Chapter 3: The Historic Meeting of the Crown Princess and the Imperial Uncle
Fu Fangxu raised his hand. Pa, pa, pa. The ruler struck Fu Tangli’s palm three times, solid and firm.
The ruler was made of mottled bamboo, about an inch wide and a good two-tenths of an inch thick. Her grandfather showed no mercy, striking hard and heavy. Fu Tangli’s skin was extremely delicate, and several red welts immediately appeared on her palm, swelling high and even oozing a trace of blood.
She sucked in a sharp breath, her face turning pale, but she bit her lip and refused to make a sound.
Fu Fangxu’s expression was grave. “Queniang, tell me, why is Grandfather punishing you?”
Fu Tangli lowered her gaze, her tone respectful yet calm. “I was blindly arrogant and failed to act with caution. My improper conduct was witnessed by others. I accept my punishment.”
Fu Fangxu let out a cold laugh, his voice growing sterner. “Those are just words to fool outsiders. Do you think Grandfather doesn’t understand? In the end, this matter stems from your dissatisfaction with the Crown Prince and with this marriage. That is what led to today’s rash actions. If this continues, it will lead to disharmony between husband and wife in the future. That would be a betrayal of His Majesty’s grace. At best, you will fail to protect yourself; at worst, you will bring disaster upon the entire family. Do you still not understand the need for vigilance?”
Fu Tangli remained silent for a long time. She slowly drew her hand back, hiding it in her sleeve, and said expressionlessly, “Yes. Thank you for your guidance, Grandfather. I was wrong. Since I am betrothed to the Crown Prince, I should naturally regard him as my heaven. From now on, I will not dare to harbor any disrespectful thoughts.”
Fu Fangxu’s expression began to soften. “What happened today must not happen again. Although you have a reputation for virtue, there is no guarantee that petty people will not conspire against you. You must be cautious.”
After a moment of contemplation, he added in a heartfelt tone, “Your disposition is too rigid, not as gentle and yielding as that of an ordinary girl. This is not a pleasing trait. On the other hand, what strengths does that Lady Lin possess to have so singularly captured the Crown Prince’s favor? You should learn from her.”
Fu Tangli’s hand was hidden in her sleeve, her fingers clenched into a tight fist. Her nails dug into the fresh wounds on her palm, and her fingertips grew damp.
Yet, she acted as if nothing was wrong, even managing a smile. “Grandfather worries too much. Don’t you know what kind of person I am? It’s only Zhao Yongjia. If I wanted to win him over, it would be effortless. But there is no rush. We shall see what the future holds.”
Only then did Fu Fangxu nod and smile.
***
In just a short while, her lady’s hand had been beaten to such a state. Yanzhi was heartbroken, hovering around Fu Tangli in tears. “My Lady, does it hurt? If it hurts, don’t hold it in. Crying might make it feel a little better.”
Back in her own chambers, Fu Tangli spoke more freely. She shook her head. “No one in this family truly cares for me. What’s the point of crying? Who would I be crying for?”
Dailuo, applying ointment to Fu Tangli’s hand, said with a pang of sorrow, “If the Old Madam were still here, she would never have allowed My Lady to suffer such a grievance.”
The Old Madam Dailuo spoke of was Fu Tangli’s maternal grandmother, Old Madam Han of the Earl of Xining’s residence in Weizhou.
Old Madam Han had raised Fu Tangli herself, doting on her and cherishing her since she was a child, like a pearl in the palm of her hand.
Unfortunately, Old Madam Han had passed away two years ago. The current Earl of Xining was Fu Tangli’s uncle, born of a concubine. With that layer of separation, their relationship was lukewarm, and both felt ill at ease. Thus, Fu Tangli had requested to return to Chang’an.
Fu Tangli had been holding back, but hearing Dailuo’s words, she nearly shed a tear. She quickly wiped the corner of her eye and forced a smile. “What grievance have I suffered? I am to be the Crown Princess, a position of unparalleled glory. Don’t speak such nonsense, lest you disturb Grandmother’s peace in heaven.”
Just as she said this, a matron announced from outside, “My Lady, the Third Master is here.”
A young maid by the corridor lifted the door curtain, and Fu Zhihe walked in. When he saw Dailuo applying medicine to Fu Tangli’s hand, he too was surprised. “What happened to Queniang’s hand? Did you fall and injure it?”
Fu Tangli rose and lowered her head obediently. “Daughter spoke impertinently before Grandfather and was punished with the ruler.”
“Hiss,” Fu Zhihe sucked in a breath of cold air. “Does it hurt?”
“A little.” Fu Tangli looked at her father with pleading eyes.
Fu Zhihe comforted her, “When Father was young, your grandfather often struck my palms as well. The old man has always been this way. Once the punishment is over, it’s over. It’s nothing.”
He just stood there, speaking, without taking a single step closer.
The light in Fu Tangli’s eyes dimmed.
“Right, Queniang, Father needs to discuss something serious with you.” Fu Zhihe had only asked once about the injury on Fu Tangli’s hand before eagerly changing the subject. “Your younger sister was punished by your grandfather and locked in the ancestral hall. Your mother went to ask her, and she only said that she had a falling out with you, which displeased Grandfather.”
Fu Tangli remained silent, looking at Fu Zhihe with her clear eyes.
Fu Zhihe felt a little awkward. He turned his head, not quite daring to meet Fu Tangli’s gaze, and continued on his own, “You see, Grandfather dotes on you the most now. Could you go and plead for Yanniang, to have her released a little earlier?”
Fu Tangli gently touched her palm with her fingertips and said coolly, “Since Father knows that Yanniang and I had a falling out, then I am naturally displeased. Yet you still ask me to plead for her. Isn’t that asking too much of me?”
“Queniang.” Fu Zhihe finally took a step forward. He lifted his hand for a moment, as if wanting to touch Fu Tangli, but quickly let it fall again, making the situation rather awkward.
“I know Yanniang is not always respectful to you as her older sister, but please try to be considerate of her. Her mother only gave birth to her, so I have inevitably doted on her more in the past. Now that you’ve been back these two years, I naturally dote on you as well. She’s just being petty, feeling like you’ve stolen her father away…”
“She is the one who stole my father.” Fu Tangli’s voice was gentle, but it cut off Fu Zhihe’s words decisively. “I was the one born first. Her mother and she together stole my father. I, the victim, have not even cried foul. How is it that the thief is now crying ‘thief’?”
Fu Tangli had always been gentle, respectful, virtuous, and filial to everyone in the Fu family. She had never spoken a harsh word. To raise the issue so sharply now left Fu Zhihe stunned for a moment.
In his youth, Fu Zhihe was a renowned handsome man, admired by many noble ladies in Chang’an. Later, he married the legitimate daughter of the Han family, the Earl of Xining, and they were a well-matched couple.
Unfortunately, Han-shi died during a difficult childbirth. Fu Zhihe was nearly heartbroken.
It was at that time that the young lady of the Yang family seized the opportunity, offering Fu Zhihe endless comfort and care. Fu Zhihe, by nature sentimental and weak, was deeply moved. Less than half a year after Han-shi’s death, he took Yang-shi as his second wife.
Old Madam Han was furious. She traveled all the way from Weizhou to take her infant granddaughter away. The Fu family was in the wrong, so even Fu Fangxu could not dissuade her. Thus, Fu Tangli grew up in Weizhou and only returned to the Fu family two years ago.
Fu Zhihe looked at Fu Tangli and was reminded of the long-deceased Han-shi. A wave of sorrow washed over him, and his eyes reddened. “Yes, Father was wrong. I failed in my duty to raise you, and my heart is filled with guilt. Since you’ve returned, you haven’t spoken much with Father. Father… Father doesn’t know how to be close to you.”
“I don’t blame Father,” Fu Tangli murmured. “I just…”
I just want Father to love me a little more.
Fu Zhihe nodded with tears in his eyes. “Queniang is a very good child, always magnanimous. Since that is the case, don’t blame your sister either. Find an opportunity to speak to your grandfather on her behalf. Don’t let your sister suffer so much.”
“Alright, Father, I understand.” At this point, Fu Tangli’s heart had turned to ash. She had no desire to listen any longer. She interrupted Fu Zhihe again. “I will go see Grandfather in a little while and plead for Yanniang. You need not worry.”
Fu Zhihe was greatly relieved. He rubbed his hands together. “Really? That would be wonderful.”
Fu Tangli had already turned away. “My hand hurts, and I wish to rest. Father, please go back.”
Since his daughter had said so, Fu Zhihe could not linger. He offered a few more words of instruction and left reluctantly.
The moment Fu Zhihe was out the door, Fu Tangli turned her head and decisively ordered her maids, “Come, pack my things. I’m going to inform Grandfather right now that I’m moving out for a while.”
Her lady’s topic had jumped too quickly. Yanzhi was dumbfounded. “Out? Where to?”
Fu Tangli thought for a moment and said, “To Mount Qinghua, outside the city. Doesn’t Mother have a villa there from her dowry? The scenery is probably quite nice. We’ll go there to relax. Oh, I heard there’s a Daoist temple next to the villa. I need to pray for my grandmother and mother before I marry. That’s right, it’s a perfectly legitimate reason. How wonderful.”
Dailuo was a little confused. “That villa of the Mistress’s is for escaping the summer heat. No one has lived there for several years. What’s the point of going up there in this cold weather?”
Fu Tangli scoffed. “Anywhere is better than staying in this house. It’s full of bad luck. Coincidentally, Grandfather feels he owes me some compensation today, so he won’t refuse. Let’s go, quickly. I don’t want to stay here a moment longer.”
Dailuo hesitated. “But didn’t My Lady just promise the Third Master that you would plead for the Third Lady before the Old Master?”
“Oh, of course I was lying to him,” Fu Tangli said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
***
It snowed all night, the rustling sound of falling flakes only ceasing at dawn.
Fu Tangli had always been a picky sleeper. Having just moved to the small mountain villa yesterday, she had not slept well and rose early today.
To avoid the mountain insects, the master’s bedroom was located on the second floor, built especially high. When she got up and pushed open the window, she saw the distant green mountains shouldering a blanket of snow, clouds hiding the pines and cypresses. The morning light was clear and tranquil. The small villa, with its white walls, green eaves, and hanging flower columns, looked as if it had been washed clean, free of dust.
She was very pleased, feeling more and more that this was a fine place to live.
In the four corners of the room were bronze braziers, the silver-white frost charcoal burning brightly. The Fu residence had dispatched seven or eight servants for rough work and odd jobs, plus a respectable steward, Matron Sun, to accompany them. This retinue served the Second Lady with great attentiveness, no different from being at the Fu residence.
Dailuo was still complaining. As she washed her lady’s face and combed her hair, she muttered, “I told you it would be too cold on the mountain, that My Lady would freeze. Look how heavily it snowed last night. We’ll have to have someone check around later to make sure no tiles were damaged.”
Auntie Yan, who came in to serve, was an old servant from the Han family. She and her husband had been looking after this villa for Han-shi for over a decade. No one had come for years, and now that the young mistress had finally arrived, she was eager to boast.
“In the mountains, it’s certainly a bit colder in winter, but the crisp air here is something you can’t find anywhere else. Less than half a li to the east is Yunlu Temple, a place where Daoist masters cultivate themselves. You can see this place has a celestial aura.”
Fu Tangli nodded. “I think so too. The mountains are quiet and natural, much more relaxing than our residence.”
Encouraged, Auntie Yan became even more enthusiastic. She pointed to the east and said, “My Lady, not far from here, just behind the Daoist temple, there is a large plum blossom grove. I’ve heard the Daoist masters say that an immortal resides within. I’ve passed by occasionally and even heard the immortal playing the zither. My Lady can go for a stroll when you have time, to absorb some of that celestial energy.”
This made Fu Tangli laugh. “Alright, I shall go and see. If I obtain any immortality pills, I’ll bring some back for you all to eat.”
Having said so, after the morning meal, Fu Tangli took Yanzhi and went out in search of the immortal.
After walking for less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, she indeed saw a Daoist temple ahead. From a distance, she could see its staggered pavilions and halls, its green-gray roof tiles, and a large cluster of flower shadows peeking over the wall.
Just then, it began to snow a little again.
Yanzhi scurried back in a hurry, saying she needed to fetch an umbrella to shield her lady from the snow.
Fu Tangli, however, found the few scattered flakes quite wonderful. She strolled on alone, bypassing the stone steps of the temple platform and circling around to the back. Before long, a vast expanse of white plum blossoms rushed to meet her eyes—a fragrant cloud of accumulated snow, a sea of pale green stretching to the sky, an endless bloom of flowers.
Fu Tangli was momentarily stunned by the sight. She quickened her pace to get closer.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of a zither from within the grove. The melody was low and archaic, intermittent, carrying a hollow echo in the mountain forest.
Fu Tangli remembered Auntie Yan’s words about an “immortal” and, her curiosity piqued, followed the sound of the zither.
Deep within the white plum blossoms, she pushed aside a branch that blocked her view. The cry of a crane reached her ears, clear and high-pitched, soaring straight to the heavens. She looked up.
There, under a white plum tree, was a mat, a zither, and a man sitting alone, playing.
He was dressed as a Daoist, wearing a robe the color of a bicheng, a celestial city made of azure clouds—a very deep blue, almost the color of the night sky. His hair was as black as a raven’s wing, impeccably coiled into a high topknot and secured with a wooden pin. He was surrounded by plum blossoms and snow, a single, dense stroke of ink in a watercolor painting.
A white crane stood behind him, wings spread and neck craned, letting out a clear cry as if in harmony with the zither.
One might almost mistake this for the White Jade Capital in the heavens, where an immortal ties his hair and grants eternal life.
The flurry of blossoms was dazzling. Fu Tangli held her breath and took another step, wanting to see more clearly.
Suddenly, a sharp cry pierced the air by her ear. The sound of wind rushed at her from behind her head.