Chapter 69: Delivering the Letter
This letter must be delivered to the Capital City, to the Empress Dowager.
However, Consort Zheng is currently powerful and her intentions are deep. As seen from the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree to Qing Yue Pavilion that night, her people have infiltrated every corner of the Imperial Palace. If this letter is mishandled even slightly, it will be intercepted. At that time, it will be counterproductive, not only will the letter be ineffective, but Consort Zheng will also investigate the messenger. It will bring disaster upon oneself.
Furthermore, to take a step back, even if the letter successfully reaches the Empress Dowager, upon receiving it, she will surely become wary. She will question the origin of the letter, its authenticity, and the sender’s motives.
For the letter to be delivered smoothly and for the Empress Dowager to be convinced and let down her guard, it would be most appropriate for one person to present it: Princess Pingning.
This matter, from beginning to end, the person most harmed by it is her.
The one who most wants to know the truth is also her.
To prevent the Imperial Son-in-law from fearing Consort Zheng and suppressing the letter.
One could send someone to pretend to be an old acquaintance of the Imperial Son-in-law, visit the Princess’s residence to request an audience with the Imperial Son-in-law, and deliberately reveal a clue for the Princess to see…
I held the letter and stood up. Qin Mingxu entered from outside.
His expression was grave, as if he had something to tell me.
I went with him to the backyard.
He said, “Sang Yu, I heard from someone who returned from the Capital City today that Director Feng’s current situation is very bad…”
The persimmon tree in the courtyard was covered with small yellow flowers, attracting butterflies.
The spring breeze brushed past my hair. I reached out and touched a small yellow flower, saying, “They used torture, didn’t they?”
He said, “Although there has been no imperial decree to convict Director Feng yet. However, someone from the Eastern Depot has spread the word that he will likely be executed for embezzlement.”
The Great Ming law is strict on serious crimes and lenient on minor ones. Embezzlement carries severe penalties, often leading to execution by hanging.
I hesitated for a moment, lowered my voice, and told him about the letter and my plan.
He listened, his dark eyebrows framing his temples, the gentle light in his eyes rippling and reaching my heart.
“Sang Yu, I’ll go,” he blurted out.
My hand tightened unconsciously.
Yellow flowers fell to the ground.
If the person sent to the Capital City to deliver the letter encountered any trouble, they might not be able to return.
“Since Director Feng’s incident, Sang Yu, you have been constantly worried. I should do something.”
He smiled slightly, as if it were natural.
In the past, I always felt that he was a calculating person.
But when he said these words, I suddenly felt that I had misjudged him. In his calculations, I was not included. To alleviate my worries, he so naturally disregarded his own safety.
“Mingxu, don’t go. I can always find a suitable person,” I said softly.
He placed his hands on my shoulders: “Sang Yu, listen to me. Tiansheng Tower delivers silk to the residences of various princes and nobles in the Capital City every quarter. Recently, a new type of cloud shadow gauze has arrived from Nanyang. I will go to the Princess’s residence under the pretext of delivering the cloud shadow gauze and act according to the situation.”
I thought for a moment, nodded, and solemnly handed the letter to him.
His spring shirt was as white as snow, and he left Yangzhou.
At the ferry terminal, he hesitated and said something to me: “Sang Yu, I actually… am very grateful to Director Feng.”
I didn’t ponder the deeper meaning of his words. I thought he was grateful to Feng Gao because Feng Gao treated me well.
I waved my hand, watching the passenger boat recede on the Grand Canal.
Later, I understood. He was very grateful to Feng Gao because Feng Gao had concealed something he had done a long time ago. Feng Gao’s original intention was not to hinder me from starting a new life.
When I learned of that incident, I was not angry. I understood Qin Mingxu, and I understood Feng Gao.
I understood everyone.
People in this world each face their own snow. Everyone has their own hidden depths and brilliance.
After arriving in the Capital City, Qin Mingxu, after much effort, entered the Princess’s residence.
Despite being newly married, Princess Pingning’s face was always clouded.
The Imperial Son-in-law, Liang Bangrui, cautiously observed the Princess’s expression. He suffered from consumption and knew it himself. When he was in Yangzhou, he was not without surprise when he learned he was a candidate for Imperial Son-in-law. His Father told him that Consort Zheng had already made arrangements for him, and there would be no problems. If he complied, he would ascend to the heavens and become the Emperor’s son-in-law. If he refused, Consort Zheng would not spare the Liang family.
Temptation, threat.
Dual reasons.
He chose silence.
Silently accepting the arrangement.
On their wedding night, he tried his best to perform the rites of marriage with the Princess and consummate their union. However, he could not. His lungs felt like a bellows, wheezing. The dragon and phoenix candles burned all night. He had the will but not the strength. Outside the tent, there were faint chuckles from the close grannies. Inside the tent, there were the Princess’s humiliated sobs. He hid in the bedding, becoming the most pathetic man in the world.
He drank the medicine prescribed by the imperial physicians, bowl after bowl.
It was of no use.
Half a month after the wedding, bearing the title of “Imperial Son-in-law,” he lived in constant fear. The Princess could still cry, but he didn’t even have the right to cry. In the eyes of others, he was the one who had gained immense favor. He did not deserve to be wronged.
One day, the servants said that the Wei Zi peonies in the garden had bloomed. He cautiously accompanied the Princess to admire the flowers.
From outside the wall, the sound of string and wind instruments from some unknown household drifted over.
The actors were singing Romance of the West Chamber.
Little Hongniang cursed Zhang Sheng: “You are truly a mediocre and unaccomplished person, spit! You are a silver-plated spearhead.”
The Princess suddenly became angry and placed the teacup in her hand down heavily.
The Imperial Son-in-law instinctively knelt down, his head bowed.
At this moment, the steward reported, “Reporting to the Princess and Imperial Son-in-law, Tiansheng Tower has sent new clothes made of cloud shadow gauze. Please take a look, Princess and Imperial Son-in-law, are you satisfied?”
After a long while, the Princess raised her hand slightly, and a group of people entered carrying cloud shadow gauze.
Qin Mingxu looked at the Imperial Son-in-law kneeling on the ground, then at the Princess, and began to formulate a plan in his heart.
“These are new clothes for the Imperial Son-in-law,” Qin Mingxu said.
The Imperial Son-in-law stood up, stepped forward, and casually flipped through them.
Suddenly, a letter fell out.
The Princess saw it and asked suspiciously, “What is this?”
Qin Mingxu did not answer, only looking at the Imperial Son-in-law.
The Imperial Son-in-law nervously picked up the letter and handed it to the Princess.
The Princess took out the letter, read it, and her face seemed to be swept by a storm, and suddenly, a downpour fell.
She threw the letter in her hand at the Imperial Son-in-law and asked with a trembling voice, “What is going on?”
The Imperial Son-in-law quickly read the contents of the letter, pondering: This might be an excellent opportunity to clear his name and the Liang family’s name.
He lowered his head and slowly explained how he was forced by the Zheng family to be paired with the Princess, and how he felt ashamed. He claimed that he had sent someone to steal the letter from the Zheng Residence through great hardship and begged the Princess to believe him.
The Princess hesitated for a moment, then called out to a servant, “Prepare the horse, this Princess is going to the palace to see the Empress Dowager.”
She left in a hurry.
Qin Mingxu quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
The Imperial Son-in-law got up from the ground, staggering, about to ask Qin Mingxu something. He stumbled and almost fell. The servants of the Princess’s residence quickly supported him, and the steward ran out of the residence to summon an imperial physician.
Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.
Empress Dowager Li looked at the letter and asked the Princess, “Where did this come from?”
The Princess replied, “Reporting to Mother, this was stolen from the Zheng Residence by the Imperial Son-in-law’s men. This matter is of great importance, and this daughter dared not act on her own, so she hurried to the palace to report to Mother.”
“So that’s how it is. The Imperial Son-in-law is not entirely foolish.”
Empress Dowager Li frowned, “It seems that this matter was done by that little vixen behind your Imperial Brother’s back. Your Imperial Brother is unaware.”
The Princess knelt before the Empress Dowager and said, “Mother, please give this letter to Imperial Brother to expose that woman’s true face. This daughter does not believe that with evidence before him, Imperial Brother will favor that woman. She has ruined this daughter’s life. It is unforgivable by heaven and earth, and by the laws of the land.”
Empress Dowager Li paced back and forth in the hall.
“No.”
“Mother, why?” the Princess asked urgently.
Empress Dowager Li said, “For that little vixen, your Imperial Brother has argued with me many times. If I were to publicly reveal the letter rashly, your Imperial Brother’s face would be lost. He would certainly be displeased. He might think that this is my scheme to divert the disaster. Even if he believed it, he would hate me even more, making it difficult for him to back down. In the future, he would oppose me even more.”
She ordered the eunuch beside her, “Go to the Imperial Prison and deliver my imperial decree to bring Feng Gao to the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.”
“Yes.”
The eunuch agreed and left.
Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Li comforted the Princess, telling her to return to her residence and pretend that this matter had not happened for now.
Feng Gao was escorted by two eunuchs into the inner room of the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.
Upon seeing the Empress Dowager, he respectfully bowed.
Empress Dowager Li looked at the injuries on his body and said, “A Director is a Director. Even in this state of injury, your etiquette is still impeccable.”
There were only the Empress Dowager and him in the inner room.
In April, the deep, dense shade of the canopy began to flourish.
Outside the window, branches extended into the room.
Looking out from the windowsill, the flowers were as vibrant as jade.
Empress Dowager Li said, “Do you remember the deal I made with you?”
“This sinner will obey the Empress Dowager’s command.”
Empress Dowager Li explained everything in detail, instructing him carefully.
Half an hour later, Feng Gao quietly infiltrated Consort Zheng’s sleeping quarters…
