The Emperor has no private affairs—movements in the imperial harem typically become the direction of the court.
Moreover, with the separation between men and women, the Emperor’s harem became an absolute forbidden zone for court officials.
Court officials couldn’t even inquire about news there, let alone communicate directly. Some people turned their attention to imperial relatives by marriage.
This was also why the first thing many new emperors did upon ascending the throne was to purge imperial relatives.
The Cheng family was a proper scholarly household and naturally wouldn’t take the route of imperial relatives. Though their reach had extended into the palace, learning about movements in the Eastern and Western Six Palaces was not such an easy matter.
Now with Chang Shi, he quickly received news about the Fourth Prince consort’s niece.
“The little girl is only eight or nine years old?” Cheng Chi sat in Cheng Shao’s study, drinking tea personally brewed by Chang Shi. His expression was solemn as he spoke with Chang Shi and Cheng Shao. “Do you know what kind of background she has?”
In this dynasty, daughters from families of officials fifth rank and above were not permitted to be selected as imperial daughters-in-law.
“Her father is a ninth-rank assistant warehouse keeper.” Having served in Qianqing Palace after all, information came easily with just one inquiry. Chang Shi said, “Five generations under one roof. Her mother is a renowned woman of complete blessings in the capital. She has four older brothers and two younger sisters.”
Complete blessings, good for bearing sons.
Such a family was exactly what the imperial family most favored.
In other words, this girl was being prepared for the Crown Prince’s heir.
“How impressive that he could find such a family,” Cheng Chi said with a curl of his lip.
Chang Shi couldn’t help but say, “I’m afraid the Fourth Prince won’t be content with this. Fourth Master had better be careful.”
It would be best not to make an enemy of him, but also not to get too close.
Cheng Chi felt this new aunt of his was quite clearheaded. After thinking for a moment, he said, “I’m now one of the Crown Prince’s heir’s tutors. The Crown Prince’s heir even granted me perpetual estate lands. Even if I wanted not to offend the Fourth Prince, if he succeeds, who knows what he’ll think? Now I can only deal with him to the end.”
Chang Shi was silent for several breaths, then said with a bitter smile, “With Grand Secretary Song being like this, who knows if he’s helping you or harming you?”
Cheng Chi felt that if even Chang Shi could sense the Fourth Prince’s ambitions, Song Jingran, a self-made Grand Secretary who rose from nothing, couldn’t possibly be completely unaware.
He couldn’t help but laugh and say, “Perhaps he feels that he himself has avoided the storm for now. If I fall into decline, as long as he still has a place in the court and temple, he can pull me back up again…”
If not for Zhou Shaojin’s warning, he would have thought the same way.
He might even have been glad that Song Jingran was returning home for mourning at this time.
But with Zhou Shaojin’s account of her past life, the Cheng family’s safety and danger came from the imperial family itself. It was no longer something Song Jingran could influence.
The Cheng family could only figure things out themselves.
Cheng Chi made up his mind, then went to meet with Shi Kuan.
Perhaps because the Fourth Prince was about to leave the capital, with many trivial matters to handle, Shi Kuan looked somewhat weary.
The two met at a small tavern. They ordered a few small dishes and a pot of wine.
While drinking, Cheng Chi listened to Shi Kuan speak, “…Once the Fourth Prince leaves, even if he returns to the capital to pay court respects, those occasions will be limited. The pear wood furniture in the main quarters is beloved by the Princess Consort. The several hundred green calyx plum trees planted in the back garden are beloved by the Fourth Prince. There’s also the crabapple tree in the Eastern Warm Pavilion, the century-old osmanthus in the western courtyard, and that pair of peacocks in Biyi Pavilion. All told, it definitely can’t be packed up before the fifteenth of the seventh month. The Fourth Prince has asked Master Xiong to speak on our behalf before the Crown Prince’s heir, requesting that we be allowed to move everything. When the time comes, we ask that Lord Cheng also put in a good word.”
It sounded like a simple favor.
But for a matter His Majesty had already rejected, how would ordinary people dare to touch that imperial temper again?
Yet Cheng Chi readily agreed, “…When the time comes, I’ll definitely speak on the Fourth Prince’s behalf.”
A flash of confusion crossed Shi Kuan’s eyes, but seeing Cheng Chi’s open expression, he couldn’t help but suppress that confusion. The two discussed various matters concerning the Fourth Prince’s departure to his fiefdom.
Cheng Chi asked about Cheng Lu, “Is he going with the Fourth Prince to the fiefdom or staying in the capital?”
Shi Kuan’s heart skipped a beat. He smiled and said, “He has scholarly credentials—what would he do following our Fourth Prince to the fiefdom?”
Ever since Cheng Lu had associated with the Fourth Prince as Chen Li’s son-in-law, the Fourth Prince had taken quite a liking to him. He was often invited to household banquets to liven things up. In his words, he kept advising the Fourth Prince to seize the initiative. Though the Fourth Prince said nothing, as a trusted confidant, Shi Kuan could tell that many of his words scratched the Fourth Prince’s itch. When the Fourth Prince was to go to his fiefdom, Cheng Lu had expressed his wish to go to Xinyang with him. The Fourth Prince said nothing at the time, but when the departure date was finally set, he kept Cheng Lu behind, encouraging him to pass the examinations soon so he could serve as chief secretary in the Fourth Prince’s household.
What did Cheng Chi mean by asking about this now?
Cheng Lu was a well-known descendant of the Cheng family after all.
Moreover, Cheng Lu’s expulsion was related to Cheng Chi’s wife.
Shi Kuan smiled and said, “Does Lord Cheng have some instruction?”
“Not at all,” Cheng Chi said with a smile. “I’m just a bit curious.”
Unable to get anything more out of him, Shi Kuan could only set the matter aside.
Cheng Chi smiled slightly. Upon returning home, he instructed Huai Shan, “Have someone watch Cheng Lu.”
Huai Shan didn’t understand.
Cheng Chi sneered, “He’s not the type to be content with his lot. If the Fourth Prince has any plans, then this would be a merit from supporting the dragon’s ascension. He would never let himself lose such an opportunity. If we watch him, we’ll gain something from it, more or less.”
He remembered Zhou Shaojin telling him that in her past life, the Fourth Prince had ascended the throne by imperial decree. If it was a forged decree, there must have been someone in contact with Qianqing Palace.
He didn’t know who it was in the past life, but in this life it could possibly be Cheng Lu.
Huai Shan answered “Yes” and withdrew.
Zhou Shaojin asked worriedly, “What if in this life it’s still the same person as before?”
Cheng Chi smiled and said, “How can we put all our hopes on Cheng Lu? He’s merely one of the Fourth Prince’s retainers after all. Watching Cheng Lu is just a precautionary measure—over these years, if my various arrangements in the capital have aroused certain people’s suspicions, watching Cheng Lu could serve to divert attention. The one we truly need to watch is Chen Li of Qianqing Palace.”
He had already discussed this matter with Chang Shi.
Chang Shi had someone helping them relay messages.
As long as Chen Li made no move, they wouldn’t move. Once Chen Li showed any abnormality, they would receive word.
But whether the Fourth Prince was planning to place that little girl in Cining Palace to scheme for the future, or if she was merely a pawn to lull His Majesty, Cheng Chi couldn’t be certain. He could only prepare for both possibilities. He didn’t want Zhou Shaojin to anxiously wait for the outcome with him.
“How are the preparations going for your temple scripture viewing trip?” He changed the subject at an opportune moment. “Have you decided where to go?”
“We’re planning to go to Zhetang Temple,” Zhou Shaojin said with a smile. “Everyone feels we always go to Daxiangguo Temple—it’s boring.”
Cheng Chi nodded with a smile and said, “I’ll give you two hundred taels of silver as pocket money. Accompany Mother to Zhetang Temple and have a good time. Come back the day after tomorrow.”
“Wonderful!” It was rare for Cheng Chi to proactively suggest letting her stay out overnight. Zhou Shaojin said with a smile, “Shall I bring you back some good food?”
Cheng Chi quickly said, “Don’t go buying and eating things from outside the temple—they’re all unsanitary. If you want to eat, eat what’s in the temple. Especially Yun Ge’er—you can’t let him eat those candy paintings and candy figures sold outside. Just stroll around inside the temple…”
Zhou Shaojin kept nodding, smiling with pursed lips.
When the sixth day of the sixth month arrived, Cheng Sheng came over very early. Subsequently, the female relatives from the Earl of Pengcheng’s household, Qiu Shi, Xie Shi, and Cheng Xiao all arrived one after another. Only Chang Shi—the agreed-upon time had passed and she still hadn’t arrived.
Zhou Shaojin was about to send someone to hurry her when a young servant from Shuangyu Alley came running over breathlessly, saying that guests had suddenly arrived at the house and Chang Shi couldn’t come.
Everyone felt quite disappointed. They had the servant take back a message saying they would bring Chang Shi some vegetarian pastries from Zhetang Temple when they returned. Then they boarded the carriages and filed out of the alley.
The servant ran back in a flash to report.
Chang Shi rewarded the servant with a handful of copper coins, then turned and returned to the inner courtyard.
Cheng Chi, who should have been going to court, was instead standing in Cheng Shao’s study at this moment. Seeing Chang Shi, he asked, “They’ve all left the city?”
His expression was extremely stern.
Chang Shi nodded and asked hesitantly, “What about Second Old Master?”
“Don’t worry,” Cheng Chi said. “I’ve sent people to follow Second Uncle. Even if Second Uncle is summoned by His Majesty for questioning, we can still send messages to Lord Han. As for you, Auntie, you should still find somewhere to hide! The Fourth Prince suddenly fell ill on the road and won’t see anyone. Today is also the day when the Western Hills Garrison and the Five Cities Military Commission change guard duty. After today, the Fourth Prince won’t be able to muddy the waters to transfer troops. If he’s going to make his move, it can only be today. The city will certainly descend into chaos. But Zhetang Temple has our Cheng family guards watching over it. Even if people from the Shanxi Garrison go there, they won’t gain the advantage quickly. Moreover, today the Empress Dowager will go to Baiyun Temple to hear teachings. Even if the Fourth Prince wants to coerce His Majesty, he’ll go to Baiyun Temple. Zhetang Temple will actually be the safest place.”
“I know,” Chang Shi said calmly and composedly. “That’s precisely why I should stay at home. I promised my old sister that if the plan fails, I would stand with her to the end. If she doesn’t see me, she’ll think we deceived her. After you leave, I’ll go to her place to wait for news.”
“How can that work?” Cheng Chi frowned.
But Chang Shi interrupted him, saying, “It’s getting late. Don’t you still need to go to the yamen? You should go quickly! It’s too late to discuss this now. Without the Cheng family, there is no me. I’m willing to stand with Second Master to the end. Fourth Master, please don’t try to persuade me. If Zhou Shi knew what you were planning, she definitely wouldn’t have left the capital either. Isn’t that the reason you kept it from her?”
Cheng Chi said nothing more. He cupped his hands toward Chang Shi and said “Take care,” then left Shuangyu Alley through the back door.
Chang Shi glanced at the peaceful and tranquil study, then also turned and left Shuangyu Alley.
In Qianqing Palace, after court concluded, His Majesty felt as if something was weighing on his mind.
After reviewing memorials for a while, his mood still couldn’t settle down. He asked Chen Li, “Where is the Crown Prince’s heir?”
Chen Li bowed and respectfully replied, “He’s in the study hall reading with Master Xiong!”
His Majesty asked, “The Fourth Prince had Master Xiong petition the Crown Prince’s heir—how did the Crown Prince’s heir respond?”
Chen Li bowed even lower and said, “The Crown Prince’s heir said this matter must be decided by Your Majesty.”
His Majesty felt even more irritated. He set the memorial aside and said, “Go summon Lord Cheng to accompany me in a game of chess.”
Today Cheng Shao was on duty at the Hanlin Academy.
Chen Li acknowledged the order.
A quick-witted young eunuch immediately flew toward the Hanlin Academy.