Chapter 18: Music and Songs (IV)

Music and songs rise from the jade towers high in the sky, with the wind carrying the laughter of palace concubines. In the moonlit hall, the sound of the night clock is heard as the crystal curtains roll back, revealing the autumn river. The moon fills the sky, round as a jade plate, delicate as sheer silk.

It was late at night. On the stone path not far from the Zichen Hall, a group of palace maids carried colored lanterns, forming a line to escort the Imperial Concubine back to her palace to rest. Tonight, the Emperor, unusually energetic, summoned the military governor from afar to the Zichen Hall. The usually quiet Daming Palace became lively instantly, with various colored lanterns hanging beside the solemn hall. From within, the gentle sounds of music and singing echoed, depicting a peaceful and prosperous era.

After practicing archery all day, Yang Yuhuan felt her muscles sore and utterly disinterested. Upon learning that An Lushan would be entertained at the Zichen Hall that night, she informed Li Longji and, accompanied by her trusted maids, headed to her bedroom.

Somehow, Yang Yuhuan had grown tired of the music in the jade towers and the laughter of the palace concubines. The splendor of the prosperous era sometimes filled her with a sense of dread. When the music stopped, a deep sense of loneliness overwhelmed her. She couldn’t explain why—just that the melodies, though gentle, would suddenly change tone, casting shadows in the corners of the grand hall.

She insisted that Young Master Li come to the palace to teach her archery, hoping to break down this invisible wall and breathe the fresh air outside the towering palaces. She had enjoyed herself today. Though Young Master Li wasn’t as refined as other noble youths, he possessed the vigor of a mature man. As a man who had fought on the battlefield, he had a charm that fascinated her.

“Your Majesty, we’ve arrived,” said Tuan Er, one of her personal maids, bowing gracefully.
“Oh?”
Only then did Yang Yuhuan realize they had reached the Lingqi Hall. Smiling, she stepped inside on tiptoes.

The Lingqi Hall had originally been the main residence of empresses throughout history, and concubines were not allowed to enter. But since her third brother had not chosen an empress, she, as the nominal empress, naturally moved in there. (Note 1) “Your Majesty, why do you seem so distracted today? Are you still thinking about Young Master Li?”

As soon as Tuan Er entered the bedroom, she stopped acting formally and hopped over to Yang Yuhuan, smiling mysteriously.
“You little wretch! How dare you mock me!”
Yang Yuhuan pretended to be angry, her face tightening.
“Your Majesty wouldn’t dare punish Tuan Er. You know Tuan Er is only trying to help you!”
But Tuan Er wasn’t fooled. She handed Yang Yuhuan a cup of green tea.
“You!”

Yang Yuhuan clearly had no way to deal with this personal maid, so she could only take the teacup and take a sip.
“As I see it, that young man Li is quite good. Seven feet tall, handsome, and at just seventeen he already became a military commander—truly an outstanding person. It’s understandable why the Empress misses him…”
Tuan’er pulled out a silk cloth to cover her mouth and smiled coquettishly, listing Li Kuo’s virtues one by one like a worm in Yang Yuhuan’s belly.
“Stop talking! You’re getting more and more off-topic.”
Yang Yuhuan glared at Tuan’er, her face full of resentment: “I do want to keep that young man Li in the palace for meals, but look at how anxious he seems—surely he’s already made an appointment with some girl after dusk.”
“How could that be? With your stunning beauty, not to mention just a mere military officer, even Lord An, the military commander of Pinglu, admires you greatly, right?”
Tuan’er was an old servant brought by Yang Yuhuan from the Shouwang Mansion; she couldn’t stand seeing her mistress suffer and kept talking nonstop.
“Look at that! I really need to discipline you properly. How can you say such things? If the Emperor hears this, not only will you, you wretched girl, be punished, but I, as the Empress, will also suffer consequences.”
Hearing Tuan’er mention An Lushan, Yang Yuhuan’s eyebrows immediately furrowed. She had barely managed to ask for leave from her third brother to avoid that fat man under the pretense of being ill, yet now she couldn’t even have a moment’s peace.
“Very well, I won’t speak anymore.”
Tuan’er stepped forward, gently pressing on Yang Yuhuan’s shoulders.
“You!”
Yang Yuhuan tapped Tuan’er’s forehead lightly and sighed.
“Fourth sister, fourth sister!”
Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the bedroom. Yang Yuhuan frowned slightly and got up to go out.
“Oh, it’s the Censor-in-Chief.”
Seeing it was Yang Zhao, Yang Yuhuan’s expression immediately turned cold.
“Empress, after all, we’re family…”
Yang Zhao faced a cold reception and awkwardly rubbed his hands while forcing a smile.
“I wonder what brings the Censor-in-Chief to the palace at such late hours?”
This time, Yang Yuhuan made sure to show her authority thoroughly, so her brother would learn his lesson.
“Well, it’s nothing serious. I’m just worried about your health…”
“Oh? Nothing serious? Then why does the Censor-in-Chief enter the inner palace at night to see me? Doesn’t he know that without the Emperor’s permission, no one is allowed to meet the concubines privately?”
Yang Yuhuan refused to give Yang Zhao any chance to breathe, sticking to her point.
“But, but we’re siblings!”
Not knowing why his sister was so hostile, Yang Zhao was filled with anger.

“Enough, enough. Second Master, don’t you see that the Empress is doing this for your own good? Are you afraid others will gossip about the Yang family?”
Seeing the two about to argue, Tuaner stepped in in time to mediate.
“Hm.”
Yang Zhao grunted in agreement, showing he had given in.
“Speak then. What brings you to see me tonight?”
Yang Yuhuan sighed and waved her sleeve helplessly. Though this cousin was a bit rash, he was respectful toward her. With the support of the third brother, he could now hold his own among the men of the Yang family.
“I just can’t stand that fat bastard!”
Yang Zhao gritted his teeth and spat out in anger, “That wretch An Lushan is utterly arrogant. Just seeing his self-important attitude makes me sick.”
“Oh?”
Yang Yuhuan paused and asked, “You’ve already met An Lushan?”
Yang Zhao shook his head. “Of course. The Emperor held a banquet in the Zichen Hall to entertain An Lushan. As soon as he arrived in the capital, he went straight to the palace, bringing loads of rare treasures, all presented to the Emperor. Luckily, you left early; otherwise, you would have been pestered by him!”
“Why did you leave the banquet in such a hurry? Could you not get along with him?”
“Tch! If I tried to get along with him, who else would he consider besides the Emperor, you, and that old scoundrel Li Linfu?”
Annoyed, Yang Zhao blurted out vulgar words. Seeing Yang Yuhuan’s angry expression, he realized he had said the wrong thing and forced a smile. “I can’t talk to that guy. All he talks about is how many battles he’s won and how many heads he’s cut off, as if he’s the only one who knows how to fight in all of Tang.”
“Pfft.”
Yang Yuhuan covered her mouth and laughed. “I thought it was something serious. It turns out it’s just such trivial matters. He’s a general at the border, so it’s natural for him to talk about military affairs. After fighting hard for a year, it’s only right for him to report his achievements and seek rewards.”
“I just can’t stand his arrogant attitude. Although I, Yang Zhao, don’t know how to lead troops in battle, I do understand some basic principles of military strategy. The Khitans and Xis total only about a hundred thousand men. How can they keep invading the border so often, waiting for that fat An to cut them down?”
Yang Zhao shook his head. “Don’t think only An Lushan knows how to fight. Now that General Li has allied with our Yang family, if he dares to be arrogant again, let him compete with General Li!”
“Alright, drink some tea first to calm down.”
Yang Yuhuan smiled bitterly. When this cousin got angry, he really acted like a child.
“Second Master, here’s your tea.”

Tuan Er handed a cup of green tea to Yang Zhao, struggling hard not to laugh out loud.
“Your Majesty, it’s not that I, Yang Zhao, am overbearing, but we truly need to plan for our own future! Right now, that old scoundrel Li Linfu and An Lushan are in league. One is in the court, the other in the military, and together they control almost half of the Tang Dynasty’s territory. Even if I, Yang Zhao, were just an imperial censor, or even if I became a high-ranking official, I’d be powerless against that old villain.”
Yang Zhao’s words were filled with anguish, his eyes seemingly spewing sparks.
“Isn’t that just fine? Our Yang family is considered a prominent household in the capital. Our descendants can become officials without going through the imperial examinations—ordinary people can’t even envy us.”
“Your Majesty! You don’t understand matters in the court. In some situations, it’s either death for you or death for me; there’s no room for retreat. The more favor the Emperor shows our Yang family, the more uneasy that old scoundrel Li Linfu becomes. Even if I endure and yield, he’ll find ways to harm me and drive me out of the court. For self-preservation, we must win over more people’s support!”
Anxious, Yang Zhao’s forehead broke out in sweat as he earnestly explained the stakes to Yang Yuhuan.
“Is that really the case? Then Li Linfu seems quite respectful to me.”
Yang Yuhuan nodded skeptically and took a sip of her tea.
“Of course he’s respectful to you. He’s currently focusing on dealing with the Eastern Palace and has no time to ‘take care’ of our Yang family. But from what I know, he’s secretly building his own power among the border troops. Generals like An Lushan and Geshu Han have more or less sided with Li Linfu. If we don’t act now, it might be too late!”
Coming from humble origins, Yang Zhao understood human nature well. As the saying goes, two tigers can’t share one mountain. Ever since Li Linfu entered the political arena, aside from Chen Xilie who obeyed him blindly, which chancellor could remain in office peacefully? Now, Yang Zhao had become Li Linfu’s perceived enemy and thorn in his side—plans must be made soon!
“In that case, you want to win over my master and get him to join our Yang family?”
Yang Yuhuan finally understood and spoke softly.
“He hasn’t fully joined our Yang family yet.”
Yang Zhao smiled bitterly. “I can only say that I, Yang Zhao, have made an additional ally—a military general with control over troops. After all, the more friends you have, the more paths you have. Who knows what will happen in the future?”
Note 1: Lingqi Hall: Located to the northeast of Zichen Hall.