Chapter Seventeen: Favoring Concubines, Neglecting Wives and Sons
Chu Weide’s only consolation this year was his younger son’s performance.
But when he asked his elder son, Chu Yunxuan, how much game he had hunted, Chu Yunxuan knelt before his father. “I’m sorry, Father, I didn’t catch anything…”
“What did you say?!” Chu Weide kicked him in the chest. “If it weren’t for your brother, you would have disgraced me!”
“Cough…!” Chu Yunxuan coughed violently from the kick, nearly falling, but remained kneeling, repeatedly apologizing. “I know I’m wrong. Please, Father, calm down and don’t anger yourself.”
“Your Highness,” Chu Yunxuan’s servant tried to explain. “He didn’t want to kill the animals, so he didn’t shoot…”
“Nonsense!” Chu Weide was furious, slapping Chu Yunxuan’s face. “A man should not have such feminine compassion!”
Qi Xiaojun was astonished—Chu Weide, so cruel, could have such a kind son.
“Second Brother,” Chu Lianmo, seeing Chu Weide raise his hand to strike again, intervened. “It’s good that Xuan’er is kind. Why scold him in front of everyone?”
Emperor Chu Wen agreed. “He’s my grandson. Why are you beating him publicly?”
“…I’m wrong.” Chu Weide stopped.
However, his resentment towards Chu Yunxuan deepened.
That evening, back at the De Wangfu (De Prince’s Mansion), he angrily ordered, “Bring the family discipline tool!”
“My lord, what’s wrong?” Chu Weide’s favorite concubine, Sun Jiaojiao, Chu Tianlin’s mother, approached.
Chu Weide pointed at Chu Yunxuan, kneeling tremblingly, “This boy not only disgraced me at the hunt but also caused the Emperor to scold me! What’s wrong with beating him? Can’t a father beat his son? If I can’t beat him publicly, I’ll do it in private! I’ll teach him a lesson!”
“Alright, alright, my lord, calm down.” Sun Jiaojiao’s eyes flashed with cunning. “Since the Emperor scolded you for this, don’t beat him. Just make him kneel.”
“Good!” Chu Weide angrily pointed at Chu Yunxuan. “Kneel here and reflect! Let’s go, Lin’er, Jiaojiao, let’s eat.”
“Okay, Father.”
Chu Tianlin smiled triumphantly at his brother and followed Chu Weide to the dining hall.
Poor Chu Yunxuan knelt in the cold wind, wearing thin clothes, without food or drink.
His mother had died young and was never valued by his father. He only had a stepmother who constantly incited his father to punish him; no one protected him.
Chu Tianlin wasn’t satisfied with the punishment.
After dinner, Chu Tianlin privately asked his mother, “Mother, why did you plead for that guy? Shouldn’t he be beaten?”
“What do you know?” Sun Jiaojiao smiled. “He’s used to beatings; it probably doesn’t bother him. He’s the eldest grandson; your father wouldn’t kill him. It’ll just be a symbolic beating… Kneeling is different. In this cold weather, kneeling for a long time might cause illness, perhaps even death.”
“Ah?” Chu Tianlin was stunned. “Mother, you want him dead? Is that excessive?”
“You’re so naive.” Sun Jiaojiao tapped Chu Tianlin’s forehead. “Your elder cousin has no children. If Chu Yunxuan dies, you’ll be the only grandson, the future emperor! I’ll be the Empress Dowager.”
“Um…” Chu Tianlin thought for a moment, unsure if it was worth taking a life to become emperor. “Mother, I’ll go to bed.”
“Go ahead.”
Sun Jiaojiao then went to bed with Chu Weide.
While Sun Jiaojiao was undressing Chu Weide, Chu Yunxuan’s servant, Aying, requested an audience.
“What is it?” Chu Weide asked impatiently.
“Your Highness!” Aying knelt, kowtowing repeatedly. “Please forgive the eldest young master! He’s always been frail. It’s winter, and he’s been coughing. If he keeps kneeling, he’ll get sick!”
“…” Chu Weide remembered Chu Yunxuan kneeling outside. He felt pity. “Jiaojiao, should we let him get up? Kneeling all night might hurt him.”
“Why?” Sun Jiaojiao shook her head. “If you don’t punish him severely, he won’t repent. He’ll disgrace you every year.”
“You’re right.” Chu Weide agreed, waving at Aying. “Get out.”
“…Yes.” Aying didn’t dare anger Chu Weide and left.
Chu Weide ignored his son and slept soundly.
The next morning, Chu Weide was awakened by loud knocking.
“Who dares?” Chu Weide angrily sat up. “Disturbing my sleep!”
“Your Highness!” Aying cried outside. “The eldest young master fainted! Please save him!”
“…Fainted?” Chu Weide was startled.
Sun Jiaojiao comforted him. “It’s probably a ruse to avoid punishment.”
“Impossible!” Aying ignored Sun Jiaojiao’s tone. “I checked his forehead; it’s burning hot! Your Highness, you can’t ignore him!”
Chu Weide hesitated when he heard a rooster crow.
“It’s time for court. Let’s call a physician for him.”
“Your Highness, won’t you see him? He’s muttering, ‘Father, I’m sorry’…”
“Didn’t you hear Your Highness?” Sun Jiaojiao said unhappily. “He’s busy. He’s not a doctor. Quickly get a physician!”
“…Yes.” Aying hurriedly went to get a physician.
Chu Lianmo’s informant in the De Wangfu reported this to the Rui Wangfu.
“Damn it!” Chu Lianmo slammed the table. “He’s treating his son so cruelly! Chu Weide is getting out of hand!”
Qi Xiaojun sympathized with Chu Yunxuan. “Has Prince De always been like this?”
“Yes. Xuan’er is pitiful. His mother was never valued; she couldn’t protect him from his father. Since the De Princess died three years ago, he’s been like an orphan… worse than an orphan, who wouldn’t be abused by their father.”
Qi Xiaojun was angry. “Prince De is cruel even to his own son!”
“This can’t continue…” Chu Lianmo pondered. “I need to find a solution.”
Qi Xiaojun was startled. “It’s their family matter. What can Your Highness do?”
Chu Lianmo smiled slyly. “I’m going to court. You’ll find out soon.”