The matter of the deposed empress involved palace secrets and national politics—it was an irreconcilable contradiction between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. Now that the Empress Dowager chose to bring up the deposed empress on such a day, who knew what she intended to do? Could it be that she wanted to use the birthday celebration as an opportunity to coerce the Emperor to follow filial duty and satisfy her long-standing desire to reinstall a Jiang family woman as empress?
Originally, when the Emperor was forced to make a Jiang family woman empress, he immediately married several daughters of equally important court ministers from powerful families, granting them the extremely high rank of the four consorts to check the Jiang family’s power. Within less than a year, these family powers escalated their conflicts, constantly causing trouble and fighting to the death. Finally, the Jiang family was accused by Consort De’s father, Sima Wei, of “enclosing land, plundering people, and privately storing grain to inflate market prices for huge profits.” This was originally a charge unrelated to major issues, and when the court sent investigators, the Jiang family didn’t take it seriously. Who knew the investigation would ultimately uncover that the Jiang family had dealings with Northern Wei, transporting grain to Northern Wei in exchange for weapons and supplies, plotting to usurp the throne. This case shocked the world. The Jiang family was raided by the court with thunderous force, and various prohibited items were discovered. A century-old great household, a distinguished noble clan—their destruction was truly a matter of moments. Then the Emperor issued an edict saying that the crime of rebellion was unforgivable, executing the three sons of the Jiang family as primary culprits. The rest, considering the Jiang family’s past merit in supporting the dragon, were spared death but exiled. Jiang family descendants were permanently forbidden from entering government service. This way, the Jiang family’s main male line was executed, and branch families could never enter office. This once illustrious clan that had produced two empresses for the current dynasty was destined never to have a chance at revival. As for the Empress Dowager and Empress, ministers originally thought there would be some implication, but the Emperor said, “The honor of fathers and brothers should not implicate women in the deep palace.” Though he said this, before long, Empress Jiang was deposed for serious crimes. Of the Jiang family, only Empress Dowager Jiang, who was not the Emperor’s birth mother, remained.
Sima Wei, who had achieved merit through his accusation, was immediately granted the title of Junior Tutor. The Sima family became complacent, thinking they could now sit securely on their fishing platform, and that Consort De’s promotion and claim to the empress crown was only a matter of time.
Who knew that before long, Consort De died of illness. The Sima family’s beautiful dream was shattered. Having lost their status as imperial relatives, they were transferred from positions of real power to honorary but powerless titles. Openly and secretly, they fell step by step, and before long, were brought down by someone’s secret report of dealings with palace eunuchs.
Thus, within less than two years, the great clans that had once been most powerful with the longest reach were all severely damaged in continuous struggles, none faring well. In their mutual attrition, imperial power became increasingly stable. In the second year of Tianbi, Xiao Jue made the pregnant Noble Consort Qin Chang Ge empress, and after Xiao Rong was born, immediately established him as crown prince.
At this point, all the great clans finally realized they had once again underestimated that seemingly rootless noble consort. However, it was already too late for recovery or redemption. They could only keep a low profile and conduct themselves carefully from then on.
Those who participated in the struggle without understanding its depths were all elderly families from former Yuan nobility. On the day the city fell, they hid in their country estates, fleeing far from the fires of war. When the new emperor entered the city, they knelt in submission, having never seen the iron-blooded battlefield prowess of the founding emperor and empress, much less how that always-smiling noble consort had originally overturned wind and clouds. It was those new nobles who had followed Xiao Jue in campaigns north and south who truly knew Qin Chang Ge’s formidability. Not only did they dare not interfere in palace affairs themselves, they also deeply warned their own daughters not to conflict with the noble consort—living peacefully and harmoniously was the greatest support for their families. This is why Consort Xian fell ill upon entering the palace, and though Consort Shu and Consort Yao were quite jealous by nature, they could only make a few sarcastic remarks verbally, ultimately managing to preserve themselves.
The noble ladies and princess consorts seated here were the highest-ranking noblewomen of the Xiliang dynasty. They naturally understood these court affairs and political matters in their hearts, but none dared speak them aloud. Seeing the Empress Dowager raise such a thorny topic, they all lowered their heads, pretending to eat vegetarian dishes, not even daring to look at Xiao Jue’s expression.
Yet unexpectedly, someone actually responded.
The speaker was the woman seated in the first position to the lower left of Empress Dowager Jiang, wearing a gold-inlaid twining lotus披帛, Tianhua brocade wide-sleeved clothing over a double-phoenix long skirt. Her head full of pearls and jade couldn’t hide her gaunt appearance. Most people present didn’t recognize her, but some knew she was Empress Dowager Jiang’s distant cousin, who had married Xiao Jue’s uncle Xiao Yi in her early years. Xiao Yi was currently enfeoffed as Prince An with his territory in Anzhou—a quite honest and virtuous prince. Years ago, when young Xiao Jue was frequently punished by Xiao Jin for his love of martial arts, Xiao Yi would always say a few good words for his nephew whenever he saw it. Therefore, after founding the nation, Xiao Jue also cared for this uncle who had helped in times of need, granting him Anzhou, which had simple customs and abundant products. For Prince An’s consort to travel a thousand li to offer birthday congratulations to the Empress Dowager was naturally appropriate. Speaking of this Princess An, she was both Xiao Jue’s aunt and his uncle’s wife—quite a close relationship.
“As the saying goes, when one person sits in sorrow, the whole gathering is unhappy,” Princess An also showed a sorrowful expression amid everyone’s held breath. “Although today is the Empress Dowager’s great day and I shouldn’t mention this, I think that if Zhaowei could personally come to celebrate aunt’s birthday, the Empress Dowager would be even more delighted. This is also my own selfish thought. Since the first year of Tianbi, when I followed the prince to our fief and bid farewell to the Emperor and Empress at Zheng’an Gate, I haven’t seen my niece for six years. The prince in Anzhou also quite misses her, always saying Zhaowei was lively and delightful as a child, wondering what she looks like now. So I thought, if there were a chance to see Zhaowei and tell the prince about her recent situation, it would fulfill the wish of us old couple approaching our graves.” Speaking thus, she wiped away tears and apologized to the Empress Dowager and Emperor for her impropriety.
She brought up Prince An, not mentioning the matter of the deposed empress in her words, making her case entirely based on human relationships and ethics—presenting perfectly proper reasons. It was merely an aged aunt and uncle missing their niece and seeking one meeting. Moreover, it was the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet. To refuse accommodation would inevitably lead to criticism of the Emperor, who was known for advocating filial piety and understanding heaven’s patterns.
In complete silence, everyone kept their heads down eating, but all pricked up their ears to catch Xiao Jue’s voice. They had all heard that although the Emperor was formerly wise and benevolent, in recent years his temperament had grown cold, his majesty increasingly heavy, and his moods unpredictable—quite frightening when aroused. Everyone feared being implicated and dared not speak further, pretending to pick up food with their chopsticks and put it in their mouths, only daring to chew after a long while, making no sound whatsoever.
Xiao Jue only held his wine vessel, gazing intently at the liquid within, as if there were some exotic spectacle in that vessel.
Too long a silence would become awkward. The Empress Dowager’s expression was already somewhat stiff, and Princess An twisted her fingers, sitting restlessly.
Fortunately, just as that stiff, congealed silence reached its explosive limit and Princess An leaned slightly forward, apparently about to leave her seat to beg forgiveness, Xiao Jue suddenly raised his head. His narrow, sharp eyes swept obliquely across the faces of Empress Dowager Jiang and Princess An, revealing a cold, stern smile as he said lightly, “Since it’s Mother Empress’s and the Prince and Princess’s wish, how could there be any reason not to fulfill it? I actually had the same intention, but was only worried that her mind is unclear. If she has an episode and frightens the Empress Dowager, consorts, and ministers’ wives, that would be troublesome. Since the Empress Dowager and Princess will take responsibility, there’s naturally no problem.”
Empress Dowager Jiang seemed not to hear the last sentence, only smiling, “The Emperor has become increasingly thoughtful and considerate.” She then ordered someone to go to Cold Spring Palace to invite the Jiang woman.
At this time, although everyone still forced themselves to appear joyful, they were actually all uncomfortable in their seats, not knowing what medicine the Empress Dowager was selling in her gourd—why did she want to see the deposed empress on this occasion?
Empress Dowager Jiang maintained a calm smile in her high seat, but in her shifting gaze lurked a trace of unease.
She had been waiting for this day for some time.
After Zhaowei was deposed, her mental state had always alternated between clarity and confusion. Considering this child was still of Jiang family blood, and with the Jiang family’s numbers now sparse, only she could still care for Zhaowei. She often secretly sent people to look after her. Unexpectedly, some days ago, Xiao Le’er, the palace maid serving Zhaowei, pulled aside the old nanny who came to deliver food, saying Zhaowei had nightmares every night, with evil dreams entering her embrace. When she woke, she would continuously mutter in a daze, saying “She’s back, she’s back.” Apart from this, her mind was becoming clearer day by day, and she daily clamored to see the Empress Dowager.
When the nanny reported to Empress Dowager Jiang, that inexplicable phrase “she’s back” that no one understood finally made the usually composed Empress Dowager change color. After long consideration, she decided to see Zhaowei. However, she understood in her heart that although Xiao Jue turned a blind eye to her sending clothes and food to Zhaowei, that was the limit. To see her privately would exceed Xiao Jue’s permitted boundaries and wouldn’t be easy.
Fortunately, the birthday celebration was approaching. She discussed with Princess An, who had arrived early, using the pretext of a niece celebrating her aunt’s birthday to force the Emperor to allow Zhaowei to come. As long as she could come, there would always be opportunities to keep her. Moreover, she had an even deeper intention.
If what Zhaowei said in her mad delirium—”she’s back”—truly meant what she feared and suspected, then that “she” must have returned for revenge. To take revenge on the imperial family, she definitely couldn’t have an ordinary identity. If not in the palace, she must be among the royal family’s wives. Besides her own birthday celebration, what other opportunity could legitimately gather all the noble wives of Xiliang’s imperial clan and princes?
That year, Zhaowei’s dancing and shrill laughter before the sea of fire at Changle Palace, and those strange words from her mouth that no one could understand—everyone thought it was just a madwoman’s ravings, but only she could never forget and deeply felt that Zhaowei’s infinitely chaotic consciousness in her mad delirium might have truly, at some moment, inadvertently touched upon the deepest secrets and truths.
She repeatedly spread her arms wide, making soaring gestures. In the demonic red flames, her black hair flew wildly, her unbelted long robe fluttering like wings. She climbed to high places, then swooped down like a great bird. She laughed brilliantly and gloriously, beautiful as peach blossoms, yet mockingly cold as an abyss. “One, two, three… hahaha…” She counted on her fingers with difficulty, as if unable to count properly, then laughed and threw her hands away, counted again, threw them away again, repeating this cycle as if it were the most interesting and amusing thing in the world, persisting relentlessly until the furious Xiao Jue ordered guards to pull her away.
That day, Empress Dowager Jiang stood in the covered walkway of Yuqing Palace outside Changle Palace, watching her niece’s mad behavior from afar. Under her wide sleeves embroidered with golden clouds, her pale fingers twisted fiercely together, like a heavy rope wound around her heart.
Now, three years later, her niece who had been mad for so long was miraculously gradually becoming lucid. She said: She’s back.
What a chilling phrase, what a disturbing phrase that kept one awake—this phrase made her feel as if drowning in deep water. She fiercely feared and hated that “she,” hated her so much that even if it were only a madwoman’s prophecy, she would spare no effort to verify it.
Better to kill wrongly than let her escape.
Let the mentally abnormal Zhaowei meet these women who gathered all of Xiliang’s females with status who might contact the imperial family. Perhaps there would be some discovery.
There were many people in the great hall. Qin Chang Ge followed Princess Wen Chang, pouring wine table by table. She smiled as she filled wine vessels without spilling a drop. Princess Wen Chang’s hand holding the cup was steady, but her gaze kept glancing toward the hall entrance.
In the distance, a slender figure, supported by palace maids, slowly walked into everyone’s complex gazes.
The Empress Dowager had already straightened herself, lips pressed tight, fingers gripping the armrests of her phoenix-carved golden throne. Xiao Jue held his wine cup, expression unmoved, but his gaze seemed to have flames burning within. The nearly magnificent fire at Changle Palace that night seemed to leap into his eyes at this moment, each spark bursting with painful memories.
That figure drew nearer and nearer.
Plain clothes and loose hair, no decorations except for a silver fox cloak the Empress Dowager had ordered brought to her. She wasn’t as emaciated as imagined, nor showed the mad, deranged behavior of legend—only her face was pale as a white jade statue, as if she had no strength even to walk, leaning on a palace maid’s shoulder as she slowly ascended the steps.
Everyone watched the former empress who had been confined in the cold palace for years and hadn’t been seen for so long—in common clothes and simple hair ornaments, without rouge or powder, looking desolate and pale as she approached with faltering steps. They all drew cold breaths in their hearts. They remembered how, years ago, the eldest daughter of the premier clan Jiang family, the first empress of the Xiliang dynasty, had possessed such glory, wealth, nobility, and dazzling beauty. Those noble ladies all remembered that Empress Jiang had always been beautiful—that kind of brilliant, jewel-like beauty that dazzled the eyes, with the imposing air of a noble lady raised by a golden, powerful family that could be sensed from ten zhang away. Now seeing this weak, haggard woman full of confusion and timidity, looking at her features that retained some brightness but were no longer dazzling, looking at her hair that had once been raven-black but now showed scattered white threads, their hearts shook as they realized she was only twenty-seven years old this year.
Time’s desolation hastens aging. Those who came, those who left, those who remained, those who changed—some turned to flying ash, some fell to dust, some wounded their hearts, some lost their foundations. In the end, no one emerged victorious. How lamentable.
At this moment, her footsteps echoed as she approached.
Near the hall entrance, she suddenly stopped, raised her head, and looked at Longevity Palace, which she had been separated from for years—those familiar yet strange golden magnificence, silver trees and flowers, silk and bamboo music, and imperial splendor. In her confused expression, gradually appeared an indescribable emotion.
She stood woodenly for a long time, finally slowly exhaling and lifting her foot to enter the hall.
Inadvertently, her gaze swept around.
At this moment, Princess Wen Chang and Qin Chang Ge happened to reach the hall entrance, at a table where two young ladies sat, both with good appearances. The younger one was particularly outstanding, with painted eyebrows that seemed somewhat familiar. Princess Wen Chang naturally recognized her and smiled, “Xiang Princess has also come today. You must drink an extra cup for your brother.”
That woman hurriedly stood to bow, her bright smile slightly shy, saying, “Yes, thank you for the Princess’s favor.” Her slender fingers reached for the wine cup.
Qin Chang Ge stepped forward to pour wine, suddenly feeling a gaze shooting toward her.
Looking up, she met Jiang Zhaowei’s eyes directly.
Those dark but unfocused eyes suddenly seemed struck by some invisible force, flashing with ghostly light. Then that blackness slowly expanded, like being torn by wild wind into a patch of deathly black, like shrieking dark water, like rolling abyss, layer upon layer revealing infinite blue-purple terror.
Those weren’t the eyes of a madwoman!
Qin Chang Ge suddenly felt alarmed. Jiang Zhaowei had been mad for a long time, and madmen couldn’t be estimated by normal reasoning!
Why was she looking at her like this?
At this moment, the two faced each other at the hall entrance. Princess Wen Chang and Qin Chang Ge were both taller than the deposed empress, completely concealing her. Apart from the four people toasting and drinking, everyone else was seated. Although they looked toward the hall entrance, they couldn’t see the deposed empress’s expression.
But both Qin Chang Ge and Princess Wen Chang had already noticed that in that instant, the deposed empress’s expression changed dramatically, her face full of terror as she raised her hand and opened her mouth to cry out!