Chapter Twenty-Six: The Tranquility of the Realm

Pei Min had no desire to linger at Yuzhen Temple; he had done all that was within his power today. To force himself further into the matter would surely invite trouble. With the memories of two lifetimes, Pei Min understood well the measure of his own strength and the limits of what he could achieve. If, someday, he held real authority, he would not let scoundrels like Hui Fan go unpunished. For now, what he could do was enough—he would not be troubled by his conscience.

He moved swiftly, but behind him someone called out. Turning, he saw Sun Pu, breathless and flushed, running up to him, hands braced against his thighs, gasping for air.

Pei Min frowned; Sun Pu’s constitution was rather poor—such a short distance, yet already exhausted.

Drawing a deep breath, Sun Pu said, “Benefactor, today you rescued me from peril and risked yourself to save Liu Bo. Such immense kindness, I will never forget. You haven’t revealed your name, and I dare not ask. But after today, we may never meet again, and this debt may never be repaid in my lifetime. I have here a health regimen passed down from my grandfather—not a valuable treasure, but if you do not disdain it, please accept it.” He held out a simple sheepskin scroll, covered with drawings of little figures in various postures. It resembled modern exercise routines, though the movements were much more complex. One pose even mimicked a bear crouching.

Pei Min immediately thought of his mother at home, whose health was still robust. As someone from a later age, he understood the importance of self-care. Health preservation has no age limit; the earlier, the better. If his mother could be as vigorous as Liu Shenwei, nearly ninety yet stronger than youth, it would be a blessing beyond measure. With curiosity and excitement, he took the scroll and glanced through it. The figures depicted countless forms, some imitating animals, and he recalled the Five Animal Frolics of Hua Tuo in history. He asked, “Is this the Five Animal Frolics?”

Sun Pu nodded, “It’s similar. My grandfather combined Zhuangzi’s Bear Scripture and Bird Stretch, Hua Tuo’s Five Animal Frolics, and Tao Hongjing’s health diagrams, along with his years of medical practice, into a unique breathing and health regimen. I don’t mind sharing—my father passed away unexpectedly while my mother was pregnant with me, and the shock caused me to be born well before seven months.”

Pei Min was startled. Ten months of gestation is the law of nature; premature or overdue births are never good, especially in ancient times with undeveloped medical technology. There was even a saying that preterm birth led to infant death and overdue birth to maternal loss.

A child born before seven months would struggle to survive even in modern times. That Sun Pu, a premature baby, had lived so long in ancient times was a miracle.

“When I was young, walking was difficult. Liu Bo diagnosed me and said I wouldn’t live past ten.” Sun Pu smiled, “But practicing my grandfather’s regimen since childhood, I’m alive and well. I can run and jump, have decent strength, though lacking stamina; even Liu Bo thinks it’s miraculous. Benefactor, your martial skills are extraordinary, so you may have little need for this, but if you have elders at home, let them practice it. If they persist, it will enhance their health and prolong their lives.”

Pei Min bowed solemnly, “Thank you! I still have my mother at home; this is invaluable to me.”

After bidding farewell to Sun Pu, Pei Min took a long detour back to the He residence. Having stirred up trouble, he had no intention of going out anytime soon, especially with the spring imperial examinations approaching—it was time to prepare. This examination would, barring surprises, see the first implementation of the anonymous marking system.

To completely eliminate cheating in exams was something no dynasty had ever accomplished. The saying, “Where virtue rises, evil rises higher,” referred exactly to this—every system has its loopholes. The anonymous system was no exception, but its novelty meant society didn’t fully understand it yet, making it nearly flawless. This exam was arguably the fairest in the history of the imperial system.

Fairness meant relying on true ability. With mentors and friends like He Zhizhang and Zhang Xu—his drinking companions—Pei Min would be ashamed not to achieve good results.

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The Princess of Peace’s full title was Princess Zhenguo Taiping. Throughout history, no one had ever reached such heights as she. Of the Tang dynasty’s seven prime ministers, five came from her household and followed her commands. Both commanders of the Imperial Guards were her confidants, and she had people in both the Southern and Northern Palace Guards. If she so wished, she could control most of the palace in short order, with countless officials openly or secretly pledging allegiance.

Emperor Li Longji feared Princess Taiping as one would a tiger—not because he was inept, but because her power was overwhelming.

The Princess of Peace’s mansion was situated in Xingdao Ward, right next to the palace’s Vermilion Bird Gate—a palace-sized estate built to imperial standards, covering one hundred and fifty acres, with high eaves and grand beams, exuding magnificence.

Before a bronze mirror, the Princess gently touched the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes and sighed, “In the end, I am old. The traces of time can never be erased.”

A woman’s greatest worry is the passing of youth, and even one as formidable as Princess Taiping was not immune. She cherished her appearance, and in earlier years, Jiang Bo had won her favor by gifting her snow toad from Changbai Mountain, renowned for preserving beauty, elevating him from a street merchant to the wealthiest man in Youzhou.

Yet, despite all her efforts, time could not be halted. Calculating carefully, she was already forty-eight, soon to cross the threshold of fifty.

“Your Highness, Prime Minister Cui and Prime Minister Xiao request an audience…”

Princess Taiping replied offhandedly, “Let them wait in the main hall!” She did not hurry to meet them, instead patiently applying her makeup, skillfully covering the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. Only when satisfied did she, surrounded by her beautiful attendants, enter the grand hall.

The so-called Prime Minister Cui and Prime Minister Xiao were none other than Cui Shi and Xiao Zhizhong, the two most influential ministers in the current court.

Yet these two, whose authority in the court was second only to the emperor, almost instinctively bowed deeply as Princess Taiping entered, remaining so until she seated herself and said, “You may rise.” Only then did they dare to lift their heads.

“What business does the court have today?” Princess Taiping asked lightly, speaking words that defied imperial protocol.

According to the Tang dynasty’s Three Departments and Six Ministries system, memorials from officials were first relayed to the Ministry of State Affairs, reviewed there, then presented to the emperor, who would approve them and send them to the Secretariat for processing.

But Princess Taiping had directly intercepted Li Longji’s authority. When officials submitted memorials, they would first go to the Ministry, where the prime ministers would review and then submit them to her for approval. Only once she was fully informed would the matters reach Li Longji…