“Three or four years ago, someone suggested I should consider finding a consort for Crown Prince Chengqian. Having an heir in the Eastern Palace would be a great blessing for the nation. But His Majesty was busy, I was busy, and I always felt Chengqian was still too young… Perhaps all mothers forever think their sons are still little and don’t understand matters of the world.”
Empress Zhangsun’s lips held a trace of a sad smile.
“When I had time, I asked Chengqian himself, but he always made excuses. Sometimes he claimed illness, saying his body wasn’t well enough to handle all the ceremonies. Other times he said his tutor assigned too many books, his studies were intense, and he had neither time nor inclination. Then he’d say he spent his days horse riding and practicing martial arts, so exhausted by nighttime he’d fall asleep as soon as he touched the bed… His father and I were often away from the capital, and years passed like this. Later, I sensed something wasn’t right and asked the Eastern Palace staff if the child had fallen for someone. If so, why wouldn’t he tell me directly?”
Crown Princess Su Lingyu looked anxiously at her mother-in-law as if everything that happened in the Eastern Palace was her responsibility. The Empress just smiled at her daughter-in-law:
“In the Eastern Palace, everyone hemmed and hawed without giving clear answers. They all just urged me to choose a consort early and proceed with the grand ceremony. After asking many times, I thought Chengqian must have someone in his heart, but this person wasn’t presentable and unsuitable for an official title, so he was afraid to let his parents know… Ah, I should have investigated this matter thoroughly then and dealt with it decisively. Then we wouldn’t have today’s catastrophe.”
Su Lingyu lowered her head. Empress Zhangsun leaned forward and gently patted her cheek:
“Su’er is a good child. I spotted you right away when you were in the Women’s Academy. I’m just a common woman of the mortal world, always soft-hearted toward my son… I thought finding a well-bred, intelligent, and proper young lady to enter the Eastern Palace through proper ceremony would help Chengqian gradually sort out his thoughts and return to the right path. Once you had your children and could understand parental grace, he would mature and settle down, able to continue his father’s great work and inherit the Great Tang dynasty… Alas.”
A long sigh. Chai Yinglu couldn’t think of any words to comfort her aunt and silently listened as she continued, her tone bitter:
“I needn’t hide anything from you two… After discovering Chengqian might have done something shameful with his cousin, my first thought, like any mother, was to protect my son… I thought First Sister Yi couldn’t be saved anymore – the dead cannot be brought back to life. Further investigation would only tarnish her reputation, bringing her no benefit and possibly implicating her mother and sister. It would be better to let Lord Su’s household give First Sister Yi a proper funeral with full honors, letting both the living and dead rest in peace. As for Chengqian, I would discipline him privately and have him reform himself. For the whole case, I would bear the blame for being an unkind aunt who drove my niece to death. That was what I deserved for not… raising my son properly…”
The last words came with a choke. The Empress took a breath to stop speaking, struggling to control her emotions. Su Lingyu took a warm, damp handkerchief from the incense burner and quietly handed it to her mother-in-law. The Empress took it but didn’t wipe her face, giving a sorrowful smile:
“I couldn’t even discipline my son properly in private… Chengqian insisted that the jade thumb ring had been lost in the Eastern Palace years ago, that he hadn’t deliberately given it to anyone, and he certainly hadn’t had an affair with anyone. No matter how I tried to guide or coax him, he wouldn’t tell me a single truth. Did he think I couldn’t tell when he was lying… The timing was also unfortunate – while mother and son were still angry, his father returned. Seeing my poor condition, without asking what had happened, he flew into a rage at our son… That night Chengqian stormed out, and I had never seen him so furious. Fearing something might happen to him, I had people escort him back to the Eastern Palace… I handled the situation increasingly poorly, and a few days later, he deceived his Seventeenth Aunt into following him on some foolish endeavor, ah.”
When the Empress mentioned taking away the Seventeenth Princess, Su Lingyu rose to kneel and apologize. Empress Zhangsun pulled her up with one hand:
“That’s unnecessary. Your husband gave the order directly – how could you have disobeyed… As Yingniang just said, you’ve risked your life protecting the little girl. Even Fourteenth Brother doesn’t blame you, so how could I? Do you think I’m a muddle-headed old woman who blindly favors her son and can’t distinguish right from wrong?”
Su Lingyu’s eyes reddened, nearly crying. The Empress sighed:
“Chengqian’s bullying of his Fourteenth Uncle and Seventeenth Aunt grieves me more than First Sister Yi’s death. I could tolerate a young person’s curiosity and boldness leading to romantic entanglements – his father… ah. But bullying orphaned children without support – his father has never done such evil in his life, and never would!”
Her gentle voice suddenly revealed steel-like firmness. The words “orphaned children without support” immediately reminded Chai Yinglu of the past – of how the Great Tang’s Empress had lost her father at age eight and was driven out of her home with her mother and young brother by her elder half-brother, taking refuge at her uncle’s house… Empress Zhangsun stared at the jade thumb ring in her hand, speaking word by word:
“The Emperor Emeritus, His Majesty, and even the late former Crown Prince Yiwang – these men of the Li family were known throughout Sui for their chivalry, justice, and protection of the weak. Everyone, whether they knew them or not, admired them from their hearts. That’s why when the righteous banner was raised in Taiyuan, the world responded and came to join, establishing the Tang dynasty – it was truly because of this. Whether fighting against the tyrannical Sui, suppressing bandits, conquering foreign territories, or enduring the bitter struggle with his father and brothers in the later Wude period, His Majesty would only battle against the strong and powerful. When has he ever bullied the elderly, weak, women, or children by abusing his power? Alas!”
The Empress struck her seat with her fist – though not forcefully, the sound penetrated deeply. The two young women dared not speak, only listening silently.
“After His Majesty’s death of a thousand autumns, when Chengqian ascends the throne, he will be the world’s foremost person. The common people, having suffered through the Sui chaos with barely one in ten surviving, cry out for sustenance, desperately needing a sage ruler to bestow grace and implement benevolent governance. If he has no sympathy or mercy for his own flesh and blood relatives, killing or selling them at will, how can we expect him to treat the common people well?
“Everyone says Chengqian takes after his father, using this to reassure me that there’s no need to worry, that he’ll naturally improve when he grows up and understands things. True, his father is also temperamental and violent, often threatening to beat or kill people, but His Majesty listens to advice! In court, ministers like Wei Zheng and Wang Gui offer remonstrance on every matter, and in the palace… after so many years of marriage, His Majesty still listens to my words and is willing to confide in me about anything. But Chengqian? Whose advice does he heed? Which virtuous minister does he confide in? Besides the guards and eunuchs around him who only encourage his mischief, whom does he trust? When not even the parents who bore him can get a single truth from him, this child…”
The Empress suddenly clutched her chest, frowning in pain, frightening Chai Yinglu into rising to support her. While calling for someone to bring ginger soup, she checked her pulse and massaged her acupuncture points. Su Lingyu also helped move the Empress from the heated couch to the rear bedroom, removed her outer clothes to lie down, and administered medicine and acupuncture treatment. Finally, the Empress caught her breath, and color returned to her cheeks. From her pillow, she grabbed Chai Yinglu’s hand and instructed in a low voice:
“Yingniang, go investigate… investigate First Sister Yi’s case, find out exactly how she died… I want to know everything Chengqian has done… I was wishfully thinking I could cover for him, but he doesn’t appreciate it… heh… raising such a son, my karmic debt must be nearly full… Before I die, I want to be a ghost who understands everything…”