Chapter 226: Today’s Marriage

Do they resemble her? These three women before me may bear a fifty-percent likeness to Ye Jiao—the same brows, the same delicate features, the same lilt of voice and graceful carriage—but, most crucially, they are nothing like her. "It's futile," Fu Mingzhu said, lifting Li Can's folding fan with solemn resolve. "These ladies will never brandish blades in the palace to defend Tang's honor. They wouldn't dare plunge a sword into the crown prince's shoulder and pass it off as mere practice. They lack the skill to command respect at the Armory or earn renown in the Arsenal. More to the point, none of them could seize a bow, storm the palace, confront Li Chen, and rescue the prince." Fu Mingzhu disliked praising Ye Jiao, yet he could not deny the truth. Before their betrothal, he had come to know Ye Jiao through Yan Yixiong. They had slipped away from their respective families to wander the outskirts of the city together. He had admired her radiant beauty then, unaware she would one day hold court, earn the emperor's favor, and capture a prince's heart. He had been mistaken, but not blind.

"And," he sighed, "Your Highness, you know well the tale of Lady Liu's betrayal—how she sold out the crown prince to save her own skin. Yet Ye Jiao risked her life to save him. That is why you desire her." Li Can, deprived of his fan, shaded his face with his sleeve. After hearing so much from Fu Mingzhu, he for the first time did not scoff but nodded in agreement. "You're right," he murmured. "At least your head is still on your shoulders."

"Therefore, let them return home," Fu Mingzhu urged. Given the crown prince had just entrusted him with a chance to shine at court, Li Can's earlier remark—threatening to implicate Fu Mingzhu's father in imperial censure—had been no small burden. His idea of offering proxy brides resembling Ye Jiao was nothing if not desperate. Li Can, however, shook his head and rose, eyeing the assembled women with barely concealed dissatisfaction. To find someone truly like Ye Jiao, one must seek her very parents' daughter born to a once-great marquis's house, with ambitions to restore her family's fortunes, skilled in archery and swordplay, perhaps even trading along the highways, and as vivacious as she—an impossible combination.

"I understand," Li Can drawled, reclaiming his fan and lightly brushing it as though it were sullied, "they can never replace Ye Jiao. Yet to soothe the crown prince's heart, three half-measures will suffice." Indeed, three would do.

At the city gate, Bai Xianyu's commands echoed more forcefully than usual. He wore his marshal's uniform to direct the garrison, ignoring the steaming buns and congee brought by his subordinates—his solemnity unchanged these many days. Still, his eyes drifted repeatedly toward the lone carriage outside the gate. A spirited young maid might have chattered with the junior guard, but no lady within had ever appeared. The eldest Miss Ye, of the Duke of Anguo's household, was unlike her sister. Ye Jiao strode abroad barefaced beneath the sun, her crimson skirts ablaze like a peony. Ye Rou, by contrast, was more like a jasmine: shy, partial to shade, her charm diffusing gently as petals on the breeze. She reminded him of the meal sent this morning at the gate, or the time he had visited the Anguo mansion and received a parcel of peach cookies left especially for him. He understood why Ye Rou visited daily. After Ye Jiao vanished in Jinzhou, presumed lost when injured, and Ye Rou rode out to seek word of her brother's fate—he learned from Bai Yunzi that Ye Ce's arm was broken, that internal injuries forced him to remain in Jinzhou for two days of convalescence before returning with Ye Jiao. Presumably, his wounds were grave, for Anguo's heir should have returned sooner to prepare family affairs. Tomorrow would be the day Li Ce wed Ye Jiao, yet neither the groom nor Anguo's heir had returned. Indeed, all of Chang'an awaited anxiously, lest they miss the nuptials.

"Where are they now?" Within Zichen Hall, the emperor paused in reviewing memorials to lift his gaze to Gao Fu. Startled, Gao Fu hurried forward, noting only two petitions had been examined. With a relieved smile he said, "Soon, Your Majesty— the troops report that the wedding party is now but three li from the city gates." The emperor set aside his documents and rose, pacing the hall. "Can my Ninth withstand this strain?" Gao Fu offered no direct answer, only, "It seems they have spent two nights in joyous celebration."

Two nights of celebration… had they hoped to hasten his recovery, or was it his vigor that enabled such revelry? The emperor tapped Gao Fu's shoulder, chuckling. "You—" "They return now to receive Your Majesty's audience, to account for the Jinzhou affairs, and to explain the mystery of the three golden tokens," Gao Fu said, grinning. "In less than an hour, they will arrive." The emperor nodded eagerly, then stopped. "Issue my decree: do not let them come." He stifled his impatience. "They must return to bathe and don proper attire for court, and only after their formal audience—and then the rituals at the Anguo mansion—may they escort the bride. Let them rest and prepare for the wedding."

Gao Fu blinked at the emperor's paternal tenderness. "Your care for the Prince of Chu is unparalleled, sire: the phoenix-and-dragon candles from your own nuptials, the crown prince appointed ceremonial marshal, the suspension of palace protocol—all to honor their union." At the hall's entrance, the emperor stood surveying the sweeping palace rooftops, smiling. "I appointed the crown prince as master of ceremonies also to guard against any Lu-clan traitors disrupting tomorrow's rites," he continued. "Gao Fu?" "My liege," Gao Fu replied, "the Prefect Liu reported only an hour ago that the prime minister's son, Fu Mingzhu, captured several Lu clansmen plotting prison raids and delivered them to Jingzhao Prefecture." The petition lay before the emperor, unopened. "Ha!" The emperor snorted. "Fu Mingzhu? What a meddler." Gao Fu bowed, amused. All gentlemen of Chang'an seek merit; though barred from office, Fu Mingzhu will strive for achievement. "Still, I'm grateful the prime minister's son erred in judgment—so I gained a fine daughter-in-law," the emperor said with a hearty laugh. "Heeding my gift of the token, Ye Jiao proved herself."

With a broad smile, the emperor's thoughts turned to Ye Ce. "They returned safely, but tomorrow who will carry Ye Jiao to the bridal sedan? She must not touch the ground." According to custom, a bride is borne by her brother to the carriage. "They have chosen a cousin from the Anguo clan," Gao Fu explained. "What cousin is fit to bear my daughter-in-law?" the emperor protested. "Let Fifth Prince carry her—though simple, his strength is great." Gao Fu feigned offence, nodding vigorously: "Indeed, the Anguo house has been blessed." The emperor laughed again. "She deserves it. She honored my token, and her brother labored for the realm. Their merit wins them fortune."

For some, the night would pass quickly; for those awaiting the wedding, it dragged on like lonely years spent beneath tombs or roads from the mausoleum to the capital. Each parting since meeting Ye Jiao had felt like an eternity under indigo skies that refused to yield to dawn. At last, a sliver of light pierced the dark, growing until a blaze of gold swept the land as Chang'an's grand bell rang across every street, echoing through the palace and the newly restored Prince of Chu's mansion.

"Prince of Chu, proceed to your bath."

"Prince of Chu, depart to honor your ancestors."

"Prince of Chu, present yourself to the throne."

"Prince of Chu, mount your steed—let the music begin—"

Li Ce knew this moment had arrived. He stepped forth, heart alight, at last escorting Ye Jiao home as his wife.