The Ministry of War was staffed by one Minister of the Third Rank and two Vice Ministers of the lower Fourth Rank, overseeing military appointments, maps, carriages, armors, and weaponry. It comprised four divisions: the Military Department, the Territorial Department, the Carriage Department, and the Armory Department. By imperial decree, Ye Jiao was specially promoted to the position of Langzhong in the Armory Department, responsible for the nation's arms, ceremonial equipment, seals, measurement standards, and martial studies, holding a rank above the fifth grade.
"This is truly a fortunate turn," Bai Xianyu sighed in relief. "The Military Minister counts as a bureaucrat; the Langzhong of the Armory Department is an official, fifth rank and above, with a respectable salary. Moreover, the Langzhong rarely has to set foot on the battlefield—truly a lucrative sinecure."
He expounded on the advantages, somewhat assuaging his guilt.
"What lucrative sinecure?" Liu Yan's brows shot up like drawn swords, his stern voice reprimanding his subordinate. "Officials in the court serve above by imperial grace, below for the people. No one in the Tang bureaucracy dares to seek selfish gains!"
His words came so fast, spittle nearly sprayed Bai Xianyu's face. Bai Xianyu recoiled, shielding his bowl with a hand, wearing an innocent expression. Serve with absolute integrity? Does Your Excellency truly believe that yourself?
Even Liu Yan recognized the exaggeration in his own outburst and shook his head. "You know the Armory Department is a cushy post; others know it too. The previous Langzhong was specially appointed when Prince Jin ventured west to expel the Tubo. Besides, except for Vice Minister Jiang, everyone in the Military Department has a fiery temper. And she is but a young woman..." His voice faltered, eyes full of anxious concern.
Bai Xianyu muttered in reminder, "She may be a woman, but she's just as fiery. Who else in the Military Department could beat two princes in a single day and still get promoted?"
"Moreover," Bai Xianyu added, "her brother is still there, isn't he?"
"He won't be for long," Liu Yan's news was swifter than Bai Xianyu's. "His Majesty has reassigned General Ye to the Ministry of Works as Langzhong of the Water Department, also fifth rank and above. The decree has already been delivered."
Liu Yan put away the mustard jar, sighing, "It's a pity my performance last year was only 'above average' and my position unchanged. Otherwise…"
Bai Xianyu looked at Liu Yan in astonishment, incredulous. "Otherwise, would Your Excellency have gone to the Military Department to protect her? You're a civil official—wouldn't they have devoured you there?"
"You don't understand," Liu Yan replied, "I have met your father several times. You… you should remain in the capital rather than follow him to Jiannan. 'Military affairs are the nation's paramount concern, matters of life and death, the way of survival or extinction; they cannot be neglected.' With the esteemed generals of the Military Department, only then can civil officials assist the sovereign in governing the realm."
"My father is coming back soon." Though he did not fully grasp Liu Yan's meaning, Bai Xianyu felt happy.
"That's good," Liu Yan stood up, "to enjoy one's twilight years."
As he went to settle the bill, Bai Xianyu did not insist on paying—two copper coins were no trouble for the Prefect. Yet Liu Yan grumbled while paying, "You have to pay for sesame oil too?"
Bai Xianyu felt as if he had just starved Liu Yan out with one meal. Truly a miser of repute.
"Langzhong of the Armory Department?" The next day was bright and clear. Ye Jiao sat in a rocking chair at the Zhao Prince's Mansion, furrowing her brow in the sunlight.
"Yes," Li Jing yawned across from her, "a good thing. Responsible for weapons and ceremonial gear. I imagine His Majesty still recalls when you helped Chang Geng replace arrows beneath the Danfeng Tower."
At that time, Li Ce discovered the willow-leaf arrows were iron-tipped; Ye Jiao calmly advised Chang Geng to swap arrows to ensure perfect accuracy. Ye Jiao rocked gently, her dark hair cascading down the chair's back, shimmering in the spring morning light.
"What about the Military Department?"
"Bai Xianyu has been reinstated," Li Jing said proudly, "your brother has moved to the Ministry of Works overseeing hydraulic affairs—a form of training. Generally, the emperor wants to promote someone, so he lets them circulate through various departments. You've gone to the Military Department to manage weapons—don't forget to snag a few regulated arms for my protection. Also, the Zhao Prince's guards need new swords and blades; bring me a hundred."
Ye Jiao squinted and smiled, "No."
Li Jing suddenly lifted his foot against the chair's footrest and gave a sharp kick, causing the chair to tilt dangerously, almost tipping Ye Jiao out. Seizing her momentary alarm, he threatened to overturn the chair, asking, "Will you or won't you?"
Before he finished, his foot stiffened and withdrew awkwardly, smiling sheepishly, "No… is fine. I'll buy them myself."
Ye Jiao turned to see Li Ce approaching, his cheeks flushed with better health than the past days. He held Ye Jiao's sleeve warmer, looking at Li Jing in puzzlement. "What's Fifth Brother up to?"
Li Jing nervously stepped back, hands spread in appeal to Ye Jiao, "Look, you're fine! Not a single hair out of place!"
The rocking eased. Ye Jiao lay back, turning to smile at Li Ce, her eyes blazing like lanterns lit on the Lantern Festival over Chang'an.
"It's fine. Fifth Brother's just rocking the chair. Right?"
Li Jing had no choice but to gently tap the footrest again, resuming the rocking. Li Ce stepped behind Ye Jiao, lightly steadying the chair.
"You should rest, Fifth Brother. I'll rock it."
"You're the one who needs rest," Li Jing said as he found another chair to recline in, eyeing Li Ce. "Who's in such a hurry to marry? With your constitution, you might not even make it through the ceremonies."
"Speaking of which," Li Ce rocked the chair lightly, asking Ye Jiao, "the Astronomical Observatory is observing the stars to divine an auspicious date. I must go today to set the wedding date. When do you wish to marry?"
When? Ye Jiao clenched her gown, thoughts drifting. Watching Sister Yan and Ye Rou wed, she had always felt marriage was far away. Now, suddenly setting the date, her heart was filled with both joy and nervousness.
"You decide," she obediently said. "Afterward, consult Wang Qianshan. I feel he's more reliable than those at the Observatory."
Ye Jiao took a deep breath. Consulting Wang Qianshan meant informing him—if he was in contact with her father, he would surely pass on the message. Would her father come? Would the daughter's wedding not be more important than his hermitic studies? Probably not—he hadn't appeared for her sister's wedding.
Li Ce lowered his gaze, gently gathering Ye Jiao's long hair.
Within the sunlit Hall of Observation, Master Yuan Yaqing held a thick almanac, respectfully glancing at Li Ce and the accompanying officials from the Ministry of Rites.
"August ninth is an auspicious day," he pronounced cautiously. "Historically, little rain falls, the wind is mild, and the stars align favorably."
The Ministry official nodded, seeking Li Ce's approval.
"August is good. The Chu Prince's mansion's flowers and fruits will be in full bloom. I hear the Prince planted many pomegranate trees; August is their season."
Yet Li Ce shook his head, "August is too late. What about earlier?"
Yuan Yaqing flipped through the almanac again, "July has the Ghost Festival—unlucky. This year there is a leap June, but the star charts are unfavorable. Then June nineteenth, how about that?"
"June nineteenth is fine," the Ministry official agreed, "the wheat will be harvested, the granaries full, and officials will have leisure to attend."
"No," Li Ce declined again, "June is too hot. Have you ever seen officials marry then? Do you know how many layers their wedding robes have?"
Yuan Yaqing and the official exchanged looks, both assuming the other were well-aged and surely married; Yuan's white hair suggested grandchildren.
"Then April," Yuan Yaqing decided, "or March!"
Li Ce's face brightened with satisfaction, though the Ministry official frowned.
"That's too soon," he fretted. "February is nearly over, barely over a month's time to prepare the prince's grand wedding attire, ceremony, and instruments. It's impossible."
Yuan Yaqing ignored the concern, carefully tracing the calendar. "March twenty-ninth, a propitious day."
Li Ce promptly relayed the news to Ye Jiao, who was eating cold noodles. She looked up and said, "Isn't that too rushed? Mother wants to wait for this year's southern silk to arrive to make ten quilts."
Li Ce shrugged helplessly. "What can I do? The Observatory says there are few good dates this year. This is the only one left."
Ye Jiao frowned but consented reluctantly, "Alright, I'll tell Mother. The Duke of Anguo's household will be very busy."
"I'll send Qingfeng and the others to help," Li Ce said, suppressing a smile. "If you need anything, just send my men."
He crushed roasted peanut skins, mixed them with minced garlic and clear oil, and ladled a spoonful onto Ye Jiao's noodles. "Try this—is it better?"
Ye Jiao took a small bite, savoring slowly, then a large mouthful. "Delicious, much more savory."
Li Ce laughed softly, "Good, I learned from Bai Xianyu."
The day's warmth spilled over the courtyard. The sound of distant laughter mingled with the clatter of cups and the faint scent of jasmine.
Ye Jiao glanced at the calendar again, her heart quietly steeling. The date was set—March 29. So soon. So close.
And so, the wedding preparations began.