SWNOVELXO Chapter 78 - Tongzhou
Tianjin is about a hundred miles away from the capital, and it would take a whole day by car to get there. Therefore, Cheng Wanyun and the others had to rest for the night in Tongzhou first.
Tongzhou is the starting point of the Grand Canal, a major hub for the transportation of grain. From here, one can travel south along the canal, connecting with Shunyi, Hebei, and Tianjin.
The Crown Prince chose to rest in this place, probably to observe the grain transport. After all, the boats traveling south to the capital, along with private cargo ships, all dock here in this town. The docks stretch for dozens of miles, and as far as the eye can see, the ships are packed so tightly that there’s barely a gap between them. The colorful sails cluster like flowing streams, with mastheads reaching the sky. Some even say that Tongzhou is a town on the river.
Cheng Wanyun, when she traveled to the capital for the selection of beauties, had also taken a boat to Tongzhou first. Seeing the bustling shops tightly packed along the streets gave her a sense of being in a different world.
She and the Crown Prince left the capital early in the morning. On the way, she snuggled up in the Crown Prince’s arms and took a nap. By the time they reached Tongzhou in the evening, she was full of energy, while the Crown Prince had a sore shoulder and numb hands from her resting on him. Cheng Wanyun, feeling a little guilty, asked if he was alright and if he needed her to massage him. The Crown Prince, maintaining his composure, said he was fine. However, when they got out of the carriage, while Cheng Wanyun was inside adjusting her appearance, he quietly stretched his arms and legs for a while. She caught sight of him through the gap in the carriage curtain and couldn’t help but laugh.
Before they even arrived, E Chu had already led the 50 personal guards ahead to Tongzhou and booked a guesthouse. The guesthouse was called East Street Inn and had been in operation for over 30 years. E Chu had come to scout it out the previous year, and once the Crown Prince confirmed the schedule, he had come a month earlier to reserve rooms. He also thoroughly investigated the innkeeper and his family, including their two sons, their daughter-in-law, the neighbors, and even the guard dog in the backyard—whether it was male or female, he left no detail unchecked.
The inn was old but clean, with two floors. The second floor was for lodging, while the first floor served meals. The backyard contained the kitchen, courtyard, firewood room, and stable.
They stopped to rest and change clothes.
After changing into civilian clothes, the Crown Prince planned to quietly go to the docks with E Chu and the others to gather some information. It wasn’t convenient to bring her along, so he asked Cheng Wanyun to take her guards and go explore on her own. The night market in Tongzhou was well-known, even in the capital, so he encouraged her to enjoy herself. However, the Crown Prince had already made other arrangements. Master Cheng and Madam Wu, along with the elderly Cheng matriarch and Cheng Huai Zhang, had quietly arrived in Tongzhou the previous day, hoping for an opportunity to meet with her!
Before this trip, the Crown Prince had selected thirty guards, including the two Shi brothers and Huai Jing. A day before departure, the Crown Prince had instructed Huai Jing not to make it obvious and to quietly send word back to the Cheng family to wait for them in Tongzhou.
It wasn’t until they were close to Tongzhou that Cheng Wanyun heard the Crown Prince casually mention, “Your father and grandmother are also waiting for you in Tongzhou.” She had just woken up and was still a bit groggy, but after hearing this, she immediately became fully awake. Surprised and delighted, she instinctively jumped up, threw her arms around the Crown Prince’s neck, and kissed him on the cheek. After the excitement, she leaned against his shoulder, laughing and crying, wiping away her tears and repeatedly saying, “Second Master, how should I thank you?”
The Crown Prince merely smiled and pinched the tip of her nose. “What’s there to thank me for? It’s just a small matter.”
For her, it was not a small matter, but an incredibly big one! She had been in the palace for five years. Although she could see Madam Wu, Master Cheng, as an external official, could not enter the inner palace without an imperial decree, and her grandmother’s health was unstable. Sometimes, she even wondered if she would never get to see them again in this lifetime.
But now, she had a Crown Prince who always thought of her and planned for her. The phrase “treating others as you would yourself” sounds easy, but it’s hard to practice. He has to keep every little detail of her in mind and, at the right moment, naturally and effortlessly take care of it.
Tongzhou was only twenty miles away from the capital. Some could reach it in one or two hours by fast horse, while others with families might take a whole day, but the journey would still be bumpy. Originally, Master Cheng didn’t want the elderly matriarch to endure another bumpy trip, but she insisted on coming.
“I’m old now; perhaps this will be our last meeting.” The matriarch, who had lost her teeth, spoke in a raspy voice, making Master Cheng teary-eyed with just one sentence. She immediately scolded her, “Stop looking like that! I’m not dead yet! Hurry, get the carriage!”
Madam Wu hurriedly came forward to support her mother-in-law and smiled at Master Cheng. “I’ll take care of Mother on the road, you can rest assured.”
“That’s more like it.” The matriarch shot Master Cheng a glance, then put her shoes back on that she had just taken off to hit him. The Cheng family matriarch had been widowed young, and Master Cheng was her only son. She had originally had a daughter, but she was swept away by a flood during a disaster year. So, she had to carry her son on her back while working hard in a workshop making ink — grinding and pounding ink, especially pounding the ink, which involved hammering ink cakes for one or two hours. After a day of work, her arms would tremble so much she couldn’t even hold chopsticks. This was a task that even men couldn’t do for long. The matriarch did it for twelve years, and after that, she took care of the few acres of farmland left by her deceased husband. When her son became a scholar, all the unpleasant neighbors and relatives suddenly turned into kind benefactors, rushing to offer land and people. That was when she could finally catch her breath.
But she didn’t stop there. After the scholar exam, becoming a jinshi (a successful candidate in the imperial exams) wasn’t just about hard work. The matriarch, being a very frugal person, sold her house and land to bribe teachers and county magistrates, enduring all kinds of insults and refusals, but never wavering. Finally, heaven did not disappoint the determined, and she managed to support Master Cheng to become a jinshi from a poor background. Because of this, her character was strong and tough, and she was very decisive. She didn’t look kindly on her son’s cowardly ways and instead preferred her daughter-in-law, Madam Wu.
After being scolded, Master Cheng dejectedly followed Lao Ding to the street to rent a horse—yes, although the family had a side concubine, Master Cheng was timid and didn’t dare accept any gifts. He would refuse things sent by E Chu whenever he could, playing out the routine of “No need for the trouble, please take it back!” and “Come on, Cheng, just accept it, it’s a small token!” every day at his doorstep. He was really afraid of implicating his eldest daughter, and with Huai Zhang still preparing for the jinshi exam, he had been putting on a brave face, boasting about marrying two daughters. Now, the family only had two big donkeys to pull the cart and couldn’t afford a horse. But since they needed to go to Tongzhou, the donkeys weren’t enough, so they had to go rent a horse.
The Cheng family matriarch sat in the courtyard waiting and watched as Cheng Wanyun’s tortoise, which she had raised since childhood, slowly crawled out of the kitchen. She bent down, picked it up, and wiped the dirt off its purple-brown shell with her sleeve. Stroking the fine carved lines on its back and the yellowish jade-like ridge, she sighed, “Why haven’t you gone into hibernation yet? Well, your nest is next to the stove, so it’s warm there. How could you sleep? It’s just right. You can come along with me. I’m sure A Yun misses you too.”
The tortoise, which the Cheng family often used for divination, had gotten used to being handled every few days. In the matriarch’s arms, it didn’t shrink into its shell but instead, relied on her body heat, stretching out its neck and lifting its bright red face like a figure of Guan Gong. It yawned contentedly, seemingly indifferent to the prospect of traveling far.
The Cheng family arrived in Tongzhou on the evening of the second day of the second month, staying at a small inn on East Street. To avoid revealing the Crown Prince’s whereabouts, Cheng Wanyun deliberately changed into Han-style clothes she made herself. She wore a white silk embroidered skirt with gold thread and plum blossom patterns, and a blue silk short jacket with butterfly gold and silver buttons. The sleeves were wide, and the embroidery along the edges was delicate. The most beautiful part of her outfit was the cloud-shaped shoulder piece, made in the shape of a lotus, with beads hanging from the edges—a stunning design!
She also styled her hair in a popular “peony hairstyle,” rolling her hair high and tying it into a bun, leaving her smooth forehead exposed. Bitao, dressed as a servant girl, styled her hair in a shell-shaped bun, smiling and saying, “It’s cold outside, Second Mistress, you should wear a Zhaojun headpiece before going out.” She then brought her a white marten fur headpiece and tied her hair in a fluffy bun at the back of her head, adorned with jewelry, making her reflection in the mirror look graceful and elegant.
Finally, Cheng Wanyun put on a fur cloak and spun around a couple of times after putting it on. Beneath the cloak, the tips of her embroidered shoes peeked out, with butterflies and flowers sewn onto the surface. The insoles were lined with lamb’s wool, making them both warm and comfortable. As she walked, it seemed as if the butterflies were alive, fluttering beneath her feet.
It had taken almost a month to finish these shoes, but they were worth it—they were simply beautiful!
Bitao crouched down to adjust the hem of her cloak and then went back to grab an umbrella. This time, she was the only one accompanying Cheng Wanyun. The rest, Qingxing and Tianjin, stayed behind at the palace to serve the children at Ning Shou Palace. Before leaving, Cheng Wanyun had sternly warned them to swear an oath to stay by the children’s sides and serve them well. Although Ning Shou Palace was already the safest place, she felt better after giving them a final reminder.
The departure happened during the children’s nap, when Cheng Wanyun reluctantly left, unable to move if they were awake, especially when faced with their tears.
Once Cheng Wanyun was ready, Cheng Huai Jing had been waiting outside for a quarter of an hour.
They quietly left through the back door. Apart from Cheng Huai Jing and Bitao, who were closely guarding her, at least twenty other people dressed in plain commoners’ clothes followed along, blending in with the crowd. This way, they wouldn’t attract attention, and Cheng Wanyun wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.
Tongzhou was as bustling as the capital. Along the streets, the shops were illuminated by several bullhorn lamps, bright enough to make the entire street seem like daylight. Larger, wealthier shops had additional colorful glass lamps that spun slightly in the wind, resembling colorful neon lights. Merchants, tourists, and buyers all carried small lanterns, which further highlighted the liveliness of the street.
The Cheng family waited in a three-story teahouse, with elegant furnishings in private rooms. The walls were adorned with poems by travelers and scholars, and beside the seats were copies of Nalan Xingde’s ‘Drinking Water Collection’. Customers could enjoy tea while reading poems, and the aroma of ink filled the air, creating a peaceful and refined atmosphere.
However, after the waiter came in twice to refill tea, no one in the room was paying attention to the poems or drinking tea. Everyone was standing around restlessly. The man dressed like a noble kept pacing back and forth, which made the matriarch, sitting nearby, more and more annoyed. Finally, she raised her foot, took off her shoe, and threw it at the man’s head. Just as the waiter came in smiling, he saw the shoe imprint on the man’s forehead, causing him to crouch down in pain.
The matriarch then loudly scolded, “Are you a donkey? What’s with this endless pacing? Sit down now! I’m about to get dizzy from watching you!”
The man, scolded so harshly, shrank his head in response.
The waiter saw that the teapot on the table was still full, so he quickly backed out.
Before he had even reached the bottom of the stairs, a young lady, accompanied by her maid and attendants, entered through the door. She was dressed in bright, eye-catching clothing and looked almost like a fairy descended from the heavens! The waiter’s eyes flickered, and he threw his cloth over his shoulder as he quickly trotted down the stairs, smiling warmly, “Madam, would you like to have tea or buy some?”
Huai Jing quickly stepped forward, blocking the waiter’s path and said, “I’m looking for someone, I’ve made a reservation at Qingyou Pavilion.”
“Oh, I understand now!” the waiter exclaimed—this was the same place where the old master had been hit with a shoe!
Five years had passed, and Cheng Wanyun was finally reunited with her long-missed family.
Master Cheng was immediately overcome with emotion, tears streaming down his face, and he couldn’t find the words to say, only clutching his daughter’s hand and sobbing.
The matriarch, Old Lady Cheng, pushed her son aside, roughly grabbing Cheng Wanyun and pulling her close. With a stern face, she carefully examined her from head to toe for a long time.
Cheng Wanyun smiled and allowed the old lady to scrutinize her like she was shopping for piglets at a market.
Her mother had passed away when she was very young, probably before she turned one. At that time, Master Cheng had not remarried yet, and he was busy with his duties as a county magistrate. So, she grew up under the care of her grandmother. In Cheng Wanyun’s eyes, her grandmother was a wise and powerful woman. Though she could not read, she had realized that her son had a talent for studying, so she was determined to support his education. No matter how hard or difficult it was, she never gave up. After realizing that the local clan forces in Huizhou were powerful, she seemed to wander the streets and fields, but in truth, she was gathering information about the major families in the area. She worked hard to learn the days when the Wu family went to offer incense, determined to get her son in front of them. Sure enough, Master Cheng’s appearance was captivating, and eventually, the matriarch melted down all her gold dowry to offer a generous bride price, bringing Madam Wu back into their family.
At that time, Cheng Wanyun was only two years old, but her grandmother held her in her arms and, speaking as if she were an adult, said, “A Yun, your father can’t stay a widower forever. If he’s unstable here, our family won’t have a good future. You need to understand, do you hear me?”
At two years old, how could Cheng Wanyun understand? She pretended not to, tugging at her grandmother’s clothing buttons with her little hands.
But the matriarch didn’t say anything else.
Old Lady Cheng was not an attractive woman; the Cheng family’s good looks must have come entirely from her grandfather, or perhaps it was because Master Cheng had inherited them particularly well. Old Lady Cheng had a square face with large eyes, but her nose was flat and her mouth was wide. Years of hard labor had left her skin yellowish with spots, and her fingers were thick and misshapen. Now that the Cheng family’s situation had improved, she was reluctant to wear silks and satin, instead opting for a simple blue-black cotton dress, with no patterns or decorations. Her silver hair had turned white, and she wore it in a bun, secured with a flat silver peach blossom hairpin, which she had bought at the silver shop with her personal savings when her grandmother celebrated her birthday before Cheng Wanyun entered the palace.
She had always worn it.
Cheng Wanyun could hardly contain herself anymore. She sniffled and called, “Grandmother.”
Only then did Old Lady Cheng, with trembling hands, touch her granddaughter’s smooth, delicate face. “Seeing you, I can rest assured now.”
Old Lady Cheng was seventy-five this year and suffering from various ailments. Why hadn’t she closed her eyes yet? It was because she was still worried about her granddaughter in the deep palace, not knowing whether she was doing well. She didn’t trust what her son and daughter-in-law said, suspecting they were just trying to avoid worrying her and were giving her false reassurances.
But now, after seeing her granddaughter, Old Lady Cheng realized that she had grown taller and plumper, with skin as white as a peeled egg. The old lady didn’t care about the jewelry or the fabric of her clothes; all she saw was that Cheng Wanyun’s complexion was rosy, and the sharpness of her chin had softened. This was a sign of good fortune, a sign that she was living well. As the saying goes, a relaxed heart leads to a healthy body.
If life were not comfortable, would she have a second chin? Old Lady Cheng touched her granddaughter’s slightly rounder chin.
Cheng Wanyun hugged her grandmother tightly.
Old Lady Cheng didn’t have any particular scent, just the faint smell of laundry soap from the clothes she wore. It was a simple, subtle scent that reminded Cheng Wanyun of her childhood. She had always fallen asleep on her grandmother’s back, lulled by that very scent. Whenever she smelled it, it felt like coming home.
Tears streamed uncontrollably from her closed eyes, soaking her grandmother’s shoulder.
But Old Lady Cheng said nothing. She clumsily used her rough, gnarled hands to gently rub her granddaughter’s back. After a long while, she suddenly reached into her sleeve and pulled out a round object, holding it up in front of Cheng Wanyun. “I almost forgot, A Yun, look what I brought you.”
Cheng Wanyun thought it might be something to eat, but when she looked closely, the round object slowly opened a crack, and a turtle’s head cautiously poked out.
“Ah! It’s Yuanbao!” Cheng Wanyun exclaimed in surprise, holding it in her hands. The family’s turtle had a habit of closing its shell, and when it did, its shape resembled a yuanbao, which is how it got its name.
After so many years, the turtle still recognized her. Its legs slowly stretched out from the shell, and it tilted its head upward, gazing at her with its small green-bean eyes. Cheng Wanyun couldn’t help but reach out to touch its head, and it stayed perfectly still, letting her gently stroke it.
Master Cheng, watching from the side, was so eager to hold his daughter that he almost drooled. Unfortunately, his mother wouldn’t budge, so he couldn’t get in. Now that the turtle was in front of him, he couldn’t sit still any longer. With a shameless smile, he leaned forward and said, “A Yun, it’s your father!”
Before he could finish, Old Lady Cheng pushed him aside, pulling Cheng Huai Zhang forward instead. She scolded him, “You, why are you so quiet? Didn’t you just dream the other day, saying you’d work hard and study? Why are you silent now?”
Cheng Huai Zhang, already awkward and shy, turned even redder from the teasing and the old lady bringing up his old promise. With Cheng Huai Jing hiding behind his older sister, laughing quietly, he felt even more embarrassed and couldn’t face Cheng Wanyun. He stood there, turning his head to look elsewhere, too shy to meet her gaze.
“Huai Zhang, it’s been such a long time. You’ve grown so tall. As for studying, just try your best. Don’t always pressure yourself about it,” Cheng Wanyun said, understanding his nature. She gently reached out to pat her younger brother’s head, smiling as she eased his worries, her tone becoming softer. “You’ve already done really well. A jinshi at such a young age— even the Crown Prince was impressed! After all these years… you’ve worked so hard.”
Cheng Huai Zhang froze for a moment, his lips tightly pressed together. He looked up at his sister.
She was still the same, her smile as warm as the summer sun, without a hint of shadow. Seeing her so close, Cheng Huai Zhang suddenly felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He relaxed, his previously stiff posture loosening. He slowly said, “What hardship have I gone through?” He thought to himself that it was clearly her who had suffered the most.
When the news of Cheng Wanyun being selected for the palace reached Huizhou, he had always thought, ‘Not only can our family not help her, but we would also be a burden to her.’ That belief drove him to study relentlessly, not daring to slack off for a day. He thought that if they could be more successful, his older sister in the palace could have an easier time.
It was with this mindset that he managed to pass the jinshi exam with everything he had.
“Alright, alright, why are you standing by the door? Let A Yun sit down,” Madam Wu said from behind with a smile.
Only then did the whole family sit down and enjoy their tea.
After chatting for about an hour, Cheng Wanyun’s face remained flushed with excitement. She spoke with her family more energetically than usual. Old Lady Cheng had also brought two large bundles, all for Cheng Wanyun. There were shoes she had knitted for Cheng Wanyun, as well as for E Linzhu and Hongxi, along with roasted peanuts and caramelized black beans.
Master Cheng had tried to stop her from bringing them, saying the palace had everything, and that A Yun was about to leave and didn’t need extra baggage. But she insisted, scolding her son as she said, “Our own things can’t be compared to what’s in the palace. These little things won’t be in the way, and they’ll be gone after a day of traveling! You little brat, think you can tell me what to do now?”
Cheng Wanyun couldn’t help but laugh as she heard Master Cheng’s quiet complaints. However, she didn’t want to disappoint her grandmother. She held her hand and smiled, saying, “Grandmother is the best to me. These are all my favorite things. The shoes you made for me, I’ve worn them since I was little. The palace shoes can’t be as comfortable as yours!”
Upon hearing this, Old Lady Cheng laughed so much her eyes squinted with joy, her face glowing with happiness. She felt that those two sentences were more satisfying than eating all the fish fins and sea cucumbers in the world.
At that moment, a soft knock came at the door. Bitao stood up and opened a small crack. To her surprise, it was E Chu standing outside.
The lively conversation inside immediately stopped. Cheng Wanyun, slightly disappointed, stood up. It was time for her to leave.
E Chu had come over, which meant the Crown Prince had returned. Indeed, it was getting late; it was nearly midnight.
After a heartfelt farewell to her family, Old Lady Cheng held onto Cheng Wanyun’s hand and walked her to the entrance of the teahouse. In the cold wind, the elderly woman gazed at her granddaughter’s face, her lips trembling as a thousand words were condensed into a choked-up sentence, “Take care.”
Cheng Wanyun nodded, her eyes brimming with tears. She turned back three times as she climbed into the carriage that E Chu had brought. As the carriage began to move away, she couldn’t help but lift the curtain and stick her head out, waving at Old Lady Cheng. “Go back, Grandma! It’s cold outside. Please, go back!”
Her voice was carried away by the wind, and the clatter of the carriage wheels echoed in the streets bustling with people. But Old Lady Cheng stood there, holding on to the spot, unwilling to leave, gazing at her for a long time. It was not until the carriage turned a corner, and Cheng Wanyun could no longer see her grandmother’s figure in the cold wind, that the tears in her eyes finally fell.
How could she deserve such a family?
That was why she had to protect herself. She had to live well in the palace, even if it was just to see her grandmother a few more times.
Back at the inn, Yinreng was sitting in the room, reading. When he saw her return with red eyes, he immediately put down his book and stood up, opening his arms to her. Cheng Wanyun’s eyes reddened even more, and she quickly walked over and threw herself into the Crown Prince’s warm embrace.
Bitao, noticing the situation, immediately stopped and quietly stepped out, closing the door behind her.
Cheng Wanyun had just come back from the cold outside, still carrying the icy chill of the winter wind and snow. Yinreng quickly pressed her cold face against his, intending to comfort her with a few kind words. He wanted to tell her that they would have many more chances to meet, and that he would find ways to make it easier for her to see her family more often… But before he could say anything, Cheng Wanyun’s voice, hoarse and slightly choked, came through: “Your Highness, thank you.”
The words were heartfelt and sincere. Cheng Wanyun thought to herself, how fortunate she was to have encountered the Crown Prince.
How fortunate it was him.
—
Meanwhile, Yinzhen and Yinqi did not linger in Tongzhou for long. Leading the Prince’s entourage, they had already officially left Tongzhou. They changed course to Xiong County via waterway, and along the postal roads and the canal, they inquired about the Crown Prince’s movements. Everyone assumed the Crown Prince was headed for Tianjin.
As soon as the news of the Crown Prince’s southern inspection was announced, preparations for repairs had begun in every province and state the previous year. Though the exact states and counties the Crown Prince would pass through had not been disclosed, the royal court had already conducted southern inspections twice in previous years. Officials in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and provincial governors had an idea of the general route, and preparations to welcome the Crown Prince had started well in advance. Not only were the roads and bridges being repaired, but temples and scenic spots across the land were also being renovated, as it was suspected the Crown Prince might visit these places.
In provinces like Yangzhou, Suzhou, and Hangzhou, where the Crown Prince was certain to pass, preparations were made early. Royal boats and porters (three hundred men per county) were readied, and new clothes, hats, shoes, and socks were distributed to the workers, each given a red lantern and an umbrella for their service.
The three major weaving estates had prepared two royal sedan chairs, each for eight people to carry, with canopies made of apricot-yellow and red silk. A sedan chair for Side Concubine Cheng had also been prepared with a blue canopy for four bearers. The bearers had been selected early, and their backgrounds had been thoroughly checked. Only those with clean records were called to serve. They wore red hats adorned with feathers, red silk robes with embroidered flowers, green sashes, and coarse white socks. A total of one hundred and twenty bearers had been selected, and after the New Year, they began practicing walking along the official roads with the sedan chairs in preparation for the royal procession.
The Governor of Suzhou had newly built over three hundred “Flying Immortal” boats, of various sizes, and six painted pleasure boats. Inside, each was furnished with a throne and filled with ancient antiques and rare treasures. The servants aboard these boats had been thoroughly vetted, and additional silver was provided to supplement their wages. Every day, they practiced rowing on the river in preparation for the royal procession.
Cao Yin had initially planned to build a temporary palace for the Crown Prince to rest at, but the Emperor had issued a special decree: “The Crown Prince’s southern inspection is not for sightseeing or enjoyment, but to understand the people’s conditions and reform the bureaucracy. The officials attending the procession are not to engage in extravagance or waste.” Cao Yin deeply understood the meaning of this decree—when the Emperor said not to be extravagant, it was an instruction to not appear lavish on the surface. Likely, the Emperor wanted to save money for war, so Cao Yin decided to secretly indulge in some extravagance behind the scenes.
Thus, he had the four gardens that were built for the Kangxi Emperor’s southern inspection several years ago repainted and refreshed. He also transplanted trees and flowers and added new palaces, pavilions, and towers. All of these expenses were paid out of Cao Yin’s personal funds—Cao family’s money! Though the spending seemed as if it were flowing like water, he figured that if necessary, he could just divert more funds from the salt trade next year. The important thing was that the royal reception this time had to be impressive!
The Cao family wanted to remain wealthy for generations, and the Crown Prince had to be properly served!
Finally, just before the Crown Prince’s departure, Cao Yin managed to finish arranging the temporary palace, making sure it had “bamboo and locust trees in the courtyard, casting shade, with a gentle breeze that would rustle the robes.” Only then did he nod in satisfaction. Unfortunately, he had no idea that these efforts were wasted. The Crown Prince had no intention of meeting with these sycophantic, extravagant officials. From the very beginning, he hadn’t planned on encountering them anytime soon. Instead, after eagerly waiting for days, he would only meet with the cold, indifferent Fourth Prince and the confused, unaware Fifth Prince.
After a restful night in Tongzhou, the Crown Prince didn’t hurry to set off. Instead, he and Cheng Wanyun changed into simple homespun clothes, leaving behind any valuables. With a few attendants, they rented a mule cart from the innkeeper and set off, swaying along the road to explore a small village near Tongzhou.