Chapter 33: Signs
News of Emperor Xiaowen’s coma and unresponsiveness was strictly blockaded by order of the Crown Prince. Even Prince Zhangwu was kept completely in the dark.
Prince Zhangwu was delighted that the Crown Prince was willing to help rescue the Pei Clan.
After more than two months, the image and smile of Sixth Sister Pei had not faded; instead, it had become even more profound. The brief scene of their meeting replayed repeatedly in his mind, deeply engraved in his heart.
He wanted to write a letter to Sixth Sister Pei.
Once this thought surged up, it was like a spring bud breaking through the soil.
Prince Zhangwu excitedly went to the desk and casually instructed: “Prepare ink and brush.”
The one who responded was not the usual eunuch, but a graceful palace maid. This palace maid had a tender face with rosy cheeks and a pair of beautiful eyes brimming with affection: “Your Highness, this servant will grind the ink right away.”
The palace maid’s surname was Liu, with the single name Yue; she was seventeen this year, at the prime of her youth.
At the Crown Prince’s order, the Crown Princess carefully selected two beautiful palace maids for her son. Liu Yue was one of them.
Over these two months, Prince Zhangwu, having first tasted the joys of intimacy, was very gentle with the two palace maids. In order to vie for favor, Liu Yue had privately bribed the eunuch by the prince’s side to allow her into the study room to serve.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she spoke, she drew a cold glance from Prince Zhangwu: “This is an important place in the study room; without this prince’s permission, no one is allowed in.”
“Considering it’s your first offense, I’ll spare your life. Go receive twenty strokes of the board.”
Liu Yue was scolded until her face was full of shame, retreating with tears streaming like pear blossoms in rain.
These twenty strokes left Liu Yue with skin split and flesh torn open; she was carried into the house to recover from injuries. Another palace maid in the same situation silently came to apply medicine for Liu Yue.
Liu Yue lay prostrated amid the bedding, crying until she was out of breath. The palace maid softly comforted her: “Don’t cry. In the eyes of the masters, we servants are just like objects—use us more if we’re useful, discard us casually if we’re not to their liking.”
“From now on, we’ll stick to our duties. When the master summons us, we go serve. Otherwise, don’t approach and annoy the master.”
“In a couple of years, when the prince’s wife enters the door, if we’re obedient and dutiful, perhaps we can become proper concubines. If we’re fortunate enough to bear a son or daughter in the future, this lifetime will have been worth it.”
This was already the best path for ordinary palace maids.
Outside the palace, ordinary women were nothing more than marrying, bearing children, serving parents-in-law, managing husband and raising children. Those with family business managed the inner household; those without had to weave cloth and do needlework to supplement the household expenses!
Such was the fate of women. The very best was like the Crown Princess—born into a prestigious family, married to His Highness the Crown Prince, becoming the honored Crown Princess. In the future, she would become the Empress, mother to the world. Even so, she had to share her husband with a pile of beauties.
For them, these lowly palace maids, to climb onto the young and handsome Prince Zhangwu was already fortune accumulated from a previous life.
Comforted in this way, Liu Yue gradually stopped her tears, her beautiful eyes red and swollen, and softly said: “Thank you, Sister Mei Xiang, for the comfort. I’ve figured it out. From now on, I won’t dare offend the prince again.”
For Prince Zhangwu, this was merely a trifling matter not worth mentioning.
He held the brush, racking his brains in thought, and only after a long time did he set it to paper. He concealed the youthful passion of Fang Mushao’s adolescent fervor between mild and rigorous wording, revealing only a slight hint in the final sentence.
If you encounter danger in the future, Sixth Sister Pei, you can write to me.
After writing, he felt it was not quite appropriate. Wouldn’t this reveal a hint of resentment, implying that Sixth Sister Pei had bypassed him and directly written to his father for help?
Having written so much, he was really reluctant to tear it up. He simply sealed it as is and had it sent out by fast horse.
Eunuch Shen, the close attendant, came over with a fawning face: “The prince must be tired; this servant will attend to your bath and rest.”
Prince Zhangwu coldly glared at him: “I’ll spare you this time; no next time!”
Eunuch Shen had served Prince Zhangwu for seven or eight years and was always gentle and compliant; his only flaw was being a bit greedy for money. He had been dazzled by a gold bracelet from Liu the palace maid and let Liu Yue into the study room.
As a result, Liu Yue received a beating with the board. He also got a scolding.
Eunuch Shen awkwardly assented.
After attending to the master’s bath, seeing that the prince was still quite spirited, Eunuch Shen tentatively asked: “Shall this servant have Miss Mei Xiang come make the bed?”
Prince Zhangwu said nothing, which was tacit approval.
Eunuch Shen secretly breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly went to summon Mei Xiang to serve.
……
The next day, the Crown Prince was still at Fulin Hall.
Prince Zhangwu sensed something amiss and went to Fulin Hall, but he wasn’t even allowed to step through the hall doors before being driven back.
The third day, the fourth day—all were the same.
No matter how strictly the news was blockaded, it couldn’t withstand the panic in the palace. All sorts of absurd and outrageous speculations abounded.
Some secretly spread rumors that the Son of Heaven had taken Dragon Tiger Pills to favor a beauty, resulting in depletion of essence and falling into a coma.
Others rumored that Daoist Master Tianji had tampered with the pills to assassinate the Son of Heaven.
The most absurd rumor even involved the Eastern Palace. It was said that Daoist Master Tianji had long been secretly exchanging glances with the Crown Prince. This time, acting on the Crown Prince’s orders, he intended to usurp the throne.
With rumors true and false mixed, no one could distinguish them.
The heavyweights of the Imperial Court could not restrain themselves any longer. Civil officials led by Chancellor Qi, military generals led by General Sima—over twenty heavyweights of the court entered the palace together to pay respects to the Son of Heaven.
The officials knelt in a mass outside Fulin Hall, calling out in unison: “We request an audience with the Emperor.”
Half a shichen later, the Crown Prince and Prince Wei came out.
Prince Wei had attended at the dragon couch for several days, his handsome face haggard, eyes red; as soon as he opened his mouth, he sternly scolded: “What are you doing? Do you want to force a palace rebellion?”
His Highness the Crown Prince was much milder: “My dear subjects are worried about Father’s dragon body and have come together to seek an audience—a pure loyalty that heaven and earth can witness.”
“Father is right inside the hall. Chancellor Qi and General Sima may enter together to see him. The rest of you officials, wait outside the hall for now.”
Emperor Xiaowen was still able to make an appearance, showing that the dragon body had no major issues.
As expected, His Highness the Crown Prince was calm and steady. In comparison, His Highness Prince Wei was too young and arrogant. The officials inwardly grumbled fiercely and bowed their hands in acceptance of the order.
Chancellor Qi and General Sima entered Fulin Hall together.
Upon seeing Emperor Xiaowen, both heavyweights were startled.
Emperor Xiaowen’s dragon body was corpulent; now he looked even more swollen, his face tinged with green. As soon as he spoke, he gasped roughly: “I am just slightly indisposed and need a few days’ rest. What, do you all think I am dead!”
Chancellor Qi and General Situ repeatedly said they dared not, kneeling together to beg forgiveness.
Emperor Xiaowen impatiently waved his hand: “Enough, all of you get out. Let everyone attend to their duties; I will hold court again in a few days.”
Once Chancellor Qi and General Situ withdrew, Emperor Xiaowen’s face turned pale, and his dragon body swayed.
Prince Wei’s expression changed abruptly; he rushed forward in one stride and supported the tottering Emperor Xiaowen: “Father!”
Then he turned his head and angrily said to the Crown Prince: “Father just woke up and should be properly resting on the dragon couch. You insisted on making Father get up to see the officials! You’ve disturbed Father’s peace! What exactly are you plotting?”
