Chapter 284: News of Disaster
The spring air was bright and beautiful. Wen Mingqian encountered the palace maid Chun Ying in the aisle on the northwest corner of the Empress’s Imperial Chamber.
“Madam Wen, are you going to serve Her Ladyship the Empress?” Chun Ying held a large bunch of early peach blossoms in her arms, which were vibrant and eye-catching.
Behind her, two little palace maids followed closely. One carried a Double Ringed Jade Vase, and the other carried a celadon square vase with a sunflower-shaped mouth.
“Chun Ying, are you out picking flowers? Truly, the flowers and your face complement each other, a feast for the eyes.” Wen Mingqian said with a smile, “You are even more delicate than these peach blossoms!”
Chun Ying blushed: “Madam, please don’t tease me. I saw that these flowers had bloomed so beautifully, so I picked some to prepare for Her Ladyship the Empress to enjoy.
I also thought that without a suitable vase to put them in, I might as well go to the treasure pavilion and ask for these two vases. Later, we’ll see which one Her Ladyship likes and keep it, and send the other one back.”
As she said this, her eyes suddenly lit up: “Madam Wen, why don’t you help me make a decision!”
Wen Mingqian did not refuse. After examining the two vases, she said, “I think using this jade vase would be better; it can make these peach blossoms appear more lively.”
“Then it’s settled! Her Ladyship the Empress doesn’t like to worry about small matters anyway,” Chun Ying said. “After I’m done arranging them, I’ll send the flowers in. You two can take this square vase back to its original place later! Make sure the person who registered it notes it down, so they don’t ask us for it again.”
Wen Mingqian accompanied her to the Empress’s Palace, and Chun Ying went to arrange the flowers.
Yu Lu was standing under the corridor. Seeing Wen Mingqian, he beckoned her over.
“Steward Yu,” Wen Mingqian stepped forward and called out, “Do you need my help at this moment?”
“Mingqian,” Yu Lu did not call her Madam Wen, but addressed her by her name, sounding quite familiar. “It is I who have something to ask of you.”
“You are too kind, Eunuch. What is there to ask? I will help if I can,” Wen Mingqian said with a smile.
“I’ve been thinking of giving some gifts to people. Large items are inconvenient, and small ones might not be valuable enough. Only the things you make are fragrant, beautiful, and exquisite; they are truly most suitable,” Yu Lu said with a smile, his eyes curved into crescent moons.
“So that’s what it is. How many do you need? I still have some ready-made items. If it’s not enough, I can make more quickly,” Wen Mingqian knew that Yu Lu needed them for return gifts.
Officials from other provinces would send gifts to the Empress every season. Whether these gifts would reach the Empress and gain her favor depended on whether Yu Lu was willing to present them. Therefore, Yu Lu’s benefits were naturally indispensable.
And Yu Lu was also willing to associate with these officials. It was beneficial and harmless to him, so why not?
Thus, he would also reciprocate with gifts appropriately.
“You don’t need many. The things you make are priceless; they can’t be bought even with silver,” Yu Lu said. “About ten to twenty bottles should be enough…”
He was about to continue when a little eunuch, looking somewhat flustered, walked in from outside.
He approached Yu Lu and said, “Steward Yu, Prince Zhao has sent a letter. The news is not very good.”
“What is it?” Yu Lu asked him.
The little eunuch did not speak but looked at Wen Mingqian. Wen Mingqian, understanding, turned to leave.
Seeing that he had walked far away, the little eunuch then said to Yu Lu, “Prince Zhao’s letter says that halfway on their journey, the second young master suddenly had an asthma attack… and passed away…”
“Ah?!” Yu Lu was very surprised to hear this, and frowned, “Oh dear! How did this happen? How could it be like this?”
Prince Zhao’s youngest son, Song’er, was naturally frail and almost always needed medicine.
What was even more critical was that he had asthma, which could be triggered by the slightest discomfort. Wen Mingqian had previously made him a medicinal sachet to alleviate it, but that was only a temporary fix.
As they traveled north, the weather naturally became colder, with strong winds, dryness, and a lot of dust.
Such a climate was actually very dangerous for someone with asthma.
Although Princess Consort Zhao and her entourage had brought medicines and a doctor, human effort was ultimately limited, and they could not reverse the situation.
“Steward Yu, I have told you the news,” the little eunuch said. “Please tell Her Ladyship the Empress slowly!”
Yu Lu blinked. He knew that if this bad news were told to the Empress, she would surely become anxious and sad, but he couldn’t not tell her.
He looked up and saw Wen Mingqian standing in the distance, and immediately called her back.
“Mingqian, you will accompany me inside in a moment. We have to deliver a message of mourning to Her Ladyship the Empress,” Yu Lu said, rubbing his hands.
“A message of mourning? What message of mourning?” Wen Mingqian asked in surprise.
“Alas! It’s truly difficult to speak of!” Yu Lu sighed. “It’s the second young master of Prince Zhao’s Mansion… he died on the road!”
“Ah?! This… this is too sudden. The second young master is still so young.”
“Who says not?” Yu Lu shook his head. “You’ll accompany me inside in a moment. When I tell Her Ladyship the Empress, you must try to comfort her. Her Ladyship has a quick temper; it’s no wonder she’ll be upset upon hearing this news!”
At this moment, Consort Hui was chatting with the Empress. Seeing Yu Lu and Wen Mingqian enter, she smiled and praised: “I was just telling Her Ladyship the Empress that the cosmetic you made for me the other day was truly delightful. I’ve only used it for two days, and my skin feels so much more moisturized.”
“Her Ladyship Consort Hui is too kind. If there’s anything that isn’t satisfactory, please tell me, and I will find a way to improve it,” Wen Mingqian replied.
“What is the matter that brings you here?” the Empress noticed Yu Lu’s unusual expression.
Yu Lu was waiting for this question. He immediately knelt down with a thud and began to cry: “Her Ladyship the Empress, please accept my condolences! I did not wish to tell you this news, but there was no other way.”
Wen Mingqian also knelt down immediately, lowering her head without a word.
“What exactly happened? Tell me quickly! Don’t beat around the bush!” The Empress, as expected, became anxious upon hearing this.
“It’s Prince Zhao… someone just came to report. They said His Highness sent a messenger with a letter. His second young master… passed away on the road…”
“Are you saying Song’er?” The Empress’s eyes widened upon hearing this. “He… he died prematurely?”
“Your Ladyship, please accept my condolences and take care of your Imperial Body. This has already happened, and no one can do anything about it,” Yu Lu said, crying.
“Her Ladyship the Empress, please try to calm yourself and do not grieve too much. Of course, anyone hearing this news would feel distressed, but as Steward Yu said, it has already happened, and we are powerless. Please accept my condolences and take care of your Imperial Body,” Consort Hui also quickly stepped forward to console her.
Tears welled up in the Empress’s eyes, and she choked out, “This child was truly ill-fated. From birth, he was somewhat weak. I had hoped that with good care, he would grow healthier as he got older. Who would have thought that the hardships and jolts of the journey would claim his life… Alas!”
“It’s not just Your Ladyship who is heartbroken; even we servants are deeply pained to hear this. However, one thing is that even though Your Ladyship is sad, you must consider the bigger picture. This servant believes that now is not the time to let the Grand Tutor know about this matter. Your Ladyship should instruct them accordingly,” Wen Mingqian reminded her.
