Chapter 116: Quietly Brewing
Jiaofang Palace.
Empress Xie received news from the Crown Prince at the Separate Villa, and the corners of her mouth curved upwards, revealing a faint smile.
“No wonder…”
Prince Wei Li Yan returned to the capital overnight and went straight to the Empress Dowager’s palace the next day.
What the grandmother and grandson discussed behind closed doors was unknown to others. It was only that the Empress Dowager claimed to be ill and bedridden that afternoon. When they went to visit her, the Empress Dowager’s tears wet her silk scarf, and she wept for a long time.
“Prince Wei’s birth mother passed away early. I pitied his loneliness and indulged him excessively, which only made him more reckless and willful. Now that he is older, if he is not taught and disciplined, I fear he will be deceived by treacherous villains and do something foolish…”
Empress Xie lowered her eyes and remained silent, but her mind was clear.
Prince Wei must have committed a grave offense.
But even though she had anticipated it, she still did not expect that Prince Wei would actually do something so rebellious—
If Prince Wei secretly met with Young Madam Gu in the dead of night, it would at most be considered a romantic affair. Although it was detrimental to public morals, it was merely a personal failing.
But colluding with Xizi, if the evidence is conclusive, is a crime of treason.
Xizi had been in constant conflict with the Central Plains Dynasty since the previous dynasty. After Daliang was founded, the Former Emperor personally led an expedition to Chishui City, forcing Xizi to sign a peace treaty and pay tribute annually.
Initially, at the end of each year, Xizi would send envoys to Shangjing to present furs, ores, jewels, fine horses, and other items, acknowledging their vassal status. But as time went on, Xizi gradually revealed its wolfish ambition and bared its fangs.
First, under the pretext of “the people’s livelihood is depleted and they cannot take care of themselves,” they unilaterally tore up the tribute agreement that had been in place for many years. What followed was even more egregious: from outward submission, they turned to open hostility, repeatedly sending cavalry to raid the border.
Countless people in the Western Frontier, in order to protect themselves, had to abandon their homes and become refugees.
The imperial court had long been resentful, and officials, filled with righteous indignation, repeatedly submitted memorials urging the Emperor to send troops to conquer them. However, during the Former Emperor’s reign, years of warfare had severely depleted the national strength, and the people lived in hardship.
After Emperor Chong Zhao ascended the throne, he was determined to recuperate, develop the national strength, and restore the people’s livelihood. For the past decade or so, Daliang had no major wars abroad, and Emperor Chong Zhao had governed diligently, and the national strength had gradually recovered from the war…
The Emperor did not want to easily reignite the flames of war and repeatedly endured in silence.
However, in recent days, the Left Wing Guard had discovered that Xirong scouts had disguised themselves and infiltrated Shangjing, moving around the city suspiciously, as if they had some unspeakable conspiracy.
Upon learning of this, Emperor Chong Zhao immediately ordered Prince Duan to lead the Left Wing Guard and investigate thoroughly.
If Prince Wei’s private possession of the Xizi Jade Pendant were to be exposed at this time, it would surely incur the Emperor’s great wrath.
This was the reason Prince Duan had Prince Wei return to the capital early to see the Empress Dowager.
Emperor Chong Zhao valued his reputation and considered himself a wise ruler, naturally respecting filial piety.
With the Empress Dowager intervening, and Prince Wei himself having no motive to collude with Xizi, it was likely that he would receive a lighter punishment…
But that Young Madam Gu…
It would depend on whether the Empress Dowager recognized the child in her womb and what plans the Marquis Jingyuan’s Mansion would make.
“Prince Duan is indeed wise!”
Empress Xie’s fingertips brushed over the golden phoenix hairpin inlaid with gold and colored glaze on her elaborately coiffed dark hair. Listening to the sound of the clepsydra, her eyes narrowed slightly.
“His Majesty has arrived!”
A notification from outside the hall made Empress Xie’s fingertips tremble slightly.
She quickly composed herself, tidied her appearance, and rose to go out to greet him.
After many years as husband and wife, some habits were already familiar.
She welcomed the Emperor into the Inner Hall and served him tea. Seeing that Emperor Chong Zhao’s dragon robe was stained with night dew and his brow was deeply furrowed, she knew he was troubled.
The Emperor took the teacup and suddenly said, “Empress, what do you think of Prince Wei?”
In the bronze mirror, the Emperor’s bright yellow dragon robe was reflected, highlighting the increasingly obvious wrinkles on his face…
Time flowed like water. The once spirited and handsome emperor now showed signs of fatigue.
Empress Xie revealed a perfectly appropriate smile.
“Prince Wei is the apple of the Imperial Mother’s eye. How dare I, your consort, speak ill of him?”
The Emperor heavily set down the teacup and snorted with displeasure.
“You are also his Imperial Mother!”
Empress Xie sneered inwardly.
When the Empress Dowager spoke of Prince Wei being “lonely and helpless” in front of her, wasn’t she implicitly accusing her, the Empress, of “not taking good care of the Imperial Prince”?
She hesitated for a moment: “But what great disaster has Prince Wei caused?”
“The Empress is well-informed.” Emperor Chong Zhao glanced at her coldly, as if unintentionally.
Empress Xie feigned surprise, and the incense she held in her hand suddenly paused.
“Your Majesty flatters me. As a woman of the inner palace, where would I get any news? I merely saw the Empress Dowager looking troubled and made a guess.”
Emperor Chong Zhao looked at her for a moment and sighed softly, “If he had someone who cared for him, his Imperial Mother wouldn’t have to worry so much…”
Empress Xie sneered inwardly again.
Prince Wei’s consort had only passed away a year ago, and this father was already thinking of marrying his son a second time, yet he had delayed arranging a marriage for him simply because he did not want the Crown Prince to gain power.
Empress Xie dug her fingernails deeply into her palm, revealing a dignified and graceful smile.
“Since Your Majesty asks me, I shall venture to offer my advice. Prince Wei has a lively and willful nature, and was often at odds with his late consort, Madam Xie, leading to constant marital friction. I thought that for a remarriage, one should find someone intelligent and wise, preferably with a strong and decisive personality, who could advise and restrain him, and thus prevent further worry for Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager.”
Her words were logical and well-reasoned.
Emperor Chong Zhao suddenly put down his teacup heavily.
“The Empress speaks wisely. In your opinion, which young lady would be suitable?”
Did he not know his own son’s character?
And what kind of young lady did he want?
Empress Xie cursed inwardly, but on her face, she put on a gentle and generous smile.
“I have considered that the second legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zheng would be suitable, but her family’s status is too high. If she were to remarry Prince Wei, she might not be willing, which would be seen as the imperial family oppressing her. However, Minister Xue’s family has many daughters, all as beautiful as flowers. I think they would be suitable. Princess Consort Duan is virtuous, and having another Princess Consort Wei would be a beautiful story, a union of relatives.”
Emperor Chong Zhao’s pupils contracted sharply.
If the Crown Prince had not yet returned to the capital, he was certain that Empress Xie did not know about the matters at the Separate Villa, and he almost thought Empress Xie was subtly mocking him…
Emperor Chong Zhao pondered for a moment, waved his hand, and said, “We will discuss this later. I have important matters to attend to, and will not stay tonight. Empress, please rest early.”
“Yes.”
Empress Xie breathed a sigh of relief as he prepared to leave.
She was also relieved not to have to find an excuse to avoid spending the night with him.
“Your Majesty, please go slowly…”
She escorted the Emperor out of Jiaofang Palace.
She couldn’t help but wonder…
Did the Emperor come here late at night to ask her those questions simply to inquire about the opinion of the Empress of the Central Palace? Or was he testing how much she knew about the Crown Prince’s affairs?
Empress Xie stared at the swaying beaded curtain, her smile deepening into a cold sneer.
–
Li Huan returned to Shangjing but did not immediately enter the palace.
Upon returning to Prince Duan’s Mansion, he went straight into his study and summoned scouts and spies.
Before the mansion returned, the servant had already cleaned the study thoroughly. However, Li Huan scanned the room and seemed greatly displeased, flicking the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the desk to the ground.
The wolf hair brush fell, and ink splattered on the corner of his robe.
Hearing the crashing sounds, several attendants lowered their heads, not daring to breathe.
Li Huan was not a person who easily lost his temper. He was usually very gentle and generous, rarely losing his temper in front of his subordinates. But this time, from the moment he mounted his horse at the Separate Villa, his face was filled with gloom, and his expression was stern. He had only held back until now before erupting.
The attendants held their breath and stood with their heads bowed.
After a long while, Li Huan slowly sat down.
The armrest of the sandalwood chair in the study had become smooth and shiny from his constant stroking while deep in thought.
After stroking it for a moment, he suddenly spoke.
“You all go out, leave Xiang Yang.”
Two attendants responded and withdrew.
The guard named Xiang Yang quickly stepped forward and cupped his hands.
“What are Your Highness’s orders?”
Li Huan’s face was grim, his eyes fixed on him, his expression very serious.
“You came to the Separate Villa to deliver a message, saying that the secret envoy from Old Mausoleum Swamp appeared at Misty Rain Tower. I immediately wrote a letter ordering you to return to the capital to deliver it—”
Li Huan’s voice was chilling, “Why was the person lost, and the letter not delivered?”
Xiang Yang said, “I only came to report after receiving confirmed news. Who knew that after the secret envoy checked out, he continuously moved between Ping Le Square and Hongfu Gambling House. I dared not act rashly to avoid the Eastern Palace’s eyes and ears. By the time I searched again… the person had vanished like a clay ox entering the sea, leaving no trace.”
“Useless!” Li Huan slammed his palm on the desk, and the sandalwood armrest vibrated.
Xiang Yang knelt on one knee, “Your subordinates have been investigating with all their might.”
“Investigating, investigating, you always use this excuse to deal with me!”
Li Huan’s voice gradually grew louder, and Xiang Yang’s head bowed lower and lower.
“It is my incompetence, please punish me, Your Highness.”
Li Huan looked at him deeply for a moment.
After a long pause, he took a deep breath: “When will the Crown Prince return to the capital?”
Xiang Yang stood with his head bowed respectfully, not looking up.
“At the end of the afternoon, he entered the palace through Donghua Gate. I sent someone to inquire. After paying respects to the Emperor and Empress, the Crown Prince went directly back to the Eastern Palace and has not seen any outside officials since.”
Li Huan closed his eyes and rubbed his temples, then suddenly stood up.
“Call someone to change my clothes. I am going to the palace to see Imperial Father.”
Xue Sui: See you tomorrow, thank you all for being so kind and still reading.
Li Zhao: I clearly came to see you, why aren’t you thanking me?
Xue Sui: I’ll thank you, but can you use the main entrance?
