Chapter 184 |
Seven days later.
Zhang Family Town, Yangzhou.
This was the ancestral land of the Zhang family, the place where the Zhang family's founding ancestor had started his rise by following the founding emperor to win the realm.
The funeral procession was advancing towards the ancestral land when it was stopped in the woods just before entering Zhang Family Town.
Yi Shier clasped his hands and said, "Is Lord Zhang present? My master requests your presence."
"What master of yours? This is Zhang Family Town, what master is here?" The people at the front were exhausted. Having been stopped just as their destination was in sight, their tone was naturally unpleasant.
Zhang Chansi pushed through the crowd from behind and stepped forward, glancing towards a spot about ten meters behind Yi Shier.
A carriage stood quietly there.
She turned back and instructed the procession to rest where they were. "Take me over."
Zhang Chansi smiled. "Now I can truly be called Director Zhang, worthy of the name."
The one who had monopolized that title before was now dead.
Qu Dubian: "The arithmetic scholars I kept at the Seventh Prince's residence have also come with me to Yangzhou. I've even set up a special class to teach. Many poor families have sent their children to learn a skill, so they might become accountants in the future."
Zhang Chansi sighed. "Arithmetic is ultimately just a minor skill in these times. Still, being able to help the common people is already very good."
Qu Dubian: "Those with talent, I will sponsor and send to you for teaching."
Zhang Chansi gave a light laugh. "Then I'm unlikely to encounter a student as clever and gifted as you were." Her gaze fell on the white gauze covering Qu Dubian's eyes. "I sense... you can see a little now?"
Qu Dubian: "I can faintly perceive light and shadows."
"That's good news too."
After finishing a cup of tea, Zhang Chansi asked, "What did you summon me for, Your Highness?"
Qu Dubian: "You already know, actually."
He took out a small wooden plaque that showed its age from his robe.
"You gave this to me back then."
The protective talisman plaque was very old, but Ye Banban had stored the old belongings very carefully, so the small plaque was undamaged.
Given Zhang Chansi's character, she wouldn't give someone something for no reason.
She should have known about the matter of Zhang Fanming using Consort Yun and her son as stepping stones to establish the authority of the Astrological Bureau.
Qu Dubian: "I want to know if Zhang Fanming really died by accident."
"You suspect that someone instructed him regarding the Consort Yun affair back then, and now that he's dead, someone also wanted to kill him."
"Yes."
Zhang Chansi: "Your Highness, do you realize that if your suspicions are proven, the entire Zhang family would face only one fate?"
After all, Zhang Chansi was a member of the Zhang family.
Her giving him the plaque back then represented her pity, but it didn't mean she would betray her entire clan for that bit of pity.
Qu Dubian didn't believe that a 40-point favorability rating could represent everything. After all, Yu Ruo's favorability towards him had also been over 40, and he had never given up on killing him.
If it were discovered that Zhang Fanming had falsely accused the child in Consort Yun's womb back then, the Zhang family would be finished.
Zhang Chansi's fear of him continuing to court death, her scheming to sideline Zhang Fanming and imprison him—wasn't that also another means of preserving the Zhang family?
Qu Dubian: "This is Yangzhou, not the capital. If you know anything, you can say it. Given my current status, if I speak up, protecting the Zhang family would be more than sufficient."
"It's fine if you don't say anything. My main purpose in coming today was to see the body."
Zhang Chansi: "What if I don't permit it?"
Qu Dubian said, "As I said, this is Yangzhou, not the capital."
He directly lifted the carriage curtain and instructed outside: "Banban, have the funeral procession proceed to Zhang Family Town first. Leave the coffin behind."
There was a brief commotion outside. Ye Xiaoyuan, using the pretext that the coffin of Lord Zhang was an official matter, invited them for a meal.
Yi Shier led people to open the coffin.
Inside the carriage.
Zhang Chansi did not offer any resistance from beginning to end.
After about half an hour, Yi Shier came to report. "He drowned. No other traces were found."
Zhang Chansi said, "Back then, I didn't have much real power within the Astrological Bureau and wasn't clear on everything Zhang Fanming did. He had connections with the consorts in the rear palace because when the ladies held banquets or events, they would consult him for auspicious dates."
"Whether he had someone behind him, and if so, exactly who it was, is impossible to ascertain."
Qu Dubian was silent for a moment. "I'm taking Zhang Fanming's body. He doesn't deserve to rest in peace."
Zhang Chansi: "Agreed."
Qu Dubian: "I'm also taking all the burial goods."
Zhang Chansi: "The burial goods are all things I moved from his room. If you want them, take them."
Her only request was to help fill the empty coffin with stones, reseal it, so she could take it back for burial.
Qu Dubian complied, transporting Zhang Fanming's body and all the burial goods back to his residence in Yangzhou.
He also left some men behind to serve as the coffin-bearing team.
When parting, Qu Dubian said one last thing: "Teacher, you are welcome to visit the Yong Prince's residence."
Zhang Chansi nodded.
She took the empty coffin back to the Zhang ancestral land for burial.
In the ancestral land, there were still Zhang family children, both boys and girls. They gathered around Zhang Chansi, holding turtle shells and counting rods, some holding copper coins, chattering and asking for instruction on astrological methods.
The one who excelled the most in astrological studies could enter the main branch of the Zhang family in the capital and compete for the position of Deputy Director in the future.
This was their only way to rise above their station.
The Zhang family had observed the stars for generations and were forbidden from entering officialdom. This rule, established since the founding emperor's time and passed down to descendants, was truly disheartening.
Zhang Chansi patted each of their heads in turn, smiling. "Alright, I'll perform a divination and explain it to you."
The children asked, "What shall we divine?"
Zhang Chansi: "Let's divine... your futures."
She picked up three pebbles from the roadside and casually tossed them on the ground.
[Dynastic changes, shackles broken.]
A greatly auspicious omen.
Zhang Chansi was stunned.
Divination didn't always yield a clear reading. Some matters remained an impenetrable fog no matter how many times they were divined.
She had divined the future of the Zhang family countless times, and it had always been unclear. But this time...?
This was the first time she had performed a divination since Zhang Fanming's death. Could it be related to him?
No.
The Zhang family's generational duty of observing the stars was decreed by the founding emperor. To change it, only the emperor could. And the current reigning emperor had never shown any intention of doing so.
Zhang Chansi held her breath. She instinctively glanced towards the direction of the capital, her expression turning grave. She quickly performed another divination.
The pebbles landed, forming a new omen.
[Great Exceeding over Lake and Wind, the dragon trapped in its lair, the hidden game revealed, metal and blood weep.]
A greatly inauspicious omen...
Zhang Chansi remained motionless for a long time. When she came to her senses, her fingertips were already ice-cold.
She reached out and scattered the divination pattern. The children were still waiting for her explanation. "Auntie, why have you gone quiet?"
Zhang Chansi: "I was thinking, you little ones can't even understand such a simple divination reading. I should stay in the ancestral land a while longer and teach you all properly."
Great changes were likely brewing in the capital. She had a premonition; it was best not to return for now.
-
The Imperial Palace.
The Eastern Warmth Pavilion.
Emperor Chongzhao was here reviewing the memorials and documents annotated by the Fourth Prince during this period.
A palace attendant from the Fu'an Palace entered. "Your Majesty, Consort Yi has sent something over."
Consort Yi, formerly Lady Yi, had now been promoted to Consort.
Emperor Chongzhao: "What is it?"
The Fu'an Palace attendant: "An incense sachet for His Highness the Crown Prince, to be changed on the seventh day, to aid in calming the spirit."
Emperor Chongzhao merely raised his hand, indicating for the Fourth Prince to take it himself.
It was a small sachet, about the size of a child's palm. The Fourth Prince held it to his nose and smelled it. It carried the faint, subtle scent of the incense sticks from Consort Yi's personal prayer hall.
Ever since he was installed as Crown Prince, Consort Yi had been making these. After finishing one, she would place it on the incense table before the Buddha's niche and pray for seven days. Once the prayers were complete, she would send the new one, asking the Fourth Prince to replace the old one, believing it helped soothe the spirit.
Fourth Prince: "Understood. Please convey my thanks to Mother Consort."
He hung the sachet at his waist.
The attendant bowed and withdrew.
Emperor Chongzhao: "Both I and Consort Yi are deeply concerned for you. Yet you still do not know diligence. The annotations on your essays are poor, showing almost no improvement compared to some time ago."
He raised his eyes. "If this continues, how can I feel assured about entrusting the Great Zhou to you?"
Fourth Prince: "You could also entrust it to someone else."
Emperor Chongzhao's brows furrowed deeply. He was about to reprimand him when he opened his mouth only to be seized by a fit of coughing. He pointed at the Fourth Prince, "You—"
"Cough, cough, cough—" He coughed until his face flushed red, finally bending over at the waist. "Cough... water, cough..."
Eunuch Yu hurried to pour water from the table nearby. As he knelt and offered it to Emperor Chongzhao, there was a sudden puh sound—a mouthful of blood sprayed from the Emperor's lips.
A mist of blood spattered Eunuch Yu's face, leaving his mind blank.
"Y-Your Majesty?"
Emperor Chongzhao lifted his sleeve, wiped his mouth, and pushed himself up from the table. He glanced around at the terrified attendants, feeling the world spin.
His mind grew increasingly muddled. Thinking he needed to summon Physician Yang, he stumbled two steps towards the door before his vision went dark and he completely lost consciousness.
The Fourth Prince stepped forward swiftly and caught him. "Father!"
Zichen Palace.
Physician Yang took the Emperor's pulse.
A moment later, his expression turned grim. "Adverse blood flow conflicting, and His Majesty's vitality is already depleted. It appears to be symptoms of a stroke now. It's uncertain what his condition will be upon waking."
Prince Ming: "How could this happen so suddenly?"
Eunuch Yu: "His Majesty had just reprimanded His Highness the Crown Prince a couple of times, and then..."
Prince Ming understood.
Physician Yang: "It may not be solely due to anger causing emotional agitation. Has His Majesty changed his diet recently? A sudden change in diet can also disrupt the harmony of blood and qi."
Eunuch Yu: "No, His Majesty's diet remains as before."
Physician Yang sniffed the air, then walked over to the incense burner by Emperor Chongzhao's side. He pinched some of the ash.
Eunuch Yu asked nervously, "His Majesty blended this new incense himself. Is there something wrong with it?"
Physician Yang: "His Majesty likely added 'wan xiang zhu' (evening fragrant bamboo) to it. This substance warms the blood. It's best to use it sparingly."
Eunuch Yu quickly made a note.
Physician Yang added, "And we must try our utmost to keep His Majesty's mind and mood tranquil."
This last remark was directed primarily at the Fourth Prince.
The Fourth Prince pressed his lips together. "Understood."
-
Emperor Chongzhao remained unconscious for five consecutive days, but fortunately woke on the sixth.
Physician Yang's skill was sufficient; he prevented the stroke symptoms from manifesting as facial distortion or slurred speech. The Emperor's mind remained clear.
However, this sudden illness had further weakened Emperor Chongzhao's body. It was unknown how long he would need to recuperate in bed.
During this period of his convalescence, the court officials were much more settled than before.
The three Grand Secretaries, including Grand Tutor Fang, assisted in governance; Prince Ming oversaw court affairs. Matters of state were not left unattended. With the Crown Prince already established, the ministers all felt a sense of security.
Apart from some initial slight panic, everything else proceeded in an orderly fashion.
A state without an heir apparent is unstable—this is the very reason for establishing a Crown Prince.
Moreover, this Crown Prince, the Fourth Prince, was quite unique. He was the only seedling, so there wasn't even a need to guard against other princes attempting moves against the Crown Prince or seizing opportunities to frame him while the Emperor was ill.
The ministers largely carried on with their duties as usual, merely diverting a portion of their attention to Zichen Palace to monitor the Emperor's condition.
Without Emperor Chongzhao pressuring him to study, the Fourth Prince found himself with much more ease.
This should have been a perfect opportunity for him to rest and sleep, as administrative affairs could be handled by Imperial Uncle Ming, Grand Tutor Fang, and the others. Yet he tossed and turned, unable to find sleep.
This would have been absolutely impossible in the past.
The Fourth Prince lit a lamp, threw on his robe, got up, and pushed open the window. He placed the lit candlestick on the windowsill.
A fine, cool breeze drifted in from outside, causing the candle flame to flicker.
He hadn't been sleepy to begin with; now his mind grew even clearer.
How he wished to go outside.
How he wished things could be as they were before.
His mind was filled with vague, elusive fantasies, yet his eyes held a stark clarity. He knew perfectly well that he likely could not go out anymore.
Leaving the window open, the Fourth Prince took the lamp to his desk. He found a stack of envelopes he had collected—all the letters from Xiao Qi, he had kept them.
He sat in the chair and, for who-knows-which time, opened them, reading through each one slowly.
The Fourth Prince picked up the incense sachet from his desk, idly kneading it in his hand. The faint fragrance and the soothing words within the letters gradually calmed him.
Suddenly, his fingers felt something hard inside the sachet.
He subconsciously pressed harder. Crack.
A faint sound came from within the sachet, as if something had split.
The Fourth Prince paused. After a moment, the scent emanating from the sachet changed. The originally pleasant, faint fragrance now carried a hint of bitterness.
Frowning, the Fourth Prince brought it closer to smell. The next second, a wave of heat spread from his heart to his limbs and throughout his body.
He instantly moved the sachet away, turning his head to take several deep breaths. The sensation of blood rushing backwards gradually subsided. When he had recovered and looked at the sachet again, the expression in his eyes had completely changed.
He stared at the sachet for a long time, unmoving.
The next day, the Fourth Prince used the excuse of needing to fetch something from his princely residence to leave the palace.
In his own bedroom, he found a pair of scissors, cut open the sachet, and poured all its contents onto a brocade handkerchief.
Inside were mostly the powdered ingredients his mother used for making incense sticks. All except one thing.
The Fourth Prince used a bamboo pick to separate it out.
It was a tiny round pellet, now split in two, hollow in the middle. He picked out the hollow shell alone, placed it on another clean white handkerchief, and wrapped it up.
Afterwards, he called for his guard, Leng Yue, and went out with him.
By the time they returned to the Eastern Warmth Chamber of Zichen Palace, it was already evening.
The Fourth Prince summoned a eunuch from his retinue. After sitting quietly in a daze for quite some time, he finally spoke softly, "...Inform Mother Consort that the sachet was accidentally snagged and torn by me, and all the contents spilled out. I must trouble her to make another one."
"Yes."
-
Yangzhou.
Prince Yong's Mansion.
Qu Dubian had gone through all of Zhang Fanming's remaining belongings three times over.
Most of it was useless, with even very little gold, silver, or jewels.
Except for a small chest containing what seemed to be a collection of expensive paper reserved for calligraphy. The edges of the paper were decorated with intricate floral patterns traced in gold liquid, and many sheets bore famous poems and verses copied out by Zhang Fanming.
Yi Shier pushed the door open and entered. "Your Highness, news from the capital. His Majesty has awakened."
Qu Dubian looked up from the desk. "Nothing serious, I hope?"
Yi Shier: "According to Little Chun Gonggong, he specifically asked Imperial Physician Yang. His Majesty has no major issues for now, but needs to rest quietly."
Qu Dubian let out a faint sigh.
"Also, there's another matter," Yi Shier remembered, "regarding..."
"Your Highness!"
Ye Xiaoyuan called from outside, "The porcelain vase you previously commissioned from Master Liu is ready. Master Liu has come to ask what kind of patterns you would like on the vase."
"Coming!"
Qu Dubian: "Liuliu, is your matter urgent?"
Yi Shier hesitated for a second, then shook his head.
Only then did Qu Dubian go to meet Master Liu.
This master was the one he had mentioned in his letter to Fourth Brother—a craftsman from the previous dynasty, skilled in firing porcelain and an absolute master at painting on porcelain.
Many people commissioned him for kiln work and paintings. Even though Qu Dubian used his "money power" to jump the queue, it was only today that his turn finally came.
Today, Master Liu came to his residence to inquire about his preference for patterns.
Though over seventy, his eyes were not the least bit clouded. He bowed respectfully without servility, saying, "Greetings, Prince Yong."
Qu Dubian: "No need for formalities. This porcelain vase is intended as a gift."
Master Liu: "In that case, please tell me the patterns favored by the recipient."
Qu Dubian actually wasn't very clear about what patterns Consort Yi liked. He pondered for a moment, then went with Ye Xiaoyuan to the storeroom to find a small wooden box.
The box was opened, revealing twelve exquisite paper slips inside, each adorned with sketches of different seasonal flowers corresponding to the twelve months of the year.
From a cartoonish perspective, one couldn't see the patterns clearly, but Qu Dubian vaguely remembered that these paper slips were very beautiful.
They were the first meeting gift Consort Yi gave him when he was a child, visiting Fu'an Palace to sleep over with Fourth Brother. After they arrived at the Yangzhou station, the belongings from his former princely mansion's storeroom had also been moved here.
Gifts received over the years were all preserved, including this set of paper slips.
What she drew should be similar to her own preferences.
Qu Dubian: "Master Liu, please follow the pattern styles on these paper slips. Something similar will do."
Master Liu: "Very well."
He carefully examined the patterns on this set of paper slips. After a moment, he let out a surprised "Huh?"
"How come... there's the hidden character technique of previous dynasty craftsmen concealed within these lines? Could it be that Your Highness knows other craftsmen from the previous dynasty?" Master Liu wondered, "But that can't be right... it's been over sixty years. This method should have been lost long ago..."
Ye Xiaoyuan: "Hidden characters?"
Master Liu nodded: "It's the technique of transforming the shapes of flowers, birds, fish, and insects so that they are both a painting and a character. Only those who understand can decipher it—a highly advanced skill. This set of paper slips is even more remarkable. The hidden characters are split apart and concealed in the corners and edges, forming an integral whole."
Ye Xiaoyuan: "But this is clearly..."
Qu Dubian interrupted, "Since it's a nearly lost technique of hidden characters, how does Master know about it?"
Master Liu cleared his throat lightly: "This skill was only taught to senior craftsmen who created exclusive works for the imperial family. When the previous dynasty fell, I was just a young apprentice and had no chance to learn it. The reason I know is that my master, in his haste to learn the hidden character method, secretly kept notes. I learned a bit after reading those notes."
He said somewhat sheepishly: "Of course, I only know of it, I can't use it. I've never publicized it, feeling embarrassed to use it as a stepping stone for fame."
Qu Dubian: "Then in this world, besides Master, is there anyone else who can paint with hidden characters?"
Master Liu: "Previously, I thought there wasn't. After all, the senior craftsmen of the previous dynasty all perished in the great fire during the palace turmoil—not a single survivor. But now, having seen this set of paper slips, I feel my knowledge was shallow. The tradition of hidden character painting from the previous dynasty still survives."
Previous dynasty.
Hidden character painting.
A faint cold sweat broke out on Ye Xiaoyuan's palm. He instinctively looked at Qu Dubian.
Qu Dubian smiled slightly, "Indeed. I wonder if Master can decipher the characters hidden within this set of paper slips. It would be a kind of fate."
Master Liu said cheerfully, "I had the same thought. However, I need to go home to fetch the notes my master left behind. Please wait a moment, Your Highness."
Qu Dubian sent Yi Shier to accompany him to fetch them.
After the two left, the smile on Qu Dubian's face gradually faded.
Ye Xiaoyuan stood beside him, his palm gently pressing on his shoulder. "Your Highness, perhaps things aren't as bad as they seem."
Qu Dubian remained silent.
Master Liu soon returned. The notebook was tattered, wrapped in sheepskin, quite old, and seemed not to have been opened for a long time.
He compared the notes while disassembling the hidden character forms and reassembling them.
By nightfall, Master Liu had finally succeeded in assembling one line of characters.
[An ill-fated child is born, the mother dies young. Seeing the enemy smile, take pity and keep your distance. Record this as the first.]
Looking at the deciphered words, he stammered, "This... this doesn't seem quite right, does it?" Weren't these received gifts? Why do the deciphered words sound so inauspicious?
Ye Xiaoyuan, perceptive, smilingly escorted Master Liu out. "Master must be tired. Please go and have some food and wine first. Stay here tonight. The pattern His Highness wants will be given to you tomorrow morning."
Qu Dubian slowly stood up and walked to the table.
This line of characters was clearly imprinted in his mind.
"Seeing the enemy smile, take pity and keep your distance..."
These words struck his heart. For a moment, he couldn't describe his feelings, and in the end, he actually laughed once.
Yi Shier clenched his fingers. "Your Highness."
Qu Dubian braced his hands on the edge of the table. After a long while, he found his voice again.
"Liuliu, at noon, what message did you want to report to me?"
Yi Shier: "Although Tang Yisu is dead, since Your Highness didn't order a stop, the intelligence network continued investigating his information. They just found some fragmentary supplementary details. His ancestral land isn't the place listed on his household register, but a small town near Zhennanguan."
He paused, "It's also the town where Consort Yi and His Majesty first met."
Changes in an official's household registration and ancestral land were not unheard of, and originally wouldn't be a major issue. But now, this piece of information becomes particularly important.
Remnant clan of the previous dynasty.
Possibly even the imperial clan of the previous dynasty.
Qu Dubian: "I remember among Zhang Fanming's burial items, there was also a box of paper slips."
He packed away the line of characters deciphered by Master Liu along with the paper slips, and entered his study alone.
-
Imperial Palace.
Evening.
Fu'an Palace.
The Fourth Prince was invited into the small ancestral hall.
He stopped at the entrance.
Consort Yi inside had already heard the footsteps. "Come in."
The Fourth Prince stepped inside.
Consort Yi was sitting in the study within a partitioned room of the small ancestral hall, kneeling on the floor making paper slips. "The new sachet you wanted is on the table. Take it yourself."
The Fourth Prince sat down before her, looking at the sachet on the desk.
"Mother Consort, did you add something else inside this sachet?"
Consort Yi stopped her movements, looked up, her gaze calm. "That day you left the palace, you went to Ren Yi Tang. What did you have examined?"
The Fourth Prince: "No one knew where I went when I left the palace, yet Mother Consort knows." He paused for a few seconds. "Leng Yue... is Mother Consort's person."
Consort Yi put down the half-painted paper slip in her hand.
"You could have remained ignorant your whole life, knowing nothing. Why seek to investigate and add unnecessary pain?"
Her tone of resignation utterly shattered the last lingering shred of hope in the Fourth Prince's heart.
Seated in this familiar small ancestral hall, he gazed at the woman before him—the detached mother figure who had raised him, whom he thought he knew so well—now rendered utterly unrecognizable.
The Fourth Prince sat there like a statue.
He felt as though he were submerged in the depths of a vast ocean, heavy stones weighing down his entire body, unable to rise to the surface.
The suffocating seawater slowly crept over his mouth and nose.