The cry of a baby echoed within the stone house, and Alisa’s expression instantly changed, her actions coming to a halt. She hurried into the house and ca back holding a chubby baby.
"Oh, oh, oh! May the Chief Divine bless little Xiu Hua. Little Xiu Hua, don’t cry. Mama will feed you..."
Alisa, carefully cradling Xiu Hua, showed a gentle maternal glow on her face. The lively and carefree girl vanished, replaced by the graceful and serene presence of a young mother. She unbuttoned her short dress and brought little Xiu Hua to her chest, her brow gently raised, letting out a soft hum.
Once a pure spirit moving between the clouds and flowers, it was only upon becoming a mother that she gradually transford into the dignified image of the Earth Mother Goddess. Two maids hurried over to assist on either side, naturally displaying respect on their faces.
"Praise the Chief Divine! What a strong Divine Son!"
"Yes! Look at how he sucks the milk, so strong, like a divine little Jaguar!"
At this, Alisa blushed. She gazed at little Xiu Hua, who was sucking vigorously, gently stroking his wrinkled, rosy face, which resembled Xiulote’s in his childhood.
"Oh dear! Indeed, just like your father, so vigorous in eating..."
Feeding her child, Alisa’s cheeks flushed hot, lost in thought. Only when Xiu Hua had eaten his fill, did he open his round eyes silently. Alisa, carrying the child, returned inside and sang a lullaby.
"The child on the earth, in the mother’s arms, grows healthily. He will grow tall like the Cocoa Tree, will be strong like the prickly pear, will be robust like the Jaguar, will soar high like the Divine Eagle...chasing after the sun, his father..."
The pure singing carried warmth, with an undertone of expectation and resolve. Little Xiu Hua, in Alisa’s embrace, slowly fell asleep, letting out adorable snores. Alisa held him quietly for a while, until her arms ached, then laid him onto a small wooden bed filled with cotton cloth.
"Praise the Chief Divine! For giving a strong child. Please bless him to grow up..."
Alisa prayed silently for a while, then turned her head and gave a stern look to the maid. The maid nodded quickly, indicating she would stay by the little Highness’s side at all tis.
Only then did Alisa leave the stone house and enter the adjacent wooden house. With a pharmacist’s skill, she expertly prepared a cup of invigorating herbal tea. Then, she spread out a sheet of durable tree bark paper, picked up a quill, and began to reply to Xiulote.
"Xiulote, I have received your letter. I was so happy that I danced two dances by the lake, both newly choreographed ones I want to show you. You mischievous monkey, you surely won’t be able to resist... Xiu Hua is very healthy and spirited, looking just like you did when you were young..."
The young mother, with a smile, wrote about everyday matters and then, with a few simple strokes, drew a picture. The small drawing depicted a tiny baby nestled in a small woman’s arms, with the woman holding the baby, leaning against a slightly larger man’s shoulder. After so thought, she added three stars above them.
Alisa examined her little drawing, nodding in satisfaction. Then, she unfolded another sheet of bark paper, her expression turning serious.
"...Father has ascended to supremacy. The High Priesthood of the Capital City has all bowed before him. Several decrees have been issued in the Royal Palace, reducing the power of the Great Nobility—tributes, population, samurai, inheritance rights... Father’s determination to consolidate power is unwavering. All the alliances within 240 miles of the Lake Capital City are to be gradually brought under direct control."
"In the past few months, several elders of the Royal Family have petitioned the King, and older noble ladies from various regions have lanted throughout the Capital City. Father has been indifferent, but the royal nobles are in so disorder. I don’t understand much about these state affairs, but it’s evident that the nobility is becoming unsettled. The Immortal Elder has passed away, and Father’s prestige is still far from that. He can only suppress the alliance with force..."
Writing here, Alisa felt a bit concerned. She sighed, drawing a tall Divine Tree beneath which lay a field of corn. Flas flickered on the corn.
"I always feel Father is being too hasty. Xiulote, as you said, small flas can also ignite a large tree. And around him, the only one who can continuously support him is you..."
Alisa paused her pen, stayed silent for a while, and then wrote about the recent significant events in the Capital City.
"Recently, the young Montezuma II has just married the daughter of the Yuyan Family. The Silver Raven Tribe of the Vastec also sent their daughter to betroth Little Quetelawak. As for the enfeoffnt of Little Chimalpahin, the High Priesthood and the royal nobles have reached an agreent. A large number of nobles will be reappointed to the Trascal Land in the East, especially those from the western Three States—Tzompantli City, Gold Mountain City, and Sun City..."
"Father is recruiting samurai in the Capital, replenishing the depleted royal legions, and promoting many generals of lesser nobility and commoner samurai origin. With a large influx of eastern spoils of war into the Capital, the sales of Lake Gem have doubled. The priests of the Goddess of Spring said that the slave markets in the Capital are crowded, and various luxurious indulgences are popular... but food is sowhat tight in the Capital, and the price of corn cakes is rising..."
Stopping here, Alisa lowered her eyes, pondered for quite so ti, her expression becoming solemn. After a mont, she wrote down a wife’s yearning and blessing at the end of the letter.
"Xiulote, my only love. You are the tall Divine Tree, and I am the twining vine. The Chief Divine will protect you, standing tall on the Eastern Divine Mountain! May you return victorious soon; the dewy flowers and newborn trees are waiting for you..."
Alisa took the letter and gently left a lipstick kiss on the blank side. Then, she laid down her pen, summoned a maid, and whispered an instruction.
"Go, invite the esteed Priestess Aqiya in charge of the nearby Temple of the Goddess of Spring."
"As you command, Princess."
The maid turned and hurried away. Around the Holy Mountain, there is not only an ancient Temple of the Sun God but also a major temple of the Goddess of Spring. The temples of the Goddess of Spring are traditionally managed by the line of the priestesses. In each City-State, there are nurous temples and sacrificial altars dedicated to the Goddess, even more than the Rain God Temple.
Although there is no representative Elder Priest among the High Priesthood from the line of the Goddess Priestesses, their relationship with the Royal Family is always intimate, and their influence among the samurai is remarkably significant.
Because, according to the Alliance’s traditions and teachings, adulterers are punished by death, and the open existence of prostitutes is not allowed. The only ones that can provide daily pleasure for the samurai are the priestesses from various temples...
"Praise the Supre Main God! Aqiya greets you, esteed Princess Alisa!"
A few quarters later, a priestess in her thirties appeared in the stone house with a sincere smile. She wore a vibrant cloak, her arms and legs adorned with gemstone-inlaid bands, and inside she wore only a scant garnt for modesty. She bowed her head in greeting to the esteed princess, revealing a startling voluptuousness that made Alisa raise her eyebrows.
"Also, greetings to the esteed spirit of light, Your Grace Xiu Hua!"
Aqiya’s eyes flickered as she turned slightly to bow towards the stone house where Xiu Hua resided. After completing these courtesies, she then lifted her head to look at the solemn and silent Princess Alisa.
"Esteed princess, may I know why you’ve summoned ... is there sothing you need to do?"
"Yes. Aqiya, I not only need you, but I also need the priestesses of the Goddess of Spring to join in accomplishing a certain task!"
Alisa spoke gently, yet there was a trace of fierceness in her deanor. With both her father and husband being supre kings, she had been influenced by their presence, gradually transforming from a pure magnolia into a dignified dahlia. At this mont, though seated on a low wooden stool in a stone house, she exuded the aura of being seated high in a temple.
"Upon return from the eastern campaign, many warriors in the capital suffered casualties. Compensation has been issued, yet the absence of a man in the household inevitably brings hardship. A large influx of war spoils has flooded the capital, and the prices of corn and squash have risen by more than half..."
"Aqiya, I will provide a substantial amount of lake gems and cotton cloth to exchange for food and resources, to additionally compensate the fallen capital warriors, and to relieve the won, children, and the elderly in various communities. These need to reach the families of the warriors and the community won and children, and I rely on the help of you priestesses of the Goddess!"
Upon hearing this, Priestess Aqiya was taken aback. She looked at Alisa closely, surprised by her earnest expression, then smiled and said.
"Esteed princess, is this the king’s decree, or His Highness Xiulote’s directive?"
"No, it is my directive."
With a bright gaze and resolute eyes, Alisa’s expression carried a hint of majesty. Since the birth of Xiu Hua, she had felt a greater responsibility, which constantly guided her transformation.
"...I will obey you, esteed princess. You are the morning star, hanging high in the night sky, bridging the God of Death and the Sun!"
A few breaths later, Priestess Aqiya pursed her lips and respectfully lowered her head, accepting the command. Strictly speaking, in the capital, Princess Alisa’s status was surpassed by only a few people. With the lucrative gemstone trade at her disposal and personnel from both the king and His Highness, she had position, wealth, and manpower to accomplish tasks, significant tasks. Now, as the princess decided to wield her authority to do sothing legitimate and substantial, there were truly few who would dare to refuse her in person.
Priestess Aqiya bowed, and Princess Alisa accepted the courtesy with composure. Watching her father and husband, she earnestly admonished.
"Aqiya, this is the first ti I am working with the priestesses of the Goddess. I will be appointing people to oversee and thoroughly inspect the distribution... Do not disappoint !"
"...The sect of priestesses will work tirelessly to fulfill your command, never defying it. We are far more frugal than the chief god priests of the various states!"
With a calm smile, Priestess Aqiya answered solemnly. Alisa nodded in agreent and spoke no more. She would naturally assign her trusted aides to take responsibility and coordinate the specific matters.
The two continued their conversation for a while, agreeing to gather a few days later at the temple of the Goddess of Spring for blessings. At that ti, the elder priestesses of the Goddess of Spring would convene in the temple to et with the princess. Before leaving, Priestess Aqiya hesitated for a mont, then inquired.
"Princess, this round of compensation and relief, will it be in the na of the king or His Highness, or in your na?"
Alisa’s bright eyes flickered with thought, perceiving subtleties. After a mont, she smiled and shook her head, making a decision.
"Neither, neither is good. Let it be... in the na of little Xiu Hua!"
"As you wish! The princess is wise."
Priestess Aqiya once again bowed, respectfully taking her leave. Alisa watched Aqiya’s retreating figure, her gaze radiant like a flower experiencing fresh dew for the first ti, invigorated in spirit.
"Perhaps, I can do more. For my Xiulote, and even more for my son...."
"Wah! Wah!..."
The clear cry sounded again from a nearby stone house. Alisa’s deanor shifted into disarray, the princess’s authority disappearing in an instant. She hurriedly and ssily rushed next door, not even having ti to change shoes. anwhile, a cup of prepared herbal tea sat quietly on the table, beside a rolled-up letter and a neatly folded short garnt, still carrying its fragrance.
User Comments
0 comments from readers