Chapter 6: Hibiscus Jade
Dong, dong—
The thunderous drumbeats reverberated through Chang’an, as the setting sun dipped below the mountains, signaling the city’s myriad lamps to ignite.
Xu Buling finished striking the last beat of the evening drum and sat on the floor beside the desk in the Bell and Drum Tower. He rested his left hand on the hem of his sleeve and slowly ground the ink stick.
A sheet of Xuan paper lay flat on the small desk, the Qingtian jade paperweight reflecting the shimmering lights of Chang’an. A green lamp flickered softly beside it.
Tap, tap—
Soft footsteps echoed from within the Bell and Drum Tower.
Xu Buling’s ears twitched. He set down the ink stick and turned his head slightly:
“Who’s there?”
“…Your Highness, it’s me…”
The lanterns hanging from the eaves swayed gently in the wind. Song Yufu, dressed in a ao qun(Hanfu), stepped cautiously into the tower, her hand still clutching the ruler. She tried to maintain a serious expression, but the hint of panic in her eyes betrayed her nervousness.
Xu Buling resumed grinding the ink:
“I’m busy.”
Song Yufu’s eyes flashed with annoyance. She pursed her lips, walked towards the desk, and said sternly:
“…How can you speak to me like that… I… I’m your teacher…”
Xu Buling narrowed his eyes and glanced at her.
Song Yufu flinched, holding the ruler in front of her chest. She said nervously:
“My father is the Grand Tutor of the Imperial Academy. If you dare lay a hand on me… you won’t be able to leave this place…”
Xu Buling’s eyes narrowed further:
“Are you threatening me?”
Song Yufu shook her head, her hair ornaments trembling slightly:
“No, I’m just here to teach you the rules…” She took a few small steps towards the desk, assuming the posture of a teacher lecturing a student.
Xu Buling shook his head gently and continued grinding the ink, his voice calm:
“No one has been born yet who can teach me the rules.”
“Rules aren’t taught by people. They already exist… The Great Dynasty has stood for two hundred years. Sixty years ago, we conquered Baiyue and Daqi, and established the Imperial Academy in Chang’an, along with its rules…”
Xu Buling’s eyebrows furrowed slightly:
“Do you know how Daqi became Northern Qi and Baiyue became Southern Yue?”
Song Yufu, well-versed in history and literature, naturally knew the answer:
“Emperor Wenzong valued the military and promoted talented commoner generals. He established the military examinations, which greatly strengthened the nation. During the reign of Emperor Xiaozong, General Xu Lie rose through the ranks from a mere scout, achieving numerous victories. At the age of forty, he was appointed Grand General, leading an army of 1.2 million to conquer Baiyue in the south and defeat Daqi in the north, unifying the Central Plains…”
“Who is Xu Lie?”
“Your grandfather.”
“Then what rules are you trying to teach me?”
Xu Buling raised his gaze and looked at Song Yufu.
Song Yufu hesitated for a moment, then said softly:
“It is precisely because Prince Su’s ancestors achieved great feats, conquering vast territories for the Great Dynasty, that you, as his heir, must abide by the rules they established. You cannot rely on your power and act recklessly…
…This ‘Bell of Remembrance’ was cast by General Xu when he captured Chang’an. It serves as a reminder to the people and officials of the Great Dynasty of the hardships our ancestors endured for a hundred years. Punishing you by making you strike the bell carries the same meaning.”
Xu Buling took a deep breath, too exasperated to respond.
Seeing his silence, Song Yufu pressed on, holding the ruler firmly:
“The morning reading session starts at the hour of the dragon and lasts for half an hour. This rule applies to everyone, whether you are a prince or a commoner student. You were late, and then you resorted to violence.
This is a place of learning. Even General Xu dismounted and removed his sword before entering, showing respect. You… You are disrespectful, unruly, and rebellious…”
She continued her reprimand, listing a series of negative adjectives.
Xu Buling was quite satisfied with this assessment. Aunt Lu would be pleased if she heard this.
He looked coldly at the earnest young instructor:
“Do I need a reason to hit someone?”
“Of course you do… No, you shouldn’t hit anyone at all.”
Song Yufu tapped her palm with the ruler and paced back and forth in front of the desk:
“As the saying goes, ‘A gentleman uses words, not fists.’ If you had a grievance with Young Master Xiao, you could have reasoned with him and persuaded him. Resorting to violence is something a barbaric thug would do. Besides, Young Master Xiao is no weakling. He didn’t retaliate because he respected your status and the rules. You were clearly in the wrong…”
Xu Buling valued peace and quiet. Unable to concentrate on his copying due to the constant nagging, he set down his brush and looked up:
“Miss Song, are you bored?”
Song Yufu pursed her lips and stood upright in front of the desk:
“As the saying goes, ‘A teacher for a day is a father for life.’ Since I’m helping my father oversee your morning reading session, I can be considered your teacher. In the ‘Xue Ji’ that you’re copying, there’s a line that says, ‘A strict teacher is difficult to find, but only with a strict teacher can knowledge be respected, and only with respected knowledge can people learn with reverence.’ This means that we should respect our teachers and value knowledge…”
Xu Buling nodded and stood up:
“You’ve memorized it well. Perfect.” He walked towards Song Yufu.
Song Yufu was bewildered. She held the ruler in front of her chest and retreated until she was backed against the wall of the Bell and Drum Tower. She said nervously:
“You can’t hit me, or… or you’ll be confined for another seven days. That’s half a month in total…”
“Why would I hit you?”
Xu Buling stopped in front of her and tilted his head slightly:
“Copy the ‘Xue Ji’ ten times, or I’ll throw you down.”
Song Yufu glanced down. The Bell and Drum Tower was over ten meters high. The thought of falling made her shudder. She considered for a moment, then shook her head firmly:
“No. You were assigned to copy the ‘Xue Ji’ as punishment, so you can learn from your mistakes. I can’t do it for you.”
Xu Buling nodded and raised his right hand.
Song Yufu pursed her lips, displaying a surprising amount of courage. She closed her eyes and turned her head away, as if to say, “Go ahead, hit me! I’d rather die!” However, she soon felt herself being lifted off the ground. She opened her eyes and saw that Xu Buling was holding her by the back of her collar, carrying her towards the desk.
“Ah—”
Song Yufu was a head shorter than Xu Buling. Her embroidered shoes dangled in the air, her skirt swirling around her. The collar of her dress was tight against her neck, making her uncomfortable. She raised the ruler in her hand:
“Your Highness, how can you do this? I… I’m going to hit you…”
Xu Buling placed her beside the desk, his expression cold:
“Last chance. Will you copy it or not?”
Seeing that reasoning was futile, Song Yufu lowered her head and muttered:
“I won’t stoop to your level, you brute…” She tried to leave, but Xu Buling lifted her again and tossed her out of the Bell and Drum Tower. Her skirt billowed in the air, snowflakes swirling around her.
“Ah—!!”
A scream pierced the air.
Song Yufu’s face turned pale as she flailed her arms and legs, watching helplessly as she plummeted towards the ground.
The Bell and Drum Tower was about three stories high. The ground below was paved with bluestone slabs. The consequences of such a fall were unimaginable.
Song Yufu’s mind went blank. She closed her eyes tightly, waiting for the impact.
However, the pain never came. She cautiously opened her eyes a crack and saw that she was suspended in mid-air, high above the ground. She quickly closed her eyes again and said in a trembling voice:
“Let me go…”
Xu Buling released his grip.
“Ah— No, pull me back up… Waaah…”
She burst into tears.
Xu Buling pulled her back up and placed her beside the desk once more:
“Will you copy it or not?”
Song Yufu’s face was pale, tear stains streaking her cheeks. Her hand still trembled as she held the ruler. After a long moment, she finally caught her breath. She pursed her lips, about to speak, but when she saw Xu Buling raise his hand, she quickly grabbed the brush and started copying the ‘Xue Ji’ with a mixture of resentment and fear. She muttered under her breath:
“You’re so mean. You’re not a gentleman at all…”
“I’m not a gentleman. I’m a good-for-nothing wastrel.”
“A spoiled prince…”
“Heh, good to know…”
…
While it was still early, the palace was already illuminated by countless lanterns. Xiao Ting hurried through the corridors and entered a grand hall, where eunuchs and palace maids bowed respectfully.
A brazier warmed the hall, filling the air with a fragrant aroma. A beautiful woman in a palace attire reclined on a soft couch, resting. She wore a warm yellow palace dress with a sleeveless jacket and a phoenix crown. Her figure was plump but not overly so. Her eyes were almond-shaped, and her expression held a hint of authority, befitting her position of power.
Xiao Ting rushed into the hall and threw himself at the foot of the couch, wailing and pointing at his bruised and swollen face:
“Aunt, look! I’ve been beaten!”
The beautiful woman, startled awake, frowned slightly in displeasure:
“Xiao Ting, you’ll be reaching adulthood in two years. A man shouldn’t cry so easily. What kind of behavior is this?”
Xiao Ting sobbed, his tears and snot mixing together:
“If Xu Buling can hit me, why can’t I cry? You won’t let me retaliate…”
The Empress Dowager opened her eyes, dismissed the palace maids with a wave of her hand, and sat up slightly:
“Xu Buling hit you? Why would you provoke him?”
“Ah?”
Xiao Ting’s crying ceased abruptly, replaced by an expression of utter grievance:
“Aunt, how can you say that? I was diligently reciting poetry in the Imperial Academy, completely engrossed in my studies, when Xu Buling suddenly appeared and attacked me without warning…”
As a daughter of the prestigious Xiao family of Huainan and a woman who had held power for many years, the Empress Dowager could sense something amiss from Xiao Ting’s expression. However, he was still her nephew, so she didn’t press him further. She said gently:
“Xu Buling was poisoned by assassins at the Wei River last year. His martial arts skills have been severely diminished, and he can only rely on alcohol to suppress the agonizing pain. After such a traumatic experience, it’s understandable that he’s become irritable. He only hit you a few times. He didn’t kill you. Besides, you’re technically his elder. Why would you hold a grudge against him?”
Xiao Ting was puzzled:
“Aunt, I heard that the Dragon Locking Gu poison can cripple even the most skilled martial artist. But Xu Buling killed an Imperial Guard a few days ago, and his skills were said to be extraordinary…”
The Empress Dowager snorted softly:
“The Great Dynasty should be filled with heroes and talents. Xu Buling’s exceptional martial arts skills have long been established. He once boasted that he could ‘ascend to the heavens and slay the moon, descend to the seas and capture dragons.’ Fighting a few commoners is beneath him. Did you expect him to be defeated by a few insignificant thugs?”
Xiao Ting frowned:
“If he’s this powerful even with his skills diminished, what will happen once the poison is cured? Who will be able to restrain him?”
The Empress Dowager’s eyes held a hint of disappointment:
“What good is a warrior’s rage if it only results in bloodshed? Throughout history, have any great achievements been accomplished solely through brute force? Without strategy, one can’t even lead an army. Even if he can fight a thousand men alone, he’s still just a powerful soldier.”
Xiao Ting nodded:
“That’s true. Xu Buling is impulsive and reckless. He never reads, and he knows nothing about poetry or literature. His martial arts skills alone won’t lead him to greatness.”
“Good. I’ll speak with Lu Hongluan and ask her to discipline Xu Buling. You may leave now.”
Xiao Ting rubbed his bruised face. Although he was still resentful, he couldn’t disobey the Empress Dowager. He left reluctantly…
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