Before the martial examination’s literary test began, Empress Zhou had already selected a suitable consort candidate for the Eldest Princess from among the newly successful literary jinshi who could remain in the capital—Yu Shen.
Yu Shen was twenty-four years old this year, from Yiyang County in the capital. His grandfather had once held office as Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and his father was also a successful candidate in both examinations, though he unfortunately passed away from illness in his early thirties. Influenced by his grandfather, Yu Shen had been observant of people and affairs around him from a young age and was devoted to books on law and criminal cases. Empress Zhou had even uncovered Yu Shen’s childhood declaration that he would one day become Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
Empress Zhou had also specifically asked Prince Kang to sound him out. Yu Shen, who had achieved top rankings in the second tier, remained unchanged in his aspirations—he still wished to enter the Court of Judicial Review.
Empress Zhou was very satisfied, because this dynasty followed the old system of the previous dynasty. Consorts could enter the court as officials, but civil officials could not enter the Central Secretariat and could not hold positions of third rank upper grade or higher in the Six Ministries. Military officials could not hold positions of second rank upper grade or higher and could not be appointed as commanding generals leading troops. These were all measures to limit the consorts’ power and prevent consorts and princesses from rebelling.
Empress Zhou’s two biological imperial sons had both died young at tender ages. Now she had only the Eldest Princess as her precious daughter. Neither mother nor daughter harbored ambitions, so naturally she didn’t want to select an ambitious consort with great aspirations for the officialdom and thus hinder his prospects. But Empress Zhou also didn’t want to casually select a consort without great talent and thus wrong her daughter. Looking back and forth, Yu Shen was excellent. His specialty was in solving cases, and the third rank upper grade position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was also something a consort could achieve. Marrying her daughter wouldn’t burden his ambitions.
When Empress Zhou mentioned this matter to Emperor Yongchang, he immediately understood her loving heart toward their daughter. Emperor Yongchang also regarded the Eldest Princess as the apple of his eye. That Yu Shen was handsome with an upright bearing—indeed suitable for the gentle and refined Eldest Princess. If he insisted on selecting a consort with prime ministerial talent for his daughter, after he passed and the new emperor ascended, should the new emperor fear the power of the Empress Dowager and Princess Imperial, it would be trouble for both siblings.
With a consort candidate for the Eldest Princess, Emperor Yongchang went to ask Consort Du and the Second Princess their thoughts on what kind of consort they wished to select.
The Second Princess didn’t like weak scholarly types and wanted to choose from among the martial jinshi.
After the martial examination palace test’s results were officially posted, that evening Emperor Yongchang came to Consort Du’s Yikun Palace and directly handed her a list of several martial jinshi he considered suitable for her to review.
Ranked first was the Third-Place Scholar Li Tingwang, whose family background, appearance, and abilities all suited the Second Princess.
Looking at this name she had already learned of in advance, Consort Du silently bloomed with laughter in her heart.
That dead girl Yao Huang had repeatedly left her speechless and humiliated in her rebuttals, embarrassing her before His Majesty, the Empress, Consort Xian, and Consort Rou. Consort Du had long wanted to teach the dead girl a lesson. Since she couldn’t find fault with Yao Huang in the palace, she had people investigate whether Yao Huang had done anything before the selection that could be exploited. This investigation revealed that Yao Huang actually had a handsome childhood companion named Li Tingwang. Further investigation showed Li Tingwang was studying at the Military Academy, frequently topping the year-end assessments. Passing the martial jinshi examination was practically a foregone conclusion.
Consort Du didn’t want Emperor Yongchang to know she had prepared in advance to target Yao Huang, so she remained patient, waiting and waiting until finally tonight when Emperor Yongchang personally delivered Li Tingwang’s name into her hands.
“Since he’s the Third-Place Scholar, he surely has looks rivaling Pan An?” Consort Du asked with great interest.
Emperor Yongchang thought of Li Tingwang seated in the first position of the first row at the palace test and nodded.
This young man’s martial skills and essays were impeccable—a fine young man excelling in both literary and martial arts. But this young man’s demeanor wasn’t quite right. To say he was composed—indeed, he showed no nervousness or anxiety at an audience with the emperor. Yet Li Tingwang’s composure differed from the steadiness of Luo Kun and the others. This lad seemed to carry a strange air of unyielding righteousness, as if to say “I’ll take my examination, judge me as you will, even if you give me inferior grades I’ll remain clear in conscience.” It was as if he was certain the palace test might involve shady dealings suppressing truly talented scholars. Emperor Yongchang felt this child’s temperament still needed more tempering.
Consort Du smiled and said, “Then let’s tentatively decide on him. However, such a handsome and talented young man, though not yet married, inevitably has some young ladies among his relatives and friends who admire him. Why doesn’t Your Majesty first send someone to investigate Li Tingwang’s conduct regarding women? If his behavior is frivolous or if he already has a pile of concubines around him, then I would have to find him unsuitable.”
For parents to have such concerns about a son-in-law was only natural. Emperor Yongchang thus dispatched a shadow guard to investigate.
Shadow guards serving beside the emperor, especially those specializing in investigating people’s backgrounds, found investigating a young man from a thousand-household commander’s family utterly effortless. The shadow guard went to investigate on the morning of the tenth and returned at dusk. Kneeling before Emperor Yongchang, this shadow guard remained as calm and steady as always.
Emperor Yongchang asked, “What did you find?”
Shadow guards must tell the truth. Speaking unpleasant truths wouldn’t necessarily mean death, but once His Majesty learned the real situation from others, shadow guards guilty of deceiving the emperor would certainly die.
“In reply to Your Majesty, Li Tingwang maintains propriety. He has no concubines around him and has never behaved frivolously or improperly toward any young lady.”
Emperor Yongchang was about to nod when he heard the shadow guard continue: “However, Li Tingwang and Prince Hui’s consort’s brother Yao Lin are close childhood friends. From age twelve onward, he frequently visited Yao Lin to play, thus often encountering the Princess Consort. He is suspected of harboring admiration for the Princess Consort, but according to other playmates of the Princess Consort’s siblings, Li Tingwang often displeased the Princess Consort. When the Princess Consort interacted with him, they frequently quarreled. Only when learning swordsmanship from Li Tingwang would she show him any good face. After the Princess Consort married, Li Tingwang never again visited the Yao family. His mother had intended two years ago to arrange a match with the daughter of Eastern Battalion Guard Commander Cui Gang, but Li Tingwang consistently refused.”
Emperor Yongchang was speechless.
The shadow guard continued, “This humble servant also learned that this year in the first month, someone else inquired about the Princess Consort’s past affairs, asking about any scandalous behavior by the Princess Consort. The other party offered too much silver. The Princess Consort’s old playmates thought hard and could only think of Li Tingwang, but they had never seen the Princess Consort alone with Li Tingwang. Even sword practice took place in the Yao family courtyard with Yao Lin and Lady Yao present.”
The image of Consort Du’s smile when mentioning Li Tingwang immediately floated before Emperor Yongchang’s eyes. Truthfully, he hadn’t seen Consort Du smile so brilliantly in a very long time.
“Go warn those who revealed the Princess Consort’s past affairs to you. Make them never dare gossip about the Princess Consort to anyone again.”
“Yes.”
The next morning, after receiving several ministers, Emperor Yongchang was about to send someone to summon Prince Hui to the imperial study when, after a moment’s hesitation, he took Eunuch Wang and went out himself.
The sunlight was bright and warm, making one feel lazy. Emperor Yongchang stretched his arms and first went to the Central Secretariat to see what the prime ministers were doing, then toured the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Censorate, Ministry of Justice, Court of Judicial Review, as well as the Imperial Clan Court, Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Revenue, and Ministry of Rites along both sides of the outer palace avenue. Meanwhile, news that “His Majesty is making inspection rounds” had already spread throughout the various government offices.
Zhao Sui sat in his own office. Hearing some commotion outside, he called Qing Ai to see what had happened.
After Qing Ai returned, he smiled and said, “They’re saying His Majesty is going through each government office one by one up ahead. Minister Yan is telling various departments of our Ministry of Works to quickly conduct self-inspections—dirty places must be wiped, messy places must be tidied.”
As he spoke, Qing Ai also secretly scanned the floor of His Highness’s study.
Zhao Sui said nothing.
Prince Hui didn’t pay much attention to this until Emperor Yongchang “inspected” his way to the Ministry of Works, sat with Yan Lun for about fifteen minutes, then naturally came alone to Prince Hui’s office.
Eunuch Wang, Qing Ai, and Fei Quan all stood outside.
Zhao Sui pushed his wheelchair himself to the doorway to welcome Father Emperor, then invited Father Emperor to be seated.
Emperor Yongchang looked at his son’s hands pushing the wheels. He should be accustomed to it, yet his heart still ached. Li Tingwang had displayed such an unyielding attitude in the great hall—surely he had guessed that Second Son already knew about his past admiration for Second Son’s wife, and was holding his head high to tell Second Son that he conducted himself properly and uprightly, unafraid of Second Son suppressing him!
Emperor Yongchang wanted to ask Second Son how he knew. Second Son’s wife couldn’t possibly have volunteered this information. Could it be that when the Princess Consort went out, she encountered Li Tingwang, and they did or said something that Second Son personally witnessed? Only this could explain Li Tingwang’s unusual behavior.
Emperor Yongchang knew Second Son had been good-tempered since childhood, able to endure and yield. So he wanted to ask clearly—if Second Son’s wife truly dared to make Second Son suffer grievances, he would take charge for Second Son!
But as soon as Emperor Yongchang entered, he saw Second Son’s wheelchair—the fine wheelchair Second Son’s wife had devised.
Such a young lady who dared to speak, laugh, and run must truly and sincerely care for Second Son to enable Second Son’s current service at the Ministry of Works.
Taking a sip of tea, Emperor Yongchang patted his legs, a bit tired from making such a big circuit. He smiled and asked what Second Son was busy with, then mentioned the Princess Consort’s four brothers: “Four jinshi on one list—your wife must be blooming with joy, yes?”
Zhao Sui thought of the Princess Consort’s smile that hadn’t left her face these past two days. His usually serene eyes gained a bit more warmth as he said, “Indeed, she’s beside herself with happiness.”
Emperor Yongchang had been on the throne for over thirty years and had long since developed keen eyes. Without even deliberately staring, a simple exchange of glances could reveal another’s emotions.
Therefore, he saw very clearly—Second Son didn’t care at all how many childhood companions the Princess Consort had. Second Son was entirely satisfied with this Princess Consort of his!
The tenderness that had never appeared in Second Son’s eyes during his eighteen years growing up in the palace—his wife had cultivated it in him.
This being the case, why should he mention such mood-spoiling matters?
Emperor Yongchang, having simply “inspected” Prince Hui’s office, soon departed and continued to the adjacent Ministry of War.
That evening, Emperor Yongchang came to Yikun Palace again.
After dismissing the attendants, looking at the anticipation Consort Du tried so hard to hide in her eyes, Emperor Yongchang smiled slightly: “During the selection, you were dissatisfied with Second Son’s wife because you felt her family background was too low. Later you were dissatisfied with Second Son’s wife because you resented that she couldn’t tolerate you belittling Second Son, that she didn’t yield to you in everything like Second Son did. Isn’t that right?”
Consort Du’s face paled as she nervously clutched her handkerchief to her chest: “Why does Your Majesty suddenly say such things? I…”
Emperor Yongchang’s smile faded as he glared at her: “Silence!”
Consort Du trembled all over, no longer daring to speak further, only gazing pitifully at Emperor Yongchang as if to express her grievances.
Emperor Yongchang was too lazy to confront her directly and stated bluntly: “I am very satisfied with Second Son’s wife. I don’t care how many real or fake childhood companions she had before. I only know she is of impeccable character and is the daughter-in-law I personally arranged through imperial decree. You’d better let whatever so-called leverage you know rot in your belly. If you dare tell anyone, I will demote your consort rank.”
Consort Du trembled again.
Emperor Yongchang said, “Speak. Who did you send to investigate? Who among your attendants has heard of this matter?”
His question was simple, yet carried thunderous authority. Consort Du’s attempt at concealment failed. She could only summon her chief eunuch, Eunuch Lu, because while she gave the orders, it was Eunuch Lu who arranged who to send, how to investigate, and who reported back.
Eunuch Lu was over fifty and could “retire to his hometown.” As for several other young eunuchs, they were all given to him as adopted sons to accompany him home and dutifully care for Eunuch Lu in his retirement years.
Consort Du received a box that Eunuch Lu had left for her, sent by Emperor Yongchang. It was said to be a small token of remembrance from decades of master-servant relationship.
Consort Du opened the box to find a bloody severed finger inside.
Consort Du fell ill. Emperor Yongchang paid no mind. Consort Du wasn’t a good foster mother, and he wasn’t any good father either. He had long known Consort Du treated Second Son too harshly. Only after Second Son grew into a youth and displayed literary and martial talents did he truly take notice of that pitiful imperial son born to a dancing girl. Had Second Son been mediocre and talentless, he probably would have continued ignoring that child.
Now Second Son’s legs were ruined. Having finally gained a considerate and caring Princess Consort, if Consort Du still wanted to destroy the young couple’s comfortable life, Emperor Yongchang had to give her a lesson to taste.
As for that Li Tingwang…
Emperor Yongchang felt proud of his Second Son again. At least when he was twenty-four, he absolutely wouldn’t have had Second Son’s magnanimity toward a “romantic rival.”
If Second Son didn’t mind, Emperor Yongchang naturally wouldn’t quibble with a wet-behind-the-ears youngster. Back then, Li Tingwang didn’t know the little childhood sweetheart would one day become a Princess Consort. He’d be a fool not to revolve around a beautiful and adorable little childhood sweetheart.
Soon, the official positions for the martial jinshi were all determined.
Second-Place Scholar Luo Kun and Third-Place Scholar Li Tingwang were both appointed as Assistant Guard Commanders of the fourth rank lower grade in the frontier armies. Luo Kun would go to Jincheng in Liangzhou, while Li Tingwang would go to Datong in Jinzhou.