Moma Liangshan

Chapter 74 Behind the Screen, the True Dragon's Body

The next day, Zhao Huan's letter was delivered to Wang Hao by a palace eunuch. Wang Hao looked at the unexpected letter and smiled awkwardly. The letter was simple, asking Wang Hao's opinion on foot binding. The brief question made Wang Hao hesitant to answer. Holding the letter, Wang Hao paced alone by the window, his mind filled with questions: "What kind of person is 'Huanhuan' who signs the letter? How could a ten-year-old girl easily correspond with me amidst the heavy palace walls? What is her position among Emperor Huizong's dozens of children? Is my marriage to this girl merely a political alliance, or will we find true love beyond the realm of power?" Thinking this, Wang Hao smiled wryly and muttered to himself, "A ten-year-old girl, still too young to understand, how could she possibly understand love?" He turned back to his desk, carefully folded the letter, and tucked it into his robes. Then he called out, "Prepare the carriage, we're going to Fanlou!"

Today, Fanlou, due to the auction of the Eight Immortals Winery's shares, has fewer scholars and students, and more wealthy merchants. Wang Hao, gazing at the flowing stream of carriages that once filled Fanlou, ordered, "Take the side entrance." His attendant skillfully turned the carriage around and entered through the side entrance. Wang Hao was one of Fanlou's most special guests; the shop assistants, seeing his carriage, rushed to greet him. Wang Hao asked, "Is Miss Shishi free?" The waiter, his face beaming, replied, "The ladies on the third floor don't see guests during the day!" Wang Hao nodded and said, "Please inform Miss Shishi that Wang Hao is visiting!" The waiter said, "Miss Shishi has already instructed that Young Master Wang is no stranger; there's no need for announcing." Wang Hao then said, "Please lead the way, young master!" The waiter bowed and said, "Please, young master!" Fanlou was a vast area, and Wang Hao, having entered through the side entrance, was indeed unfamiliar with the area. Led by the waiter, they passed through a corridor, around two flights of stairs, and finally through a foyer. Li Shishi's room appeared about thirty paces away. Wang Hao looked around; there was no one else nearby. Seeing this, the waiter said, "If you have no further instructions, sir, I'll take my leave." Wang Hao replied, "Thank you, sir!" The waiter quickly left the third floor. Wang Hao moved behind the railing and looked down at the hall on the first floor. Inside, the storytelling, acrobatics, and music were not being performed. Groups of people were gathered in front of notices, whispering amongst themselves. In the center of the hall, on a purplish-red wooden shelf, sat three enormous wine jars. Undoubtedly, these jars contained the fine wines of the Eight Immortals Winery. However, these three jars were neither pottery nor porcelain, but transparent glass.

Wang Hao was very curious, but instead of directly asking the manager of Fanlou, he walked to Li Shishi's door and gently knocked. After three knocks, Wang Hao stood quietly at the door and waited. After a moment, a maid opened the door, and seeing Wang Hao standing there, she was slightly surprised, then smiled and said, "The young lady is in the room, please come in, young master!" Wang Hao entered the room and said, "It's been a long time, sister, how are you?" Li Shishi stood up and said, "These days in Fanlou, if anyone falls out with my brother, they'll probably be kicked out!" Wang Hao smiled helplessly and said, "Sister, you flatter me!" Li Shishi looked at the maid and said, "My brother is here, go and prepare some tea!" The maid replied, "Yes!" and then turned and left. Wang Hao asked, "Were those glass wine vessels in the hall the work of Master Li?" Li Shishi nodded and said, "It's said that Old Master Li smashed all the glassware in his collection and remelted them, which resulted in these three enormous, obedient wine vessels." Wang Hao was even more surprised and said, "Glassware in Tokyo is worth several times more than official kiln white porcelain. Master Li must have made a huge sacrifice!" Li Shishi said, "These three glass wine vessels must have cost Old Master Li at least five thousand strings of cash." Wang Hao sighed, "The Li family's wealth is indeed beyond the reach of a country boy like me." "Amount!" Li Shishi laughed, saying, "Even the greatest fortune has now joined my brother's side!" Li Shishi's insight once again exceeded Wang Hao's expectations. She said, "Sister's wisdom is probably only comparable to the fairies of the Nine Heavens!" Li Shishi shook her head slightly, saying, "No need for flattery. Tell me, what brings you here today?" Wang Hao looked slightly embarrassed and said, "Princess Zhao Huan gave me a letter, asking my opinion on foot binding." Li Shishi covered her face and laughed, saying, "It seems this Princess Zhao Huan is your future match, brother!"

Wang Hao shook his head helplessly and said, "A woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea; I dare not reply casually!" Li Shishi said, "She's just a little girl; with your wisdom, why can't you handle her?" Wang Hao said, "Judging from her handwriting and tone, Zhao Huan, though only ten years old, gives one a sense of clarity and understanding." Upon hearing this, Li Shishi suddenly asked, "Zhao Huan makes you clear-headed, but what about me?" Wang Hao was surprised, but still said, "Sister makes one's heart race!" Li Shishi laughed and said, "Heart race? That doesn't seem like a compliment?" Wang Hao said, "Sister's temperament and charm cannot be described by ordinary praise." "My heart is in turmoil," Li Shishi said, "I'm neither praising nor criticizing, just stating a genuine, personal feeling." "Concern leads to confusion," she continued, "is your brother very concerned about her?" Wang Hao replied, "I dare not be indifferent! Zhao Huan is not only related to my life, but also to the future of Jiaozhou. I need your guidance, sister!" Li Shishi suddenly asked, "Aren't you afraid that I'll become jealous of Zhao Huan and interfere?" Wang Hao shook his head, saying, "I'm not afraid! If one day Dongjing City is on the verge of collapse, and I can only send one person away, that person will definitely be you, sister." Li Shishi stopped joking and asked, "And what about Zhao Huan?" Wang Hao answered, "She will live and die with me!"

Li Shishi was silent for a moment, then said, "The Liao Kingdom is engaged in fierce fighting with the Jurchens and has no time to attend to other matters; the Western Xia has been suppressed west of the Longshan Mountains by our dynasty and is exhausted from defending itself. Tokyo (Kaifeng) should be the safest place since the founding of the Song Dynasty." The events of five or six years later were unexpected by everyone. As a subject, Wang Hao could not speak recklessly, saying, "This is just a hypothetical scenario for me, sister, you don't need to take it too seriously." Li Shishi said, "Although it's just a hypothetical scenario, it is also my inner thought." After a pause, she changed the subject, saying, "The practice of foot binding for women probably originated with Li Yu, the last ruler of the Southern Tang Dynasty..." It was probably the concubine Yao Niang who started this trend! Yao Niang came from a poor family and was originally a lotus picker. She was selected to enter the palace at the age of sixteen. She was as light as a swallow and skilled in a lotus-picking dance adapted from the poem "Lotus Picking Song" by the Tang Dynasty poet Wang Changling. It is said that when she danced, she resembled a lotus flower treading on water, her graceful swaying and undulating movements captivating. She also bound her feet with silk, making them small and curved, with her toes shaped like a crescent moon, which later generations praised as "a more beautiful flower among lotuses, a moon ever new in the clouds." Yao Niang's actions aroused great admiration among women at the time, leading many to imitate her and consider foot binding beautiful. In other words, Yao Niang can be considered the originator of foot binding for women.

Wang Hao hadn't expected the origins of foot binding to be so complex. He suddenly asked, "Sister's dance steps are unparalleled, no less than Yao Niang's, yet you haven't bound your feet." Li Shishi looked at her feet and said, "Whether it's Yao Niang or 'The Lotus Picking Song,' they both express the gentle beauty of Jiangnan, emphasizing delicate grace and graceful, lotus-like steps. My dance steps are taken from the legend of the Queen Mother of the West's Jade Pool in Kunlun Mountain, pursuing boundless freedom and unrestrained grace, like the wind and lightning!" Wang Hao pondered for a moment and said, "Nowadays, it seems that noble families all consider foot binding beautiful?" Li Shishi nodded and said, "The Emperor likes women with bound feet. Because of this, the Emperor once said to me, 'Gold is never pure!' The ruler sets an example for the people below; if the emperor does this, those noble families will only imitate it!" Wang Hao said, "If I agree with Zhao Huan's decision not to bind her feet, what will the Emperor think when he finds out?" Li Shishi replied, "The Emperor will understand that your obedience to him is not 100%, but in his eyes, this is ultimately a family matter, and he shouldn't pursue it too much!" Wang Hao seemed to understand something and said, "The Emperor will remember that I am just a rough boy from the countryside, and no amount of power or wealth can change my coarse heart. If the Emperor is a discerning eye and I am a wild horse, then I am still untamed and have the potential to rebel against my master's will!" Li Shishi comforted him, "I am close to the Emperor, but I often do things that surprise him. Your personality is a double-edged sword; if used properly, it can open up new horizons for you, otherwise, it may bring you bloodshed!"

Wang Hao pondered for a long time before saying, "In life, one should ultimately live the life they desire. Even if one fails to achieve this goal in the end, one should still strive tirelessly for it while young!" Li Shishi stood up, placed a hand on Wang Hao's shoulder, and said, "When doing things, one must avoid being indecisive and hesitant, otherwise, one will give others an opportunity to take advantage!" Wang Hao agreed, saying, "In my reply to Zhao Huan, I will clearly express my support for her not binding her feet. If the Emperor inquires further, I will certainly speak frankly and remain true to my original intention!" Li Shishi glanced at the screen and said, "I'm a little tired!" Wang Hao then said, "Sister, please rest. I'll take my leave!" He then turned and left.

Unbeknownst to Wang Hao, just as he stepped out of the room, a man slowly emerged from behind the screen. The man was none other than Emperor Huizong, who had traveled incognito from the palace. Huizong smiled and said, "The conversation between you two siblings is far more interesting than storytelling or music!" Li Shishi approached Huizong and asked, "Brother, what do you think of the matter of Zhao Huan and Wang Hao exchanging letters?" Huizong shook his head and said, "To say they exchanged letters is too serious! Without the Empress's permission, that girl Zhao Huan wouldn't have such power! The Empress has the authority to manage the harem. Since Huanhuan received the Empress's permission, it's naturally not exchanging letters, and there's no need to pursue it. However, speaking of foot binding, that's even more interesting!"