Fu Mingzheng threw Fu Mingcheng’s lifeless body into the rain.
As the rain intensified, the soldiers attacking the palace gates were unaware that their leader was dead, continuing their assault. Fu Mingzheng forbade anyone from revealing the news and, standing in the rainy night like a leopard, picked off the most aggressive soldiers one by one.
Not until someone noticed that Fu Mingcheng and his trusted attendants were missing did they go searching, only to find Lord Fu already dead amidst the chaos, trampled beyond recognition. A heart-wrenching cry broke the stillness, and the battle ceased—what was the point of fighting when the leader was dead?
By dawn, Chief of Public Security, An Zhengping, was tallying the captives. These prisoners, strung together like frogs with ropes, squatted in a row against the palace wall, drenched and miserable. When someone came to register their names, they instinctively hid their faces in their arms. Everyone had family and connections; being recorded could lead to a thorough investigation, and no one would be able to live peacefully.
An Zhengping, however, performed his task diligently. Even if someone refused to reveal their name, there was always a way for someone to recognize them. Regretting it now? Well, why did you cause trouble in the first place?
Meanwhile, in Changxin Palace, the Great Empress Dowager opened her eyes and summoned Sang Shen, asking softly, “What’s happening outside? Why hasn’t anyone come to open the door and let me out?”
Two days and nights had passed; logically, all issues should have been resolved. Yet, there had been no news, which itself was telling. Sang Shen, suppressing her fear, rasped, “The palace gates are still guarded, and we can’t get out or receive any news. We’ll probably have to wait a little longer.”
The Great Empress Dowager said no more, staring blankly at the canopy.
Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. The Great Empress Dowager, finding unexpected strength, sat up abruptly, exclaiming, “Here, here! He’s dead for sure!”
Sang Shen quickly draped her in an outer robe, smiling, “Your Highness, you’ve finally endured to the end.”
But then Mei Yusi’s voice called out, “This servant greets Your Highness.”
Seeing him impeccably dressed and spirited, the Great Empress Dowager was suspicious and sarcastically remarked, “Have you found a new master? How shameless to show your face here!”
Mei Yusi, eyes lowered, calmly replied, “For Your Highness’s knowledge, this servant has always been loyal to the Regent. When the Min faction caused trouble, I was ordered to serve and protect Your Highness, facing death without fear. Now that the Min faction has fallen, my task is complete, and I should return to my original master.”
The Great Empress Dowager, enraged by his explanation, snapped, “How dare you argue!” If not for the current power imbalance, she would have had Mei Yusi beaten severely.
Sang Shen reminded her, “Your Highness, perhaps we should hear what he has to say.”
The Great Empress Dowager consented, and Sang Shen asked Mei Yusi, “Steward Mei, what brings you here?”
Mei Yusi replied, “The night before last, His Highness County Prince Xiangcheng went missing from Chongzheng Hall. We were ordered by the Emperor to search for him but have not found him. Only Changxin Palace remains unsearched, so…”
“Why didn’t you report this earlier?” The Great Empress Dowager, both shocked and furious, thought of another possibility and angrily declared, “Thief crying thief! I have been confined here, bedridden for a long time. How could I have taken His Highness County Prince Xiangcheng?”
Mei Yusi remained silent.
Sang Shen quickly said, “Your Highness, the most important thing now is to find His Highness County Prince Xiangcheng.”
“Indeed,” Mei Yusi responded calmly. “Please allow us to search Changxin Palace.”
Certain they wanted to find her secret correspondence and other important items, the Great Empress Dowager firmly refused, “Who knows if this is one of your tricks? I’m not dead yet, and you want to ransack my place? Aren’t you afraid of divine retribution? Ask Yuwen Chu, who is unfilial and ungrateful, how he will face the late Emperor!”
Mei Yusi said softly, “This matter has nothing to do with the Regent. The Regent is still at Jishan Camp with no news from there.”
Maybe enduring a bit longer would see her through this; this was a conspiracy. The Great Empress Dowager stated firmly, “I refuse! If you must search, you’ll have to step over my dead body!”
Sang Shen also said, “Her Highness is not well. If anything happens to her, can you bear the responsibility? Aren’t you afraid of the infamy of forcing the Great Empress Dowager to death?”
Mei Yusi sighed, “Time is precious. If it weren’t necessary, I wouldn’t disturb Your Highness.”
“Get out!” the Great Empress Dowager snapped.
Mei Yusi hesitated and then asked, “What would it take for Your Highness to allow the search? Should I fetch His Majesty?”
“Only over my dead body! The Emperor is a heartless ingrate!” The Great Empress Dowager shouted, then suddenly said, “You can search if you make everyone leave.”
Mei Yusi silently withdrew.
Sang Shen, worried, said to the Great Empress Dowager, “Your Highness, I feel uneasy. Should we let them search?”
The Great Empress Dowager coldly replied, “No, it’s surely a conspiracy. Come here…” She motioned Sang Shen over and whispered a few instructions.
Sang Shen, without showing any emotion, left and requested the Great Empress Dowager’s meal and medicine from the palace staff. She mentioned going to the small kitchen to prepare food for the Great Empress Dowager. The guards allowed this since the orders were to permit entry but not exit. After preparing, Sang Shen went to the small kitchen accompanied by a few palace maids.
There, under the pretense of cooking, she burned all the Great Empress Dowager’s secret letters and important items. A young maid came in and whispered, “His Majesty is here, requesting to search the palace. Her Highness refuses. Gugu, can we really get through this?”
Sang Shen shook her head, “Do as instructed. Her Highness’s orders are our priority.” She held no hope herself, knowing the Great Empress Dowager’s order to burn the letters signified a final, desperate measure. However, this was not her concern; she was merely a servant. She would live or die as the Great Empress Dowager commanded.
Finally, the last letter turned to ash, rising as a spiral of smoke. Sang Shen sighed in relief; her task was done. Now she could return to the Great Empress Dowager and face their ultimate fate together.
She carried the food out of the kitchen. Changxin Palace was now heavily guarded. Unable to endure any longer, Yuwen Guang gave the order with reddened eyes, “Search! I’ll take responsibility for any consequences!”
The palace servants, terrified, huddled together. Sang Shen calmly passed through them, saluted Yuwen Guang, and entered the bedchamber. “Your Highness, everything has been done as you instructed.”
