Confiscating the Wang family and all their properties in the capital, sorting through account books, and tallying everything took a full three days. It was also after these three days that Yuan Cheng returned to the mansion.
“Who might you be?” Mo Zi was drinking tea in the lakeside pavilion at the time. Upon seeing him, she asked.
Yuan Cheng knew she was mocking him for not returning home for days, but he smiled. “Madam, it is your husband.”
“I had no idea when my husband became an official of the Great Zhou. Helping the Emperor quell the palace seizure is one thing, but also managing property confiscation and interrogating criminals. These past few days, you haven’t been attending morning court too, have you?” Mo Zi smiled while pouring tea for him.
“If only I had attended court—at least I’d show my face and everyone would know I exist. Instead, I’ve been in the Imperial Study without seeing daylight, keeping company with account books piled high as mountains. Brother Xiao San stole all the credit.” Yuan Cheng took the teacup and drank it in one gulp. “If I hadn’t said you weren’t feeling well, he would have wanted you to enter the palace to help with the abacus. I only just learned that you can use both hands, skilled at both handicrafts and calculations.”
“I haven’t used an abacus in so long, my hands are rusty.” Accounting wasn’t her interest. “Has the Emperor decided how to deal with the Wang family?” Though slightly mocking, Mo Zi was quite concerned about what had happened these past days.
“Empress Wang—stripped of her empress title, posthumous name removed, demoted to commoner status, not permitted burial in the imperial mausoleum. The Wang brothers—stripped of official positions, immediate execution. The remaining Wang descendants will be sentenced according to the severity of their crimes—banishment, enslavement, and so on. All Wang family assets confiscated.” Yuan Cheng knew what Mo Zi truly cared about. “Wang Shiniang is a legitimate daughter. Though there’s no evidence she was involved in this case, she cannot escape punishment. She will be demoted to official maid.”
“What about Chen Niang?” The judgment on Wang Shiniang was within Mo Zi’s expectations.
“She’s incredibly stubborn. Before the confiscation, I had Hua Yi go fetch her, but she refused. Wang Ting is being exiled to the frontier for twenty years of service, and she’s kneeling to request permission to go with him. Xiao Wei reported to His Majesty, and His Majesty granted approval. However, the decree hasn’t been issued yet. If you can persuade her to change her mind, it’s not too late.” Yuan Cheng said.
“Actually, only a few people were truly involved in the conspiracy. Most were confused and ignorant. Some unwittingly became accomplices, others were completely unaware. If Wang Shiniang and Wang Ting are innocent, should they be sentenced to such heavy punishment? Official maids are like slaves, with no freedom for life. They can be married off at the whim of superiors—some become playthings, utterly miserable. Twenty years of exile—Wang Ting’s talents will be shelved from now on. Western winds mixing with flowing sand, his hands will never again hold a brush properly, his best years soaked in bitter water. He can never rise again.” Mo Zi didn’t think this was unjust because these people were blood relatives. “Who exactly made these laws? Those guilty should not be spared lightly, those innocent should not be prosecuted—that’s the proper principle. If the Emperor knew I was a Wang family daughter, would I also have to become an official maid?”
Yuan Cheng took her hand. “The Emperor has already been lenient with the Wang family. Back when the Yuan clan fell, regardless of guilt or innocence, all were executed. Even the gatekeeper servants couldn’t escape death.”
“I just feel such laws are cruelly unreasonable. No one’s life is worth more than another’s. Every person has the right to fairness and justice. Since Qin Shi Huang—no, from even earlier—this so-called collective punishment means even neighbors suffer misfortune. And the frequent total clan executions, often just on an emperor’s word. This is simply terrorist behavior, utterly outrageous. Laws can be strict, codes can be harsh, but they must apply to the guilty.” Speaking on and on, she forgot herself again.
Yuan Cheng gazed at her. Where did this woman get these shockingly unconventional viewpoints? Yet these viewpoints seemed reasonable and meaningful to him.
“The Great Zhou doesn’t have the fairness and justice you speak of. Perhaps our Song territories will.” And when she rarely lost herself like this, he got some new ideas.
Mo Zi cleared her throat and sighed deeply. “I also know it’s not easy.”
“Just because it’s not easy doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.” Yuan Cheng was truly unconventional—regarding ideas he believed in, he would act on them.
Mo Zi couldn’t tell if this was good or bad and unconsciously pulled the topic back. “Where can I see Chen Niang?” Better to solve the immediate problem first.
“She and the Wang family’s female relatives are temporarily imprisoned in cells at the Court of Judicial Review. Whenever you want to go, just tell me.” He said all the credit was stolen, but his connections had only increased.
“The sooner the better. Also, if possible, could Wang Shiniang’s punishment be lightened? Demotion to commoner status or something.” Wang Yang’s dying words still weighed on her mind.
“That…” Yuan Cheng couldn’t guarantee it. “If she were from a collateral or illegitimate branch, I could ask the Emperor for leniency, but Wang Shiniang’s status is very troublesome. If we spare her alone, what about the others? Among the Wang family’s legitimate daughters, only those who married can possibly avoid additional charges. Like Princess Zhen—though stripped of her princess consort title, she’s still the late Crown Prince’s only wife and can move to another palace, supported by imperial grace.”
“Back then I pitied her, never expecting she’d become the luckiest one today.” Mo Zi shook her head with a bitter smile. “Ah—if Wang Shiniang had married Xiao Wei, perhaps she could have weathered this calamity.”
“Then Old Madam Xiao would probably die of anxiety.” Yuan Cheng even joked, because he had a method. “Don’t forget, official maids can receive special pardons. After the decree is issued, place Wang Shiniang separately to avoid others’ eyes and ears, then petition His Majesty for mercy. That might work.”
Mo Zi found this reasonable and felt slightly reassured.
“When do you plan to leave the capital?” she asked again. “Don’t forget, there’s still the King of Daqiu. Prince Su and the Empress both served as his scapegoats, yet he paid little and gained much.” Including iron ore, weapons, and various resources.
“After you see Chen Niang and the decree regarding the Wang family is issued, once we rescue Wang Shiniang, we’ll return to the Song territories.” Though Yuan Cheng didn’t say it, he had concerns.
“So it’s me holding you back.” It sounded like everything was for her sake.
Yuan Cheng drank his tea in silence, tacitly agreeing.
Mo Zi pinched him. “You call this doting on your wife?” Hmph.
“Whether I dote or not, public opinion speaks for itself.” Yuan Cheng couldn’t help but laugh, grabbed her hand, pulled her into his embrace, and placed a kiss on her.
Wind and rain outside the pavilion, warmth inside. Heaven and earth might shake, but as long as their hearts beat as one, even a thousand difficulties and ten thousand dangers only added different sentiments. To put it plainly, they were being mushy as usual.
That afternoon, Mo Zi went to see Chen Niang.
Because they’d given advance notice, Chen Niang was held separately in a small cell that was relatively clean. She sat on a soft mat, seemingly in a daze, sighing softly. Hearing someone call her, she looked back and quickly stood up to walk to the wooden bars.
“How… did you all come?” She was both surprised and delighted. She wasn’t afraid of wandering to the ends of the earth, but she would miss these sisters.
“Mo Zi said she’s not eloquent and feared she couldn’t persuade you, so she called us all.” Luo Niang grasped her hand, tears immediately flowing.
Mo Zi hadn’t come alone—she’d called the Women’s Alliance to play the emotional card with Chen Niang.
Chen Niang’s eyes reddened somewhat. Finding Mo Zi standing in the back, she saw through her intention with one sentence. “It’s not that she’s not eloquent—she’s deliberately trying to soften my heart and make me change my mind.”
Qiu Sanniang helped Bai He pass food inside. “It’s good that you know. Hurry up and change your mind.”
Wu You was pregnant and couldn’t visit the prison, so Sister Xiu represented her. “The Wang family is in this state now, everyone eager to distance themselves, yet you’re still moving closer. Listen to your sisters—don’t be foolish. It’s not worth it for a man.”
“Wang Ting treats you well, but when he was still a noble young master, did he ever think of giving you status?” Qiu Sanniang spoke directly. “Chen Niang, you met him at Autumn Gazing Tower, and he regarded you as his confidante and beauty. Back then he spent money to buy you for a song, so naturally he cherished you especially.”
“Though my days at the Wang household weren’t long, the young master treated me well, no different than at Autumn Gazing Tower. He’s of noble character, refined and elegant, vastly learned, doesn’t put on airs even with servants—different from other Wang family members. He even saved me. Without him, I don’t know where I’d have ended up. I want to repay his kindness.” Chen Niang’s face flushed slightly.
“What do you mean he saved you? It was clearly the Wang family setting up this trap to use you to humiliate Mo Zi.” Sister Xiu already knew the truth.
“It wasn’t just to humiliate me. They wanted me to speak up for Chen Niang, then claim I had conflict with the Empress, laying groundwork to frame me for plotting against the Empress.” This was a chain of traps aimed at destroying the secret alliance between the Great Zhou and Song territories.
Qiu Sanniang laughed coldly. “No matter how calculating the Wang family was, conspiring to rebel means inescapable death. If not for His Majesty’s benevolence, the entire clan would already be exterminated by now.”
“But the young master is innocent. He was away studying for three years and had no idea what was happening at home.” Chen Niang’s feelings ran deep.
Not wrong, just fate.
“Just because he says he didn’t know means he didn’t know?” Sister Xiu didn’t believe it. “He’s the legitimate eldest son of the Wang family’s second branch, and his father wasn’t in the capital. How could he possibly be completely unaware of such a major matter beforehand?”
Luo Niang was very close to Chen Niang and momentarily forgot what they came to do, supporting Chen Niang instead. “I’ve also met Young Master Wang. His feelings for Chen Niang are genuine.”
“Men’s genuine feelings can change.” Sister Xiu, someone experienced in life who had previously managed the Carefree Pavilion, had seen too many fickle and heartless men. “Sister Luo, do you want Chen Niang to go suffer with Wang Ting?”
Luo Niang fell silent, her heart full of contradictions. She both hoped Chen Niang could be with the person she liked, yet didn’t want her to suffer.
“Wang Ting probably knew, but knowing didn’t mean participating. After all, he also bears the Wang surname. Expecting him to disregard family affection and expose the matter isn’t very likely, but he could remain silent.” Qiu Sanniang spoke fairly. “Chen Niang, think carefully—before the palace coup, was there anything strange about Wang Ting?”
Chen Niang lowered her eyes. After a long while, she shook her head and answered quietly, “No.”
She wasn’t someone who could lie. Mo Zi believed everyone present already understood the affirmation beneath that denial. “This case has been completely tried. We don’t need to debate who’s guilty or innocent anymore. Even if Wang Ting truly knew, he will pay a heavy price for it.” Twenty years—the best years of a life.
“Yes, let’s not worry about Wang Ting, just worry about you.” Sister Xiu called her sister. “Without even confirming Wang Ting’s true feelings, you’re willing to throw everything away to go with him. Do you know what life in exile is like? He’s a scholar with no strength to truss a chicken. Though your parents died early and your brother was useless, Autumn Gazing Tower didn’t mistreat you—your ten fingers still never touched cold water. When you get there, you’ll not only worry about food and clothing, but also perform hard labor. It won’t be the romantic relationship you imagine. Just surviving would be a blessing.”
“I know all this.” Chen Niang wasn’t naive. She hadn’t been a pampered pearl for a long time. Despite help from people like Mo Zi and Qiu Sanniang, she’d mainly relied on herself to walk to where she was today, step by step.
“If you ask me, wanting to go into exile with Wang Ting—your feelings are genuine but inevitably weak.” Qiu Sanniang’s tone grew heavy.
As they spoke one after another, they didn’t notice Mo Zi had disappeared.