Tale of Zhen'er

Desperate Flight

  'Beauty is a poisonous treasure.'

'A woman's features is a calamitous blessing.'

  Sayings, passed through generations. Cautionary tales, and undying folklore.

Being pretty is advantageous, but possessing beauty is a double edge sword.

Looking at her blossoming daughter, Li Da Furen felt a frisson of fear. Zhēn'er carries within her the promise of the famous Wanyan features. Coupled with the innate graceful bearing of the Li Clan.

For any other mother, such things would be a point of pride. To be able to raise such a gem! What blessings from the ancestors!

But she is no ordinary mother, and her child is often exposed to no ordinary people.

There's already talks of 'strengthening ties' and 'renewing bonds'.

Do these people think her blind?!

Li Clan never wants for status or fame. And her Wanyan Clan, though diminished, is not something to be used for stepping stone either! Her child, precious and pure, is not someone they could easily covet!

And now that Zhēn'er 's hairpin ceremony is nearing, such talks are beginning to escalate in ridiculousness.

Such as those rumours of a possible Imperial favour.

No.

No child of hers will be cursed with such a dirty fate! Better a wife to an ordinary official  than a trapped songbird in the Imperial Harem!

Remembering all those incidences that she had witnessed as the years passed by, that frisson turn into a shudder.

Please, Merciful Heavenly Beings, avert such a fate!

Her trusted maid politely drew  her attention. There was a secret missive, sent post-haste. It came by the hands of a small taijian, a familiar face.

The writings were even more familiar,  as she had grown up learning their letters together.

Xia-er,

Felicitous winds are blowing true.

I hope you remembered our bet, and set my favourite fledgling free.

I do love the idea of birds soaring across the skies, unbound and forever roaming free.

It was unsigned.

She could fell the blood draining from her face, making her feel light-headed.

Her worst fear confirmed!

***

Grand Tutor Li often gave people a misleading impression of an absent-minded, sweet-natured gentle person. He took great amusement in the befuddled air constantly plaguing those who misjudged him.

They seemed to forget that he came from a line of military linage despite choosing a scholarly career.

Destroying a poorly thought argument is not that different from wrecking a poorly managed battlefield. Thw hot blood of generational warriors still runs through his veins.

Hearing about his wife unprecedented fainting spell after received a letter stoked his fury to great levels.

Who dared?
Who dared!

***

Learning the truth of the matter cast a somber air upon this pair.

A Royal favour is not something to be easily avoided. Or else, how would his furen's beloved sister, the Jewel of the Wanyan Clan, be so easily surrendered to be trapped inside the most glorious of all prison?

And now the same fate is heading towards the beloved apple of his eyes.

Remembering her innocence, that graceful deportment, and most importantly, the wonderful brilliant mind that he took great pains to nuture, his unwillingness boils over.

No. His child will never be a mere plaything of the Imperial Harem. 

***

And thus, Li Zhēn slipped away from the Imperial Family.

Spirited away in the dead of the night. Entrusted to loyal servants and highly paid professionals in the acquaintance of Li Chong's myriad of connections.

Their destination: the frontier garrison post in the command of his cousin, Li Zhiyan.