Xiang Xu said, “I know. I happened to be present when the Remonstrance Official entered the palace to report to the Emperor. Unfortunately, despite all my words, I could not make the Emperor rescind his order… Don’t cry yet — let us think of another way.”
Yun Pan shook her head. “I fear the worst from this — his health is fragile. How could he withstand the way they would mistreat him! I will go find the Duke of Chenguo at once and see if I can ask him to plead with the Emperor on my husband’s behalf.”
She also knew that the Duke of Chenguo had only yesterday been reprimanded by the Emperor, and that asking him for help at this moment was somewhat demanding too much. But when there was no other road, no matter what, even to learn a little news first would be something.
With her mind made up, she hurried back to the Ducal residence. By then the Dowager Lady and the others had also come rushing out. The Princess looked all around, did not see her son, and wept as she asked: “Where is Ji Fu? Did they take Ji Fu away?”
The Dowager Lady’s face was iron-grey, and she said with a trembling voice: “I am going to the palace — to go and ask that woman Zhang if destroying her own line was not enough, she still has to harm my grandson!”
But this too was only the heat of a moment’s emotion — how could the weak arm ever overpower the strong. Yun Pan quickly calmed her and said: “Grandmother, please do not be rash. At a moment like this, entering the palace would only add oil to the fire.” She pulled the Princess aside. “Mother, please steady yourself. I will go to the Duke of Chenguo’s residence right away and ask Elder Brother to help manage things.”
The Princess composed herself, nodding repeatedly. “Yes — go find Elder Brother. He is well-connected — he will surely find a way.”
They anxiously wanted to come along, but a whole troop of women storming someone else’s residence was plainly unseemly. Yun Pan had to speak soothingly to reassure them: “I will go alone first. If so many of us rush over at once, it will hardly look right. Grandmother, Mother — you must not lose your composure. If there is no one to hold the household steady and those outriders return, what will we do? Let me go, and once I have heard Elder Brother’s counsel, I will come back and report to you.”
Xiang Xu came forward and cupped his hands. “Please, Dowager Lady and Princess, set your minds at ease. I will accompany my younger sister. I have already sent someone back to inform my father — he will stir things as well and see if there is any way to get him released first.”
The Dowager Lady scrutinized him carefully for a moment before saying: “This is the young master from the Xiang household, is it not? To think that we have come to impose on you and your family because of such a misfortune.”
She had met him a couple of times before, back when Mei Fen had been connected to the Duke of Weiguo’s residence. He had made appearances once or twice; because his thoughts were always on his Confucian studies, contact had been infrequent — but seeing him now, she could still recognize him.
Xiang Xu bowed to them. “I happened to be present when the Remonstrance Bureau’s impeachment was made. Unfortunately I am too lowly and my words carry too little weight — I could not stop this disaster from unfolding, and I feel deeply ashamed.”
The Princess quickly waved her hand. “Young Master, you must not blame yourself. The case had already been brought before the Emperor — it is clear they came prepared. No amount of words at that point could have stopped it.” She wiped her tears and sighed. “At such a moment, only one’s own people extend a hand — yet we must trouble you to run about in this bitter cold. I am truly sorry.”
Xiang Xu said not at all. “We are all family. Princess, please do not stand on ceremony.”
By then the household carriage had arrived. Xiang Xu swung up onto his own horse. Yun Pan turned and looked back at Hui Cun, and Hui Cun immediately understood: “I will go with A’Jie.”
A young woman going out at night with only her maternal cousin would be improper — having her little sister-in-law accompany her, everything fell naturally into place.
The Princess gave a nod. “You two go together — you can look out for each other, and I can feel at ease.” She called over maidservants to help them into the carriage, then watched it drive away. The mother and daughter-in-law were left looking at each other, silently wiping their tears.
The two residences were not actually that far apart, but with hearts so urgent, the journey felt like crossing mountains and rivers.
Yun Pan tried with all her will to stay calm, but how could she calm herself? The two hands resting on her knees trembled slightly. Her whole body was cold, yet her cheekbones burned hot.
She would push the curtain aside to look out from time to time. Hui Cun was worried too, and said piteously: “A’Jie, Elder Brother is watched over by Heaven — Father in heaven will surely keep him safe.”
But this kind of comfort could not ease her heart. There were times when she truly resented Heaven: why must good people always face so many trials? Though she had known, before marrying into the Ducal household, that the road ahead would not be smooth — why could there not be even one fortunate exception? Why did it have to be in the depths of this bitter winter, at the very moment when his health was at its weakest?
She turned her head and said with a broken smile to Hui Cun: “His cough had only just improved a little.”
Hui Cun understood the worry in her heart and reached out to hold her hand tightly.
After the time it takes to burn another stick of incense, they at last arrived at the Duke of Chenguo’s residence. When the carriage stopped, Yun Pan hurried out and saw the main gate standing wide open. Her heart lurched — she feared some disaster had also befallen the Duke of Chenguo’s household.
Xiang Xu dismounted and went first to the gatehouse to announce their arrival. Someone inside came out immediately, bowed, and said: “Madam and the Princess, please come quickly. Our master has just gone out — I will go at once to inform the mistress.”
The party was led into the front sitting room. Not long after, Madam Jing came in hurriedly, took Yun Pan’s hands as she entered, and said: “About a stick of incense ago, the Emperor sent someone to summon your Elder Brother into the palace — it must be because of this matter. Do not worry. When the brothers see each other, they can help each other along. We cannot accomplish much from outside. For now, let us wait — and wait for news from within.”
Yun Pan nodded anxiously, murmuring: “There is nothing else to do but wait again… just wait…”
At least the Duke of Chenguo was in the palace — there would be someone to speak two words on his behalf amid the right and wrong of it all. But time truly dragged unbearably. She could not sit still, and walked to the doorway to gaze out into the night, wishing her eyes could pierce the palace walls and see what was happening inside the palace city.
Meanwhile, the Emperor had convened in the inner archive and Ma Xingfang presented the scroll bearing the character “edict.” The Emperor looked at it for a long while, his expression growing increasingly grave.
This was a challenge to imperial power. He had not yet established a Crown Prince, had not yet decided to whom he would hand over the authority in his hands — and yet someone had already grown so impatient. How could this not arouse the Dragon’s fury?
“What is this!” The Emperor hurled the scroll at Li Jibai’s face. “Very well… very well… I am still alive, and you are already this impatient? What did you write this for? Is this a declaration of war against Us? Are you telling Us that We have reached the time to abdicate and yield the throne to you?”
In the hall, the expressions on the faces of the Duke of Chenguo and the Duke of Chuguo were two entirely different things.
The Duke of Chenguo was deeply troubled, truly unable to understand how such incriminating evidence could have been found in his residence. There must be a hidden story behind it, he thought, and so he steeled himself and stepped forward, “Your Majesty — Ji Fu’s nature is something Your Majesty knows well. He has always been careful and prudent, never reckless. This time the imperial outriders went on orders to search for conjurers — they found no conjurer, but found these calligraphic samples and the paraphernalia for opening a ritual altar. Physical evidence is inanimate and cannot speak for itself. If someone had planted these items there beforehand with intent to frame him, how would that be explained? History is full of such cases — a so-called act of treason typically begins with one dragon robe, one imperial seal, and the accused is left without recourse while the mastermind stands by in triumph… Your Majesty’s holy brilliance illuminates all. I implore Your Majesty to restore Ji Fu’s innocence.”
The Duke of Chuguo, listening at the side, creased his brow slightly and said: “Elder Brother’s words are thought-provoking indeed. I know you and Fourth Brother are deeply bonded, and I too am grieved to see Fourth Brother come to this today — but when the dynasty is at stake, how can we be careless! Now that the realm is settled and peace reigns within the four seas, and the Ducal residence is his private home — who could have planted these items there beforehand? One can hardly say the outriders brought them in themselves!”
The Duke of Chenguo was greatly displeased. He turned and gave the Duke of Chuguo a cold laugh. “Right and wrong — Heaven knows! A search was ordered into the matter of a privately set ritual altar, and yet these inexplicable items of evidence have materialized. Does Third Brother not find this suspicious?”
The Duke of Chuguo gave a cool, thin smile. “Then we must ask Fourth Brother. With all due respect — if he truly harbored such intentions, then whatever was found would be entirely plausible.”
This was an attempt to confirm the crime as settled fact, and the Duke of Chenguo knew perfectly well the mastermind behind all this was no one but Li Yüjian. He was a thief crying “thief” — removing anyone who blocked his path to the summit, one by one, and now it was Fourth Brother’s turn. Not long after, it would be his own turn.
If this matter went uncontested, and the Emperor had already made up his mind about how to deal with it, then Fourth Brother’s life was in peril. The Duke of Chenguo had no choice but to try once more, and cupped his hands to address the Emperor: “The handwriting looks like Ji Fu’s at a glance, but whether the person who held the brush was truly he — that is still worth examining…”
But at this point Li Jibai interrupted him. “Elder Brother need not plead my case any further. These characters — I wrote them.”
These words, once spoken, shocked the entire room. Even the Emperor seemed somewhat at a loss. He had expected Li Jibai to deny everything to the last — and yet here he was, readily admitting it. Such an unexpected response was perplexing. Did he not know the consequences that lay ahead? Was he not afraid of enraging the sovereign and bringing destruction upon himself?
Of course, the most shocked of all was the Duke of Chuguo. He could not conceal the astonishment on his face. Seeming to realize his lapse, he quickly adopted an expression of pained dismay and said: “Fourth Brother — how could you be so foolish!”
Li Jibai didn’t even look at him. He made a deep, formal bow toward the Emperor. “I ask Your Majesty’s pardon. This matter was indeed done by this subject, but this subject harbored no treasonous intent. I wrote these characters in order to frame Third Brother. Unfortunately, before the plan was carried out, it drew an impeachment and search from the Remonstrance Bureau, which then became proof of my own overreach.”
With these words spoken, every person in the hall fell into a turmoil of calculation.
The Duke of Chenguo’s earlier indignation transformed at this moment into sorrowful compassion. He looked at Li Jibai, deeply moved, and understood that this brother had done all of this to protect him.
The Duke of Chuguo’s assured victory had suddenly become a situation he had not anticipated. He had not imagined Li Jibai would turn the situation to his own advantage in this way — because all the arguing in the world would seem helpless in the face of evidence, and to confess now actually reduced the charges to their minimum. After all, attempting to frame a brother carried a lighter sentence than treason.
Li Jibai breathed out slowly and spoke in an unhurried tone: “I imagine Your Majesty cannot understand why I would do such a thing. It is because I bear a grudge against Third Brother. Three years ago, in the army, I was struck by a stray arrow and nearly lost my life. My men captured the soldier responsible, and when we dug deeper, we discovered he had been enlisted from under the banner of the Heavenly Virtue Army of Fengzhou. A soldier from Fengzhou happened to be in the Sizhou army — happened to be there on the day of a full military exercise — the arrow happened to go astray — happened to strike me. Too many coincidences, and so this ailment has lingered for many years and has not healed to this day.” He spoke, then turned his gaze toward the Duke of Chuguo. A trace of cold smile rose on his face. “I still remember — from the time we began our studies, we four brothers learned together, and even our teacher said that my handwriting and Third Brother’s bore a six or seven tenths resemblance. Given such resemblance, why not make good use of it? Only — it has been many years since I last saw Third Brother write the character ‘edict,’ and I did not know how convincing the imitation was. If Third Brother would be willing — he could write one now for me to see, so I might resolve this uncertainty in my heart.”
The Duke of Chuguo was shaken to his core. He had to admit — the man was formidable. In a few words, he had given himself room to maneuver. If the imitation was not convincing, the attempt at framing had failed, and the charge was lighter by another third. But if the imitation was convincing… traced back the other way, the question of who actually wrote these characters was now open to doubt—
If Li Jibai could imitate Li Yüjian, could Li Yüjian not also imitate Li Jibai?
So he had no choice but to deflect, and said with a show of anguish: “Fourth Brother — I truly never imagined you would still blame me for that ambush to this day. Though we are not born of the same mother, we are still close kin. How could I raise such a cruel hand against you! The movement of two armies is a matter of routine — can one really conclude that everything was done on my orders just because that soldier had once served in Fengzhou?”
Li Jibai turned his gaze away indifferently. “Third Brother — Heaven knows and earth knows, you know and I know. There is no need to make excuses. That I have come to this today is because I lacked the skill to prevail. I have nothing more to say to you. I only feel I have failed the Emperor, and failed my late father.” He lifted his robe and knelt, bowed his head to the ground before the Emperor, and said in a sorrowful voice: “Ji Fu is guilty. A single lapse of judgment has made this error impossible to mend. Whatever I say now comes too late. I accept my punishment and ask Your Majesty to render judgment.”
The Emperor could not hide his disappointment. He pointed at Li Jibai, furious and aggrieved. “Wretch — you have betrayed all the trust and cultivation I have given you! And now you have gone and done this foolish thing…”
He was about to pronounce a sentence, when the Duke of Chenguo beside him quickly knelt and knocked his head to the ground, urging fervently: “Your Majesty… I implore Your Majesty to show mercy, in consideration of his youth and inexperience! The case from that year never reached a conclusion — the soldier being held in prison died of mysterious causes, and to this day no one has given him justice. His resentment has festered, and so he has committed this foolish act. Your Majesty — beyond the letter of the law there is still human feeling. We brothers — there were once four of us, and now only three remain. I implore Your Majesty, in consideration of our late Sixth Uncle, to extend mercy beyond what the law demands!”
But the Emperor’s fury only rose higher at this. He kicked the Duke of Chenguo. “You have the nerve to mention that there were once four brothers and now only three — and with only three remaining, you still turn upon each other!”
The Duke of Chuguo was now in an awkward position. If he also spoke a few words in Li Jibai’s defense, he might prevent a severe sentence — but if he said nothing, it would seem he was falling short of the standard of brotherly kindness. He thought it over and finally stepped forward to say: “Your Majesty, please be at ease. This matter arose from Fourth Brother’s misunderstanding of this subject, and though his conduct has transgressed the law, I cannot stand by and watch a brother be completely destroyed… I implore Your Majesty to show compassion and spare Fourth Brother’s life.”
To spare only his life — what magnificent brotherly devotion indeed.
Li Jibai gave a faint, slight press of his lips. He knew he had done all that was within human power — now only Heaven’s will remained. If the Emperor still wished to prevent this struggle for succession from escalating further, there would be no danger to his life. As long as he survived, he could withdraw from the contest by natural course and let the Duke of Chenguo and the Duke of Chuguo stir up the storms of the capital on their own—
Knowing when to wait was itself a form of mastery. Used well, it allowed one to come through everything unscathed and smile to the very end.
The Emperor weighed it at length and finally came to a decision, biting out the words: “Were it not for the sake of your father’s memory, you would not survive this day. But while the death sentence may be remitted, the living punishment cannot be waived. The Duke of Weiguo’s residence was originally the Prince Liang’s residence and still shelters the Precious Imperial Consort Dowager Hu and the Princess of Liang — the residence shall for now be preserved. The title and fiefdom of Duke of Weiguo are hereby stripped. He is reduced to a commoner and condemned to confinement at the Western Corner Gate. Without an imperial pardon, he may never take a step beyond the confines of his imprisonment for the rest of his life.”
The Emperor spoke and swept away with a flourish of his sleeve, leaving behind a hall of those who had cause for joy, and those who had cause for grief, with no more need for any pretense.
The Duke of Chuguo was fairly satisfied with this outcome. A commoner had entirely lost any qualification to compete for the throne. Alive, he was no better than a broken man. The Duke cast a contemptuous glance at Li Jibai and said with a sneer: “Fourth Brother — now that you have nothing left but the name your forebears gave you, you truly have nothing at all.”
Inside the archive, Ma Xingfang standing in attendance raised a hand and gestured, and several outriders from the Palace Front Command entered to escort Li Jibai away — only to be intercepted by the Duke of Chenguo.
“I ask Captain Ma to allow me a few words with my Fourth Brother.”
The Duke of Chenguo had not been drawn into this matter himself — Ma Xingfang had no choice but to give him some face, and said: “I ask the Duke to be brief. This officer acts on imperial command and dares not disobey.”
The Duke of Chenguo paid him no heed, raised Li Jibai to his feet, and said: “You need not worry — the family will be well looked after by me. Nothing will go wrong. But you yourself — you must take care of yourself.” As he said this he gripped Li Jibai’s hand firmly, his eyes burning with an intense gaze. Volumes of unspoken words were condensed into that one clasp of hands — telling him to bear it for now, for there would come a day when they would see the light again.
Li Jibai gave a slight smile. “Please convey a message to my wife for me, Elder Brother. Tell her not to worry — to take good care of the elders at home.”
The Duke of Chenguo agreed, and watched helplessly as the outriders escorted him out of the inner archive. The torch-bearing procession gradually disappeared into the pitch-black night.
What sort of cold would the Western Corner Gate hold in this winter? No one knew. A nobleman who had always lived in comfort and ease — even in the harsh conditions of a military camp he had never lacked people to attend to him. To be locked alone in such a place now was likely no different from torture.
The Duke of Chenguo returned to his residence, and supposed Yun Pan must be waiting inside. Indeed — as he entered the gate, a gatekeeper reported that the Duchess of Weiguo had come.
He gave a nod, and with heavy steps walked into the garden. He had just stepped up onto the covered walkway when he saw Yun Pan and Hui Cun hurrying toward him, asking urgently: “Elder Brother — what has happened to my husband?”
The Duke of Chenguo sighed. “His title has been stripped. He is confined in the Corner Gate.”
Yun Pan gave a soft sound. She stood blank-faced, and after a long silence murmured to herself: “As long as he is alive… as long as he is alive…”
Large tears rolled down her face. Madam Jing and Hui Cun both felt their hearts ache to see it, and together they helped her into the armchair.
Xiang Xu stepped forward and cupped his hands. “My Lord Duke — I imagine it took considerable effort to contain the matter to this degree.”
The Duke of Chenguo lowered his eyes and slowly nodded, relating the sequence of events in full. At the end, he said: “I have always owed Ji Fu a debt. He has always schemed on my behalf, while I have never been able to do anything for him.”
Yun Pan listened carefully. In her heart there were still questions, but this was not the moment to speak of them. She assumed that since he had chosen to confess, it was surely because he had seen the deeper purpose in it.
In truth, that small character “edict” alone would already have been enough to bring a charge of treason — so why would the penalty be merely confinement? She looked up at the Duke of Chenguo. The sorrow on his face was genuine — and she began to consider that perhaps what Li Jibai had wanted was precisely this outcome.
But now the person had been shut inside that place where imperial family members had been confined through the ages — the Western Corner Gate. She had never once imagined that the radiant and illustrious Duke of Weiguo would one day have any connection to that narrow, confining place.
Her heart ached beyond words. She lowered her head, pressed the tears away, and said: “That place must be terribly harsh. I don’t know if there will be a charcoal brazier, or if there will be quilts.”
The Duke of Chenguo said: “Sister-in-law, please set your mind at ease. First thing tomorrow morning I will ask someone to have a word with the wardens, and have daily provisions sent in.”
Yun Pan took the opening: “I am most grateful to Elder Brother. Our husband’s devotion to Elder Brother is witnessed by Heaven and earth. Now that this setback has occurred, I hope Elder Brother will remember that. I am only a woman and truly do not know what to do. I think of how his health is frail — at home he was always coughing — and now alone in there…”
The Duke of Chenguo bowed his head and sighed. “I understand your concern, Sister-in-law. But for now, there is nothing to be done but bear it. The Emperor’s order has just been issued — it is unlikely to be changed in the short term. Give me a little more time. I will think of a way — even if it is only to have him moved to a different place of confinement.”
Yun Pan could only agree, and after a few more words, she stood. “We have imposed on you all evening — and A’Jie is far along in her pregnancy and has still been sitting here with me all this time — I feel terrible about it. We will take our leave now. If there is anything more to discuss, we can come again tomorrow and trouble Elder Brother and Sister-in-law.” With that, she dipped a curtsy, Hui Cun did the same, and they departed from the Duke of Chenguo’s residence.