Chapter 121: Winter Solstice

Clear skies on the Winter Solstice foretell rain at New Year.

On the twenty-second day of the twelfth month, a crimson sun sprang from the morning mist. The rosy clouds of dawn dyed the entire sky a splendid scarlet, creating a beauty beyond compare.

The Winter Solstice was celebrated on a scale no less grand than the New Year. People donned fresh clothes, prepared food and drink, and offered sacrifices to their ancestors. Government offices permitted gambling and games, and people visited one another in celebration, just as they did during the New Year festivities.

In his study, Lu Liaoliao carefully outlined a Winter Solstice Cold-Dispelling Diagram, glancing toward the window from time to time. No matter how hard he tried, his heart would not settle.

Since the Horse Racing Association had been established, there had already been numerous contests of horsemanship and archery, yet Lu Liaoliao had never taken part in a single one. He had not even managed to see the renovated racecourse or archery grounds. It was not that he feared being questioned by his martial uncle, Li Linfu. Rather, it was Old Master Lu Manman’s watchful gaze—like that of a man guarding against thieves—that kept him from taking even half a step beyond the main gate.

Li Sheng had ridden Black Clouds Covering Snow to several competitions, but his results had not been especially impressive. After taking a wife, the horse seemed to have lost all ambition. It had become remarkably difficult to excite. Its best result was only third place.

Nevertheless, its reputation among Chang’an’s finest steeds remained unrivaled. Because of its bold and brutal exploits on that fateful day, people had given it the name Flowery Grand Marshal. Its million-cash bride, the purple-maned steed Purple Cong, naturally became the Flowery Grand Consort.

At night, when Li Sheng attended banquets and gatherings held by the Horse Racing Association, Lu Liaoliao could only listen from the sidelines, green with envy. The grand contest prepared for the Winter Solstice made him itch with longing. He wished he could split himself in two.

Tang Xiaoqi had taken several maids and matrons to prepare the food, and had brought Zhou Liutze along as well. Wang Liuli had gone to watch the competition with Qing’er and Wang Shiyi. Today, Lu Liaoliao seemed to have become a nobody whom no one remembered.

After outlining several Cold-Dispelling Diagrams, he threw down his vermilion brush in exasperation and ambled toward the private school in the old residence.

There were no guards and no young eunuch attendants. It seemed that the imperial great-grandson, Li Shi, would not be coming today. It had been a long time since he had disciplined and tormented his two unruly, stubborn pupils. He decided to go tease them today. Otherwise, he would die of boredom.

“Govern the realm with the Analects alone. Once you truly understand this great classic of the Sage, you will discover that every principle under Heaven is contained within it. To become a general or a minister, to settle the affairs of the world for one’s sovereign, and to win fame both in life and after death—these are the greatest aspirations and dreams of scholars such as ourselves.”

Zhang Xun’s voice drifted out from the schoolroom, making Lu Liaoliao’s eyes nearly pop out of his head.

“Master Zhang Xun, it is the Winter Solstice. Why aren’t you at home with your family? What brings you to my house?” Lu Liaoliao strode forward, his expression displeased.

“As a teacher, my first duty is to transmit the Way and resolve my pupils’ doubts. How could I, Zhang Xun, allow a mere seasonal celebration to delay such an important task? Once the New Year festivities are over, I may be sent to take office in some prefecture or county at any time. To prevent these children from being led astray by you, I must seize the time and lay a proper foundation for them.”

Zhang Xun’s expression did not change in the slightest. Lu Liaoliao’s words had no effect on him whatsoever.

“Your elder brother, Zhang Xiao, serves in the imperial court as an Investigating Censor. Can’t you ask him to keep you here in the capital?” Lu Liaoliao was so annoyed that he could not resist adding a taunt.

“Yang Guozhong now holds power at court. Nothing can be accomplished without offering a substantial gift. In such a grotesque climate, I, Zhang Xun, would rather not serve as a capital official at all!”

A look of disgust crossed Zhang Xun’s face. He waved his hand as though trying to dispel the foul atmosphere.

Lu Liaoliao was rendered speechless by this. He himself had obtained his seventh-rank post as Assistant Director of the Imperial Armory through Princess Yun Zhen’s recommendation, while his father-in-law, Wang Yuanbao, had spent a great deal of money persuading several influential officials to recommend him. At that moment, he felt as though he stood a level below Zhang Xun.

“Wang Huan, why aren’t you celebrating the festival at home? What brings you here as well?”

After glancing at the sharp-eyed boy of twelve or thirteen, Lu Liaoliao began to scold him.

“The road of learning is arduous and long. How could a disciple allow a mere seasonal celebration to interfere with his studies? My grandfather said that after today, I should live here permanently and never return home. Only then can I learn true skills. Teacher, could you prepare a humble room for me?”

At such a young age, Wang Huan was indeed as incorrigible as Old Master Wang had described. His words left both teachers stifled with irritation.

“Heh.” Lu Liaoliao laughed in exasperation. “You are not even my personal disciple. Why should you move into my house?”

“To honor one’s teacher and respect the Way lies in the heart, not in outward ceremony. In my heart, I regard you as my master, and you have never treated me as an outsider. What, then, would be improper about my living in your house?”

Wang Huan had clearly prepared his answer in advance. His words left Lu Liaoliao utterly speechless.

Zhang Xun smiled faintly and nodded repeatedly. “It seems you ought to study the principles of propriety a little more yourself.”

“Heh!” Lu Liaoliao let out a cold laugh. “If learning all that could make one a general or minister, then the matter would be rather childish, wouldn’t it?”

“Why should it be impossible?” Zhang Xun replied proudly.

“Very well! Today I shall see how you become a general. The two of us can conduct a simulation and find out.”

Lu Liaoliao issued the challenge directly.

After three simulated battles, Zhang Xun had been beaten so thoroughly that he had abandoned both helmet and armor. His entire army had been annihilated every time.

He stared blankly at the sand table for a long while, then silently departed. From that day on, whenever Lu Liaoliao taught military strategy, Zhang Xun appeared in the guise of an instructor inspecting his pupils and never missed a single lesson.

There was something immensely pleasurable about defeating an opponent who had so often humiliated him—so exhilarating that Lu Liaoliao nearly wanted to dance and shout aloud. Had his three pupils not been standing before him, he might truly have done so.

With his hands clasped behind his back and his chin raised, he strolled leisurely through the rear courtyard with the three pupils, looking exactly like a proud victorious general returning from battle.

Then Li Sheng returned, riding Black Clouds Covering Snow—or rather, he ought to be called Flowery Grand Marshal now. Man and horse were surrounded by a cluster of grinning personal guards.

The triumphant smile, proud expression, and imperious bearing on Li Sheng’s face instantly crushed Lu Liaoliao’s impressive aura.

“Judging by that look on your face, I take it you did well in today’s competition.” Lu Liaoliao glanced at him. The sourness in his voice could have been smelled by anyone.

“Heh-heh!” Li Sheng gave a simple, delighted grin. “Today, Flowery Grand Marshal suddenly displayed astonishing power. During the second half of the race, he chased after the leaders with all his might and actually overtook them at the end. He finished half a horse’s head ahead of the favorite, Red Hare, and took first place. In the archery contest, I fired eight arrows in succession, every one striking the bull’s-eye, and took first place there as well.”

“Eight arrows in succession? You can shoot eight arrows consecutively now?” Lu Liaoliao stared at him in astonishment.

“Heh-heh! I owe it all to Fifth Madam’s careful instruction. Before long, I think I’ll be able to master the Nine-Star Chain completely.” Li Sheng’s smile was radiant.

Lu Liaoliao pursed his lips, sourness rising in his heart. “With Fifth Madam supervising you every day, what is there to be proud of in taking first place at archery? But what medicine did that lazy brute Black Clouds Covering Snow take today? How could he possibly outrun all those magnificent steeds?”

Li Sheng shook his head blankly, indicating that he had no idea.

“When the race was halfway over, the young mistress came riding Flowery Grand Consort to watch. I suspect this fellow simply couldn’t bear to lose face in front of his own consort, so he began running for his life.”

Jiao Kun, who had gone to watch the competition, offered this clever deduction.

“What a hopeless creature!” Lu Liaoliao glared fiercely at Black Clouds Covering Snow.

The horse raised its head and gave a loud neigh, as if to say, You’re no different yourself.

“Wait a moment! Whose stable at the Horse Racing Association could possibly have a divine steed like Red Hare?” Lu Liaoliao suddenly realized.

“I was just about to tell you. The grand horse-racing and archery meet today was attended even by His Highness the Crown Prince. Red Hare is his mount. At first, I was worried that this black brute would beat Red Hare by half a horse’s head and steal the Crown Prince’s thunder, causing trouble for us. But who would have thought that His Highness would merely laugh and say that an occasion for rejoicing with the people was no place for distinctions of rank? In the end, he personally placed the prize in my hands and encouraged me to slay the enemy on the battlefield and win glory for the country.”

Li Sheng’s face was alight with excitement. He had clearly been completely won over by the Crown Prince’s skill at winning people’s hearts.

“So the thoroughly disregarded Crown Prince, Li Heng, must have been bored out of his mind. He actually came to join Chang’an’s young gentlemen in a horse race on the Winter Solstice.”

Lu Liaoliao gave the matter no further thought and muttered to himself.

A crowd gathered around Li Sheng to congratulate him and escort him away. Lu Liaoliao did not follow. He felt far too uncomfortable. He had created the whole thing, yet he could only watch others enjoy themselves while he was forbidden to take part. How could he possibly feel good about that?

As the sun sank in the west, Wang Liuli returned riding the purple-maned steed Flowery Grand Consort. Her face was gloomy, clearly showing that she had encountered something deeply unpleasant.

“Did Black Clouds Covering Snow cause some trouble by defeating the Crown Prince’s Red Hare?” Like a frightened bird, Lu Liaoliao looked at Wang Liuli guiltily.

“You underestimate the tolerance of a crown prince. But the very person who has displeased me is indeed Crown Prince Li Heng.”

Wang Liuli rolled her eyes at him, then suddenly turned away and retched several times, though nothing came up.

“Heh! Is displeasure something one can vomit out?” Lu Liaoliao burst out laughing.

“You idiot! I’m pregnant!” Wang Liuli’s face was pale as she glared at him furiously.

“Ah!” Lu Liaoliao jumped in shock. “You—you’re pregnant? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“What good would telling you have done? Could you have helped me become pregnant?” Wang Liuli was visibly irritated, and a single sentence was enough to silence him.

“Then what exactly did Crown Prince Li Heng do to upset you so badly?” Lu Liaoliao could not help asking.

“Do you know how much revenue the racecourse and archery grounds have brought in over these past two months?” Wang Liuli stared straight at him.

“Two hundred thousand cash?” Lu Liaoliao cautiously ventured a figure.

“Seven million cash!”

The words made Lu Liaoliao involuntarily retreat two steps.

“You have no idea how mad those young gentlemen became over horse-racing bets. They would throw in a hundred thousand cash without even blinking. Later, many ordinary people from Chang’an began coming to place wagers as well. The money came in so quickly that even I began to feel uneasy.

“And now, just like that, the Crown Prince has declared that horsemanship and archery are the foundation of our Great Tang’s military strength and must be strongly supported and encouraged. The Crown Prince’s residence has decided to lend its full support to this undertaking, which benefits both the state and the people. From now on, he will personally present the reward to the champion of horsemanship and archery.”

Wang Liuli finished in a single breath, her throat dry. Lu Liaoliao immediately poured her a cup of tea and handed it over.

“How does the Crown Prince’s residence intend to support it?” Lu Liaoliao had begun to sense that something was wrong.

“The racecourse and archery grounds are to be placed under the ownership of the Crown Prince’s residence. He will return to my family all the money we originally invested.”

Wang Liuli slammed the teacup down on the table. Clearly, this time she had been infuriated beyond measure.