At this moment, Xing Muzheng was in the front hall drinking with the officials attending the banquet. After the Crown Prince left, the others became less restrained and exchanged toasts freely. Xing Muzheng had long been away from Yongan, and many civil officials had never been able to make his acquaintance. They seized this chance to toast him and strike up conversation. Xing Muzheng refused none; though not overly warm, he kept no one at arm’s length.
He and the white-haired Prime Minister Hang Zhi sat facing each other from afar, but neither went over. From time to time, when they both broke away from the crowd, their gazes would meet, a flash of some strange light passing through each man’s eyes. They would raise their cups to each other from a distance and drain them in one go.
“Wuu… wuu… wuu…”
In the midst of the joyful gathering, someone suddenly broke into loud sobs, pouring cold water over the room. Everyone turned in surprise to see that the one weeping was none other than the Crown Prince’s tutor, Fu Gong. The man once called the greatest talent of the Xie dynasty covered his face with a withered, skin-and-bone hand; his gray-white beard trembled as he wept pitifully.
The officials were puzzled. One stepped forward to ask, “Master Fu, on such a fine day, why do you weep?”
Fu Gong did not answer. Still sobbing, he rose from his seat and staggered toward the door. All watched him leave in silence, and for a while no one stepped forward. After he was gone, no one knew the reason for his weeping—most assumed he was drunk and raving. Xing Muzheng pushed himself up, leaning on a knee, and followed without a word.
Fu Gong was the most respected scholar of the present age. His rousing call-to-arms against Western Li had won renown across the four continents, filled with grandeur and heroic spirit. In office, he was upright and incorruptible, possessed of great learning. Later, Emperor Taikang appointed him imperial tutor, instructing the Crown Prince in statecraft. After Xing Muzheng’s triumphant return to the capital, he and the old gentleman had spoken long into the night, from which Xing had benefited greatly.
Yet now this learned man looked as if he had come to a dead end. He quickened his pace to catch up with the still tear-wiping Fu Gong and asked respectfully, “Master Fu, what matter troubles you so?”
Fu Gong’s old eyes were red. Seeing Xing Muzheng, he could not help but let the tears flow again. “Marquis Xing… I am ashamed before Heaven, ashamed before Earth, ashamed before all under Heaven!”
Xing Muzheng took out a plain handkerchief and offered it with both hands, speaking in a deep voice, “Master Fu, why do you say this?”
Fu Gong slowly looked at the handkerchief, then lifted his wrinkled eyelids to look at Xing Muzheng, and glanced back at the peaceful and joyful scene behind him. “Ah! Ah! Ah!” he sighed heavily. “…Marquis Xing, I am unworthy. I am a sinner! A sinner!”
With that, he waved his hand and turned away, like a defeated cur.
Xing Muzheng frowned, and saw a young servant from the Fu household run up to support the old man—only to be shoved away.
“Marquis!” Wang Yong and Dongsheng came running at full speed. When they reached him, Wang Yong hurriedly whispered two sentences into his ear. Xing Muzheng’s expression did not change in the least, but the veins on the fist hidden in his sleeve stood out and crackled. He strode forward, his voice unnaturally calm: “Go and tell the Crown Princess that I am entering the inner court.”
Hang Zhi had sent two house servants to escort Fu Gong away. Standing nearby, they had seen everything clearly. When someone from the Fu household came to take him, the two exchanged a glance and turned back to report to Duanfang.
Duanfang repeated the matter to Hang Zhi. Upon hearing it, Hang Zhi swirled the silver cup in his hand. “Fu Gong said he is ashamed, a sinner?” He looked up thoughtfully at the plaque reading Bright and Upright that Fu Gong had inscribed for the Crown Prince’s main hall, and gave a cold laugh.
Duanfang said, “That’s what those two lads said—Master Fu first said he was ashamed, then that he was a sinner… Master, shall I go sound him out?”
“What’s there to sound out? Pointless!” Hang Zhi flicked his wide sleeve and poured himself another cup. “What else is there?”
Duanfang said, “A guard from Marquis Xing’s residence came with a maid to look for him. I don’t know what they said, but Marquis Xing immediately headed toward the inner court.”
“Headed toward the inner court?” Hang Zhi raised an eyebrow. “This is the Crown Prince’s residence, yet he dares to barge into the back courtyard?” Hang Zhi stood. “Interesting. Come, let’s go see the commotion!”
***
Meanwhile, Qian Jiaoniang was listening to Crown Prince Wu Hong pour out a seemingly endless stream of words about the deep, tangled, lingering affection between them. She began to wonder if she had been possessed by some kind of spirit. How was it that the “her” in Wu Hong’s mouth already loved him to the roots of her soul? Did her eyes really look that wanton? Back then she’d loved Xing Muzheng so dearly, yet she’d never been this shameless!
This was the first time Qian Jiaoniang had met someone who could carry on an entire conversation with himself to such a degree. When had she ever given him a coquettish glance, or smiled at him? Was he implying she had tried to seduce him? Could it be that the Crown Prince was actually an idiot?
“Your Highness, I am the wife of Dingxi Marquis.” Qian Jiaoniang bit down on the words. Though she and Xing Muzheng were husband and wife in name only, she was hardly the sort to run about flirting with others while still bearing the title of wife—much less with someone even less worthy than Xing Muzheng!
Wu Hong sighed. “Madam, don’t be afraid. Even if you were to confide your true feelings to me, I would never take you for a wanton woman.”
You’re the wanton one! Qian Jiaoniang was fuming, but since the other was the current Crown Prince, future emperor, and a man whose single word could determine her life or death, she had no choice but to suppress her anger. She said evenly, “Your Highness, I may have been born in the countryside, but I still know the meaning of decency and shame. As long as I am the wife of Xing — Marquis Xing—I will not be unfaithful to him. Perhaps…” She swallowed down the words “blind in the eyes.” “…you overestimate me. Your Highness is the true dragon of heaven; I am but a worm on the ground. How would I dare harbor feelings for you?”
Wu Hong frowned tightly. Seeing her speak with such seriousness—why, she turned out to be a virtuous, steadfast wife! But the more loyal she was, the more he wanted her. If he could actually play with the faithful wife of Xing Muzheng, wouldn’t that be even more satisfying than becoming emperor? The thought made his heart and body stir. Heat surged through him—he wanted nothing more than to press her onto the table right now. He deliberately deepened his tone. “Madam, I admire you. If you are unwilling, I will not force you. But now… you have no way out. You’ve been looked at by me, touched by me, even kissed by me. If Marquis Xing finds out, then… you will have only one road left—divorce. Think carefully…”
“Divorce?” Qian Jiaoniang’s eyes suddenly lit up. She cried out, “So if the Marquis knows, he’ll send me away? That’s wonderful!”
Wu Hong nearly went deaf from the shout. He froze like a wooden chicken, blinking in confusion. “W-wonderful?” Had she not understood his words? Divorce—what women feared most! Women lived by relying on men; if their husbands cast them aside, what life would they have left?
“Of course! So that’s how it works. Your Highness, come, let’s go find the Marquis!” Qian Jiaoniang clapped her hands, smiling brightly, and reached out to grab Wu Hong’s arm, dragging him toward the door.
“Wait, wait!” Wu Hong had never been so startled in his life. This woman was happy to be divorced and was dragging him to confront Xing Muzheng? He dared to touch another man’s wife, but he wasn’t stupid enough to face Xing Muzheng head-on!
Feigning puzzlement, Qian Jiaoniang said, “Your Highness, why wait? You said you wouldn’t force me, and I don’t want to make things difficult for you. Let’s just go to the Marquis and tell him everything from start to finish. You’re the Crown Prince—he wouldn’t dare do anything to you—and I can get my divorce. Perfect!”
So she wasn’t wild—she was insane! In all his life Wu Hong had never seen a woman rejoice at the thought of being cast out. His head spun. Forcing a smile, he said, “M-Madam, let’s… not rush things…”
“The Crown Princess has arrived—” The sharp, high-pitched voice of a eunuch rang suddenly from outside.
Wu Hong nearly jumped. “Why is the Crown Princess here?” He hurried to the window lattice, peeking out—and nearly stopped breathing. Beside the Crown Princess came not only a whole crowd of attendants, but also—“Xing Muzheng!” He dared to barge into his inner courtyard? Could it be someone had told him he was coveting his wife? A man could be killed but not humiliated—if Xing Muzheng caught them in the act and went to report to the emperor, he’d be ruined!
“The Marquis and the Crown Princess are here? Great! Saves us the trouble of finding them.”
But that foolish woman still didn’t know the danger, as if she thought they were staging an opera. Sweat poured down Wu Hong’s forehead as he realized just how urgent the situation was. Wiping his brow, he stammered, “I-I can’t harm you, Madam. I’ll leave at once!” He started toward the door.
Qian Jiaoniang caught him. “If Your Highness walks out like this, we’ll look guilty even if we’ve done nothing. Better this way…”
The Crown Princess, anxious and flustered, hurried to Wan Hong’s Courtyard. When she’d heard that the Crown Prince had entered the room where Dingxi Marquis’s wife was bathing, the world had spun before her eyes. She could hardly believe her foolish, lustful husband could be so brazen—seeking illicit pleasure during her own birthday feast, and even setting his sights on Dingxi Marquis’s wife! Was he mad? Did he no longer want the title of Crown Prince? These two questions had plagued her the whole way here; now she could only pray he had not yet committed an unforgivable mistake.
“Marquis Xing, please wait here a moment, I…” The Crown Princess stopped at the carved door, turning to try to placate Xing Muzheng. But he acted as if he hadn’t heard, striding straight inside toward the maidservant peeking around the corner.
“Marquis, this is a concubine’s quarters—you cannot barge in!”
“Dingxi Marquis!”
“Marquis!”
Amid the cries of the women, Xing Muzheng kicked open the door to the inner room.
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