Chapter 28: An Inexplicable Betrothal

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Several days later, Liu Xian went once more to Mount Shouyang to pay a visit to Young Master Ruan.

He arrived around midmorning. Young Master Ruan had only just awakened and was lying lazily across his couch, tuning the strings of his qin. Opposite him, chunks of beef simmered in a little cauldron set over a brazier, while yellow wine boiled gently in a nearby pot. The entire bedchamber was filled with intoxicating fragrance and the soft, burbling sounds of broth and wine.

When he saw Liu Xian arrive, Young Master Ruan was delighted. Patting the couch beside him, he laughed. “Come, Biji, play a few pieces! Later we’ll drink some fine wine and eat great mouthfuls of meat. And if we have a beauty for company as well, what greater happiness could life offer?”

Young Master Ruan always possessed this uncanny ability to put people at ease. Seeing his indolent appearance, Liu Xian could not help smiling too. After answering respectfully, he took up the paulownia qin and began to play “Viewing the Sea.”

The prelude to the piece was remote and profound, like a breeze brushing over stone, like glowing clouds returning to the sun, moving from quietude into absolute stillness. Yet when stillness reached its utmost point, the music suddenly changed. From silence, waves seemed to surge upward, as though a tide were rising in the night. Wave followed wave, higher than the last; string followed string, more urgent than the last. The clamorous, intricate notes evoked ten thousand raging breakers, making the listener’s heart tighten with apprehension and his thoughts become tangled as hemp.

Then, when the turmoil reached its peak, the music changed again. A thousand mountains and ten thousand rivers seemed to lose their color as an elegant,正 and expansive melody rang forth, like the bright moon rising high above the world to shine alone upon the sea.

When Liu Xian reached this passage, he could no longer restrain his emotions and began to sing:

“East I climb Mount Jieshi, to gaze upon the sea.
How vast the waters, how towering the islands.
Trees grow in tangled profusion, the grasses flourish thick.
The autumn wind sighs; mighty waves surge upward.

The sun and moon in their courses seem to rise from within it.
The Milky Way, brilliant and splendid, seems to emerge from its depths.
How fortunate I am! I sing to express what lies within my heart.”

After singing the verse twice, Liu Xian’s hands fell still like a sudden shower ending, and the sound of the qin stopped abruptly. The only sounds left in the room were the bubbling of the meat broth and the wine.

“Hey!” Young Master Ruan smacked Liu Xian on the head with his horsetail whisk and scolded him. “How many times have I told you, you little rascal? At the end, your rhythm was half a beat too slow, and you sang the note half a tone too low! A perfectly good ‘Viewing the Sea’—you nearly turned it into ‘Though the Tortoise Lives Long.’ Why can’t you ever remember?”

Liu Xian had grown accustomed to this. He apologized repeatedly. “I am not like you, Master. I truly cannot hear the notes properly. No matter how hard I practice alone, I am always making mistakes.”

As it turned out, Young Master Ruan’s greatest talent was not prose or philosophical discourse, but musical pitch. It was said that any sound he heard could immediately be distinguished by its position among the five notes and its precise rise and fall. For this reason, people throughout the realm called him the “Divinely Insightful.” In the region around Luoyang, only Xun Xu, the present Supervisor of the Secretariat, could compete with him. Yet even Xun Xu always fell slightly short, and was known merely as the “Secretly Insightful.”

Unfortunately, Liu Xian possessed no such gift. Thus, despite having studied under Young Master Ruan for many years, music remained the field in which his accomplishments were weakest.

Seeing that Liu Xian had not taken his criticism to heart, Ruan Xian felt deeply disappointed. Waving his horsetail whisk, he sighed, “What is so difficult about it? You, you—your mind is simply too full of distractions. You cannot devote yourself to one thing, and that is why you have ended up like this. Practice it again with me! Otherwise, when you meet other people in the future, do not tell them that I taught you music!”

With that, he sat up on the couch, took the bamboo flute from the wall to accompany him, and led Liu Xian through the piece once more.

Young Master Ruan truly deserved his reputation as the Divinely Insightful. Liu Xian’s solo performance had already been quite pleasing, but beside Young Master Ruan’s playing, it was as different as mud from clouds. When Young Master Ruan played, it was as though a divine being were commanding the breath of heaven itself—effortless, seamless, and entirely at his will. The melody wheeled and turned, round as pearls and smooth as jade, without the slightest trace of awkwardness or interruption.

Under his guidance, Liu Xian suddenly became aware of all his shortcomings. His fingers moved over the strings again, and the music seemed to burst through the ice of a great river and rush forward in a single unstoppable current. Flaws he had never noticed before now stood out with perfect clarity, and, following Young Master Ruan’s melody, he crossed over them one by one.

When the piece finally ended, even though the sky outside had dimmed into darkness, Liu Xian’s heart was open and radiant, as though a brilliance of ten thousand measures were gathering beneath his fingers.

Young Master Ruan was much more satisfied this time. He was just about to offer Liu Xian a few words of praise when someone knocked at the entrance to the estate. A moment later, Ruan Xuan, who had been chopping wood outside, called out from the gate, “My lord, a guest has arrived!”

The visitor was a plainly dressed, gaunt middle-aged man. He introduced himself as Sun Jing, a servant of Cao Zhi, the Duke of Juancheng, and explained that he had come by his master’s command to invite Young Master Ruan to the duke’s residence for a private discussion.

Hearing that the man was Cao Zhi’s servant, Young Master Ruan paused. He first glanced at Liu Xian, then asked suspiciously, “Has something unexpected happened in Luoyang again?”

“No, no. A few days ago, did our lord not come here to seek your help? Your words removed the illness from his heart. And just as you predicted, last night His Majesty issued an edict releasing all those imprisoned scholars and sparing them from execution!”

“Oh!” Young Master Ruan finally understood. Waving his horsetail whisk, he laughed. “That is wonderful news! Did Zhongrong send you here especially to report the good tidings?”

“Not exactly.” Sun Jing lowered his head. “My lord said there is another piece of good news he wishes to discuss with you. He had intended to come in person, but after the news arrived yesterday, he suffered such an upheaval of joy and sorrow that he caught a chill. He is unable to travel, so he sent me to invite you to come and discuss the matter with him.”

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“Oh? Good news? Is it urgent?”

“My lord says it is not truly urgent, but the sooner it is settled, the better. If you are free, I brought an ox cart with me. I can take you there at once.”

Having been pressed this far, Young Master Ruan found it difficult to refuse. He smoothed his hair, rose, and said, “Very well. I shall go now. We will settle the matter quickly and return.” Then he turned to Liu Xian. “I saw that you and the Duke of Juancheng had a most pleasant conversation last time. Would you like to come along?”

Liu Xian thought for a moment, then politely declined. “The duke said he had something to discuss with you, Master. What would I be doing there?”

“Very well.” Ruan Xian nodded slightly. “Then I shall see you tomorrow.”

He draped a cloth robe over his shoulders, took up a bowl of meat broth and a pot of hot wine, and settled himself leisurely into the ox cart. Liu Xian, meanwhile, remained at Ruan Estate to practice swordsmanship for another two hours before riding home. As for what the Duke of Juancheng wished to discuss with Young Master Ruan, that lay entirely outside his concerns.

Early the next morning, Liu Xian hurried back to Ruan Estate. Young Master Ruan had already returned. Hearing his student’s footsteps, he immediately called Liu Xian inside.

As usual, Liu Xian respectfully bowed to his teacher. When he raised his head, he found Young Master Ruan wearing an especially genial smile.

“The realm has been unified, the four seas have been peaceful, and many years have passed,” he said. “We old men have grown old as well. It is time we began thinking more about the generation that comes after us.”

Young Master Ruan’s words seemed to come from nowhere, and Liu Xian had no idea how to respond. He simply asked, “What does Master mean?”

Young Master Ruan did not continue speaking in riddles. Smiling, he said, “Biji, I have been thinking that I might arrange a marriage for you.”

“What? This…” Liu Xian was genuinely startled. “I have never given the matter any thought.”

Young Master Ruan stroked his beard and laughed heartily. “When two families of suitable standing are joined in a fitting marriage, their fortunes harmonize, their vitality flourishes, and their households prosper. The great clans of the Central Plain have been intermarrying for nearly a century. The streams of refined society run clear, and the great houses gaze upon one another as equals. Such things determine a man’s future. As your teacher, would I ever harm you?”

The subject was plainly unfamiliar to Liu Xian. For a moment, he did not know how to argue. He could only lower his ears and listen as Young Master Ruan continued.

Young Master Ruan appeared to be savoring a masterstroke and spoke with some pride. “Try to guess which family I have chosen for you.”

Liu Xian found the question baffling. But looking at his teacher’s expression and recalling all that had happened at Ruan Estate over the past few days, an incredible thought flashed through his mind. It was so unbelievable that he could scarcely accept it, yet impossible to avoid.

After a long hesitation, he asked cautiously, “Could it be… the Duke of Juancheng’s family?”

“Exactly! Hahahaha!” Seeing Liu Xian’s expression, Young Master Ruan immediately began slapping his knees and roaring with laughter. His beard and mustache became disheveled, as though willow fluff had stuck to his face. He looked like nothing so much as an old child.

Only after a long while did he manage to calm himself.

“That day, after hearing your brilliant discourse, the duke found it impossible to forget. Then the emperor acted exactly as you predicted, and the duke was even more moved. Yesterday he invited me to his residence and said that you, though young, possess an extraordinary bearing and unmatched talent. He wishes to take you as his son-in-law.”

Praise from others was certainly gratifying. Yet when the matter touched upon one’s lifelong happiness, it demanded careful consideration. Joy, confusion, bewilderment, resistance—every imaginable emotion surged through Liu Xian’s heart, giving rise to every imaginable speculation. But his thoughts were too tangled to sort into any coherent thread, and in the end they tore his mind blank.

It took him a long time to recover. He stared at Young Master Ruan, still not knowing where to begin.

Young Master Ruan saw his predicament and said with a smile, “I know you have many questions and worries. The duke and I have discussed the matter at length, and we have probably considered most of them already. Ask whatever you wish.”

After hesitating for a moment, Liu Xian began, “Master, I am only twelve by reckoning. Is it not rather early to marry?”

“It is no difficulty. Marriage would indeed be too soon, but you can become betrothed first. That is a matter for the elders to arrange. Once the engagement is settled, you can wait another three or four years before actually marrying.”

“But for our two families to be joined… is that not rather extraordinary?”

Young Master Ruan had clearly anticipated the question, and his answer had long been waiting.

“What is so extraordinary about it? I know what you are thinking. Liu Bei and Cao Cao fought one another for decades—how could their descendants forget the hatred of their ancestors? But do not forget that your maternal grandfather, Zhang Fei, married a niece of Xiahou Yuan. And Cao Cao’s father, Cao Song, was adopted by Cao Teng from the Xiahou family. If you look at it that way, your ancestors were already connected by marriage!”

“The war ended many years ago. What descendants must consider now is how to live well in the present. That is the finest repayment they can offer their forebears. Besides, I have heard that Liu Bei was a man of easy nature. Perhaps Duke Xuande, if his spirit still watches from heaven, would be delighted to hear that his great-grandson has married the great-granddaughter of Cao Mengde. He might even praise you lavishly!”

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These words were impossible to refute, and they completely convinced Liu Xian. The great-grandfather he imagined was indeed much as Young Master Ruan had described him.

But in the next instant, Liu Xian thought of a thornier political question.

“Even so, if our two families marry, will it not arouse the emperor’s suspicion?”

“On the contrary, it will dispel his suspicions.” Knowing that this was the crucial point, Young Master Ruan rarely adopted such a solemn expression.

“Your family commands tremendous influence in Bashu, but here in Luoyang, you are merely an ordinary household. To the Son of Heaven, so long as you do not attempt to return to the western provinces, there is nothing to suspect.”

“If your family accepts this marriage, then first, it demonstrates that you have no desire to return to your ancestral homeland. You wish only to build up your family and establish yourselves in the capital region, which is naturally a good thing in the emperor’s eyes. Second, it shows that your family bears no grudge from the past. If even the decades-long struggle between the Cao and Liu families can be set aside, then surely you do not cling to the grievances left by the fall of the previous dynasty. Third, the emperor is a man who values old affections. The Duke of Juancheng was his childhood companion and is extremely close to him. Through that affection, the duke may extend some consideration to you as well.”

At this point, Young Master Ruan paused. His expression grew increasingly grave as he emphasized, “Do you remember the conversation we had two years ago? Under ordinary circumstances, you would have had no chance of entering government service. Once you came of age, the emperor might have given you some empty post merely to satisfy appearances. But with the support of the Duke of Juancheng’s family, you can enter official life through the proper channels. Biji, this may be the rarest opportunity of your entire life. Once it is missed, it will never come again. You must seize it!”

Under his teacher’s careful guidance, Liu Xian felt the fog surrounding these questions miraculously disperse.

Marriage, entry into government service, and the uncertain career and future that lay beyond them suddenly seemed broad and bright. Somewhere deep within, Liu Xian even felt that this marriage had been destined for him all along.

Then he suddenly thought of another question—one that was, in fact, the most important question in any marriage.

Young Master Ruan had spoken at length. Seeing that Liu Xian remained silent, he asked, “Biji? What do you think?”

Liu Xian moved his lips uncertainly and asked in a small voice, “How old is she? What is her name?”

“Oh? Hahaha, I forgot to tell you. She is the youngest daughter of the Duke of Juancheng and was born in the same year as you, two months after you. Her name is Shangrou, and her childhood name is A-Luo. And remember—do not tell anyone else her name.”

“A-Luo. Cao Shangrou.” Liu Xian repeated the name silently in his heart. Would the girl behind that name one day become his wife? The thought left his emotions in turmoil.

Meanwhile, Young Master Ruan was already making the final arrangements.

“When you return home today, you need not come here for the next few days. In roughly three days, I shall personally visit the Duke of Anle’s residence to pay my respects to your parents and discuss the matter with them in detail. Before the month is over, we shall prepare the betrothal gifts. Next month, I shall go to the Duke of Juancheng’s residence to present them formally.”

“Also, now that you are to be married, you can no longer go by your childhood name. It is time to give you a courtesy name.”

Speaking entirely to himself, Young Master Ruan somehow produced a handful of yarrow stalks and immediately began casting a divination.

This was a customary practice. A teacher would cast a divination for his student, then choose a suitable courtesy name according to the resulting hexagram, offering a blessing for a smooth and fortunate life.

The process was simple. Six lines formed a hexagram. The upper trigram was Heaven and the lower Earth, creating the Hexagram of Stagnation. Its judgment read:

“Stagnation comes from inhumanity. It is not beneficial for the noble man to remain steadfast. The great depart; the small arrive.”

“Hm?” Young Master Ruan was startled. “How did we get an inauspicious hexagram? Heaven above and Earth below—the host is yin and the guest is yang. It means you are constrained by others and unable to act freely.”

He studied Biji for a moment, then smacked his forehead.

“Oh, that is right. You are the heir to the Duke of Anle, and the court is still suspicious of you. This hexagram is entirely appropriate.”

After thinking for a while, he continued, “The Hexagram of Stagnation has nine judgments, all of which suggest that your life will contain many hardships. But so long as a noble man adheres to the righteous path and remains vigilant even in times of peace, he will eventually pass through every trial and see bitterness turn to sweetness. In that case, the courtesy name I choose for you should correspond to this hexagram and help you overcome these calamities…”

He paced slowly around the bed, thinking in silence. After a while, he murmured, “To overcome disaster, nothing is better than the saying: ‘The highest goodness is like water. Water benefits all things and does not contend. It dwells in places despised by all, and is therefore close to the Way.’ But your great-grandfather already took the courtesy name Xuande, so using that would be repetitive. Better to use another passage: ‘The greatest perfection seems incomplete, yet its usefulness never fails. The greatest fullness seems empty, yet its usefulness is inexhaustible.’”

A sudden inspiration illuminated his face.

“Your courtesy name shall be Huai Chong.”

And so, without the slightest warning, in the first month of the fourth year of Taikang, twelve-year-old Liu Xian—now Liu Huaichong—found himself, bewildered and inexplicably, preparing to discuss marriage.

Yet as he traveled home deep in thought, a mountain breeze swept across him, and his expression suddenly changed.

He had thought of a most troublesome and difficult-to-voice question.

He had no idea how his father, Liu Xun, would react.