Chapter 18
This former grandson-in-law, due to the marriage documents and betrothal letters exchanged at the time—while others might have been written by a calligrapher—had penned everything himself, and so Elder Yu had seen his handwriting. Five years had passed, and his brushwork had grown even steadier and more vigorous, yet the strength within it remained unchanged.
At this critical juncture for the Yu family, Elder Yu trusted Cheng Xianzhang’s character and immediately had someone bring him a change of clothes. He donned simple garments, took up a bamboo hat and raincoat, prepared a carriage, and slipped out the back door.
The Crossroads Street was an ordinary thoroughfare bustling with merchants, and the Four Directions Inn was a place Elder Yu had never heard of. Upon inspection, it was just a modest inn with decent business; it was still lively when they arrived, with a few guests dining downstairs on bowls of noodles.
It was raining outside, and Elder Yu’s rain gear did not draw attention. He did not stop to negotiate with the innkeeper but went straight upstairs, and the innkeeper was too busy to care.
In room number two of the “Heaven” series, Elder Yu pushed open the door and saw a man already seated inside, clad in coarse blue cloth. A bamboo hat lay on the table beside him. The man sat quietly, seemingly waiting for him.
Elder Yu closed the door and, almost out of habit, greeted him politely: “Lord Cheng.”
“Lord Yu,” Cheng Xianzhang gestured for him to sit.
Elder Yu sat, and Cheng said, “Meeting under such circumstances is against protocol, so I’ll be brief.”
Elder Yu nodded and watched him quietly.
Cheng continued, “The palace case has been handed over to the Court of Judicial Review. The Censorate has no authority to interfere. But such a serious case requires final judgment to be reviewed and signed by the Censorate. I don’t know the details yet, but I’m willing to make a deal with Lord Yu.”
“Please speak,” Elder Yu replied.
Cheng said, “As long as the Empress Dowager is not the culprit, I will do my utmost to protect her and the Yu family. Even if the Emperor intends to depose the Empress, I will petition against it. If in the end the Empress and the Yu family remain safe, Lord Yu shall marry Yingying to me.”
Elder Yu was stunned, nearly speechless. Fortunately, having weathered many storms and seen much, he regained his composure.
He had not expected Cheng Xianzhang to propose such a transaction.
“Why?” he asked. “You divorced Yingying before I could even respond. Why now...?”
“Just consider me a foolish youth who now regrets,” Cheng said.
“But the price of this regret seems too steep,” Elder Yu said. “Your rise has been due to the Emperor’s favor. If you lose his trust, it will be a heavy loss.”
Cheng replied, “Perhaps I feel that one’s life should not be solely about official career; or perhaps I want to gamble that the Emperor does not truly wish to depose the Empress.”
Elder Yu thought this gamble was far too risky. Even as her grandfather, he dared not bet on such a thing. Perhaps age had made him conservative and unable to understand the young.
Cheng was simply seeking to marry his granddaughter; what conspiracy could there be? They had been divorced five years, unlikely harboring such hatred to sacrifice a career in revenge.
Perhaps...
Perhaps he was deeply attached to his granddaughter.
But the divorce was his decision, and not long ago, if his granddaughter hadn’t interfered, he would have married a lady from the Su family.
Elder Yu remained deeply doubtful.
Cheng had finished speaking and stood. “Lord Yu, consider it, and if you agree, hang two bundles of fresh mugwort at the Yu family gate. I will know upon seeing it.” He was about to leave when Elder Yu quickly said, “No need to consider. I agree. If Lord Cheng is willing to act, I will marry Yingying to you.”
Cheng cupped his hands in thanks, donned his bamboo hat, and departed.
Elder Yu sat in the inn for a while longer before descending.
On the way back, the wind and rain gradually ceased.
Sitting in the carriage, Elder Yu pondered these events. Somehow, he felt an unexpected relief.
Perhaps Cheng Xianzhang’s promise gave him a new ally; perhaps he still valued Cheng’s abilities and believed such a promise must be grounded in confidence.
In any case, the anxiety that had weighed on his heart eased considerably.
No one knew of this meeting; Elder Yu told no one.
No news came from Zheng Boru, nor was it known who else the Court of Judicial Review was investigating.
Two nights later, thick smoke billowed from the palace. From outside, the sounds of firefighting could be heard, lasting through the night.
The Yu residence was not far from the palace, and they heard the commotion, sensing the turmoil of the times. No one knew if the Empress would be implicated. The next day, Madam Yu and Yingying were summoned to the palace, learning that the fire had broken out in the Empress’s Qingning Palace. Though rescued, the Empress had been unconscious nearly all night and only awakened early that morning to request to see her family.
Perhaps moved by the near-death of the Empress, the Emperor agreed to the summons.
Madam Yu and Yingying hurried into the palace and finally saw the Empress in Zichen Palace, pale and weak, appearing close to death. Madam Yu immediately wept, and Yingying bit her lip, tears welling.
At this moment, the Emperor arrived. The two, along with palace attendants, knelt in deep respect. The Emperor gently said, “Rise. No need for formalities. The Empress had a cold and inhaled too much smoke, leaving her weak. I specially summoned Madam Yu and Yingying to keep her company. You may stay a while longer before returning.”
Madam Yu thanked the Emperor, and Yingying did likewise, yet she quietly lifted her head to glance at him.
The Emperor caught that look and suddenly recalled the interrogation records from the Court of Judicial Review earlier that morning.
The little princess had been murdered, and Qingning Palace had caught fire. Shocked and enraged, the Emperor learned that all in Qingning Palace had been taken for questioning. The palace was left deserted except for two junior maids attending the Empress, who had fallen ill and bedridden. That night, the junior maids fell asleep, and with no one to watch over her, a fire broke out, consuming much of the palace.
He immediately summoned Chen Qing for questioning and called for the case files to examine the matter thoroughly.
Chen Qing was not entirely to blame, as the little princess had been poisoned by a maid named An Hui, who had served in Qingning Palace several years prior.
Thus, the Court’s strict investigation into Qingning Palace was reasonable.
Among the documents was an interrogation transcript of Yingying, as someone had seen her speak with An Hui in the palace. An Hui’s confession implicated over a dozen conspirators, including Yingying.
Whether An Hui was fabricating or not, the Court had to question Yingying.
The Emperor remembered Yingying. When she married the Empress, she was not yet ten—delicate, willful, playful—and often visited her elder sister at the Prince’s manor.
Later, she frequently entered the palace, until the arrival of Noble Consort Su, after which she ceased palace visits.
In the interrogation records, Yingying bluntly stated her dislike for Noble Consort Su, accusing her of abducting her brother-in-law.
At that moment, the Emperor, burdened with state affairs and worries, recalled that he was a brother-in-law and husband to someone.
He had long ceased visiting the Empress’s palace, only going for formal meals, where the Empress greeted him with cold politeness and a forced smile he wished to avoid.
Yingying reminded him of a time more than a decade ago, when he was still Prince Chu—young, newly married to a beautiful, talented, gentle, and sensible wife. Those had been pleasant days.
He asked Yingying, “Yingying, it seems you have something to say?”
He had called her Yingying back then in the manor.
Madam Yu warned her with a glance, fearing she might say too much. Yingying ignored her and, after a moment, spoke: “The palace burned down for no good reason. It only burned the Empress’s quarters. I feel someone wanted to harm the Empress and earnestly ask the Emperor to investigate thoroughly!”
She puffed her cheeks as if holding back breath.
The Emperor replied seriously, “This matter is under detailed investigation and will be resolved within two days. Yingying need not worry.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. You are wise,” Yingying bowed her head.
The Emperor had them rise and then went to the Empress’s bedside.
The Empress had awakened briefly early but now dozed again. The Yu daughters were all beautiful but distinct; Yingying’s beauty was radiant and vivid, while the Empress’s features were dignified and gentle. When they married, someone had quietly told him the princess had the aura of a matriarch, and marrying her would be beneficial.
Indeed, she was the most poised and graceful of all the princesses, much favored by the Empress Dowager.
He knew his father-in-law was a carefree recluse, but his grandfather-in-law, Yu Situ, was a man who concealed his schemes beneath a calm exterior. His wife was intelligent; while other princesses vied for attention, jealous and ostentatious, she had already adopted the conduct befitting a matriarch.
His own ambition had long been hidden in his heart and set in motion.
In the end, he was named Crown Prince and ascended the throne.
He believed half his success belonged to his first wife.
But now, this woman, once forever dignified, lay in bed, breath faint, face pale as paper, seemingly near death.
He sat by her bedside, holding her hand. “Empress, I have sent Madam Yu and Yingying to keep you company. You must wake soon.”
Zichen Palace was originally the Emperor’s residence. With Qingning Palace burnt, the Empress was temporarily placed here. The Emperor had many affairs and left for the study after a short stay.
Once he left, Madam Yu and Yingying relaxed and immediately stayed by the bedside.
After more than half an hour, the Empress awoke, took medicine, and seemed a little better. Officials arrived to question her about the case.
Among them were Cheng Xianzhang and Zheng Boru.
Yingying later learned that following the little princess’s murder and the Empress’s palace fire, the matter was grave and not suited for public disclosure. The palace announced only an accidental fire, but the Emperor had secretly appointed several officials to investigate thoroughly—four from the Ministry of Justice, three from the Censorate, working jointly to find the truth.
Each side sent a skilled investigator to question the Empress at her bedside while Cheng and Zheng stood nearby. After questioning, Zheng called Yingying out, signaling her to accompany him.
Outside the bedchamber, in the corridor, Zheng asked, “You came to see me yesterday?”
With so much happening and her elder sister bedridden, Yingying was upset, her eyes red. She nodded slightly.
Zheng said, “I was wrong not to be home. Don’t worry, everything will be fine. If anyone dares harm the Empress, they will be found out. Perhaps we’ll even uncover the truth behind the little princess’s death. Then all will be resolved.”
Yingying asked, “When will the investigation conclude?”
Zheng replied, “The case seems straightforward. Probably within two days.”
Yingying said nothing, eyes shimmering with tears, evoking pity.
Zheng took a paper packet from his bosom. “This is for you.”
“What is it?”
“Candy. I couldn’t bring Snow Crisp Mountain treats into the palace, so I brought some sweets. I thought it might cheer you up.”
Yingying pouted. “What? I’m not a three-year-old to be bribed with candy. I don’t want it!” She scowled at him.
Zheng was surprised. “I thought you liked sweets. Aren’t all sweets sweet?”
“You do! I stopped liking candy at five!” Yingying felt underestimated.
As they spoke, movement came from behind. Yingying glanced back and saw Cheng Xianzhang and others leaving the room.
She turned back to Zheng. “I don’t want it. Take it back and let whoever likes it have it.”
Zheng smiled helplessly. “Fine, I’ll take it back. I misjudged and gave you something you don’t like.”
“That’s not your fault. I appreciate the thought. Just investigate well and quickly. I’m going back now.” With that, Yingying returned inside, and Zheng followed the group out of the palace.