Part 3
Unable to figure out where the mistake lay, the Madam of the Marquis of Hejian felt a stifling tightness in her chest, almost unable to catch her breath. Thinking of her eldest son kneeling before her room for three days just for the marriage with the Zhao family’s second daughter, she felt even more chest tightness and shortness of breath, clutching her chest and panting rapidly.
Looking at the disbelief in the woman’s eyes, Zhao Yiyi knew she hadn’t expected her to lash out.
She suddenly found it somewhat ridiculous.
The habit formed at home had kept her docile and humble all along. But this gentle nature displayed to the outside world over these years—aside from leaving opportunities for others to humiliate her and making others think she was easy to bully—what else was left?
“The floor rug was just changed yesterday; it is very thick. This way, I am much more at ease.” Looking at the sky outside, she slowly stood up: “I have rested for a long time; it is time to return to the banquet. If Madam has nothing else, stay here for a while. After being made a fuss of by Madam today, I truly feel a headache.”
The Madam of the Marquis of Hejian was even more flustered, reaching out to pull the hem of the Empress’s robe, but was avoided.
“It is getting late; Madam should think carefully about today’s events.” Before leaving, Zhao Yiyi said indifferently, “Madam, remember, do not come looking for me lightly in the future. I really cannot stand this noise.”
However, after this break, there was an extra person in the main hall.
Looking at Linchuan, who was suddenly sitting on the right side, Zhao Yiyi suddenly understood who the seemingly extra seat was reserved for earlier.
Linchuan didn’t look too good today either. When she stood up to toast, her expression was even worse, and she merely said perfunctorily: “Imperial Sister-in-law, ten thousand peace. Congratulations to Imperial Sister-in-law on the great auspiciousness of the Silkworm Ceremony.”
Zhao Yiyi naturally saw her perfunctoriness, so she also merely held the cup perfunctorily without drinking.
“You child, why have you come so late?” Zhao Yiyi looked at her and said softly, “Didn’t the invitation sent out say that for today’s reward feast, one must enter the hall at the first quarter of the hour of Chen (7:15 am)?”
Linchuan hadn’t received any invitation. She came to the reward feast today only because her Mother told her to, solely to salvage the face lost by not being able to accompany the sacrifice at the Silkworm Ceremony. Therefore, she naturally refused to admit she had no invitation, so she lowered her eyes and said: “I forgot the time today and came a little late. I will definitely remember the time in the future. I hope Imperial Sister-in-law will forgive me.”
“You are young; it’s not a big deal to always forget the time.” Zhao Yiyi hooked the corner of her lips into a smile and made no other expression. She merely summoned the leading female officials of the Six Bureaus (Six Shangs) after the reward feast ended.
“Ten thousand blessings to Your Ladyship.”
Among the Six Bureaus, each bureau had two Shanggong, Shangyi, Shangfu, etc. In total, there were twelve female officials of the primary fifth rank, now gathered in Jiao Fang Palace, bowing in greeting.
Zhao Yiyi did not tell them to rise, nor did she speak. she simply sat aside drinking tea and reading a book, occasionally eating the cherries that had just been presented.
It happened to be the season when the first batch of cherries ripened. This morning, the Emperor had hurriedly ordered a basket to be sent over. Yunzhu looked at the cherries, thinking of how Wu Nan, who delivered the items, said that this batch had just been picked and His Majesty hadn’t even eaten them yet.
She didn’t dare tell Her Ladyship, fearing that mentioning His Majesty would make Her Ladyship unhappy again.
Time passed quickly. Cup after cup of tea was emptied. The twelve female officials all stood until their legs and feet were sore. One of them finally couldn’t help asking: “Your Ladyship, we do not know why Your Ladyship has summoned us slaves here?”
“Oh, I was so busy reading that I forgot you were still waiting here. It is my fault.” Zhao Yiyi seemed to have just come back to her senses. She tilted her head to look at the water clock in the corner and asked with a smile, “Do you not know?”
Xu Shanggong said: “We slaves truly do not know the reason. We hope Your Ladyship will enlighten us.”
Zhao Yiyi placed the scroll on the table and asked indifferently: “Since you asked, then I must ask properly. Who prepared the seat for the Eldest Princess today?”
“Has Your Ladyship forgotten? Princess Linchuan is an external titled lady. For today’s reward feast, there naturally should be a seat for her.” Wang Shangyi at the side laughed once.
Zhao Yiyi glanced at her, hooking her lips: “Wang Shangyi understands so well; presumably, Wang Shangyi is very clear about this matter?”
Her expression suddenly turned solemn, and she said in a deep voice: “In that case, why was there no seat for the Eldest Princess in the list presented a few days ago?”
Sweeping a cold glance around, she said again: “You all went to the Altar of Silkworms that day. You should know that the Eldest Princess did not accompany the sacrifice. Since that is the case, why should there be a seat for the Eldest Princess at today’s reward feast?”
Everyone lowered their eyes and remained silent.
Zhao Yiyi threw the list at their feet and said flatly: “Today, I hope you all will give me an explanation. Explain exactly what is going on here.”
The hall fell into a long silence.
Until the water clock pointed to the third quarter of the hour of Shen (4:45 pm), a female official finally replied: “Your Ladyship, this matter was the Empress Dowager’s intention. The seat for Princess Linchuan was added on the Empress Dowager’s instruction.”
“Since it was Mother’s instruction, there is naturally no problem.” Zhao Yiyi took a sip of tea, her voice faint.
Everyone thought the Empress did not intend to pursue it further, and their expressions were finally not as panicked as before, their minds settling a bit.
Zhao Yiyi suddenly asked again: “Since it was changed, why was a new list never drafted and sent to Jiao Fang Palace?”
Several people looked at each other. Xu Shanggong said: “Your Ladyship, we slaves thought it wasn’t a major matter, so we did not report it.”
“This isn’t a major matter?” Zhao Yiyi’s voice was calm, a hint of a smile in her eyes. “If the Silkworm Ceremony is not a major matter, perhaps Xu Shanggong can tell me, what is a major matter?”
Xu Shanggong opened her mouth to speak, but felt a bit apprehensive in her heart.
“Has Xu Shanggong thought it through?” Zhao Yiyi urged again.
On the other side, Wang Shangyi said: “Your Ladyship, this was ultimately the Empress Dowager’s decree. We slaves thought you wouldn’t reject it, and the matter was urgent, so we didn’t have time.”
Zhao Yiyi said indifferently: “Are the Six Bureaus so busy that your feet don’t touch the ground? Or is it dereliction of duty, unable to handle even such a small matter, leading to negligence?”
Wang Shangyi wanted to argue further, but Zhao Yiyi’s face had already changed color in anger: “You are diligent enough in sending those irrelevant trivial matters to Jiao Fang Palace on ordinary days! Why is it that when it comes to things that should be sent, you hide and tuck them away, and start complaining about fatigue?”
“Since you cannot fulfill the positions of the Six Bureaus well and complain of being too tired, then transfer to a relaxing place to rest. If you don’t give a reasonable explanation before tomorrow, don’t blame me for not considering your years of hard work in the palace!”
In Wanchun Palace, Gu Zhen walked slowly into the hall and stopped before the table: “I heard Mother summoned an imperial physician today. Is there something wrong with your health?”
The Empress Dowager was clutching her chest and crying out in pain. Hearing this, she had no intention of keeping it to herself: “Emperor, look, look! Aijia merely told someone to add a seat for Linchuan at the reward feast, and the Empress has made a fuss about demoting all the Six Bureaus. You say, you say this…”
Gu Zhen’s face was cool as he said warmly: “Mother, the Six Bureaus failed to inform the Empress about adding the seat. They did not respect the Empress, and indeed deserve punishment.”
“Aijia only mentioned a trivial matter; what does it count for?” The Empress Dowager was somewhat displeased.
Gu Zhen felt a bit irritable and said in a deep voice: “Though it is a small matter, the Empress commands the palace city. Even if it is a small matter, how can there be any reason not to inform the Empress?” Pausing for a moment, Gu Zhen added, “Moreover, Linchuan did not accompany the Empress in the Silkworm Ceremony. How could Mother add a seat for her at the reward feast on her behalf?”
The Empress Dowager said angrily: “You have the nerve to say that! Why she couldn’t accompany the sacrifice—are you not clear on that yourself? Just because she was late for a moment or two, you side with the Empress so much and punish her so heartlessly?”
“That is your own sister!”
Gu Zhen did not get angry. He simply chuckled lightly, his voice as shallow as usual: “Father favored Aunt back then, inevitably wronging Mother in various matters big and small. For this, Mother cursed him many times behind his back.” He turned his head to look at the censer on the table, his voice like the curling mist. “Now that it is Mother’s turn, you want Zhen to learn from Father and let Linchuan ride over the Empress’s head. Zhen… understands Mother’s mind less and less.”
“If Mother has truly changed her mind, Zhen will restore Aunt’s tax income (shiyi) today, and add another two thousand households, with all other supplies matching Mother’s. How would that be?”
The Empress Dowager stared blankly at her son before her, instantly struck dumb.
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