Chapter 47: Misfortune or Blessing
Xun Yitang retreated with the crowd of petitioners.
Her blue robe disappeared under the scorching sun.
Across the eight streets and nine alleys, the grand, earth-shattering, people’s movement was being recounted.
A storyteller from who-knows-where, upon hearing some vague rumors, concocted a storybook called 《The Chronicle of the Mortal World》, which told the tale of a nun and a high official falling in love. The nun was Xun Yitang, and the high official was naturally Cheng Huaishi. The content was nonsensical and wildly exaggerated, attracting the attention of many in the city.
“A young nun yearns for the mortal world, her heart tied to her beloved, forgetting her scriptures. Only because the mandarin ducks in the high halls were separated, does her beloved’s heart turn to iron, leaving only regret. Ten thousand umbrellas before the Five Phoenix Tower, finally moved the heavens to save her official. Benevolence has never been the domain of Bodhisattvas, but alas, the nun’s foolish love is profound!”
In 《The Chronicle of the Mortal World》, Xun Yitang was portrayed as a woman who moved heaven and earth, while Cheng Huaishi was depicted as a heartless and unrighteous betrayer.
From the horse carriage, I heard these baseless words and felt a pang of sorrow.
Cheng Huaishi shook his head and sighed, “Although she meant well. However, the ten thousand umbrellas brought me disaster, not fortune. Today, His Majesty pardoned me and said something. He said, ‘You are truly Minister Zhang’s good disciple, a capable and virtuous official of Great Ming.’ A moment before, His Majesty’s face was filled with anger, how could he suddenly praise me like this? Such praise leaves me bewildered and unsure of the reason.”
I said, “Second Master, you have been busy these past few days. Please don’t overthink it. It’s best to go back and rest.”
He nodded and said, “Fortunately, the disaster victims have all been settled, which is a great comfort. The autumn harvest is approaching, and the Imperial Court needs to collect taxes. I must be exceptionally diligent to replenish the national treasury and atone for my sins, perhaps then His Majesty will show some leniency.”
“Miss Xun…” I thought for a moment, then swallowed my words. Although Xun Yitang’s actions were a bit rash and counterproductive, she ultimately had no ill intentions, so it was not appropriate to blame her.
Cheng Huaishi embraced me and said, “Madam, I must be more cautious in the future. For you, and for our unborn child.”
The matter thus subsided.
It was as if a surging great river, at a certain point, was suddenly dammed. The water’s flow was blocked, but behind the high mountain, it constantly pounded, the danger concealed behind the verdant foliage.
When the water would break through and rush down a thousand miles, depended on how long the high mountain could hold.
Cheng Huaishi returned home and fell asleep immediately.
He was truly exhausted.
I tiptoed and instructed Xiao Yin, the maidservants, servant boys, and older women to move about quietly, so as not to disturb him.
He slept a long, deep sleep. When he woke, I was by the bedside sewing a child’s undergarment. Green lotus leaves, golden carp. Bright and festive.
He said, “These matters should be handled by the servant women in the manor. Why must Madam do it herself?”
I handed him a cup of cooled broth, “Second Master, you must be hungry. Drink this quickly. For the child’s personal items, I always want to make them myself.”
“I forgot to remind Madam before I slept. After such a major incident, how will we explain it to Mother?”
I said, “The commotion outside was so great, it was impossible to hide. I told Mother it was a misunderstanding, that Second Master was safe, and that the Empress Dowager protected him. These past few days, I’ve been keeping Mother company and comforting her, and she has finally put her mind at ease.”
He smiled, “Madam is virtuous.”
After drinking the soup, he got up, washed his face, and changed into clean clothes. “I’m going to discuss matters with Minister Zhang. The new policies’ tax revenue differs from previous years, so we need to prepare early.”
I stood up, “Second Master, please go.”
He walked to the door, then returned, touched my belly, and said, “Good child, don’t trouble your mother,” before leaving.
In mid-August, I was summoned to the Imperial Palace to paint a royal banquet scene.
I heard from the people of the Twelve Bureaus that during every festival, there were imperial decrees to pardon some concubines and palace servants who had made mistakes.
However, I looked around but did not see Miss Sun.
Consort Zheng, on the other hand, enjoyed even greater favor than before. His Majesty had her sit beside him, on par with the Empress, and even the pregnant Lady Wang was seated further back.
The Empress Dowager silently drank her wine, and halfway through the banquet, she said she was tired and returned to the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility with Lady Wang.
After I finished painting the picture, I received the customary reward.
As I was preparing to leave the palace, I suddenly heard a palace servant from the Hall of Benevolence and Wisdom say that they had just returned from the West Palace Garden and that something had happened in the Cold Palace, and the Brocade Guards had all rushed over.
I immediately thought of Miss Sun and asked, “What happened?”
The palace servant said, “Consort Shu, who was sent to the Cold Palace a few days ago, is dead!”
It was indeed Miss Sun.
Without His Majesty’s decree, how could she have suddenly died?
The palace servant said mysteriously, “I heard the Empress Dowager sent people to interrogate her, and she rambled on, even accusing Consort Zheng of ordering the soup. Who is Consort Zheng? She is someone His Majesty holds dear! She truly is like an old birthday star eating arsenic, tired of living. Less than half an hour after the people from the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility left, she died inexplicably in the Cold Palace! Tsk tsk.”
I was startled and walked out of the Hall of Benevolence and Wisdom, wanting to see for myself.
Behind an ancient locust tree in the Imperial Garden, someone grabbed me and said urgently, “Sister, don’t go!”
It was Feng Gao.
His bright red official robe with gold threads shimmered coldly under the full moon.
I said, “Miss Sun of the Cheng family is dead, do you know?”
He said, “Sister, absolutely do not get involved in these matters.”
Looking at his expression, I slowly guessed the inside story.
I lowered my voice and said, “His Majesty ordered it, didn’t he?”
The full moon’s silver light.
The scent of osmanthus wafted.
He said, “Sister, the officials of the Six Ministries and Three Judicial Offices are gradually being replaced by His Majesty’s confidantes. His Majesty’s authority in the Imperial Court grows stronger day by day. The same is true in the Imperial Palace. I have something I wish to discuss with you.”
“What is it?”
He said with difficulty, “Could Sister return to Dongchang Prefecture to recuperate? I have purchased a secluded estate in the western suburbs of Dongchang Prefecture in Sister’s name…”
“What are you talking about?” I asked anxiously.
“Sister, I am very worried. I want to make preparations. Sister, please listen to me,” he said gravely.
“Dou Ya, a person without integrity cannot stand; betraying trust leads nowhere. Sister is a wife of the Cheng family, how can I run when faced with danger? Tell me, what exactly is going to happen? Cheng Huaishi has been cautious these past few days, His Majesty has returned to treating him as usual, and it’s the peak season for autumn taxes. What could possibly happen at this juncture? It’s not as if the Imperial Harem can easily involve the front court…” I grabbed his sleeve.
He looked at me, then at my slightly bulging belly, and said, “Sister, are you determined not to leave?”
“I am not leaving.”
The autumn tiger had already faded. A gust of autumn wind brought a chill.
The autumn wind rustled the leaves of the ancient locust tree.
His eyes were moist, like the clear moon sinking into the water.
He told me nothing.
It seemed an irreversible arrow had left the bow, and could not be recalled.
His sorrow was boundless, and his torment was infinite.
“Sister, you must leave. His Majesty has already set the trap.”
The full moon’s compassion shone upon the absurd human world.
I turned and walked away.
Feng Gao said from behind, “I will definitely take Sister away. Nothing is more important than Sister and Wan Dou!”
Leaving the palace, I hurried home.
The manor was in chaos.
The Eldest Young Mistress had already received the news and was wailing in the courtyard.
“Shu Er, my ill-fated Shu Er… you died so unjustly, your own uncle killed you…”
The servant boys lit lamps.
The Old Madam angrily struck her cane down and said sternly, “Wang Yuzhen, if you speak nonsense again, you will be punished by family law!”
The Eldest Young Mistress wiped her face with her sleeve, “Mother, what do I have to fear from family law now! Shu Er is dead, who will I rely on for the rest of my life?”
She saw me entering from the door, and her eyes blazed, “The wife of Brocade Guard Mu Lin has told me that Second Master offended His Majesty. His Majesty, for the sake of his reputation as a wise ruler, could not deal with Second Master openly, so he took Shu Er out on him! You two, seeing Shu Er die, are you pleased? Zhu Sangyu, I will not let you have an easy time!”
The Old Madam gave an order, and several servant boys restrained her.
“Cheng Wang Shi, you dare to be so lawless!”
At this moment, Cheng Cangshi arrived, knelt down with a thud, and hugged the Old Madam’s thigh, saying, “Mother, please spare Yuzhen. She lost her mind upon hearing of Shu Er’s death, which is why she spoke disrespectfully to Mother. Mother, please understand her grief over her daughter’s death…”
The Eldest Young Mistress fainted on the ground.
The Old Madam stamped her feet and sighed, “I said it shouldn’t be done, it shouldn’t be done! You parents, your hearts are blinded by greed! Poor Shu Er’s life! Fine, fine, fine. Take her back to your room. It would be better if I could just pass away soon!”
The Third Young Miss helped the Old Madam back to the Main Courtyard.
Cheng Cangshi also carried the Eldest Young Mistress back to their room.
I stood in the courtyard, looked up at the sky, and after a while, returned to the East Courtyard. Xiao Yin told me that Qin Mingxu had visited today, had mooncakes with Madam Qin, and admired the moon. Madam Qin had not rested, saying she was waiting for me to return and had something to ask of me.
The lamp in her room was still lit.
I knocked on the door, entered, and she handed me a letter, “Sang Yu, you must personally deliver this letter to Tai Yue.”
“Why don’t you have Young Master Mingxu deliver it? He visits the Zhang Manor quite frequently.”
She shook her head, as if there were unspeakable difficulties.
I understood. The contents of this letter must be related to Feng Gao, and she did not want Qin Mingxu to know.
Even though I had comforted her several times, she was still suspicious. Once suspicion arises, it is like a flame, difficult to extinguish.
I reluctantly accepted it and agreed.
“Sang Yu, can you go now? Mingxu told me that the Eastern Depot has arrested many people recently, and my eyelids have been twitching all day…”
I nodded, ordered the coachman to harness the horse, and headed for the Zhang Manor.
Arriving at the study in the back garden, I presented the letter to Minister Zhang and said, “Sir, Madam Qin urgently asked me to deliver this.”
Minister Zhang read the letter and said, “She asked me to investigate Feng Gao’s background.”
Then, he said to me, “Sang Yu, I still say the same thing, I cannot speak of it.”
I thought for a moment and asked, “Sir, how are the new policies in the Imperial Court progressing recently?”
“The tax revenue is three times more than last year.”
I said joyfully, “That’s good. This time, His Majesty should be appeased…”
He frowned, “Huai Shi also thinks it’s good. But I carefully reviewed it tonight and found something wrong.”
“What is it?”
“Among them, two tax revenues are strangely high. This seems like a trap.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a servant rushed in from outside and reported, “Sir, something has happened outside! The Eastern Depot has surrounded the Zhang Manor—”
