Guards from Prince Yan’s Mansion stood watch outside. From a distance, Qun Qing could already hear Bao Shu’s scolding voice: “I come under orders from His Highness the Crown Prince to visit Prince Yan’s consort. You’re all armed and fierce-looking—what do you think you’re doing?”
Juan Su said, “The Princess Consort is in labor and needs quiet. Visits are inconvenient. Please return, Consort.”
“You, a mere guard with a saber, dare obstruct me? You overstep your authority. Aren’t you afraid I’ll have you arrested right now?”
Qun Qing passed by Cui Yu and said softly, “Go request Her Majesty the Empress to come.”
Cui Yu’s face showed incomprehension. Everyone knew Empress Ma was timid by nature and would only equivocate when matters arose. If something truly happened, all the servants present would inevitably face punishment.
“Lady Qing, Her Majesty the Empress is unlikely to uphold justice for us. She might even harm the Princess Consort instead. You should do as the Princess Consort said and quickly leave through the back door. The servants have been instructed to say they never saw you.”
Qun Qing said, “Go now.”
Cui Yu’s lips trembled. She could only accept the order. The palace maids and inner servants standing together hung their heads, their morale already scattered, lamenting their misfortune.
Qun Qing walked to Juan Su’s side. Seeing her dragging a sword radiating cold light, Juan Su was startled: “My lady!”
Qun Qing raised her wrist. That gleam of cold light pointed directly at Bao Shu. Bao Shu felt a chill between her brows and fell silent. Several officials from the Bureau of Imperial Astronomy all looked at this young woman before them.
Her eye corners tilted slightly upward. This face, not extraordinarily beautiful, was illuminated by moonlight. The calm killing intent in her eyes was like trembling dewdrops.
“You’ve gone mad—pointing a sword at me?” Bao Shu said. “Let’s see if you dare kill me. Come, draw a line across my face.”
Qun Qing knew she was trying to provoke her. She pressed forward gently. Bao Shu’s forehead ornament shattered with a sound. Bao Shu immediately touched her forehead and stepped back several paces, furious beyond measure: “The honorable officials of the Bureau of Imperial Astronomy have calculated that Prince Yan’s heir will bring calamity to the realm. Qun Qing, protecting him so, be careful you cannot escape involvement!”
“The young heir has not yet been born, yet you’ve already calculated this? If the calculation is wrong, how do you intend to bear responsibility?” Qun Qing gazed at those several people. They all lowered their heads, not daring to meet her eyes.
“Just wait and see.” Bao Shu stood firm and refused to leave, appearing quite confident. “If the calculation is wrong, Director Qun need not act—I myself will submit a memorial accepting punishment.”
“It must be that Medical Officer Xu sensed something when helping the Princess Consort turn the fetus,” Juan Su said to Qun Qing. “My lady should have listened to me. Once Medical Officer Xu discovered anything, we should have expelled him.”
Qun Qing said nothing, silently noting sounds in the distance. They had just seen the child’s head—birth was but a moment away. Childbirth was like passing through the gates of hell. At such an urgent time, what she could do was prevent outside matters from disturbing Xiao Yunru.
Suddenly, a baby’s cry rang out. Bao Shu’s eyes widened. Then came the sound of a copper basin falling inside the hall and the midwives’ low cries, making everything extremely quiet, leaving only the sound of wind.
“Has it been born?” Seeing the midwife run out, Qun Qing asked her.
The midwife knelt prostrate, unable to speak for a long while before saying, “My lady, you should go inside and see for yourself.”
Juan Su blocked the doorway. Qun Qing quickly walked back into the hall.
In the wooden cradle, within the swaddling cloth, Qun Qing saw the newborn infant.
Glimpsing its appearance, her heart trembled.
The baby’s cheeks were covered with palm-sized red marks. At the lips, it was even more grotesque and terrifying—an undisguisable deformed child, breathing with difficulty.
Qun Qing immediately looked toward Xiao Yunru, fearing she could not withstand such a blow. Giving birth to a deformed child in the palace was extremely inauspicious and dangerous—in old Chu, consorts who bore deformed children were considered guilty and would be granted death by white silk.
Xiao Yunru leaned disheveled in the curtained bed. Palace maids had already helped wipe her body, yet her expression was exceptionally calm. She looked at it indifferently, her eyes showing neither much affection nor hatred, as if contemplating something.
Xiao Yunru said to the midwife prostrate on the ground, “Go report it.”
The midwife, sweating profusely and ashamed, said, “This servant’s duty requires reporting to the Sage. Ten thousand wishes that the Princess Consort takes care of herself. Since the Sage’s illness, his intentions are difficult to predict. Consorts favored today may lose favor tomorrow…”
Even though Prince Yan had distinguished military achievements, with the Princess Consort having now borne a deformed child, she might immediately lose the Sage’s favor.
Having said this, the midwife bowed once and hastily withdrew through the back door.
Bao Shu’s voice drifted faintly from outside: “Still saying it’s not a deformed child—I heard it all! Such an inauspicious occurrence—doesn’t this prove the Bureau of Imperial Astronomy’s calculations were true? Today I am here and must handle this according to palace regulations.”
Qun Qing paused, helped tuck in Xiao Yunru’s blanket, and instructed the nearby palace maid to care for her well: “The Princess Consort is weak after childbirth. Rest for a moment. I have a way to respond.”
With that, she closed the hall door and walked out.
Bao Shu stared at Qun Qing: “I and the other honorable officials of the Bureau of Imperial Astronomy witnessed with our own eyes that Prince Yan’s consort bore a deformed child. Do you think blocking me can seal off the news?” Seeing Qun Qing defeated, her expression showed nothing but satisfaction. “Heaven has mercy—the accounts between you and me can be settled now.”
She said, “Director Qun secretly brought a wandering quack physician into the palace to recklessly administer medicine to the Princess Consort, causing her to bear a deformed child. Why don’t you go arrest Director Qun and that incompetent physician!”
“That won’t be necessary.” Qun Qing said. “I’ve already brought you the person.”
With that, she grabbed the bound Medical Officer Xu and threw him at Bao Shu’s feet. Upon seeing Bao Shu, Medical Officer Xu made muffled sounds from his mouth.
Bao Shu said, “I’m talking about Physician Li.”
Qun Qing’s face showed faint confusion: “There’s no such person. From beginning to end, wasn’t it Medical Officer Xu who was responsible for the Princess Consort’s pregnancy?”
Bao Shu laughed coldly: “My Father has already had the Supreme Court Minister investigate Xiao Jingxing’s entry and exit records and submitted them to the Sage’s desk. Even if you let Physician Li escape, the Jinwu Guard will capture and execute him.”
Qun Qing showed no fear whatsoever: “I had Xiao Jingxing invite Physician Li into the palace because the Crown Prince’s consort had severe morning sickness, to deliver a remedy for her. What does this have to do with Prince Yan’s consort?”
“Wasn’t he in the inner hall just now?”
Medical Officer Xu nodded vigorously. Qun Qing said, “He accompanied the Crown Prince’s consort to Xianyou Temple to recuperate. Xianyou Temple is where the Liuli Kingdom’s envoys reside. Consort Meng surely wouldn’t go there to make a scene, would she?”
A quarter hour earlier, Zheng Zhiyi’s carriage, loaded with luggage, waited at the back gate of Prince Yan’s Mansion.
Once Physician Li boarded the carriage, Lan Yue urged the horses forward. The carriage, without lighting any lamps, swayed and jolted toward Xianyou Temple. Zheng Zhiyi said, “Looking at how pleased Meng Bao Shu is—if Lady Qing hadn’t insisted I hide, would I be afraid of her!”
Lan Yue said, “Now Consort Meng covets the position of Crown Prince’s consort. You are with child and cannot take risks. This servant feels Lady Qing spoke correctly. When one should avoid the storm, one must avoid it. With peace talks currently underway, where could be safer than the envoys’ residence?”
…
Bao Shu ground her teeth: “Fine, you’ve arranged everything… but Prince Yan’s consort bearing a deformed child is still an indisputable fact. Prince Yan merely has a birthmark on his face, yet suffers the Sage’s disgust. What do you think will happen when the Sage learns of this?”
Before finishing, she heard an inner servant’s shrill voice: “Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!”
Empress Ma, having received the news, hurriedly descended from her sedan chair.
Seeing Empress Ma, Bao Shu felt no fear. The Empress usually saw her and dared not offend, unable to stir up any trouble. Upon seeing that deformed child, she would probably be frightened senseless—there would be quite a show to watch: “Please, Mother Empress, you must uphold justice.”
Empress Ma had already walked quickly into the inner hall. Seeing the child in the cradle, she was indeed so frightened she nearly fainted, supported by an attendant palace maid.
Cui Yu’s face showed unease, fearing Empress Ma would blame Xiao Yunru. Qun Qing stood to one side, fixedly watching the Empress’s aged, panicked profile.
Empress Ma held the cradle, looking with complex emotions at her newly born grandson.
For an instant, it was like a nightmare returning. She remembered the moment when the midwife brought out Li Huan—the grotesque red birthmark on the infant’s face. She had fainted from fright immediately. Upon awakening, she heard that bearing such a baby meant the mother had lost virtue. Empress Dowager Yuan pleaded for her, barely preserving the mother and son’s position and lives, but affection and warmth left her forever.
Henceforth despised by Emperor Chenming, mocked by household members, unable to raise her head for thirty years.
Looking at Xiao Yunru in the curtained bed was like seeing her own terrified former self. Not knowing the reason, having suffered pain too, yet not knowing why such a fate had chosen her particularly.
Seeing the infant’s appearance, Bao Shu covered her mouth and reminded: “Mother Empress, if this happened in old Chu, both would be executed. If the Princess Consort is not punished, rumors will spread throughout the entire palace.”
After all, Li Huan was the Empress’s own son. Fearing she might be soft-hearted, Bao Shu reminded: “Father Emperor is still ill. Bearing this deformed child is truly inauspicious and connected to the realm’s fortune. What if it affects Father Emperor’s illness?”
These words gradually overlapped with the harsh ridicule of years past.
Bao Shu was still reminding from behind when Empress Ma suddenly turned and slapped her across the face.
This slap scattered Bao Shu’s hair. Everyone in the hall was shocked, and Bao Shu was utterly horrified. She looked at Empress Ma, whose eyes were bloodshot: “What does your Father Emperor’s illness have to do with women giving birth to children?”
Bao Shu’s face stung, her head throbbed with pain. She could hardly believe what had just occurred, only suspecting Empress Ma had taken the wrong medicine. Wasn’t she usually most afraid of Emperor Chenming?
“Someone come.” Empress Ma said. “Who is the medical officer responsible for the Princess Consort? The medical officer’s improper use of medicine caused the Princess Consort to bear a sick child. Drag him out and beat him to death with rods!”
Hearing this, Medical Officer Xu’s face turned ashen. He immediately began to struggle. Seeing this, Bao Shu hurriedly said, “Mother Empress…”
Empress Ma glared at her coldly: “You shut your mouth. I am the Empress—can I not discipline a junior? Consort Meng disturbed the Princess Consort’s childbirth late at night. Her stipend is forfeit for half a year, and she is demoted to Consort of Good Character. Have the Crown Prince come personally to accept punishment. And all of you—”
Empress Ma had never been so sternly harsh, almost appearing fierce. “The heir is weak and ill, unsuitable to be seen. Whoever spreads rumors again will have their tongue pulled out and also be beaten to death with rods!”
She walked several circles, then strode to the doorway, pointing at the Bureau of Imperial Astronomy officials kneeling prostrate there: “Get out!”
Those several people were of low rank to begin with. Suffering such rebuke, they hastily kowtowed and rolled and crawled their way out.
That Medical Officer Xu had already been dragged away, his voice now silent. Bao Shu trembled with anger, her hands also shaking slightly. All palace maids and inner servants throughout the palace knelt down, not daring to breathe heavily. Qun Qing knelt together with them, yet breathed slightly easier.
Cui Yu was somewhat dazed, weeping with extreme joy, quietly asking: “How did Lady Qing know Her Majesty the Empress would help us?”
Qun Qing had merely been gambling—gambling on the bitterness of rear palace women, gambling on Empress Ma’s heart as a fellow woman.
But even having passed today’s calamity, with the deformed child and rumors spreading throughout the palace, they would obviously deal a heavy blow to Prince Yan’s Mansion.
Qun Qing thought to herself: returning from Yunzhou, everything done in vain—she wondered what expression Lu Huating would have.
After the earlier turmoil, Prince Yan’s Mansion was in disarray. Now that the storm had passed, Cui Yu led inner servants and palace maids to restore everything to order.
Qun Qing saw the phoenix carriage off. Returning, she saw Cui Yu, face deathly pale, running toward her in panic: “The Princess Consort has disappeared! The Princess Consort has disappeared!”
Qun Qing rushed to the hall. She saw only pale curtains stirred by wind, the bed empty, with only Xiao Yunru’s palace robes, embroidered shoes, hairpins and ornaments left neatly behind. The cradle beside was also empty.
“Just now the Princess Consort had this servant and Fenghuan fetch water. When we returned, the Princess Consort and the young heir were gone.” Cui Yu said. “It must be those rumors that did this! Those damned people insisting the Princess Consort was improper in her maiden days—the Princess Consort heard the rumors and hasn’t slept well for several nights.”
Qun Qing immediately recalled how on the ox cart in Nan Chu, Xiao Yunru had used a gold hairpin to cut her wrist. She said, “Go search by the palace wells and pools.”
The palace people’s faces changed. They immediately dispersed to search in all directions.
Qun Qing took up a lamp and hurried along the palace path, watching the tree groves on both sides as she walked. Xiao Yunru had just given birth and should be weak and powerless. Still holding the heir, she would not walk very quickly.
At this moment, Qun Qing saw a snow-white figure walking on the palace path.
Xiao Yunru wore only a snow-white inner robe, her hair loose and feet bare, holding the child as she walked the palace path very quickly. Ahead lay the Hall of Supreme Ultimate.
“Princess Consort, Princess Consort!” Qun Qing called to her, pursuing rapidly.
Finally drawing near, Xiao Yunru turned around. Seeing Qun Qing, she said, “Are you worried I’ll seek a short end?”
She glanced again at the child in swaddling cloth. Wind lifted her inner robe and long hair, creating a kind of broken, desolate beauty different from her usual dignified image: “I won’t—at least not before completing this task.”
With that, she stepped forward and knocked heavily on the copper ring of the Hall of Supreme Ultimate’s palace gate.
Qun Qing froze, because Emperor Chenming was recuperating from illness in the Hall of Supreme Ultimate. To avoid disturbance, he had already transferred regency matters to the Crown Prince. Knocking on the door and disturbing the Sage at night was extremely disrespectful. Xiao Yunru could not possibly be unaware of this. Yet she had removed her hairpins and loosened her hair—precisely the ritual of requesting punishment.
Xiao Yunru had already knocked several times, then knelt on the floor tiles: “Guilty daughter-in-law Xiao Yunru has matters to report to the Sage.”