Insufficient balance

  On May 6th, just after the Dragon Boat Festival, it started raining heavily in Chang'an. Fortunately, it didn't rain yesterday, otherwise the horse racing competition would have been affected too.

  Xue Chongxun woke up from his hangover and only then realized he was still in Wu Dalang's mansion. Wu Erlang had also gotten drunk the night before, and all three brothers didn't get up until noon. Right now, Xue Chongxun still felt like his head was heavy and foggy.

  They sat in the hall drinking tea together. Behind the wooden lattice door, a beautiful woman in a white dress was burning incense and playing the guqin. "Dong, dong..." The high and low sounds of the guqin blended with the sound of the rain, and Xue Chongxun listened carefully for a while, but couldn't tell what tune it was. Among the accomplishments of poetry, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, archery, and swordsmanship that noble young men were expected to master, music was Xue Chongxun's favorite, yet he still couldn't identify the melody, and suspected that the musician wasn't even looking at a score, but simply playing from the heart.

  Rainwater drips from the tiles in a line, dripping into the eaves below, "plop... plop...", softly resonating like the accompaniment of a zither.

  At this time, Xue Chongxun said: "My injury is almost healed, and I estimate that I will be transferred to the Ministry of Revenue or the Imperial Censorate this month. As a special envoy, I will go to assist Liu An in managing the canal transportation. We brothers won't see each other for a long time, so let's consider today's gathering as a farewell. There's no need to send me off on the day I leave, and it will save you from sighing and complaining."

  Zhuang Han Wu Erlang frowned and said, "Why does the eldest brother want to leave the capital now?" Because Taiping and the Crown Prince's two parties were still at odds, Wu Erlang had this to say.

  "Does Mother have another task for our eldest brother?" asked Da Lang Wu Chong Min hesitantly.

  Xue Chongxun thought for a moment, although the Wu brothers were still reliable, but after all, the royal family was a circle, and if it leaked out, it wouldn't be good. He didn't admit it, only saying: "I won't be of much help in the capital either, the grain transportation is also a big deal, Liu An has been gone for a year and hasn't seen any results, he's also an official on my mother's side, I'll go out of the capital to see what's going on."

  "When will you return?"

  Xue Chongxun burst out laughing: "About in winter." Of course, the Wu brothers did not know why he laughed.

  Laughter is infectious, Wu Chongmin also laughed and said: "Then we won't see off the eldest brother, when you come back we'll go pick you up."

  "I love hearing that," Xue Chongxun said with a smile.

  Wu Chongmin pointed to the woman playing the zither inside and said, "I see that older brother has been eyeing her for several glances. It just so happens that we got drunk from drinking last night and didn't even take a bath. Let's call her over to accompany older brother in bathing."

  Xue Chongxun hastily shook his head: "No need to, I really don't have the energy for that. Let's just drink tea and I'll leave first, there are still some things I need to prepare before I go."

  "Second brother, why be so serious? As long as it's not your sister-in-law, the women here are yours to play with." At this time, Wu Chongmin saw that Xue Chongxun was holding something in his hand, perhaps the hairpin given by Princess Jincheng. He smiled and said, "It seems that second brother really has a crush on Princess Jincheng?"

  Xue Chongxun said: "If you don't take it to heart, I also can't...I cannot accept my brother playing with my woman, even if she is just a concubine, so I won't do such a thing either."

  Wu Chongmin smiled and said: "It seems that elder brother has not figured it out, Lang Jun has money and power, the young lady has beauty and charm, that's all."

  "I used to be like you, thinking I had seen through the essence of things." Xue Chongxun suddenly looked at Wu Dalang with a serious expression. "But later I realized that it was all self-deception and pretending to be something one is not. The world is complex, there are all kinds of people, how can human hearts be so easily understood?"

  Takei slapped the table: "Don't want, elder brother. I do. Big brother, after a while let that woman who plays the piano accompany me. Playing the piano is useless, only knowing how to 'blow the Xiao' is good."

  Wu Chongmin burst out laughing: "No way, she can't be given to you. If that were the case, it would be like burning a qin and cooking a crane - wasting good materials and not using them to their fullest potential. It wouldn't make you happy either. Later I'll take you to see some other ones, they have all sorts of patterns on the bed."

  Xue Chongxun laughed for a while, then stood up and said with a fist: "Then I'll take my leave, no need to see me off, we're family brothers, no need for that kind of formal courtesy."

  Having said that, Xue Chongxun took an oil-paper umbrella from a servant and walked into the rain. The two Wu brothers stood under the eaves of the house, seeing him off. When Xue Chongxun reached the gate, he raised his hand without looking back and waved it at those behind him.

  Xue Chongxun got on the horse cart and told Pang Er: "Go to Yuwen's house."

  ……

  "General Wei, please take a seat and have some tea. What's taking so long?" The eyes of Yuwen Xiao lit up with delight. The wrinkles on his face were truly striking, originally a very stern and weathered face, but at this moment the joy was still overflowing from his expression.

  Xue Chongxun hastily said: "Not in the official circle, then don't talk about high or low official positions. You are older and also the host, please...don't decline anymore, it's a waste of time."

  "All right then!" Yuwen Xiao glanced at his daughter beside him and sat down in the chair to the north. Xue Chongxun also smoothed out his long robe and sat down.

  He hesitated for a moment before saying: "I came here today for two things. First is to bid farewell..."

  Yuwen Ji suddenly lifted her head and stared blankly at Xue Chongxun.

  Xue Chongxun's gaze was met, and he paused for a moment before continuing: "Last year, the Minister of Revenue Liu An went to rectify the grain transportation, but it has been almost a year and there is still no effect. He was recommended by my mother, so she asked me to go and take a look at the situation, and I will be back in a few months... Secondly, there is something I want to ask you to do for me. Last time at the City God Temple, the White Eunuch who attempted to assassinate me, I don't want to hold it against her personally, but I want to know the exact outcome, who was behind it."

  The old man hastily said: "Since San Niang is under Xue Lang's command, I don't have anything good to hide from you. Bai Wuchang used to be my person, but after I entered the officialdom, she had already betrayed me..."

  Xue Chongxun raised his hand to interrupt him: "No need to explain, I know. It's precisely because she was your former subordinate that you understand her best and are most likely to uncover the truth. Bai Wuchang is elusive, I don't expect much from the authorities... And as for your official position, don't think about promotion for now, if possible, it's better to resign first and talk about it later, do you understand what I mean?"

  Yuwen Xiao nodded.

  At this time, Xue Chongxun shifted his gaze to Yuwen Ji. The old man saw the situation and said: "I'll go and urge people to prepare dinner." He said and walked out.

  Only Xue Chongxun and Yuwen Ji were left in the house. Yuwen Ji was still standing in that corner, bowing her head thinking about something. After a while, she said: "Yesterday's affair in the palace has been talked about by people in Chang'an City today. I don't understand, you said you can only marry a princess, why must it be Princess Jincheng? She is going to Tibet for a diplomatic marriage, aren't you asking for trouble?"

  Xue Chongxun smiled and said, "You're jealous... In our great Tang Dynasty, which man of status doesn't have a harem of wives and concubines? When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Even if I were to marry a princess, I wouldn't abandon you."

  Yuwen Ji said coldly: "I'm not jealous, I'm just reminding you that if you really want to marry the princess, Jincheng is not a good choice."

  Xue Chongxun shook his head: "The national policy of marrying relatives, I never liked it anyway. The court just decided on this matter, and sending Jin Cheng to Tibet still has a few days. During this time, who knows what will happen? There is still an opportunity."

  Yuwen Ji lowered her head and said with some sadness: "I don't ask for a name, but I want the most important position in your heart. If you two are really in love... Master said to be kind to others, to help them achieve their beauty. I am an extra person..." Yuwen Ji's eyes dropped a tear as she spoke, "I will wander the world, and wish you both a long and happy life together."

  "Yuwen Ji!" Xue Chongxun stood up, walked to her front, and stretched out the corner of his sleeve to wipe away her tears. "What are you talking about? You're not unaware that in our Great Tang, everyone has wives and concubines. I will treat all of you well."

  Yuwen Ji slowly stretched out her hand and touched the place where Xue Chongxun was injured on his chest, saying softly: "I only want your heart... You must be careful with Jin Cheng, although I don't know her, but I know some things about her. Among the princesses in the palace, she has no power or influence, nor does she have a backing, and she is also very beautiful, so she must have been ostracized by others; now she is going to be used as a sacrifice and sent to Tibet. Born with beauty, but having such an unfair experience, she may have a deep mind. I'm not intentionally speaking ill of her, I'm afraid that Xue Lang will be deceived by a woman, I understand women better than you... If she receives such treatment and can still maintain her calm and kind heart, then I really admire her."

  Xue Chongxun hesitated for a moment, and the image of Jin Cheng's smile and frown appeared in his mind. He immediately said: "She is that kind of person, as good as you, although she was treated unfairly by others, she still maintains her beautiful heart. You lost, can you get along well with her from now on? Promise me."

  Yuwen Ji raised her head, tears still not dry, but smiled and said: "If he's really such a good person, not only men like him, women also like him. Then I won't fight with her for you, instead I'll fight with you for her, haha."

  "Don't worry, anyway the meat is all rotten in the pot. When the time comes, we can play however we want and won't be bored." Xue Chongxun said with a wicked smile.

  "Bad stuff!"

  Xue Chongxun whispered in her ear: "You knew I was bad from the start."

  Yuwen Ji's face turned red, and she lightly bit her crimson lips, saying in a low voice: "You've corrupted me... when will you be as naughty as you were at the Yunyun Studio again?"

  Xue Chongxun said, "These days are busy preparing to set off, and also need to go to the imperial court to hand over documents. There are many things to do and no mood. When I come back, it will still be at the Yunyou Studio."

  "Hmm..." Yuwen Ji lowered her head, her ears turning bright red.

  "Left, if the two feelings are long-lasting, how can they be in the morning and evening? Must live first, can accompany is not. Don't be sad, you've always been in my heart."

  Yuwen Ji Dao said: "I found that you have changed a lot... Is it because of Jincheng?"

  "Got jealous again." Xue Chongxun said with a smile.

  The two of them chatted for a while, and then Xue Chongxun bid farewell and left, still not allowing Yuwen Ji to see him off. But just as he was about to get on his horse carriage, he heard Yuwen Ji calling out to him.

  He turned around and saw Yuwen Ji hadn't brought an umbrella, so she ran out and stood at the door, staring at him. Xue Chongxun then said, "Go back."

  The rain was still falling, pattering and splashing on the oil-paper umbrella, gathering into lines of water that slid down along the edge of the umbrella.