Zhou Shaojin paced around the room until the second watch drum sounded before Cheng Chi finally returned.
When he came back, he was wearing all black clothing, as if trying to conceal his movements.
Zhou Shaojin became even more worried. She dismissed the servants in the room and helped him change while asking in a low voice, “Did you see Second Uncle?”
“I did!” Cheng Chi said quietly. “We’ll talk about it in a bit.”
Zhou Shaojin understood. After they both washed up, they extinguished the lights and retired to bed, hiding under the covers to whisper quietly. “Second Uncle is fine. The Emperor summoned him because he was indeed hesitant and undecided about the Seventh Prince’s matter and wanted Second Uncle to keep him company to clear his mind.
“Who knew something major would happen—Empress Yuan was the Empress Dowager’s niece. The Empress Dowager somehow remembered that the next day was Empress Yuan’s death anniversary and summoned His Highness the Crown Prince and the Imperial Grandson to the palace to discuss the memorial ceremony for Empress Yuan.
“Apart from the Crown Princess, His Highness the Crown Prince only had one consort who had served him since childhood and borne him an eldest daughter. But privately, the one he most doted on was a palace maid surnamed Dai by his side. Because this palace maid surnamed Dai had never given birth, she had never received any title. And because this palace maid surnamed Dai came from the Empress Dowager’s palace, when the Crown Prince entered the palace that day, he brought this palace maid surnamed Dai along as well.
“His Highness the Crown Prince and the Imperial Grandson went to the side hall to talk with the Empress Dowager and Imperial Consort Dowager Lin, while the palace maid surnamed Dai was in the tea room talking with several other palace maids.
“But the Second Prince suddenly arrived.
“Knowing that His Highness the Crown Prince and the Imperial Grandson were in the side hall talking with the Empress Dowager and Imperial Consort Dowager Lin, he didn’t have the young eunuch announce him, saying he would wait outside.
“Those serving in Cining Palace were also afraid the Empress Dowager might have something to say to His Highness the Crown Prince, so they didn’t go inform them either.
“The weather was a bit cold, so the Second Prince strolled idly to the tea room.
“Several palace maids hurried to avoid him.
“The Second Prince recognized the palace maid surnamed Dai and began talking with her.
“The people in Cining Palace didn’t pay it any mind.
“But when the Crown Prince and Imperial Grandson emerged from the side hall, they saw the Second Prince and the palace maid surnamed Dai embracing with their clothing and caps in disarray.
“His Highness the Crown Prince’s face turned livid with rage on the spot, and he fainted.
“The Empress Dowager immediately summoned the imperial physicians. The Second Prince and the palace maid surnamed Dai were also bound, gagged, and confined, guarded by the Empress Dowager’s trusted eunuchs and palace maids.
“But His Highness the Crown Prince never regained consciousness.
“The Emperor personally interrogated the Second Prince and only then learned that this palace maid surnamed Dai had been somewhat ambiguous with the Second Prince when she was at Cining Palace. The Second Prince had originally wanted to ask the Empress Dowager to bestow this palace maid upon him, but before he could speak, the Empress Dowager had already bestowed Miss Dai upon the Crown Prince.
“The Second Prince was supposed to be on duty at the Ministry of War today when suddenly a young eunuch appeared and thrust a note into his hand, saying the palace maid surnamed Dai was waiting for him at Cining Palace with an urgent matter to request of him. After much consideration, the Second Prince still went. Without even asking clearly what the matter was, when the two met, they tearfully embraced.
“Originally it was just uncontrollable emotion. But at precisely that moment, His Highness the Crown Prince burst in…”
Zhou Shaojin listened and found it full of holes. She said, “How could things be so coincidental? Never mind that the Empress Dowager acted on sudden impulse—as for the Second Prince’s side, that palace maid surnamed Dai isn’t some celestial beauty, and she’s already His Highness the Crown Prince’s person now. How would he dare go to Cining Palace just from receiving a note and embrace the palace maid surnamed Dai? Cining Palace is also very strange. Never mind the inner palace—even in households like ours, who isn’t attended by a group of people? Coming and going, there are always people lifting curtains and holding lamps. His Highness the Crown Prince is the heir apparent of the nation—wherever he goes, isn’t there announcement and fanfare? Even if the formalities are reduced by half at the Empress Dowager’s place, it’s impossible that when he emerged from the side hall there wouldn’t be any sound at all, right?”
Hearing this, Cheng Chi’s gaze toward her became tender and affectionate.
He kissed Zhou Shaojin’s forehead and said warmly, “Shaojin, you’re becoming more and more formidable! You can even see through the suspicious points in imperial family matters.”
Zhou Shaojin felt bashful.
This was also a case of being influenced by one’s company.
Following Cheng Chi, listening to him say those “treasonous” words and do those things “disrespecting the emperor,” she had lost her previous awe of imperial matters and had come to view them as if they were just affairs of an ordinary wealthy household.
“The Emperor was shocked precisely because of the reasons you mentioned.” Cheng Chi continued whispering to her. “This involves an imperial family scandal. The Emperor cannot afford to lose this much face, so he kept Second Uncle and the Commander of the Imperial Guards, Han Ding, to help investigate this matter.
“But everyone had their reasons. The two of them worked busily for two whole days and only found half a stick of unburned aphrodisiac incense in the tea room.
“The Emperor was both anxious and angry. His Highness the Crown Prince passed away that very evening. He couldn’t just keep lying there, so he had Second Uncle write the edict announcing the mourning.”
Finding such a thing at Cining Palace, Zhou Shaojin was dumbfounded. After a long moment, she said, “Could it be the Fourth Prince?”
“If he could have such schemes, I think I’d better submit to him early.” Cheng Chi was very doubtful. “This move eliminated the Crown Prince and Second Prince, and the Seventh Prince was also implicated in the anger. It can be called killing three birds with one stone. I’ve already sent people to investigate this matter. The Emperor’s vision is obscured, but we can start investigating from the Fourth Prince’s side. Like a swan leaving traces in snow, no matter how perfect the scheme, it’s impossible to have left no traces at all.”
Zhou Shaojin nodded and said, “Then why did Second Uncle summon you?”
“First, to tell me about this matter. I was quite close to the Seventh Prince recently, wasn’t I? Second Uncle was afraid I would act rashly.
“Second, he wanted me to pass a message to Elder Brother, lest he misunderstand the situation at this critical moment and provoke the Emperor’s anger.
“Third, he also wanted to hear my views on this matter. Now that the Crown Prince is gone, the Second Prince and Seventh Prince have been demoted to commoners, the Fourth Prince, Third Prince, and Fifth Prince are all of age, and the Crown Prince has left behind an Imperial Grandson skilled in both civil and military arts. The court will only see changing winds and clouds from now on, fleeting in an instant. The Cheng family has Second Uncle who has a commoner’s friendship with the Emperor, Elder Brother who has entered the cabinet as a minister, and me muddling along at the Censorate. We can advance or retreat. Even if we don’t participate in the struggle for the throne, others won’t let us off.
“How we should proceed in the future—we need to come up with a plan early.
“There’s also Gu Xu. He can already stand on his own and is Sister Zheng’s husband. With the Crown Prince’s death, where does his future lie? If we can take this opportunity to pull him onto our boat, we’ll have another capable arm… Once the national mourning is complete, there will be major changes in the court. We must make our decision before then.”
So sometimes, the higher one stands, the harder one falls.
Zhou Shaojin said, “Then what did you say?”
Cheng Chi didn’t answer but instead asked, “What do you think we should do?”
Since they couldn’t retreat, they could only brace themselves and push forward.
But this life was very different from the previous life, and this concerned the lives of dozens of people in the Cheng family, up and down. How could Zhou Shaojin dare make the decision?
“It’s alright.” Cheng Chi said, “I’m just talking with you. I want to hear what you have to say.”
“Didn’t you say we can’t let the Fourth Prince ascend?” Zhou Shaojin said. “I think we’d best keep a low profile and maintain neutrality. If that really won’t work—unless there are enormous changes in this life—otherwise the Emperor will definitely enfeoff the Imperial Grandson as Heir Grandson. We can first maintain a low profile and observe for a while. If the Emperor enfeoffe the Imperial Heir Grandson, naturally we should follow him. After all, he’s the legitimate heir. We can use the Imperial Heir Grandson to eliminate the Fourth Prince. Then afterward, no matter who ascends, at least the Cheng family won’t have to walk the same path as the previous life.”
Hearing this, Cheng Chi laughed and said, “Not bad—that’s what I think too. So I’m planning that regardless of whether the Fourth Prince did this or not, I’ll make this matter appear to be the Fourth Prince’s doing. Even if the Emperor doesn’t believe it, I must make the Imperial Grandson believe it.”
Wouldn’t that be framing someone!
Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened.
But then she immediately thought of how the Fourth Prince had killed everyone in the Cheng family in the previous life. Her heart hardened, feeling that since they were meeting on a narrow path, naturally they could only fight to the death.
The two chatted endlessly, and Zhou Shaojin couldn’t even remember when she fell asleep. The next morning she was awakened by Cheng Chi.
“Get up quickly!” His voice carried unmistakable regret and self-reproach. “Mother and I have to enter the palace today to mourn. Can you manage at home alone taking care of Yun Ge’er? Sister-in-law and Azheng also have to enter the palace. Should I send someone to Elm Tree Lane to let your sister know to come keep you company?”
Because of Cheng Jing, Madam Guo had been granted the rank of first-rank Lady of Imperial Favor.
How could she have forgotten that Madam Guo also had to enter the palace to mourn!
Zhou Shaojin scrambled up at once, rubbing her eyes as she said hurriedly, “I’ll get up right now…” But she had no idea how alluring she looked with her sleepy eyes and half-slipped sleeves. Cheng Chi’s gaze darkened and darkened again. It took great effort to control his emotions as he picked Zhou Shaojin up and placed her on the heated platform by the window.
Chun Wan brought in maids with water to wash Zhou Shaojin’s face. Only then did Zhou Shaojin fully wake up and discuss with Cheng Chi, “These next few days everyone has to enter the palace to mourn. Why don’t we have Abao and Aren brought over for me to look after? Usually when we have matters to attend to, Second Sister-in-law is always eager to help me.”
Cheng Chi was afraid she couldn’t manage several children, but since Shaojin had this intention, he felt she could try. If it didn’t work out, later he could just have her care for Yun Ge’er alone.
“Then let’s bring them over,” Cheng Chi said. “When we go pay our respects to Mother in a bit, we’ll ask what she thinks.”
That was natural.
Zhou Shaojin nodded with a smile. She had someone inform Madam Guo they were coming for breakfast, and after washing up with Cheng Chi, they went to Tingxiang Courtyard.
Madam Guo was waiting for them to have breakfast.
Yun Ge’er was sleeping in Madam Guo’s canopy bed and hadn’t woken yet.
Zhou Shaojin told Madam Guo about wanting to bring Abao and Aren over.
“Excellent!” Madam Guo was both gratified and pleased to hear this. “Brothers should care for and look after each other like this. Even if you can’t manage everything, aren’t there still those servants and wet nurses? You just need to keep an eye on them and make sure nothing happens to them.”
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly. She sent Nanny Shang over to Qiu Shi’s place and also sent someone to ask Cheng Zheng if she needed help looking after Gu Ning and Gu Zhong.
Qiu Shi had originally entrusted Abao and Aren to Cheng Sheng. When Cheng Sheng heard that Zhou Shaojin had sent someone to fetch Abao and Aren, she felt Zhou Shaojin’s place would be more fun, so she came along with Rui Ge’er in her arms.
Cheng Zheng entrusted her children to Cheng Xiao. When Cheng Xiao heard that Cheng Sheng had taken her child to Zhou Shaojin’s place, she also brought Gu Ning and Gu Zhong to Chaoyang Gate.