Chapter 8, Opposition
Everyone had reported their family backgrounds, and the Prince of Yong smiled awkwardly and said: "The government decree prohibits vassal kings from associating with officials in the capital. I did not expect that you all have such significant backgrounds. It is indeed inconvenient to linger here any longer; it would be better for me to take my leave now." With that, he stood up to depart
Su Chen was quite surprised to learn that this girl was Princess Zhen Ning. He saw that Zhen Ning's face was filled with shame and anger, almost to the point of tears. He had long known that Zhen Ning sometimes sneaked out of the palace, and Su Ying had always been unable to control her. The act of mobilizing a procession was something only Su Ying could accomplish, yet to humiliate an unmarried princess in such a manner seemed somewhat excessive to Su Chen.
They chatted animatedly while drinking. The young master could not join them in drinking, so he obtained his father's permission and went to play alone in the woods. After walking a short distance, he spotted a wild rabbit and began to chase it while also keeping track of the path. However, the woods were filled with similar trees, and after turning around a couple of times, he lost his sense of direction and wandered further away.
Prince Yong carefully observed everyone and sighed, "After many years away from the capital, everyone has changed their appearance." He then inquired about the names and backgrounds of those present. Upon questioning, he learned that most of those seated in front were from the Su family, including both officials from the capital and descendants of the family. Among them, one individual dressed in extremely luxurious attire was the younger brother of Concubine Gong and Concubine Jing, and his entourage and possessions were even more lavish than those of Su Chen. Another individual, who spoke little, was a distant cousin of Concubine An and was also related to Princess Yong. Prince Yong promptly instructed the heir to pay respects to this cousin. When asked about those seated further back, it was revealed that they held no prominent official positions, yet Prince Yong maintained a demeanor free of any disdain. Yun Chui, sitting at the back, observed this and nodded quietly, feeling an increased respect for Prince Yong.
The noble youths secretly counted and found that, apart from the two clearing attendants, there were six female officials in green attire, followed by sixteen fans of various types: hand fans, round fans, and square fans. They were all intrigued and, after observing three portable tents and two sitting screens, noticed a chariot being followed by sixteen maidservants. Upon carefully counting the number of drivers, they discovered there were eight, realizing that this was an extraordinary procession for a noblewoman. The crowd quickly restrained their hunting dogs to prevent them from barking loudly, speculating which noblewoman was lingering outside so late.
Princess Zhening heard this clearly and said sternly: "As a princess, I rank above the nobility; all princes and royal sons must pay their respects to me. This person has been disrespectful to the princess's entourage; why is he not being punished?" Her movements had been exposed by Su Ying, which caused her to lose face in front of others, making her words unavoidably harsh and her expression reveal a hint of malice. Su Chen could not help but frown, staring intently at this arrogant little princess.
The Yong King and Su Chen were astonished by the white bronze decorative patterns wrapped around the carriage, more so than others: the owner of the ceremonial procession was either a princess or a queen. The Yong King thought to himself that his wife had been bedridden for a long time and would certainly not appear in the capital. Apart from her, there was only the Queen of Ping in the capital, yet for some reason, the procession was still being flaunted as night approached. He couldn't help but turn back to look at Su Chen.
When they set out, there were only about twenty people, but on their return, they had transformed into a grand procession, drawing attention as they walked along the road. The Prince of Yong had always disliked being the center of attention, feeling quite uncomfortable, yet the young Su clan members, accustomed to their arrogance, were lively and boisterous like hunting dogs and eagles. As they walked down the main street, they suddenly encountered a ceremonial procession, and both sides found themselves in a stalemate, unable to move. The two guards responsible for clearing the way recognized that this group consisted of noble youths and were unwilling to offend them. Ironically, it was the Prince of Yong, who was not required to yield, who chose to avoid trouble in the capital, quietly pulling on the reins and stepping aside without making a fuss. This action led to the noble youths looking down on him a bit more, feeling that this prince lacked authority. Only Su Chen and Yun Chui admired his unpretentious demeanor.
Yun Chui淡淡地说: "Such a woman is not uncommon in the Su family, let alone that my sister was originally cultivated with care by her family. Marrying into a family like ours is rather a twist of fate, which is unfortunate for her." Others found it inappropriate to comment, and Su Chen stepped in to mediate, saying: "The days are short in autumn, and with all this commotion, it is getting late. Your Highness and the Young Master have already experienced a false alarm, so it would be better to return to the city early." Everyone responded in agreement and returned home together.
Upon meeting his gaze, Zhen Ning couldn't help but shiver slightly, suddenly recalling that Su Ying had looked at her with the same gaze after the worship ceremony, which filled her heart with a deep loathing for Su Chen, and she raised her head to glare at him fiercely
A woman dressed in a purple hunting outfit emerged from the thicket, leading a white horse. Upon seeing her, King Yong was momentarily taken aback: the woman had striking features, and her pair of eyes was particularly bright, as if they were sparkling. The purple of the hunting outfit was not particularly elegant, yet it looked exceptionally good on her, further accentuating her snow-white complexion.
Li Huaiying. The tutor smiled as he closed the door
The young nobles were drawing their bows, yet they were outdone by a child, causing them to halt their horses in astonishment
They had barely rested for a moment when suddenly a commotion was heard in the distance, growing closer. The attendants of King Yong immediately formed a defensive stance, while Su Chen was left puzzled and greatly embarrassed
A tutor was about to close the door when Su Chen propped it open with a riding whip, and the two exchanged a glance through the door. Su Chen, being older, sincerely apologized: "The blood of the prey has soiled your esteemed place; my family's servant will take care of it. I hope you can understand, sir"
Seeing him merely dismount and stand to the side, Yiling stepped forward intending to strike with her long staff. However, a subordinate of Su Chen's leaped up and blocked her, saying loudly: "The Duke of Dongluo is here." Upon hearing that he was the elder brother of the Empress, Yiling hurriedly withdrew her long staff
The young people were curious and wanted to follow along to find out more, while the Prince of Yong took the opportunity to part ways with them. Su Chen pondered that going to the Bai residence was not the right way; she was unsure if there were any other princesses or royal consorts besides those at the Prince of Yong's, the Prince of Ping's, and the Bai family, so she simply mingled among those young nobles.
King Yong has always been aware of the improper behavior of the Su family in the capital. Observing their frivolity, he finds it even more commendable that Su Chen, as the elder brother of the Empress, maintains his integrity. He also intends to express his closeness to Su Chen, and when Su Chen invites him again, he responds, "Respectfully, I would rather comply with your wishes"
The young tutor smiled and said, "Your Highness need not worry; a few pieces of blue stone slabs are nothing that the disciples of the academy cannot handle." Before Su Chen could speak again, the tutor raised his hand to stop him and slowly added, "Otherwise, how could one sweep across the world?"
Su Lan did not expect to encounter such a scene while occasionally coming out to ride. She saw the young master holding a gleaming short knife, smiling from a distance and asking: "Young master, with a sharp blade in hand, why do you not attack?"
This glance made Prince Yong recall the fleeting beauty he had seen in Danxi Palace; it turned out to be her. He found it inappropriate to inquire about the background of a lady, and when he asked his son, he only learned that she was Princess Dechang, yet could not specify which family she hailed from. He carried a significant doubt in his heart as he joined Su Chen and the others, bringing up this false alarm. Everyone then laughed and said: "So it turns out she is the younger sister of the prince, the virtuous wife of Brother Ju—killing a wild dog is merely a small test for that lady. When it comes to serious hunting, commanding and dispatching troops, hunting tigers, killing bears, and hunting deer are all within her capabilities. Her imposing presence and intelligence leave us men feeling utterly ashamed." They all laughed and said: "So it turns out she is the younger sister of the prince, the virtuous wife of Brother Ju—killing a wild dog is merely a small test for that lady. When it comes to serious hunting, commanding and dispatching troops, hunting tigers, killing bears, and hunting deer are all within her capabilities. Her imposing presence and intelligence leave us men feeling utterly ashamed."
Su Chen arrived with twenty or thirty people. Anticipating that his decision to send back most of his attendants would not escape his notice, he calmly replied, "Your Highness leads the way; how could I dare to overstep my bounds?" If someone else had said this, it would have inevitably sounded somewhat contrived. However, Su Chen's voice and demeanor have always been sincere, and when it came from him, it seemed heartfelt. Upon hearing this, Prince Yong smiled slightly and instructed those accompanying him to proceed quietly and not disturb the people. It was only after they had exited the city gate that they galloped away with abandon.
They still found this spectacle strange, and the ordinary people were even more curious, resulting in a surging crowd following closely behind, creating a rather grand scene
The Prince of Yong hurriedly took out his bow and arrow, but before he could shoot an arrow, a silver arrow had already "whooshed" through the neck of the wild dog from the side. The Prince quickly stepped forward to grab his son, and upon seeing that the heir was unharmed, he finally felt relieved and began to search for the archer.
The King of Yong, seeing that this young man was exceptionally handsome, kindly asked Su Chen: "Could this be the Duke of Lanling?"
The Prince of Yong originally did not intend to make a conspicuous move in the capital, but the son of the Prince of Ping, Su Chen, extended a warm invitation, which he found difficult to decline. However, he remained unwilling to be too ostentatious, casually bringing along a few capable family members and trying to minimize his belongings, with the sole intention of going and returning as soon as possible
Although the Ping Wang Hunting Grounds cannot be compared to the royal hunting grounds, it is still a rare and vast area in the suburbs of the capital. When the Yong Wang visited the capital, he passed through and, having known beforehand that the lush forests and sweet springs within were comparable to famous scenic spots, he naturally expressed great admiration that day. Su Chen had also inquired beforehand and knew that the Yong Wang had a tranquil disposition and did not enjoy hunting. Although the young heir had a bold spirit, his strength was limited, and he had not yet hunted any large game. Therefore, the Ping Wang ordered the collection of many small game such as wild chickens and rabbits, which were scattered throughout the hunting grounds, and he also had a charming small pavilion tidied up in advance. Su Chen accompanied the Yong Wang and his son in their pursuits for half a day and, around noon, led them to rest in the pavilion.
The heir put away his short knife and replied word by word: "But I do not have the assurance to kill it. Provoking a beast that cannot be killed is not a wise move." Su Lan felt a familiar sensation in her heart, remembering that Cui Luohua had taught her the same words. She smiled at Prince Yong and said: "Your Highness, just a few steps south from here will lead you back to the Ping Wang hunting grounds." After saying this, the two stood in a moment of silence, gazing at each other.
On the morning when Prince Yong went hunting with his son, the gentle rain that had fallen all night quietly ceased. The young prince was in high spirits; the day before, he had received a small horse from the Empress as a gift and a complete set of saddlery from King Ping. Unable to resist the childlike delight in new things, he got up early to personally fasten the bridle and hang the saddle.
The students of Mingde Academy, upon seeing a group of noblemen outside, who were dusty, bloodied, and calling for their hawks and hounds, displayed unabashed disdain on their faces. The noble youths were not dull-witted; they naturally sensed the hostility directed at them and responded with furrowed brows and expressions of contempt. Both sides regarded each other with disdain, and the nobles shouted as they mounted their horses and departed, while the students turned and entered the academy.
Yun Chui felt somewhat uneasy in her heart, only managing a faint smile. The Prince of Yong, with his courteous demeanor, complimented, "The fortune of Young Master Ju is truly enviable. If that is the case, your esteemed wife can be considered a remarkable woman; had she been born a man, she would certainly be someone worth befriending."
King Yong waited for a while but did not see the heir return, feeling somewhat anxious. He ordered people to disperse and search for him. He was particularly worried about his only son and rode out himself to look for him, traveling all the way to the boundary between the hunting grounds of Prince Ping and the Chancellor, yet he still did not see any sign of his son. Just as he was about to turn back, he heard the menacing roar of a wild beast not far away. King Yong's intuition suggested that his son was in danger, so he hurriedly approached the sound and indeed saw a fierce large wild dog glaring at the heir from just a few steps away. The heir held a short knife in his hand but did not move. Neither the man nor the dog dared to attack the other easily.
Su Chen observed that the procession seemed to be heading towards the Prince Ping's residence, but the Princess Ping was not in good health and rarely left her home. There was speculation that something might have happened in the palace, prompting them to welcome Princess Feng Ye into the palace. Su Chen felt puzzled and was just about to take her leave to return home when she saw the ceremonial procession turn a corner and head in another direction
The King of Yong noticed that his son did not display an overly proud expression, and thus he nodded in approval before turning his gaze to the other young men. One particularly handsome young gentleman, upon seeing Su Chen, exclaimed, "Oh! Why is my elder brother in the mood for hunting today?"
When Su Chen arrived, he saw that there were only about twelve or thirteen people beside King Yong. He quietly signaled to the team leader next to him, who took the opportunity to retreat while the hosts were engaged in pleasantries. When King Yong was ready to set off with his entourage, he noticed that Su Chen's group consisted of only ten people as well, and he smiled, saying: "As a prince, you are one of the highest nobility in the country, yet you travel in such simplicity; this is truly commendable"
The deer was already in a state of panic. After a short while, it turned around in a flurry, only to see that there were many people, including Prince Yong, and it dashed away in a frenzy. The heir apparent had been curiously looking around, and at that moment, he suddenly grabbed the bow beside him, nocked two arrows onto the string, and with a quick release, each of the deer’s hind legs was struck by an arrow. In the blink of an eye, he displayed such skill that even the seasoned hunters beside Su Chen cheered loudly, stepping forward to capture the deer alive.
The Prince of Yong understood the meaning behind Su Chen's words, which indicated a close relationship with the Xiangfu. He had no intention of pursuing the matter further, and upon seeing that each of the young men had an extraordinary background, he smiled and decided to do a favor, inviting them to drink and rest together
Su Chen hurriedly tried to persuade them, while those young people laughed nonchalantly and said: "Your Highness, such words are rather lacking in humanity. It is rare for us to meet Your Highness, and we have just begun to admire you, yet you wish to dismiss us with just a few words, which is truly disheartening. Even if it is a matter of state policy, it can still be flexible." Someone else seized the opportunity to say: "The Empress has granted a hunting invitation, and with the princes and the sons of the ministers accompanying us, even if someone inquires, there will naturally be a way to explain it. Your Highness, being so overly cautious, will only arouse suspicion. Wouldn't it be better to enjoy a few rounds of drinks rather than let the mundane troubles disturb us?" Even if it is a matter of state policy, it can still be flexible.
Su Chen gazed at the swirling dust on the road, shaking his head incessantly. The young noblemen who had stood up also clicked their tongues, and upon seeing Su Chen's usually good-natured face turn dark, they dared not speak further. Instead, they curiously peered into the academy, murmuring about what remarkable affairs might be taking place at Mingde Academy that warranted the princess's esteemed visit
The mysterious procession unexpectedly halted in front of a tranquil and solemn academy. As everyone expressed their astonishment, the academy's gates swung open, and a young girl emerged, while the scholars inside had already knelt in unison. The crowd found it quite remarkable that a woman had stepped out of the academy, and their astonishment grew even more when they saw the procession bowing to the young girl. A female officer in green among the guards shouted towards all directions: "The princess commands respect, all subjects kneel in reverence!" After repeating this three times, the crowd gradually knelt, not daring to lift their eyes in disrespect.
Upon seeing Prince Yong, she was momentarily taken aback and no longer advanced towards the *Tu* book, instead standing her ground and graciously bowing. The heir apparent recognized her as Princess Dechang, whom he had met at Danxi Palace, and repeatedly expressed his gratitude.
He had not finished speaking when Zhen Ning began to laugh: "Who is his maternal uncle? I would like to meet his nephew! Unfortunately, he hasn't been born yet, has he?" After laughing, she let out a cold snort: "For the sake of my elder sister, I will spare you this time." She then walked into the carriage and left with a flourish.
The Duke of Lanling is still in his residence, reflecting on his mistakes. This is my brother-in-law, the second son of the Minister's family, Yun Chui. Adjacent to this place is the hunting ground granted by His Majesty to the Prime Minister. It is common for the chase to cross boundaries during hunting, but relatives by marriage have never held such matters against each other. I did not expect that today this would disturb Your Highness's enjoyment, and I sincerely hope for Your Highness's forgiveness.
Then the attendant, emboldened, said: "Is there really such a thing as a brother-in-law kneeling before his sister-in-law, or an uncle kneeling before..."
The young people did not decline and together dismounted to express their gratitude to the host. Only Yun Chui noticed that the pavilion was small and earnestly invited King Yong to a nearby pavilion in the governor's forest. King Yong was unwilling to be associated with his family and politely declined. Yun Chui did not insist, ordering people to spread out mats and sit on the ground. A group of people divided themselves by rank and status, and Yun Chui, considering himself a guest without an official position, sat at the back. A few fellow travelers respected him as the son of the prime minister and the brother-in-law of Su Chen, urging him to move forward, but Yun Chui always took it lightly, finding joy in sitting at the end.
His demeanor when he announced his name was as if the entire world would recognize and remember him
The Su family is the foremost noble house in the country, and other aristocrats are hardly worthy of their attention. Their humility towards a commoner is enough to bring honor to an ordinary person. However, when the tutor uttered the words "sweep the world," it was as if he truly believed there would come a day when he could surpass the Su family. Su Chenmo had never encountered a scholar with such presence, and he felt a flicker of admiration, wishing to befriend him: "May I ask your esteemed surname and full name, sir"
Su Lan bowed slightly and, leading the horse, turned to leave, pondering as she walked: the Yong Wang's eyes were sharp and focused, and the moment he drew his bow to shoot was filled with an impressive aura. Indeed, he is a brother of the Emperor, possessing not only exceptional talent but also remarkable skills that are well-concealed. It is a pity that he is merely a passerby in the capital; otherwise, it would be interesting to befriend him. As she thought this, she glanced back and happened to meet the Yong Wang's gaze as he turned to look at her.
Before long, a deer came running towards them, pursued by a group of horsemen, sweeping into view like a whirlwind. Upon seeing those elegantly dressed young nobles, Su Chen could not help but frown. However, those young nobles paid them no mind, rushing past the pavilion in pursuit of the deer
At this moment, the thin mist in the forest floated gracefully under the gradually brightening sunlight, filling the air with the fresh scent of earth and leaves. A clear stream meandered away beside the pavilion, the sound of flowing water mingling with the serene chirping of birds. The Prince of Yong suddenly felt a sense of tranquility and joy, commanding someone to pour wine for a toast with Su Chen.