Chapter Ninety-Three: A New Spring Reunion

Together with Quan Ce’s demotion came a whole train of honors and promotions.

Xie Yaohuan was granted the honorary rank of General of the Cloud Banner, third class, and still remained in palace service, moving about before the emperor’s throne, put in charge of the Eastern Capital’s Thousand Cavalry Guard and the Northern Court’s Thousand Cavalry military affairs, becoming the greatest beneficiary of all.

Zheng Zhong was additionally awarded the title of Guard General, with a purple-and-gold fish pouch bestowed upon him. Linghu Lun was promoted to General of the Thousand Cavalry.

Among the civil officials, Wu Sansi, Minister of Spring and Sunshine, was promoted to Minister of Heavenly Offices; Doulu Qinwang, Prefect of the Honglu Temple, was promoted to Chief Inspector of the Lintai Hall. The old man was very considerate: Quan Ce had borne much of the pressure for him, and before leaving he settled the young man’s concerns by transferring Deng Huaiyu, Director of the Trade Office, to serve as Director of the Main Hall, while Lu Zhaoyin, Acting Director of the Rituals Office, was promoted to Director of the Rituals Office, the former director having retired on account of illness.

In the Eastern Capital of Luoyang, spring was in full bloom and the city was bright with celebration. At the Princess of Yiyang’s residence in Shanglin Ward, a special guest arrived: Princess Taiping.

Unlike Princess Gao’an, who was gentle, kind, and without a trace of guile, Princess Yiyang, as the eldest daughter of Consort Xiao, had personally witnessed her mother’s ordeal and had herself endured the torment of falling from heaven into hell. She carried a lingering bitterness in her heart. Add to that a temperament outwardly smooth but inwardly rigid, and a manner naturally cool and distant; after leaving the inner palace, she had had no dealings with Princess Taiping whatsoever.

At the first sight of Princess Taiping, what she thought of first was whether something had gone wrong with her eldest son. The officials who had attended the New Year’s Grand Banquet and the ceremony of submission had all been rewarded from top to bottom, and yet only Quan Ce had been demoted. After Quan Ce returned home, she had not asked much, but she had been deeply worried.

After the two exchanged formal greetings and sat facing one another, they chatted for a while about family matters. In the end, when the subject turned to her eldest son, Princess Yiyang could no longer keep calm and asked cautiously, “Your Highness, has my son caused some fresh trouble again?”

Princess Taiping had long been displeased by her restraint and distance. Now, seeing her so humbled, her irritation only deepened. She could not blame Quan Ce: in everything he only knew how to work hard, to do things with his own hands, to stake his life at every turn, utterly without the bearing of a royal noble. So this was where he had taken after his mother. She was about to speak with sharp irony, but thinking of the woman’s sincere maternal affection, she held back after all and softened her voice. “Quan Ce has grown up now, and he handles affairs properly. Sister need not fret so much. His courtyard is over there; take me to see it. No need to announce us. We can go straight there.”

She was accustomed to seeing Quan Ce always mature, steady, and faultless in etiquette, and quite wanted to see what he was like in private.

Though Princess Yiyang was unwilling, she could not go against Princess Taiping’s status. Inwardly, she could only pray that her eldest son would behave himself.

Whether it was Princess Taiping’s eagerness or Princess Yiyang’s anxious suspense, they were both surprised when they entered the unnamed little courtyard and saw the lively commotion inside.

Quan Ce was in the role of children’s king.

The plump little girl, Quan Luo, was already over two years old and could walk and run with some unsteadiness. She was at the age when she was lively and full of energy. At the moment she was clutching her eldest brother’s robe, dodging and running in a crooked line. Her second brother, Quan Zhu, was a little rascal; circling around like a slippery eel, he kept trying to catch her. Quan Ce bent at the waist, arms spread wide to block him, his movements as light and careful as he could make them. He could not let his sister run too fast, nor could he let his younger brother charge in with brute force. This minimalist version of tag-the-chick had left him sweating all over.

“Giggle, ah...” Quan Luo cried out and nearly got caught. After dodging away, she laughed in a clear and bright voice, delightfully smug.

“Chi Chi, I’m going to catch you!” Quan Zhu was short and had little reach; though he had not even managed to touch the hem of his sister’s skirt, he was not discouraged. He had found a bit of technique, feinting one way and then suddenly changing direction, showing a surprising cleverness. This time he nearly succeeded, and that only made him more spirited. Wiping sweat from his brow, he shouted boldly.

“Little miss, slow down, don’t go that way. Second Young Master is coming!” There was also a cheer squad on the side. Liujin and Shuangli were on Quan Luo’s side, bouncing on their toes to scout enemy movements, their faces taut with tension.

Compared to that, Quan Zhu had fewer supporters, only Chisu. The little Taoist was cheering while also enduring Shuangli’s mockery, red-faced with embarrassment. Shazha Fu and Juedi leaned against the corridor pillar with folded arms, watching without speaking. They were older now and could not bring themselves to join in such childish games.

After not much more time, Quan Luo, after all, was still small. Even with her eldest brother as a strong ally, she remained in danger. Quan Zhu used his trump card: he wrapped himself around Quan Ce’s leg, made a sharp pivot, and firmly caught his sister in his arms. He grinned gleefully. “Chi Chi, got you!”

He was smug, but he was holding on too tightly, and Quan Luo was unhappy. She burst into tears with a loud wail. Quan Ce hurriedly crouched down and gathered the two children before him, soothing them in a gentle voice, but it was a long while before the crying ceased.

“Little miss, don’t cry. Almond cheese is here!” Chuju came out from the little kitchen carrying a lacquer tray, smiling so broadly that her eyes nearly disappeared. Turning her head, she saw the two princesses standing amid the bamboo and wooden thicket, and hastily crouched in a curtsy. “This servant pays respects to Your Highness Princess Taiping, and to the mistress.”

At the sound, Quan Ce rose, still holding the sniffing and sobbing Quan Luo, and strode over with a smile. “Your son pays respects to Mother, and to Aunt. Chi Chi, come, greet your aunt for the New Year.”

Quan Luo’s black eyes fixed on Princess Taiping, and she grew shy at once. She shook her head and buried herself in Quan Ce’s arms. Quan Ce nudged her with his shoulder. “Be good, Chi Chi. Greet your aunt. Your aunt has treats for you.”

Hearing that there was something to eat, Quan Luo’s little heart was won over. She blinked her eyes, raised her two tender little hands, folded them together in the salute, and said in a crisp voice, “A prosperous New Year!”

Having said that, she held out her little hands and waited for Princess Taiping to give her something delicious.

Princess Taiping laughed aloud, poked Quan Ce on the forehead with one finger, and said with mock irritation, “So this is how you bring up your younger siblings as the eldest brother?”

Fortunately, she had brought quite a few things with her to the residence, among them some freshly made sesame honey cakes from a Jiangnan cook. She took one out and placed it in Quan Luo’s chubby little hand. Having received the treat, Quan Luo smiled sweetly, the two tiny dimples in her cheeks so lovely they were almost intoxicating.

“This little girl is truly endearing. Come, come over to Aunt.” Princess Taiping was delighted and held out her arms to embrace Quan Luo. Perhaps because the food had softened her heart, Quan Luo yielded obediently. Normally, it would have been extremely difficult to get her to let a stranger hold her.

Princess Yiyang stood frozen to the side, watching the scene of warmth and harmony before her. When Quan Ce called Princess Taiping “Aunt,” she had already gone still, fearing that Princess Taiping might be angered. Unexpectedly, Princess Taiping and her eldest son were on such intimate and harmonious terms. Her feelings became complicated for a moment.

“Mother, try the almond cheese!” Quan Zhu said, tilting his face up with a broad grin, showing his row of tiny white teeth. His voice jolted her back to herself, and she smiled and nodded as they went into the main hall.

Princess Taiping put Quan Luo down. The little troublemaker behaved for only a short while; once she had finished her food, she began twisting and squirming in Princess Taiping’s arms.

Princess Yiyang ordered a maid to take her away, then had tea prepared and sat down with Princess Taiping.

“You really did a fine job comforting that girl from the Chu family. Looking at how lively she is now, anyone who didn’t know better would think she was still a carefree young lady at home,” Princess Taiping said, half teasing and half probing.

Quan Ce stood by in attendance. Hearing this, he shook his head repeatedly. “Your Highness flatters me. Shuangli has a good temperament and simple thoughts. She was only startled a little at first; once she recovered, she was lively and well enough. There was no need for me to comfort her at all.”

Princess Taiping nodded and asked again, “I haven’t seen Yunu. Where has she gone?”

Quan Ce did not hide it. “After the holiday, your son will be taking a post at the Censorate. I know nothing there, so I have had to trouble Yunu to return to Chang’an first and gather some information, so as not to offend some household by accident.”

“You are prudent indeed.” Princess Taiping changed the subject and asked Princess Yiyang, “Why have I not seen your husband? For such a grand holiday, why is he still not back from Mount Song?”

Princess Yiyang’s expression darkened. She forced a smile. “He said he had made a solemn vow, and that breaking it would bring ill omen.”

At the words, Princess Taiping seemed to think of something. Her face turned ugly, and after drawing a deep breath she cursed in a low, fierce voice, “Most men in this world are complete bastards.”

Quan Ce listened with mounting unease.