Everybody present witnessed what could be called a genuine grand occasion at the celebration when Ling Zhang played the tune that attracted countless birds to the palace to pay homage to him. Also, what happened on this day arrested the attention of residents in the capital city. After they came to know that it had been a melody played by the empress that had drawn the birds, the festivity in the city was taken to a new level.
The empress was capable of having birds come to heel, which meant that even providence had acknowledged him as the empress of the Great Wen. What could they possibly take more pride in than this?
If previously some had had a sneaking suspicion that Ling Zhang was not fit to be an empress, none of them dared utter another word about it after seeing this scene.
This scene was also called a propitious omen, a bounty bestowed by divine providence. When Ling Zhang finished the tune, the birds lingered in the palace, unwilling to leave. Officials of all descriptions had got on their knees and started chorusing “Long live the emperor! Long live the empress!”
From this day on, Yuwen Tong’s and Ling Zhang’s positions as the emperor and the empress respectively were further consolidated, their identities having a deeper meaning in people’s sight.
…
During the remainder of the celebration, envoys from various foreign countries presented the anniversary gifts they had prepared for the imperial couple. The most enthralling one was from the envoy of a mini-state located in the Western Regions, who a few days ago had lost the tribute and had a hard job recovering it. It was two pieces of jade, which matched and were very special, transparent on the outside and milky white on the inside. When placed with a distance in between, they looked no different than common jade, but when one of them approached the other, the milky white parts of them were slowly drawn to each other like two clouds of gas.
“Our king, by very rare luck, found them on a sacred mountain in our country. They’re sentient jade. They not only make their bearers feel warm in winter and cool in summer but also share some kind of special bond. Our High Priest said that these two pieces of jade are a gift for true lovers from providence, that they have sentience and the power to save two lovers from a life-threatening danger. Our king, after obtaining them, decided to gift them to Your Majesty and Your Highness.”
Actually Ling Zhang’s curiosity was indeed piqued. He did not know whether or not the two pieces of jade could really save people from life-threatening danger, but the amazing reaction they showed when approaching each other struck him as entrancing.
When he and Yuwen Tong took the two pieces of jade respectively, Ling Zhang did not know whether it was an illusion or not, but he felt that their reaction became more obvious – their milky white parts moved faster, their color growing deeper, giving off a soft faint glow, as though they had come alive.
The others present also observed the change and spontaneously started whispering to each other in awe. Even Ji Yanlai whose eyes had beheld numerous rare and precious items couldn’t help but curiously cast another few glances at them.
Ling Zhang liked the jade so much he could barely take his eyes off it. He could feel that the jade was mild and harmless. On top of that, the vexation that had been smoldering in him during the past few days dissolved the moment he took the jade in his hand.
‘This is a real treasure.’
This was the most heartfelt and most direct thought in Ling Zhang’s mind at this moment.
Yuwen Tong also liked the gift very much, and even more so when he observed that Ling Zhang couldn’t wrench his gaze from it. He not only handsomely rewarded the envoys from the mini-state in the Western Regions who had gifted him and Ling Zhang with the jade but also offered them a wish, one that he would grant as long as it was within his powers to do so.
Overjoyed, the envoys from that mini-state kowtowed to Yuwen Tong several times to express their gratitude, their faces glowing with rapture.
…
The daytime part of the celebration, with Ling Zhang’s tune which had drawn countless birds to the palace and the precious jade from the Western Regions being the highlights, was boisterous from start to finish. The whole city was filled with animated discussion, hearty laughter and intermittent cheers all day long.
After night fell, colorfully decorated lanterns were lit one after another, their radiance making the palace and the capital look as though they were still bathed in daylight.
On this night, the jubilation lasted until very late. Apart from the sea of lighted lanterns, the glaring showers of fireworks in the sky also added to the festive atmosphere. Even members of the Millennium Pavilion put aside their vexations and enjoyed the occasion with the residents for a whole night.
Ling Maomao and Ji Xiaocong, along with Ling Xuxu, Ling Xiaobao, Yuwen Qi, Yuwen Lin, Yuwen Yue and other children of the imperial clan, such as Yuwen Yi, the eldest trueborn son of the Marquess Huaiwen, and the children, nephews and nieces of the Marquess Fuan, were scampering around in the imperial garden.
The children, who seemed to have inexhaustible energy, wanted to go out when they saw the fireworks outside the palace.
As all streets outside the palace were seething with jubilant residents, the guards did not dare let them exit the palace for fear of accidents.
Yuwen Yue pleaded with her father to let her go outside.
Yuwen Tong, not daring let her go out at this point in time either, gave it some thought and then, along with Ling Zhang, took the kids, invited some courtiers, and went to the top of a palace wall to watch the jubilation outside.
It was their wedding anniversary that the residents were celebrating, so Yuwen Tong felt obliged to put in an appearance and share his joy with his subjects.
As a result, a large group of people ascended a palace wall and saw the jubilant crowds outside.
Soon some residents noticed them and started screaming, their voices making the welkin ring.
“AAAAAAARGH! HIS MAJESTY AND HIS HIGHNESS!”
“My goodness. I’m seeing the imperial couple with my own eyes. I’d have no regret even if I die right away!” someone wailed.
“His Majesty is so imposing and handsome!!!”
“His Highness is even more charming! He’s so attractive!!!”
“The two princes are there too!”
“Oh, dear. Who’s that man standing beside our young master? The one with a scarlet mole in the middle of his forehead? He looks like an immortal!!!”
The citizens outside, probably too excited to see Yuwen Tong and the others, did not get on their knees right away but began screaming uncontrollably, and it was some girls who took the lead. All those on the palace wall were astonished at the screech. Ling Zhang didn’t even know how he should react on this occasion.
After a while, a group of spunky young men, probably unconvinced that a bunch of girls’ voices were drowning them out, started yelling enthusiastically as well.
“LONG LIVE OUR VALIANT EMPEROR!”
“YOU’RE A ROLE MODEL FOR ALL OF US, YOUR MAJESTY!”
“YOU’RE INVINCIBLE, YOUR MAJESTY!”
“YOU’RE THE HERO OF THE GREAT WEN, YOUR MAJESTY!”
At first these people were just expressing their admiration for Yuwen Tong, but after someone yelled a question, the contents of their shouts gradually changed.
“YOUR MAJESTY, MAY I ASK HOW YOU GOT SUCH A BEAUTY AS HIS HIGHNESS?!”
“YOUR MAJESTY, MAY I ASK HOW YOU’VE BEEN PRESERVING THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN YOU AND HIS HIGHNESS SO WELL FOR SO MANY YEARS? AND PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU NORMALLY DO TO DISSOLVE HIS HIGHNESS’S ANGER WHEN HE’S MAD AT YOU!”
“YOUR MAJESTY … ”
Those on top of the palace wall lapsed into a silence which soon spread. Everybody else was amazed, trying hard to keep from bursting into laughter, their eyes flashing in the direction of Yuwen Tong and Ling Zhang, waiting to hear Yuwen Tong’s reply.
Ling Zhang was even more astounded. It had never crossed his mind that these daredevils would be so bold as to ask such questions. Him? A Beauty? Did none of them know another word? Did these people want to meet their ends?
Were they taking liberties with him?
What with his bewilderment, Ling Zhang’s face darkened. He looked on the verge of losing his cool.
Yuwen Tong standing beside him, however, were in an exceptionally good mood. He gave a little cough and decided to make a reply. Apart from anything else, it was the tenth wedding anniversary that they were celebrating on this day, and Yuwen Tong felt obliged to answer his subjects’ questions concerning marriage and set an example of what a marriage could be.
Ling Zhang beside him, sensing that something was not quite right, immediately twisted his head aside to look at him. “Don’t you dare say anything!” he hissed.
Yuwen Tong looked at him, a faintly injured expression on his face, as though asking, ‘Why?’
Why? Didn’t this strike him as … as terribly embarrassing?!
Yuwen Tong, at the sight of Ling Zhang’s impassive but flushed face, was in even higher spirits.
“Because my daddy’s a very good person. He’s the best daddy in the world, so of course my father married my daddy. My father would never dare anger my daddy, because if he does, he’ll have to sleep in the imperial study at night.”
A silvery voice answered all the questions for Yuwen Tong.
Everybody quieted down. S–Sleep in the imperial study?
Dismayed, Ling Zhang wheeled around to look at Yuwen Yue, narrowly avoiding cricking his neck. “What are you talking about, Crescent?!”
Yuwen Yue blinked her eyes. “I’m not lying.”
Ling Zhang gnashed his teeth, looking so angry as though he was about to spank her.
Right at this moment, Yuwen Tong suddenly scooped up Ling Zhang and said to the crowds down below, “Because of love. All right, you may continue celebrating. His Highness and I have to go now.”
With that, carrying Ling Zhang in his arms, he abruptly took a flying leap and disappeared from the palace wall in a whirling of his cloak.
This scene sent a ripple of exclamation through the crowd down below, everybody looking up in the direction the imperial couple had gone.
The next moment crazed shriek and cheer burst forth.
The torrents of sound were such as though they were about to break through the palace wall.
Ling Zhang was so annoyed at the hysterical screams from behind he couldn’t even speak fluently. “What do you think you’re doing, Yuwen Tong?! Why did you do that in the presence of that many people?! Th–That was utterly unbecoming of an emperor!”
“Come on, it’s not that bad. Otherwise the cheer wouldn’t have been that loud,” replied Yuwen Tong.
Ling Zhang stared fixedly at him. After a while, he thundered, “YUWEN TONG!!!”
…
The empress’s roar was so loud that everybody vaguely heard it. ‘Why am I suddenly anticipating His Highness having His Majesty sleep in the imperial study tonight as a punishment when I know very well I’m not supposed to have such thoughts?’ wondered the officials gloatingly.
Even the most curious ones of the outsiders had no way to find out whether or not the emperor had to sleep in his study tonight. The uproar of this night picked up in intensity even further after that interlude. The streets were teeming with tumultuous crowds almost all night. People cheered about the happy marriage between the imperial couple, discussed with relish what had happened on top of the palace wall, envied the strong chemistry between the imperial couple which had not waned a bit during the past decade, and at the same time celebrated the great prospects of the Great Wen. Everybody had some good wishes and hoped that their lives would get better and better.
It was not until shortly before dawn that the revels came to an end and silence reigned over the whole city. Except for the guards on patrol, almost everybody was asleep.
In the imperial bedchamber, the emperor and the empress, having indulged themselves all night, were also still sleeping.
The milky white parts of the two pieces of jade on the pillows were softly whirling inside like two clouds of gas, shedding a dim glow over the imperial couple’s faces, looking miraculous and entrancing.
For the moment this proved only one thing – the emperor had not been banished to the imperial study to sleep.
…
After the celebration, the capital city was still abustle and astir. The officials from provincial cities and the diplomatic corps would stay in the city for another few days before they set off to return.
As regards the matter of making a journey to the South Ocean, Ling Zhang had taken Yuwen Tong’s advice and decided to go there with him.
Ji Yanlai, after being informed of it, was very grateful. “Don’t worry. I’ve performed divination and the results suggest that there will be some difficulties during the journey but we won’t be faced with any dangers. All of us will come back safe and sound,” he said.
Ling Zhang’s mind was even more at ease after he heard these words.
There would be a large group of people heading for the South Ocean. Apart from members of the Millennium Pavilion and Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong, Mr. Mu had also decided to go there, intending to find out whether there were really some medical books on that island that he had never seen before.
They met a lot of acquaintances during their journey to the south …
It took them almost three months to finish that journey of theirs. Just like Ji Yanlai had predicted, they experienced some swashbuckling moments but none of them got hurt. Their horizons were greatly broadened and they also made quite some friends during the process.
All aspects of the Great Wen were on the upgrade. Yuwen Tong, having come to know about the situation in the South Ocean, invested heavily in maritime trade afterward, causing the reputation of the Great Wen to spread wider and further, making preparations for the trip around the world that the two of them would make many years later.
The Great Wen was slowly entering its prime as the story of the imperial couple continued to unfurl.
