One warm spring afternoon, under the guise of a “sick visit,” Meng Guqing made her way to Jing Wang’s manor. She stayed until late in the day. Originally, she’d planned to stroll through the bustling western market afterward, to savor a taste of mortal life she hadn’t enjoyed in ages. But with the emperor and Empress Dowager waiting for news back in the palace, she dared not linger. After attending the Wangfei’s banquet, she returned promptly, stopping by the Shoucheng Hall to reassure the Empress Dowager first.
Then she sent Fusang to Huangji Hall to instruct Feng Gonggong to inform His Majesty to prepare a thousand taels of gold to reward Jing Wangfei, under whatever excuse he wished. That should seal the matter.
Although she hadn’t had the chance to play during her outing, Meng Guqing found the trip refreshing nonetheless. It was her first time sending gifts as Empress and she didn’t find it shameful in the least.
After all, gift-giving was an art. The history books were full of examples: Consort Qi of Liu Bang’s time bribing ministers to push her son into the position of crown prince; Empress Lu countering with gifts of her own, enlisting four great sages to aid her son Liu Ying and reclaim the upper hand. Later, during the Western Jin, the infamous Consort Jia was elevated partly because her mother had sent lavish gifts to the reigning Empress.
Sometimes, palace politics was nothing more than a crude contest of wealth, whoever spent more won. Of course, a gift must be right, thoughtful and timely, hitting the recipient’s heart precisely. If someone tried to bribe Meng Guqing with money, she’d probably ignore them, money was the one thing she didn’t lack.
Fortunately, Jing Wangfei did lack it.
To learn what she needed, Meng Guqing had even spent a little herself. Once she’d heard the details, she finally understood: no wonder the grand Jing Wangfei was short on funds. She had too many children—four sons and three daughters, with three already married and four still unwed. Her dowry was nearly drained. As for Jing Wang, with his countless wives and over twenty offspring, even the largest fortune could be stretched thin.
As a mother, if Jing Wangfei didn’t plan for her children’s futures, who would? The eldest prince’s concubines were due to give birth soon, and the second prince was preparing to establish his own household, everything required silver. Meng Guqing decided instantly: send money. Solid gold and silver were most reliable.
Indeed, when she visited, Jing Wangfei was unenthused by talk of the court’s instability but as soon as she heard that the Empress admired her second daughter’s beauty and planned to gift her extra dowry when she married, her eyes lit up. Everything afterward fell neatly into place.
Back at Fengyi Palace, Caiwei was still marveling at the splendor of the Jing estate, the countless concubines and daughters filling the halls like a sea of blossoms, the thick scents of perfume that made one afraid to breathe. No wonder Jing Wang loved warfare, after all, war was the fastest way to amass wealth.
Meng Guqing felt as if she’d absorbed some of that cloying fragrance herself. Uncomfortable, she quickly bathed, then came out with her hair still damp. She didn’t expect the person she thought would visit later that night to already be seated in her chamber, flipping idly through one of the books she’d just had delivered. When he saw her emerge, he dropped the book and approached.
“Empress, let me dry your hair for you.”
Meng Guqing raised a brow, skeptical. As expected, after only two strokes he tugged painfully at her hair. Smiling faintly, she took the towel back. “Better sit, Your Majesty. Let’s just talk.”
Zhao Donglin refused. He snatched the towel back. “You dried my hair before. Courtesy demands I return the favor.” His touch softened, mimicking her earlier motions, absorbing the moisture from the ends first, then pressing upward toward the crown. As he worked, he said lightly, “From now on, let’s be like an ordinary couple. You scrub my back, and I’ll fetch your water.”
Meng Guqing froze, her freshly bathed eyes gleaming like dark ink. “How could Your Majesty think such a thing? So many envy the royal life, and yet you envy others?”
Zhao Donglin shook his head. “It’s not envy. I just…” He suddenly leaned forward and brushed a kiss against her lips. “I think you were right, what use is it to be surrounded by so many people if none can be trusted? It means nothing. I only want one person, one who truly matters. The past… let’s not speak of it. Empress, could you get to know me anew? Let’s start over. This time, I won’t let you down.”
The young emperor was strikingly handsome, fine bone structure, straight nose, full lips, bold brows radiating imperial authority. Yet his bright eyes softened that sharpness, lending him both youthful vitality and princely grace. Those wolfish eyes, now filled with tenderness, gazed at her with open affection.
Seeing him daily, Meng Guqing hadn’t noticed until now, he’d grown taller, his features more defined. Perhaps it was no longer fair to call him the “young” emperor.
When she still saw him as a boy, she could avoid confronting certain truths. But faced with such earnest, solemn sincerity, she could no longer turn away. She’d only meant to test him, to make him realize the difficulty and retreat on his own, never expecting he’d answer in this way. Could this really be?
But Zhao Donglin, sensing her hesitation, didn’t press for an answer. Instead, he changed the topic. “The Empress still hasn’t said what you gave to Madam He. Surely she lacks for nothing?”
“She truly lacks nothing.” He didn’t push further, which suited her. Meng Guqing’s eyes brushed over his damp, soft lips, remembering that brief kiss, she forced herself to ignore the unease. “Madam He is pregnant. We agreed that, whatever the child’s gender, I’ll be its godmother.”
“She’s clever, isn’t she? To have the Empress as her child’s godmother, an excellent backer.”
That’s only true if the Empress remains favored, Meng Guqing thought. If she falls, they’ll just be lucky not to be implicated.
At least the matter passed smoothly. The Donghu examination was scheduled for half a month later; the involved officials were demoted one rank and fined a year’s salary, the brawling students scolded and released. The only unresolved issue was the poisoning of Noble Consort Xu, the culprit remained unknown. The Imperial Medical Office had identified the drug as Qianji, a secret and forbidden poison from the former Yan dynasty.
Since the Zhao family took the throne, no such substance had been seen in the palace. The concubines were all young, unfamiliar with the name, let alone bold enough to use it. Thus, the case became a mystery.
Meng Guqing had a clear conscience, but others didn’t see it that way. Rumors shifted from saying the Empress poisoned the consort to claiming she had deliberately delayed treatment. In such a perilous moment, even one second’s delay could have cost the newborn prince his life. Some whispered that this was precisely her intent, to quietly remove the emperor’s firstborn son. After all, Noble Consort Xu was favored, her family powerful, and through her son, she might one day seize the highest honor of all.
Everyone in Fengyi Palace was furious, but many in the palace said that giving a few people such a mild, harmless punishment was useless, the more they acted, the guiltier they appeared. Meng Guqing therefore forbade Caiwei from speaking up again; if their retaliation failed to achieve any effect, it would only implicate her instead, leaving her open to the charge of bullying others with her power.
Fengyi Palace remained calm and unmoved. Jianjia Palace showed no reaction either, neither taking part nor clarifying any rumors. To be honest, Meng Guqing had already prepared herself for this outcome, so she did not feel disappointed or hurt.
The matter had been settled by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor decreed that it was not to be brought up again. Whoever refused to let it rest afterward, the one to suffer certainly would not be her. Meng Guqing had considered that perhaps some ignorant young maid or eunuch might be foolish enough to stir trouble, but she never expected it would be the Eldest Prince’s wet nurse.
It was said that one afternoon, after finishing with court matters, the Emperor had a sudden whim to visit Jianjia Palace to see his son, and to tell Noble Consort Xu the name he had chosen for the child. The maids of Jianjia Palace were divided into two groups, Guyu and Hongfu were serving Noble Consort Xu, still in confinement, in the main hall, while Madam Yang and several wet nurses stayed in the side hall to watch over the infant prince. The Emperor entered in haste without announcing himself and went straight toward the side hall, only to overhear several wet nurses gossiping maliciously, implying that the person who had tried to poison the consort was “the one above.” Everyone knew perfectly well who that “one above” referred to. And not only did Madam Yang fail to stop them, she sighed and lamented how pitiful the consort and the little prince were.
The palace maid who had followed the Emperor in broke into a cold sweat in fright and quickly knelt to confess, cutting off Madam Yang mid-sentence before she could say anything worse. But the Emperor had already heard enough. He immediately expelled the insolent wet nurses on the spot. Though he only cast Madam Yang a single glance before leaving, that one look felt sharper than a knife to her, she shivered and hurried off to find her daughter.
When Noble Consort Xu heard of it, she sighed. “Mother, you’ve really grown muddle-headed. How many times have I told you, this is the imperial palace. Even if that person is your foster son, things are not the same as among commoners. I warned you last time not to make a fuss. The Empress won’t be shaken by such trifles. Yet you insisted on spreading those rumors. Must you crash headfirst into a wall before learning pain? Our family has done much for His Majesty, yes, but you must remember, that is our duty. Never again think of trading past favors for reward.”
“I only felt wronged for you!” Madam Yang protested. “Didn’t you hear what the imperial physician said? The little prince stayed in your belly too long, who knows if he’s truly healthy? You barely escaped with your life this time, your vitality is gravely harmed. How can you still be so honest and open-hearted? If something had happened to you, who would have benefited the most? You’re already a thorn in the Empress’s eye! Even now that you’ve survived by fortune and gained the Emperor’s and Empress Dowager’s pity and all the palace’s praise, don’t you see how dangerous this is?”
At first, Noble Consort Xu hadn’t believed the Empress would harm her, but her mother’s constant whispering, so reasonable, so persuasive and the seeming coincidences that followed, began to sway her. She closed her eyes and said softly, “Enough. You’ve already offended His Majesty, you mustn’t stay in the palace anymore. When he comes next, I’ll apologize on your behalf. In my current state, he won’t hold it against me. As for those wet nurses, their tongues truly caused trouble, it’s not good to keep them near the child. Let them be replaced.”
After sending away her unwilling mother, Noble Consort Xu lay back on her pillow. She thought of how her mother had repeatedly angered the Emperor. Though His Majesty was tolerant toward the Xu family, that tolerance had its limits. Fortunately, the men of the family were doing well, her second uncle had just been appointed as Shilang, an excellent post. His promotion meant much for their clan. As long as her mother stayed quiet and wasn’t summoned into the palace again, all would be fine.
Noble Consort Xu waited for a chance to apologize to the Emperor, but by the time her month of confinement was nearly over, more than forty days, the Emperor had not come even once.
On April 13, the full-moon banquet was held for the infant Eldest Prince, now named Zhao Sixian.
His birth was not only the Xu family’s glory, but a sign of the Zhao imperial line’s continuation. The banquet was held in Jianjia Palace. Having recovered from childbirth, Noble Consort Xu appeared radiant and resplendent again, as if sweeping away the shadows of the past month to reclaim her brilliance as the favored consort. All the concubines attended, gazing enviously at the fair and adorable infant prince in her arms.
After all, none of them enjoyed the Emperor’s favor; no matter how they dressed up, they could not attract even a flicker of his attention. During Noble Consort Xu’s pregnancy, they had hoped for some chance to shine, but the Empress had since captured all the Emperor’s notice. Now that Noble Consort Xu was back, what hope was left? Thankfully, those two high-ranking ladies weren’t on friendly terms, despite a superficial peace, their relationship was tenuous at best.
The recent palace drama had kept everyone entertained, and they wondered if there would ever be quiet days again. Hopefully not, life in the deep palace was mind-numbingly dull, like being fattened pigs, eating and sleeping day after day. They longed for gossip to spice the endless monotony. As if the heavens heard their wish, the Empress arrived fashionably late, presenting the infant prince with a heavy solid-gold lock the size of her palm, dazzling everyone. Noble Consort Xu quickly thanked her on her son’s behalf, and before they could exchange further pleasantries, Feng Tianbao arrived, bearing an imperial decree.
All present knelt to listen. As the decree was read, envy all but spilled from their eyes. Noble Consort Xu’s fortune was beyond belief; childhood sweetheart of the Emperor, entered the palace as a Noble Consort, and now, just one month after bearing a son, her child was named Yanqing Junwang, with a fief of ten thousand households once he came of age and left the palace to establish his own residence. With so many festivals and occasions ahead, how could her glory ever wane?
At this, even the most jealous had no strength left to begrudge her, instead crowding around Noble Consort Xu, eager to bask in her luck, each dreaming of one day rising just as high. Smiling amid the congratulations, Noble Consort Xu felt only growing unease. Why would the Emperor so hastily grant her son a princely title and not a minor one? The step from “Yanqing Junwang” to Crown Prince was but a single leap. Yet she herself, after pregnancy and childbirth, still remained merely a Noble Consort, unrewarded, was this really how a favored consort should be treated?
The shadow of unease that had been circling her heart these ten-some days grew heavier. Through the crowd, Xu Wan looked toward the Empress, who stood by the doorway speaking with Xu Qiang. Regret welled up in her, even if the Empress truly had poisoned her, since the woman had stopped short, she should have pretended ignorance and restrained her mother from acting rashly. Now the snake, not killed, had turned back to bite. Yet even if time rewound, she knew her family would never have let such an opportunity slip away. It was just… she had been too afraid.
Meng Guqing did not stay long at the banquet; the stares around her were too blatant, as if her mere presence alongside Noble Consort Xu must inevitably spark some incident. Noble Consort Xu herself also seemed strange that day, almost avoiding her. Of course, Meng Guqing made no effort to approach; she merely glanced at the infant from afar. They said he was beautiful, looked much like Noble Consort Xu, with eyes and lips like the Emperor’s but she felt nothing for the child, not even curiosity.
Xu Qiang, seeing her lack of interest, accompanied her back to Fengyi Palace. Meng Guqing noticed the girl’s face was pale and yellowish, as if she’d been unwell, and asked whether she was ill. Xu Qiang’s cheeks flushed red at the question, and her lively maid burst out laughing: “Niangniang, our madam isn’t sick, she’s with child!”
Author’s Note:
As for who actually poisoned the consort, it will be revealed later. (Not Noble Consort Xu!)
This isn’t me being coy; it’s needed for the plot. Please rate the story well!
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