Chapter 19: Retrieving the Edict
As the Emperor’s residence, Zi Chen Palace was the most majestic and grand hall in the entire Zi Wei Palace, second only to the Da Qing Palace. Compared to other places, it was much more spacious and bright.
Two bronze sparrows at the foot of the imperial desk emitted a misty vapor, and the scent of sinking elmwood incense slowly permeated the hall.
Gu Zhen closed his eyes and leaned against the couch, listening to Jiang Jiayan report on the situation in He Nei. He asked in a low voice, “Have the assassins been caught?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, they’ve been interrogated once,” Jiang Jiayan quickly replied, then frowned slightly, “We’ve interrogated them for several days along the way, and they’ve confessed to some things, but it’s not very useful.”
Jiang Jiayan was the person he had appointed to He Nei. Wasn’t assassinating Jiang Jiayan the same as assassinating him?
A smile suddenly appeared on Gu Zhen’s face, a smile that made people’s hearts tremble involuntarily. After a moment, he said, “If so, then take them down for thorough interrogation, and send the news to He Nei.”
The word “thorough” hung in the air, feeling strangely chilling.
A moment later, the two prime ministers entered to pay their respects. They discussed land surveying matters for a while, and at noon, Gu Zhen kept them for dinner.
In the government offices, lunch wasn’t taken individually; it was customary to discuss political matters while dining. Therefore, the two prime ministers brought this habit to Zi Chen Palace. Before they could speak, Jiang Jiayan glanced at the dishes on the dining table and suddenly smiled, “Spring is the perfect time to eat mandarin fish. This mandarin fish porridge is quite seasonal.”
Hearing this, Gu Zhen gradually shifted his gaze from the official documents, raised his eyes and casually glanced, only to see a bowl of mandarin fish porridge on the dining table.
He paused for a moment, his eyes gradually turning cold and sullen. Throughout the entire meal, he didn’t touch the mandarin fish porridge.
Jiang Jiayan was slightly surprised. The Emperor didn’t have any obvious preferences in food, and even though he had been by the Emperor’s side since childhood, he had never understood him completely. This was the first time he had seen the Emperor express his likes and dislikes so directly.
“Your Majesty doesn’t like mandarin fish porridge?” Jiang Jiayan couldn’t help but ask.
Gu Zhen paused slightly, then replied nonchalantly, “I’m tired of it.”
Taking advantage of the opportunity to come out from the side hall, Wu Mao pulled his adopted son aside and coldly asked, “Who told you to prepare that bowl of mandarin fish porridge?”
Wu Nan, who was in charge of today’s lunch, was stunned for a moment and said hesitantly, “Father, I saw that Your Majesty liked it a few days ago, and the kitchen happened to have newly delivered mandarin fish today, so I had someone make it.”
“You fool!” Wu Mao took a deep breath and secretly cursed at having raised such a fool. “Why didn’t you inquire beforehand? Don’t you know that Your Majesty is in a bad mood?”
Wu Nan was scolded into a daze and didn’t dare to speak. Seeing his dazed look, Wu Mao suddenly remembered that he hadn’t gone to Jiao Fang Palace last night.
After scolding him a few more times, he said, “Yesterday morning, Your Majesty told the Empress that he wanted mandarin fish porridge for dinner. Who knew that the Empress forgot about it? Although the dinner was sumptuous, there was no mandarin fish porridge. Didn’t Your Majesty get angry when he saw that the porridge wasn’t there?”
Wu Nan didn’t know about this, and cold sweat instantly broke out on his back. “Father, I know I was wrong. Your Majesty…”
“Your Majesty didn’t lose his temper,” Wu Mao replied in a low voice, then said, “It’s Your Majesty’s business that he didn’t lose his temper. You must be more vigilant in the future and don’t mess things up again!”
Wu Nan repeatedly agreed, apologized a few more times, and then went back dejectedly.
After the Emperor left, the solemnity of the banquet disappeared, and the atmosphere became much more relaxed.
Zhao Yiyi knew that if her sister sat with Zuo Lianzhi, they would probably quarrel again later, so she called her to sit beside her.
The Empress Dowager saw that Zhao Duanduan had cried so pitifully just now, and seeing that she was about the same age as Linchuan, she had a female official bring some fruit to her.
“Thank you, Empress Dowager,” Zhao Duanduan lowered her head and thanked her, seeming to still be immersed in sadness.
Zhao Yiyi looked at her for a while, then softly smiled, “Duanduan has always been timid and shy since childhood, and has never been questioned and interrogated like this before, so she lost her composure.”
Before the Empress Dowager could react, Imperial Concubine He heard clearly. The Empress was settling the score. Although she didn’t name names, the only person who had questioned and interrogated Zhao Duanduan was her.
Imperial Concubine He immediately stood up to apologize, “I was too hasty just now and misunderstood Second Miss. I hope Your Majesty will not blame me.”
Zhao Duanduan stopped eating the fruit, timidly raised her eyes to look at her, then leaned into Zhao Yiyi’s embrace, looking extremely frightened.
Zhao Yiyi took the opportunity to pat her, softly saying, “Imperial Concubine, you’re overthinking. She’s just too timid, so she was scared. It’s fine for a child to cry a bit.”
By embarrassing Zhao Duanduan in front of everyone, she could either lose face or ruin her reputation. There was no way that a simple misunderstanding could turn the page.
Aside from her face as the Empress, she wouldn’t let her sister swallow her grievances and blood. Her alluring almond eyes looked at Imperial Concubine He, a hidden undercurrent in her gaze.
With a number of officials’ wives still present, the Empress Dowager suddenly felt a little embarrassed. Imperial Concubine He had been too overbearing in questioning the young girl. Thinking of this, she said impatiently, “Alright, alright, if you want to apologize, apologize properly. What’s this?”
Imperial Concubine He heard that she was annoyed. The Empress’s strategy of retreating to advance had seized upon the Empress Dowager’s dislike of disputes. She had someone fetch several pieces of jewelry, personally put them in a box, and handed them over, “I wronged Second Miss just now. These small trinkets, I hope Second Miss will accept them.”
Zhao Duanduan looked at Zhao Yiyi again, as if she didn’t dare to make a decision on her own, seeking her sister’s opinion.
The jewelry was all good stuff. Zhao Yiyi patted her head and softly said, “Take them. This is the Imperial Concubine’s kind intention. Quickly thank the Imperial Concubine.”
Linchuan was closest to this aunt. Seeing her bullied like this by the Empress, she didn’t dare to disrespect the Empress, so she turned her head to glare at Zhao Duanduan.
Their eyes met, and Zhao Duanduan froze for a moment, then curled her lips and gave her a gentle smile.
The smile was gentle and sweet, obedient beyond words, yet Linchuan suddenly felt a chill down her spine. Glaring at her again, she quickly turned her head and patted her chest.
Many people came today, and the young ladies were at their most beautiful age, charming and attractive. But the Empress Dowager had high standards, and with the Empress, a beauty known throughout Luoyang, present, she didn’t choose anyone.
After looking around, the Empress Dowager felt somewhat listless, and before the banquet had even dispersed, she returned to the inner hall to rest. She then had someone summon He Xunfang and softly said, “It’s rare for you to come to the palace once. Why don’t you stay overnight before going back?”
He Xunfang didn’t reply, lowering her head to look at the entwined peony flowers on her skirt, remembering what her father had said – that her aunt only had her one niece and truly treated her well, but also cautioned her that her aunt was the Empress Dowager, and told her not to get too close to her aunt, lest she lose her composure.
She slowly shook her head and softly said, “Xunfang wants to accompany the Empress Dowager, but my mother is also not well, and Xunfang still has to serve her.”
The Empress Dowager also remembered this, and although she was reluctant, she didn’t force her to stay, finally saying, “When you go back, tell your father to find some free time and come to Wan Chun Palace to see me.”
After a trip to the palace, not only did her daughter not get noticed by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, but she also lost face. Madam Xu felt anxious. Just then, she saw Zhao Yiyi personally escorting Zhao Duanduan out of the palace. She gritted her teeth and stepped forward, “Your Majesty…”
Zhao Yiyi stopped at this point, looked at Zuo Lianzhi and softly said, “Others have nothing to do with me. Since Miss Zuo is still in the Zhao family, I cannot watch you disgrace the Zhao family. Miss Zuo talks too much, and should calm down. Go back and copy the Quiet Sutra ten times.”
On the way back, Madam Xu slapped Zuo Lianzhi’s palm hard, angrily saying, “You’re not usually so reckless. Why did you provoke Zhao Duanduan in front of the Empress? You should be thankful that that girl is clever. If something had happened to her, do you think it would be as simple as copying the scriptures ten times?”
The Emperor was diligent, and after reviewing the memorials every day, he would still review past political matters, and occasionally, he would summon court officials to discuss matters. Therefore, the lamps in Zi Chen Palace were always extinguished late.
Seeing that the Emperor put down his brush, the memorials should have been processed, Wu Mao stepped forward to take the pen and ink, observing his expression and asking, “Your Majesty, should I retrieve the documents that you didn’t finish reading last night?”
Gu Zhen closed his eyes slightly and rubbed his brows. He always paid great attention to his demeanor, always maintaining an upright appearance and steady manner. Perhaps he was a little tired today, and his body leaned back slightly.
There was no sound from above for a long time, so Wu Mao also lowered her head and waited.
“Tomorrow morning, go retrieve the edict that I sealed in the Menxia Province,” Gu Zhen suddenly ordered, saying lightly, “It’s been more than a month since it was drafted, and if it’s not taken out, it’ll be moldy.”
Wu Mao was startled. After so long, she thought… she thought His Majesty had forgotten about it.
The edict sealed in the Menxia Province was, wasn’t it… the edict to dismiss the Marquis of Huai’an from office?
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