In the palace, within the Empress Dowager’s hall, although a night had passed, the atmosphere remained tense and somber. Two palace maids carefully supported the Empress Dowager, while the maid in front knelt to feed her. After just a few bites, the Empress Dowager waved her hand to decline.
“Your Majesty hasn’t eaten since noon yesterday. You must eat something,” the maids pleaded tearfully.
“I can’t eat, I simply have no appetite,” the Empress Dowager replied, also in tears.
As the maids continued to persuade her, the Empress arrived.
“Where is the Emperor?” the Empress Dowager urgently asked, taking her hand.
“Your Majesty, set your mind at ease. He didn’t sleep last night, but he spoke with me throughout the night and his spirits are fairly good,” the Empress replied, taking the soup bowl from the maid. “He just went to see Consort An.”
“He should go, he should go,” the Empress Dowager said through tears. “After the Emperor left so abruptly yesterday, Consort An was utterly heartbroken. It’s good that he went, very good. I knew the Emperor isn’t a heartless man.”
“Your Majesty, you know better than anyone how compassionate the Emperor is. It’s precisely because of his compassion that he couldn’t bear it, yet didn’t want us to see, so he withdrew,” the Empress said.
The Empress Dowager nodded repeatedly, tears in her eyes.
“You understand him best,” she said, her gaze resting on the Empress.
The Empress had always been of modest appearance, and years of illness and seclusion had left her thin and small. Her already pale face looked even more haggard after a sleepless night.
“Jingrong,” the Empress Dowager called out tearfully, reaching to hold the Empress’s hand. “You’ve only just begun to recover, and now you’re faced with so many troubles. How will your health endure all this?”
The Empress smiled faintly and brought the spoon to the Empress Dowager’s lips.
“That’s why you must eat and regain your strength,” she said.
Bolstered by the Empress’s encouragement, the Empress Dowager soon began to recover. By the afternoon, when the Emperor arrived, she was even able to slam the table in anger at him.
“Was it you who ordered her locked up? What did you do that for?” the Empress Dowager cried indignantly.
“It was clearly an accident – so many people were there and saw what happened. What are you trying to achieve with this?”
The Emperor remained silent until then, when he glanced to the side.
“Who was there? What did they see?” he suddenly asked.
His words brought a moment of silence in the hall. After a brief pause, two eunuchs hesitantly stepped forward.
“It was us. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager specifically instructed us to escort Consort An back,” they said.
“And what did you see?” the Emperor pressed.
The two eunuchs grew even more fearful, unable to resist looking toward the Empress Dowager.
“Speak up! If you have something to say, say it!” the Empress Dowager demanded sharply, her eyebrows furrowed in anger.
The Emperor looked at the Empress Dowager.
“Your Majesty, do you want them to say what you wish to hear, or what they actually saw?” he interrupted.
The Empress Dowager was taken aback, then flew into a rage.
“Your Majesty, these words of yours are truly heartless…” she exclaimed.
Before she could finish, the Empress, who had been quietly seated beside the Empress Dowager, raised her hand to cover her mouth as if to cough lightly.
“Your Majesty, Your Imperial Majesty,” the two eunuchs suddenly fell to their knees with a thud, their voices loud enough to cut off the Empress Dowager’s words. “We saw that the Imperial Consort and Consort An were initially on good terms. Later, while descending the steps, they seemed to get into an argument, and then the Imperial Consort pushed Consort An.”
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager’s expression turned to one of shock and disbelief.
“Nonsense! Nonsense!” She no longer bothered to question the Emperor and rose to her feet, pointing at the two eunuchs. “How dare you! How dare you!”
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, we wouldn’t dare speak falsely,” the two eunuchs pleaded, kowtowing repeatedly. “We didn’t dare speak up earlier because we were too afraid to say anything.”
The Empress Dowager’s face turned ashen, and her eyes rolled back as she collapsed.
The hall erupted into screams.
The Imperial Medical Institute, already overwhelmed from a full day and night of work, was thrown into another frenzy. Seeing several imperial doctors rush past, Doctor Li, who had just returned from Consort An’s palace, quickly stepped aside to make way.
“Is the Empress Dowager alright?”
“It’s nothing serious – just a sudden surge of agitation and distress.”
“Isn’t it a bit late for such a reaction now?”
“It’s not about the young prince – it’s concerning the Imperial Consort.”
The imperial doctors whispered among themselves before dispersing.
Doctor Li paused for a moment under the corridor, then made his way to a side chamber. As the door was pushed open, another doctor inside turned around, startled. Recognizing Doctor Li, he relaxed and smiled.
“Doctor Li, is Consort An’s pulse condition stable now?” he asked.
Doctor Li stepped into the room.
“Doctor Wu, you know better than anyone how Consort An’s pulse condition truly is,” he replied, his words deliberate.
Doctor Wu smiled.
“That’s good, that’s good. Now I can rest assured,” he said.
Doctor Li stared at him for a moment.
“Doctor Wu,” he said.
Doctor Wu looked up at him and smiled.
“What instructions do you have for me, Doctor Li?” he asked.
Doctor Li kept his gaze fixed on him.
“Aren’t you going to make even the slightest effort to conceal it?” he asked.
Doctor Wu was taken aback by his words, then followed Doctor Li’s line of sight and noticed a corner of blood-stained cloth peeking out from the medical kit nearby.
He smiled, reached out, and tucked the cloth back in.
“Thank you for the reminder, Doctor Li,” he said, looking at him. “As someone said, you truly are one of us.”
Doctor Li looked at him with a complicated expression.
His gaze fell on Doctor Wu’s medical kit. At first glance, it looked identical to those used by all imperial physicians, but upon closer inspection, it appeared slightly thicker and wider…
“I never imagined the Wu family of Weicheng also practiced the cultivation of stillbirths,” he said slowly.
Doctor Wu showed no change in expression at Doctor Li’s words and maintained his smile.
“Merely a trivial skill, hardly worth mentioning,” he replied lightly, wiping his hands before picking up the medical kit. “Doctor Li, you should rest for a while. I’ll take my leave now.”
As he said this, he lowered his voice.
“I still need to take care of something…”
He added, deliberately patting the medical kit.
“Wu Xun!” Doctor Li’s expression grew agitated as he reached out and grabbed Doctor Wu, who was about to pass by, lowering his voice. “Is someone truly so certain that I won’t speak out?”
Speak out.
Speak out about how Consort An was never carrying a prince to begin with – that it was even a stillborn fetus from the start.
Speak out about how the so-called fully formed stillborn child delivered yesterday was nothing but a fabrication brought in from outside by Doctor Wu and the midwife.
Speak out about how the real stillborn fetus was merely a mass of flesh and blood, currently hidden in a concealed compartment of Doctor Wu’s medical kit.
Speak out!
Doctor Wu remained calm and composed, looking at him with a faint smile.
“Why would you speak out, Doctor Li? You are not one to harm others,” he replied, also in a hushed tone.
If this were to be revealed, how many people would lose their lives because of it?
What difference would there be between him and those responsible?
Doctor Li gradually released his grip.
Doctor Wu smiled and bowed once more. As he made to leave, he paused again.
“Doctor Li, do you know? Sometimes, not harming others is, in fact, a form of harm in itself,” he said in a hushed voice, his gaze fixed on Doctor Li. “Doctor Li, think of the Duke who is still taking medicine to this day, and think… of the Second Prince…”
Doctor Li stared at him, then let his hand fall in despair.
Was that it?
Had he been an accomplice all along?
…
“…Your Majesty, I must say this is your fault…”
“…Your Majesty, Consort An has lost her child, but the Empress Dowager’s grief is no less than yours…”
“…Your Majesty, how could you speak of the Empress Dowager in such a way?”
Intermittent voices drifted through the curtains, gradually pulling the Empress Dowager’s chaotic thoughts back to reality. When a soft, coughing sob from a woman’s voice rose, the Empress Dowager let out a long, slow breath.
“Tell the Empress to stop crying. Have them come in,” she said.
The curtains were drawn aside, and the Empress hurried in first, kneeling down and wiping her tears. The Emperor followed a step behind, and upon seeing the Empress Dowager on the couch, he lifted the hem of his robe and knelt.
“I am at fault, Mother,” he said.
“You are not at fault. No one is at fault,” the Empress Dowager replied, struggling to sit up.
The Empress quickly stepped forward to support her personally.
“Your Majesty, I understand the pain in your heart…”
The Emperor bowed deeply and called out “Mother,” his voice hoarse and strained.
“Your Majesty, this was all an accident, truly an accident,” the Empress Dowager said through tears. “How could He-niang ever do such a thing? She isn’t insane! Moreover… given her current status, she has the least reason to do so!”
“Your Majesty, that is exactly what I thought as well. That is why we must investigate, why we must question, to make everyone understand that this was an accident,” the Emperor said, lifting his head.
Though his tone had softened, his expression showed no sign of yielding.
The Empress Dowager closed her eyes, covering her face with her hand as tears streamed down.
“How did it come to this… Everything was fine, how did it end up like this…”
She murmured, lost in thought for a moment, until it struck her – all of this began only after Duke Jin’an left the palace…
“We never should have let Wei-lang leave the palace. If he had been here, such an accident would never have happened. It’s all because you insisted on sending him away…”
At these words, the Emperor’s eyes darkened slightly.
“Your Majesty, it was not you or I who insisted on Wei-lang’s departure,” he said slowly, straightening his posture.
Not you or I?
Yes, yes. She certainly never wanted it. It was Wei–lang who begged and pleaded, and then there was the Imperial Consort, always…
The Empress Dowager’s voice abruptly cut off.
No, no. She must not think this way! She must not! This line of thinking is wrong – it’s all a coincidence, an accident.
Heavens, she must not think like this!
“Your Majesty, this was an accident! We must not suspect the neighbor of stealing the axe!” [1]
…
“This was no accident!”
The Imperial Consort hurled a porcelain vase in front of her – the only thing left within sight that could be smashed, as everything else already lay shattered on the floor.
“This is a deliberate frame-up against me!”
With nothing left to break, she simply paced back and forth. Like everyone else in the palace, the Imperial Consort had naturally stayed up all night. Yesterday’s makeup had faded, and compounded with emotions of rage, shock, and hatred, her complexion looked utterly dreadful.
“Consort An is truly ruthless.”
She pointed toward the outside, raising her voice sharply.
“Consort An is truly willing to go this far!”
As she spoke, she gasped for breath, overwhelmed.
So willing to go this far! Consort An has gone mad! That was a royal heir! How could this be possible!
With these thoughts, she rushed toward the door once again.
“Your Highness, you cannot go out!” the eunuchs outside the door shouted, blocking it firmly.
The maids and eunuchs inside rushed over as well, pleading with her in tears.
“He wants to imprison me! He wants to investigate me!”
The Imperial Consort screamed hoarsely. It wasn’t sorrow or fear she felt – she was enraged to the point of madness.
“Such a ridiculous trick – who would believe it! Targeting others is one thing, but targeting me! How absurd! Who would believe it! How could His Majesty believe it!”
It was utterly, utterly ridiculous!
To accuse me of harming her child! To frame me for harming a royal heir!
This was simply infuriating!
Yes, she had intended to harm the child. She had entertained the thought, had cursed day and night for Consort An to lose the child – but she hadn’t made a move yet! And now, that little vixen Consort An had turned around and framed her instead!
That little vixen! That wretched little vixen!
“I demand to see the Empress Dowager!” the Imperial Consort shouted again. “The Empress Dowager’s own attendants witnessed it – that vile Consort An threw herself down on purpose!”
“Your Highness, it’s impossible to see her,” the eunuchs and maids around her replied, trembling.
The Imperial Consort spat in disgust.
“You fools! You incompetents! Just because I can’t go out, does that mean no one else can?” she barked.
“It’s not that, Your Highness,” a eunuch said, looking up in panic. “We do have people who can leave, and there are those outside who could go, but… we cannot enter the Empress Dowager’s palace.”
The Imperial Consort was taken aback, then let out a bitter laugh.
“What? Has the Empress Dowager also conspired against Consort An?” she sneered derisively.
“No,” the eunuch stammered. “The Empress Dowager is unwell from excessive grief. The Empress is personally attending to her and has given orders that no one is to disturb Her Majesty’s rest. All matters of the rear palace are to be decided by the Empress alone.”
The Empress!
The Imperial Consort stared at the eunuch in disbelief.
The Empress!
It was truly unbelievable. For over twenty years, the phrase “all matters of the rear palace are to be decided by the Empress” had never once been heard in the palace!
How absurd, how utterly absurd.
Decided by the Empress?
That sickly woman who seemed to hover at death’s door seven or eight times a year!
Something wasn’t right…
The Imperial Consort shook her head and took a few dazed steps backward.
Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
Meanwhile, a eunuch standing nearby also paled, his expression shifting dramatically.
The Empress!
He recalled all that had happened in the past. The Empress’s health had suddenly improved, but so what? Even if she had recovered, and could adopt a young prince, did that truly pose a threat to Prince Ping?
That was absolutely impossible.
A mere infant held far too many uncertainties. Neither the Emperor nor the court officials would place their hopes for the crown prince on such a child – not even if he were raised by the Empress.
That was why he hadn’t considered the Empress’s recovery to be of any real significance. Instead, he had thought her sudden activity in the palace was a final flicker of life, like a grasshopper in late autumn…
Wrong. He had been wrong.
The Empress’s recovery was not a threat to Prince Ping.
Perhaps, instead, she was a threat to the Imperial Consort!
Her target was the Imperial Consort!
It was the Imperial Consort she was after!
Translator’s Note:
[1] The story of “疑邻盗斧” is a classic Chinese fable that illustrates a profound psychological insight. Once upon a time, a man discovered that his axe was missing. He searched everywhere but could not find it. Almost immediately, he began to suspect that his neighbor’s son had stolen it. In the man’s eyes, every single one of the neighbor’s son’s actions, his mannerisms, and his demeanor confirmed his guilt. The evidence seemed overwhelming.
Some time later, the man was working in his valley when he stumbled upon his lost axe. It had been there all along; he had simply misplaced it.
The next day, when he saw the neighbor’s son again, something remarkable happened. He watched the young man walk, talk, and act, but now, he saw nothing suspicious at all. The young man’s gait seemed normal, his face looked honest, and his speech sounded straightforward. Not a single thing about him suggested he was a thief.
The fable warns us that when you start with a subjective prejudice, you will distort reality to fit that prejudice. It teaches the importance of being objective and not jumping to conclusions without solid evidence.
So good! Thanks!