A grand, long red dress fluttered behind the person. One corner of her lips curled upwards into a smile before anything was said.
It was Yuwen Eying, Yuwen Xuanzhu, whom everyone in the Princess manor was familiar with.
But Princess Leping showed no ounce of familiarity upon seeing her daughter, only absolute fear.
This wasn't the look of someone who has seen a stranger, neither was it the look of someone who was looking at the daughter who stood by her side day and night.
On her face, there was three parts fear, three parts guilt, as well as incomprehensible hurt.
However, the more she behaved in such a manner, the more her guest laughed.
It was an unnatural laugh that Yuwen Xuanzhu gave, one that was filled with loathing.
"Why is Mother so displeased at the sight of me?"
"No… I'm not…" Princess Leping squeaked.
In order to make herself appear more convincing, she immediately added, "Huan, you and I have been separated for more than a decade. It's not easy to reunite with my daughter. Can you not get yourself involved in those immoral schemes?"
These words had hit her below the belt. Tears filled both her eyes as she took the young maiden's hand and begged, "I will certainly go beg your grandfather and grandmother to bestow upon you an official title! You are the daughter of a Princess, by law you should not have an official title, but both your grandparents love me very much. If you want the title of a Xuanzhu, I could grant your wish. You'd be ranked higher than even your elder sister. Wouldn't you like that?"
The young maiden gently asked, "Can I be a princess then?"
Princess Leping was taken aback.
The young maiden gave a faint smile. "As the daughter of a princess, even if bestowed upon heavily by gifts, it's impossible for them to become a princess unless they are the Emperor's daughter themselves. Mom, I am born a princess, so why do I have to disgrace myself to be a Xuanzhu? Moreover having to beg for it."
Princess Leping's face turned pale, no longer able to say anything.
"Mom, do you know?"
"I never knew I had a mother before. A-Xiong1 said that back then, I was on the verge of dying. A few members of the palace had dug me a pit, a few shovels of soil had already been poured inside. Had it been any later, I would not have been in this world anymore. What a pity that I am born with a tough life; I've managed to live on, even making it to adulthood and stand where I stand now as I speak to you."
"When A-Xiong took me in, I was very little. I cried every day. He was living in poverty and could not afford a wetnurse. He didn't know how to feed me, and so he could only look for a female wolf who had just given birth and fed me with wolf milk as I grew. When those were my days, what was big sis doing? She was the eldest princess, as well as my father's only daughter. Surely she's well-loved by everyone?"
The young maiden knelt and looked at Princess Leping. When she wasn't smiling, natural innocence flowed through her eyes like a little child who was begging for the approval of her parents.
Tears finally flowed down Princess Leping's eyes. Her lips quivered.
"I'm sorry…. That time…"
During that time, her grandfather the Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, Yuwen Yong suspected her father Yang Jian of having the intention of committing treason and was wary of him. As the Crown Prince's concubine, she dared not misstep in a place such as the palace where there was no end to internal wars. When she heard that one of her twin daughters died, she had cried, but she hadn't suspected that her daughter might still be alive, or that she's been living outside of the palace all this time.
After so many years, Princess Leping only had one daughter, and she was Yuwen Eying. So she treated this daughter of hers like invaluable pearls, and couldn't help but want to give her only the best that could be found in this world. However, she couldn't have guessed that the other daughter of hers was out there in the wild.
On the day Yuwen Yihuan appeared at their doors, Princess Leping dared not believe it. However, the other girl grew up with a face identical to Yuwen Eying, that she practically needed nothing to prove, because this was the most obvious evidence.
Moreover, Yuwen Yihuan's voice and expression, every slight movement on her face was indivisible to Yuwen Eying's.
When both of them stood together in silence, even Princess Leping herself could not tell them apart.
After Yuwen Yihuan reunited with her birth mother and relayed to her all the hardships she's been through these years, she also requested that she didn't wish to expose her true identity to avoid her grandfather's suspicions.
Princess Leping knew that her parents were very suspicious people, to begin with. If they knew that Yuwen Yihuan had been wandering outside all this time, there might be many troubles awaiting them. So, she promised her daughter that she would find the appropriate time to first be honest with Empress Dugu and make her accept Yuwen Yihuan first.
Yuwen Eying was a pure and innocent child. When she just found out that she had a twin sister, she was very happy about it. She had even volunteered on her own to keep her secret. And so, as the Princess and her daughters worked together, Yuwen Eying and Yuwen Yihuan took turns leaving the Princess' manor using Yuwen Eying's identity. Until when the Thousand Lantern Banquet incident came, Yuwen Yihuan's overly brilliant performance drew Cui Buqu's suspicions.
Cui Buqu was a person who will get to the bottom of every lead if he suspects it. He had always kept the detail of Yuwen Xuanzhu's odd performance from that day in his mind. Afterwards, through numerous other leads, he was determined that the truth could not be far away from Yuwen Yihuan's background.
As for Princess Leping, she was slowly coming to realize that her eldest daughter, who was estranged from her since young, was not as innocent and gentle in nature as Yuwen Eying. She had an incredibly ambitious heart, and she has even encouraged the Princess to become a shareholder of the Linlang Guild, so that they may receive dividends on an annual basis.
Other than the Imperial Court's salary, the Princess Manor also received a few gifts from other members of royalty. However, after the change of dynasty, all that once belonged to the royal family's treasury were all confiscated by the new Imperial Court. She was demoted from an Empress to a Princess, and though she still lived in luxury, much of her wealth has been lost. As the Eldest Princess of the Emperor, it was necessary for her to hold a banquet every once in a blue moon. Occasionally, Princess Leping too would be in a financial crisis. Yuwen Yihuan's advice and suggestions have brought her no little amount of money. And so, Princess Leping gradually got used to letting her take care of the treasury in her manor.
As Yuwen Yihuan watched how lonely she was, she had even got her mother a male lover. Princess Leping was a woman herself, who too had emotions. It was impossible for her to marry again with her current status, so what wrong was there in getting a lover? The Emperor and Empress chose to close an eye to her affairs, and so Princess Leping grew even more dependent on her eldest daughter.
Cui Buqu would never have guessed that Xiao Lu was already involved in the Princess Manor from such a long time ago.
Yuwen Yihuan had never spoken ill of the Emperor and Empress in front of Princess Leping, but she would consciously hint at it from time to time, letting Princess Leping know that her status now was not as prominent as she was before.
That although the princess was born in luxury, she had no control over her own fate.
She knew that she held grudges against her own parents. This grudge began back in the year when the Princess had to marry into the Royal Family of the Yuwens and become the Crown Prince's concubine, and the Yuwens were later completely demolished by her own father. Now, this grudge was finally bubbling out from her heart. After so many years, it had gotten more turbulent.
Yuwen Yihuan knew this grudge of hers well; and then, as days passed, she cultivated it into a strong feeling.
To the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai, Princess Leping's status was the best piece of chess she could use.
She was a woman, as well as the eldest daughter of the Sui Emperor. She would not draw the attention of the Emperor and alert him.
However, she was once a member of the Yuwen family as well, who has even given birth to their children. She could never free herself from anything related to the Yuwen Family for the rest of her life.
She could be their bridge, as well as their shield.
She could be their offence, as well as be their defence.
Without herself realizing it, Princess Leping had turned into one of Yuwen Yihuan's chess pieces, to be manipulated and moved by Xiao Lu and Yuwen Yihuan as they pleased.
Once Princess Leping realized something was wrong and wanted to turn back, she realized that she had no option to do so.
It was too late.
"Huan, turn back!"
As she wept, Princess Leping held her hand, "I am truly afraid. I cannot take this any longer. Ever since Empress Mother fell ill, each time I visited the palace, I couldn't help having anxiety. I am afraid of being exposed! Huan, I don't want to be an Empress Dowager anymore. Let the three of us live peacefully for the rest of our days, wouldn't that be nice?"
"It's too late." Yuwen Yihuan shook her head, "Mom, there is no turning back for an arrow that has been shot. Everything has been prepared, and tomorrow is the Buddha's Birthday. A-Xiong will take care of everything. I don't need you to do anything. You only need to do your part of waiting in the Princess' Manor and wait for the good news."
Princess Leping cried, "The Yuwen clan's time is over. They can never rise to power again!"
Yuwen Yihuan smiled, "You overthink, mother. Grandfather has already gotten rid of all the remnants of the Yuwen clan, so where would they get a son to succeed the throne? After Third Uncle ascends the throne, I will be crowned princess and marry to A-Xiong. As for A-Xiong, he will rule the Imperial Court as a Fuma. Mother will not need to worry about what happens afterwards. I guarantee that you will live a life of luxury no less than what you had before."
When she heard the words 'Third Uncle', Princess Leping's face paled. Her limbs turned cold, and she knew that there truly was no return.
"Then… What about Ying? When will she be returning? She is your little blood sister!"
"After everything ends in success, Eying will come back." Yuwen Yihuan gently said, but her words made Princess Leping's heart sink.
The princess' voice was rough, "Are you using… using Ying as a hostage against me?"
"Mom, there you are again. You have always been like this. You loved little sister more than me. Could it be because I wasn't by your side since I was little? Or is it that because I am smarter, so you have the excuse to play favouritism?" Yuwen Yihuan curled her lips, her eyes turned cold, "She is my little sister. How could I cause her harm? Now is a crucial time, so why would it be a bad thing that she is far away from the venue?"
Her patience had worn thin. After saying these words, she reached out to tap a few places on Princess Leping.
The princess fell unconscious on the ground.
Yuwen Yihuan pulled the covers over her figure.
Lightly, she said, "Sleep well. Everything will be over once you wake up tomorrow."
She raised her hand as if she wanted to tap on a few more places on Princess Leping to avoid her waking up in the middle of the night and cause some chaos.
But Princess Leping didn't know any martial arts. She was also in her middle ages. If Yuwen Yihuan tapped more of her meridians, it might actually damage the princess' body.
Yuwen Yihuan's hand dropped, giving herself a conflicted look as if she was questioning her own thoughts, before finally turning around and left.
Tonight, the blizzard never rested.
Countless people twisted and turned on their beds, trying their best to brave through this sleepless night.
It was the Seventeenth of the First Month, the Fourth Year of Kaihuang,
...
"Wake up. Wake up quickly!"
"Be on your feet! Today's a big day!"
"Quickly wash and change your clothes. The time of the Emperor's arrival is approaching!"
The monk Congjing rose the earliest. He went to wake up his peers as all the monks on the cattail mats rose up continuously.
The sky hasn't brightened yet; this moment was a little earlier compared to when they usually wake up to do their homework.
But none of them complained because they all knew what day was today.
After some time, His Majesty the Emperor would arrive at the Royal Family's Temple to pray for blessing in the Buddhist Festival hosted by the Grandmaster Lingcang2.
A young monk inside was sleeping a little far away from his peers. There was even a cotton blanket between them. Congjing shook his head and said that this shidi was truly too fuzzy with life. How could he truly cultivate the heart of the Buddha?
Before he could slap the other's body, he had already woken up.
Congjing was delighted. "Aren't you sleeping in today? So be it. At least you know what matters and what does not. Quickly get prepared!"
Congyun nodded his head and quietly got dressed. He said nothing.
Congjing wasn't furious, because Congyun's flu had just gotten better in such cold weather, his throat was hoarse. If not for their lack of manpower today, the brothers would definitely want him to sleep in more.
Thankfully, Congyun only needed to obey orders on the side. He didn't need to talk. Today would be an easy day to pass for him.
Most importantly, Congyun was born with an incredibly good-looking face. When he wasn't talking and simply stood quietly next to the Grandmaster Lingcang, he looked like an apprentice of the Guanyin.
The monks had all put on their clothes and left one by one.
When Congyun saw that no one else was around, he took out a bottle of salve from inside his sleeve and rubbed its contents on his face.
There was no choice. The weather truly was too hot.
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[1]阿兄[A-Xiong]: Just means 'brother'.
[2] 灵藏[lingcang]: I'm not too familiar with the Buddist terms, but apparently lingcang a title for monks in the Sui Dynasty. It's not a name.
Translator's Notes -
We now have six main pairings in Wushuang: Peacock Feng-er x Fox Ququ, Commander x Commander, Lustful Mr. Ye x Thirsty Mrs Ye(Mrs Cui), Pei Jingzhe x Feng A-Gou, Master Cui x Li Shisi, and now Monk x Daozhang.