Supreme Golden Palace

Chapter 240 Reality and Illusion (Part 1)

Princess Lanling was the fifth daughter of Emperor Yang Jian of the Sui Dynasty. She was beautiful, gentle, fond of reading, and knew etiquette. She was especially loved by the two emperors.

On her wedding day, the procession stretched for miles in red, with armored soldiers holding halberds leading the way and a thousand chariots carrying brocade chests following behind. Servants and retainers carried banners, and sleek horses with carved saddles accompanied them. Colorful curtains fluttered in the wind all around, making it seem as if the crimson clouds had fallen to earth.

From the Vermilion Bird Gate to the Liangjun Duke's Mansion, the road was covered with red carpet and decorated with colorful lanterns. Lü Shang greeted them with a goose and performed the goose-offering ceremony. Princess Lanling stepped over the stove and entered the main room to perform the nuptial ceremony.

After the ceremony, the palace attendants withdrew from the sleeping quarters. Princess Lanling removed her phoenix hairpin, tidied her hair, and Lü Shang loosened his python belt, both of them composed and respectful.

"Is this my wife?"

Looking at the princess who lay timidly on the couch, Lü Shang was somewhat lost in thought.

Having lived two lives, this is his first time getting married.

“Lü Lang,”

Seeing Lü Shang stop, the princess's eyes were like autumn waters, and her cheeks were like peach blossoms in full bloom, surpassing countless beauties in the mortal world.

“Ah Wu,”

Lü Shang stepped forward and sat down opposite Lanling. The two first chatted briefly, then gradually fell silent.

Meanwhile, the bedroom grew warmer, the curtains hung low, and the room was filled with the colors of spring.

After marrying Princess Shang, Emperor Yang Jian favored Lü Shang even more, and even gave him the power to make decisions on the spot, allowing him to be stationed in Liangzhou.

Yang Jian treated his sons-in-law extremely well. He had five daughters. Except for his eldest daughter who was widowed, his other four daughters all had husbands who held high positions.

In the tenth year of the Kaihuang era, the powerful clans of Jiangnan, including Wang Wenjin, Gao Zhihui, and Shen Xuanseng, rebelled against the Sui Dynasty. Emperor Yang Jian was furious and dispatched Yang Su and Shi Wansui to lead troops to quell the rebellion. The powerful clans led by Wang Wenjin were suppressed, and Jiangnan was pacified.

Just as Jiangnan was in turmoil, the Tuyuhun in the northwest invaded the border again. Lü Shang, who had been appointed as the governor of Liangzhou, was furious and mobilized troops from fourteen prefectures: Liang, Gua, Yi, Xi, Gan, Su, Lan, Shan, He, Min, Kuo, Sha, Ting, and Hui.

They gathered 15,000 elite cavalry and 37,000 infantry, claiming to have 80,000 infantry and cavalry, and launched a counterattack against Tuyuhun.

Lü Shang led his troops westward from Liangzhou, repeatedly defeating the Tuyuhun army. Wherever the Western Liang army went, it was almost scorched earth. He burned their stockpiles, destroyed their passes, and emptied their settlements, which terrified the Tuyuhun.

In the eleventh year of the Kaihuang era, the Tuyuhun sent envoys to Daxing to pay tribute. Their Khan, Shifu, presented a memorial to Yang Jian, acknowledging their vassalage and offering pearls and jade, requesting that the Khan's daughter be given to the emperor's harem. Yang Jian accepted the memorial but refused the Khan's daughter.

Subsequently, Lü Shang was awarded the title of Duke of Liang and Pillar of State for his merits, truly entering the ranks of top nobles.

In the same year, Princess Lanling became pregnant and gave birth to a son the following year. Lü Shang named his son Lü An, after a line from the Book of Changes: "A wise man is at peace but does not forget danger."

Peace means being free from danger and disturbance!

Upon learning of the birth of his son in Lanling, Emperor Yang Jian immediately issued an edict, bestowing upon his grandson Lü An the title of Duke of Lu, with a fief of 2,500 households.

"Lord Lu, Lü An,"

In the Liangzhou Governor's mansion, Lü Shang held his son, Lü An, in his arms, watching him sleep soundly, and chuckled softly, "You little rascal, you were born a duke. It really proves the saying, 'Nothing is worse than being born good.'"

“Lü Lang,”

Seeing Lü Shang holding and playing with the child, Princess Lanling tugged at Lü Shang's sleeve with her delicate hand, her eyebrows furrowed with a hint of coquettishness, and said, "An'er has just fallen asleep, don't wake him up."

Faced with Princess Lanling's coquettish demeanor, Lü Shang remained silent, but instead took her hand in his own, his palm warm.

"OK OK,"

Princess Lanling's ears turned slightly red. She gently tried to pull her hand away but couldn't. She could only say softly, "Be careful he wakes up and starts fussing for the wet nurse again. You, as his father, have to be careful."

Lu Shang looked down at the baby in his arms, whose breathing was even, touched his soft cheek with his finger, and said softly, "I know, I won't disturb him."

After saying that, he carefully handed Lü An to the nanny waiting beside him.

Lü Shang held his first wife in high esteem, not only because Lanling was Yang Jian's daughter, but also because Lü Shang benefited greatly from her.

Furthermore, Lanling was indeed a virtuous and capable woman. She was filial to her father, respectful and harmonious, managed her household in an orderly manner, kept her internal affairs in order, was knowledgeable in etiquette and righteousness, and did not indulge in extravagance. She was almost like her mother, Empress Dugu.

With such a virtuous wife, how could Lü Shang not respect and love her? In the fourteenth year of the Kaihuang era, Prince Yang Guang of Jin led all the officials in submitting a memorial, requesting Emperor Yang Jian to perform the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai.

Although Emperor Yang Jian ordered Niu Hong, the Minister of Rites, to establish the Fengshan ceremony, he ultimately did not perform the ceremony.

Yang Jian believed that he was of poor virtue, so he made an eastern tour and took the opportunity to offer sacrifices at Mount Tai.

In December, Lü Shang, serving as the governor of Liangzhou and concurrently as the governor of Qinzhou, governed twenty-seven prefectures and was promoted to Duke of Liang.

In the twentieth year of the Kaihuang era, the Western Turkic Khaganate, Buga Khan, led his army to invade the border. Emperor Yang Jian issued an edict ordering Prince Yang Guang and General Yang Su to lead troops out of Lingwu to resist the Turkic army, and they achieved a great victory over the Turks.

In October, Emperor Yang Jian deposed Crown Prince Yang Yong and his children, reducing them to commoners, and installed Prince Yang Guang of Jin as Crown Prince.

The following year, Emperor Yang Jian changed the era name to Renshou, which became known as the first year of Renshou.

In Liangzhou, at the residence of the Duke of Liang, the buildings are covered with blue bricks and tiles, with painted beams and carved pillars, and armored soldiers stand guard in the front courtyard.

Inside the main hall, Lü Shang sat upright at his desk. Ten years of hardship had not left a trace on him, and his eyes still shone brightly.

"Father, can I recite the Analects that the teacher taught us today for you?"

Lu An, dressed in a brocade robe, ran in through the side door, his eyes already showing a hint of heroism.

Princess Lanling then entered and said softly, "An'er, your father has just returned from the Grand Steward's residence. Let him rest."

Lu Shang looked up and saw his wife and children. His smile softened slightly. He beckoned Lu An to come closer and said, "Since you can recite it, then recite it for me to hear. It'll be a good opportunity to see if your teacher has been diligent in his teaching."

Lu An immediately stopped, about to begin reciting, when suddenly the sound of the steward gently knocking on the door came from outside the hall.

"There is a Taoist priest in front of the mansion who requests an audience with Your Excellency, saying he is an old friend from Zhongnan Mountain."

"Old friend!"

Lu Shang was taken aback, a hint of melancholy on his face.

Princess Lanling tightened her grip on the teacup, but only said softly, "Lü Lang, please go. I'll have the kitchen keep the soup warm until you return."

Lü Shang nodded and strode out of the hall, with his servant following closely behind.

At the foot of the stone steps in front of the mansion stood a man, still looking disheveled, with a red gourd tied around his waist and a smile on his face.

"How has the Duke of Liang been?"

"teacher,"

Before the Taoist could finish speaking, Lü Shang had already stepped down the stairs, bowed, and said, "Disciple Lü Shang greets Master."

Seeing Lü Shang bowing in greeting, the Taoist's smile deepened. He said, "It's been many years since we last met. Your cultivation has improved considerably. To achieve such progress amidst such busy official duties is quite remarkable."

Lü Shang straightened up and said, "Although I am now living in the mortal world, enjoying the Emperor's favor and bound by family ties, my desire to seek the Dao remains as it was in my youth, and I have not dared to slacken in the slightest."

“I have seen that your desire for the Way is very firm.”

The Taoist priest said slowly, "From the seventh year of the Kaihuang era to the first year of the Renshou era, for thirteen years he remained steadfast and sincere, and I know all of this. This is also the reason I am here."

As they spoke, the Taoist priest followed Lü Shang into the mansion, and the two walked through the courtyard.

"When will the struggle for fame and fortune end? We have no freedom to rise early and sleep late!

Riding a donkey and mule thinking of a steed, the official residence and the prime minister met the prince.

Just worry about food, food and hard work, so why don't Yan Jun take the hook?

The step-sons and grandsons seek wealth and honor, and not a single one is willing to turn back! "

As they passed through the courtyard, they saw an air of wealth and grandeur, and the Taoist priest softly chanted.

(End of this chapter)