Chapter Sixty-Five: Princess Yuzhen

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The carriage entered the Right Arm Gate, and there lay the Imperial City. Although Luoyang ceased to be the capital of the Great Zhou after Empress Wu abdicated, the government offices within the Imperial City remained complete and bustling. Along the way, to the left stood the Grand Shrine; to the right, the Sixteen Guards and dozens of offices such as the Secretariat, the Palace Secretariat, and the Chancellery. After traveling some distance, there appeared a broad avenue three hundred paces wide, stretching from east to west – the Celestial Street. At the northern end of this boulevard were the four gates to the Palace City. Though their passage had been unhindered, the procession now halted before the Eternal Joy Gate.

After alighting, Cui Jiuniang saw several Taoist priestesses surrounding a woman of about twenty descending from the first carriage. She hurried forward to greet her.

"Supreme Master."

The Taoist wore a crown adorned with flying clouds and phoenixes, her robe woven of five colors with mountain water sleeves, and her skirt a brilliant azure. She moved with grace, and upon hearing Cui Jiuniang's voice, she lifted her head, revealing a face lightly dusted with powder, eyes radiant and lips crimson, with a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth.

"No wonder you refused to board the carriage earlier – you’re dressed in men’s attire again! The Cui family is strict; how is it no one disciplines you?"

"It’s just easier to move about," Cui Jiuniang affectionately took Princess Yuzhen’s right arm and laughed, "Besides, my brother has returned. Wearing this, nine out of ten people mistake me for someone else – it’s much easier to slip out. Supreme Master, I’ve been confined at home for several days. Thanks to your favor, I managed to escape; please, be kind and don’t scold me."

She wrinkled her nose and muttered softly, "It’s all that wretched Du Nineteen’s fault. My brother listens to him for everything. I only teased him once, but he complained to Grandmother, and I was shut in for days!"

"Oh, someone can actually rein you in?" Princess Yuzhen raised her brows in surprise. Seeing Madam Fu gesture with her eyes, she waved her hand, instructing her to go handle the palace entry formalities at the Eternal Joy Gate, then turned with interest to Cui Jiuniang. "This Du Nineteen you mention, is he the one who composed a new melody at Duke Bi’s banquet, then followed with a poem about the Hu Dance, astonishing all present – the Du Nineteen from Fanchuan?"

"Ah, even Supreme Master has heard of him? It’s true – good news never travels, but bad news spreads far and wide!"

"What bad news? That’s clearly a good thing… It seems Du Nineteen has truly provoked you!" Though a princess, Yuzhen was addressed as Supreme Master by the noblewomen who studied the Dao, and she accepted it gladly. Hearing Cui Jiuniang’s half-complaint, she grew more curious, having already heard of Du Shiyi’s reputation. "I’ve heard he often visited the homes of Song and Qi, and many officials, but later fell seriously ill and lost his talent. Now, seeing him recovered and active again, perhaps the rumors of his decline were unfounded?"

"Who knows!" Cui Jiuniang snorted, then smiled, "But I doubt he has much ability. Even if he does, credit must go to a famous teacher. Supreme Master, did you know, after recovering two years ago, he apprenticed himself to the reclusive master Lu Hong, whom the sage recently summoned with a currency gift?"

"Oh?" Princess Yuzhen vaguely recalled such an incident. Though she had heard rumors, there were so many talented men in the two capitals that she hadn’t paid much attention. Now, she remembered Cui Jiuniang’s brother seemed also to be Lu Hong’s disciple. As the Eternal Joy Gate opened, she waved off the sedan chair and chose to walk in with Cui Jiuniang.

She, along with Princess Jin Xian, pursued the Dao, and many noble families sent their daughters to accompany her. So she could easily tell that Cui Jiuniang’s devotion to Daoism was intermittent, mostly an excuse to escape home. Yet Cui Jiuniang’s erudition and sharp memory were unmatched among the women; she memorized Daoist classics and interpreted them uniquely. Her frank temperament also won Yuzhen’s genuine affection. Thus, when Cui Jiuniang sent word through others, seeking help to escape her confinement, Yuzhen immediately sent a message to the Cui family and, taking advantage of her palace visit, brought Jiuniang along.

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As they neared the Guangfan Gate, seeing guards arrayed before it, she knew her brother was meeting someone, though it was not the usual hour for court. At this, Cui Jiuniang quietly asked, "Is the Sage summoning a minister?"

Li Longji, during his year in Luoyang, held grand court in the Qianyuan Hall; regular court, as in previous reigns, was in the Xuanzheng Hall, but after court, he rarely used this hall. Princess Yuzhen was already suspicious; hearing Cui Jiuniang’s question, she grew more so. She beckoned a guard and asked, then looked thoughtfully at Jiuniang and smiled, "You want to know who’s inside?"

Seeing Jiuniang’s curiosity, she replied with a half-smile, "It’s the teacher of that Du Nineteen you so despise – the reclusive Lu Hong of Mount Song. I don’t mind, but I hear he’s friendly with Mr. Sima of the Shangqing Sect, so he must be a man of rare character… Since it’s not state affairs, let’s go watch the excitement!"

Sister truly is remarkable!

Watching Princess Yuzhen walk ahead, Cui Jiuniang was filled with admiration. If not for seeing Cui Jianxuan slipping out repeatedly these days, discussing matters with Du Shiyi, and fearing that if the Emperor summoned Lu Hong things might go wrong and Jianxuan might act rashly, Cui Wuniang wouldn’t have involved her. Now, with Princess Yuzhen present, even in case of trouble, she could find a way to resolve it. Thus she hurried after Yuzhen, relieved when the guards at Guangfan Gate offered no resistance.

The main axis of the Luoyang Palace featured the Qianyuan, Zhenguan, and Huiyou Halls, but the Xuanzheng Hall was not among them. The former Ming Hall, after Empress Wu’s abdication, was renamed Qianyuan Hall, nearly identical in name to the Hanyuan Hall of Daming Palace. Of the other two halls, the Zhenguan Hall was used for court and banquets in Taizong’s time, but later became the emperor’s inner chamber, as did Huiyou Hall. Thus, the spacious and well-renovated Xuanzheng Hall often hosted regular court and banquets. Yet, when the emperor summoned ministers outside of court, it was usually in the Tongming or Yisui Halls to the northwest. For this reason, Princess Yuzhen found it odd that Lu Hong, though renowned, would be summoned alone in such a grand hall.

She would not eavesdrop, but standing at the foot of the grand hall’s steps, she saw a tall young man pacing at the entrance. She clapped her hands softly – even in such silence, the sound could not go unheard. Sure enough, the man glanced down in anger, then, seeing Princess Yuzhen, hurried down with a broad smile. "Your Highness, you’ve come at just the right moment! I was wondering whom to seek!"

"What’s this, has the summoned guest angered my brother?" As Li Longji’s younger sister, Princess Yuzhen was accustomed to calling him "brother". Seeing the eunuch’s worried face, she frowned. "I hear today’s guest is Lu Hong, the famed recluse of Mount Song – surely not a rash man. Did he dare rebuke the Emperor?"

"Not quite." The eunuch sighed, noticing behind Yuzhen a girl in men’s attire, vaguely familiar, likely a close companion, and the other Taoist women kept their distance. He lowered his voice, "Lu Hong is simply lacking in tact. He was brought in by Prime Minister Su, but upon entering the hall, he did not bow! When asked why, he replied that ritual is but the shadow of loyalty and sincerity, and not worth following. He said, ‘As a mountain subject, I dare present myself with loyalty and sincerity, thus I do not bow.’"

Seeing Princess Yuzhen’s astonishment and the girl behind her wide-eyed, the eunuch continued, "The Emperor decreed that all counties recommend virtuous men, and such proud yet truly talented ones are deeply respected. Thus, not only was he not blamed, but brought into the inner hall and given wine and food – such favor is rare outside the closest ministers.

However, after the banquet, more trouble arose. When praised for his talent and reclusion, he claimed he had no skill for administration and was unfit for office; when praised for his teaching, he responded that his disciples were earnest, and he only guided them lightly… In sum, whatever was said, he managed to dampen everyone’s spirits – truly a stubborn old man!"

He shook his head more and more, finally saying, "The Emperor sincerely wishes to recruit him, and now proposes appointing him as Censor-in-Chief, but he resolutely declines. The Emperor is displeased, and if this stalemate continues, I fear…"

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Hearing this, Princess Yuzhen drew a quiet breath and said, "Lishi, come with me to the hall and let us take a look."

As Princess Yuzhen and Gao Lishi ascended the steps, Cui Jiuniang dutifully remained below, though her heart was anxious. Though Fifth Sister said Lu Hong had repeatedly refused the Emperor’s summons, proving his proud character, Jiuniang had seen too many in the capitals who would stop at nothing for fame and profit, even using reclusion as a shortcut to office. She had suspected Lu Hong merely declined repeatedly to enhance his reputation. Now, seeing him risk the Emperor’s displeasure by firmly refusing, she realized she had underestimated him – no wonder her brother and Du Nineteen were so concerned!

Censor-in-Chief was a high office of the fifth rank! Even among noble sons entering service by privilege, it often took decades to reach such a post!

Outside the grand hall, she glimpsed the Emperor seated on his throne, his expression shadowed, while Lu Hong stood with his back to her, the aged figure upright and firm. Princess Yuzhen glanced at Gao Lishi, who awkwardly murmured, "It’s been nearly two hours. I thought the Emperor might storm out, which would make it easier to mediate later – otherwise, if Lu Hong accused the eunuchs of meddling, I’d be innocent but it would reflect poorly. But who would have guessed… the stalemate continues. If it drags on, the Emperor may grow angry, and Lu Hong, at his age, may not withstand it."

"You’re right," Princess Yuzhen nodded gently, already forming a plan. "Fetch paper and brush; I’ll write a few words to my brother, and you can present it as an urgent memorial."

"Excellent idea, Your Highness!"

In no time, concealed behind the hall’s columns, Princess Yuzhen wrote swiftly. Gao Lishi, not waiting for the ink to dry, blew on it and hurriedly rolled it up, then entered with both hands respectfully presenting it before the throne. "Your Majesty, the Capital Prefecture has delivered an urgent memorial."

"Hmm?" After two hours of deadlock, Li Longji was already frustrated. He unfolded the paper, and upon seeing the neat lines, his expression changed to thoughtful.

"Rather than forcing him, bestow office and let him return to the mountains. Thus, you preserve his reclusive spirit and win the hearts of all talented men – is this not the best of both worlds?"