Chapter One Hundred and Two
"Did she really say that?" Princess Dun Su laughed. "In the past, I always tried to advise her that since she was now head of the household, she couldn't behave as she did when she was a young maiden, otherwise she wouldn't be able to keep others in line, and would be easily bullied. But she was always timid. Now perhaps because she has a child, she no longer looks like a new bride. That's good."
Princess De Xin set down her gilded small teacup, took a handkerchief and pressed it to her lips before smiling. "That's not being timid, is it? It's just that she has self-respect and doesn't lose her temper easily. Remember when you invited us to your estate last year to enjoy the winter plum blossoms? Roujia went too. By then she was already heavy with child, but everything about her—her movements, her speech, her deportment—was still so refined. In the end, she's been personally taught by the Lingnan Princess Consort, and exudes nobility in every way."
That day, all the princesses had entered the palace together to see the Emperor. After the customary greetings and each exchanging a few words with him, they had withdrawn. Having only sat for a while, Empress Feng couldn't let everyone disperse like this, so she invited them to her palace chambers. After everyone was seated, the conversation turned to some amusing gossip from the imperial city, and the topic naturally led to Roujia.
Recently, Empress Feng had been implicated in the poisoning incident involving Qi Qi, so her influence wasn't as strong as before. Her complexion had grown much paler. She heard them out and pulled at the corner of her mouth to smile. "One's position shapes one's temperament, and one's circumstances refine it. This kind of authority... comes gradually." The implication was clear: now that Roujia's position was more secure, of course she dared to show off her authority and had the power to do so.
The words weren't particularly pleasant to hear, and everyone knew Roujia was Princess Dun Su's niece-in-law. Not daring to agree, the atmosphere grew cold for a moment. Empress Feng's expression darkened even further. Princess De Xin skillfully interjected with a smile. "I haven't seen Roujia since she came out of her month-long confinement. I remember she had a miscarriage scare before. How is she now?"
Princess Dun Su smiled. "Thank you for your concern. Her mother-in-law took such good care of her with nourishing soups and medicines. She's recovered now. After her confinement, she's put on a little weight, and with just a bit of grooming, she's actually more beautiful than before."
Princess De Xin beamed. "I have to say, you really do bring good fortune to people. Soon Roujia will probably be like your Fen girl, popping out one child after another."
Princess Dun Su shook her head and laughed. "I wouldn't dare claim such a reputation. If anyone brings good fortune, it's the Crown Prince. Most of you probably know, I had originally intended to match Roujia with..." She paused. "Alas, something went wrong, and it fell through."
Everyone exchanged knowing smiles. Two years ago, in the side hall of Qianqing Palace, the Second Prince had gotten into a dispute with the heir at the time, Bai Ren, and had scratched the poor heir's neck. None of them had forgotten that incident. Empress Feng's face instantly turned green and ashen. She stiffly picked up her teacup and took a sip, pretending not to have caught the implication.
Princess Dun Su continued unhurriedly. "The Crown Prince, to prove his innocence, specifically swore before the Emperor that he would not marry the Lingnan Princess. The Crown Prince was so sensible about it that this aunt of his didn't know what to say. Actually... whether it was Xiao'er or Hua'er, weren't they both my own nephews? Giving her to either would have been the same. But since that incident happened, it wouldn't do to really give her to someone else. That would only sow discord between the brothers. Coincidentally, my nephew He Zichen went to a banquet at the Crown Prince's residence that day. He had just been appointed a Hanlin Academy probationer, and the Crown Prince took one look at him, felt his virtue and talent were sufficient to marry a princess, and mentioned it to the Lingnan Prince... oh, he was still the heir at the time. When he brought it up with the heir, the heir looked at him and also thought he was suitable, and agreed."
Everyone remembered that affair. Back then, no one had thought much of this match. Though He Zichen was from the He family, his father had been undisciplined early on and had already been cut off from the family. Then he had indulged in drinking, gambling, and whoring until he had squandered everything and gone to meet Yama. Such a ruined family—what was good about that? As for Roujia, to put it kindly, she was a princess. But her maternal uncle's family had long since perished, her mother was not favored, and her brother had come to the capital as a hostage, with no hope of succession. Such a pair—what waves could they possibly make? Who would have thought that in just over a year, the tides would turn so completely. He Zichen kept rising in the Hanlin Academy, and Roujia had become a proper sister to a prince. Outsiders all said Princess Dun Su had an eye for talent, finding such a powerful ally for her family.
Reflecting on the past and seeing the present, everyone sighed. Even Consort Xue, sitting to one side with her pale complexion, had stopped and sat in a daze.
Princess Yi Hua turned to Princess Dun Su, shaking her head with a smile. "The Crown Prince took one look and instantly arranged such a good marriage. Setting everything else aside, just speaking of the affection between this young couple is stronger than others. I remember when the southern troubles first started, Roujia was depressed and hurt her pregnancy. Your nephew stayed by her side day and night. As soon as he finished his official duties, he rushed straight home without a care in the world. My young son would ask about it sometimes, and your nephew said... With the southern region in great turmoil, she has no one to rely on. If I'm at home, she'll feel more at ease. Oh my, just listen to how considerate he is."
The others chimed in with flattery at the appropriate moment. "The young masters of the He family are indeed superior to others... The Crown Prince truly has an eye for people, finding such a good husband for the princess."
Princess Dun Su shook her head with a light smile, then turned to look at Consort Xue, her smile carrying a deeper meaning. "I dare not claim any of that, but when it comes to the Crown Prince's keen eye for talent, that's certainly true... Whatever he thinks is right, you don't need to think twice, just do it. You can rest assured you won't be at a loss."
Consort Xue's heart stirred, and her previous doubts instantly vanished.
The Xue and Feng families had been repeatedly demoted by the Emperor, and everyone now saw the situation clearly—everyone had said the Crown Prince was unfit to succeed, but now it seemed quite possible he would. As a result, their flattery toward Princess Dun Su grew even more fervent, while Empress Feng was left out in the cold.
Empress Feng felt stifled and drank her tea alone without speaking. After a while, Princess Dun Su politely made some pleasantries, then turned to look at Consort Xue with concern. "I heard the Third Prince is ill again. Is he better?"
Tears welled in Consort Xue's eyes. Qi Qi had truly been harmed by someone this time, yet nothing could be traced. Everyone had coldly mocked and ridiculed her, saying she was repeating her old tricks, that she had a venomous heart, using her own son's life to fight for favor. Consort Xue had no way to explain her suffering. She wrote a blood letter to the Emperor. Although the Emperor investigated and reprimanded the Feng family, Consort Xue knew in her heart that the Emperor suspected her.
Her own son had suffered such a great wrong—how could Consort Xue not be heartbroken? She pressed her handkerchief to the corner of her eye. After a long while, she said hoarsely, "Thank Your Highness for your concern. He's much better already, but his body is still weak and he cannot get out of bed. Otherwise, I would have him come pay his respects and kowtow to Your Highness."
Her words were sincere and pitiful, and most of those present were mothers themselves—how could they not sympathize? But Empress Feng could endure no longer. She slammed her teacup heavily onto the table and coldly snapped, "In broad daylight, who are you putting on this act for?! The Emperor isn't here! Save your tears—keep them until they're all dried up. Then what will you have left to go crying to the Emperor with?!"
Everyone froze. All the princesses stood up, their expressions awkward. Princess Dun Su inwardly嘲讽—Empress Feng had been having a hard time lately too. The Emperor suspected Empress Feng of taking advantage of the situation to harm imperial offspring, and had reprimanded her repeatedly both overtly and covertly. Yet this time she was truly innocent, wrongly accused and unable to defend herself, able only to sulk. It seemed she couldn't hold back any longer.
All the princesses were somewhat flustered, only Princess Dun Su remained composed, calmly seated in her place, and said mildly, "What's the matter with Your Majesty? Consort Xue is the Third Prince's biological mother, and a mother worrying about her son is only human. Even if she's a bit undignified in her grief, it should be pardoned."
Empress Feng coldly scoffed. "I'm not angry, I just find it amusing. She slaps her own face, then turns around and cries to others about how swollen it is. What kind of苦肉计 is this? Anyone can see through it. Once or twice might work, but do it too many times, and no one will believe it anymore."
No one had expected Empress Feng to abandon all pretense and suddenly tear off the mask. Everyone was startled. They looked at each other, at a loss for how to salvage the situation. Princess Dun Su, however, seemed not to understand at all. She turned to Empress Feng and asked with a laugh, "What's the matter with Your Majesty? Which of Consort Xue's words were wrong? Just teach her. Why must you lose your temper?"
Empress Feng had been convinced her son would finally have his chance. Who would have thought more trouble would arise? She was filled with indignation and had no concern left for propriety. She said angrily, "How dare I lose my temper? I haven't done a thing, yet she puts on her西子捧心 act every single day. If I actually did something, wouldn't she hang herself at my palace gate? I just hope this time she's not just putting on a show again."
Consort Xue did indeed have some pretense in her behavior originally, but now her hatred was genuine. That day when Qi Qi was poisoned, a single dose of antidote would have saved his life. But Empress Feng had blocked the summons for the imperial physician. By the time the physician arrived, Qi Qi could no longer speak. Such a great enmity—how could Consort Xue possibly bear it? Princess Dun Su watched the undercurrents surging between the two women and found it amusing. She made a show of mediating. "Enough, enough. It's such a small matter. We're all family. Let it pass. But Your Majesty... I'm not playing favorites, but if the Third Prince ever feels unwell again and needs a physician, just agree to it. There's no need to keep the Imperial Medical Bureau idle while the prince's life hangs in the balance. Whether it's a serious illness or a minor ailment, after all, he is imperial offspring, isn't he?"
Consort Xue, recalling what Princess Dun Su had instructed her, knelt at the right moment and, continuously kowtowing while weeping, cried out, "Whatever is wrong is all my fault. I only beg Your Majesty the Empress... not to harm my child..."
Consort Xue wept so mournfully. Princess Dun Su shook her head and sighed. "The hearts of parents—how pitiful."
Empress Feng's face flushed purple with rage. She grabbed the teacup and hurled it down. The hall erupted into chaos...
This spectacle finally ended with Fu Hailu arriving at Fenghua Palace bearing the Emperor's oral decree.
Fu Hailu had just attended to the Emperor who had vomited blood and was in a fury. He wasn't in a good mood either. With a cold face, he said sternly, "The Emperor's oral decree: The Fourth Prince Qi Li has reached the age of twelve and should no longer share quarters with Noble Consort Jiang. effective immediately, the Fourth Prince shall be moved to Yulong Palace, where he shall be granted eight nurturing matrons and receive instruction from two Grand Preceptors exclusively."
Empress Feng cried out, "That贱婢's offspring, how could he—"
"Your Majesty the Empress." Fu Hailu coldly cut her off. "Now that the Fourth Prince has his own palace, following established precedent, he may also be addressed as 'Your Highness.' I hope Your Majesty will choose her words carefully."
As if to make Empress Feng's suffering insufficient, Fu Hailu added, "The Emperor also said that the Fourth Prince is young and frail. These past years he has been neglected, and the Emperor's heart aches for him. When Your Majesty arranges Yulong Palace, please make it luxurious and well-appointed. Do not wrong the Fourth Prince. While the standards cannot compare to what the Crown Prince's Haoyan Palace received in its day, do not let him receive less than the Second Prince or Third Prince."
Empress Feng felt as though she had a fishbone stuck in her throat. After a long while, she only managed to reply, "Very well."
Outside the palace, when Qi Xiao heard the news, he sneered. Using the Fourth Prince to stabilize the situation—this move was feasible, but unfortunately it was already too late. Qi Xiao immediately summoned Jiang Deqing and said calmly, "Tell Xi Xiang to increase the dosage."
Jiang Deqing swallowed hard and whispered, "Is it... time already?"
Qi Xiao gently rubbed the life token at his waist, unhurriedly. "It's not quite time yet. But I no longer need his mouth, so I can first make him shut up. After I've taken care of everything that needs handling, I'll wake him up... and slowly settle accounts with him for all these years."
Qi Xiao had placed his final piece. Now he simply waited for the endgame.
Three days later, on the Spring Equinox, the Emperor knocked over a bowl of lotus seed soup early in the morning and then coughed up blood continuously. He clutched Fu Hailu's hand tightly, gasped for over half an hour, and then passed out cold. Although they managed to save him, he remained in a daze. His body was completely broken—a single meal could exhaust all his energy. In a day, he slept for ten of the twelve hours. The remaining two hours were spent either eating or taking medicine. He couldn't even speak coherently. As for matters of state... he had not a shred of strength left.
The Emperor's body had completely collapsed. The Feng family, which had just seen a glimmer of hope for rehabilitation, was immediately knocked back into the mud and lost all direction. The Xue family, which had been repeatedly purged, remained silent. And Noble Consort Jiang, who had only just risen to favor three days ago, along with the Fourth Prince Qi Li—they were completely at a loss.
They weren't the only ones thrown into confusion. The ones most uncertain were the court officials and the nobility of the capital. The Emperor had fallen into a coma at the most opportune moment. Before that, he had just狠狠地 crushed the Second and Third Princes multiple times. And before falling unconscious, he had made a brilliant move to dramatically promote the Fourth Prince. So... which prince was the Emperor truly favoring?
Most importantly, in the past month the Emperor had sifted through the Xue family like a sieve. Two Xue elders had retired on grounds of age, two had claimed illness, and one was in mourning. Several Mr. Xues who had been recalled from mourning duty had been sent back to continue their mourning periods. Looking at this situation, it was impossible for the Third Prince to rely on his maternal family for anything. As for the Feng family, the Emperor had been systematically purging them for nearly two years. They were already powerless to scheme anything. And the Jiang family, the new imperial favorites... the officials were at a loss. They couldn't find a single Jiang family member in the court.
Everyone's eyes unconsciously turned toward the Crown Prince's residence...
The wheel of fortune turns, fate plays its tricks. Would the legitimate bloodline of the imperial clan finally return to the main hall?