrambled to part and make way.

A group from the Imperial Household Department arrived at the city gates. Just as the leader was about to hand his token to the guards for inspection, he noticed the activity nearby.

"This unworthy servant Cui Hongyi of the Imperial Household Department greets His Royal Highness Prince Duan."

The Prince did not recognize Cui Hongyi, but judging by the timing, he could roughly guess Cui Hongyi's purpose: "Eunuch Cui, have you come to deliver an imperial edict?"

"Indeed. Might I ask if Miss Huo is currently in Changle County?"

The Prince smiled and gestured toward Huo Ling, who came forward and addressed Cui Hongyi in the same manner as the prince: "Eunuch Cui, this unworthy one is Huo Ling."

The Imperial Household Department had good intelligence, and rumors about Prince Duan staying in Yanxi instead of returning to the capital for the New Year had long reached Cui Hongyi's ears.

Now that he saw Huo Ling in person, admiration showed in Cui Hongyi's eyes. No wonder the Prince had remained in Yanxi for this woman—her poise was extraordinary.

"Then, Miss Huo, please receive the edict."

This was Huo Ling's first time seeing an imperial edict.

Moreover, this edict was written specifically for her alone.

A small scroll of silk, inscribed with just a few lines, yet carrying incomparable weight.

As she listened to Cui Hongyi's recitation, Huo Ling could barely make out the words, catching only occasional phrases praising her for her "displayed talent" and "refined excellence."

After a lengthy passage of accolades, Huo Ling heard Cui Hongyi announce: "...From this day forth, you are granted the title of Xiang'an Commandery Lady."

Xiang'an...

Commandery Lady?

Huo Ling instinctively glanced at Prince Duan beside her and saw surprise on his face as well.

Those in the know, like Huo Shiming, were both pleased and confused.

He Tai, on the other hand, was furious. He had just threatened that Huo Ling would be isolated and helpless in the capital, yet now the Emperor had directly enfeoffed her as a Commandery Lady.

Though it was only a fourth-grade noble title—not particularly high-ranking in the capital where nobles were everywhere—it still meant she was no longer someone who could be easily pushed around.

Perhaps the only one present who was purely happy, without considering anything else, was Wu Mo.

Cui Hongyi continued reading the edict: "You are also bestowed one hundred taels of gold, ten rolls of premium Jiangnan silks, a casket of rubies from the Western Regions, a casket of pearls from the Eastern Sea..."

Huo Ling lowered her gaze to the snow before her, her thoughts racing.

Prince Duan had no reason to deceive her, and judging by his reaction, her enfeoffment as a Commandery Lady must have been unexpected for him as well.

In other words, in his petition, Prince Duan had indeed only requested her to be enfeoffed as a County Lady.

But someone at court, after reading the petition, had elevated her title by one rank, given her the honorary "Xiang'an" to acknowledge her merits, and bestowed numerous gifts.

The only one who could have done this...

Was likely Emperor Jingyuan, who had ruled for twenty years, his favor and authority unpredictable.

He could have simply handled it routinely—so why had he chosen to elevate her rewards instead?

By now, Cui Hongyi had finished reading the edict. Huo Ling temporarily set aside her doubts and accepted the edict with both hands: "Eunuch Cui, you must be tired from your travels. Will you be staying in Changle County to rest before returning to the capital?"

Cui Hongyi said, "His Majesty has approved that we can stay in Changle County until the second day of the Lunar New Year before returning to the capital after announcing the edict."

Huo Ling glanced at Prince Duan, who said, "Then Attendant Cui shall stay with me at the county yamen."

After a moment of hesitation, Prince Duan asked, "Apart from this edict, did His Majesty say anything else?"

Cui Hongyi replied, "I haven't heard of anything else."

Everyone's attention was fixed on the imperial decree, and no one paid any mind to He Tai anymore.

He Tai swept a cold glance at Huo Shiming and Huo Ling before finally leaving in a huff, leading his family and entourage out of Changle County in a large entourage.

Cui Hongyi, observing the spectacle, curiously asked whose convoy it was. Upon learning it was He Tai's, he paid it no further attention.

***

The treasures bestowed by Emperor Jingyuan poured in continuously into the western courtyard of the county yamen. Huo Ling casually opened one of the boxes, revealing a pile of pink pearls inside.

The pearls were full, perfectly spherical, and uniform in size.

As Huo Ling fingered the pearls, she pondered Emperor Jingyuan's intentions.

Wu Mo, however, thought more simply.

"Perhaps there's no hidden meaning."

"Perhaps His Majesty is just a generous person."

"He rules the entire realm and gives gifts as he sees fit. He deemed you worthy of the title Commandery Lady, so he granted it to you."

Huo Ling chuckled and stopped worrying. "Maybe it really is as you say."

Whatever deeper implications lay behind Emperor Jingyuan's gesture, the true beneficiary was her.

***

Before they knew it, New Year's Eve arrived.

Since Huo Ling couldn't visit the military camp, Huo Shiming, Sun Yucheng, and Fang Jianbai came to the county yamen at noon to have a reunion dinner with her and Wu Mo.

During the meal, Fang Jianbai asked about the play.

Huo Ling replied, "The opera troupes and performance venues in all the counties of Yanxi have been arranged."

"Starting tomorrow and continuing until the Lantern Festival, the troupes will perform twice daily, in the morning and afternoon."

In addition to the theatrical performances, storytellers would also tell the story in teahouses and taverns.

Among all the counties, Changle got the biggest push.

After all, the rumors about Huo Ling had become most entrenched here. To thoroughly dispel them, Prince Duan had to put in significant resources.

"Now that I've been officially granted the title of Xiang'an Commandery Lady, this title holds more authority than County Lady. Clearing my name should be easier."

After the reunion dinner, Huo Shiming and the others hurriedly departed.

Huo Ling and Wu Mo spent the next half-hour hanging New Year's couplets and window decorations.

Huo Ling had written the couplets, while Wu Mo had made the decorations. Together, they decorated the entire western courtyard.

As evening approached, Huo Ling went to bathe and changed into a new dress. Her hair down and draped in a fiery-red fox-fur cloak, she walked to the courtyard gate but paused before opening it.

The music flowed at just the right volume and pace, like an invitation slipping into the night.

Perhaps because two pieces had been played without any response from the courtyard, the music suddenly paused before resuming—this time, it was *The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate* (a classic Chinese love song).

Huo Ling swung open the courtyard gate, picked up the lantern hanging by the door, and walked toward Prince Duan, who was playing the qin in a nearby pavilion.

Prince Duan was dressed in an ivory robe with a sky-blue cloak draped over his shoulders. His hair, usually tied up with a jade crown, was loosely gathered with a wooden hairpin.

The starlight above was dim, but the pavilion was adorned with lanterns of various styles.

Bathed in the warm glow of candlelight, Prince Duan’s regal bearing seemed to soften, leaving only an effortless grace and charm.

When he finished the piece, Huo Ling stepped onto the pavilion’s stairs, holding the lantern aloft toward Prince Duan with one hand while pressing down on the precious qin with the other.

"Let me take a good look at this scoundrel copying Sima Xiangru, playing *The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate* outside my courtyard."

Prince Duan chuckled. "Have you seen enough?"

"I have," Huo Ling replied, her eyes curving into a smile as she nodded in satisfaction. "No wonder you dared to come here as a rogue—you've got some looks going for you."

For a prince of his stature to play music outside her courtyard to please her was indeed hard to dislike.

Prince Duan pretended to pout. "Only *some* looks?"

Huo Ling sat down across from him and countered, "How charming does Your Highness find me?"

Prince Duan instantly recognized the trap in her words but played along: "Tenfold."

Huo Ling laughed again, glancing at the table beside them, which was laden with choice wines and snacks. Resting her chin on her hand, she asked, "So, Your Highness came to invite me to ring in the New Year together?"

"Yes. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to bring you to my courtyard or enter yours, so I had to invite you here instead."

The pavilion was surrounded by screens, with several charcoal heaters placed inside. As long as they were dressed warmly, there was no fear of catching a chill at night.

Since Huo Ling had already come, she wasn’t about to leave immediately. Pointing casually at a jar of pear-blossom liquor, she said, "I’ll have this. Warm it for me, Your Highness."

Prince Duan obliged, warming the wine as he spoke. "I’ve saved us spots at the performance hall. Tomorrow morning, let’s visit the temple fair together and watch that play."

Huo Ling happily agreed.

The two drank for a long while before Huo Ling sent someone to fetch a Go set, intending to pass the time with a game.

Huo Ling only knew the basics of Go, and her skills were hopeless against Prince Duan. But since neither cared about winning, Prince Duan took the opportunity to teach her some techniques as they played.

As midnight approached, fireworks suddenly lit up the sky above the county office.

Huo Ling pushed away the Go stones and stepped out of the pavilion, tilting her head to admire the spectacular show.

Prince Duan stood behind her, watching the fireworks that had been set off just for her.

The show went on for a full quarter of an hour before the sky above the county office returned to darkness. Prince Duan placed a hand on Huo Ling’s shoulder and said softly, "A Ling, Happy Lunar New Year's Eve."

After exchanging New Year’s greetings, their New Year's celebration ended. Huo Ling slept soundly and woke early the next morning to join Prince Duan for the temple fair and the play *Qing Yanxi*.

It had to be said that the troupe Prince Duan hired was highly skilled. Despite only a few days of rehearsal, the performance was outstanding.

Entertainment was scarce in these times, and with such a captivating play being offered for free, news spread like wildfire throughout Changle County.

Upon hearing that the play would run for half a month at the theater, many who hadn’t yet seen it made plans to take the whole family.

Cui Hongyi and his party had rested at the county office for a few days, even spending New Year’s Eve there. On the morning of the second day, they took their leave of Prince Duan.

As they left Changle County, Cui Hongyi passed by the packed theater. Suddenly, he signaled to an attendant behind him and instructed, "Buy a copy of *Qing Yanxi* and bring it back to the capital. His Majesty would probably enjoy watching this play."

*(Footnote: Sima Xiangru was a famous Han Dynasty poet known for composing romantic poetry and music to win over his future wife.)*