Cheng Shi’s birthday was on the sixth day after the New Year, but this wasn’t actually a milestone birthday. The reason all the Cheng family from across the realm could gather together was because five days later would be Cheng Yang’s wedding ceremony.
Five years ago, Madam Xiao had suffered a serious illness. It took three full years of recovery before she gradually improved. Although her health was now sound, her vital energy and spirit weren’t as vigorous as before. The concrete manifestation of this was that over these five years, neither Palace Directress Cheng nor young master Zhu Ou had been beaten.
She had once worried about Shaoshang’s lifelong matter, but when Yuan Shen’s forced breaking of the engagement with the Cai family caused a commotion, she understood—her daughter had never had a problem with being unable to marry, only with whom to marry.
So she used this as a reason to strongly urge Cheng Yang to marry—her niece was different from Shaoshang. Once she missed her flowering season, it would be difficult to find a family suitable in all aspects for a first marriage. Therefore, when she learned that the young Marquis Ban frequently ran to their home not to find Cheng Shaogong, Madam Xiao was quite surprised.
Father Cheng summarized: “It must be that Niaoniao’s peach blossom luck is too vigorous—the pollen drifted downwind to Yangyang.”
Initially, old Marquis Ban wasn’t satisfied with Cheng Yang. After all, the Ban family’s main branch was now weak and needed strong support from the wife’s clan. The Cheng family was clearly not impressive enough (Cheng Cheng was even more of a commoner).
The young Marquis Ban couldn’t resist his great-grandfather’s dominance and was forced tearfully into two engagements. Who knew his fate of bringing death to father and mother was too powerful—over three years, two fiancées died. Adding the one from the betrothal in infancy who died early, he had already scored three in a row.
Old Marquis Ban could only settle for second best and had someone propose to Father Cheng on his behalf. This time it was the turn of the Cheng and Xiao couple to hesitate—no matter how good the Ban family’s status, they couldn’t risk Cheng Yang’s life.
Madam Xiao felt she’d rather have her marry below the Ban family than hope the child would live to a hundred years. She indicated to Cheng Yang that ‘this matter should be dropped.’ Cheng Yang had always been obedient and compliant. Without hesitation she nodded in agreement, yet for several nights in a row, she cried with her head buried in her bedding.
At that time, Madam Qing Cong had just returned with Cheng Cheng from White Deer Mountain to the city for the New Year. She was seizing time to care for her stepchildren and quickly noticed Cheng Yang’s unusual behavior, then relayed it to her sworn sister.
Madam Xiao’s heart inexplicably softened. She sat for a whole day in her daughter’s empty bedroom, and after coming out, had her husband search the world for famous shamans to divine the birth dates and fates of Cheng Yang and Ban Jia. The conclusions all came out as ‘a match made in heaven.’
Only then did Madam Xiao nod—Cheng Shaogong added a sentence: ‘Among Elder Cousin Sister and Ajia’s descendants there will be people whose names will be immortalized in history, more than one!’
Even so, after the two families became engaged, Madam Xiao still observed for a full year. Seeing that Cheng Yang remained strong and robust, immune to all illnesses, she finally dared to begin preparing the wedding ceremony.
On the day of Cheng Yang’s wedding, Shaoshang sat to the side watching Madam Qing Cong lead people to apply makeup and arrange Cheng Yang’s hair, teasing: “Outside people all say our Cheng family is a nest of old maids—one or two who won’t marry. Fortunately Elder Cousin Sister, you’re setting an example, otherwise Mother would be worried to death.”
Cheng Yang lowered her head: “Initially when I saw the young Marquis Ban always wandering around this area, I thought he’d taken the wrong road, so I told him Shaogong’s quarters weren’t here. The next day I saw him again, so I directed him again. Who knew he blushed for a long time and stammered through reciting ‘Zijin’ for me to hear…”
Shaoshang deliberately inhaled loudly and teased: “Then Elder Cousin Sister immediately agreed?”
Cheng Yang said shyly: “At first I ignored him, but he came to our door day after day. Sometimes he’d bring me a scroll of books, sometimes some brocade, and once, he picked a handful of wild fruit from somewhere and gave it to me, saying it was the sweetest fruit he’d ever tasted—but I still ignored him, because…”
Shaoshang filled in for her: “Because you had to look after the Cheng family. Second Uncle told Aunt Qing. Once Aunt Qing knew, the whole family knew.”
Madam Qing Cong, who was busy placing hairpins on Cheng Yang, heard this and reached out in her busyness to lightly knock a chestnut on Shaoshang’s head.
Only then did Madam Xiao learn her niece’s true reason for refusing to marry, and for the first time ever, gave Cheng Yang a beating on her palms.
“Mother is always saying I’m stubborn and headstrong, but actually you’re not much better. No matter how Mother beat, scolded, or frightened you, you just wouldn’t turn back!” Shaoshang shook her head.
“At that time I’d decided—if you didn’t marry, I wouldn’t marry either. So later when I heard Ajia got engaged, I didn’t feel much in my heart.” Cheng Yang said. “Until a year ago when he came running excitedly to say his great-grandfather was coming to our house with a marriage proposal—when I brought him kumiss, my sleeve slipped down and I saw old whip scars on his arm…”
At that moment, she suddenly shed tears.
Cheng Shaogong had told her that Ban Jia had been severely punished by old Marquis Ban for fighting for this marriage. You must know, as the family’s only seedling, Ban Jia hadn’t been touched with a finger since coming out of his mother’s womb.
Only then did Cheng Yang understand that when this refined and timid youth had come crying before her window when being forced into engagements, he had truly been incomparably heartbroken and pained. And what great efforts he had made to be able to marry her.
So when Madam Xiao planned to decline the marriage proposal, Cheng Yang told herself on one hand that this was just right—she wouldn’t have to make the effort to refuse Ban Jia in person. On the other hand, she couldn’t stop herself from hiding and crying—she felt herself very base. Her younger cousin sister was still trapped in the deep palace, yet she was thinking of marrying.
“Niaoniao, can you really leave the palace and marry?” Cheng Yang was still uneasy.
Shaoshang guaranteed with complete confidence: “Don’t worry. If I wanted to marry, I could just shout casually, and those waiting to marry me could line up from the Upper West Gate to Pingcheng Gate! You marry well, and the whole family will be at ease.”
Sitting to the side eating pastries, Madam Sang heard this and deliberately laughed loudly, looking over with a half-smile. Shaoshang knew what she’d remembered and felt somewhat embarrassed.
However, though Shaoshang’s words were exaggerated, they had some truth. If previously she was only ordinarily beautiful, after living for several years in the most honored place under heaven, she had refined a kind of transparent and flawless quality.
Cheng Yang turned her head to look and saw her cousin sister’s jade-snow flawless face, as pure and unworldly as dewdrops on flower stamens. Her bright black-and-white eyes rippled with luminous waves. Combined with her innate somewhat pitiful and delicate nature, she presented a special beauty as fragile as butterfly wings.
One matter that became a laughingstock involved the twelfth son of Marquis Yu.
Reportedly, initially he wasn’t satisfied with his father’s plan, feeling that with his qualifications he was good enough to be a prince consort—how could he condescend to the daughter of a newly risen family, especially when Lady Cheng had previously been entangled with Huo Buyi?
Who knew that one day when he encountered the girl leaning in a light carriage at the palace gate, seeing from afar her frowning, unhappy appearance like a light sigh falling on his heart. Young Master Yu Twelve immediately felt a sharp sword pierce his heart, his tender feelings surging. He instantly felt Father dear, Father good, Father’s eye is superb, and very diligently went to the Cheng house to pay respects to the elders (the old steward continued to be shocked).
He was satisfied, but Yuan Shen wasn’t.
Yuan Shen ran to Yong’an Palace every day, not to watch his sweetheart get engaged to someone else again. Once his heart was moved, dirty tricks immediately bubbled up 500cc. Then Young Master Yu Twelve’s previous flirtatious correspondence with the widowed younger sister of the Grand Prince Consort was exposed, creating a citywide uproar. Marquis Yu could only go propose marriage to the Grand Prince Consort’s family.
Marquis Yu was fairly open-minded. Though the Grand Prince Consort’s younger sister was somewhat older and her reputation somewhat scandalous, her family background and status were far higher than the Cheng family—after all, he had in-laws throughout the realm. If the east doesn’t work, try the west.
Instead, the Grand Prince Consort several times looked at Yuan Shen with grateful eyes. Yuan Shen just pretended not to know.
Actually, as famous as her beauty was Cheng Shaoshang’s bad temper.
Over these five years, she had driven away Beauty Xu at least twice for making sarcastic remarks, scolded back the Fifth Princess three times who attempted to have the Grand Empress Dowager back her up, investigated five cases of illegal activities in Yong’an Palace, and even by error caught a group of assassins sent by the usurper king in Shu… According to unconfirmed and baseless news, someone had witnessed Lady Cheng beating and threatening the Fifth Prince.
Shaoshang seriously suspected this news was spread by Yuan Shen, intending to scare away her admirers. P.S., them.
Several days after the wedding ceremony came the Lantern Festival. Shaoshang and Yuan Shen had agreed to have a full day’s date, so she rose early to groom and dress herself. The two ladies Xiao and Sang were extremely excited, wishing they could hang the girl with pearls and jade all over. Shaoshang hastily declined, because the first stop of their date today was a tomb.
Sitting in the carriage, Yuan Shen looked at the girl in surprise: “You can actually get up this early. I thought you’d sleep another hour. Last time when you took leave to return home, you slept until noon for four consecutive days. When I finished my work and came to see you, you’d just eaten your first meal.”
“You think I wanted to get up this early!” Shaoshang yawned continuously. “These past days the house has been in complete uproar! Elder Sister Jinge has one son and one daughter. Xixi brought her and Second Brother’s three little brats—a whole nest of little scoundrels causing trouble and fighting all day long, not a moment’s peace!”
One moment Jinge’s younger son was buried in a snow pile, the next moment Xixi’s second son was tricked up a tree and couldn’t get down, then together they pulled up the seedlings Mother Cheng planted in the greenhouse, and then they made Father Cheng’s weapons room a complete mess… In short, it was like havoc in heaven causing dizziness. Even Madam Xiao’s authoritative face didn’t work very well.
“The afternoon before yesterday, the more I slept the heavier my body felt. I had continuous nightmares and thought it was sleep paralysis. When I opened my eyes, two brats were napping on top of me—I nearly suffocated!” Shaoshang vented bitterly. “Mother is only impressive toward us. When she sees the grandchildren, she has no solution!”
Yuan Shen laughed heartily: “Now your family can be considered prosperous with descendants.”
“You’re overthinking it. Elder Sister Xixi’s three are surnamed Wan.” Shaoshang said. “But it doesn’t matter. There’s still Shaogong and Azhu and them. Once they marry and have children, Father won’t have to worry about so many empty rooms with no one living in them.”
Wan Song, who had changed his surname, and Xixi finally reversed the Wan family’s century-long curse, accomplishing the task of embracing two in three years and holding three in five years. Last year, Wan Songbai specially ran to the capital, tearfully thanking Cheng Shi, his mouth full of phrases that could easily be misunderstood like ‘thank you, sworn younger brother, for bearing me three grandchildren—sworn younger brother, you’ve worked hard.’
Yuan Shen cast the girl a meaningful glance: “Actually my family also has thin descendants…”
Shaoshang was too lazy to pay him attention and pulled the blanket over herself: “You watch the carriage properly and don’t take the wrong road. I’ll take a nap. When we arrive, call me.”
Yuan Shen: …
One hour out of the city, one hour on the imperial road. By the time they reached Dongbai Cemetery, the sun was already at its zenith.
The Second Prince, enfeoffed as Prince of Huai’an, had arrived early. He stood in the spacious and grand sacrificial hall, staring blankly at a spirit tablet. Hearing footsteps behind him, when he turned around, Shaoshang saw tear tracks still on his face.
“Second Highness, you’ve been crying again. Didn’t you promise Her Ladyship last time not to grieve anymore?” Shaoshang said.
The Second Prince wiped his tears, then smiled: “If you don’t tell, Mother Empress won’t know.”
Shaoshang said helplessly: “Naturally I won’t tell Her Ladyship, but Your Highness must also take care of your health and not grieve excessively. The Second Princess Consort’s children are still counting on you.”
The Second Prince agreed repeatedly and cupped his hands toward Yuan Shen: “Shanjian, you came too.”
Yuan Shen returned the courtesy: “Second Highness has lost more weight. I’m not Shaoshang—I won’t hide it from His Majesty.”
“You two!” The Second Prince laughed despite himself, then said to Shaoshang: “I hear your family recently had both a birthday banquet and wedding ceremony. You really didn’t need to come see her this year.”
Shaoshang sighed: “I had a friendship with the Second Princess Consort. Unless I’m not in the capital, otherwise how could I not come?”
The Second Prince said gratefully: “After all these years you still remember her. I thank you both here.” After speaking, he turned back to look at his wife’s spirit tablet. The coffin was only temporarily stored here. When he went to his fief, he would take his wife with him.
Shaoshang pulled Yuan Shen forward to bow respectfully, then offered incense and prayers. Turning back, she discovered the Second Prince’s posture gazing at the tablet hadn’t changed at all. She couldn’t help but sigh again—if she hadn’t witnessed it personally, no one could connect this thin, indifferent, slightly stooped middle-aged man with the arrogant Second Prince of five years ago.
The turning point was that night full of blood and anguished moaning—no one expected that the cheerful, healthy Second Princess Consort who lacked neither means nor cunning would leave so early. Shaoshang especially couldn’t understand how the Second Princess Consort, who had already given birth three times, could still have a difficult delivery.
The Second Prince looked at the tablet murmuring: “That time her pregnancy signs were already bad, yet she still ran around everywhere handling affairs, dealing with the aftermath for me. After Mother Empress was deposed, I was so terrible… I killed her.”
Everyone in the capital unanimously agreed on one thing—though the Second Prince was unreliable, the Second Princess Consort was one of the most reliable people in the imperial family.
When she heard the news of the empress’s deposition at home, she immediately understood the overall situation was lost. She decisively dispersed the death warriors and strategists to safe places, destroyed all unstable correspondence, then discussed with the Eldest Princess what time and what manner of ‘forgiveness’ toward the Emperor would be most appropriate—neither appearing callous toward Empress Xuan nor delaying obtaining safety.
At that time, the Second Prince was both negative and furious, his heart full of resentment with no way to express it. He could only vent his dissatisfaction through daily drunkenness and hunting. Two days before the Second Princess Consort went into labor, she was still sending people to search for her husband who was drunk somewhere unknown.
That night, heavy rain fell. The palace gate was frantically pounded by the Second Prince’s messenger, saying only that the Second Princess Consort wouldn’t survive. The Grand Empress Dowager’s health hadn’t recovered yet. Shaoshang didn’t dare alarm her and could only boldly go to Changqiu Palace to wake the Emperor, requesting a special decree to leave the palace, and brought the imperial physician most skilled in obstetric matters to the Second Prince’s residence.
The imperial physician’s eye was very experienced. He stated bluntly, ‘excessive worry and caution, depleted vital energy, exhausted all heart strength.’ The Second Prince immediately wanted to draw his sword to kill someone. Fortunately, Shaoshang was clever enough to bring a team of guards. Everyone grabbed the man with many hands.
In the end, the child was born—a frail baby boy, and the Second Princess Consort’s lamp oil ran dry, her blood flowing unceasingly.
Before dying, she begged her husband for three things. First, no matter whom her husband remarried in the future, please treat her children well. Second, no matter who succeeded to the throne in the future, please husband must take care of himself and not be self-pitying. Third, for ten years, don’t offer incense on her death anniversary—just pretend she hadn’t died, just pretend she’d gone on a distant journey in anger.
The Second Prince cried unable to speak and could only agree to each one.
Throughout the entire process, the Second Princess Consort remained very calm. She forcibly endured pain and weakness, instructed her trusted subordinates on essential matters, pre-selected tutors, arranged her posthumous affairs in perfect order. Only when dying with a final surge of energy did she cry out, panicking and grasping at her husband, blindly and sorrowfully calling: “…What will you do when I’m gone? You’re so rash and impulsive—what if people scheme against you? I can’t protect you anymore! If someone bullies you and I’m not here, what then?!”
The Second Prince was struck as if by lightning. Holding his gradually cooling wife, only then did he understand what he had lost.
The Second Princess Consort was not only the mother of his children, his princess consort, but also his intimate lover and confidante. Parents had other children, children would have their own lives—in this world, there would never again be anyone who loved him, worried about him, couldn’t bear to part with him like his wife…
After the news spread, everyone thought the Second Prince would now deteriorate, didn’t know how many days he’d be drunk and crazy, how many times he’d make scenes at Yong’an Palace. Who knew he only shut himself in his room for one day and one night. When he came out again, it was as if he’d become a different person.
When all adult princes were simultaneously enfeoffed, even someone as low-key as the Fourth Prince accepted several retainers, but the Second Prince dispersed all guests. Among the concubines in the prince’s residence who hadn’t given birth, any who wanted to leave were given substantial funds and sent away.
He recalled how his wife handled daily affairs and strove to restrain his carelessness, carefully arranging the residence’s expenditures and income, selecting trustworthy confidants, disciplining servants, attentively caring for the children.
Additionally, he entered Yong’an Palace once every half month, never mentioning his own sorrow and loneliness. Instead, he constantly consoled the Grand Empress Dowager, instructing her to properly care for her health. He even began caring about his elder brother. Whether before or after the Prince of Donghai declined the heir apparent position, he accompanied his elder brother, speaking for him before Father Emperor, refuting the rumors and slander from court and countryside.
The Second Prince finally became a good son, good younger brother, good father—just as all parents and wives in the world hoped—only the price was too great.
In the first year after the Second Princess Consort’s death, the Second Prince visibly lost weight, his temper gentle as an old man’s. He remembered his wife’s instructions not to come see her on the death anniversary, so he chose his wife’s birthday to commemorate that smiling woman born on the Lantern Festival.
The Emperor sighed with emotion: “Second Son has grown up, but… Heaven has been too harsh to him.”
After eating a simple, bland lunch and before leaving Dongbai Cemetery, Shaoshang was still chattering: “Second Highness, don’t be like last time, staying at the cemetery for ten days straight, finally catching cold and frightening the young imperial grandsons into tears. You must eat more fish and meat, don’t make yourself look like you’ve left home to cultivate the Way…”
Yuan Shen interjected: “Actually, those who cultivate the Way also eat fish and meat. My mother does.” He was also dissatisfied with lunch.
Shaoshang irritably punched him once.
The Second Prince laughed aloud: “Rest assured, I’ve already promised Father Emperor I’ll remarry. No matter what, I must live well.”
“Really? Have you chosen the candidate?” Shaoshang’s eyes brightened.
The Second Prince said: “Chosen already. Shanjian knows about this. Speaking of it, he’s the one who persuaded me.”
Yuan Shen smiled and cupped his hands: “His Majesty has always worried about Your Highness. As a subject, one must share the sovereign’s worries. Your Highness rest assured, this subject inquired very clearly. Among the Second Princess Consort’s many younger female cousins, this lady has the kindest heart, pitying the young and sympathizing with the weak. Moreover… since she miscarried after being beaten by her former husband, she can never bear children again.”
Shaoshang punched him again: “Why is your manner like a gossiping matchmaker!” Then she said to the Second Prince: “Listening to him is definitely right. This fellow back when he was going on matchmaking dates, he practically met every girl in the entire capital. He knows best which family’s daughters are virtuous and gentle!”
The Second Prince covered his mouth with his fist, laughing continuously—watching a girl as pretty and delicate as a doll hit people was actually quite entertaining.
Yuan Shen stood to the side smiling bitterly while rubbing his arm.
As the carriage convoy was about to depart, the Second Prince suddenly walked to Shaoshang’s carriage, glanced at Yuan Shen, and said sincerely: “Shaoshang, a person’s life is actually very short. Don’t miss the person before your eyes and regret it afterward.”
Shaoshang’s eyelashes lowered slightly for a moment, then she raised her head, smiled and glared at Yuan Shen with mock anger, joking: “Seems Young Master Yuan made a good match for Your Highness. Look, now you’re even speaking on his behalf. Alright, your subject knows. It’s cold outside. Please return, Your Highness.”