Chapter 26: I Have Adorned Luyang (Part One)

The Third Princess had a particular fondness for bright yellow, and in private, people often called her the Fairy in Yellow. She liked this name very much. Besides this, her other passion was the embroidered perch from the Imperial Delicacies Pavilion, a fact well known among the common folk. Lady Ye was especially favored by the Third Princess. If Lady Ye had been a man, she would likely have been summoned into the Princess’s own palace.

The Emperor of Daxu doted on his daughters, but none more so than the Third Princess, famed for her wisdom and virtue. She disregarded all the usual taboos deemed inconvenient for young women. It was commonplace for her to forge friendships with talented people from all walks of life.

That afternoon, after a line of poetry—“One sweep brightens the long night of the mortal world”—was recited within the Imperial Delicacies Pavilion, the Princess soon arrived in all her elegance. She happened to catch sight of several prodigies from the Immortal Cultivation Academy who had invited Gu Yi to drink with them.

“Chen Mingguang of Luyang Academy—also known as Wu Gang—pays respects to Your Highness, the Third Princess!”

Even before her carriage had come to a stop outside, those within were already prepared. Now, six young men, including Gu Yi, stood in a row before her, presenting an impressive sight.

“No need for formalities. I am here for Lady Ye. I won’t disturb you. If I remember correctly, your name is Chen Mingguang, isn’t it? The Master of the Seventeenth Floor has spoken highly of you.”

To his surprise, she knew who he was. Chen Mingguang felt a surge of nervous excitement. “Your Highness, I am indeed Chen Mingguang.”

“The northern border is tense. Xingyuan City has awaited reinforcements for some time now. When will the six of you set out?”

Indeed, Chen Mingguang, Wu Gang, Gao Yuan, and Ge Chen had gathered here today because they had received their summons; soon, they would depart for the front lines at Xingyuan City.

In other words, they were going to war.

“We have received the mobilization order, but the specific departure date has not yet been set,” Chen Mingguang replied, glancing at Gu Yi and Ma Yuan. “Also, there are four of us, not six.”

The Third Princess had not distinguished them clearly. Reminded thus, she asked, “Oh, which four? I want to remember you well.”

Gu Yi could not help but marvel inwardly—such a casual conversation, yet already she was winning people’s loyalty.

“Chen Mingguang, eighteen years old, entered the Immortal Cultivation Academy in the first year of Chengping.”

“Wu Gang, twenty-two, entered in the second year of Chengping!”

“Gao Yuan, nineteen, entered in the second year of Chengping!”

“Ge Chen, nineteen, entered in the second year of Chengping!”

Chen Mingguang was the youngest, but among these four, he was clearly the leader.

The Third Princess studied them closely. “In winter, the embroidered perch is at its most tender. When the war is over and you all return, I shall treat you to it.”

Simple words, yet they brought tears to the eyes of even the rough-hewn Wu Gang.

For the first time, Gu Yi felt the sorrow and anguish of this world.

To be honest, there was no certainty any of them would live to taste winter’s embroidered perch.

The Princess’s gaze then fell on the last two. Ma Yuan had a talent for being overlooked, but Gu Yi gave a slight nod. “My name is Gu Yi. I have not had the honor of entering Luyang’s Immortal Cultivation Academy.”

“Gu…Yi?” She suppressed her curiosity. “After I’ve visited Lady Ye, I will seek you out another day. I am as close as sisters with your elder sister. I know better than anyone what she sacrificed to find you.”

Watching her receding figure, Chen Mingguang sighed, “They say the Third Princess and Lady Ye are the closest of friends. It seems true. Brother Gu, you will surely have a successful official career.”

But Gu Yi was indifferent. “What’s so good about being an official? A free and unfettered life is best.”

Wu Gang, straightforward as ever, laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. “Brother Gu, I like your attitude!”

Lady Ye was unwell, so the Princess stayed only briefly. Gu Yi, following custom, joined the others in seeing her off. Afterward, all thoughts of restraint were forgotten as they drank themselves into a stupor.

…

The scrolls of Tibet unfold in the courtyard, and with one sweep, the long night of the mortal world is brightened.

“This poem is beautiful. It must praise the importance of books. I should have guessed—the latter half is truly grand and majestic.”

“But it wasn’t grandeur that let it spread through all Luyang in a single night.” The Third Princess, one hand clasped behind her back, exuded a masculine air as she walked. “Sixth Sister, last night when I went to see Lady Ye, I happened to meet that Gu Yi.”

Her younger sister in blue showed little reaction, only asking dully, “Did you ask him how he interpreted the poem?”

The Fairy in Yellow was briefly taken aback, then smiled. “You truly are my sixth sister. No interest in the man, but you press eagerly about a simple poem. Reading too much has made you silly.”

The Sixth Princess laughed sheepishly, unbothered by the tease.

Her elder sister relented. “All right, I’ll tell you. There were too many people then, so I didn’t ask. It might concern Lady Ye’s family, after all. That’s why I’ve come to you.”

“I don’t recall any particular reference… I’ve checked some books but found nothing. Third Sister, you could summon him another day.”

With her inquiry fruitless, the Third Princess prepared to leave, shaking her head. “I’d thought of that before, but after meeting him, it seems unnecessary. He is an outsider.”

“Oh.”

The Third Princess: ==

“All right, I’m off. I’ll chat with you another time.”

…

Ma Yuan found his master on the balcony, staring at that talisman again.

It was only their second morning in Luyang, yet the entire city was already stirred on his account.

“Master, we came to see Lady Ye because of her illness. In all the excitement yesterday, I forgot to ask—can she be cured?”

“She is not ill.”

Ma Yuan, not yet fully sober, was instantly wide awake. Could there really be hope? Suddenly, he remembered Xiaoyue’s question from yesterday, and couldn’t help but ask, “So she can be saved?”

Gu Yi’s expression was grave. “It is not an illness, but whether she lives or dies depends on her own will.”

Ma Yuan, puzzled by the weight of these words, asked, “Master, who are you really? Why do you have so many mysterious abilities?”

“Do you remember what I told you at the beginning?”

“Don’t ask too many questions,” he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. “All right, all right, I was wrong. But Master, let me remind you—starting today, everyone in Luyang will be asking you this question.”

Gu Yi turned away, already knowing the reason—he was the long-sought kin Lady Ye had been searching for.

But it didn’t matter; he would not answer if he did not wish to.

“Today, I’ll move into the Imperial Delicacies Pavilion, for the sake of her health. And to search for Xiao Yiyi’s traces.”

That broken talisman bore Xiao Yiyi’s handwriting; it was not Lady Ye’s hidden poetry at all.

Moreover…

Gu Yi suddenly asked Ma Yuan, “By the way, since even the Third Princess came last night, do you think it would be easier for me to enter the Cultivation Academy’s Hall of Disciplines if I went through her?”

The back door, was it?

Interesting idea!

But Ma Yuan shook his head. “I like shortcuts too, but Master, the current curator is the Fourth Princess.”

Gu Yi frowned. “From your tone, there’s friction between the Third and Fourth Princesses.”

“Master, you are perceptive. The Third Princess is sociable and virtuous, while the Fourth Princess has a strange temperament, obsessed with cultivation and indifferent to socializing. Though I’m just a commoner, I’ve spent time at the Academy. The Third and Fourth Princesses don’t get along. Even if you asked the Third Princess to speak on your behalf, putting aside whether the iron-faced Fourth Princess would bend the rules, the Third Princess certainly wouldn’t go herself!”

Among women, such mutual dislike is even harder to resolve.

At that moment, Gu Yi recalled something odd he’d overlooked. “Since coming to Luyang, everyone talks about princesses. What about the emperor’s sons?”

“Master, he’s your emperor too. He only just returned to Luyang recently,” Ma Yuan corrected him gently.

“I know. Answer my question.”

Well, the answer was simple.

“They were all killed.”