Jiang Changyang didn’t dare to leave immediately after Li. He waited until the evening drums sounded before bidding farewell to the He family and heading home.
Despite the late hour, the summer heat lingered. Even the breeze felt warm. Both children complained of discomfort, lying limply in their wet nurses’ arms. Mudan fanned them, asking Yuhe softly, “How did it go?”
Yuhe huffed, adjusting her hair, “She told me not to come again.” The mother and daughter, both stubborn, had quickly reached an impasse. Madam Feng hadn’t waited for Mudan to leave before chasing her out with a broom.
Mudan chuckled, “Madam Feng’s temper… Most people mellow with age, but she’s getting more explosive. Still, she means well. Give it time, and she’ll soften, finding excuses to see you.”
Yuhe sighed softly, looking out the window. The setting sun’s rays reflected off the walls, making her eyes sting. She rubbed them hard, murmuring, “It’s hot today.”
Mudan glanced at her, then changed the subject, “How’s that purple-red Luoyang Rose doing? We should graft it in autumn. It might become a new variety.” She explained how a bud mutation had produced a unique flower, purple-red with a velvet-like center. With proper care and grafting, it could become a new breed.
Yuhe perked up, “The branch is marked as you instructed. Master Li checks it twice daily.” She added, “He says it might take five or six years to establish a new variety!”
Mudan smiled, “Indeed, it requires constant selection and care to stabilize. It’s a long process. If I can produce a few new varieties from Fang Garden in my lifetime, I’ll be content.”
“You certainly will,” Yuhe replied enthusiastically, her earlier unhappiness forgotten as they discussed gardening.
Back home, with the children asleep, Mudan sent the wet nurses away. She wanted to ask Jiang about the day’s events but saw Wu had already engaged him. She decided to bathe first. Emerging later, she found Jiang lying on a couch, staring at the silver incense ball hanging from the ceiling.
“Aren’t you going to wash? What are you pondering?” she asked, smiling.
Jiang turned to her, “I’m wondering how this will all end.”
Mudan sat beside him, drying her hair, “Tell me, what exactly are they planning? I’ve been meaning to ask.”
Jiang took the towel and began drying her hair, speaking softly, “Let me tell you about the Golden Waist Tower peony. It might help you understand. Do you know that Chongsheng Temple once had two famous peonies: the Golden Waist Tower and the Jade Waist Tower? After that person died, they were moved to the inner garden but died within years, resulting in many punishments. Li, the gardener, was one of those caring for the flowers…” He paused, looking at Mudan, “He wasn’t born mute. His tongue was cut out.”
Mudan shuddered. It was indeed related to the Epiphyllum Pavilion affair. Jin Buyan’s efforts to collect the Golden and Jade Waist Tower peonies had a reason.
Jiang continued, explaining how the Empress had clung to life out of concern for Prince Ning. On her deathbed, she had reminded the Emperor of their past and the Wang family’s contributions, hoping to move him. The Emperor had sent her the peony, ostensibly to cheer her, but it had caused her to die with a bitter laugh. This led to Prince Ning’s tearful scene at her funeral, though whether he wept for her or his fate remained unclear.
After a moment of silence, Mudan said, “So the Li family approaching you now… they’re looking for a way out?”
Jiang smiled approvingly, “Yes. Prince Ning, seeing this clearly, is willing to settle for second-best and ally with Prince Jing against Prince Min. The Empress’s sudden illness and the Emperor’s decisiveness are related to Prince Min’s unexpected promotion of Jin Buyan last year. With the southern drought, Prince Min is pushing for Prince Ning to lead the relief efforts. If he fails, Prince Ning is finished.” It would be all too easy to sabotage the relief efforts.
He explained the current situation: Prince Ning and Prince Jing each had something the other wanted. Whoever ascended the throne might show some mercy, but if Prince Min took power, both families would suffer greatly. Cooperation seemed likely, though the future remained uncertain.
Mudan cautioned, “The future is unpredictable. Be careful when handling this. Don’t say or do more than necessary to avoid suspicion.”
Jiang smiled, “I understand. I’m just a messenger. The princes will negotiate the details themselves.”
Seeing Mudan’s thoughtful expression, he added reassuringly, “Don’t worry. The Li family won’t gamble with their future. Even if Li Yuan can’t achieve much, Li Xing might. If he’s willing, Prince Jing could accommodate him, just as he did Liu Chang.”
Mudan sighed, “It’s easier said than done. I fear he might change his mind and be mocked for lacking loyalty.”
Jiang replied calmly, “It depends on his perspective and how far the princes go. If Prince Ning retires, Li Xing could argue he’s using his talents for the good of the empire, not betraying anyone. There’s precedent for this, like when Emperor Taizong’s former enemies’ subordinates joined him after the Xuanwu Gate incident, becoming great ministers. What’s there to fear?”
Despite his reassurances, Mudan remained worried, “Let’s hope he can see the bigger picture and handle it well.”
The next day, Jiang secretly met Prince Jing to convey Prince Ning’s message. Prince Jing didn’t respond immediately, which Jiang, Yuan Shijiu, and Pan Rong interpreted as a sign of interest and caution. They expected Prince Jing would reach out to Prince Ning after observing for a while.
Indeed, just as Prince Ning was about to be officially appointed to lead the southern drought relief, Prince Jing sent Lady Qin to arrange a meeting through Jiang and Li Yuan. Mudan remarked on the irony of two brothers, who saw each other daily at court, needing such roundabout methods to meet privately.
Jiang laughed, “It’s not as simple as having a meal. Both sides need to prepare, drafting their terms beforehand for effective negotiation.”
Eventually, the two princes met and successfully allied. United in strength, they maneuvered Prince Ning into leading the relief efforts in the south, despite his illness. However, Prince Ning was no easy target. He played his games but faced numerous challenges. Shortly after arriving, he encountered a series of major incidents: a riot among disaster victims, followed by a military mutiny. He ruthlessly suppressed both, but survivors fled to the capital, beating the Grievance Drum and presenting blood-written petitions, accusing him of colluding with local officials to exploit the people and embezzle funds.
People love to kick a man when he’s down, and soon more of Prince Ning’s past and present misdeeds came to light, including shocking revelations about Prince Min’s household secretly hoarding and price-gouging grain in the disaster area. The Censorate, led by Yun Xiaowei, vehemently denounced Prince Ning for his cruelty and violation of heavenly principles, insisting on punishment to appease public anger. Secretary Xiao’s faction naturally defended him, crying injustice. The two sides battled fiercely, with Prince Min’s faction losing ground. Under pressure from all sides, the Emperor claimed illness for two days before issuing an edict recalling Prince Ning.
At this critical moment, messages sent from Secretary Xiao’s mansion, Prince Min’s residence, and his key supporters were intercepted and replaced. The new messages claimed the Emperor was gravely ill and confused, that Princes Jing and Ning were conspiring together, and that the disasters in the relief area and the ensuing court disputes were all orchestrated by these two…