Chapter 68: Evidence Against the Zheng Family
Imperial Prison.
Feng Gao was bound to a wooden frame. His imperial-gifted golden silk official robes had been stripped off, leaving him in a thin prisoner’s garment.
On one side were rows of torture instruments.
On the other side was a burning brazier, with a branding iron placed beside it.
The prison cell was dark and damp.
The light from the brazier illuminated his face. Delicate brows, phoenix eyes, white teeth, and thin lips. The firelight flickered on his devilishly handsome features.
The prison door opened.
Several eunuchs carried in a large chair made of golden nanmu.
A wave of fragrant wind wafted through.
Feng Gao knew that the person arriving was no ordinary individual.
Soon after, a middle-aged woman in elaborate attire entered, slowly sat down on the large chair, and scrutinized Feng Gao.
Feng Gao had not expected Empress Dowager Li to personally interrogate him. He recalled his secret talk with His Majesty in the Palace of Heavenly Purity last night, and unconsciously, he tightly pursed his lips.
Empress Dowager Li looked at him for a long moment before speaking, “Feng Gao, these torture instruments are likely very familiar to you. You even devised many of the methods to torment people. I, in my seclusion within the deep palace, have heard people call you by a nickname: Black Impermanence. The most formidable ghost by King Yama’s side.”
Feng Gao said, “This sinner’s life is but a single thread, not worth the Empress Dowager’s condescension to personally interrogate. Whatever the Empress Dowager wishes to ask, this sinner will answer.”
“Liang Bangrui, who instructed you to bring him back from Yangzhou?”
“This sinner was blinded by greed. I accepted money from the Liang family. I committed a heavenly sin. This sinner’s death would not suffice to atone.”
Empress Dowager Li gave a cold laugh, “A eunuch, a castrated being, what need have you for ten thousand taels of silver to spend in your coffin? You have always served His Majesty; do you not know that Black Impermanence can take anyone’s life, but must never dare to offend the Tai Sui!”
She suddenly shouted sternly, “Guards, bring the torture instruments. Let Director Feng loosen up a bit first.”
The eunuchs quickly responded and stepped forward with the instruments, but a shiver ran through them due to their ingrained fear of Feng Gao.
The torture instruments were finally applied.
The red-hot branding iron seared Feng Gao’s body. The smell of cooked flesh wafted through the prison cell.
Feng Gao’s expression remained unchanged.
Empress Dowager Li said, “Director Feng is a man who has rolled on a plank of nails; what is a mere branding to him? Come, serve Director Feng with the ‘plucking the pipa’.”
The Ming History, Volume 37, Records of Punishments, states: the most brutal is called ‘plucking the pipa’. During the torture, all bones are dislocated, sweat pours like rain, and one dies and is revived, two or three times. Under such extreme suffering, what crime cannot be confessed.
This ‘plucking the pipa’ was originally devised by Feng Gao and was once popular among the Eastern Depot and Brocade Guards.
Ordinary officials would tremble at the mere mention of these three words.
Under the torture, large beads of sweat rolled down Feng Gao’s forehead.
Empress Dowager Li stood up, walked forward a couple of steps, and said, “Feng Gao, I am a Buddhist and do not wish to commit murder. If you confess truthfully, I can spare your wretched life. If you only know foolish loyalty, you will not live past today. I do not believe you are made of iron.”
Feng Gao closed his eyes, his lips tightly shut.
Empress Dowager Li said, “This matter concerns the very foundation of our Great Ming. His Majesty is infatuated by a sorceress and suspects me entirely. I am the Princess’s birth mother; no matter what, I will not use the Princess’s marriage as a bargaining chip. If the Empress Dowager and His Majesty, mother and son, become suspicious and estranged, the sorceress’s wicked intentions will succeed, and she will stir up more trouble. The Great Ming will be plunged into darkness. Feng Gao, you have reached this position at such a young age; besides His Majesty’s favor, you must have your own exceptional qualities. Think carefully about what I have said. Once you understand, I will make a deal with you.”
She waved her hand, and everyone in the prison cell withdrew.
The prison door closed.
She returned to her chair and sat down, slowly saying, “Your own life, you may not care for. But what about Zhu Sangyu’s life? Do you want it?”
Feng Gao opened his eyes.
Empress Dowager Li pressed her forehead, “Do you truly think I am a woman of the deep palace, completely muddled?”
Feng Gao spoke with difficulty, “What deal… Your Majesty, please speak.”
He tried to carve out a tiny sliver of space between the Empress Dowager and His Majesty, a place to exist.
Green covers the mountains and plains, white fills the rivers, cuckoos sing amidst the misty rain.
He had promised that one day, he would shed his official robes and eat cakes and drink wine. This was the greatest indulgence in his incomplete life.
Yangzhou.
Zhu Family Wine Shop.
I sat under the persimmon tree, mending a piece of clothing.
Suddenly, the needle pricked my finger, and blood flowed out.
An inexplicable unease washed over me, and I looked in the direction of the Capital City.
Someone walked in.
It was one of the two guards Feng Gao had left in Yangzhou.
“Boss Zhu, there’s news from the Capital City. Director Feng has been dismissed and imprisoned.”
I stood up abruptly.
“For what reason?”
“The Imperial Son-in-law Liang Bangrui, whom Director Feng brought to the Capital, has issues. The Empress Dowager is furious. People in the Capital are saying Director Feng accepted a huge bribe from the Liang family, was blinded by greed, and committed a grave offense. But I accompanied Director Feng on his mission to Yangzhou, and I know for a fact that Director Feng did not accept any bribes. He must have been made a scapegoat.” the guard said.
There must be some trickery involved.
I suddenly remembered that night at Qing Yue Pavilion, when the eunuch came to deliver the imperial decree.
The Yangzhou government officials would never dare to lay a hand on the imperial family. This matter must be related to the inner court.
The guard wrung his hands and sighed, “Recently, due to the matter of establishing the Crown Prince, His Majesty and the Empress Dowager have already been at odds, as everyone knows. Now, with the Princess’s marriage in flux, the two palaces should be even more estranged. With Director Feng caught in the middle, I fear he may not be able to escape.”
Right.
Establishing the Crown Prince.
That night, Feng Gao’s words to me still echoed in my ears: “His Majesty favors Consort Zheng and is waiting for Consort Zheng to give birth…”
I paced back and forth in the courtyard.
Half a month ago, Zheng Tai’s order at the wine shop included a batch of excellent Yunsi, which was to be delivered to the Liang residence. Before and after Liang Bangrui was chosen as the Imperial Son-in-law, the Liang family had been very close with the Zheng family.
I had initially thought this was merely Liang Master’s adept social maneuvering, seeking to curry favor with the imperial family.
Now, it seemed, it might not be so simple.
I looked up and asked the guard, “Are there any movements from the Zheng Residence in the city?”
The guard said, “I heard that the sixth concubine of Maternal Uncle Zheng’s household gave birth to a young lady yesterday, and there were endless gifts. Other than that, nothing much.”
I thought for a moment and said, “From now on, you will secretly monitor the Zheng Residence’s activities. Don’t let them discover you. If there’s anything unusual, come and tell me.”
The guard was confused but still followed my instructions.
I was consumed by anxiety.
Closing my eyes, I could almost see Feng Gao covered in blood.
Involuntarily, I shivered in the warm spring.
The sun in the sky was so gentle, yet at this moment, I felt it was scorching.
Dou Ya.
You promised Elder Sister that you would accompany Elder Sister every day in the future, eat the cakes Elder Sister made, and drink the wine Elder Sister brewed.
Please come back safely, alright?
Alright?
This world has already given you enough suffering. If misfortune must befall, let it fall upon me.
I walked blankly towards the counter, my heart filled with desolation.
Dou Ya, we’ve grown up. We’re not in the acrobatic troupe anymore. I can’t shield you from disaster like I used to take the troupe leader’s beatings for you.
You always wanted to protect Elder Sister, but what can Elder Sister use to protect you?
A figure in lotus red swept by.
“Boss Zhu—”
Maternal Uncle Zheng arrived at some point, leaning by the counter, a smile on his lips.
I suppressed the turmoil in my chest and asked, “What brings you here?”
“There’s been a happy occasion at home, a daughter was born. I’ve come to buy wine.”
“You could have sent a servant to buy wine. Why did Lord Maternal Uncle have to come personally?”
He coughed and waved his sleeve, “Boss Zhu, have you heard? Director Feng… oh, no, that scoundrel Feng Gao, has been arrested. You see, it’s truly the unpredictable nature of heaven and the vicissitudes of life. Who is Feng Gao? The foremost person in flattering, guessing His Majesty’s intentions. The higher he climbs, the harder he falls. Serves him right!”
He spoke sarcastically.
I said to Hua Lian, “See the guest out!”
Hua Lian walked over.
Maternal Uncle Zheng tilted his head and said, “Don’t be rash! Boss Zhu, I must remind you, you have no backing anymore! In Yangzhou Prefecture, what will be the consequence of opposing my Zheng family, do you know? Boss Zhu, don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a penalty!”
I said, “I am a brewer of wine, I can distinguish between a toast and a penalty. Lord Maternal Uncle, do not get too carried away. That saying, ‘heaven has unpredictable winds, and people have sudden misfortunes,’ I offer it to you as well.”
He turned away indignantly and left.
At the doorway, he turned back and smiled obsequiously, “This Lord likes Boss Zhu’s fiery temper.”
After he left, Hua Lian came to my side.
Although Hua Lian did not know what Feng Gao’s arrest meant, seeing Maternal Uncle Zheng like this, she couldn’t help but worry about me.
“If he truly dares to bully the owner, I’ll risk my life to make him pay!” Hua Lian said.
Mountain folk are straightforward and passionate. Full of righteousness, they don’t fear death.
I quickly said, “Hua Lian, don’t be like this.”
In the evening, Qin Mingxu arrived.
I pondered for a moment and decided to tell him about Feng Gao’s situation.
Hua Lian brought a bowl of sweet dumplings, “Owner, you haven’t eaten for two meals, please eat something.”
I waved my hand, having no appetite at all.
Qin Mingxu went out and returned half an hour later.
He brought back many snacks from the street: sugar crisp cakes, sesame cakes, lotus leaf dumplings, and plum blossom pancakes. He wore a large-headed doll mask to cheer me up.
After a long while, he took off the mask and said softly, “Sang Yu, don’t ruin your health. You must eat. Director Feng would certainly not want you to suffer like this. I believe Director Feng is a very intelligent person, and perhaps he has a clever plan to escape.”
I knew his good intentions and ate a few bites perfunctorily.
The guard intermittently reported on the situation at the Zheng residence.
For several days, there were no unusual movements.
Only prominent families in the city sent congratulatory gifts, and the family of Zheng Tai’s sixth concubine visited.
No one came from the Capital City.
The people at the Zheng residence were also very cautious, no longer interacting with people from the Liang residence.
“Oh, right, Boss Zhu, it seems the Zheng residence couldn’t find a suitable wet nurse, and the sixth concubine isn’t producing milk. Zheng Tai heard that pangolins can induce lactation, so he had his steward search the streets. And they really found one. For five consecutive days, a man wearing straw sandals went to the Zheng residence to deliver pangolins…”
I felt a bit disappointed.
What I wanted to know was not these trivial matters of a household.
I drank a cup of wine and instructed the guard to continue watching.
The night is deep, the wind is still, and I wish to return. Only a river of bright moon, like blue jade.
Returned to the Zhu Residence.
Late at night, I washed my face and went to bed.
Waking from dreams, in all my actions, I saw the scene of my separation from Feng Gao. His hands waving desperately. His lean and upright figure. His eyes, forever innocent, forever sad.
He called me again and again, “Elder Sister, Elder Sister—”
The next day, after waking, I went to the counter.
Opening the door, I saw a letter fall from the crack.
The shop assistants, rubbing their sleepy eyes, greeted me, “Owner, good morning.”
I picked up the letter and asked, “When did you all go to sleep last night?”
“Replying to the owner, around midnight.”
“Did you hear any movement outside the door in the middle of the night?”
“No. Nothing but the wind.”
I opened the letter, and the words on it were shocking.
This was a letter written by Consort Zheng to her father, Master Zheng, at the beginning of the year.
A few short lines hinted at a long-planned scheme. Government documents, inner court grannies…
I quickly looked around and clutched the letter tightly.
Who found such important evidence?
Who sent it to me?
Suddenly, I noticed a narrow strip of paper within the letter.
On the strip, written in crooked handwriting, was a sentence: The Zheng family has been encroaching on private land, and the people’s resentment has been long-standing.
So, this person was one of the Zheng family’s enemies. The Zheng family’s tyranny in the locality and their bullying of the weak must have earned them many enemies.
The sender did not wish to reveal themselves, likely to avoid trouble.
Holding the letter, I sat in the wine shop for half a day, and an idea formed in my mind…
