Xing Muzheng was silent for a long while. The emperor did not urge him. After some time, Xing said, “If that person had not been the Crown Prince, I would have killed him.”
The emperor slammed the table, “You have some nerve!”
“I’m ashamed, Your Majesty.” Xing Muzheng slapped his own face heavily. “Which man could endure such a thing? You know well I would risk my life for that woman. Any other man who glanced at her would make me angry—let alone… If I weren’t thinking of Your Majesty, no matter if he were royal kin, I would have struck him down with my sword.”
“Impudent.” Emperor Taikang glared at him, then immediately softened his gaze and tone, “But it’s also the truth.”
The emperor had been through similar experiences and knew Xing Muzheng was hot-blooded and obsessed with beauty at his age, also a battle-hardened general. When his temper flared, acting first and reporting later was understandable. If Xing claimed not to be angry at all, the emperor would suspect he was suppressing something and had other plans behind the scenes.
“Then why didn’t you tell me?” the emperor asked, looking up.
Xing Muzheng said, “Since I killed the Crown Prince’s concubine, the matter is settled. The Crown Princess also promised this would not leave the Crown Prince’s residence. I did not want the Censorate to know. During the war, Your Majesty saved on expenses to supply the army. When I returned, Your Majesty rewarded me with countless gold and silver, made me a marquis, and granted me land. I remember all of it in my heart. Your Majesty has been good to me; how could I cause you trouble?”
Every word from Xing Muzheng came from the heart. Emperor Taikang was somewhat moved. He gazed at Xing Muzheng for a long moment and sighed, “Official Xing has changed.” The last time he saw Xing, he was like a bloodthirsty sword without a sheath—anyone approaching him must be prepared to die. Now he had restrained his sharpness and become more human. But whether that hidden sharpness had faded or grown deeper, only Xing Muzheng knew.
“But you were foolish. The Crown Prince’s character is improper; you should have reported it to me.”
“Not my place, not my business. The heir’s establishment is the kingdom’s top priority; Your Majesty must have thought it through deeply. I am no longer in court and dare not comment on the heir. As Your Majesty’s subject, I follow your will in everything.”
These words hit straight in Emperor Taikang’s heart, making him feel comfortable. Whether Xing Muzheng complained or not, the emperor had no face; if he didn’t complain, it seemed he was hiding something. But this statement—following the sovereign’s will in all things—that was loyalty. Thinking about that foolish Crown Prince almost turning his loyal minister into a criminal, the emperor felt angry and somewhat apologetic toward Xing.
Suddenly, Mao Qi called from outside the door, “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager requests an audience.”
“Go away, not seeing her!” The emperor waved his hand as if shooing flies.
Mao Qi quickly withdrew. Xing Muzheng got up from the cushion, took down the snake tooth, and knelt with both hands offering it to the emperor. “Your Majesty, this snake tooth is actually a century-old snake tooth. I was previously misguided and deceived Your Majesty. Please forgive me. Today I am willing to present this snake tooth to Your Majesty.”
The emperor laughed, “Weren’t you going to grind it to enchant your wife? How can you bear to give it away now?”
Xing Muzheng said, “Since ancient times, the sovereign comes before the subject. Although I am very unwilling, Your Majesty’s grand alchemical project must not be neglected. I… cut off my beloved.”
The emperor grabbed the snake tooth and laughed heartily, “That’s going too far! Isn’t your beloved your wife?”
Xing Muzheng slightly frowned, lowered his eyes in silence. The emperor knew he had spoken wrongly again. He cleared his throat twice, then pointed at the memorial, “Did you see who wrote this?”
“Yes, I did.”
“This Huang Gong was your military advisor, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did he turn against you and submit a memorial against you?”
Xing Muzheng calmly said, “As I said before, I am Your Majesty’s subject. Huang Gong’s actions were loyalty to the sovereign. I told Huang Gong this as well.”
The emperor stroked his beard, sighing. As emperor, he especially hated factionalism, particularly with a meritorious minister like Xing, who was truly sincere. He stood up, holding the snake tooth in one hand and the memorial in the other. “Let me think it over…”
After saying this, the emperor left. Xing Muzheng said nothing more and resumed fanning his brazier.
A young eunuch entered quietly, saying to Xing Muzheng, “Lord Marquis, Mao Gonggong sent me to inform you that Madam has gone to the Prime Minister’s mansion!”
~
The Yongan Prime Minister’s mansion was known as “Little Nanling” for its scenery, with picturesque views every three steps and paintings every five. The scenery was framed in windows like paintings. The reputation was widespread, but few knew this was because of a joke once made by Di Qingya. When Hang Zhi brought his wife to Yongan, Di Qingya teased her husband that the Yongan mansion was ugly and refused to enter. Hang Zhi took it seriously and immediately bought a large residence nearby, renovating it extensively, overturning nearly every inch before welcoming the lady into the mansion.
Now, the Shigu Gate was still standing, with a couplet hanging high by the door. Qingya felt as if in another world. She recalled the joy she felt when first standing on the steps, unaware of Hang’s mother’s pointed remark, “Do you think the couplet matches the door?”
Di Qingya stood again before the Hang mansion, eyes fixed on Hang Zhi’s handwritten “Hang Mansion” sign, feeling as if in a dream.
Duanfang had long returned and assembled the servants. The main gate was wide open, with servants lining up on both sides to welcome the mistress home. The red carpet stretched from the steps inside the door, extending out of sight. Hang Zhi tightly held Qingya’s hand, and with Qian Jiaoniang’s polite gesture raising her arm, led Qingya up the steps first. The servants knelt and shouted in unison, “Welcome the Madam home! Welcome the Madam home!”
