Chapter 133: Edge
“The man died on the spot. But the Imperial Palace and the Mu Family both tacitly waited until nightfall before making any move.
“Officially, it was said to be sudden death from heart disease. Privately, many people have started discussing it.
“However, this should also be the most appropriate statement from the Mu Family.”
When Lan Qin came in to relay the message, she brought the above news.
Yue Tang sat silently under the lamp and sighed.
Lan Qin ladled a bowl of broth and brought it before her: “Such a person is not worth pitying.
“Wei Zhang said the Mu Family had set up ambushes at all four palace gates. If he hadn’t brought hunters and yamen runners from the Court of Diplomatic Relations, and the Princess hadn’t utilized eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department for escort, they would likely have succeeded today.
“Without witnesses, the Princess would be trapped in the quagmire, hard to climb out of. Even if she could safely leave the palace in the end, there would still be endless wrangling over the matter. And she would forever be left with a handle.
“The Mu Family came aiming to suppress the Princess.”
“I’m not pitying her.” Yue Tang gazed at the dim yellow glow from the glass lamp: “I just feel that, actually, she didn’t have to die.”
Lan Qin sat down on this side of the kang table, slightly puzzled.
Yue Tang slowly stirred the broth in her hand: “You saw the situation in the hall today from beginning to end.
“Before I produced the witnesses, the Emperor was essentially just watching from the sidelines.
“Even when striking down those censors, it was only to maintain the imperial family’s decorum out of necessity.
“But after all three witnesses arrived, everyone already knew what was happening.
“Empress Dowager Shen proposed letting the Shen Family take Mu Shuyun to prison for interrogation, but that was also just to force out a result.
“Yet the Emperor, in front of everyone, forced Mu Shuyun to admit the facts.”
She raised her gaze: “If she didn’t admit it, the Mu Family could still negotiate with the Shen Family. Admitting it on the spot left only the path of trial.”
Lan Qin was slightly stunned. “In that situation, could she not admit it?”
“If she really didn’t admit it, would the Emperor still resort to torture on the spot to force her?” Yue Tang slightly raised the corner of her mouth. “She had too much confidence in the Emperor.
“But if not for the Emperor’s indulgence of her over the past many years, how would she have dared to provoke me at the palace banquet that day?
“Whether last time or this time, the Emperor had stepped in to plead for her.
“Naturally, today she relied on the Emperor probably favoring her as before, so she nodded and admitted it.”
Lan Qin frowned: “In the end, the Emperor didn’t let her have her way, but instead borrowed Empress Dowager Shen’s momentum to press her, decisively issuing the decree to execute her.
“Why did the Emperor suddenly do this?”
“You’ve hit the nail on the head.” Yue Tang scooped up a spoonful of broth. “I remember Mu Shuyun mentioned a memorial, and vaguely implicated that the Emperor had given her instructions before. I guess it was probably what happened after she entered the palace that time following the palace banquet.
“So Mu Shuyun targeting Shen Yizhu this time likely had the Emperor fanning the flames behind it.
“The Mu Family makes no secret of their ambitions for the rear position. Even after the Emperor ascended the throne, they still treat him as one of their own. Not only do they hold power in the outer court, they don’t let go of the rear palace either.
“I think an Emperor in such a situation probably wouldn’t be willing to be a pure puppet, right?”
Lan Qin nodded: “He can’t tear face with the Mu Family either, so he naturally needs a suitable opportunity to openly cut off Mu Shuyun’s thoughts. And by chance, today the Princess gave him just such an opportunity.”
Yue Tang paused here, “I originally thought he was completely under the Mu Family’s control, until later when Mu Chang was about to leave, I saw him subdue the Empress Dowager with one sentence.”
Lan Qin pondered: “That’s right. Since the Emperor can use the Shen Family’s handle to subdue Empress Dowager Shen, he naturally has ways to preserve Mu Shuyun’s life.
“He could even have prevented the conflict from escalating earlier, or placated things to deal with Empress Dowager Shen. But he didn’t do that at all; he kept watching from the sidelines until Mu Chang proposed resigning his post before showing his edge.
Yue Tang said: “So it wasn’t that Empress Dowager Shen had to kill Mu Shuyun, but that the Emperor wanted her dead. He won’t have such a good opportunity to act in the short term, and he wasn’t willing to miss it.”
Lan Qin took a deep breath: “With Mu Shuyun bearing the charge and dying, the Empress can no longer come from the Mu Family.
“And with Mu Shuyun dead, Mu Chang absolutely won’t easily allow Shen Yizhu to rise.
“By killing one Mu Shuyun, he both curbs the Mu Family’s ambitions to a certain extent and relieves the pressure from the Shen Family side for himself.
“Rather than face Mu Chang’s resentment later, eliminating Mu Shuyun is more beneficial for him.
“Even if the Mu Family doesn’t produce an Empress, out of current interests, they can’t separate from him.
“Aside from exposing his edge, the Emperor suffers no losses.”
Yue Tang was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly again: “I originally thought the Emperor had long been made into one of their own by the Mu Family, so every step in the hall was aimed at driving a wedge between the Emperor and the Mu Family.
“But with the Emperor showing this side today, I may need to change my strategy.”
“Princess.”
Wei Zhang knocked on the door from outside, interrupting the conversation: “The man is here.”
A man in green clothes appeared beside him, standing hunched over, appearing very restrained and cautious.
Yue Tang set down the bowl: “Come in.”
The man stepped through the door and knelt in greeting when he reached her.
Yue Tang observed his every move, then carefully examined his expression when he raised his head, took the travel permit handed over by Wei Zhang, and said:
“Zhou Yun, from Wu Hu?”
“Yes.”
The man looked at the ground and nodded.
“Looking for what relative? What name? What does this relative do?”
“In reply to the Princess, it’s my cousin. He was originally from the Capital City, came to Wu Hu some years ago to operate a rice shop with me. Three months ago, he said there were connections in the Capital City for better business, so he packed up and went to the capital first.
“I stayed behind to tidy the shop, delayed some days, but when I followed the address he left before departing to find him in the capital, I found he had never been there at all. With nowhere to go, I had to wander around the Capital City inquiring.
Yue Tang drank the broth and continued: “Where were you supposed to meet?”
“At the guild hall on South City Street.”
Yue Tang turned the broth bowl in her hand: “South City Street is at least three streets away from the Supreme Court Yamen. Why were you sneaking around there that night?”
The man raised his head: “In reply to the Princess, by then I had been in the capital for over a month, with little travel expenses left. I went there because I wanted to quietly find a hidden place to stay…”
Yue Tang said nothing.
Wei Zhang leaned in and whispered: “The Prince found in his traveling bundle only a few patched clothes, about ten copper coins, and two flatbreads.”
Yue Tang narrowed her eyes, leaned forward slightly, examined his rough skin and the fine lines at the corners of his eyes, then gestured for him to spread his palm, looking at the thick callus on the tiger’s mouth: “You know martial arts?”
“A little.” The man nodded quickly. “Back in my hometown, I worked as a bodyguard for people.”
Yue Tang leaned back, casually picked up an account book, and gestured for Lan Qin to fetch an abacus: “Since you’ve operated a business, you must know arithmetic. Total the accounts from the first ten pages for me.”
The man agreed, took the abacus and account book with both hands, knelt on the ground, flipped pages with one hand, moved the beads with the other, muttering calculations aloud.
In no time, he wrote down a total and presented it to Yue Tang.
Yue Tang looked at Lan Qin.
Lan Qin looked it over and nodded solemnly to her.
Yue Tang then looked down: “What are your plans? If you want to return home, I can get you a travel permit.”
“Thank you, Princess!” The man kowtowed, but said: “I and my cousin have no other relatives; we depended on each other. Since I’ve come to the capital, I still want to find out what happened to him.”
Yue Tang drank the broth sip by sip until finished, then said: “In the end, it was my misunderstanding of you that day. Since you have nowhere to go and know some martial arts, would you be willing to stay on as a miscellaneous servant?”
The man raised his head, light flickering in his eyes: “I thank the Princess endlessly!”
Yue Tang smiled: “Go down with Lord Wei.”
The latter immediately kowtowed and stood, following Wei Zhang out.
Yue Tang watched his back, picked up the chopsticks, and continued eating.
“Go tell Wei Zhang to enroll him in my escort guards later.”
Lan Qin was surprised: “This man of unknown background, really to travel with us?”
Yue Tang took a bite of vegetable: “If he doesn’t travel with us, how can I get to know his background?”
With that, she turned her head: “For Prince Jingyang’s side, send someone to relay a message that the Imperial City Department matter can wait until I return from entering the palace to see the Emperor in a couple of days.”
Lan Qin paused: “The Princess is going to see the Emperor?”
Yue Tang hummed: “The Emperor cleared my name; entering the palace to kneel and thank him for his grace isn’t very proper?”
……
That night, the first snow of this winter fell. The heavy snow blocked people’s steps in the streets and alleys, and also blocked many discussions.
After the first snow melted, the disturbance had mostly subsided.
On the morning after the Mu Family removed the white banners, Shen Yi arrived at Yongfu Palace with Madam Shen, accompanied by Shen Li.
Shen Yi spoke first: “Completely eliminating this opponent is a fortunate thing. But the Emperor’s move caught people off guard; the Mu Family must hate the Shen Family to death now.”
Empress Dowager Shen sneered coldly: “As if without this matter, they wouldn’t oppose us?
“Not to mention Mu Shuyun daring to lay such a poisonous hand on my Yongfu Palace—she deserved to die. Just saying, the one who wanted her life that day wasn’t just me alone.
“It was Princess Yongjia who step by step pushed her to the forefront of the storm; she bears at least half the responsibility.
“It was the Emperor who decreed her death by poison; the Emperor takes the remaining thirty percent, while I take only that twenty percent!”
Shen Yi crossed his arms and spoke slowly: “That’s true, but the Mu Family did frame and slander Princess Yongjia. He has no reason to openly target Prince Duan’s Mansion.
“And the Shen Family, besides the private grudge from that day, were originally political enemies of the two parties. Targeting us as the goal allows them to achieve everything.”
Empress Dowager Shen was impatient: “Since Brother can think this through clearly, he should immediately come up with a plan to seize the initiative and take the next step.
“Sighing here, what problem does that solve?”
Hearing this, Madam Shen spoke: “What Your Majesty says is right. The Emperor’s move against Mu Shuyun is hard to gauge his intentions.
“What the Mu Family Miss failed to accomplish, Yi Zhu foolishly probably doesn’t have the ability for either.”
Her hand hidden under her sleeve gently pinched Shen Yizhu.
“You’ve been so useless from childhood to now; when have you ever accomplished anything big?” Empress Dowager Shen glanced at Madam Shen. “If they couldn’t do it, does that mean we definitely can’t?
“With Mu Shuyun, who was groomed with effort to be Empress, dead, does the Mu Family have no other misses?
“To prevent any such possibility in the future, the Emperor’s best method isn’t to preemptively appoint a miss from another family as Empress before that?”
A string of rhetorical questions left Madam Shen with only an apologetic smile: “Yes, Your Majesty knows I read few books; how could I have Your Majesty’s insight?
“I was just thinking that with the Emperor and Mu Family at this juncture, it might not be the best timing to propose establishing an Empress.”
Hearing this, Empress Dowager Shen suppressed her anger and said steadily: “It is indeed best to pause for now.
“Princess Yongjia on the hall that day truly impressed me; it proves I underestimated her before.
“So capable and strategic—how is she easier to deal with than the Mu Family?
“To invite her to step forward for Yi Zhu, it won’t be something a few sums of silver money can persuade.”
Shen Yizhu stood up, went behind her, and massaged her shoulders: “Aunt, this time we also owe much to the Princess. If it were anyone else, this case would definitely have been muddled through. Yi Zhu thinks we should first sincerely visit to express thanks.”
While Empress Dowager Shen hesitated without speaking, the eunuch entered: “Your Majesty, Princess Yongjia is at the palace gate seeking to see the Emperor.”
“Her?”
Empress Dowager Shen’s gaze suddenly flickered.
……
The palace had lit the ground dragons; a palace maid carrying a food box arrived at the side hall doorway. As she lifted the curtain, the warm scent of orchids from inside the hall wafted out.
The Emperor wore moon-white casual clothes, holding a scroll, sitting behind the desk. Sunlight filtered through the window gauze, casting half his figure in shadow.
The palace maid crouched down and placed the broth from the food box beside his hand.
At this time, Chang Yu entered: “The Princess has arrived.”
The Emperor set down the broth he had picked up and stood, looking toward the doorway.
Yue Tang entered. Seeing the Emperor, she smiled, undid her cloak, and handed it to Lan Qin.
The Emperor stepped forward and supported her from kneeling: “Elder Cousin, the snow hasn’t melted yet. I heard your body hasn’t fully recovered; why rush into the palace?”
“The Emperor upheld justice for me; I specially came to kneel and thank you for your great grace.”
The Emperor was surprised: “This was my duty; what are you saying, Elder Cousin?”
Yue Tang smiled, surveyed the hall, her smile gradually fading.
“What’s wrong?” the Emperor asked.
Yue Tang lowered her gaze and turned: “This place is still the same as three years ago, no changes. That brocade couch by the window—Imperial Uncle liked sitting there to read scrolls most. Those few scratches on the couch edge were left when he bumped it with the inkstone.”
The Emperor glanced in the direction of her gaze and paused: “I left the capital young and upon return was forever separated from Father Emperor. The palace servants wouldn’t mention these things to me, let alone from the Empress Dowager’s side.
“If Elder Cousin didn’t mention it, I’m afraid I’d never hear such detailed past events.”
With that, he stepped forward: “Come sit.”
Beneath the window, besides the brocade couch, there was a narrow table with armchairs on either side.
The two sat in host and guest positions. The Emperor waved away the palace maid offering tea, had them bring a tea stove and teapot.
“Elder Cousin suffered such bullying right after returning; it was my fault. These past days, I’ve repeatedly thought about what Elder Cousin said that day and felt deeply ashamed. I’ve accomplished nothing these years and truly fail Father Emperor.”
“Why must Your Majesty think this way?” Yue Tang said. “The Mu Family did render meritorious service those years; occasional transgressions aren’t unforgivable.”
The Emperor lifted the kettle, first scalded the cups with boiling water. After setting the pot back on the stove, he raised his head: “Does Elder Cousin really think so?”
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