Chapter Seventy-One
Two days later, on the day of Roujia's grand wedding, Qi Xiao got up early and ordered Jiang Deqing to send the prepared wedding gifts over.
Jiang Deqing smiled. "Your Highness, at this hour both mansions are still in chaos. Perhaps it would be better to wait until the evening, right before the ceremony. By then everyone will have arrived, and they can see the gifts—it would give the princess face."
Qi Xiao shook his head. "No need. This isn't merely about sending gifts. There are many people and many matters at their place today. He's still just a child and might not handle everything well. Go and don't come back. Keep an eye on him and make sure nothing goes wrong."
Only then did Jiang Deqing understand. He hastily nodded. "This old servant was careless. Rest assured, Your Highness, I will guard the young prince all day and not leave his side for a moment."
Qi Xiao hummed in acknowledgment. "The Imperial Household Department has Xixiang watching over things, and the He residence has Aunt overseeing the arrangements. Nothing should go wrong. He'll be quite busy today—make sure he gets tea and water. Serve him well."
Jiang Deqing nodded. "This old servant understands, understands."
"Also..." Qi Xiao paused, lowering his voice. "Speaking of Xixiang... did you carry out what I mentioned to you last time?"
Jiang Deqing's expression changed. He instinctively glanced left and right, then lowered his voice. "The channels haven't been smoothed out yet, but we're about seventy to eighty percent there. Fortunately, Xixiang has influence with both the Imperial Household Department and the procurement office. Over the years he's been quietly repositioning personnel. But this matter requires secrecy, so we can't rush. Right now we're still lacking on the Imperial Medical Bureau side. Fortunately, Your Highness's clever plan worked—Physician Liu has gained the Emperor's trust. Chief Physician Xu is already in poor health. He'll retire by the end of the year at the latest. By then... Physician Liu will most likely take over. As long as the Imperial Medical Bureau is secured, we can begin."
Qi Xiao smiled faintly. "No rush."
Jiang Deqing was still uneasy. He walked to the window, opened it to check that no one was around, then returned. "Your Highness, have you considered... once the arrow is loosed, there's no turning back. Once this matter begins... there will be no way to turn back."
Qi Xiao chuckled lightly. "I've been scheming for many years, all for this day. Why would I turn back?"
Jiang Deqing was getting on in years and had many concerns. He thought again and said, "Also... Your Highness must prepare for the Emperor's counter-move. Once this poison is administered, it won't take a year before it takes effect. The Emperor will definitely notice. No matter how much control we have over the Imperial Medical Bureau, it won't stay hidden. When the Emperor figures it out, the first person he'll suspect is the Crown Prince. That will be a problem."
Qi Xiao shook his head. "No matter. I've discussed this with Physician Liu beforehand. He said that when the symptoms begin to manifest, one more dose of medicine can make the illness appear identical to tuberculosis. At that point... a simple bout of fever will be enough to take his life."
Jiang Deqing felt somewhat relieved. He lowered his voice. "Fortunately, over these two years Your Highness has placed trusted men throughout the Three Departments and Six Ministries. With the support of those veteran officials, we won't lack for ways to secure the throne when the time comes."
Qi Xiao shook his head lightly. "That alone isn't enough... What's most crucial is the military."
At the mention of this, Jiang Deqing felt even more at ease. He smiled quietly. "It's still Your Highness's foresight. Years ago you started cultivating the descendants of soldiers who marched with Emperor Wu. Now, big and small, they all hold military positions. If it ever comes to armed conflict, I dare not speak for everywhere else, but here in the capital, we certainly won't be at a disadvantage."
Qi Xiao shook his head. "That wasn't my doing... These young officers' fathers risked their lives alongside Father Emperor. On the surface, they were sovereign and minister, but in truth they were like brothers. In their early years they deeply benefited from imperial grace. After Father Emperor passed away, the Emperor time and again consolidated military power while offering no compensation or care. Whether for the brotherhood they shared with the Emperor, or for decades of being passed over for promotion, they cannot swallow this grievance. I simply had the fortune to be Father Emperor's son."
Speaking of Emperor Wu, Jiang Deqing sighed repeatedly. "Your Highness is too modest. All these years Your Highness has exhausted yourself with careful, covert arrangements—are those not real? Now the Feng family has fallen, and the Emperor has lost another major support. We need only wait for Your Highness to complete this web, and then we can make our grand move."
Qi Xiao smiled faintly. "No rush. After all these years, haven't we endured?"
Jiang Deqing suddenly laughed. "On such a joyous day, why speak of such things? This old servant will go prepare and head to the Lingnan Prince's mansion." Qi Xiao nodded and went to court, nothing more to say.
At the Lingnan Prince's mansion, the entire estate was decorated with lanterns and banners. Wedding characters covered every surface front and back. After entering the mansion, Jiang Deqing was directly escorted by the old steward to the back. Jiang Deqing observed the festive atmosphere everywhere and felt pleased. "The young prince is impressive. So young, yet he manages everything so well."
The old steward's face lit up with smiles. "Thanks to your blessings. All thanks to His Highness the Crown Prince, who thinks of us constantly and helps at every turn. This way, Minister Jiang."
Passing through the carved entrance, a half-grown boy announced loudly: "Chief Steward of the Crown Prince's residence, Minister Jiang, arrives..."
Jiang Deqing hastily waved his hand. "I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy." The old steward burst out laughing. "How could you not be worthy? Come, come... let's go see the young prince first."
Inside, Bai Ren was checking the dowry list. Jiang Deqing had barely crossed the threshold when he knelt and kowtowed, smiling as he called out, "My congratulations to the young prince, my congratulations to the princess."
Bai Ren quickly had someone help him up. "Elder, why have you come so early? Where is... His Highness?"
Jiang Deqing smiled as he accepted a small pouch from a maid beside Bai Ren, then bowed. "His Highness was worried. He feared the young prince would be so busy he'd forget himself. He specially sent me to keep watch. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks in between—one meal must not be missed."
Bai Ren felt a warmth in his heart. He smiled. "Trouble His Highness for his care."
"Also, this old servant will oversee things here and lend a hand where needed." Jiang Deqing knew Bai Ren wanted to ask when Qi Xiao would come. He smiled and said, "During the evening ceremony, His Highness will go directly to the He residence."
Initially, seeing only Jiang Deqing arrive, Bai Ren had worried Qi Xiao wouldn't come at all. Hearing this, he felt much relieved. He turned to吩咐 a maid: "The elder is an honored guest. Do not truly tire him out. Please escort him inside for tea first."
Jiang Deqing waved his hand repeatedly, laughing. "This old servant is a beast of burden. I've never been able to sit still in my life—I can't bear to just watch others work. If His Highness doesn't嫌弃, perhaps let this old servant go check on the princess's courtyard. I've served in the palace my whole life. I'm useless at most things, but I do know proper etiquette on major occasions. It would be fitting for me to see if there are any improprieties on the princess's side."
These words struck exactly what was on Bai Ren's mind. He and Roujia were both from Lingnan, and most of the household staff came from the south as well. The wedding customs there differed greatly from local customs. Bai Ren had been worried that something might be off and they'd be laughed at. Hearing Jiang Deqing offer this, he thanked him profusely and ordered someone to escort Jiang Deqing to Roujia's courtyard.
After completing the dowry count, Bai Ren entered inside. Roujia was having the auspicious elder apply facial treatment. Jiang Deqing softly sang beside her: "Left thread brings noble sons, right thread brings fair daughters..."
The elder's hands were quick—before Roujia even felt any discomfort, she had finished. The maids wrung out cold cloths and gently wiped Roujia's face. Seeing Bai Ren enter, Roujia quickly asked, "They made eight-treasure congee. I had some sent to you—did you drink it?"
Bai Ren smiled tenderly. "I did. Sister, don't talk now. Be careful not to pull your hair."
Only then did Roujia relax somewhat. She softly nagged, "When evening comes, be careful. Absolutely do not drink too much. I hear they like to force the bride's family to drink here. With your tolerance, how could you survive their rounds? And it's bad for your body too..."
Jiang Deqing smiled. "Rest assured, Princess. The groomsmen Mr. He invited are mostly friends of the young prince. With them watching, the young prince won't drink much. And if anyone does try to urge more wine, this old servant will be the first to stop them."
Roujia knew Jiang Deqing was Qi Xiao's trusted man and different from others. She smiled and nodded. "Then I thank the elder for his care."
Jiang Deqing insisted it was nothing.
Applying makeup, doing the hair, adding pearls and jade one by one, then weighing down the phoenix crown—several hair-dressing aunts worked for nearly an hour before Roujia was fully dressed. Outside, people kept urging them to hurry. Bai Ren smiled. "The groom must be coming. Put on the veil."
Jiang Deqing laughed and stopped him. "Please wait, young prince. Before the veil goes on, we must feed the bride her going-away meal."
Bai Ren slapped his forehead. "The matchmaker just told me. How could I forget? Bring the five-grain porridge." The maids promptly served the prepared five-grain porridge. Bai Ren took the small bowl and softly recited: "Rice in every meal, food every day."
Traditionally, the bride's going-away meal is fed to her by her mother. Roujia swallowed the grains of rice, thinking of the Lingnan Princess Consort, and her eyes immediately filled with tears. Bai Ren, sharing the bond of siblings with Roujia, instantly understood her feelings. He couldn't hold back and his eyes reddened too.
Bai Ren didn't want to upset Roujia further. He forced a smile. "There, all set now. Put on the veil." He took the auspicious veil presented by the elder and carefully covered Roujia with it. Beneath the veil, Roujia reached out and gently grasped Bai Ren's hand. She whispered, "In the future... when you're alone at home, take good care of yourself. Don't... don't let me, don't let Mother Consort, worry."
Tears fell from beneath the veil, landing exactly on Bai Ren's hand. His heart ached fiercely. He nodded. "Rest assured, Sister."
Roujia's wet nurse sensed what was happening. She laughed and teased, "What is Her Highness worrying about? Her Highness is probably having fun in Lingnan right now! When the princess marries over, will she add a little grandson or a little granddaughter? Oh, just have both!"
Roujia laughed through her tears. The matchmaker quickly lifted a corner of the veil to dab at her eyes. Jiang Deqing also smiled and comforted her, "Princess needn't be sorrowful. The He residence isn't far from here at all. If the princess ever misses the young prince, just have a sturdy maidservant call out from the gate—the young prince can hear from here and will go right over." Everyone laughed at this. As they spoke, it grew livelier outside. The wedding procession had arrived.
Outside the ceremonial gate, firecrackers erupted. He Zichen, dressed in full crimson, was surrounded by a dozen young men as he entered the inner courtyard. He Zichen was grinning so wide he could barely contain himself. Seeing Bai Ren come out, he hastily stepped forward and bowed. "Greetings, brother-in-law."
Bai Ren smiled. He wasn't good at joking around with people, so he didn't really obstruct the gate. He went through the motions and let He Zichen in. At the Lingnan Prince's mansion, Bai Ren was the only family of the bride, which made things simple. He Zichen helped Bai Ren to the seat of honor. Together with Roujia, they bowed and bowed again. Bai Ren said a few auspicious words—prosperity, harmony, endless descendants—then had someone help them up.
But He Zichen, after standing, bowed once more to Bai Ren with solemnity. He said quietly, "Brother-in-law, you did not look down upon my family's decline. You entrusted Roujia to me. I... I will say this only once to my brother-in-law: the words I spoke when we first met at the Crown Prince's mansion, I meant every one. To find one person and be at peace, to guard that one person unto the end. From this day forward, our household will have no concubines, no secondary wives. I will never let Roujia suffer another moment's grievance."
When these words were spoken, everyone in the hall was moved to sighs. Bai Ren took a deep breath and felt completely at ease.