Chapter 95: Inviting Beauty to Visit the Temple

On the morning of the New Year’s Day, an imperial edict signed by Emperor Li Longji and sealed with the official seal of the Central Secretariat was issued. It was the first edict of the Tianbao era, capturing everyone’s attention.

“Yang Shenjin, the vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue, is promoted to minister of the Ministry of Works and becomes one of the co-chancellors of the Central Secretariat. He is also granted the title of Jinzi Guanglu Daifu and a purple gold fish bag. The position of vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue is taken over by Cui Qiao, the right vice minister. Pei Kuan, the governor of Donghai, is promoted to minister of the Ministry of Rites and becomes another co-chancellor. Li Linfu, the right prime minister, is granted the title of Kaifu Yitong Sansi, in charge of 300 households, and also appointed as the grand commander of Yangzhou…”

While Yang Shenjin’s promotion to minister of the Ministry of Works was within expectations, Pei Kuan’s appointment as minister of the Ministry of Rites surprised most people. Pei Kuan was a veteran of three reigns, renowned throughout the Tang Dynasty for his integrity, uprightness, and strict enforcement of laws. He had once been Li Linfu’s main rival and was demoted due to the Wei Jian case, nearly dying at the hands of the cruel official Luo Xishi. After narrowly escaping, he turned to Buddhism to protect himself. Yet, a few years later, Pei Kuan suddenly made a comeback.

With both Yang Shenjin and Pei Kuan becoming ministers, everyone realized that Emperor Li Longji was somewhat dissatisfied with Prime Minister Li Linfu. Appointing Li Linfu as the grand commander of Yangzhou was merely a superficial cover-up.

Even more peculiar was Yang Zhao, who was also mentioned in this first New Year’s edict. He was promoted for his contributions in putting out a fire in the Eastern Market. However, instead of being appointed vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue, he returned to his original position as chief censor. He did not receive any other titles either but was unexpectedly given the additional role of censor in the Secretariat. Although the position of censor was only of the fifth rank and not very high in status, it carried terrifying power—the ability to directly reject edicts issued by the Central Secretariat.

Suddenly, the political landscape of the court changed drastically. Court officials who had been resting at home on New Year’s Day could no longer contain their curiosity. Abandoning the tradition of staying indoors on this day, they went from house to house to gather information.

……

For ordinary people, however, these events were far removed from their lives. They continued to observe traditional customs to celebrate the New Year.

New Year’s Day was a day for the people of the Tang Dynasty to pay respects to their ancestors. Families kept their doors closed, shops were shut, and the streets were deserted, with not a single person in sight for a long time.

Outside Pingkang Fang, a large carriage slowly approached. The coachman, Li Qingan, whipped the horses and kept shouting.

Today, Li Qingan was unusually relaxed. Early in the morning, someone from the Ministry of War came to tell him that due to negligence in his duties while inspecting the camp the previous night, he had been removed from his position as inspection officer by the prime minister, with another general from the Ten Thousand Cavalry Camp, Ma Ling, taking over. Li Qingan knew this was Li Linfu’s arrangement, and it was fine for him—now he had time to spend with beauties.

He wanted to go to Ci’en Temple to offer incense. He had already arranged for a carriage, but the coachman had gone back to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors, and the horse rental shop was closed. With no way to rent a carriage, Li Qingan borrowed one and took control himself. In his words, it would be laughable for a polo player not to know how to drive a carriage.

However, driving a carriage was nothing like playing polo. The two draft horses kept running east and west, acting up and refusing to move, or turning around and heading home. He couldn’t control them at all. Fortunately, the streets were empty, so no accidents occurred. It took a full half hour for the carriage to cover just two miles, leaving Li Qingan drenched in sweat.

The three ladies in the carriage saw his predicament and couldn’t stop giggling behind their hands. But after traveling a few miles, he gradually figured out how to do it.

“Two treasures, move a bit to the right. Right, slow down—don’t run! Absolutely don’t run!”

The two horses, either tired or tamed, followed the direction of his reins and began to walk slowly to the side.

Seeing the horses obey, Li Qingan was extremely proud. Turning to the ladies in the carriage, he said, “Who said I can’t drive a carriage? See? It’s going fine!”

Ruhua lifted the curtain and said smilingly, “Big brother, didn’t I tell you? These are old horses, the easiest to control. Try with some wilder horses and see!”

“Even the wildest horses won’t escape this general,” Li Qingan replied with a smirk, “Didn’t I tame your wild little horse last night?”

“Big brother, you…”

Ruhua blushed furiously andshrink back back into the carriage, too shy to speak. Li Qingan laughed triumphantly.

“Go… ahead!”

The carriage entered Pingkang Fang and slowly stopped in front of the side door of the prime minister’s residence. Li Qingan jumped down and went to the window, whispering, “I’ll go get someone. I’m counting on you guys today.”

“Don’t worry, big brother! We’ll make sure you win the beauty’s heart today.”

Li Qingan adjusted his clothes and quickly walked to the side door. Two servants from the prime minister’s household stood there; they both recognized Li Qingan—he had been a distinguished guest of their master on New Year’s Eve.

“Wow! General Li came so early.”

Li Qingan took out a beautifully crafted name card and handed it over with a smile, “Please deliver a message for me.”

The family was somewhat embarrassed and said, “General Li, our master is currently leading the family in offering sacrifices to the ancestors and cannot receive guests.”
“It’s not for the Prime Minister, but for Miss Wu Yi.”
“Miss Jiang?”
The two servants were stunned for a moment, with an unmistakable hint of amusement in their eyes.
“General Li, please wait. We’ll go deliver the message right away.”
One of the servants rushed into the mansion with the letter, while Li Qing’an stepped aside and waited patiently.
…
Li Linfu’s ancestral hall was located in the back part of his mansion. It was New Year’s Day, and he had gone to the ancestral hall early in the morning with his sons and clan members to offer sacrifices. His daughters had also returned to their own families, leaving the Prime Minister’s mansion eerily quiet. Jiang Wu Yi’s courtyard was likewise silent, with the gate tightly closed.
At that moment, Jiang Wu Yi was sitting in front of a mirror, carefully applying floral decorations to her forehead. It took her over two hours every day to dress and style her hair. Years passed in this manner, but today her heart was especially filled with sorrow. It was the first day of the seventh year of Tianbao, meaning she was now twenty years old.
She stared blankly at the bronze mirror. A woman’s beauty fades quickly—was this how she would spend her youth in front of the mirror?
“Miss, let’s go ask the Prime Minister tomorrow to intercede on your behalf and end your engagement with the Cui family!”
Wu Yi’s maid was named Yu Nu, who had served her since childhood. With Jiang’s family ruined, only she remained by Wu Yi’s side, following her from Jiang’s mansion to the Prime Minister’s mansion. The two depended on each other and had spent nine years together.
“I don’t want to go.”
Wu Yi shook her head gently. “Let’s not talk about this anymore.”
“But, miss, Auntie’s health is getting worse by the day. If she passes away, who will protect you? You know those people have ill intentions toward you. If you don’t comply, they’ll drive you out of the mansion…”
“I said, let’s not talk about this!”
Wu Yi bit her lip and softened her tone. “Yu Nu, stop talking about this. Go get my hair ornament for me!”
Yu Nu sighed inwardly and turned to fetch the ornament. Just then, voices of servants could be heard faintly at the gate.
“Miss Jiang… Miss Wu Yi!”
“Miss, it seems someone is calling you.”
Wu Yi was startled. It was early in the New Year, and her uncle’s family had all gone to offer sacrifices. What could possibly be the matter?
“Yu Nu, go take a look.”
“Yes!” Yu Nu went downstairs.
…
“Uncle Zhao, is there something?”
“Someone is at the gate looking for Miss Wu Yi. They brought a message.”
“Are you sure? How could our miss have a message?”
“It’s for Miss Jiang. The person is still waiting outside!”
“Give it to me!”

After a moment, the sound of footsteps on the stairs came, and Yunu rushed up quickly, saying anxiously, “Miss, it’s a note for you.”
“Look at you, running so fast for nothing!”
Wuyi reproached her before asking, “Whose note is it?”
“Miss, you’ll know once you see it.”
Wuyi took the note. It was her favorite pure white color, clean and flawless, without any embellishments. When she opened it, neat, firm characters came into view: “On festive days, one misses family even more. Li Qing’an, along with his younger sister, invites you to go to Cien Temple to pay respects to our parents and ancestors. We’re waiting for you outside the side gate now.”
“Li Qing’an?”
“Miss, he’s the General Li who played the six-stringed zither last night.”
Yunu quickly took the guitar model from Wuyi’s desk. “Miss, it’s him!”
“Why are you in such a hurry? I know it’s him.”
Wuyi read the note again: “Li Qing’an, along with his younger sister, invites you to go to Cien Temple.”
“Hmm! He’s bringing his sister along.”
After pondering for a moment, Wuyi said to Yunu, “Go find Aunt Wang and tell her it’s the New Year’s Day. I want to go to Cien Temple to pay respects to my parents. Ask her for permission.”
“Okay, I’ll go right away!” Yunu ran off happily to find the housekeeper.
Only Wuyi was left in the room. She picked up the six-stringed zither model that Li Qing’an had given her. The melodious sound of the zither from last night seemed to flow through her heart once again…
“Miss!”
Yunu’s excited voice came from the courtyard. Wuyi quickly put down the zither.
The sound of footsteps on the stairs appeared again, and Yunu rushed in, out of breath, saying, “Miss, I can’t believe it!”
“What can’t you believe?”
“Aunt Wang said that from now on, you can come and go freely from the mansion without any restrictions.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
Yunu, anxious, hurriedly said, “Miss, let’s pack our things quickly. We shouldn’t keep them waiting.”
“No need. It’s just to pay respects to our parents, not to go on a trip. Yunu, help me remove the hairpin from my head…”
…
Li Qing’an paced back and forth outside the side gate with his hands behind his back. Would Wuyi reject him? He felt a bit nervous. This was the first time in his life that he had taken the initiative to pursue a girl, and yet she was a woman from the Tang Dynasty.
Inside the carriage, the three young ladies also stared eagerly at the gate. They silently prayed for their elder brother, hoping he would achieve his wish. Xia Xiaolian had mixed feelings—she wanted her brother to succeed, but also felt she had failed Mother Wu by not keeping an eye on him.

At that moment, hurried footsteps came from the side door, and a woman dressed in a white dance gown appeared at the entrance. Her dark hair was adorned with a simple silver hairpin. Though unadorned with makeup, she was naturally beautiful, with skin as fair as dawn light on snow. Her maid, Yunu, followed behind carrying a small bag.

Li Qing’an’s eyes lit up as he stepped forward promptly to greet her, “I’ve been waiting for you for a long time, Miss.”

The dancer smiled gently and said, “Thank you, General Li, for thinking so much of me. It allows me to pay respects to my parents on the New Year’s day. I am truly grateful.”

After saying that, she bowed gracefully to Li Qing’an. He laughed heartily and said, “It was no trouble at all. Please, Miss, get into the carriage!”

He pointed to the carriage and invited her eagerly. Not seeing any coachman, she was momentarily puzzled. “General Li, are you driving the carriage yourself?”

Li Qing’an scratched the back of his head and laughed, “The coachman went to pay respects to our ancestors. I have to drive it myself.”

As he spoke, he patted the long faces of the two horses and said with a smile, “You two, don’t let me embarrass myself in front of this beautiful lady today!”

Finding him amusing, the dancer couldn’t help but cover her mouth and smile lightly. Li Qing’an was instantly captivated by her charming smile and stood there, lost in thought.

“Brother, why don’t you hurry and let her get in?” the three young ladies said in unison.

……

Li Qing’an chuckled awkwardly and quickly introduced her, “These are my three sisters. The eldest and the second are twins. The eldest is named Rushi, the second is Ruhua, and the youngest is Xiaolian.”

The three young ladies quickly got off the carriage and bowed together, “Greetings, Miss Jiang!”

The dancer stared at the two identical twin sisters, also surprised. “You two… who is the elder sister and who is the younger?”

Li Qing’an laughed and pointed at Ruhua. “Their hairstyles are different. This is the elder sister, Rushi.”

Ruhua glared at him fiercely. “Brother, I’m Ruhua!”

The women laughed together. Li Qing’an scratched his head awkwardly. “Well… could I have remembered wrongly?”

The dancer smiled and said, “Let’s talk slowly inside the carriage. Let your brother drive us.”

The carriage was quite spacious, so even with five girls inside, there was no crowding. Hearing their laughter inside, Li Qing’an felt relieved. He swung his long whip and shouted, “Go…!”

But after shouting for a long time, the carriage didn’t move. “Go!” he yelled angrily again, but still nothing happened. Unable to help it, he clasped his hands in supplication, “Dear horses, please do me a favor!”

At that moment, Xiao Lian laughed inside the carriage and said, “Elder brother, did you forget to untie the reins?”
Li Qing’an’s face turned red as he quickly jumped down from the carriage. Sure enough, the reins were still tied to the tree. He hurried over to untie them, muttering to himself, “That’s strange. I clearly remember having untied them. Who tied them back up?”
Inside the carriage, the five women were already laughing heartily. Seeing Li Qing’an still clinging to his pride, they laughed even harder. Even Wu Yi, who rarely smiled, covered her mouth and laughed nonstop.
“Your elder brother is really interesting.”
“Our elder brother has many interesting stories! Miss Wu Yi, let me tell you some.”
…
After untying the reins from the tree, the carriage returned to normal. Li Qing’an used all his strength to finally get control of the two old horses, steering the carriage steadily toward Ci’en Temple.
Ci’en Temple was located in Zhao Guo Fang. It was built by Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi, to commemorate his mother, Empress Wende. After returning from his pilgrimage, Master Xuanzang spent a long time translating Buddhist scriptures at Ci’en Temple. Additionally, there was the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda at Ci’en Temple. Leaving one’s name on the pagoda was a great aspiration for scholars of the Tang Dynasty. After passing the imperial examinations, it was the dream of every scholar to inscribe their name there.
Half an hour later, Li Qing’an arrived at Ci’en Temple with his carriage. There were more than a dozen luxuriously decorated carriages parked in the square in front of the temple’s main gate. They were likely belonging to some prominent people who had come to offer prayers at Ci’en Temple on the first day of the new year.
Other than that, there weren’t many people. Only in the area around the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda were groups of scholars admiring the inscriptions left by their predecessors.
After stopping the carriage, Li Qing’an said to the women, “Wait a moment. I’ll go arrange something.”
He walked quickly toward a monk who was at the temple entrance and said, “Venerable master, I pay my respects.”
Unexpectedly, the monk mistook him for a coachman and ignored him, saying coldly, “What do you want?”
“I’ve brought my family to worship Buddha. Please arrange something for us, Venerable master.”
“Well… you’ve come at a bad time! There are several important pilgrims praying inside the temple. The abbot has said that outsiders should not disturb them casually.”
But Li Qing’an took out two ingots of golden yellow metal and said with a smile, “This is twenty taels of gold. If you could make an exception, this will be our offering money.”
Twenty taels of gold was worth over two hundred guan. The monk immediately clasped his hands and smiled, “Amitabha! Our Buddha says all beings are equal. How could we refuse to let you offer prayers? Please come with your family to the quiet room. The abbot will arrange for you to offer prayers.”

The Cien Temple covered a vast area, with large and small halls stacked one atop another, and behind them numerous monks’ quarters and quiet rooms. An old monk led Li Qing’an and his group to one of the quiet rooms, clasped his hands, and smiled, saying, “Please rest here, sir. Someone will bring you to the main hall to offer incense in a moment.”
“Please, Master.”
Li Qing’an turned to the women and said, “Everyone, come in and rest first!”
Rushi Ruhua and Xiao Lian entered the quiet room, while Wu Yi hesitated for a moment before saying, “General Li, I’d like to go see the Guanyin Hall.”
Li Qing’an chuckled and said, “Then I’ll accompany you.”
He gave the three young ladies a subtle glance, and Rushi Ruhua immediately sat down, exclaiming, “Oh! I’m so tired. Big brother, my bones feel like they’re falling apart from sitting in your carriage.”
“Miss, since General Li will accompany you, I won’t go. I sprained my foot when getting out of the carriage just now.”
Yunu frowned and pointed at her foot. Seeing that no one else wanted to go, Wu Yi nodded and said, “Then rest well! I’ll be back soon. General Li, I’m really sorry to trouble you.”
“Not at all! In fact, I’d like to go too. Please, miss!”
Li Qing’an accompanied Wu Yi all the way to the Guanyin Hall.
“Miss Wu Yi, I’ve heard you play the zither!”
“Where did you hear me play?”
“Last time I stayed in the guest room of the Xiang family’s mansion. It was next to your courtyard. I heard you playing the zither, but I disturbed you. Do you remember?”
“So it was you that night!”
Wu Yi smiled gracefully and said, “I thought I recognized your voice somewhere, but that guest room was never occupied. I was really startled that night.”
“You play the zither so well. Even someone as rough as me was captivated.”
“The general is too modest. It’s the general who plays the six-string zither well, especially last night’s piece. I’ve never heard it before. It had a deep sadness that still lingers in my heart. What’s its name?”
Li Qing’an smiled and said, “Deep sadness—only you could understand it. That piece is called ‘Sad Spain.’”
“Spain? Is that a place in the West?”
“Yes! It’s the westernmost territory of the Great Tang Empire. I was there five years ago, where I learned to play this kind of six-string zither and many beautiful pieces.”
“General Li!”
Wu Yi blurted out, a hint of hesitation in her eyes. She longed to hear more beautiful pieces. Last night, Li Qing’an’s playing of the six-string zither had deeply touched her heart, but she found it hard to speak up…
Li Qing’an smiled slightly and said, “Miss Wu Yi, is there something I could ask you for a favor?”
“General Li, please go ahead.”

“It’s like this: Ru Shi Ru Hua has a talent for playing the pipa, but unfortunately lacks a good teacher. Could you please come to my residence and guide her?”
“Well…”
Wu Yi thought for a moment before nodding gently and smiling, “Alright! I’ll also take the chance to hear the Western melodies played by the general.”
As they talked, they walked, and soon arrived at the Guanyin Temple, where a statue of Guanyin in a fish basket was enshrined. There weren’t many people in the courtyard; a few wintersweet plants were in full bloom, and a few yellow forsythia branches peeked out from the cracks in the rocks.
In front of the Guanyin statue, a mother and daughter were praying. After a while, they left, and no one else was there. Wu Yi stepped forward, knelt down gracefully, and clasped her hands in silence, saying, “Great Compassionate and Merciful Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, your humble disciple Wu Yi earnestly prays to you. May you protect my parents so they may be liberated in the afterlife at an early date. May you also protect your disciple from suffering. I make this vow today—on the day it is fulfilled, I will surely rebuild the Bodhisattva’s golden statue. Great Compassionate and Merciful Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva… Great Compassionate and Merciful Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva!”
She repeated these words silently several times and bowed respectfully three times. Slowly opening her eyes, she suddenly noticed that Li Qing’an was kneeling beside her, also clasping his hands and praying silently.
Wu Yi’s heart pounded. When had he knelt beside her? She quickly stood up and slowly walked into the courtyard.
In the courtyard, the wintersweet was in full bloom, with almost the entire tree covered in flowers. The petals were a mix of white and yellow, with hints of green, and they were moist and transparent, as if carved from amber or jade, exuding a pure and delicate beauty.
Wu Yi stood under the tree, sipping tea while admiring the wintersweet, but her mind kept returning to what Li Qing’an had said earlier—that he had been to the far west, where he learned to play the six-stringed zither. Having traveled abroad for many years, he must have seen countless different cultures and landscapes.
Li Qing’an had finished praying. Instead of disturbing Wu Yi, he leaned against a pillar in front of the temple door, quietly admiring her graceful figure.
She was tall and slender, not as plump as ordinary Tang women. Her waist was graceful and soft, and her fitted, flowing dress highlighted her beautiful feminine curves. She resembled a freshly bloomed white lotus, full of the charm of a young woman.
“Miss Wu Yi, do you like wintersweet?” Li Qing’an asked gently as he walked up behind her.
Wu Yi nodded slightly and said in a low voice, “Not only wintersweet—I like flowers. The pear blossoms, plum blossoms, and peach blossoms in spring. I love their vibrant colors and their fragrance. I long to walk alone among the flowers, undisturbed. Then I feel as if I too have become a pear blossom, drifting with the wind…”

Her gaze gradually grew misty, as if she had returned to the dreams of her youth. At that moment, an old monk appeared at the entrance of the courtyard, clasped his hands, and said, “Sir, the main hall is now free. Please go and offer incense.” Wu Yi suddenly woke up, wondering why she had said such things in front of him. She suddenly realized that Li Qing’an was standing right behind her, staring at her with bright eyes. Her face, as fair as white jade, flushed slightly, and her heart pounded violently. She lowered her delicate, fair neck and said softly, “General, let’s go quickly! They must be waiting anxiously.” “Right! Right! Let’s go quickly. Hehe! These wintersweet flowers are so beautiful; I’m completely mesmerized.” Li Qing’an accompanied Wu Yi at a brisk pace toward the quiet room. …… After eating vegetarian food at Ci’en Temple, Li Qing’an took Wu Yi back to the Prime Minister’s residence in a carriage. “General Li, thank you so much for today,” Wu Yi said softly. “It was just a small favor. By the way, I would also appreciate it if Miss Wu Yi could teach my two sisters how to play the pipa!” “I will definitely come. For the specific time, General Li, you can send me a message.” Li Qing’an was overjoyed. Sending a letter was nothing but using a goose to deliver messages. He glanced at Xiao Lian, thinking it would be best for her to deliver the message. “Miss, let’s go in!” Yu Nu said softly. Wu Yi nodded, leaned on Yu Nu, and stepped up the steps. Suddenly, Li Qing’an called out softly, “Miss Wu Yi!” Wu Yi stopped and turned around, asking, “General Li, is there anything else?” “Nothing!” Li Qing’an scratched the back of his head. He racked his brains trying to come up with a few words, but couldn’t think of any, so he just grinned foolishly. Wu Yi smiled gently and said, “General Li, then I’ll go back first.” “Okay! Goodbye.” Li Qing’an watched as the beautiful woman walked through the side door and disappeared inside. …… Once back in the courtyard, Yu Nu began to speak up, “Miss, I think this Li Qing’an is quite good. He’s handsome, easy-going, and can even drive a carriage by himself. He has none of the pretense typical of scholars. And I can tell he’s quite interested in you.” Wu Yi didn’t reply. She sat by the window, resting her chin in her hand, gazing blankly at a peach tree in the courtyard that already had buds. Yu Nu paused for a moment before talking to herself again, “Besides, he’s serving in Anxi, thousands of miles away from Chang’an. If we go to Anxi in the future, where will the Cui family find a wife for him? They’ll just be left staring uselessly.” Hearing her words become more and more explicit, Wu Yi interrupted her, “You girl must be crazy. I think you’re just eager to get married! Tomorrow I’ll go talk to Lady Du in the other courtyard and ask her to find you a suitable husband, and then you’ll be satisfied.”

Yunu sighed and said, “Miss, why go to such lengths? You know I’m doing this for your own good. You’re already twenty years old today—how many more years are there? If the Cui family refuses to arrange a marriage, do you really intend to stay unmarried for life? General Li is young and talented; he’s only in his twenties yet already a mid-level general of the fourth rank. He’s bound to become a regional commander in the future. If you marry him, you can help clear the Jiang family’s name!”
“Stop talking. I’m feeling tired today. I want to take a bath and go to bed. Please go heat some water for me!”
Seeing that Wuyi wouldn’t listen to her advice, Yunu went to heat water in a gloomy mood. After she left, Wuyi felt sad as well, thinking of her unfortunate fate. Her destiny was in the hands of the Cui family, people she had never met, and she was alone with no relatives to speak up for her.
She let out a sad sigh, picked up the six-stringed zither that Li Qing’an had given her, and remembered his cheerful smile, the strong masculinity he exuded when standing behind her, the sense of security he provided. A hint of warmth arose in her heart.