The Emperor ordered Zhao Tang

Chapter 314 Butterfly Loves Flowers

Beyond the Great Wall, in the vast desert.

Hundreds of black horses from Qinghai galloped past, kicking up clouds of yellow dust.

After passing through the yellow sand, the Uyghur cavalry suddenly stopped, and hundreds of riders circled around shouting, "The Guiyi Army's territory is just ahead, we can't go any further!"

The leading scholar, dressed in a black turban and green robe, wore heavy stomp shoes.
The mount spun around a few times, leaving hoofprints in the yellow sand, then turned back and shouted, "Guazhou?!"

“That’s right!” the Uyghur commander roared. “We’ve been fighting the Dunhuang bandits for years; going there would mean certain death. Take care, Lord Cui. We’re leaving now!”

"Go on your own!" Cui Xuan flicked his whip.

Only a dozen or so riders, including Cui Xuan, were left staring at each other in the red glow of the setting sun.

"...Just the thirteen of us, going on this mission?"

"The Uyghur barbarians have already run away?!"

"Damn it, thirteen defenseless scholars riding alone in a foreign land, they'd probably be killed before they even reached a hundred miles! The Uyghurs only escorted us out of Yumen Pass, why didn't Zheng Yanchang say so beforehand? Did he think we were high-ranking officials, like Su Rong, that no one would dare touch us even if we traveled ten thousand miles? Zheng Yanchang! I curse your own aunt! The Zheng family of Xingyang, not a single one of them is any good!"

"No, no! Our lives may be worthless, but they are not the foundation of this old dog's rule!"

At that moment, the dozen or so people forgot their identities and just started cursing.

"Stop!" Du Hu roared. "Listen to Cui Xuan! Whether to advance or retreat, wait for Cui Xuan's decision!"

Du Hu was of illustrious lineage, far surpassing Cui Xuan. Everyone knew he was the nephew of the former Grand Commandant, and Han Wo held him in high regard. His shout silenced the crowd, who stared at Cui Xuan with grim faces, as if waiting for him to finish speaking before turning their horses eastward in rebellion.

Cui Xuan gulped down a few mouthfuls of water, then simply looked at the group: "...Not going? We are envoys, our identities are not yet clear, and our lives are at stake. It is only natural that our first priority should be the court! You are thinking about your own safety, but my mission is in the Western Regions, and I am eager to reclaim them! If we part ways now, I will travel west alone to Dunhuang to deliver an ultimatum to Zhang Chengfeng!"

One sentence sparked an even more intense outcry from the crowd.

"...The envoys are indeed here, but they are not here to die! If we were truly afraid of death, why would we have sworn an oath in the Ministry of Personnel and received the imperial decree?"

"Return to Ganzhou for a temporary stay! Report back to the court and request the Emperor to send escort troops."

"Traveling to the West alone? Do you really think you're Xuanzang? Don't you know how chaotic the Western Regions are?"

Amidst the chaos, Du Hu kept gesturing, signaling to the crowd to stop swearing. Cui Xuan silently dismounted and walked towards one of the men. The shouts of "At ease!" from the crowd were met with silence as they watched the two of them. Cui Xuan reached the man, pulled him off his horse, and slapped him across the face.
"Cui Xuan!" The man drew his sword, but Du Hu grabbed him and pulled him aside, cursing loudly.

Cui Xuan merely sneered at the man: "We're going to deliver an ultimatum. If things go well, Zhang Chengfeng will lead his troops to court; if not, the worst that can happen is a bunch of envoys die. Sending a military guard—how many will die if there's a disagreement? And then we'll have to return to Ganzhou… If we delay for several months, will the court be okay with that? Besides, with this kind of appearance, what kind of official career do you expect? Afraid of death? Afraid of death, what kind of official position can you possibly hold? Damn it, your salary, official robes, and power are all free for you to use, and your women and money are all free for you to take! If that's all the courage you have, you don't deserve to be an official or survive in this chaotic world!"

He turned west and shouted, "Back then, the Tibetans would invade every few days to raid our territory. Do you all know what our ancestors went through? The Western Regions have been occupied for 150 years. Now, you don't even have the courage to go west alone and the will to die to recover the lost land. Do you think your descendants and emperors will have that? Go to hell!"

"...Ten thousand miles to the west, wherever the sun and moon shine, lies the land of the Holy Tang. What can we, the scholars, do if not to govern the country, manage the people's livelihood, and eliminate the enemies? Think of all the fine young men who have died since the beginning of the hardships!"

Everyone was silent.

Cui Xuan glared fiercely at the man who couldn't utter a word: "In terms of official rank, I'm your subordinate; in terms of seniority, I'm a historian by profession. In terms of family background, you're a damn poor fellow. You're just a censor, managing officials in the capital is fine, but don't try to tell me what to do. From now on, whatever decisions I make, don't say a word! You should know that whether your future is bright or not, I'll have plenty of opportunities to slander you! Get out! Go back and cry to Wu Gongdu!"

He turned and mounted his horse, drawing his sword and pointing it westward: "...I will travel west! I will be the proud vanguard of the Holy Tang's western expeditionary force in its war of revenge! I will tell the enemies of the Western Regions, the remnants of the barbarians, that the Holy Tang has returned, the empire has returned! Whether you follow or not is up to you. I only care about seeking fame and fortune amidst danger. Bandits? Heh heh, my sword also drinks blood!"

Having said that, he didn't look at anyone, cracked his whip, and rode off: "Crack!"

The crowd watched Cui Xuan's retreating figure as he disappeared into the world of courtesans.

During the Tianbao Rebellion, half the country was ravaged by foreign languages. For over a hundred and fifty years under more than a dozen emperors, only three prefectures and seven passes were recovered. The Holy Emperor's western expedition halted at Jincheng… And now, this Cui Xuan, alone, is heading west. Du Hu slowly turned back, glanced at his companions, and whispered, "I'm not like you, Zhang Sixteen, who spends your life defying superiors. Go back and tell Prime Minister Zheng that Cui Jun and I have gone on a western envoy!"

The others paused for a moment: "Forget it, let's go!"

"Why are you here again?" Cui Xuan turned around to look.

After saying that, two yellow scrolls flew out, and Du Hu and Zhang Guan, being agile, caught them in Ma Yiyang's hands.

"Therefore, we will split into three groups! Du Hu, you will lead four men to escort the imperial edict to Khotan to meet with King Yuchi and order him to put pressure on the Guiyi Army and sever ties with them! Zhang Guan, you will lead five men to Loulan to find Pugu Jun. If anything goes wrong, you will not need to come back; you may even die!"

Du Hu gripped the imperial edict tightly, his blood boiling: "According to Prime Minister Zheng, King Yuchi and the Guiyi Army are allied through marriage. How can they possibly listen to this?"

"Don't worry, King Yuchi will definitely obey the imperial edict." Cui Xuan said, "If you can't even see the difference between these small matters, how could the Kingdom of Khotan have such a thousand-year-old heritage!"

"Very well!" Du Hu put away the imperial edict, and in a flash, he rode his horse southwest.

Then four horses galloped after them and quickly disappeared into the desert.

"You're going to Dunhuang with just the two of you?" Zhang Guan asked to confirm.

"You only have Xu Zuozhu left, and you want to leave too?"

"Hahaha!" Zhang Guan laughed loudly: "You've managed to survive in this chaotic world, and strive to gain fame before the emperor. You're ruthless! Have a safe journey! We'll meet again in Chang'an, or at least in the Yellow Springs! What does it matter what kind of bird it is!" After laughing, he turned his horse and rode north: "The mountains and rivers remain the same, how many seasons have passed!"

On the sixth day of the third month of the fourth year of Qianning, the envoys of the Holy Tang Dynasty had already set foot in the Western Regions.

*******
"Red teeth urge the swallows to fly busily. A cloud drifts to the painted hall, her delicate brows evoke the traveler's sorrow, her jade-like face first breaks the heart of the departed..."

A beautiful singing voice echoed along the lake.

Beneath the gnarled old tree, the Holy Emperor nestled in a wicker chair, fishing once more while listening to a tune. His favorite was "The Song of Diao Chan," and he insisted that it be sung by the fiery Cui Yuzhang in a high-pitched voice.

Sweet-looking Cui Susu sat obediently opposite Da Cui, playing the zither and the sheng.

Zhu Xiewu was held in his arms, his clothes loosened, his collarbone turned red, and he silently rested his head on his shoulder.

"...The flowers have faded, the red petals are gone, and the green apricots are small. When the swallows fly, green waters surround the houses. The willow catkins on the branches are blown away again. Where on earth are there no fragrant grasses? Inside the wall, a swing; outside the wall, a path. Outside the wall, a passerby. Inside the wall, a beautiful woman laughs...The laughter gradually fades, the sound grows quiet. The affectionate are troubled by the heartless..."

After singing "Butterfly Lovers," Cui Yuzhang, drenched in sweat, drank water to soothe his throat and took a break.

"Brilliant!" The Holy Emperor clapped his hands, and suddenly felt a heat on the back of his hand.

Looking down, Zhu Xiewusi's eyes were red with tears. Drop by drop, they fell silently.

"Why are you crying again?" The Holy Emperor put down his fishing rod and hugged her tightly.

"Is this song about you and me?"

The Holy Emperor wiped away her tears: "No, the passerby outside the wall and the beauty inside the wall do not know each other. It was just a chance encounter between two strangers."

"Just like you and me," Zhu Xiewu said bitterly. His heart was filled with a thousand words, yet he didn't know where to begin. After hesitating for a long time, he could only tentatively ask, "Could you please not send me back to Beiyuan?"

After saying that, Zhu Xiewu felt a sudden, inexplicable palpitation, and a chilling, tearing pain shot through his chest.

Looking down, one could see the love knot made by the wedding officiant cutting their hair and the jade pendant held in half by each of them.

Are you sad too?

"Alright." The Holy Emperor surprisingly agreed readily: "You've already asked, how can someone as soft-hearted as me refuse? I didn't expect you to be so sensitive. If I let you stay there any longer, wouldn't you go crazy?"

"I guess so." Zhu Xiewusi smiled through his tears, his lips trembling as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he said nothing.

"Alas, when the mind is not focused, the body is not free." The Holy Emperor covered his face with a straw hat and crossed his legs to fish.

"Your Majesty, did you really write these lyrics?" Da Cui asked suspiciously, swinging his fair legs.

"if not?"

"I don't believe it. Was it written by Han Wo?" Da Cui said with a sidelong glance. "That old thief has always been good at writing about love." "Do you think I'm just a mediocre person?" The Holy Emperor spread his legs and shook his fishing rod. "You're so good with words. Why don't you come and play the flute?"

"Get out!" Cui Yuzhang glared at the Holy Emperor, picked up the jade flute, and pressed his red lips to it.

The flute's sound was clear and melodious, its tune like the sound of pine trees rustling in the wind, or the wind blowing through the forest.

"It's a pity there's no violin or piano," the Holy Emperor said regretfully. "Otherwise, I would have shown them to you."

"What kind of instrument?" The flute music stopped abruptly, and Da Cui frowned.

“You wouldn’t understand anyway,” the Holy Emperor shrugged. “Western musical instruments, you’ve never seen them before.”

"The West?" Da Cui thought for a moment and said, "Persia? Lion Country? Qin?"

"Play your flute." The Holy Emperor resumed his melancholy and sorrowful expression, absentmindedly watching the peach blossoms fall into the lake.

This made Zhang Lian's heart ache, and she wished she could hold the Holy Emperor in her arms and cherish him.

Zhang Lian took a deep breath and focused her attention back on the massage.

Xiao Yi massaged the Holy Emperor's shoulders and legs, her heart burning even more intensely. A lustful fire surged within her, threatening to consume her. Human desires are insatiable, and she too possessed them, yet she hadn't had any for over half a month.

The pain that had been bottled up inside was already hard to bear, and now, being in close proximity to him seemed to have made it even worse.

But—she's only from the Showa era, and aside from team-building activities, she doesn't get to choose a card—yes, the Holy Emperor lets his concubines, palace maids, and Taoist nuns choose cards, mainly through a mystery box challenge.

The fire beneath her burned intensely, causing her unbearable torment. Zhang Lian gritted her teeth and silently recited Buddhist scriptures.

“You want me to blow it? I’m not going to.” Da Cui said mischievously in the spring breeze.

She put down her flute, crossed her arms, and walked to the Holy Emperor's side, glancing at the hook and the fish basket from time to time.

The Holy Emperor was drowsy.

"Pah!" With a spitting sound, Cui Yuzhang slammed down on the stool and snatched the fishing rod away. "You've got no manual labor skills, you clumsy hands! My legs are numb from standing all this time. Look at the fish you caught, isn't that enough for a kitten? Get out of the way!"

"I'd like to see how many you can catch!" The Holy Emperor roared, pointing at Taiye Pond with a dark expression, "There are no fish in this lake at all!"

"Tch." The wives and concubines around them, each entertaining themselves, rolled their eyes in unison.

"Dalang and Pingyuan are not young anymore, shouldn't we find them a good husband and wife?" Consort Shu snuggled up to the Emperor, snuggled into his arms, and shook his arm, asking in a sweet voice.

"It's time." The Holy Emperor chewed on some fruit and glanced at Princess Pingyuan beside him.

The daughter had developed a shapely figure, with a slightly protruding chest and shapely hips, and was exceptionally beautiful. Her temperament had also become unruly and rebellious, quite like that of a Li family woman. Historical records summarize the background of Li Tang princesses as "mostly unruly and arrogant." Not absolute, but almost certainly true.

According to the Holy Emperor's observation, Pingyuan is actually a virtuous but inwardly wanton little slut, just like her mother.

As a father, such a judgment is unpleasant in my heart, but when it comes to marriage, one must be aware of one's children's character. Giving a virtuous lady to a playboy will cause her suffering. Marrying a slut to a pure-hearted warrior will bring suffering and humiliation to the royal family, the court, and the parties involved.

"Girls really do change a lot as they grow up." The Holy Emperor stared at the plump, peach-shaped buttocks of the fisherman and replied casually, "Why did you think of this today? Is there someone you've got your eye on?"

"Men should marry when they come of age and women should marry when they come of age. This thought suddenly came to mind. I don't have anyone I like, but I'd like to choose a handsome man from among the five families."

"Don't even think about it, he wouldn't even look at your daughter." The Holy Emperor shattered the illusion: "Look at the likes of Cui Dulu, how many princesses have they been with?"

“The princess appointed her own officials, and her estates, storehouses, and carriages were all managed by her. Each residence had its own courtyard, and different gatherings took place there. When the princess held banquets or went out for walks, her husband was not allowed to see her. Whenever she came in or out, her servants dared not look at her. The princess did as she pleased, and sometimes she would not see him for several days. The sons of officials and gentry were all afraid to marry the princess.”

I don't care about your social status, the princess is in charge. Whatever guests she wants to meet, whatever parties she throws, even if it's a one-against-ten battle, or revelry with dark, strong Kunlun slaves, you can shut up. Who she travels with, who she meets, what she does—don't ask.

Would you want to marry a woman like that? Unless you're a cuckold or a simp.

"There are still some," Consort Shu said, immediately becoming displeased. "They're just few. If we put our minds to it, we can still find some. They're all quite beautiful and have good figures."

"What's in it for you?" the Holy Emperor said. "For your unchaste behavior? For your numerous lovers? For your constant feasting and decadent lifestyle? For your tendency to beat and curse people at the drop of a hat? I'm afraid you'll only attract treacherous villains who want to exploit you as a woman..."

"Hey, can you stop generalizing?" Consort Shu said angrily. "Is Pingyuan that kind of slut? I gave birth to her myself, do you think I don't know women?"

"Did my deceased aunt know you were a harlot?" the Holy Emperor chuckled softly.

Consort Shu froze, her defenses crumbling: "You! I hate you! Am I really this wanton by nature? It's all because of your training! Only when you repeatedly crossed my boundaries, only when you used every trick in the book on me, could I barely be sure you still cared for me… The only proof of your affection for me is the pain and torment you inflicted on me each time. Bondage, whipping, lesbian acts… I was such a well-behaved woman when I was young, such a lady when I came to serve you at Prince Shou's mansion, and you turned me into this. Now I'm so slutty, so alluring, so shameless and wanton, isn't that exactly what you like? And now you're criticizing me for being wanton, lacking chastity, not being a virtuous woman…"

As she spoke, she covered her face and wept softly, like a pear blossom in spring rain.

"Li Qi, why did you make her cry again?" The Imperial Concubine rushed over upon hearing the commotion.

"What can I say?" the Holy Emperor shrugged.

"Hmph!" Ah Zhao glared at her and gently patted Consort Shu's back: "Sister, don't take it to heart, don't cry."

"Yu Qing~" The Holy Emperor reached for Consort Shu's hand, but she pushed him away, then grabbed his hands in return: "I didn't mean anything by it, I just wanted to say that a father doesn't necessarily understand his son, and a mother doesn't necessarily know her daughter. It's not about unjustly condemning Pingyuan. In matters of marriage, it's useless if we think it's good..."

A group of people took turns.

After a while, Consort Shu gradually fell silent.

"That's just how things are," the Holy Emperor said. "Don't say I'm generalizing. The Li woman's reputation is already ruined. People won't ask which princess she is; they'll just condemn her outright. Who would want to gamble their life on luck?"

"So you mean that none of your daughters will be able to get married?" Consort Shu was still panting, her body trembling.

“If you don’t discipline them strictly, there will definitely be,” the Holy Emperor said. “There are quite a few daughters of saints who were forced to become nuns or Taoist priests when they were still unwanted by anyone even when they were twenty-seven or twenty-eight. I will try my best to arrange marriages for Pingyuan.”

The Holy Emperor knew that He Yuqing wanted to climb the social ladder, improve his family's standing and wealth, and incidentally find a powerful brother-in-law/sister's family for the King of Wu through Pingyuan, thus paving the way for the King of Wu's marriage. That was all. It was just that Lady Li had a terrible reputation, and her family background was ultimately somewhat humble.

Furthermore, out of guilt, the Holy Emperor did not want Princess Pingyuan to marry into a wealthy family. For him, having a wife who was an ordinary official, living a peaceful life, was actually the best outcome.

"Don't cry, don't cry." Having made two people cry in such a short time, the Emperor was exhausted. He pulled Consort Shu into his arms and began to fondle her body. Consort Shu calmed down, looking at him reproachfully, but her breathing became ragged again: "Then, then, oh dear… where is Eldest Brother?"

"Let's wait and see, take it slow, no rush," the Holy Emperor said dismissively. He worried that if the King of Wu were to become incompetent, he would implicate the other party. But if he didn't, he feared that if the young man proved capable, he might lack the necessary strength.

Difficult to handle!

"Your Majesty, Ding Hui, Yao Yanzhang, and the chieftains of the Dangxiang and Hexi tribes have been summoned to an audience." Wuyang Jun Liu Qiulai reported: "The chieftains have just arrived in the capital and are outside Danfeng Gate. Also requesting to be summoned together are Ma Yin's daughters Ma Yuanyuan and Ma Fangfang, Ding Hui's daughter Ding Li, Wei Mu Shuangyang, Wu Yi Yeyue, Wu Yiyi, his girlfriend Sha Lingshu, Ji Jia Qiandai, Ji Jia Zezi, Ji Jia Mingrixiang, Luo Nili, Luo Ni Baogu, Ye Mu Lüzhu... They said that Your Majesty promised during your conquest of Xia that their women would be allowed to enter the palace to serve you, to serve you tea and water."

"Haha!" Cui Yuzhang swung his rod sharply, and a huge carp was caught: "It's on the hook!"

There was dead silence on the field.

Ah Zhao, Luo Fu, Wu Lingxian, Shi Yuan, Shen Daoshi, Jialan, Zhang Hui, Zhang Hui, Lin Qiaoyu, Cai Shi, Zhao Yanran, several aunts... all the wives and concubines present, both formal and informal, looked at the Holy Emperor at the same time.

"When did you agree to that?" Zhao asked in surprise.

"Well, well," the Holy Emperor stammered, "After defeating the rebels at the Wuding River, the surrendered people said they wanted to select beautiful women for the cultivation palace. I was initially unwilling, but Zhao Jia suggested it, saying it would put the surrendered people at ease..."

"Oh~" Ah Zhao rested his chin on his hand and chuckled, "My second brother is quite capable. You, as ruler and subject, uncle and husband, get along very well!"

After saying that, she gritted her teeth and muttered to herself, her hands digging into the table with a cracking sound: "Zhao Jia, Zhao Jia~"

Yang Guozhong became a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat not long after he took the position.

(End of this chapter)