Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 160: The Death Warrant

Naran Chuxue, still unwilling to accept defeat, left Shoukang Palace and went straight to Chengqian Palace to weep and complain to the Empress. However, the Empress merely comforted her with a few words and had no intention of seeking justice on her behalf.

After Naran Chuxue left in resentment, Yuan Chunwang emerged from behind the screen and said indifferently, “Consort Ling’s actions today were nothing more than borrowing the Empress Dowager’s authority to intimidate Concubine Shu and awe the harem. From now on, even if the master of Yanxi Palace lacks the Emperor’s favor, no one will dare to bully her lightly — after all, the Empress Dowager stands behind her.”

The Empress leaned back in her chair, a glint of coldness flashing in her eyes. “It seems the Empress Dowager is determined to oppose me… Yuan Chunwang.”

“This servant is here,” Yuan Chunwang stepped forward.

The Empress: “What progress have you made on the matter Wu Shulai mentioned?”

Yuan Chunwang bent down, his long black braid slipping from his shoulder like the tassel of a sword. His vermilion lips moved close to the Empress’s ear, whispering a few words.

After listening, a sharp, sword-like smile slowly bloomed on the Empress’s face. “Well done! If the skin is gone, where can the hair attach itself? Truly brilliant!”

Yuan Chunwang: “Shall I…”

“No, you cannot be the one to deliver this letter,” the Empress shook her head. “I have a better candidate in mind.”

A few days later, Hongzhou entered the palace to pay his respects to the late Dowager Consort Yu.

The place was deserted. In a side hall of Shoukang Palace, where Dowager Consort Yu once resided, only one or two old servants remained to sweep and clean. When Hongzhou arrived, he happened to see one of them — an elderly eunuch holding a wrapped bundle, about to leave.

“What is this?” Hongzhou asked, looking at the bundle in his arms.

The eunuch replied, “In response to Your Highness, these are all old belongings of Dowager Consort Yu. The Imperial Household Department has set aside Jing’an Hall to store them.”

Hongzhou: “Since they are Mother Consort’s belongings, I will report to the Emperor and take them all back to the princely residence as a memento. Put them down.”

The eunuch hesitated slightly, but under Hongzhou’s glare, he obediently set everything down.

Having picked up the bundle, Hongzhou did not leave right away. Instead, he paced back and forth in the room, gently touching each table and chair, his eyes filled with nostalgia.

“Your Highness.” The young page boy who had entered the palace with him carefully observed his master’s expression. “Shall we… collect the other old belongings as well?”

“…Very well.” Hongzhou nodded. “In the past, I traveled light and could come here often to pay my respects. Now I’m constantly sent out of the capital on assignments, gone for months at a time. With no mementos of Mother around me, I might as well pack everything up and take it with me. That way I won’t have to come back and get angry every time.”

Xiaotongzi smiled ingratiatingly. “Who would dare give Your Highness cause for anger?”

“Who else but that vile Consort Ling!” Hongzhou said in a low, heavy voice. “In the past she had the Emperor completely bewitched; now she flatters the Empress Dowager at every turn. The problem is that woman has too many tricks up her sleeve—she’s truly hard to deal with. Better to be out of sight and out of mind!”

At the height of his hatred, he couldn’t help but slam his fist down on the table. Unfortunately, the bundle was resting right there on the tabletop; the knot had been tied very loosely, and with one blow the bundle tumbled to the floor, its contents spilling out.

Lying on top was—a letter.

Hongzhou froze. He bent down, picked it up, opened it—and his expression changed dramatically.

Xiaotongzi leaned closer. “Your Highness, this is…?”

Hongzhou quickly closed the letter and scoffed with icy disdain. “I never imagined that after all these years of being bullied and oppressed by the Empress Dowager, Mother had quietly left herself an insurance policy!”

Xiaotongzi: “An insurance policy?”

Hongzhou thought for a moment, then corrected himself with a smile. “No—it’s the Empress Dowager’s death warrant!”

Xiaotongzi: “What?”

Tucking the letter into his sleeve, Hongzhou strode quickly toward the door.

“Your Highness! Your Highness, wait for this servant!” Xiaotongzi didn’t even have time to gather up the scattered bundle. He chased after him, calling out, “Where are you going in such a hurry?”

Hongzhou’s gaze was icy cold. “Yangxin Hall!”

In the study of Yangxin Hall, a painting titled Spring Radiance (Chun Hui Tu) lay spread out on the desk.

The thread in the loving mother’s hand,

   The garment on the wandering son’s body.

This painting had been presented by Qian Zhengyuan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. His mother had been widowed for forty years, served her parents-in-law until their deaths, and raised Qian Zhengyuan and his brother single-handedly. Because the family was poor, she spun yarn day and night until she eventually went blind in both eyes. Today was the old lady’s eightieth birthday, and Qian Zhengyuan had offered this painting, requesting that Hongli inscribe words of praise for his mother.

“Who says the heart of an inch of grass can ever repay the radiance of three spring suns?” Hongli recited slowly. He himself was a filial son and would never refuse another filial son’s request to honor his mother. He picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and was just about to write when Li Yu announced:

“Prince He has arrived.”

Hongzhou strode in quickly and performed the greeting. “This younger brother respectfully wishes Your Majesty well.”

Hongli dipped the brush again and wrote the character “Qing” (清) on the Spring Radiance painting.

“Why so silent for half a day?” He did not lift his head. “I have many affairs to attend to—I have no time to play guessing games with you.”

Only then did Hongzhou speak, though his voice was heavily suppressed, like a volcano that had lain dormant for years suddenly awakening: “Your Majesty, while this younger brother was sorting through Dowager Consort Yu’s belongings, I unintentionally discovered a letter.”

Hongli wrote another character, “Fen” (芬): “What letter?”

Hongzhou: “A personal letter written by Lady Wenshu on her deathbed.”

The brush tip paused. Hongli raised his head and looked at him. “My wet nurse?”

Hongzhou: “Yes.”

Hongli set the brush down. “Present it.”

Li Yu stepped forward, received the letter, and offered it to Hongli. Just as Hongli was about to open it, Hongzhou suddenly spoke:

“Your Majesty!”

Hongli looked toward Hongzhou.

Rather than an inquiry, it was more of a provocation when Hongzhou said, “If opening this letter would affect the mother-son bond between you and the Empress Dowager, would you still read it?”

Hongli didn’t understand why he would say such a thing; to him the question seemed utterly absurd.

“A mother’s grace is as vast as the sea—impossible to repay in a lifetime. There is nothing in this world that could affect the relationship between me and the Empress Dowager.” As he spoke, he unfolded the letter in his hand.

The first line that met his eyes read:

“The birth mother of the Fourth Prince was originally a woman of the Qian family from Jiaxing. Lady Niohuru killed the mother and stole the child. We earnestly beseech Your Highness to be cautious.”

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