The following day, Ling Jingshu rose early and went to pay her respects to Sun Shi.
“These past few days, coming suddenly out of the palace, I’ve still been in a daze. I’ve been neglecting to pay my respects to First Aunt-Mother. I hope First Aunt-Mother will not take offense.” Ling Jingshu smiled as she gave a graceful curtsy.
Sun Shi naturally had no cause for displeasure. She drew Ling Jingshu close to her side and studied her carefully, and only when she saw that her complexion was reasonably rosy did she feel reassured: “Yesterday, when the maid came back and told me, I was worried the whole time. I was thinking of inviting a physician to come have a look at you today!”
“I’ve given First Aunt-Mother cause to worry.” Ling Jingshu smiled apologetically: “There’s nothing seriously wrong with me. I just feel a persistent weariness in my body, a kind of listless lethargy I can’t quite shake. I imagine it’s because I’ve been so busy and occupied with duties every day — now that I’ve finally been given some leisure, I find I can’t quite adjust to it.”
Hearing this, Sun Shi’s eyes filled with a tenderness born of pity: “You were raised in comfort from childhood — when have you ever been made to wait on others? These two years and more in the palace, you’ve suffered greatly.”
Searching her own heart honestly, if it had been Ling Jingyan who had gone to serve in the palace, she as a mother would not have known how much her heart would have ached.
Ling Jingshu, however, was quite calm and composed: “It was indeed more demanding inside the palace. But it wasn’t as hard as First Aunt-Mother imagines. Especially after I came to serve beside Her Majesty the Empress — Her Majesty has always treated me exceptionally well.”
“That’s right! Had the Empress not held you in special regard, she would never have arranged your marriage to Dr. Wei.” Sun Shi smiled warmly as she took up the thread of conversation, and the more she thought about this match, the more satisfied she felt.
Winning the favor of the Crown Grandson was something beyond her reach and something she should not have aspired to — but having found shelter under the great tree that was Empress Wei, that was truly no small thing.
Wei Yan was the Empress’s only blood younger brother, and in proper terms, the National Uncle. Young and handsome, outstanding in his medical skill, with an excellent reputation — it was only a matter of time before he would take charge of the Imperial Medical Bureau.
To marry Wei Yan — one could not say it was anything but a truly fine match.
At the mention of her marriage to Wei Yan, a deep, warm sweetness welled up in Ling Jingshu’s heart. That happiness and joy flowed quite naturally to the corners of her eyes and brows, making her appear even more vividly radiant and beautiful.
Resplendent and brilliant, enough to move anyone who beheld her.
Jiang Shi soon arrived as well, bringing Junger with her.
Junger was already three years old this year — lips red and teeth white, a very handsome little boy. He walked with a steady, unhurried gait, not a trace of nervousness about him. Holding up his round, fair little face with an air of utmost seriousness, he cupped his hands together and gave a proper bow: “Junger pays respects to Grandmother, and to Auntie.”
The delivery was soft and milky, yet he insisted on carrying himself like a grown adult — it was simply adorable beyond measure.
The moment Sun Shi caught sight of her beloved little grandson, her face broke into beaming delight. She reached out and tugged Junger into her embrace, doting on him with every term of endearment she could muster.
Junger clearly did not enjoy this kind of affection, yet he could not very well struggle free, so his little face was a picture of helpless reluctance.
Watching this, Ling Jingshu also felt a great fondness, and turned to Jiang Shi with a smile: “In the blink of an eye, Junger has grown this big already. When I entered the palace, he hadn’t even been born yet!”
Jiang Shi glanced at her son with a look of tender affection, and replied with a smile: “It truly does pass so quickly. I still feel as though I only gave birth to him not long ago — and now he can already walk, run, and speak.”
“Junger has clear and articulate speech — he’s quite precocious. In another year or two, he’ll be ready to start his studies.” Looking at Junger, Ling Jingshu found her thoughts drifting naturally to Ling Xiao in his younger years: “A’Xiao was sharp from childhood — he could already read and recognize characters by the age of four.”
Jiang Shi smiled and said: “I’m also planning to have Junger begin his studies at age four!”
Morning slipped by in cheerful conversation and laughter.
……
In the days that followed, the Ling residence remained tranquil and undisturbed. Ling Daye continued to leave early and return late each day, frequently attending social gatherings with his colleagues.
Only Ling Jingshu understood that beneath this calm lay unseen currents and undercurrents surging in the depths. Once the Lu Family became entangled in the earth-shattering assassination case against the Emperor and the Crown Prince, it would be impossible for the Ling Family to remain entirely clear of it — they would inevitably face some measure of implication and disruption.
In order to prevent chaos in the court and panic among the officials, the matter of Lu Ping’s covert interrogation and imprisonment had been conducted entirely in secret from the very beginning. Only after the “interrogation” had “uncovered” conclusive evidence sufficient to convict Lu Ping and the Lu Family did the Crown Grandson announce it at court assembly.
Just as the Crown Grandson had anticipated, the matter immediately ignited a storm of discussion among the hundred officials.
Ever since the Emperor’s stroke, he could no longer attend court. The one presently managing court affairs on the Emperor’s behalf was the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince had always been known for his virtue and gentle temperament. Compared to the Emperor’s natural and imposing authority, he possessed a certain additional warmth and approachability. And because of this, the officials who presided over court under the Crown Prince’s direction had the courage to speak their minds freely.
The Minister of the Ministry of War clasped his hands together, his expression one of anguished remorse, and said: “Your Highness the Crown Prince, that one so deeply disloyal and treacherous has emerged from the Ministry of War — this old minister, as head of the Ministry, cannot escape responsibility. I humbly ask Your Highness to see fit to punish me as well.”
While outwardly requesting punishment, he was internally cursing Lu Ping with every vile epithet he could conjure.
To have dared meddle in the bloody battle for succession — truly tired of living!
Lu Ping was an Assistant Director of the Bureau under the Ministry of War. Now that he had committed such a grave crime, he as the presiding official of the Ministry could not avoid being tainted by the association.
Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince’s response was quite mild: “Lu Ping’s brazen and reckless behavior — what does that have to do with the respected minister? Since the matter implicates Prince Yan and Prince An, I cannot make a unilateral decision. After the assembly is dismissed, I will report the matter to my Imperial Father and let him make the final determination.”
This meant, apparently, that blame would not be redirected onto him.
The Minister of the Ministry of War felt his heart ease with relief, and offered a string of praises for the Crown Prince’s magnanimity and wisdom — not breathing a single word in defense of Lu Ping.
If even the Minister of the Ministry of War behaved thus, the others were all the more unwilling to open their mouths on the matter.
If Lu Ping wanted to seek his own death, that was his affair. Who would risk their own neck to plead for him?
Now that the position of the Ministry of War’s Assistant Director of the Bureau had been vacated, they needed to quickly settle on a suitable candidate to recommend to the Crown Prince.
After the assembly was dismissed, the Crown Prince and the Crown Grandson went together to Zichen Hall for an audience with the Emperor.
The Crown Grandson reported the matter of Lu Ping’s role as an accomplice in full, and at the end added: “…As to how Lu Ping should be dealt with, this matter is left for Imperial Grandfather to decide!”
Having already shown mercy to Prince Yan and Prince An, the Emperor harbored no such tender feelings for an ordinary official. A cold and murderous sneer crossed his face: “This Lu Ping — what audacity! His ambitions are not small either, dreaming of earning merit by supporting the winning prince. He has sought his own destruction — I might as well grant him his wish!”
“Lu Ping is naturally to be put to death.” The Crown Grandson’s composed expression grew ever more stern and forbidding: “All members of the Lu clan have already been placed under escort and are on their way to the capital. Under Dazhou’s statutory precedents, all males will be beheaded without exception; all female relatives and children under the age of ten may be spared their lives, but will be exiled beyond the frontier.”
The Emperor cared not in the slightest for the lives of the Lu Family members, and said in a cool, indifferent tone: “Such a trivial matter — you may handle all of it as you see fit!”
What was of far greater importance was how to deal with Prince Yan and Prince An.
Whenever the Emperor thought of those two traitorous sons, rage burned uncontrollably within him — and yet he could not harden his heart to the point of truly taking the lives of his own two sons. His heart was deeply conflicted, and he had wavered without resolution.
The Crown Grandson acknowledged this and exchanged a knowing glance with the Crown Prince.
Even if the Emperor was reluctant to have Prince Yan executed, it made no difference. In any case, the charge of treason was inescapable for Prince Yan — he could just as well spend the rest of his life confined to the Court of the Imperial Clan. That would do.