Chapter 19

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Princess Deyin of the Zhao Clan.
Zhao Luming stroked his chin as he looked at his quiet and still little cousin. The whole situation felt both absurd and bizarre, yet very much something her capable father could have pulled off. Upon closer inspection, he had to admit that among so many Taihu stones, only this pair of siblings had been granted noble titles—that was quite an achievement.
This princess stood over thirteen feet tall, weighing... well, that was best left unsaid. Compared to her domineering and towering elder brother, the Deyin Imperial Princess was petite and delicate, graceful and light. Especially since other Taihu stones had been eroded by lake water or acidic soil, each pockmarked like a moon’s surface struck by meteorites, she bore little beauty—except that her eroded holes were perfectly shaped like twin hair bun rings. From the natural bun flowed a faint red streak along the stone’s surface, unfolding like a beautiful silk skirt.
So, although her father was persistently difficult, this Taihu stone was indeed very beautiful.
As she gazed at this absurd yet exquisite stone, which had consumed countless human and material resources on its journey to the capital and was set to cause even more waste in the days ahead, an odd feeling arose within her.
She looked at “her” as if gazing upon another self.
The Imperial Princess was like a celestial fairy from the heavens, whispered the three Gao Jianuo brothers quietly in the cabin.
Although they were also young disciples journeying to the White Deer Spirit Response Palace, they did not share the same boat with the princess—otherwise, even whispering would be forbidden, as sternly instructed by their family elders before departure!
Though they had been a prominent family in Liao, they were Han Chinese, always ranked below the Khitan. No matter how hard they studied or how influential they became, they were still watched and kept at a distance by the Khitan.
Hence, their father resolutely defected from Liao to Song, and indeed received many rewards—official positions, wealth, a beautiful mansion unseen before, and a wealth of delicious delicacies appearing explosively before the Gao Jianuo brothers.
But their good fortune did not last long. Though children, they still went out and met the children of other nobles and officials in Bianjing, attending school and socializing. Upon meeting, they understood everything.
Noble children looked down on them as descendants of newly converted traitors from the north; civil official children despised them as crude military families; even street vendors sneered upon hearing their accents, so different from Bianjing natives.
“Another poor northerner,” they joked, their tone controlled but cutting, “pretending to be someone important.”
“Look at that little dark face.”
“Eating so greedily.”
“Don’t be so harsh,” said a pale-skinned boy with a string of trinkets at his waist. “Thanks to them, I think Bianjing has become much more pleasant these past six months.”
“Really?”
“Don’t you know even the city’s sewers are clean now?”
The Gao Jianuo brothers were bewildered and later asked their parents why the arrival of Hebei people could make the sewers in Bianjing clean.
Later when they heard these words again, they clenched their fists and fought back, but soon they dared not fight openly anymore, retreating home with dreams of one day rising and gaining respect.
Their family elders said that following the Imperial Princess might just make that dream come true!
Now that they accompanied the princess, the servants and guards on the ship changed their attitude, all becoming polite. Though the eldest brother, Zhao Yan, said this was mere pretense—they only feared offending the young lords and being punished by the princess—but at least these people no longer openly wore mocking expressions toward them!

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The Imperial Princess was a very kind person, pure as the moon, beautiful as a fairy in a painting. Though she rarely left her boat, she spoke gently to everyone, soft-spoken and kind. She even bought them withered eucommia leaves! Though dry, they treasured them carefully, no one dared to throw them away.
She was the daughter of the ruler, an unattainable bright moon—their youthful hearts naturally believed she was the best, deserving all the best in the world.
The boat was still moving, but Nanzheng City was already bustling with preparations.
First was the White Deer Spirit Response Palace. As Zhao Luming suspected, it was impossible to build a grand Taoist temple in just over a month. They had to “requisition” existing buildings!
But even repurposing others’ properties was a massive task: removing non-compliant Buddha statues and monks, selecting Taoist statues of the Three Pure Ones and Four Emperors from nearby temples, craftsmen working overtime to regild these statues before placing them in the spirit palace.
Was that all? Far from it! Were the roof tiles broken? Any leaks had to be repaired. Were bricks cracked? Replacing a single brick would look ugly, so they had to relay the entire floor. If the bricks were done, how could they not repaint the pillars and walls? It had to look proper.
This was the main hall. Behind it were the princess’s quarters, the high nobles’ residences, palace maids’ living areas, and in front, the guards’ and other Taoist officials’ quarters—all had to be tidied perfectly! Any negligence would be met with silent but deadly punishment from the divine entourage surrounding the princess.
Not only Nanzheng City, but Xingyuan Prefecture and even Lizhou Circuit were thrown into chaos, with officials buzzing around like headless flies.
The common folk watched laborers hauling goods into the city and craftsmen hammering day and night. Monks and Taoists cowered under small blankets, sobbing silently.
She was the daughter of the ruler, an untouchable bright moon!
After passing Tongguan Pass, entering the Weishui River from the Yellow River, transferring from boat to carriage, and heading south, a month had passed.
“The Double Ninth Festival is approaching,” the palace maids sighed.
The capital was full of festivals, each lively and vibrant. For example, during the Double Ninth Festival, chrysanthemums suddenly bloomed everywhere in the city.
All kinds of chrysanthemums: Wanling chrysanthemums with lotus-pod-like centers, peach blossom chrysanthemums bright as spring, round golden bell chrysanthemums, and large joyful chrysanthemums—all blossomed overnight.
Housewives competed in their crafts. The women of Bianjing would take a day off, preparing flour, honey, nuts, oil, and salt early, steaming cakes in pots, shaping lions and barbarian kings from dough with high standards, competing with sisters-in-law and neighbors.
These steamed cakes were then distributed among neighbors, taken on outings to climb hills, and their flavors judged.
“Oh, the lively capital—such scenes are never seen outside the city,” they sighed.
“Perhaps Xingyuan Prefecture has similar customs,” Zhao Luming said.
Some palace maids nodded naively, counting the days until arrival.
Old Master Cao lowered his eyes silently, but a young eunuch spoke hastily:
“Xingyuan Prefecture probably lacks such customs, but if the princess likes, we can make various lively events in the temple.”
“Why doesn’t Xingyuan Prefecture have such customs?” she asked.
“Outside the capital region,” Cao Fu said, “no place has such customs.”

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The carriage moved slowly along the undulating mountain road, somewhat bumpy, but the weather had cooled, allowing extra cushions inside for the princess’s comfort.
She occasionally lifted the curtain to look outside, where Gao Jianuo rode a mule and guards held flags. Gao Jianuo would excitedly speak to her, guards’ banners fluttering in the wind—these were roughly the sights and sounds she experienced.
Looking further, one could see a few thatched huts and the endless Qinling Mountains.
“My father granted me much land in Xingyuan Prefecture,” she said. “I wonder which part is mine.”
“Could it be those?” Peilan peeked through the window. “Look at those farmers—the paddy fields in the lowlands, dry fields on the hills, all crooked and messy! Surely the ruler wouldn’t grant you such land?”
“My father’s gifts should all be barren mountains,” she said confidently. “Those are farmers’ lands, definitely not mine.”
Peilan was shocked. “How can you cultivate barren mountains?”
“Barren mountains can be reclaimed and then farmed,” she explained.
She could grow grains, economic crops, even fruit trees. Her father had given her thousands of acres, and her mind brimmed with ideas, eager to try them.
Though time was pressing, her high starting point would surpass many other farming heroines in literature.
“Just wait and see,” she said confidently. “Though reclaiming barren mountains is difficult, my father exempted us from taxes, labor duties, and levies. Many commoners will farm the temple lands, their burdens lightened, and we can save much grain and money. One day…”
As the princess neared, Nanzheng City grew extraordinarily lively.
Officials throughout Lizhou Circuit buzzed around like headless flies.
Welcoming the princess was mandatory—would the reception at the city gates suffice? Surely not thirty miles outside the city? Initially thought to be exiled, yet she came with such a grand princess! So large! Crossing mountains and ridges, exhausting several horses!
This proved the princess had the emperor’s favor. Besides the city gate welcome, they must present gifts. The old eunuch by her side needed a gift, and the Taoist officials brought in were all favorites of Li Yan, so none could be neglected.
The newly arrived transport commissioner, Yuwen Shizhong, sat in the place of honor, his brow tightly furrowed.
An official noticed and flattered, “Sir once served as a tutor at the Zishan Hall, sharing a teacher-student bond with the princess, surely unlike us. Might I ask…”
He longed to ask: What does the princess like? Who knew what a thirteen-year-old girl from thousands of miles away favored—Sichuan brocade skirts or four-foot-tall corals?
The lean middle-aged scholar cast a cold glance, “Indeed different. Therefore, my prepared gifts differ from the rest.”