LF Chapter 50
by VolareIt was the third watch of the night, and Prince Zhao Manor was brightly lit. Patrol guards walked back and forth in teams, the inside and outside as tightly secured as an iron bucket.
Servants helped Jiang Yinghua drink a calming medicinal soup, which eased the pain behind her head somewhat. Perhaps she was too exhausted, she closed her eyes quietly for a short rest.
Before long, Yan Wanzhi and the Captain of the Imperial Guards entered the hall. Your Majesty went to the outer room to meet them. The voices of the few people were very soft, perhaps Your Majesty thought Jiang Yinghua was sound asleep. Jiang Yinghua strained her ears, but couldn’t hear clearly. She didn’t dare go out, after all, the steward was a member of her own manor, and she didn’t have the confidence to rush over and ask.
The candlelight in the outer room was dim, and in an instant, a bright flash of fire leaped, reflecting a blurry light in people’s eyes, turning into wisps of flying ash in just a moment.
Your Majesty brushed the ash from her sleeves and softly instructed: “Tonight’s events, you have not seen. Clean it up, and guard your tongues. As for that person, leave him to Prince Zhao to deal with when she wakes up.”
The unease in Yan Wanzhi’s eyes gradually faded upon hearing these words. The two bowed in agreement, turning to leave. Your Majesty then spoke: “Scholar Yan, stay.”
Hearing this, Yan Wanzhi stopped and stood in place, waiting. Your Majesty stepped forward, her tone very light: “You must know in your heart how much to tell her.”
“Your subject understands, thank Your Majesty for the guidance.” Yan Wanzhi bowed, responding respectfully. Seeing this, Your Majesty waved her hand to dismiss her.
In the confession Yan Wanzhi brought, the steward confessed that his actions were not instructed by anyone. He had lost his family in his prime and wandered into the capital. When he was on the verge of starving to death on the streets, he was saved by the old Marquis of Xiangling who happened to pass by. The old Marquis brought him back to the manor, gave him a hearty meal, and found him a job in the palace.
His actions tonight were firstly to repay the Marquis’s kindness, as he had heard that Your Majesty had eliminated the power of the Xiangling Marquis household, and the descendants were all gone, making him feel unworthy for his benefactor; secondly, to speak up for Jiang Yinghua, he had watched over the young mistress for twenty years, watching her grow up, but no longer carefree. Forced to come to the bitter cold borderlands, having suffered in prison and been on the bloody battlefield, he hated Your Majesty’s viciousness, which had ruined the pearl of the late Emperor, that bright and lively girl she once was.
The old steward’s name was Wang Mingen. As a servant assigned by the Directorate of Palace Attendants, no one had ever asked him why he was called that. Jiang Yinghua had been raised in the strict rules of the deep palace since childhood, and when she saw servants, especially respectable ones like him, she would call him “steward” without mentioning his name. If she hadn’t seen this person’s confession, no one would have known about this past.
In just the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Your Majesty returned. Jiang Yinghua opened her eyes, got up from the bed, and looked at Your Majesty expectantly, “Elder Sister, is there a result? Why?”
Your Majesty was slightly surprised to see her get up, slowly walked closer, pondered briefly, and said in a deep voice: “The old Marquis of Xiangling gave him a meal, and he only had his life to enter the palace because of it, and for that, he came to claim my life.”
Jiang Yinghua’s pupils shrank sharply upon hearing this, her eyelashes fluttered, and she almost couldn’t stand. She paused for a long time, gave a bitter smile, and said, “Twenty years, a full twenty years of getting along, and it can’t compare to the kindness of a meal. The human heart is unpredictable, I’m really confused…”
“It’s not your fault. That person is yours, you can deal with him, no need to blame yourself.” Your Majesty didn’t seem to mind the matter at all, her voice gentle, and her expression particularly kind.
In terms of affection, the steward had taken care of Jiang Yinghua for nearly twenty years, from her innocent childhood to today, and was no different from a half-relative.
However, the crime of regicide, the most heinous of treason, was unforgivable. Jiang Yinghua couldn’t fathom Your Majesty’s intentions. If it were discussed publicly in court, this person would have his nine generations exterminated. Now that Your Majesty spoke so calmly, how could she know if this wasn’t a test?
But if she were to harden her heart and kill all nine generations of an old man who was over fifty, who had taken care of and protected her, Jiang Yinghua couldn’t bear it.
“Your Majesty, I have failed to discipline my subordinates, and should be punished for dereliction of duty. My subordinate plotted treason and regicide, I have no right to deal with it, please let Your Majesty decide.” Jiang Yinghua pondered, finally knelt on both knees, bowed and kowtowed to confess her guilt, unwilling to accept this test.
“Are my words useless now? If you want to kneel, then go kneel outside. I’m tired, I’m going to bed.” Your Majesty suddenly became somewhat displeased, her tone also sharper, instructing the servants to prepare for bed, and went into the inner room.
The group of attendants watched Jiang Yinghua anxiously, hoping that she would be sensible enough to appease Your Majesty and then leave on her own.
The past Trouble had made Jiang Yinghua completely afraid of Your Majesty’s anger. She quickly crawled forward on her knees, grabbed Your Majesty’s sleeve, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger, I was wrong. I will order people to deal with the traitor now, please don’t be angry, your health is paramount, I will take my leave.”
Your Majesty stopped, turned her head to glance at her, looked at her crumpled sleeve, and showed displeasure, “Aren’t you going to let go?”
Hearing this, Jiang Yinghua quickly released her hand, smoothed out the fabric, and then scurried away as if fleeing.
Standing under the corridor, looking at the crabapple tree in the courtyard, she suddenly remembered that it was the steward who had found it for her when she returned and transplanted it here himself. The crabapple tree, like the osmanthus flowers that filled the courtyard of the manor back then, the things she loved, eventually had stains.
She raised her foot and walked directly towards Yan Wanzhi’s courtyard. When she entered, Yan Wanzhi was sitting alone in the small pavilion in the courtyard, wondering what she was thinking. She was quite surprised to see Jiang Yinghua come.
Due to the guards in the courtyard, Yan Wanzhi got up and respectfully saluted, “Your Highness, how is your injury?”
“It’s fine, no need for the Scholar Yan to worry. There’s a small matter, is it convenient to talk inside?” Jiang Yinghua glanced at the people around, not wanting to be watched by many eyes.
“Of course, Your Highness, please.” Yan Wanzhi bowed and led her to her study.
Once inside the room, Yan Wanzhi lit a candle and asked in a low voice, “Your Highness is here for that person’s matter, right?”
Jiang Yinghua nodded slightly, remained silent, and her face was somewhat pale.
Yan Wanzhi saw this and felt pain in her heart. Unable to bear it, she tried to persuade her, “Why are you so sad? Where has he placed you by acting this way? Your Majesty sent Imperial Guards to conduct the interrogation together. If you hadn’t been injured today, it would have been difficult to defend yourself in many matters.”
Imperial Guards? Jiang Yinghua was shocked. Indeed, this was Your Majesty’s style. She raised her eyes to look at Yan Wanzhi, and said with some bitterness, “The traitor, Scholar Yan should deal with him. He’s in the Imperial Prison, act secretly. The crime of treason… slow slicing.”
Jiang Yinghua left these words and, without waiting for Yan Wanzhi to respond, turned and left, her hurried pace rapid. In the deep night, no one could see that her hands, hidden in her wide sleeves, were already shaking uncontrollably.
Just now, Jiang Yinghua’s voice was trembling. Yan Wanzhi followed her out, but didn’t dare to chase after her. If there weren’t these people in the manor, she would definitely hug her tightly, easing the loneliness and pain in her heart.
The next morning, the Imperial Guards reported that Jiang Yinghua had ordered people to eliminate the steward, and the body had already been quietly cremated in the middle of the night. A life went from vibrant to smoke in just a moment.
Your Majesty listened to the report, expressionless, sitting steadily in front of her dressing table, casually asking, “Go see if Prince Zhao has woken up?”
A moment later, a small palace maid ran back to report, “Your Majesty, the Ninth Princess is still asleep.”
Thinking that she had been tossing and turning late last night, Your Majesty didn’t say much. In fact, Jiang Yinghua had woken up long ago, wrapping herself in the brocade quilt and feigning sleep. Firstly, she had a headache, and secondly, the tears she couldn’t help but shed last night had made her eyes red and swollen. She was afraid, afraid of being seen, so she had to hide in bed and not see anyone.
It wasn’t until the sun was high in the sky that she blinked her eyes, and the redness and swelling seemed to have subsided. Only then did she call someone in to serve her. While she was washing up, an inner attendant came to report, “Your Highness, Your Majesty requests that you tidy yourself up and go over.”
Jiang Yinghua lifted a silk handkerchief soaked in iced milk and gently cleansed her face, saying faintly, “I’ll be there soon.”
By the time she was ready, it was almost noon. As soon as Jiang Yinghua entered the hall, Your Majesty ordered, “This person will follow you from now on. The manor cannot be without someone in charge.”
Jiang Yinghua bowed in salute, raised her eyes to look at the inner attendant standing beside Your Majesty. She was very familiar with this person, as he followed the old eunuch beside Your Majesty every day, calling the old eunuch “Godfather.” That person kowtowed to her and said, “This servant, Cao Song, will follow Your Highness’s orders.”
“Your Majesty, Eunuch Cao serves by your side, how can I accept him? The manor is full of trivial matters, I’m afraid it would be unfair to Eunuch Cao.” Jiang Yinghua wasn’t in a hurry to agree, even if the hope was slim, she tried to negotiate a bit, saying enough polite words.
“Cao Song, do you feel wronged?” Your Majesty didn’t respond to the topic, but turned to ask the middle-aged eunuch kneeling on the ground. His official uniform was already the fourth rank color of an inner attendant.
“To be favored by Your Majesty and assigned to the Ninth Princess is this servant’s blessing. If I can be favored by Your Highness, this servant would be thrice blessed, how could I feel wronged?” Cao Song answered very respectfully, not offending either side.
Jiang Yinghua sneered coldly in her heart. To have risen to this position, he had some ability. But Jiang Yinghua didn’t like this set of speaking and acting. But with the words said to this point, she already had no reason to go against Your Majesty’s wishes, so she had to agree, “Thank you, Your Majesty.” After saying that, she turned back and waved to Cao Song, “Get up, Steward Cao, I’ll be troubling you from now on.”
Seeing that things were settled, Your Majesty dismissed the attendants and pointed to the short couch beside her, saying softly, “Sit, I’ll show you something.” After saying that, she handed Jiang Yinghua a memorial.
Jiang Yinghua reached out to take it, and after scanning it, her eyebrows relaxed, “Third Brother has another daughter? That’s really a joyous occasion. Eh? When did the Princess Consort return to the Western Territory, Hua’er didn’t know.”
“Last year, the Prince of Yun’an fell from his horse during the New Year, and it was said that he was crippled. The Princess Consort requested permission from me to go back and send a pair of children to my mother, and went to the Western Territory alone.” Your Majesty explained slowly.
“The Prince of Yun’an should be seven years old, I’ve met him before, a cute little boy. This accident is a pity.” Jiang Yinghua said, arranging the memorial and putting it back in its original place, with a slight hint of sadness in her tone.
Your Majesty poured herself a cup of tea, picked up the teacup to look at it and put it down again, sizing up Jiang Yinghua, asking, “Do you often contact your Third Brother?”
Jiang Yinghua’s heart tightened, she smiled softly, and responded gently, “I guard the Northern Territory, and Third Brother guards the Western Territory, so far apart, we haven’t seen each other for many years, and we rarely contact each other. Only during the New Year and holidays does Third Brother send people to deliver some gifts, and I also order the Scholar to prepare a copy to send back.”
“Your tea is good.” Your Majesty lowered her eyes and took a few sips of light tea.
“Elder Sister, this was originally a gift from you.” Jiang Yinghua’s eyebrows curved, smiling purely.
“Oh? I don’t remember.” Your Majesty’s fingers caressed the teacup, her eyes scrutinizing, looking at Jiang Yinghua, smiling and asking, “Twenty-two years old, I was negligent. Do you have a favorite young man, hmm?”
Jiang Yinghua’s hand holding the teacup suddenly tightened, she lowered her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering nervously, and stammered, “Elder Sister, you, I, I don’t have one, I don’t want to get married yet, please don’t tease me. Third Brother has already sent his nephews into the palace, you and Mother have descendants to dote on, can you not mention this matter?”
“He is him, you are you, what are you randomly connecting? If you have ideas, don’t hide them. Your marriage is an important matter in the court, do you understand?” Your Majesty restrained her smile, her tone becoming serious.
Jiang Yinghua didn’t dare to look her in the eyes, turned her gaze away, and responded in a low voice, “I understand.”
After a moment of silence, Your Majesty changed the subject, “You’ve managed the border defense of the Northern Territory well. In addition to external troubles, there is also the responsibility of checks and balances. Hua’er, do your best, don’t let me down.”
Jiang Yinghua understood that this was a warning to her not to get too deeply involved in the brother-sister relationship.
The garrison in the Northern Territory and the garrison in the Western Territory mutually restrained each other, but the Northern Territory was closer to the capital, and the garrison on the western line within the Northern Territory was an important defense line protecting the capital. Jiang Yinghua vaguely felt that Your Majesty’s words today were inseparable from Prince Yong, and their relationship was probably somewhat tense.
She straightened her clothes, stood up, bowed and saluted, “Your Majesty, rest assured, I will remember and abide by my duty.”
“It’s getting late, send someone to prepare a meal, and you stay too.” Your Majesty casually ordered, and Jiang Yinghua followed the order to call the attendants outside, returning to dine with her.
Three days later, Your Majesty set out to inspect the river works, traveling south along the road to return to the capital, and according to the previous arrangement, left Jiang Yinghua halfway.
After Jiang Yinghua left, Your Majesty instructed the people around her: “Spread the word, blow the recent movements of Prince Zhao Manor to the west, and also, I intend to choose a husband for Prince Zhao.”
On the carriage back, Jiang Yinghua felt relieved. After walking back a hundred miles, she finally couldn’t help but pull Yan Wanzhi outside into the carriage, raising her hand to play with her hat wings, “Ten days seemed like ten years, did the Scholar miss me?”
“Your Majesty hasn’t gone far yet, take it easy.” Yan Wanzhi grabbed Jiang Yinghua’s restless claws, pretending to be blaming.
“Still holding on? Let’s rest, I think you’ve fallen out of favor with Your Majesty. Do you know, Your Majesty gave me a scare, she asked me if I had a sweetheart?” Jiang Yinghua fluttered her big eyes, letting Yan Wanzhi hold them, drawing circles in her palm with her fingers.
Yan Wanzhi heard this and became nervous, “Then how did you answer? Is Your Majesty going to arrange a marriage for you? How did she mention this matter?”
“How could I answer, I just brushed it off. It’s all Third Brother’s fault, sending a memorial for no reason, he and the Princess Consort added a daughter. But don’t panic, Your Majesty is very busy, she’ll forget it in a couple of days. I think she just mentioned it casually on a whim. Besides, she has the momentum of not marrying in this life, if I’m forced too hard, I’ll learn from her.” Jiang Yinghua supported her cheek with one hand, staring at Yan Wanzhi affectionately.
Yan Wanzhi was very good at grasping the key points and heard the crux of the problem. The Prince Consort of Yun’an’s belly is really ambitious, giving birth to a child after only a year back. If the Prince of Yun’an is really disabled, their eagerness for an heir can be understood, but the pair of children in the capital are also The legitimate son, thinking about it that way is a bit strange.
Jiang Yinghua didn’t know that Yan Wanzhi’s furrowed brows were for this matter, only thinking that she was still thinking about the marriage matter Your Majesty asked, so she raised her hand to smooth the wrinkles between Yan Wanzhi’s eyebrows, “Don’t frown, like an old lady. If Your Majesty didn’t know you were a woman, I would directly recruit you as a Prince of the Concubine.”
Yan Wanzhi simply grabbed both of Jiang Yinghua’s restless hands, “Worrying is useless, as long as I can be with you, Wanzhi’s heart will not change. But we need to be careful after we go back, that Cao Song is not an easy person to deal with.”
“Oh, I’m also worried. What is Elder Sister thinking, guarding against me like this, isn’t it enough to have you, this bad fox? You must have fallen out of favor, hmph.” Jiang Yinghua leaned on Yan Wanzhi’s side, symbolically waving her fist a few times.
“Yes, I have indeed fallen out of favor, and you have contributed to it.”
Yan Wanzhi pushed Jiang Yinghua away, her eyes flashing with evil light as she sized her up, her index finger gently hooking Jiang Yinghua’s chin, and said quietly, “About the abbot of Yan’an Temple, doesn’t Prince Zhao have an explanation for me?”