When Wen Yu walked into the small Buddhist hall of Lingxi Palace, Grand Empress Dowager Jiang was kneeling on a prayer cushion worshipping Buddha. Inside the hall, misty smoke wafted about, the lattice windows tightly closed, the light dim.
She stood at the hall entrance, the daylight tilting in from behind her stretching in a long beam directly to beneath the prayer cushion where the Grand Empress Dowager knelt: “The Grand Empress Dowager seeks me—have you already thought through what Lord Qi advised at the court session today?”
Having experienced that scheme at the Mid-Autumn palace banquet, plus Dou Jianliang’s betrayal stabbing the Liang camp in the back, now in private, even as a nominal courtesy, Wen Yu was no longer willing to address Grand Empress Dowager Jiang as “Mother Empress.”
Grand Empress Dowager Jiang’s hands were joined together worshipping Buddha. Hearing these words, her brow couldn’t help but furrow deeply. Even with her eyes closed, anger visibly surfaced on her face. But in the end she first suppressed this anger. After finishing her worship and being helped to her feet by the nanny at her side, only after sitting down on the sandalwood couch to the side did she glance sideways at Wen Yu: “What good methods you have, to actually persuade even Qi Simiao to turn and join you.”
Wen Yu remained unruffled: “It’s not that Yu’s methods are exceptional. It’s only that among this court full of petty schemers, there is still Lord Qi, such a minister who wholeheartedly serves the people. Why must the Grand Empress Dowager deceive herself and others?”
Grand Empress Dowager Jiang’s expression suddenly turned ugly as she heavily slapped the armrest of the sandalwood couch: “To abandon our Chen Kingdom’s century-old foundation—in your mouth, this Liang woman, it becomes doing this for our Chen Kingdom’s people? What a glib tongue for spouting nonsense and spreading demagogic talk!”
Wen Yu’s eyes turned cold: “Since the Grand Empress Dowager is so satisfied with Chen Kingdom’s national strength, you may as well continue advancing troops to Liang territory under the current circumstances. Though the Liang territory war will be fought with some hardship, my Great Liang’s army won’t be scattered for a while yet. When the subsequent military supplies for Chen troops in Liang territory cannot be allocated, I wonder whether the Grand Empress Dowager will abandon this Chen army suffering in Liang territory, or risk the people rising in rebellion to increase civilian taxes.”
Her tone was gentle as a breeze brushing the face, only the tail note carried a chill: “What Yu wants to remind the Grand Empress Dowager is that this is not the region within the passes from a hundred years ago. If Xiling and those tribes around Southern Chen catch even a whiff of blood, they will pounce and devour even your Chen Kingdom’s last bone completely. If Your Highness and Prime Minister Jiang still think that when truly reaching that step, you can emulate your ancestors to preserve royal bloodlines and flee to avoid disaster—that would be a joke.”
Grand Empress Dowager Jiang’s hand gripping the sandalwood armrest used such force that her tendons and bones turned white. She said forcefully: “No need for alarmist talk. That you could persuade Qi Simiao, beyond using people’s livelihood to wave the banner, you also made an issue of my son’s heir, didn’t you? But if in the future the Prince faction ministers know that what you bear in your womb is not our Chen Kingdom royal house’s bloodline, let’s see who will still submit to you!”
The corners of Wen Yu’s lips curved slightly as she retorted mockingly: “Yu also very much wants to know what the ministers’ reaction will be when they learn that the Grand Empress Dowager and Prime Minister Jiang back then eliminated all the late king’s heirs and supported a eunuch to the throne for all these years.”
“You!”
Those words were truly too unpleasant to hear. No matter how strong Grand Empress Dowager Jiang’s mental fortitude, she couldn’t help but be provoked, shouting: “Wen clan! Do you truly think this widow cannot control you?”
The eyes of both Zhao Bai and Bronze Sparrow following behind Wen Yu sharpened. They unobtrusively scanned the side halls on both sides of the Buddhist hall with tightly closed doors and windows, their whole bodies’ muscles tensing like tigers and leopards ready to leap at any moment.
Wen Yu’s tone didn’t change in the slightest: “Whatever methods the Grand Empress Dowager has, feel free to use them all on me.”
She raised her eyes, calmly meeting the Grand Empress Dowager’s gaze: “But if I die in your Chen Kingdom, your Chen Kingdom’s reputation of colluding with that Pei bandit will be established. Dou Jianliang only turned to join Pei Song and massacred allied forces after receiving authorization from your Chen Kingdom! My Liang camp ministers, even if they ally with the tribes beyond the passes or even Xiling, will make your Chen Kingdom pay blood for blood!”
“If the Grand Empress Dowager wants to emulate Dou Jianliang in pledging allegiance to Pei Song and hiding within the passes to seek protection, that would equally be destroying your century-old foundation while adding infamy.”
Grand Empress Dowager Jiang pressed her lips tightly together without speaking, her chest heaving violently. She was clearly furious but had nowhere to vent this foul anger.
Her earlier words were just satisfying a momentary verbal victory. She naturally knew she couldn’t harm Wen Yu. Having paid such a great price initially to facilitate the two kingdoms’ alliance, if she now harmed Wen Yu causing the two kingdoms to become enemies, that would truly be losing both the lady and the soldiers.
Wen Yu lowered her long lashes, looking faintly weary. “The fact that I, Wen Yu of the Wen clan of Hanyang, still stand here means that I am still willing to negotiate with your Southern Chen. That Pei bandit bears the blood-debt of killing my father, my mother, my brother, my teacher, and my nephew. What I seek is only to concentrate the greatest possible strength in this endgame of a shattered situation to strike the Pei clan a heavy blow, while preserving as many lives as possible in both territories.”
After speaking, without looking at what expression the Grand Empress Dowager wore, she turned: “Regardless of whether Southern Chen agrees to what Lord Qi proposed at today’s court session about conferring upon me the title of Regent Princess Imperial, I must depart to return to Liang territory to preside over the overall situation. The Grand Empress Dowager and Prime Minister Jiang may deliberate anew before my departure and give me an answer.”
Just as Wen Yu was about to walk out of the great hall, Grand Empress Dowager Jiang’s heavy voice came from behind, still forceful yet also carrying some resignation: “What you bear in your womb must be my Jiang family’s bloodline.”
—
As Wen Yu descended the stone steps in front of Lingxi Palace, she encountered Jiang Yu in his Feathered Forest armor ascending the steps.
Since the Mid-Autumn palace banquet, this was the only time the two had met. Jiang Yu was even more careful to avoid suspicion than before. Upon seeing Wen Yu, he retreated to the side, cupped his fists, and bowed his head in greeting: “Respectfully see off Your Highness.”
His gaze lowered, only looking at the ground beneath his feet.
Surrounded by a ring of Azure Cloud Guards, Wen Yu descended the stone steps, her gaze fixed straight ahead. Though the autumn wind rose once more, it could scarcely stir the diyi she wore, with its intricate workmanship and heavy fabric. Only the golden phoenix buyao in her coiffure swayed in a slight arc with each step.
Only after Wen Yu had walked far did Jiang Yu straighten and glance at her departing back, then continue ascending the steps into Lingxi Palace. Seeing Grand Empress Dowager Jiang with closed eyes fingering prayer beads on a cushion in the Buddhist hall, he called: “Aunt, you sought me?”
—
Not until returning to Zhaohua Palace did Zhao Bai call out: “Princess…”
Wen Yu walked directly toward the sleeping chambers, ordering: “Help me change clothes.”
“Bronze Sparrow, you go make a trip to the Palace Ceremonial Office and pass a message to Eunuch Li.”
Two Azure Cloud Guards removed the heavy ornate robe from Wen Yu and took down the headful of pearls and jade that matched the diyi. Only when her three thousand strands of black hair fell freely, unbound, did Wen Yu feel her scalp—pulled tight all morning—finally relax.
She pressed the position of her temples. Seeing the palace attire the Azure Cloud Guards brought that she usually wore daily, she said: “Find me clothing suitable for leaving the palace.”
Zhao Bai was confused: “You’re going to leave the palace?”
Wen Yu looked at herself in the mirror: “Though the Grand Empress Dowager made concessions, she and the Jiang family, and even the Prince faction ministers, may not truly be willing to let me be their Chen Kingdom’s ‘Regent Princess Imperial’. My foundation in Southern Chen also cannot be considered stable. On this trip back to Liang territory, there will inevitably be new complications. I need to make advance arrangements.”
She had agreed to the Grand Empress Dowager’s conditions.
The Jiang family to Southern Chen was like root-eating vermin. But the Jiang family had long since gained power. Relying on thoroughly investigating the Ministry of Finance accounts and pursuing responsibility for Dou Jianliang’s betrayal was still insufficient to crush the Jiang family in one move, much less with Grand Empress Dowager Jiang in the palace helping to maneuver.
With a great enemy before them, she could only make the Jiang family restrain themselves first, unite against external threats—at least before she executed Pei Song, not give her any more trouble behind her back.
Using a Jiang family heir as bait to stabilize the Jiang family was the most worthwhile transaction.
But having this bait didn’t mean the Grand Empress Dowager and Jiang family wouldn’t sideline her regent authority in Southern Chen. She must leave some contingency plans before returning to Liang territory.
Zhao Bai and Bronze Sparrow’s expressions both tensed upon hearing this, both knowing the situation was urgent.
Bronze Sparrow asked: “What message do you want me to pass to Eunuch Li?”
As the words left her mouth, she realized something was wrong and hurriedly said: “No… isn’t that Eunuch Li someone by the Prince of Chen’s side? This servant has had people watching him for a long time. He also frequently goes to Lingxi Palace and seems to be a lackey on the Grand Empress Dowager’s side too.”
Wen Yu said: “He’s a clever person. Since the Mid-Autumn palace banquet, he’s been planning an escape route for himself.”
—
An hour later, Zhao Bai took Wen Yu’s token and drove a carriage openly out through the palace gates.
She frequently traveled outside the palace to handle matters for Wen Yu. After Wen Yu came to Chen territory, in several confrontations with Grand Empress Dowager Jiang, the Grand Empress Dowager had always been defeated. Moreover, Zhao Bai outwardly didn’t seem like someone with a good temper. The guards at the palace gates naturally didn’t dare provoke these people by the Princess Consort’s side. Each time they just checked the waist token and let them pass, their attitude often even qualified as respectful.
To avoid being followed, the master and servant still switched to another carriage midway before going to Wangyue Tower, the most renowned wine establishment in the royal capital.
Wearing a veiled hat, Wen Yu was eagerly led by a waiter to the door of an elegant room upstairs. After that shop waiter left, Zhao Bai knocked on the door. The master of the elegant room personally came to open the door—it was Fang Mingda.
After welcoming the two inside, he sent a clever servant to keep watch at the door. Returning to the room and seeing a servant pouring tea for Wen Yu, he hurriedly took over to personally pour tea for Wen Yu, his plump face piled with smiles: “Having returned to Chen territory for several months, suddenly receiving Your Highness’s summons, this humble minister is truly overjoyed yet terrified.”
After Wen Yu sat in the host’s seat, she didn’t remove her veiled hat. Naturally she didn’t touch that cup of tea Fang Mingda poured either, saying: “I hear Lord Fang has encountered some trouble recently.”
After Fang Mingda finished pouring tea and returned to his original seat, hearing the implications in Wen Yu’s words, he immediately played the victim: “The criminal eunuch matter implicated embezzlement in the Ministry of Finance accounts. The court and countryside are in turmoil—inevitably the fish in the moat suffer too, affecting the Ministry of Rites. This humble minister is of little importance and slight influence. I only hope that when the Three Judicial Offices conduct their joint trial, they can return this humble minister’s innocence.”
Thoroughly investigating the Ministry of Finance accounts would inevitably require checking the other five ministries that had account dealings with the Ministry of Finance. Fang Mingda held the position of Vice Minister in the Ministry of Rites. The Minister of Rites was one of Prime Minister Jiang’s faction, so naturally he also had to follow that alignment.
Only he was a person who, beyond being smooth, had always been cautious. He knew that the Ministry of Finance’s rotten accounts, under such accumulated weight, would one day be exposed to the surface and he must leave himself an escape route.
But his superior was insatiably greedy. If he didn’t follow along to skim some profit, he definitely wouldn’t be considered one of his superior’s own people and would instead arouse his superior’s wariness. Therefore Fang Mingda did follow along in embezzling some, but when the amount he embezzled was investigated, he would only be relegated to a remote place—still not enough to lose his official hat.
But when the Prince faction ministers began investigating their Ministry of Rites and Ministry of Finance accounts, his superior framed multiple accounts onto him, determined to make him the scapegoat.
Before news of Dou Jianliang’s betrayal had been transmitted back to Southern Chen, Fang Mingda could be called overwhelmed. During his period of being stripped of office at home, he had also secretly made multiple trips to the Jiang family. But the Prince faction ministers this time were clearly determined to make the Jiang family take a big fall, taking the opportunity to pull out a batch of Jiang family partisans.
After the Jiang family weighed matters, they had already abandoned their Ministry of Rites.
When Fang Mingda sought rescue from the Jiang family, all he received was an answer that they could protect his wife, children, and elderly mother.
Though the Jiang family didn’t say the rest, Fang Mingda was also clear—if he dared leak half a word about Jiang family matters, before his confession even left the prison, his entire family young and old would have to meet in the underworld.
To still know some of the latest news from court during his period stripped of office so he could think of ways to save himself, for half a month straight he had been getting drunk at Deyue Tower—actually gathering intelligence.
This morning when news of the court session had just reached his ears, when Wen Yu’s Azure Cloud Guards secretly came to notify him that Wen Yu wanted to see him, Fang Mingda treated Wen Yu as his last lifeline.
Wen Yu said: “From what I know, multiple embezzlements by the Ministry of Rites were all my lord’s doing.”
Fang Mingda immediately fell to the ground with a “thump,” kowtowing to Wen Yu: “Princess Consort, see clearly—this humble minister is truly wronged!”
At the window gap left two inches wide for ventilation, a breeze blew, stirring the white gauze hanging from Wen Yu’s veiled hat. She said unhurriedly: “Saying you’re wronged, I do believe somewhat. After all, the silver taels Minister of Rites Wu embezzled don’t compare to yours, Lord Fang.”
With several “thud thud” sounds, Fang Mingda kowtowed several more times heavily on the ground, his forehead already swollen with blood marks, crying: “Beg the Princess Consort to save this humble person. All those various matters when going to Liang territory for the marriage alliance truly were not this humble minister’s intention in the slightest. This humble minister was also following the instructions of Minister Wu and the Jiang family side…”
Wen Yu said: “I can protect you, but what can you do for me?”
Fang Mingda steeled his heart and pledged loyalty: “If I can be driven by Your Highness, this humble minister will go through water and tread on fire without declining!”
Wen Yu said: “Fine. Then you’ll continue remaining in the Ministry of Rites. Your official rank will be lowered by two levels to go teach at the Imperial Academy.”
Fang Mingda was overjoyed to the extreme and hurriedly said: “This humble minister thanks Your Highness!”
Wen Yu’s voice was light as she interrupted him: “I haven’t finished speaking.”
Fang Mingda was stunned.
Wen Yu said, “I’m protecting you, and I won’t let the Jiang family’s faction have any suspicion. After all, Lord Qi’s side is also not willing to expend such great effort only to conclude the case with you—just a mere Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. I want you to be my eyes and ears within the Jiang faction, and also to quietly cultivate some scholar-officials at the Imperial Academy who can be useful to me. Can you do it?”
Fang Mingda replied somewhat stuttering: “Can… can do it, but… but after this humble minister’s official position is demoted by two ranks, I’m afraid Prime Minister Jiang’s side won’t assign important matters to this humble minister anymore…”
Wen Yu said: “You peacefully lie low and properly teach at the Imperial Academy. Once there’s news, just promptly inform me.”
After the Prince faction ministers toppled the Minister of Rites, the one to sit in the Minister of Rites position next would certainly be someone from the Prince faction. Wen Yu arranging for Fang Mingda to teach at the Imperial Academy was helping him avoid the new broom sweeps after the Prince faction minister took office.
And Prime Minister Jiang was deeply calculating. After discovering he still had one chess piece in the Ministry of Rites that hadn’t been completely pulled out, he definitely wouldn’t let this chess piece sit idle. Rather, he would scheme how to use this chess piece to reclaim the Ministry of Rites.
Fang Mingda naturally responded repeatedly.
Wen Yu rose to leave. He saw her all the way to the door. Before Zhao Bai pulled open the room door, Wen Yu said: “By the way, I’ve already found a helper for you in the palace, lest you be tested by the Jiang family side and fall into a trap by passing false information. Your family members—I’ll also send people to protect them for you.”
After Fang Mingda saw Wen Yu off with endless thanks, when he closed the door, cold sweat covered his back.
This Great Liang princess could be said to have exercised both benevolence and authority to the utmost.
What finding a helper in the palace to prevent him from being tested by the Jiang family and falling into a trap—that was clearly warning him not to play tricks, as she had other eyes and ears who could know whether information was true or false.
As for sending people to protect his family members, this was also a disguised way of grasping his lifeline.
After Fang Mingda leaned against the door gasping for breath for a while, he finally resigned himself to accept all this.
Even though his life and property were still held in someone else’s hands, at least he had recovered a life and for now didn’t need to openly confront the Jiang faction.
Moreover, this Great Liang princess had such methods—in the final battle between her and the Grand Empress Dowager and Jiang faction, perhaps she would be the victor.
If he gained her favor and trust, his future official career would have hope.