Leaving the Changmen Palace - LTCP 50: Push the Wave

Before long, the marriage between Han Yan and the Chen family was formally arranged.

Liu Che harbored some reservations about Chen Jiao, yet he felt too guilty to express them. Even though the nature of his relationship with Han Yan was known to many, it was not akin to the relationships found within a harem, and he could not openly discuss such matters with her.

“Given Han Yan’s relatively modest background, do you not think it might be a bit ambitious for him to marry into the Chen family?” he remarked.

He could only jest with her, “Aren’t you concerned that your cousin might hold a grudge against you for marrying her off without her consent?”

Chen Jiao rolled her eyes at her, unperturbed by the emperor’s status. “Would you prefer that she enter the palace to serve you, and we sisters could share the same husband, thereby avoiding the stigma of a low marriage?”

He could not help but picture Chen Jiao’s cousin—she resembled her father closely, which made him shudder.

However, he remained unconvinced. “It is not that I look down on Han Yan, but considering his position, it seems rather incongruous for him to be paired with a daughter of the Chen family…”

Chen Jiao sighed inwardly.

In truth, Liu Che was being quite candid with his inquiry. Although the Chen family lacked prominent figures, they maintained close ties with the Dou family. The grand empress dowager had made it clear that she intended to pass the leadership of the Dou family to the grand princess in the future.

While Dou Ying had withdrawn to the ranks of scholar-officials, the grand empress dowager’s favor towards him remained unwavering. It was conceivable that he could stage a comeback and reclaim a prominent position in governance.

Han Yan was evidently destined for a military career, and the marriage between him and the Chen family did, indeed, reveal their intentions rather transparently.

“It is still the empress dowager,” Chen Jiao remarked to him, half-jokingly and half-seriously. “Ever since the scandal involving the Jin family emerged, she has regarded Han Yan as a thorn in her side. He also happens to be the most favored among your attendants. I have long asserted that I would support anyone who could aid you in your endeavors… What better way to balance the dynamics between you, Han Yan, and the empress dowager than through a marriage alliance?”

Her forthrightness left Liu Che momentarily speechless.

He was taken aback, and before he could respond, Chen Jiao pointed at him and added, “Additionally, allow me to share my self-serving motive—after the marriage, he will become your cousin-in-law. We will all be relatives, so do refrain from being overly arrogant in the future.”

A subtle hint of bitterness colored her words.

Liu Che felt a twinge of discontent; he was not accustomed to such treatment. Yet, reflecting on the few smiles Chen Jiao had directed toward Han Yan, he felt a flicker of warmth in his heart.

In an effort to maintain his composure in front of her, he suppressed his smile and replied in a measured tone, “Understood. I will be mindful of my conduct in the presence of the empress dowager.”

With this assurance, Chen Jiao felt liberated to advocate for Han Yan’s official appointment without hesitation, “I have heard there is a shortage of generals in the border regions. I believe it would be prudent to assign him there. Once he leaves the capital, he will no longer be a source of concern for the empress dowager. As for you, you could dispatch a trusted confidant to the border to assess the situation. If he possesses the requisite abilities, he will undoubtedly earn military accolades and prove himself worthy of his future wife.”

“And as for Jiaojiao,” Liu Che concluded with a wry smile, “sending him far away from the palace would certainly mitigate any chance of her being troubled by his presence.”

She rolled her eyes at him but admitted without reservation, “You are quite astute.”

Unable to contain himself any longer, Liu Che laughed heartily, affectionately capturing her attention and pulling her close.

He playfully nudged her nose with his own, “You are indeed a sharp-tongued, Jiaojiao!”

…

With Chen Jiao serving as his bodyguard, the Changshou Hall could not refuse the request to send Han Yan to the border. Liu Che swiftly orchestrated significant actions behind the scenes, enlisting several promising young talents who had previously garnered favorable attention, integrating them into the team accompanying Han Yan as he departed the customs.

Han Yan, being a relative of the emperor, inherently started at a more advantageous position than the average individual. He began his military career as a deputy general and was assigned to work under Li Guang. Consequently, figures such as Li Danghu and others became notably more cordial towards him. Thus, should Han Yan achieve distinction in his endeavors, he would be regarded as part of Li Guang’s esteemed inner circle.

During his farewell visit to the palace, Chen Jiao was engaged in conversation with Liu Che in the Qingliang Hall. Their intimate dialogue was interrupted by Han Yan’s arrival.

With no option but to retreat behind the screen, she composed herself, adjusting her attire as she observed the robust, handsome, and effortlessly charming attendant through the delicate silk.

Unbeknownst to Han Yan, she was concealed behind the screen. He seemed unfazed by Liu Che’s disheveled appearance, and despite his eloquent speech, an air of reluctance permeated his words.

Liu Che, however, felt considerably more embarrassed.

Aware of Chen Jiao’s presence behind the screen, he grappled with the bittersweet farewell to this understanding and considerate companion who had been a constant in his life since childhood. He found himself at a loss for words, stammering awkwardly—a rare occurrence that only served to accentuate Chen Jiao’s empathy.

With a subtle nod to the palace attendants, she discreetly exited the palace through a concealed door behind the screen, allowing Han Yan to continue his attempts at flattery towards Liu Che before the expedition.

The military laws of the Han Dynasty were notoriously harsh; should he falter in battle, he would have to rely on the scant goodwill Liu Che had for him. It was unrealistic to expect assistance from the Chen family in such a scenario.

Nevertheless, she sensed that her actions were not merely those of a virtuous woman as she personally sent Liu Che to Han Yan.

Upon returning to the Jiaofang Hall, she contemplated for a moment before summoning Wei Zifu for a game of chess.

Life within the harem was inherently solitary. Chen Jiao had little interest in singing, dancing, or acrobatics, and aside from her duties in service to the two palaces, her role was largely limited to managing the mundane affairs of the harem. In her leisure, finding a confidant for meaningful conversation proved challenging.

In the entirety of Weiyang Palace, the only individual with whom she could engage as an equal was Wei Zifu.

She arrived promptly, offering her customary respectful bow before taking her seat. With graceful poise, she extended her delicate fingers to leisurely sift through the go stones in the jar. A subtle flick of her finger resulted in the selection of a black stone.

In these seemingly minor details, her every movement exuded refinement and elegance, embodying the effortless grace characteristic of the aristocracy of bygone generations.

Chen Jiao mused that Wei Zifu had meticulously prepared for this moment when she would emerge into the spotlight.

Curiosity piqued, she contemplated the path Wei Zifu had envisioned for her life and how she perceived her position beside her now.

Wei Zifu was undeniably beautiful. In the harem, aside from Wang Ji, who adeptly understood the sentiments of men, the other beauties paled in comparison to her. Tall and with lustrous hair, she often appeared timid and anxious in the presence of superiors, yet she radiated youthful exuberance and a hint of wildness when laughing freely among her friends.

Even Chen Jiao found herself admiring her beauty.

If Liu Che were drawn to her, what transgression was that? His status permitted him the privilege to court any unmarried woman in the realm. After all, he was referred to as Your Majesty, the Son of Heaven.

Wei Zifu lifted her gaze and regarded Chen Jiao with a look of mild confusion.

“Your Majesty, it is your turn to make a move.”

Startled, she immediately shook off her reverie. With a distracted air, she inscribed her response amidst the intricate puzzles of the nineteen vertical and horizontal paths.

Although Liu Che had taken note of Wei Zifu’s flowing hair that day, his preoccupations, both within and outside the palace, prevented him from fully appreciating the moment. Thus, the beauty of that fleeting encounter began to fade.

Had it not been for Han Yan’s presence alongside her, Chen Jiao might have doubted the reality of that scene, perceiving it merely as a nightmarish figment of her imagination. She might have dismissed the shock and anxiety of that moment entirely.

Yet, reality offers no alternatives. After all, she is Wei Zifu, the woman who once captivated the emperor.

Chen Jiao lowered her gaze and absently picked up a chess piece, lost in thought.

Time is of the essence…

In this match, she played rather carelessly. Despite Wei Zifu’s gracious concessions at each turn, she could only express her regret as she eliminated Chen Jiao’s scattered pieces during the middle game.

Following the game, a silence enveloped them for a while.

Chen Jiao focused on the remaining pieces before suddenly bursting into laughter, “You’ve gone to great lengths to lose to me, even considering removing some of your own pieces.”

Wei Zifu was momentarily speechless at the empress’ unexpected, innocent laughter.

She is even more beautiful than I had imagined, Chen Jiao mused silently, waiting for an unanswerable echo.

After a brief pause, she regained her composure and quipped back, “It’s simply that Zifu’s chess skills are too formidable, preventing an easy defeat for Your Majesty. Zifu feels remorse.”

These two floral beauties, unsure of who initiated the laughter, began to share lighthearted chuckles on either side of the chessboard. Their melodic laughter resonated throughout the Jiaofang Hall, infusing it with a lively spirit.

When Liu Shou came to pay his respects in the mid-afternoon, Chen Jiao did not allow Wei Zifu to depart.

“You shall join me for dinner tonight,” she declared casually, then bent down to lift Liu Shou, playfully scratching the little boy’s chin as one might tease a cat.

The boy was plump and dark, resembling his father in infancy. At not yet three years old, he was sturdy and could already take a few unsteady steps. He regarded Chen Jiao as a friend, yet, despite his affection, he resisted her commands.

After merely two scratches, he squirmed and called out in a childlike voice, “Mother, mother!”

Reluctantly, Chen Jiao set him down and listened as Chu Fu reported on his activities over the past few days—nothing out of the ordinary, primarily eating, drinking, and playing, with occasional attempts to learn a few words.

Inadvertently, she turned her head and caught sight of the way Wei Zifu regarded Liu Shou, prompting her to pause momentarily.

That look was exceedingly complex.

If it were not for someone like her, who understood her rise intimately and was aware of her dual existence, grasping the depths of sadness, complexity, longing, and nostalgia would prove challenging.

Though Wei Zifu appeared indifferent to Liu Che, it was evident that she still yearned for a child—a son to carry forth her lineage and that of the Han Emperor.

Chen Jiao shifted her focus again, listening to Chu Fu’s murmured updates absentmindedly.

She pondered whether Wei Zifu had any interest in the emperor.

That evening, Liu Che naturally visited the Jiaofang Hall to dine with Chen Jiao.

Wei Zifu moved in and out, attending to her needs during the meal.

Her thick, long hair caught the emperor’s eye, prompting him to glance at her several times before inquiring of Chen Jiao, “How did you come to have her serve you?”

He still recalled Wei Zifu’s humble origins and did not regard her as merely a recently arrived palace servant.

With a smile, Chen Jiao replied, “Since your Han Yan has been sent away, it is only fitting that I provide you with some company, is it not?”

She gestured toward her and spoke gently, “Well, Lady Wei, please go to His Majesty’s side.”

…

TN: Ancient people for sure had STDs.