Consort Qi said timidly, “Yes, there was such a matter, but when Imperial Noble Consort’s people sent the lunch, the Medical Director from the Imperial Medical Academy was taking my pulse. I never even saw that food box.” She thought for a moment, then alarm appeared in her eyes. “Your Lordship, what was in that food box were precisely date-flower pastries.”
Liu Chaoming asked, “How did you know this?”
Consort Qi replied, “At the time, a palace maid guarding outside the palace lifted the food box lid to glance inside and came in to report to me. Since I break out in rashes whenever I eat dates, I dared not consume them. Then I remembered that Sister Li was still at the Palace Audience Hall and had not yet eaten, so I ordered Imperial Noble Consort’s palace maid to redirect the delivery to the Palace Audience Hall.”
Su Jin turned to look at the wet nurse. “So after you came to the Palace Audience Hall with the Crown Princess, you obtained the date-flower pastries from Beauty Li?”
Hearing this, the wet nurse cried out in grievance, “I beg Your Lordship to render justice! This slave… this slave was entirely acting under Consort Qi’s instructions. She told this slave to take the delivered date-flower pastries to harm the young prince, and she also told this slave to frame the Thirteenth Prince. But this slave watched the young prince grow up—how could I bring myself to do it? I fed him only a tiny bit and then stopped.”
Consort Qi stared in stunned disbelief, as if unable to believe what she was hearing. “You’re lying!” She turned to look at Liu Chaoming and Su Jin, kneeling straight down. “Your Lordships, please see clearly. I am merely a consort—I have no family to rely on, no heir to support me. It is only through His Majesty’s affection that I carry this child in my womb. It would be too late for me to accumulate virtue—why would I harm the young prince? Why would I slander the Thirteenth Prince?”
The two disputed endlessly for a time.
Seeing this situation, Liu Chaoming looked toward Capital Guard Commander Liang Tian and said, “I must trouble the General to go to the Court of Imperial Clan—from among the palace maids and attendants of Yanhe Palace and Chonghua Palace who were punished earlier, bring a few people here.”
Liang Tian said, “Please specify, Your Lordship.”
“First, the palace maid from Imperial Noble Consort’s palace who delivered lunch to Consort Qi. Second, the palace maids and attendants guarding the palace gates outside Consort Qi’s residence.”
As he spoke, he also addressed Imperial Medical Academy Director Li: “I must trouble Director Li to have the Medical Director who examined Consort Qi today come to the hall to testify.”
Before long, these various people were all brought in.
Since many of them had already been subjected to caning, when Liu Chaoming asked questions, they answered immediately without daring to speak a single false word, fearing another beating.
According to their testimony, Imperial Noble Consort had indeed sent someone to deliver date-flower pastries to Consort Qi’s palace today, but the food box was stopped outside the palace gates. Because Consort Qi would break out in rashes from eating dates or date flowers, her palace people, following Consort Qi’s instructions, had Imperial Noble Consort’s palace maid redirect the date-flower pastries to the Palace Audience Hall.
From beginning to end, only Imperial Noble Consort’s palace maid had touched the food box. Those in Consort Qi’s palace had at most glanced at it.
The serving maids of Yanhe Palace, the guards near the palace gardens, including the Medical Director who examined Consort Qi—all could testify to this.
This indicated that the box of date-flower pastries had been poisoned from the moment it left Imperial Noble Consort’s palace.
Su Jin looked at the wet nurse. “Can you tell the truth now? Who exactly instructed you?”
The wet nurse seemed to hesitate. After a moment, she sobbed quietly, “This slave… spoke the truth just now.”
Su Jin said angrily, “Stubbornly unrepentant!” Then she said coldly, “This official knows that since you dared to accuse the Thirteenth Prince, you must have resolved yourself to death. This official also knows you must have your own reasons for doing this. However, allow this official to remind you—the Great Sui, besides execution by beating or beheading, also has the punishment of exterminating nine generations of kin.”
Hearing the words “nine generations,” the wet nurse’s entire body trembled. Just as she was about to speak, a palace maid suddenly hurried into the hall and said, “Congratulations to Your Highness the Crown Prince, congratulations to the Crown Princess—the young prince has awakened! The Medical Director examined him and says there is no serious harm. Right now he urgently wishes to see you both, his masters.”
Zhu Minda glanced at Shen Jing. Seeing urgency and worry overflowing from her brow, he said, “Bring him here.” Then he said to Liu Chaoming and Su Jin, “Although Lin’er cannot yet speak, he understands most of what others say, and he is particularly good at recognizing people. If you Imperial Censors have any doubts, you may question him.”
Liu Chaoming and Su Jin bowed in acknowledgment.
A moment later, the hall doors were pushed open again. A palace maid appeared at the entrance holding an adorable little child in her arms.
Zhu Lin’s complexion was poor, with unhealthy flush still staining his cheeks. But when he saw Zhu Minda and Shen Jing on the dais, his limpid eyes filled with joyful light. He broke free from the palace maid’s embrace and walked toward them with small steps, wobbling yet urgent.
In his right hand he clutched a short plum branch with a single lonely five-petaled blossom atop it. The flower’s color was excellent, lustrous as spring—seemingly something he had gestured for someone to break off for him along the way, waving his hands and feet excitedly.
Reaching Shen Jing, he steadied his tottering steps, knelt properly on the ground in obeisance, then climbed up by himself and extended his right hand to present the plum branch to Shen Jing.
Warmth and light filled Shen Jing’s eyes. Just as she was about to receive it, Zhu Lin suddenly pulled his hand back.
He raised his round left hand to scratch his head, then lowered it and carefully plucked a single petal from the plum branch to place in Shen Jing’s palm. Shen Jing smiled and said gently, “Thank you, Lin’er.”
Zhu Lin seemed even happier. He turned and gave Zhu Minda a proper bow as well, plucking another petal to present to him.
Zhu Minda was always austere, but at this moment, his eyes held rare tenderness. He accepted the plum petal from Zhu Lin’s hand and couldn’t help but smile.
Zhu Lin looked at the red plum in his hand with only three petals remaining, seeming somewhat puzzled.
After a long moment, he raised his head and ran with small steps to Zhu Nanxian, plucking off a petal to give him.
Zhu Nanxian bent down and picked him up with one hand, smiling as he said, “I accept your generous gift. In the future, I shall repay you with my life and give you the very best in return.” Then he saw him pluck the second-to-last petal and directly hand it to Shen Xi standing nearby.
Shen Xi raised an eyebrow, reached out to ruffle Zhu Lin’s soft hair, accepted the petal with a smile and said, “I too accept your generous gift and shall repay you with the most precious treasure in this world.”
With only the last petal remaining on the plum in his hand, Zhu Lin’s eyes showed distress again.
He looked up and suddenly spotted a very familiar figure in a corner of the great hall. He stared blankly, seeming not to understand why she was kneeling there. Previously, whenever she saw him, hadn’t she immediately come over to keep him company?
Zhu Lin stirred, as if wanting to go over. Zhu Nanxian paused briefly, then gently set him on the ground.
So Zhu Lin, clutching the red plum with only one petal remaining, walked step by step to the wet nurse, looking at her with great puzzlement.
After a moment, he extended his hand and carefully plucked the last petal from the plum branch, holding it out to her.
The wet nurse stared blankly at Zhu Lin. After a long while, she lowered her face and began slowly, continuously shaking her head. Tears fell like broken beads pattering down.
Zhu Lin tilted his head, staring at her in confusion.
He was too young, without any wariness toward anyone. He did not know who would harm him, much less that she had just fed him date-flower pastries mixed with oleander powder that nearly took his life.
He only knew that the person before him, just like his mother-consort, his father-prince, his Uncle Thirteen, and his Uncle Qingyue, had treated him very well since his birth, caring for him day and night.
Zhu Lin squatted down and gently placed this petal beside the wet nurse’s hands that were clasped on the ground. Then the small child curled up like an innocent little beast, trying his best to lower his head to see her face and find out what was wrong with her.
Shen Jing finally could not restrain herself and called softly, “Lin’er, come here.”
Zhu Lin turned his head, tilted it to think for a moment, then obediently returned to Shen Jing’s side.
The Palace Audience Hall was extremely quiet, as if all the treacherous schemes and overt and covert struggles had been cleansed away in this moment by a small, pure and innocent child’s heart.
Watching Shen Jing gather Zhu Lin into her embrace, only then did Zhu Minda address Liu Chaoming and Su Jin again. “Imperial Censors, continue the interrogation.”
Su Jin looked at the wet nurse. “Still won’t tell the truth?”
The wet nurse wept uncontrollably. After a moment, she slowly said, “Reporting to Your Lordship, this slave confesses. This slave was actually… acting under the instructions of Imperial Noble Consort and the Fourteenth Prince.”
Imperial Noble Consort’s almond eyes widened. “Vile slave! You dare to spout nonsense and slander this palace!”
The wet nurse gritted her teeth and said, “It is true. Imperial Noble Consort has been laying plans for a long time, finally waiting for today. She said she would send the Crown Princess away, have me kill the young prince and frame the Thirteenth Prince. If the frame-up failed, she would pin it on Consort Qi, who had just conceived an imperial heir.”
Su Jin frowned. “But that box of date-flower pastries was originally sent to Consort Qi’s palace. It was Consort Qi who ordered someone to redirect it to Beauty Li at the Palace Audience Hall. If what you say is true and this matter had nothing to do with Consort Qi, how could you ensure that box of poisoned date-flower pastries would be delivered to the Palace Audience Hall?”
Consort Qi said softly, “Lord Su does not know—though I cannot eat date flowers or dates, Sister Li loves eating them most in her life. Imperial Noble Consort… ” She glanced timidly at Imperial Noble Consort. “She knows this. I imagine when she sent the date-flower pastries, she anticipated that I would order someone to redirect them to Sister Li.”
At this moment, the Twelfth Prince Zhu Qiyue said, “Indeed. During the earlier case investigation, Imperial Noble Consort was thoroughly familiar with the movements in Consort Qi’s palace. She must have known that Beauty Li was at the Palace Audience Hall.”
Zhu Mixiao said furiously, “Are you all brainless? If my mother-consort did this, going to such great effort to lay such a trap—what would she be seeking?”
Zhu Zhaowei said unhurriedly, “What would she be seeking? Didn’t you already reveal it when you were slandering Thirteen earlier? You have always considered yourself half a legitimate prince. If Lin’er died, it would surely cause the Crown Prince and Thirteen to fight internally. If both were mutually destroyed and fell from power, Seventeenth is no match for you—wouldn’t the imperial throne in the great hall then be yours, Zhu Mixiao?”
Zhu Mixiao said through gritted teeth, “You, Zhu Zhaowei, also put in considerable effort framing Zhu Shisan earlier. What, now that the dirty water has splashed onto this prince, you come to kick me while I’m down?”
Zhu Qiyue said, “This prince actually finds Seventh Brother’s words quite reasonable.” As he spoke, he cupped his hands toward the dais. “I implore the Crown Prince to investigate clearly.”
The Fourth Prince Zhu Yushen said flatly, “I’m afraid it’s not just Fourteenth alone. Third, Ninth, and Tenth, who followed Fourteenth throughout today—the Crown Prince should interrogate them all.”
However, when these words were spoken, the Third Prince, Ninth Prince, and Tenth Prince simultaneously stood in silence slightly apart from Zhu Mixiao.
The sinister look in Zhu Mixiao’s eyes grew intense as an approaching storm. “Fine, fine! Now you all point your blades at me? And what about you?” He raised his hand to point. “Which of you does not harbor ambitions for the succession? Which of you does not hope that Zhu Minda and Zhu Nanxian would engage in fratricide?”
“Zhu Mixiao! Listen to what you are saying!” Zhu Minda said. “Feathered Forest Guards, seize him!”
“Yes!”
Two Feathered Forest Guards stepped forward, restraining him from left and right. Zhu Mixiao was about to speak when a Feathered Forest Guard came forward and actually stuffed his mouth with a cloth.
Zhu Minda looked coldly at everyone. “This case has reached this point—with so many suspects and implicated parties of such high rank, it is beyond this palace’s authority to decide. Everything must be submitted to Father Emperor for judgment. However, Father Emperor’s dragon body is unwell. Today, this palace will only make preliminary dispositions—”
“Capital Guards.”
“Present!”
“Escort Imperial Noble Consort and the Fourteenth Prince Zhu Mixiao back to Chonghua Palace. Guard the palace gates. Until this case is completely resolved, no one may enter or exit.”
“Yes!”
“Court of Imperial Clan.”
“This subject is present.”
“Take the Imperial Grand Prince’s wet nurse and all other implicated persons from the rear palace back to the Court. Interrogate them through the night. Tomorrow morning at first light, this palace expects to see the indictment.”
“This subject accepts the command.”
“Feathered Forest Guards.”
“Present!”
“Qian Yu murdered a consort—his crime is unforgivable. Take him to the Ministry of Justice. Order Shen Tuo to personally interrogate him, assisted by Lord Liu of the Imperial Censorate and Imperial Censor Su. This case is not simple. Within three days, the mastermind behind it must be thoroughly investigated.”
“Yes!”
Only then did Zhu Minda shift his gaze to the assembled princes, saying coldly, “Third, Ninth, and Tenth—you three have been too close to Chonghua Palace. When the Court of Imperial Clan, Ministry of Justice, and Imperial Censorate investigate, they will inevitably question you. This palace commands you to confess truthfully, not to put on princely airs, and even more, not to speak falsely.”
The three exchanged glances and replied quietly, “Yes.”
The case of Beauty Li’s tragic death and Zhu Lin’s poisoning had reached a conclusion—at least there were results and suspects on the surface. The detailed causes within would be investigated by subordinates.
Zhu Minda exhaled deeply, seeming somewhat weary. “It is late. All of you, return.”
Having spoken, he called out, “Thirteen, Qingyue.” He led the way with Shen Jing and Zhu Lin, exiting the hall. Zhu Nanxian and Shen Xi followed behind.
Seeing Zhu Minda depart, the princes and officials, each with their own thoughts, said nothing more and left directly.
Outside, snow was still falling. The palace towers and pavilions were once again blanketed in vast whiteness. Having learned that all the princes were investigating the case at the Palace Audience Hall today, attendants and guards had swept snow all night, managing to clear only the path from the Palace Audience Hall to the Eastern Palace.
Zhu Minda knew well that tonight’s situation was not as simple as it appeared on the surface. The layout was so meticulous—he did not believe it was Zhu Mixiao’s doing. At least, it should not have been his doing alone.
But this case could no longer be openly investigated.
Snow fell silently. The attendant beside him desperately held the ornate canopy high, trying to shield him from wind and snow. Yet even so, icy snow particles still occasionally flew with the wind onto his face.
What must come cannot be blocked.
On the day Thirteen returned from his fief, he had known that the palace’s balance of power had changed.
It was not that he did not trust Zhu Nanxian, but Father Emperor was gravely ill, the court was in chaos, people’s hearts were unstable. Setting aside whether Zhu Nanxian would ultimately harbor ambitions for the throne, even if he would not, Zhu Lin, as the Imperial Grand Prince, was still so young. With one Crown Prince, one legitimate son, and one legitimate grandson all existing under the same roof, how could they guard against those with ulterior motives exploiting this?
Moreover, Zhu Minda had also seen today that Thirteen was not without popular support.
He had been kind, frank, and unpretentious since childhood. Everyone in the palace liked him. Though not accomplished in poetry and letters, he excelled in military strategy. As a prince, he did not fear hardship. Leading troops in the Northwest for five years, not one military general in the court did not respect him. Even Fourth and Twelfth were willing to support him at critical moments.
What if in the future, several civil officials stood behind him?
If true turmoil came one day, unless Thirteen himself gave up, he might not be able to prevail against him.
Indeed, it was true that by not contending, none under heaven can contend with you.
More snow particles flew into the canopy. Zhu Minda suddenly halted his steps and said softly, “Thirteen, you saw it too—what should have been a simple case turned into this mess. After the New Year passes, your brother will not keep you. You… should return to Nanchang as soon as possible.”
Zhu Nanxian looked up in astonishment, gazing somewhat bewildered at Zhu Minda standing with hands clasped behind his back, not understanding the deeper meaning in his words.
However, in an instant, he understood. He thought he could comprehend the Crown Prince’s concerns.
Zhu Nanxian thus nodded his head and solemnly answered, “Very well.”
Hearing this “very well,” Zhu Minda’s heart suddenly felt reluctant. He dismissed the surrounding palace attendants, turned back to face Zhu Nanxian, and said again, “After all these years, you still cannot let go of Su Jin—your brother has seen it. If you truly care for her, your brother will think of a way. After the New Year passes, I will send her to Nanchang Prefecture. What do you think?”
Though it was a snowy night when even the moon could not be seen, hearing these words, Zhu Nanxian’s eyes brightened completely. There was dazzling light. He seemed very happy, even the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but lift. But a moment later, he lowered his eyes again and said softly, “There is no need. I asked her once. She said being an Imperial Censor allows her to maintain clarity of heart—this is her lifelong aspiration. She also does it very well. Let her remain in the capital.”