After finishing his rebellious poetry, Xu Xing rubbed his brow, planning to secretly compose some more nursery rhymes like "He who replaces Han will be of great prominence," "A one-eyed stone man, inciting the world to rebel," "South wind rises, blowing white sand; a vision of distant, towering peaks, a thousand-year-old skull sprouts teeth," or "The fruit of peach and plum shall gain the world…" and so on.
The Imperial family's surname is Song. What should I write for that? He hesitated for a while, finding it hard to put pen to paper.
It was at this moment that drums and trumpets resounded outside the Sky Prison, playing a joyous celebratory tune: "All Birds Pay Homage to the Phoenix!"
"Ridiculous! Ridiculous!"
"Guanxi Road has suffered drought for several years! The Emperor is stingy, unwilling to release funds from the private treasury, allotting a mere 3,000 taels. Now, Princess Anren's wedding costs a lavish 300,000 taels!"
"A sign of a dying country! A sign of a dying country!"
Suddenly, from Cell Block B of the Sky Prison next to Xu Xing, the bitter and incensed cursing of a convicted official erupted. After the cursing came bouts of wailing. The inmates in Cell Block B of the Sky Prison were court officials of the Fifth Rank or higher. The cell of this convicted official was separated from Xu Xing's only by a wall.
Xu Xing had recently made good progress in his Martial Dao Body Cultivation; his physique was robust, his hearing keen, and his sight sharp. Thus, he could hear the sounds from the neighboring cell more clearly than before. Guanxi Road was Xu Xing's hometown in this world. Hearing the official's furious denouncements, a pang of sympathy struck Xu Xing, and he recalled the contents of a memorial submitted some days prior by the Guanxi Road Transportation Commissioner at Court.
Famine in Guanxi; a *hu* of grain costs ten thousand cash. An imperial edict was issued, no longer prohibiting the sale of one's own kin…
His family, though from a commoner family, was nonetheless wealthy. Even if their property had been confiscated after several years of drought, they still had food to eat thanks to the support from their kinsmen. However, ordinary common people were left with no fate but starvation.
Year after year, it's always the same, Xu Xing clenched his fist, a trace of fury flashing in his eyes. Natural disasters are hardly rare in a feudal dynasty, but Emperor Chongming's actions are truly disheartening. That dog of an Emperor! One day, I'll make him experience being a disaster victim too; I'll let him starve to death!
How can a mere princess's wedding be more important than nearly a million disaster victims? Three thousand taels for the victims? And three hundred thousand taels for the princess's wedding? The sheer absurdity of it is laughable.
"Lord Zheng, don't shout anymore! If the Prince hears you, you won't be the only one imprisoned!"
"The men in your household will be exiled, and the women sent to the Bureau of Music…"
"Wait a little longer."
"After the Princess's wedding is over, Lord Zheng, then you can submit your memorial."
As the sound of the trumpets swept over the Sky Prison, Xu Xing heard Captain Deng trying to persuade the imprisoned official. The officials imprisoned in Cell Block B were all high-ranking members of the Imperial Court; the Sky Prison's Prison Officers could not afford to neglect them. If word of what transpired in the Sky Prison today reached Emperor Chongming's ears, Captain Deng and the others would undoubtedly face dire consequences. On such an auspicious day, this would only serve to vex Emperor Chongming. Xu Xing was well aware of such trivialities within the bureaucracy.
"I have received the state's emoluments for twenty years, serving as the Imperial Censor! How could I not speak out justly for the common people?"
"Even if I must die for my remonstrance today, what fear do I have!"
Unexpectedly, this official turned out to be obstinate. Captain Deng's words hadn't placated him; instead, they seemed to provoke him further, and his voice rose even higher.
Zheng?
The Imperial Censor?
No wonder he's so outspokenly righteous. A peculiar expression flickered across Xu Xing's face. He happened to know Zheng Yushi as well. They were from the same hometown, and their families had once considered a marriage alliance, having already reached the stage of engaging matchmakers. The next step would have been for him to deliver the betrothal gifts to the Zheng family. At that point, the two families would be joined by marriage, and he would be Zheng Yushi's son-in-law. (Mentioned in Chapter Twenty.)
It was difficult to advance as an official without connections in the Imperial Court. His background was in mathematics; his qualifications did not compare to those of a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations. To advance further, he had to find a patron. Arranging one's own marriage out of love was no easy feat in ancient times. Besides, even in modern times, blind dates were not uncommon. Miss Zheng San had a fine figure and a beautiful face; he had no complaints.
It was just that, unexpectedly… he had been imprisoned over a month ago, and the marriage was naturally called off.
Now, with Zheng Yushi also imprisoned, he didn't know whether he should feel fortunate or share in the sorrow…
Indeed, only because they were fellow countrymen from Guanxi Road… would Zheng Yushi risk decapitation to take such action. Xu Xing's expression was complex.
He had also inquired about this prospective father-in-law. He knew the man had always been one to occupy a post without fulfilling its duties, careful never to provoke the Emperor's wrath. He had survived in the Inspectorate for over a decade without incident. Otherwise, Xu Xing would have to have been muddle-headed to choose an alliance with an Imperial Censor's family… Was he not afraid of dying too quickly?
"Since… Lord Zheng insists on this course of action," Captain Deng said, his voice turning colder when he saw his persuasion failing, "this subordinate has no choice but to comply."
They, at worst, would be fined or dismissed from office, but Zheng Yushi faced death and the extermination of his clan.
"This official's conscience is clear!"
"I have not failed the elders and folk of my hometown!" Zheng Yushi roared, unwilling to show weakness.
When his words fell, the Sky Prison grew much quieter. Soon after, the sound of numerous footsteps gradually receded.
"Scholar Su…"
"Princess Anren has always admired your literary talent, Scholar Su. For this grand wedding, the Prince asked the Princess what she desired. She said she wished for you, Scholar Su, whose literary fame is renowned throughout the land, to compose a poem for her."
"Here are paper and pen. If you compose a poem, Scholar Su… you can be released from prison."
Captain Deng returned to Cell D and spoke these words to Scholar Su. He had borrowed writing implements—brush, ink, paper, and inkstone—from Xu Xing.
"Princess Anren?" Squatting in his prison cell, Scholar Su's expression softened slightly. He knew Princess Anren.
When they first met, the young imperial daughter, adorned in magnificent clothes, was like a lotus emerging from the water, naturally beautiful and unembellished. Later, as the young imperial daughter grew, she would sometimes disguise herself as a young man and secretly visit his study to request instruction.
But later… the Imperial Palace became a secluded place, and Princess Anren never stepped out again.
Now, after several years, Princess Anren was to be married, and she had made his release a condition. Scholar Su had encountered many such women in his life, women who admired his talent and his appearance…
"So be it…" Scholar Su laughed thrice, a seemingly hearty sound, yet his heart was suffused with boundless sorrow. His unkempt, bristly beard covered his face. With an expression caught between tears and laughter, he lifted the brush and wrote:
"Last year, when I saw you off outside the Divine Capital Gate, the falling snow resembled poplar catkins."
"Spring has ended several times since, the poplar catkins now like snow, yet still, I see no return home."
"Before wine, I roll up the blinds to invite the bright moon; wind and frost permeate the gauze window. It is as if Heng E, pitying the paired swallows, casts her clear light upon the slanting painted gallery."
The capital of Fengxi Country is named Shenjing.
Ostensibly, he wrote of his encounters with Princess Anren and of escorting her to her marriage; in reality, he lamented his own ambitions, all reduced to naught.
He, a man of dignity, had to rely on composing poetry for a woman… merely to gain his freedom from prison.
After writing, Scholar Su passed the plain paper to Captain Deng. Then, reaching out, he took the wedding wine sent by Princess Anren and tilted his head back to drink. The clear wine, mingled with his tears, trickled down his beard and dripped onto his prison garb, soaking a patch.
Once Captain Deng had departed, he smashed the wine jar. He then gathered a pile of papers from the ground, intending to tear them to shreds.
But… the next moment, his eyes fell upon a rebellious poem tucked among the blank sheets.