Study

Chapter 29: The Study

"Ah, Hong Yi, the Langhuan Library in your home is truly massive. It's even larger than the one at Prince Rong's estate; there must be at least sixty or seventy thousand volumes here. It's a pity I can only visit today, as I have to head into the palace tonight." Luo Yun gazed at the vast library, filled with countless rosewood shelves and the lingering scent of books. Forming a bond of kinship with the Marquis Wuwen estate would certainly elevate the status of the household. Hong Yi finally laid eyes on the Falling Star Bow that his father had used in his youth. Lady Fang remained silent. Within the strictly regulated Marquis estate, Lady Zhao held absolute authority. Stroking the small white cat in her hands, Lady Zhao's expression was disturbingly calm. "And what of the matter with Hong Yi?" Madam Rong still refused to give up. On the desk lay the books Hong Xuanji frequently read, stacked a foot high. Then, her eyes fell upon the desk. "Let the Marquis return to make the final decision. You, have the maidservants go to our own pharmacy to collect some healing salves and tonics for Hong Gui and Rong Pan to recover." Lady Zhao beckoned, and a maidservant, knowing her habits, quickly brought the snow-white cat she had been holding into her arms for her to stroke. "My Lady, why must you do this? If you just give the word, I guarantee that after a bout of severe illness, that Hong Yi will be sent to the underworld, quietly and without a trace. I saw it long ago—this boy is bound to cause trouble. I didn't take him to heart before, but now he's actually making waves. If we let him gain any real influence, what will become of us?" the old nurse said coldly. "This matter is of great importance. Before the imperial decree arrives, no one is to discuss it. Everyone go about your own business. Once the Marquis returns from handling state affairs, I will discuss it with him personally." Buddhist martial arts emphasize the sinews and bones; their techniques for tempering the muscles and flesh are the best in the world. However, Taoist arts emphasize breathing, and their techniques for cultivating the internal organs surpass those of the Buddhists. The reason for this practice was to balance the factions within the inner palace. When princesses from foreign nations married into the dynasty, they were often miserable and lacked the support of their birth families, making them easy targets for persecution due to jealousy. Such incidents easily provided other nations with pretexts to stir up trouble. "The notes record that a hundred years ago, during the peak of the previous Great Zhou Dynasty, there were ten famous bows. The first was the Sun-Shooting Bow, the second was the Moon-Holding Bow, and only the third was this Falling Star. I wonder just how formidable the first two must have been?" Lady Zhao sat down again, her face calm; no one knew what she was thinking... However, Hong Yi had heard of it—it was made from the sinews of a giant python, soaked in glue for ten years before being tanned, giving it immense elasticity and lasting durability. It was one of the ten famous bows of the Great Zhou Dynasty, named Falling Star; drawing it to kill enemies from a thousand paces away was a simple feat. At this moment, she no longer had the heart to consider how to enforce family discipline on Hong Yi; instead, she was contemplating the significance of these words. After recognizing the kinship, the families of civil and military officials would be considered imperial relatives, which was a special form of imperial favor. It was what one might call a win-win situation. Steel was used to make the bow body, but the stability of the frame was unimaginable. More importantly, it lacked the flaws of wooden bows, which could crack or be eaten by insects after drying out. The only issue was that it was too heavy; even the great generals in the military could not use it for combat, only for testing. And this was Ice Crack Patterned Steel, no less. Years ago, when the Yunmeng Kingdom attacked the Great Gan Dynasty, it was because a princess who had married over was cast into the cold palace and committed suicide by poison, which they used as an excuse to invade. The imperial concubines and noble consorts of the Great Gan Dynasty were not allowed to leave the palace, but the court governed with benevolence and filial piety. They specifically issued a decree that every New Year and festival, the concubines and noble consorts living in the deep palace could return home to visit their parents, demonstrating the vastness of imperial grace. Consort Yuan was originally a princess of the Yuantu Kingdom in the north. She hadn't been in the palace long, but she was deeply favored. Earlier that year, she had been elevated to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort, her status second only to the Empress, making her a person of significant influence within the palace. However, this was not a matter of state, but of internal affairs, so the decree issued was not an imperial edict, but an inner palace decree. The bowstring was as thick as a finger, pitch black, and it was impossible to tell what material it was made of. "Go and handle it; I have my own plans." Lady Zhao waved her hand. Seeing the look on her face, Lady Fang and Madam Rong wisely took the maidservants and nurses and retreated. But the inner palace also housed princesses married from foreign lands who could never return home to visit their families; they were destined to live in seclusion for life. Therefore, there was a rule in the inner palace: the Empress Dowager or the Empress would issue an inner palace decree designating a family of a civil or military official as their "kinship family," so that during festivals, they, like the other concubines, would have a "maternal home" to return to. "You have all been busy for quite a while; you may rest now. When the princess stays for a meal later, we will come out together. Resting now will ensure you have the energy to accompany her." Hearing the words of Princess Zhennan, Luo Yun—which seemed like idle chatter but were no less than a thunderbolt—everyone in the main hall was shocked. The first to regain her composure was Lady Zhao, the dignified mistress of the house. "Sister, this is a wonderful thing; we must prepare for it. For Consort Yuan to recognize us as kin is a great blessing. We will become imperial relatives. Even if Consort Yuan doesn't bear a son who can claim the throne, at the very least, he would be a Prince. Once we've climbed this ladder, the future blessings will be endless." Hearing this instruction, the two head maidservants' eyes widened in confusion. The library within the Marquis Wuwen estate was called the "Langhuan Library." It was a full five hundred paces square, with two-story-high bookshelves on all four sides. The shelves were packed with books, and in the center stood a large sandalwood table, a jade paperweight, a purple-gold brush holder, and a large, foot-square landscape purple-stone inkstone. These furnishings all displayed the grandeur expected of a wealthy and prestigious family. After the two head maidservants left, Lady Zhao beckoned again. An old nurse stepped forward from behind her. This nurse had silver hair, a high nose bridge, and deep-set eyes, appearing quite elderly. However, if one looked closely, they would see her fingers were slender and lacked even a single wrinkle, like those of a sixteen-year-old girl. It was a Taoist breathing technique used to train the internal organs. Hong Yi looked at the Falling Star Bow hanging on the wall, knowing he couldn't hope to draw it even an inch. At a glance, Hong Yi saw that the first book was the Spirit Turtle Breathing Technique. On the front wall of the library hung a large bow, its entire body gleaming. One look told him it was made of refined steel. Even more impressive was that the gleaming body of the steel bow was covered in countless ice-like cracks; it was clearly made of Ice Crack Patterned Steel, which was worth its weight in gold. "The Marquis is a man who values rules; nothing can be hidden from him. For all these years, I have never done anything out of line in his presence because I understand his temper. You may go; I have my own plans." Lady Zhao waved her hand. The maidservants and nurses on all sides were also whispering among themselves. "Is Xi'er very busy lately? You, go to the Divine Machine Battalion and tell him to make time to come back. Also, write a letter to Kang'er." Once everyone had retreated, the Marquis's hall fell silent, leaving only the sound of the cat yawning in the vast room. "My Lady..." "Consort Yuan wants to form a bond of kinship with our Marquis Wuwen estate? Why hasn't any news come from the palace? But since Princess Zhennan is coming and going from the palace, the news must be true. Perhaps the decree will arrive shortly. This is a monumental event." "Shuang'er, Tong'er, clean up the Osmanthus Chamber in the East Courtyard. Have Hong Yi move in later. Also, select four clever maidservants to serve him, and go to the accounting office to draw three hundred taels of silver for him to purchase supplies. Tell him I've prepared it for his imperial examinations," Lady Zhao instructed the two head maidservants. After the shock came the buzzing of discussion. The sharp-tongued Madam Rong immediately leaned in to speak.