Chapter 11: The Antelope’s Horns, A Move in Lanyang

Ding Suian wasn’t foolish; it was precisely because he saw the danger that he sought out Ruan Guofan.

An honored noble who had been entrenched in Lanyang for nearly fifty years, even without military power, was still not to be underestimated.

“That’s why this junior came to Uncle for help.”

“First, tell me, why did you hide the Princess Consort of Lanyang?”

Ruan Guofan slowly sipped his tea, as if deliberately waiting to see Ding Suian make a fool of himself.

“Uncle, there’s something you might not know.”

“What is it?”

“The imperial decree praising the Princess Consort as the ‘Role Model for All Women Under Heaven’ was requested by Princess Xingguo from His Majesty.” When mentioning ‘Princess Xingguo’, Ding Suian obsequiously cupped his hands towards the capital, showing respect.

“Your Highness intervened in this matter?”

Ruan Guofan seemed unaware of this information, and his expression instantly became serious.

Princess Xingguo was their great boss, so it was natural to understand the profound meaning behind Her Highness’s actions.

Ding Suian poured more tea for Ruan Guofan, and quietly said, “Uncle, do you still remember the rumors about the court wanting to reduce noble titles?”

“Reducing noble titles? Reducing noble titles!”

Ruan Guofan suddenly understood.

The Great Wu dynasty had been established for less than fifty years, and logically, it should have been in the ‘governance’ phase of the cycle of order and chaos, but this was not the case.

In the Early Stage of the dynasty, His Majesty had generously bestowed titles. Besides the six kings of different surnames, countless dukes, marquises, counts, and viscounts were enfeoffed.

Taking Prince Lanyangs Estate as an example, the first Prince of Lanyang was granted over forty thousand mu of fertile land when he took office in Lanyang Prefecture. After three generations and over forty years of management, it had multiplied several times, and half of the fertile land in Lanyang Prefecture was now under the Prince’s Estate’s name.

The court’s tax revenue was dwindling, and the trend of land consolidation was becoming increasingly severe.

As a result, in recent years, even near large cities like Lanyang Prefecture, a group of bandits nicknamed ‘The Third Place Scholar Li’ had emerged, occasionally committing atrocities like robbery and murder.

Lanyang Prefecture, only two hundred li from the Imperial Capital Central Heaven City, was already like this; one could imagine that the situation in other regions far from the capital would only be more pessimistic.

The court intended to reduce noble titles but had many concerns. Firstly, they worried about being labeled ‘discarding the bow when the birds are gone’ and ‘unjust to meritorious officials’.

Secondly, the various regional kings and marquises were not so easy to strip of their titles. Although the Prince of Lanyang’s lineage had long lost military power, it didn’t mean that other kings of different surnames were soft targets. At least three kings of different surnames still held the power of Jiedushi in the Great Wu border towns.

The current Emperor is seventy-nine years old, and all five of his sons have died. If he cannot resolve this matter during his reign, his grandchildren will face an even more difficult and unsolvable situation when they ascend the throne.

“You mean, the court wants to take advantage of Du Jue’s death to smoothly strip the Prince of Lanyang’s title first?”

Ruan Guofan understood this point, and then, through imagination, everything became clear. “The Princess Consort of Lanyang must have promised Her Highness that she would not adopt an heir for the Prince’s Estate to inherit the title, in exchange for Her Highness saving her life.”

“That should be it. If Uncle helps the court perfectly resolve this matter without the court having to bear the blame of ‘mistreating descendants of meritorious officials,’ it will definitely be a great achievement!”

“Do I need you, young man, to draw me a pie chart? As long as it benefits His Majesty and Her Highness, even if there’s no merit, our West Yamen will do it without fail.” Ruan Guofan’s expression was solemn, then he sighed as if to himself, “This Princess Consort of Lanyang, though, has great courage. She voluntarily transformed herself into a chess piece in Her Highness’s hands. I wonder if this move will bring her fortune or misfortune.”

“Even if the Princess Consort didn’t take this risky move, Madam Wu wouldn’t let her go. This seems to be her only way to survive.”

Ding Suian spoke on behalf of his patron.

Ruan Guofan rubbed the jade thumb ring on his thumb for a long while before saying, “Speak, how can I help you?”

“When the time is right, this junior will contact Uncle in advance.”

“Alright.”

Having finished with business, Ruan Guofan’s serious expression softened, and he chuckled, “Yuanxi, this is your first time in a place like this, isn’t it?”

Ding Suian was born on the fifteenth day of the first month of the twenty-ninth year of the Zhengton reign, and because it was the Lantern Festival, he was given the courtesy name Yuanxi.

“Yes.” Ding Suian answered honestly.

“Do you want to stay tonight? Uncle will pick out two Jie’er for you to teach you how to be a man.”

You truly are my dear Uncle!

Then he suddenly remembered Ruan Guofan’s nickname’Smiling Tiger’ among their old brothers, and immediately his expression became stern as he firmly refused, “The Prince’s Estate is currently in a tumultuous period. It is my duty to not indulge in romance, and I must return to the estate as soon as possible.”

“Are you sure you don’t need it?”

“Not at all!”

“Hahaha, good!”

Ruan Guofan looked approvingly, “Not letting lust delay important matters, able to distinguish priorities, and having an enterprising spirit! Stay in Lanyang Prefecture for two years, and I guarantee you’ll be a junior officer! You’re stronger than your father!”

These words of praise left Ding Suian speechless.

His father, Ding Lie, was a Dutou of the Winged Tiger Army, one of the eight Imperial Armies, more than ten years ago, commanding about a hundred men. Ruan Guofan was his subordinate back then.

Later, the old brothers who had been looked after by Old Ding gradually prospered. Seeing that Ding Lie was still a Dutou, they pooled money to secure him the position of Camp Commander.

However, Old Ding stubbornly refused to take the post.

Not only was a sum of money wasted, but it also left Ruan Guofan and his brothers both angry and helpless.

From then on, ‘inflexible and unmotivated’ became one of Ding Lie’s labels.

At the end of the hai hour, Ding Suian left Pinshu Pavilion.

In the private room, Ruan Guofan sat alone for a long time, as if lost in a distant memory.

Until his thoughts were disturbed by the music from outside.

‘Thump thump thump~’

Ruan Guofan gently tapped the table, and the attendant standing outside silently slipped in.

“Chief Officer.”

“Hmm, you go back to the capital and have Sun Tiewu report to Her Highness…”

At this point, Ruan Guofan stopped, as if pondering the content of the ‘report to Her Highness’.

The attendant bowed and stood, waiting quietly.

Ruan Guofan turned his thumb ring and pondered for more than ten breaths before revealing an indescribably complex expression, “The antelope’s horns, a move in Lanyang.”

Chengxi Hall, the largest hall in the third compound of the Prince’s Estate, had been arranged as the Prince of Lanyang’s mourning hall since yesterday.

At the end of the hai hour, the night was thick and dark.

The mourning guests had long since departed.

In the back room of Chengxi Hall, the little maid Yi Huan had fallen asleep, curled up in a pile of mourning cloth.

Wansu saw this and was about to wake Yi Huan, but Lin Hansu stopped her, “Let her sleep, at this age, she’s most fond of sleep.”

Granny Xu stood behind Lin Hansu, holding a wooden comb, and fashioned the latter’s freshly washed, cascading black hair into a fluffy bun at the back of her head, tied with thin hemp. There were no other braids or coils, nor any pearl or jade hair ornaments.

This was a zhua hair bun, also called a mourning bun, a style exclusively for widows.

Lin Hansu, dressed in plain white mourning clothes, sat before a bronze mirror, looked left and right, and frowned, “How many days do I have to wear this ugly style?”

“At least until after the fourth seven-day period.” Granny Xu knew that Lin Hansu had loved intricate makeup, brocade clothes, and jade jewels since childhood, so she softly advised, “Though Your Ladyship and the Prince had no marital intimacy, the estate is currently in turmoil, and the entire Lanyang Prefecture is watching us. The Princess Consort must pretend to be sad for a few days, even if it’s just an act.”

Lin Hansu pouted exaggeratedly and said resentfully, “Although Du Jue was a cripple, I never did anything to displease him since I married into the Prince’s Estate. I never expected this dog to want me to be buried with him! Dammit!”

Granny Xu rarely saw Lin Hansu display such girlish behavior, and couldn’t help but smile, but still instructed, “Though the Prince has passed, the Princess Consort is still the Princess Consort. Your words and actions must be dignified! Who taught you these vulgar slang words? You must not say them again in the future!”

Lin Hansu raised her eyebrows, noncommittally.

Perhaps feeling that the mourning bun was truly ugly, she raised her hand and picked a plain white silk flower from her dressing box, tucking it obliquely into her hair by her ear. She examined herself in the mirror, looking left and right, and then finally said with satisfaction, “Being a Princess Consort or not, it’s meaningless. From now on, I want to be myself.”

With that, she suddenly turned around, her charming face slightly tilted upwards, and smiled at Granny Xu, “Nanny, does it look good?”

“It looks good, Your Ladyship looks good no matter how you dress up.”

“Hehe, can it charm a Young Master?”

Lin Hansu’s smile grew wider, her Phoenix eyes curving into crescent moons.

Granny Xu’s heart, however, skipped a beat upon hearing this. Lin Hansu had joked with her before, but such a bold joke as today was the first time she had ever uttered.

Having walked through the gates of life and death, the Princess Consort was somewhat different from before. As for how she was different, Granny Xu couldn’t quite put her finger on it for a moment.

“Go check the front.”

Lin Hansu, looking in the mirror, finally used her fingertip to gently adjust the position of the silk flower.

At midnight.

In the mourning hall, white banners hung low, and candlelight flickered.

Aside from a few old women from Lin Hansu’s courtyard who were still tending the ever-burning lamp, there was no one else.

Lin Hansu’s gaze swept around the mourning hall, not finding the person she was looking for. She moved with light steps and walked out of Chengxi Hall.

Chest Hair and Hu Jiangjiu stood outside the hall, one on each side, like two door gods.

Lin Hansu’s eyes shifted slightly, glancing past the fierce-looking Chest Hair, and landed on the honest-looking Hu Jiangjiu, “Where is your Squad Leader?”

“Ah? He, he, um, I…”

Hu Jiangjiu had only ever met officials of Ding Suian’s father’s rank in his life. He had never spoken to an ‘official’ of the Princess Consort’s level, so his tongue tied up, and his face turned red.

“Replying to Your Royal Highness, Squad Leader Ding went out. He said he would be back before midnight.”

Chest Hair answered for Hu Jiangjiu.

“Went out?” Lin Hansu said without thinking, “When he returns, have him come see this Princess.”

With that, Lin Hansu swayed back into the mourning hall, sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, her skirt spreading out like a blooming white lotus.

Her delicate hand formed a fist, propping up her chin, as she intermittently added paper money to the brazier.

The paper money curled and flew as the flames licked them, turning into ash butterflies.

Lin Hansu, dressed in white mourning, showed no trace of sorrow on her face. Instead, her lips were slightly upturned, and her Phoenix eyes, gazing at the brazier, shimmered with clear waves.

Thanks to reader: Midnight Morning Clouds for the reward.