Garden of Eden: Liangshan

The mountainous region where the Summer Palace was located had an earthy name: Liangshan.

How tall was Liangshan? It stood at three hundred and seventy-four zhang (a traditional Chinese unit of length), with a circumference of nine li and a width of two li. On the southern side, two peaks faced each other from a distance, with the northern one being the tallest.

Back in the days when the ancient Qin people were constantly engaged in warfare in the mountainous regions of Longxi, they lived a perilous life with their heads literally on their belts. Their choice of this place as a stronghold was truly a testament to their foresight. Later, when Guanzhong became part of the Qin territory, Liangshan, being close to Xianyang and pleasantly cool, emerged as an ideal summer retreat. Compared to the Zhongnan Mountains, Liangshan was like a gentle young girl—its mountains were not high, its paths were not steep, its waters were not rapid, and its forests were not intimidating. The mountain breeze would blow through, rustling the leaves as if a young girl were whispering softly. King Zhao of Qin (the grandfather of the current monarch) had built the Summer Palace here in his later years and spent one or two months every summer. He rarely visited Zhangtai in the Zhongnan Mountains anymore. Of course, the main reason was the convenience of Liangshan. One could ride a fast horse or take a quick carriage and reach Xianyang in no time. In case of an emergency in the middle of the night, one could leave immediately without any delay.

Zhao Ji particularly favored the delicate tranquility of Liangshan. It was only here that she could reminisce about her carefree childhood days in the manor. The landscapes of Handan were quite different—bold, unrestrained, and passionate. The vast poplar forests that covered the mountains were the hallmark of that region. Whether they were a blazing red or a vibrant green, or even when the leaves were falling, they exuded a sense of dryness and sharpness, giving one the feeling that there was a vital spirit in the world.

Strangely enough, Zhao Ji simply disliked the bustling city of Xianyang. She was thoroughly fed up with the endless noise of the marketplace, the incessant gossip around her, and the ministers' loud quarrels in the grand hall, their voices so shrill that it seemed they could lift the roof. She had nightmares several times, dreaming that Xianyang turned into a vast ocean, with huge waves sweeping her up like sand or leaves and swallowing her whole. Each time, she would wake up in a cold sweat, unsure of where she was.

"Alas, what a life this is," Zhao Ji sighed, her eyes somewhat dazed.

After the death of Ying Yiren (the father of the current king of Qin), she had thought more than once about leaving Xianyang and returning to the Zhao state to reclaim her childhood freedom. But every time she was about to speak, she was startled back by the maidservants' address of "Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty? Yes, I am the Empress Dowager. Unless I am dead, where else can I go?" Zhao Ji muttered to herself with a bitter smile.

Lost in depression and absent-mindedness, she often wandered around the royal city in a daze. One time, the young eunuch Zhao Gao saw her in the only poplar forest in the royal city, wrapped only in a thin gauze with her hair in disarray, which frightened him so much that he collapsed on the ground.

"Mother, what has happened to you?" The next day, her son Ying Zheng, who had already ascended to the throne, came with the Imperial Physician. After the physician had whispered with her son for a long while, the son, who usually claimed he could not live without her teachings, decided to send her to Liangshan.

"Mother, Liangshan has beautiful scenery. Go there to clear your mind. I will come to see you once I have finished handling the state affairs," Ying Zheng had said at the time.

Zhao Ji had some doubts in her heart, but she did not think too much about it. Perhaps leaving was for the best.

On the third day at Liangshan, Lu Buwei arrived.

His carriage rumbled along the mountain path, raising a trail of dust. Zhao Ji stood at the entrance of the Summer Palace, gazing into the distance with a mixture of emotions in her heart.

Lu Buwei did not put on any airs of a prime minister. He got off the carriage, dismissed his entourage, and walked over alone. He wore a dark robe with a tightly fastened belt, which made him look even thinner.

"You've lost weight," Zhao Ji was the first to speak, her voice dry and flat.

"Liangshan…is quite nice," Lu Buwei finally spoke, his voice low and hoarse, as if sanded.

"What's nice about it? It's suffocatingly boring!" Zhao Ji retorted irritably. She herself did not know why, but she just could not help but provoke him whenever she saw Lu Buwei.

Lu Buwei did not get angry. Instead, he smiled bitterly. He walked over to Zhao Ji and stood beside her, gazing at the distant mountains.

The two stood in silence, from noon until the sun began to set. The mountain breeze blew through, rustling the leaves as if they were whispering secrets. Zhao Ji felt her heart fluttering along with the leaves, restless and uneasy.

"What…have you brought?" Zhao Ji could not help but break the silence. She knew that Lu Buwei would not come here for no reason.

Lu Buwei took out a scroll of bamboo slips from his sleeve and handed it to Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji hesitated for a moment but still took it. She quickly glanced through it and said, "This is…"

"State affairs," Lu Buwei's voice was calm, so calm that it was frightening.

Zhao Ji threw the scroll to the ground and ran back into the house. Lu Buwei did not chase after her. He just stood there, quietly watching her retreating figure.

When the lamps were lit, Zhao Ji came out of the house. She had changed into a plain-colored dress and had combed her hair neatly.

Lu Buwei was still sitting in the courtyard, with a pot of wine and two cups on the stone table in front of him.

"Sit down," Lu Buwei pointed to the stone stool opposite him.

Zhao Ji sat down silently, picked up the wine cup, and drank it in one gulp. The wine was so strong that it made her cough violently.

Lu Buwei poured her a cup of tea and pushed it in front of her.

"Drink slowly," he said.

Zhao Ji looked up at Lu Buwei and felt a sudden pang in her heart. Under the dim lamplight, she clearly saw that Lu Buwei's eyes were moist, with large tears rolling down his familiar yet unfamiliar face. He clenched his teeth tightly, and his cheek muscles twitched violently, as if he was trying to suppress something.

Zhao Ji suddenly felt a wave of sorrow. She dismissed the maidservants, got up, and gently embraced his head. That once vigorous head was now streaked with white hair.

She took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the tears from his face.

Lu Buwei suddenly hugged her tightly, so tightly that it seemed he wanted to merge her into his own body. Zhao Ji felt her bones almost crushed, but she did not struggle. She just let him hold her. It was only after that night that she realized what she had truly been longing for.