The present dynasty governed the realm through filial piety, and with the current Xiaochang Emperor this was especially so — he led by personal example in all things, serving as a model for the entire realm. For instance, the Emperor was a lifelong advocate of frugality, yet had not hesitated to expend vast resources from the inner treasury, using the just-concluded Millennial Autumn Grand Ceremony to display before all under Heaven his filial devotion to the Grand Empress Dowager Jiang. Today, upon learning that the Empress Dowager Chen was again feeling unwell, he completed the morning court session in Zichen Hall and then went to Jishang Palace to visit her in her illness.
The Empress Shangguan had just come from here and encountered the Princess Imperial; upon learning that the Princess Imperial had been attending the Empress Dowager Chen at her bedside since early morning without once leaving, she exchanged a few strained pleasantries with the Princess Imperial and departed in her imperial procession. When the Emperor arrived, he inquired of the physician about the medicines being administered, told the Empress Dowager to rest well, paid his visit, and also departed.
The Princess Imperial saw the Emperor out and urged: ‘Your Majesty labors day and night for affairs of state. As for the Empress Dowager’s side, please entrust it to me. I will certainly care for the Empress Dowager well, so that Your Majesty need not worry.’
The Xiaochang Emperor shared a deep bond with this elder sister who had grown up alongside him; though he was vaguely aware of her relationship with Shen Yang of the Southern Bureau, he never raised the matter. Hearing her words, he nodded: ‘It is a burden for Imperial Sister. We shall go first.’
The Princess Imperial said: ‘Could Your Majesty spare a moment? I have another matter I wish to discuss with Your Majesty.’
The Emperor accompanied his elder sister into a nearby side chamber, dismissed the palace attendants, and the Princess Imperial said: ‘Your Majesty, when I went to Penglai Palace some days ago to pay my respects to the Grand Empress Dowager, I could tell from the Grand Empress Dowager’s words that, though she did not say so plainly, she clearly has our Fourth Brother’s lifelong affairs weighing on her heart. After all, Fourth Brother is no longer young, and now that he has returned to the capital, it happens to coincide with the Crown Prince’s discussions of marriage. I thought — why does Your Majesty not also take this opportunity to arrange a suitable match for Fourth Brother, as a comfort to the Grand Empress Dowager’s heart?’
The Emperor said: ‘We have often been concerned about Fourth Brother’s situation, and whenever We think of it, We feel considerable unease. Since this is so, does Imperial Sister know whether the Grand Empress Dowager has anyone particular in mind?’
The Princess Imperial shook her head: ‘I did not hear the Grand Empress Dowager mention anyone specific. However, I do have a suitable candidate here that I can offer for Your Majesty’s consideration.’
‘Who is it?’
‘The granddaughter of Pu Youzhi. I have seen the child myself — her appearance and bearing are both excellent, her age is just right, she is learned and well-mannered, and in every gesture and movement, she shows nothing but the grace of a young woman from a great family. To be frank with Your Majesty, from the first moment I laid eyes on the Pu family girl, I felt that she and Fourth Brother were perfectly matched, as if made for each other by Heaven.’
‘Setting all of that aside, there is no need for me to say more. Imperial Sister feels that if the Pu family’s granddaughter were to be established as Prince of Qin’s princess consort, entered into the imperial family register, it would not only add further weight to the case of Pu Youzhi’s rehabilitation — a jewel on top of gold, so to speak — but would also fully display to all the realm Your Majesty’s generous treatment of loyal subjects. As for Fourth Brother…’
The Princess Imperial paused, observing the Emperor’s expression.
Li Xuandu’s situation was a special one. Though the late Emperor had personally pardoned him of his crimes before his death, there were matters that, for those born into the imperial family, could only be understood, never spoken aloud.
She quickly continued: ‘Your Majesty’s fraternal devotion and depth of care for Fourth Brother are known not only to the Grand Empress Dowager but to all the court ministers and indeed the entire realm. Taking personal charge of the marriage for Fourth Brother, who has had his life’s path delayed, and choosing a supremely beautiful young woman as his partner, further demonstrates Your Majesty’s deep affection. As for Fourth Brother — I venture he will be endlessly grateful.’
The Emperor smiled and nodded: ‘What Imperial Sister says is reasonable. We will consider the matter and decide afterward.’
The Princess Imperial also smiled: ‘Naturally. Your Majesty also knows that I have always been prone to idle talk. I happened to visit the Grand Empress Dowager and was concerned about this matter, then happened to encounter Your Majesty here today, and so I chatted a little carelessly. If anything is improper, Your Majesty need not blame me — the final decision rests entirely with Your Majesty.’
The Xiaochang Emperor was ordinarily diligent in governance, but upon returning to Zichen Hall, he did not address the piles of official documents on his desk as he usually would, but sat in contemplation for a long while. He then summoned the Inner Household Commissioner Shen Gao and gave him a few words of instruction. That night at the Hour of the Pig, a person entered through the small Yenqing Gate at the northeast corner of the imperial palace and, passing through the pitch-black darkness of successive palace buildings, arrived before a hall where lamps still burned.
This man was nearly fifty years old, with a sallow complexion and no beard — none other than Shen Gao, the Inner Household Commissioner most trusted by the Xiaochang Emperor. He entered, passed the two palace attendants standing rigid as wooden figures, made a gesture with his eyes, and the attendants came to life at once, immediately withdrawing.
Shen Gao closed the door and said quietly to the Emperor, who was still reviewing memorials at his desk: ‘Your Majesty, your servant has returned.’
‘What is the report?’ The Emperor did not pause his brush, continuing to review the memorials as he asked.
‘According to the Great Perfected Master’s account, the Prince of Qin during these past days has either sat in meditation in his quiet room or discussed the Tao with him. Except for the Grand Empress Dowager’s Millennial Autumn Festival, he has not left Ziyang Temple by a single step.’
The Emperor made a sound of acknowledgment: ‘Has anyone gone to visit him?’
‘Yes.’
‘Who?’
‘According to the young acolyte’s account, six days ago, a young woman disguised as a man entered the Taoist temple and asked to see His Highness. She lingered for nearly half a day, departing in the evening. From the physical description given, the person can only be the Pu family’s granddaughter.’
The Emperor set down his brush, raised his head: ‘What did she want from the Prince of Qin?’
Shen Gao shook his head: ‘This is not known to outsiders; the Great Perfected Master does not know either.’
‘Besides the Pu family’s granddaughter, has anyone else visited him?’
‘There was one other. No one else but the Princess Imperial’s prince consort, the Marquis of Guangping Han Rongchang.’
The Emperor was taken aback: ‘It was him? What did he come about?’
‘This is also unknown. Besides these two, in the past days there has been no one else who has had contact with the Prince of Qin.’
The Emperor considered for a moment, said he understood.
Before Shen Gao withdrew, he hesitated and asked: ‘Your Majesty, shall I send someone to covertly monitor within the Taoist temple?’
Li Xuandu had been covertly monitored throughout his two to three years in Xihai Commandery, so Shen Gao asked this additional question.
‘Your Majesty need not worry — the Grand Empress Dowager will certainly not be informed,’ he added.
The Emperor said mildly: ‘If he were ill-intentioned, would he choose a moment like this to exchange communications with others beneath Our very eyes? Our Fourth Brother is not so foolish as you. Less is more.’
Shen Gao, his expression showing some shame, received the instruction and withdrew.
The next day, after the small court session, the Emperor separately detained the Marquis of Guangping Han Rongchang and saw him in the informal reception chamber of Zichen Hall.
Han Rongchang in his youth had been a young man from a distinguished family and no pushover, also a fierce figure who could kill without blinking. During the Xuanning reign of the late Emperor, when Jiang Yi had led the General’s seal into battle against the Di Kingdom at the age of twenty, Han Rongchang had been one of Jiang Yi’s deputy commanders — no more than eighteen at the time, he had bravely volunteered to be the advance force and had won great merit. Later, when he became a prince consort, he had gradually fallen from his former vigor. On that particular day, it had truly been a case of having no road left to retreat, his handle held by another, with nowhere to run. The old ruthless nerve from his younger days had all come flooding back, and he had finally revived some of his former masculine spirit. Afterward, however, he felt some anxiety. Recalling what he had said at the time — it would have been enough to convict him — if Li Lihua truly bore a grudge and turned vindictive, and the Emperor brought charges, he himself would be unharmed; even if he were truly sent off like Jiang Yi to tend horses at the frontier, Jiang Yi was someone he admired, and it would be a fine opportunity to draw closer to him.
The problem was that he was not alone in the world; behind him stood an entire Han family.
These past two days he had been somewhat on edge, and since his regular post was that of Feathered Forest Commander of the Imperial Guard in the Office of the Imperial Household — responsible for palace guards and escorts — he simply did not return to the Princess Imperial’s mansion and stayed at his post. At the morning court session he had kept his head low and said nothing, for fear of the Emperor’s notice.
What he feared came to pass: after court was dismissed, the Emperor had him detained and separately summoned. Han Rongchang resigned himself to his fate, made his obeisance, and waited for the thunderbolt of imperial wrath to descend on his head. He had not expected the Emperor to be pleasant and agreeable, opening by asking what he had been up to these past days.
Han Rongchang relaxed slightly, but also knowing the Emperor’s deep and brooding temperament, dared not lower his guard, and said he had been occupied with his duties, making amends and compensating for the mistakes he had committed in the unsuccessful suppression of Tianshui.
The Emperor said: ‘Be that as it may — what general has never known defeat? Your Han family is a great clan from the founding of the dynasty, generations of loyal subjects. As long as you are loyal and do not shirk danger, and exert yourself in service to the dynasty, how could We measure a man merely by one or two victories or defeats?’
Han Rongchang was thoroughly relieved, knowing that this had come to nothing. But he quickly felt puzzled again — knowing the Emperor would not specially summon him merely to reassure him — and respectfully said: ‘This is my duty! Wherever I may be of use, I will serve with my life!’
The Emperor nodded with a slight smile: ‘We hear that you visited Ziyang Temple a few days ago — you must have gone to see the Prince of Qin. How has he been getting on at the temple? Is everything well?’
Han Rongchang was no fool; he understood at once and knew what he should do. Not daring to wait for the Emperor to ask more directly, he immediately recounted the story of how, after receiving Li Xuandu’s letter, he had gone to the Taoist temple to inquire. Naturally, he omitted the part about being threatened with his first wife’s affair, only saying that Li Xuandu had earnestly pleaded with him.
When he finished, the Emperor said nothing, his expression somewhat strange.
Fearing the Emperor would not believe him, Han Rongchang swore: ‘Your servant would not dare utter a single word of deception. If I deceive Your Majesty, let Your Majesty strike me down!’
The Emperor said: ‘Why would the Prince of Qin go to the trouble of asking you to prevent the Princess Imperial from making a match between Jiao’er and the Pu family’s granddaughter? Did he say?’
Han Rongchang shook his head: ‘This the Prince of Qin did not make clear…’
He hesitated for a moment, then could not help but speak the inference he had slowly arrived at over these past days.
‘Your Majesty, in your servant’s view, nine times out of ten it must be because the Prince of Qin has feelings for the Pu family’s young lady, and upon learning of the Princess Imperial’s intention, he earnestly entreated me to help block it.’
The Emperor said: ‘How would he know of the Princess Imperial’s intention?’
Han Rongchang’s mind turned quickly and he immediately said: ‘Most likely the Pu family’s young lady also has feelings for him, somehow found out, and told him.’ With that he held his breath and dared not speak further. After waiting a long while without hearing the Emperor speak again, he mustered his courage to steal a look — the Emperor seemed to be pondering something. After a moment, he smiled and said: ‘We understand. Nothing more — you may withdraw.’
Han Rongchang quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Though he felt slightly guilty for having betrayed Li Xuandu so readily, thinking it over, this was not some matter that could not be spoken of, and besides, Li Xuandu had also threatened him with his private affair — equally not a straightforward man. The two were even. Thinking this way, they owed each other nothing, and he could rest easy. He answered submissively and withdrew.
After Han Rongchang departed, Shen Gao emerged from his concealed position. The Emperor asked: ‘What do you make of what was just said?’
Shen Gao said: ‘The Marquis of Guangping has always been cautious and guarded. Your servant expects he would not dare deceive Your Majesty.’
The Emperor considered for a moment, then asked abruptly: ‘Has the Que Kingdom’s Li Siye departed?’
‘He left the day before yesterday. The Prince of Qin saw him off at the north gate of the city.’
‘What is the current population of the Que Kingdom?’
‘In reply to Your Majesty — to the best of your servant’s knowledge, the Que Kingdom in these years has seen constant population growth. Registered households number close to one hundred thousand, and the national population is three to four hundred thousand. Among these, those between sixteen and forty years of age and capable of bearing arms likely account for forty to fifty percent. The Que people are farmers in peacetime and soldiers in wartime; salt and iron trade is flourishing. One to two hundred thousand able-bodied men…’
Shen Gao paused, his eyes showing a flash of fear, his voice tightening: ‘This is not a small number! When Liu Chong and the King of Tianshui joined forces, the combined troops they mustered did not reach one hundred thousand!’
The Emperor’s brow furrowed deeply, his gaze settling on a white jade coiled-dragon seal at the corner of his desk. He held it there for a moment, then suddenly said: ‘Make arrangements at once — summon the Pu family girl to the palace. We wish to see her for Ourselves.’
…
Things seemed to be becoming somewhat different from her previous life.
More than half a month had passed since the Jiang Empress Dowager’s grand birthday celebration.
Pu Zhu clearly remembered that in her previous life, at this time, the edict appointing her Crown Princess had already been delivered to the Guo household.
Yet now, though there was no further trouble from the Princess Imperial’s side, there was also not a word of news from the palace.
What had gone wrong?
She was gradually becoming apprehensive, and then uneasy. Fortunately, the one somewhat comforting thing was that she had not heard news of the Marquis Yao’s daughter, Yao Hanzhen, being appointed Crown Princess either. Then, three days earlier, she had received another letter secretly delivered by Li Chengyu’s trusted confidant, reassuring her and telling her not to be anxious. He said that ever since she had been put forward as a candidate for Crown Princess, the ministers had almost unanimously endorsed the idea, and the probability of the Emperor formally appointing her was very high. The reason the imperial vermilion endorsement had been slow to come was perhaps related to the Emperor’s being currently very occupied. He told her to be at ease, and said he would inform her the moment he had any new news.
Li Chengyu’s new message had not yet arrived, and three days later, on this particular day, a palace messenger came to the Guo household, conveying word that the Empress Dowager Chen wished to summon her to the palace for a visit.