Fish Meat – Chapter 167
by Little PandaThe Fourth Year of Zhao Wu
Double Silk Net (2)
The same-sex marriage law would be promulgated in the first month of the Fourth Year of Zhaowu. Any Da Yu citizen with registered household status could marry, though same-sex marriages would require paying a substantial “marriage tax.”
In Da Yu, every important law must first be proposed by the Imperial Court of Justice, then written as a memorial at the Imperial Secretariat for discussion during morning court, with the final decision on implementation and executors resting with the Son of Heaven.
Although the Son of Heaven held final authority, if the law failed to gain approval from the Three Ducal Ministers and Nine Ministers, forcing its implementation would only earn them a reputation for arrogance and refusing counsel. The successful execution of laws ultimately depended on the consciousness of the entire central government.
Therefore, since drafting the same-sex marriage law, Li Yanyi was not hasty in implementation. Firstly, her chosen first same-sex couple lacked significant reputation throughout Da Yu, ranking below the Three Ducal Ministers and Nine Ministers even within the central government, and could not be rashly promoted, limiting their marriage’s influence. Secondly, during this time of encouraging population growth and frantically stockpiling troops, promulgating the same-sex marriage law would certainly disrupt the Situ’s [Minister of Population] civil affairs plans and face more opposition.
Over these years, Li Yanyi understood too well that neither the central government nor common people cared about power struggles at the top, or even who sat on the throne. Their primary concern was whether their “one mu three fen of land” [one’s modest property] would be affected. They didn’t care if mountains and rivers stood strong or crumbled, but if someone stepped into their home and trampled their seedlings, they would sharpen their heads into weapons and charge at the intruder even without proper arms.
As a ruler, Li Yanyi didn’t need to be particularly sharp or cruel to maintain stability. She only needed to display inviolable imperial dignity while balancing various rights, letting everyone contentedly eat the meat from their own bowls [to be satisfied with one’s own portion].
Easier said than done.
Especially sitting in the position of Son of Heaven, with numerous complex factions – one careless move could accidentally cut off someone’s finger [to harm someone’s interests].
The Geng family had just been pacified, at least superficially no longer causing trouble, and Li Yanyi didn’t want to stir up new waves.
Before finalizing the same-sex marriage law this time, Li Yanyi had lengthy discussions with senior officials like Guan Xun, Wei Lun, Zhangsun Yao and others. She also specifically invited Wei Tingxu and Zhen Wenjun to hear their views.
In truth, all new rules weren’t as frightening as imagined. People’s initial dislike was merely due to unfamiliarity. Success was half achieved by balancing the interests of nobles, hereditary families, and commoners, and preventing anyone from exploiting loopholes.
The same-sex marriage law stipulated that same-sex couples must pay high poll and land taxes, totaling double the amount required from traditional heterosexual couples.
This accomplished Li Yanyi’s goal of gaining support from same-sex couples while maintaining her reputation as a female emperor promoting equality, while effectively limiting same-sex marriages and controlling population decline.
Interestingly, this law would make same-sex marriage a “noble” affair, something only the wealthy and powerful could afford. Same-sex couples would naturally support Li Yanyi, and in Da Yu, where hereditary families frantically admired and imitated each other’s actions, Li Yanyi was confident same-sex marriage would become the next trend.
The more same-sex marriages occurred, the more supporters Li Yanyi gained, while tax revenue rose like water lifting a boat.
Alongside the same-sex marriage law, a decree encouraging childbirth was issued. All Da Yu citizens with agricultural registration would receive two mu [land measurement unit] of land per child, with a 20% reduction in land and poll taxes per mu. More children meant more land, which would belong to them for life. For agricultural households with over ten children, land would still be granted for additional children, but poll and land taxes would increase progressively with each child.
Those hoping to become landlords through childbirth would be disappointed, as establishing a new powerful family couldn’t be achieved through simple reproduction – this measure merely placated the hereditary families somewhat.
Agriculture, reproduction, taxation, and most importantly, public sentiment – all fell into Li Yanyi’s grasp.
While there was opposition at morning court, no one could find suitable flaws in the law to refute. Even the old officials who opposed for opposition’s sake couldn’t provide reasonable arguments. Though some grumbled, they were all shut down by Zhangsun Yao and Wei Tingxu’s sharp tongues.
The pioneers of same-sex marriage would be Wei Tingxu, hero of the Path of Ten Thousand Directions, and the young heroic Zhonglang Jiang who had protected the imperial carriage – both presented by Li Yanyi to the public.
The eighth day of the second month in Fourth Year of Zhaowu would be their auspicious wedding day.
However, heaven has unpredictable winds and clouds.
Shortly after the Son of Heaven chose their wedding date, Wei Lun fell at home, falling into a coma and becoming critically ill.
The Wei family matriarch stayed inside with Wei Lun, while all other family members gathered at his sickroom door, waiting to see him one by one when he awoke.
No one dared speak, but all understood in their hearts that this might be their final meeting.
News of Wei Lun’s serious illness alarmed Li Yanyi, who immediately led the imperial physicians to the Wei Mansion, ordering them to save Wei Lun:
“If you cannot save Wei Situ’s life, you’ll all follow him to the grave!” Li Yanyi shouted angrily in the Wei family courtyard. All the imperial physicians turned pale and rushed inside to treat Wei Lun.
When Wei Tingxu saw Li Yanyi arrive, she walked to her with Zhen Wenjun’s support and prostrated herself in gratitude.
Li Yanyi truly didn’t want Wei Lun to die—at least not before Wei Tingxu and Zhen Wenjun’s wedding.
According to Da Yu’s laws and customs, if Wei Lun died, Wei Tingxu would have to return home for three years of mourning. During these three years, she would have to focus on observing filial piety, barely able to leave home, let alone marry. Although the central government had the right to “seize emotion” and recall mourning officials for “special reasons,” doing so would severely damage Wei Tingxu’s public image, as filial piety was considered the foremost virtue.
Li Yanyi didn’t want the good reputation Wei Tingxu had just earned through the Path of Ten Thousand Directions achievements to be wasted, nor did she want the same-sex marriage law to risk being stillborn before implementation.
The timing was perfect, and Li Yanyi didn’t want to give time for complications [literally: the longer the night, the more dreams].
“Rise, Zizhuo,” Li Yanyi said. “Wei Situ has served three reigns as a senior official and made horse-sweating merits [great contributions] to Da Yu. How could I bear to watch him depart forever?” Seeing the dark circles under Wei Tingxu’s eyes, her exhausted spirit, and visible weight loss, Li Yanyi was about to offer some words of concern when Wei Tingxu suddenly collapsed. Fortunately, Zhen Wenjun’s supporting hand never let go, or the fall might have caused serious harm.
“Your Majesty, forgive our rudeness,” Zhen Wenjun straightened up, holding Wei Tingxu in her arms. “Since this humble official’s imprisonment and Duke Wei’s illness, Zizhuo has been constantly caring for others with worry and exhaustion. She was already physically weak, I beg Your Majesty’s pardon.”
Li Yanyi sighed “Ah”: “Duke Wei and Zizhuo are my left and right ministers [trusted advisors]. I only hope they recover quickly. Wenjun, say no more, quickly take Zizhuo to rest. I’ll have the imperial physicians examine her and prescribe some medicine to restore her health.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Zhen Wenjun took Wei Tingxu back to her childhood quarters and watched over her. After the imperial physician’s examination and when the prescribed medicine was delivered, Wei Tingxu finally awoke.
“My father…” Wei Tingxu immediately worried about Wei Lun’s condition upon waking and tried to rise, but Zhen Wenjun stopped her, taking her hand and guiding her back to bed:
“The imperial physicians have stabilized Duke Wei’s condition; there’s no immediate danger. As for you, they say you have deficient upper qi and malnourished orifices, requiring proper treatment. Look.” Zhen Wenjun spread out a densely written cloth scroll, “This is a dietary plan the imperial physicians and I created specifically for you. You must follow it for the next two months. Don’t worry yourself sick anymore, understand?”
Wei Tingxu just looked at her without speaking, and Zhen Wenjun made an “Hmm?” sound.
“I like how you instruct me.”
Zhen Wenjun smiled: “Zizhuo is so clever about everything else, why so careless with your own matters? Get well soon, don’t make your family worry.”
Wei Tingxu held her hand: “Aren’t you worried too?”
Zhen Wenjun gazed at her for a moment before smiling: “I am your family too.”
Wei Tingxu obediently followed Zhen Wenjun’s instructions to rest and recover. The care of Wei Lun was left to her second brother Wei Jing’an and third brother Wei Jingtai. Wedding preparations were discussed between Zhen Wenjun and Sister Ah Ran, along with the minor official specially sent by Li Yanyi to help, so she need not worry about anything.
For such a joyous occasion, Ah Liao naturally came to offer congratulations and visit old friends.
Ah Liao arrived with Ah He and Ah Xu following at her side. When she entered, Zhen Wenjun was discussing wedding matters with the minor official, and Ah Liao’s hearty laughter interrupted their conversation.
“Sister Wenjun, congratulations!” Ah Liao wore festive red clothing, unusually dressed in a woman’s long skirt, wearing makeup, and carrying a delicate bamboo fan instead of her usual one. Seeing Zhen Wenjun, she didn’t dare take liberties and respectfully kept eight zhang away while offering congratulations. “From the first time I saw Sister Wenjun, I knew she was lovable, but never expected she’d end up with Tingxu. I watched you grow up and am also Tingxu’s close friend, now I’m truly filled with mixed emotions…”
Ah Liao sighed for quite a while. With Wei Tingxu absent, Zhen Wenjun thought she’d have to endure an awkward conversation, but unexpectedly, Ah Liao sent her two accompanying ladies to help and invited Zhen Wenjun to visit Wei Tingxu in the courtyard.
Once inside the room, Ah Liao furtively glanced outside several times, then closed the door and pulled out a battered wooden box, placing it on the table. If not for its unique shape, Zhen Wenjun might not have immediately recognized it as the box they brought back from the Changge Kingdom, containing the “secret technique for woman-to-woman reproduction”.
“Still haven’t opened it?” Wei Tingxu, tired from lying in bed so long, got up to move around when Ah Liao arrived.
Ah Liao collapsed onto the desk and shook her head: “This thing looks simple, but I’ve tried everything without success. You haven’t seen me these days not because I’ve been lazy. To open this damn thing, I visited all the major martial arts sects to borrow a weapon powerful enough to break it!”
“And?” Zhen Wenjun asked with a smile while drinking tea.
“As you can see, I couldn’t open it. I even went to the century-old Forging Workshop, known for their first-rate metalworking. The master was so frustrated that his lifetime’s cultivation couldn’t open a small wooden box – it would shame their craft if word got out. When I left, they gave me hundreds of finely crafted swords and daggers, begging me to keep quiet. I picked the best one to give Sister Wenjun at your wedding – a Zhonglang Jiang should have a proper and elegant weapon.”
Zhen Wenjun: “Then I thank Young Master Liao in advance.”
Wei Tingxu grew more intrigued hearing this: “Actually, I no longer care if there’s really a reproduction technique inside, since the Son of Heaven has already adopted an heir, ensuring Da Yu’s succession. I’m simply curious what’s inside, what treasure Changge Kingdom left that needs such protection.”
Zhen Wenjun turned the box over in her hands, examining it, tapped it on the table, then tried forcing a knife into the thin gap, but couldn’t even insert it.
“Leave the box here,” Wei Tingxu told Ah Liao. “You’ve struggled with it long enough. Wenjun and I will think of something.”
As Ah Liao left, she kept insisting: “You must open it! All the ladies in my Qingluan are waiting to bear children for me!”
“Shameless flirt.” Zhen Wenjun couldn’t be bothered to see Ah Liao off and continued examining the box.
People seem naturally drawn to things they can’t control. Zhen Wenjun held a candlestick to the gap but saw nothing, then tried hooking with wire but caught nothing. The weight suggested something might or might not be inside, though the box’s original weight was unknown. Shaking produced no sound – perhaps the treasure was secured inside?
Wei Tingxu studied it with her briefly before taking medicine and sleeping. With the central government granting Zhen Wenjun leave before the wedding, she had rare free time to continue investigating.
What kind of key could fit such a thin gap?
While thinking, Zhen Wenjun’s fingers habitually moved rapidly, a habit from practicing the Golden Cicada Knife. Though she’d been practicing more blade techniques lately due to her position, old habits were hard to break.
When she noticed her fingers moving again in sequence from left to right and top to bottom, an idea suddenly flashed in her mind.
She glanced back at Wei Tingxu, who was sleeping quietly with her back turned.
She carefully and silently drew the Golden Cicada Knife from her belt, slowly directing it toward the box’s gap.
“Thump thump thump!”
The urgent knocking startled the fully concentrated Zhen Wenjun, nearly cutting her finger. Wei Tingxu drowsily turned to look, while Zhen Wenjun put away the Golden Cicada Knife, set down the box, and went to open the door.
“Xiao Xiao?”
Xiao Xiao stood at the doorway, her large eyes fixed on Zhen Wenjun like a hunting hawk.
“Come with me.” She pulled Zhen Wenjun away without explanation, leaving Zhen Wenjun no choice but to follow.
Xiao Xiao led her to an empty bathhouse and asked: “Ah Mu, what does marriage mean?”
Zhen Wenjun, seeing her serious expression, had expected something else, but unexpectedly this was her question…
“Marriage means two people will live together forever.”
“You and Wei Tingxu?”
“You shouldn’t address elders by their names directly. In Da Yu, you need to…”
“She’s scheming against you.” Xiao Xiao interrupted Zhen Wenjun, using a very sharp word for Wei Tingxu. “Ah Mu, you cannot marry her.”
Xiao Xiao’s Da Yu language had improved remarkably, not only expressing herself correctly but also distinguishing emotional nuances.
Zhen Wenjun raised her hand to pat her head: “Children shouldn’t meddle in adult matters. It’s late, what you should do now is go to sleep.”
“Ah Mu.” Xiao Xiao grabbed Zhen Wenjun’s sleeves with both hands, nearly pressing against her, “I saw it.”
Zhen Wenjun frowned: “What did you see?”
“That day my kite flew to the roof. When I went to get it, I saw Wei Tingxu from the roof, whispering with Ah Juan in the study.”
“Whispering with Ah Juan?” Zhen Wenjun laughed, “Ah Juan is mute, she can’t speak. Xiao Xiao, don’t make things up.”
Zhen Wenjun wasn’t very familiar with this Ah Juan, but knew of her. She was one of the maids who came with Wei Tingxu from the Wei Mansion to the Zhuo Jun Mansion. Being mute made daily communication difficult, so she was assigned to work in the kitchen and laundry. She was usually quiet and never approached Wei Tingxu or herself, so while Zhen Wenjun knew of her existence, they’d barely interacted.
“No!” Xiao Xiao denied firmly, “Ah Juan can speak! I really saw it! When you returned, they stopped talking. When they saw you through the window, they stopped, and Wei Tingxu made Ah Juan hide! She’s deceiving you, Ah Mu! I was afraid to tell you because I can’t protect you yet. Don’t marry her! She’s been deceiving you all along!”
Xiao Xiao had told many untruths before, but Zhen Wenjun could distinguish between truth and lies.
At this moment, Xiao Xiao’s anxious manner wasn’t lying.
As someone walked by, Zhen Wenjun covered Xiao Xiao’s mouth and whispered in her ear: “You can’t tell anyone about this, understand? Go back to the Zhuo Jun Mansion first.”
“But…”
“I’ll come find you in a few days.”
After sending Xiao Xiao away, Zhen Wenjun stood in the corridor until deep into the night.
Almost instantly when Xiao Xiao spoke, Zhen Wenjun connected this supposedly mute Ah Juan with the maid who had delivered messages for her master behind the curtains of that lonely boat on the Cold River.
Previously, Zhen Wenjun had thought that if Wei Tingxu was the zhu player on the lonely boat, then the message-delivering maid must be a trusted confidante. The messenger’s voice hadn’t matched Xiaohua or Lingbi, and Zhen Wenjun hadn’t seen such a person following Wei Tingxu around. It wouldn’t make sense to use someone only once and never again.
Unexpectedly, this puzzle piece had fallen into place.
The truth lay before her eyes, yet Zhen Wenjun regarded it like a flood and fierce beast, hesitating whether to approach.
She tossed and turned, consumed by anxiety.
On a clear morning, five days before the wedding day, Zhen Wenjun received news of Bu Jie’s death.
C’mon now, not the best guy 😭😭😭