Madam Yang shot her a disapproving glare, thinking the Empress was finally showing her true colors. “The physicians have already examined it, and so have the midwives, it’s fine. What more is there to see? The noble consort is at a critical moment; any delay, and if something happens to the child, none of us can bear that responsibility.”
Meng Guqing ignored her. Something truly felt wrong. Even if she was overreacting, what harm was there in checking? Yet the young maid holding the bowl trembled violently, her eyes darting toward Meng Guqing with naked fear. When she knelt, her knees angled subtly toward the exit, an unconscious signal, psychologists would say, of extreme discomfort and a subconscious desire to flee.
Noble Consort Xu’s beautiful eyes were filled with tears. She looked at her mother, then at the Empress, finally trusting that her mother would never harm her. She gripped Madam Yang’s hand and groaned in pain. Madam Yang, anxious, stepped forward to take the bowl back from Fusang.
But Meng Guqing couldn’t afford to take chances. She immediately called the imperial physician into the small sitting room separated from the birthing chamber by a curtain, and ordered Xu Qiang to bring the medicine out. Sure enough, the maid suddenly bolted for the door but was caught before she could escape.
Meng Guqing drew a breath and, setting aside all hesitation, ordered, “Take that maid away and detain her! Everyone else, what are you standing around for? Brew another batch of medicine at once. Imperial Physician Li, please oversee it personally, and when it’s ready, have Madam Tan deliver it.”
Noble Consort Xu’s child was born on the thirteenth day of the third month, at the hour of Shen in the tenth year of Jingtai. A plump, fair baby boy, the emperor’s first son, though his arrival had been perilous, all turned out well in the end. Yet beneath the joy, dark currents stirred.
Barely a day after the birth, word spread that the labor-inducing medicine given to Noble Consort Xu had been poisoned with a deadly toxin known as Blood-Sealing Throat.
Naturally, the one who stood to gain most from Noble Consort Xu’s death was the Empress, making her the prime suspect. But ironically, it was also the Empress who discovered the problem. Had she not stopped that bowl of medicine, Noble Consort Xu would have died, clearing at least half of her suspicion.
The palace maid who brought the medicine should have been a key witness, but shockingly, she carried poison on her person and committed suicide the moment she was caught. Later, it was discovered that this same maid was from the same hometown as one of the Empress’s own palace maids, the two had been very close.
All clues seemed to point toward the Empress, rumors were flying everywhere, and the only person who could testify for her, Noble Consort Xu, was said to be gravely weakened after childbirth, unable to rise even after sleeping for an entire day. Madam Yang, distressed and helpless, shamelessly took advantage of her status as the wet nurse to beg His Majesty to conduct a full investigation. Even the Empress Dowager was alarmed and returned to the palace early.
Inside Fengyi Palace, the attendants were all on edge. Caiwei was practically fuming. “I clearly heard someone say that the Noble Consort could already get up last night to see the little prince! The Jianjia Palace’s share of meals hasn’t even been cut off. Are we supposed to believe that all those nourishing postpartum supplements were eaten by Madam Yang herself? The nerve! We’ve done absolutely nothing, yet they took away Luzhu. Just because they’re from the same hometown doesn’t mean they’re conspiring together!”
Fusang looked equally worried. “Your Majesty, what should we do now?” What worried her most was that if this whole thing had been orchestrated by Noble Consort Xu herself, then she must have been well prepared and would cling to the Empress like a rabid dog, leaving Fengyi Palace in a completely passive position.
Meng Guqing leaned against the couch table, deep in thought. Madam Yang was running around stirring up trouble and dragging Fengyi Palace into it. The one who poisoned had died and could not testify, which indeed put her at a disadvantage. Still, everything needed concrete proof and as things stood, there wasn’t enough to convict her. The Empress Dowager, upon returning to the palace, even praised the Empress for her composure and quick thinking, which showed she did not believe the rumors about her poisoning Noble Consort Xu.
Although the young emperor had ordered an investigation, he had assigned Tan Ying to assist the Ministry of Ceremonies, and though Luzhu had been taken away, life in Fengyi Palace continued as usual. proof enough of his fair attitude. The situation, in fact, wasn’t bad. Yet even after thinking half the day, Meng Guqing still couldn’t figure out who was behind it. There were only so many people in the harem, and none of them seemed capable of commanding Caiyun.
Caiyun, the maid who had poisoned Noble Consort Xu, was nineteen this year and had entered the palace ten years ago. Her family was long dead, and there was nothing suspicious about her person or her quarters. Everyone said she was a quiet, steady girl, one who never drew attention to herself. For her to suddenly poison a consort and frame the Empress had shocked everyone who knew her. She bore no grudge against Noble Consort Xu, who had treated her kindly, and had never interacted with the Empress so she must have been ordered by someone. But who?
Meng Guqing couldn’t think of anyone. She didn’t even have an appetite for lunch. She wanted to send Fusang to check on Luzhu, worried she might be tortured, but then thought better of it; Fengyi Palace needed to avoid suspicion. She sighed quietly. The pearl curtain in the quiet side hall lifted, and someone entered.
“What are you sighing about? It’s not such a big deal, you’re skipping meals now?”
It was the young emperor himself, who had disappeared for several days. While the palace was cloaked in gloom, he was neat and radiant, his riding clothes accentuating his tall, lean frame, his handsome face full of vitality. Meng Guqing didn’t wish to see him at the moment; she cast him a brief glance and turned away. Zhao Donglin, uneasy, had actually prepared himself for a confrontation, whether the Empress was like Madam Yang, loud and dramatic, or like Noble Consort Xu, tearful and hesitant, he had a response ready. But her calm indifference caught him off guard.
When she ignored him, he circled to face her and called out loudly, “Caiwei, Fusang, reheat the dishes. I haven’t eaten yet. After morning court I had to deal with state affairs, didn’t have time to eat, and just when I got hungry, Minister He came in with urgent business.” The last part he said to Meng Guqing. Seeing her face still cool and detached, he understood she must feel wronged. So he crouched down, lifting his handsome face to look up at her and said solemnly, “Don’t worry. I’ll find out who’s behind this. I won’t let you suffer injustice in vain.”
His expression was sincere, he truly didn’t suspect her. Meng Guqing felt some of the tension leave her chest and finally spoke. “The Ministry of Ceremonies won’t use torture, will they? Luzhu never entered my main hall and doesn’t know much about my affairs, they won’t get anything useful out of her.”
Zhao Donglin nodded. “You know what they say about the killing rod in the courts, ‘no one can hide the truth after three blows.’ I’ve never been one for harsh interrogation. Tan Ying knows his limits. I’m starving. Let’s eat and talk.”
Meng Guqing was not one to fear trouble, nor one to seek it. Now that she understood the emperor’s stance, she had no reason to avoid him. She invited him to sit at the head of the table. The maids swiftly reset the dishes, and after he had eaten most of his fill, she recounted the events of that day from her perspective. There was nothing unusual about it; her noticing Caiyun’s odd behavior made perfect sense in hindsight.
This matter had to be investigated, not just among the people of Jianjia Palace and Fengyi Palace. Although it seemed unlikely that anyone else had such influence, since she was innocent, the culprit had to be among the remaining consorts. Thinking it over, both the Empress and Noble Consort Xu had suffered, meaning others stood to gain. As for Noble Consort Xu orchestrating the whole affair herself, Meng Guqing found that impossible. Ever since her pregnancy, Noble Consort Xu and the Xu family had placed great importance on the child, and Madam Yang’s panic that day didn’t seem feigned.
In the quiet sitting room, the two sat at opposite ends of the low table, heads bent close together. Meng Guqing held a brush, sketching out a relationship chart of everyone involved. Zhao Donglin, sitting opposite her, watched as she analyzed calmly and fairly, her reasoning utterly impartial. Compared to Madam Yang’s hysteria and Noble Consort Xu’s weepy dramatics, the Empress’s composure stood out even more. She had no selfish motive at all… A dark thought flickered in his chest. Perhaps that was for the best, after all, he had begun to feel guilty toward her.
It was a season of unrest. The poisoning case in the harem had yet to yield any clues, and now a major scandal erupted in the outer court. Not only had the scholars of the capital broken into factions, but at court the Donghu and Southern factions were practically at each other’s throats. The cause: this year’s Spring Examinations. Out of two hundred thirty-two successful candidates, every single one was a Southerner, not a single Donghu man had passed! Once the results were posted, a Donghu candidate noticed and reported it directly to Jing Wang.
Jing Wang, along with Cheng Wang, Minister Li Wei, and General Xu Xingmei, all powerful figures, jointly denounced the Ministry of Rites and the six departments for forming factions, excluding rivals, and engaging in blatant corruption. They demanded His Majesty punish them severely and warned that the Donghu people would never accept such injustice.
Their words went so far as to accuse the young emperor of betraying his ancestors, leaving his face dark with fury. When he looked at the roster, sure enough, it was all Southerners. Yet Zhao Donglin did not believe the Ministry of Rites would dare such blatant bias. Seeing the Minister of Rites trembling and drenched in sweat before him, he knew the man wouldn’t have that kind of courage but his uncles were another matter.
To stabilize his uncles and the senior ministers, Zhao Donglin ordered the Dali Temple and the Censorate to conduct a thorough investigation. Once the Donghu scholars learned Jing Wang was backing them, they became even more unruly. The Southerners, accused of cheating, protested their innocence and soon fights broke out all over the capital. Several academies were forced to shut down.
Jing Wangfei and Madam He even entered the palace to cry before the Empress Dowager, hinting that the emperor was favoring Southerners too much. The Empress Dowager, hearing this, also felt her son was being too partial, and after comforting the princess, promised to intervene.
At dusk, Caiwei came in to announce the emperor’s arrival. Meng Guqing rose quickly to greet him at the door. Having followed the day’s political turmoil, she knew his mood would be foul. The maids of Fengyi Palace held their breath, not daring to make a sound.
Zhao Donglin stood on the steps outside the palace doors, his head slightly bowed, looking somewhat dejected. With a long sigh, he seemed to exhale all his pent-up frustration, then lifted his head with a wide grin, descended the steps, and took her hand. “What’s the Empress prepared tonight? I can smell the food already, it’s making me hungry.”
Meng Guqing had guessed he might come, so she’d had vegetables brought in from one of their estates and prepared several of his favorite dishes. Since he didn’t show his displeasure, she didn’t ask; they’d talk after dinner.
Hand in hand, the imperial couple entered. The maids waiting on either side finally breathed in relief. Everyone said the emperor didn’t care for the Empress, but aside from that brief discord at the beginning, he had never once lost his temper in her presence. Even when he came fuming, within moments of speaking with her, he would be smiling again.
Inside the chamber, Feng Tianbao, for some reason, didn’t dare approach today. After the emperor washed his hands, Meng Guqing herself stepped forward with his robe, fastening the sash around his waist. His eyes were fixed on her; the candlelight flickered across her face and slid away again. He couldn’t help leaning down, resting his forehead on her shoulder, closing his eyes, weary. Meng Guqing pushed him back slightly. “What on earth happened now?”
Zhao Donglin straightened, pulling himself together, and said fairly, “Actually, it isn’t really the Ministry of Rites’ fault.”
Today the examination papers had been transferred to the Dali Temple for inspection. After a thorough investigation, no evidence of corruption was found. The outcome had a legitimate cause, not the result of factional collusion. The truth was simple: the gap between Donghu and Southern scholars was too great.
The Donghu people had always been warlike, valuing martial prowess above all, and those aligned with Jing Wang were scarcely more than illiterates. They despised the Southerners and disdained their learning yet the imperial exams were entirely based on Southern classics and histories. A few Donghu scholars did study diligently, but they could never compare with the Southerners, who had been raised with these texts. Naturally, when examined together, they were outmatched. The Ministry of Rites’ only fault was handling things too mechanically, giving precedence solely to scholarly merit.
There was nothing wrong with the grading process itself. The list had passed through more than twenty officials, examiners, reviewers, ministry clerks, before reaching the emperor’s desk, and not a single one had noticed the imbalance. Careless indeed but this was the dynasty’s first imperial exam, and everyone lacked experience. Still, with Jing Wang seizing on it as leverage, if mishandled, it could shake the very foundation of the dynasty.
It had taken Zhao Donglin a year to place a few trusted ministers in the Six Ministries, and now Jing Wang might wipe them all out in one blow. Not only would his power base be crippled, but his authority among the officials would be gone.
The Empress Dowager had scolded him that very day, too, saying he favored Southerners excessively. “In the end,” she told him, “this empire still depends on our Donghu kin. You’re chilling their hearts, be careful or disaster will come.” She said she understood his ambitions, but timing was everything. With several of the veteran princes still alive and strong, this was not the moment for reform.
Zhao Donglin understood her perfectly but he had endured for ten long years. He had survived the regent, only for Jing Wang to rise next. How long must he keep retreating? A flash of cold light passed through his eyes. Better to die for jade than live as broken tile.
Seeing the tension between his brows, Meng Guqing felt her heart ache for him. Indeed, the road he had walked was one through blades and fire. She couldn’t help saying softly, “In truth, the current situation… isn’t as hopeless as it seems.”
Zhao Donglin had just been stewing in anger when her voice drew his attention. For a moment, he was caught off guard, lifting his face in confusion. “Hm?”
Meng Guqing knew how much this spring’s imperial examination meant to him, he had chosen the mildest weather, gone out to inspect in person, and even postponed the quinquennial selection of court ladies. To have things turn out this way… it was enough to make one’s heart ache.
After a brief pause, she spoke slowly, “The world bustles for profit; all its turmoil is for gain. Though Jing Wang’s camp appears formidable, in truth there are only two groups that must be handled. The first is the most crucial, the Donghu scholars. And what do scholars value most? Their academic advancement, their future. Give them what they want. Simply hold another special examination solely for the Donghu. The excuse is ready-made: just a few days ago was the birthday of their founding ancestor, Ancestor Li. There was a grand parade and sacrifice held in the capital, it’s been lively for days. His Majesty, out of respect, could say he delayed the exam to avoid clashing with the date. Who could accuse him of disrespecting their forebears?”
Untangling the issue piece by piece, Meng Guqing’s tone grew calmer. “The rest of those causing trouble are just a rabble. Once the scholars are appeased, the rest will lose their excuse to stir things up. The second matter is Jing Wang.”
Zhao Donglin pondered for a moment. “Though Uncle Jing Wang wields great power now, he doesn’t dare openly break with me. The legitimate succession is already determined; the realm has accepted me. As long as I placate him, I can secure another stretch of peace. Uncle Jing Wang, more than even the Regent, loves martial pursuits and despises scholarly ones. He’s not one for twists and turns, scratch his itch, and he’ll be satisfied. Just a few days ago, when I was out with Tan Ying, we chanced upon a blood-sweating stallion outside the city. I tried it for two days at Donglin Park, truly a fine beast. I’ll gift it to him.”
Seeing the young emperor’s reluctant expression, Meng Guqing couldn’t help teasing, “So that’s why you were out riding the other day, vanishing even when the noble consort was giving birth, how admirable.”
Zhao Donglin realized he had slipped up. Seeing the Empress unhappy, he hurriedly said, “I’m sorry. Next time I go out, I’ll bring you along, all right? I didn’t know the noble consort would go into labor early. I wronged you.”
Meng Guqing hadn’t truly meant to scold him, but seeing his anxious sincerity, almost as if she held his heart in her hands, and he feared her displeasure, she found herself unwilling to probe the deeper meaning behind such vulnerability. She shifted the topic. “You’re really willing to give up such a fine stallion? It must have been rare luck to acquire a horse like that.”
“For peace across the realm, trading one horse is a bargain,” Zhao Donglin said with a small smile. “Once the court is steady and the people live in peace, I’ll send envoys west again. There’ll be no shortage of such horses then. But still, one gift might not be enough.”
Meng Guqing smiled. “Today, both Jing Wangfei and Madam He came to the palace to visit the Empress Dowager. They’ve been working hard on Jing Wang’s behalf.” If they could be won over as well, a few words whispered on the pillow could accomplish anything.
Zhao Donglin instantly understood her meaning. Looking down at her smiling face, a thousand words pressed at his lips, yet none could express the surge of tender emotion within him. It was as if he only now realized, somewhere along the way, he had already handed over his heart. The feeling of being so easily swayed by another frightened him, yet there was also a faint sweetness in that loss of control.
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