Mei Yan merely gave a faint “mm” in response.
Inside the imperial palace.
Song Yu took Consort Chen along with Wei Heng and others to the ancestral temple to burn incense, praying for the protection of his forebears so that he could safely pass through this crisis and quickly send away the Beicang envoys. He was deeply unsettled.
After the ritual, they returned to the palace. The four regent ministers were already waiting in the Study Hall. Song Yu immediately understood it was about Beicang and dared not delay.
“Gentlemen, have you reached a decision on how to handle the Beicang envoys? Speak.”
“Your Majesty,” Fan Ying said, glancing at Pan Renzhi before continuing, “as previously discussed among the court officials, Beicang’s visit is for tribute. I believe we should agree to their demands.”
“As for the matter of marriage alliance, it would be best to comply as well. Since the Cheng family daughter has already entered the Dao as a female adept, another woman must be selected in her place. I recall Prince Xu’s household has a daughter. Princess Kuaiji is already of age.”
Song Yu suddenly remembered that his imperial uncle, Song Jiming, did indeed have a daughter. “Ah, you remind me. I had nearly forgotten.”
Pan Renzhi added, “Why not discuss with Prince Xu and send Princess Kuaiji to marry the Third Prince of Beicang?”
“Your Majesty,” Xie Qi said, “since the Third Prince of Beicang seems to have taken a liking to the beauty of the Cheng family daughter, he may not be willing to accept a substitute. However, offering the princess would show sincerity from our court and leave them no grounds for complaint.”
Liu Yi, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, was the youngest among the four, in his early forties, and had remained silent.
Song Yu turned to him. “Lord Liu, what do you think?”
“I believe it is acceptable,” Liu Yi replied. “However, I have heard that Prince Xu and his wife dote on their daughter deeply. I wonder if they would agree?”
Rumor had it that Prince Xu and his wife treasured their eldest daughter, Princess Kuaiji Song Hui, like a jewel in their palm and had never allowed her to suffer even the slightest grievance. How could they possibly send her to marry far away, two thousand li north of Yanzhou?
“I will discuss this with my imperial uncle,” Song Yu said helplessly.
The discussion continued until midnight before the ministers gradually withdrew.
The next day, Song Yu summoned Prince Xu Song Jiming to the palace.
After a tearful exchange of their long and somewhat hollow uncle-nephew affection, Song Yu finally said, “Princess Kuaiji is already fifteen this year, is she not?”
Song Jiming, now in his early forties, had a pale, refined face and a thin mustache. When his eyelids were lowered, he appeared dignified and noble, but when lifted, his narrow eyes revealed calculation and ambition.
His heart sank instantly. He already understood Song Yu’s intention, yet he did not argue.
“Yes, it is about Beicang,” he said calmly. “My daughter is willing to share Your Majesty’s burden.”
His agreement came so readily that even Song Yu was startled.
“I thank you, Imperial Uncle,” Song Yu said, then signaled Wei Heng. Soon after, the female court painter Huang Hao entered.
“Follow Prince Xu back to his residence,” Song Yu instructed, “and paint a portrait of Princess Kuaiji to be delivered to Minister Chang of the Court of Diplomacy.”
Huang Hao glanced at Song Jiming, whose expression had darkened slightly. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Song Yu added with some reluctance, “Imperial Uncle, I intend to inform the Beicang envoy that we will offer tribute in exchange for peace. Unless absolutely necessary, I will not agree to send Princess Kuaiji away.”
He believed that since the Third Prince of Beicang had specifically requested Cheng Yunxiang, it was likely due to her beauty. He might not settle for a substitute. In that case, the princess would only serve as a formality.
However, he feared Beicang might insist on forcing the marriage out of pride.
To prevent this, he ordered Chancellor Fan Ying to personally meet Gao Yao and presented generous gifts, hoping to persuade him to speak favorably on their return to Yanzhou.
Everything was to avoid Princess Kuaiji being sent away.
The next morning.
Fan Ying arrived early at Gao Yao’s residence. After waiting for some time, he was finally granted entry.
“I regret the inconvenience,” Fan Ying said with a forced smile. “The Cheng family’s second daughter has entered the Dao and become a female adept. As for Prince Xu’s daughter…”
Gao Yao interrupted with a cold laugh. “I heard she entered the Dao just yesterday morning, is that correct? How unfortunate.”
His tone carried clear anger.
So a small state like Later Yue dared to refuse Beicang’s marriage proposal. How reckless.
Fan Ying instinctively lowered his posture, his smile strained. “Indeed. It seems the Cheng family daughter was not fated for such fortune.”
At that moment, Cheng Yunxiang, staying at a Daoist temple, suddenly felt her nose itch and sneezed.
If she had heard Fan Ying’s words, she would have cursed him thoroughly. What nonsense about fortune. She did not want it. Take it all away.
Fan Ying continued, “Our Emperor has been unable to sleep over this matter. To show sincerity, we are willing to offer the only marriageable royal daughter, Princess Kuaiji, to the Third Prince, along with thirty thousand taels of silver annually and various silks and goods for her expenses.”
He then took out a scroll from his sleeve.
“This is the portrait of Princess Kuaiji. Please present it to your Third Prince for review.”
The painting revealed a graceful young woman with delicate features and a slender figure.
He deliberately offered everything at once, hoping to silence Beicang’s objections.
“Should Your Excellency be free, His Majesty also wishes to host a banquet in your honor,” Fan Ying added, careful even to avoid the word “summon.”
Seeing such humility, Gao Yao accepted the portrait with satisfaction. “I thank your Emperor on behalf of our ruler. I will report this matter upon my return.”
After arriving in Lin’an City, he had observed Later Yue’s wealth and its numerous capable ministers. Beicang, according to intelligence reports, did not yet hold a decisive advantage. His Emperor, Pei Hui, likely valued tribute more than conquest.
Thus, he chose not to press further.
However, he then added a condition.
“Our Emperor is currently compiling a comprehensive geographical record. The maps north of the Huai River are complete, and Western Shu has been mapped as well. Only the southern Huainan and Jiangdong regions remain.”
“Would your country be willing to provide detailed cartographic records?”
The complete map of the thirty-two prefectures of Later Yue.
Fan Ying hesitated. “Lord Gao, such records are managed and preserved by the Ministry of Revenue. I will inquire tomorrow…”
His heart was filled with dread.
Gao Yao replied indifferently, “Then I shall await your response.”
That afternoon, an invitation arrived from the palace, summoning Gao Yao to a banquet.
He was received with a great ceremony. After being led through the palace, he was brought to a courtyard.
“Please rest here and enjoy some Jiangnan pastries,” the attendants said.
Gao Yao, initially impatient, picked up a pastry idly. It felt unusually heavy. When he broke it open, gold bars were revealed inside. Others concealed jade ornaments and rare gems from the West, each worth more than a hundred gold taels.
He understood immediately. These were personal gifts.
So this was bribery, done so subtly. As expected of the southerners, cunning indeed.
Still, he accepted it without much resistance.
Though not a corrupt official, he was very much aware of his family’s hardships. His wife did not even own a proper hairpin. After some hesitation, he quietly took a piece of jade and a blood-red gem and tucked them into his sleeve, thinking he would have a fine hair ornament made for her upon his return.
Soon after, Eunuch Wei Heng arrived to escort him to the emperor.
Gao Yao straightened his robes and proceeded toward the Phoenix Platform in the Jianzhang Palace.
At the platform, he did not kneel but merely bowed.
“I am Beicang envoy Gao Yao, greetings to Your Majesty of Later Yue.”
Song Yu did not dare make an issue of etiquette. He kindly invited him to sit.
After polite exchanges and diplomatic formalities, Song Yu finally said, “Congratulations to your Emperor on his victory in Western Shu.”
Fan Ying presented the gift list, filled with gold, pearls, coral, and fine silks.
Yet there was no map of the thirty-two prefectures.
Gao Yao was satisfied with the gifts but did not show them. “I thank Your Majesty on behalf of our Emperor.”
The banquet proceeded smoothly. The Beicang envoys, once arrogant, became increasingly pleased.
After several rounds of wine, Gao Yao repeatedly glanced at Fan Ying.
The matter of the maps weighed heavily on everyone.
Fan Ying finally spoke. “Lord Gao mentioned the need for maps of Huainan and Jiangnan. I will consult the Ministry of Revenue and reply in one or two days.”
Gao Yao replied sternly, “I hope you will be quick.”
The ministers exchanged uneasy glances.
At Ganquan Temple.
On the second day after arriving at Lianyuan Garden, Cheng Yunxiang rested briefly in her newly arranged bed. When she woke, light rain drifted through the courtyard, veiling flowers and trees in a misty haze, like a painting of Jiangnan in early spring.
“Miss,” Hua Ying said as she lifted the beaded curtain, “I have lit the stove. Shall I prepare sweet milk for you?”
Cheng Yunxiang nodded sleepily. “Thank you. Add two extra spoonfuls of honey.”
She then walked to the corridor. The damp air carried a faint sweetness. She inhaled it slowly.
Knock, knock, knock!
The door knocker sounded, unhurried.
Who could it be?
Suli opened the door with an umbrella and soon returned holding a name card.
“Miss, it is Fu Xian, Commander of the Imperial Guard, requesting an audience.”
Fu Xian, Commander of the Imperial Guard.
She did not seem to recognize him at all.