The Empress Dowager, supported by a lady-in-waiting, stepped over the threshold. The bowing and greetings of everyone inside and outside startled Chu Heng, who was in the inner room taking his medicine.
The moment he saw the Empress Dowager, he thought of the marriage decree he had heard of before he fell asleep. Irritation rose within him, though none of it showed on his face. After coughing twice, he said, “Why trouble Mother to come in person? You only needed to send someone.”
The Empress Dowager hurried to his bedside. When she saw him, her eyes reddened at once, and she choked, “My good child, you’ve finally awakened…”
Chu Heng pressed his pale lips together, forcing a faint upward curve. “Your son is unfilial, making Mother worry again.”
Hovering between life and death was nothing new to Chu Heng, but this was the closest he had ever been to dying.
What a pity, he thought. I failed to die.
The Empress Dowager sat beside the bed and held his hand, tears slipping down her cheeks. “So long as you are fine… Heng’er, if you can recover, no amount of worry from me is too much.”
Chu Heng gave a slight smile, though it never reached his eyes. “I am well now. Please, Mother, do not worry.”
The Empress Dowager carefully examined his face. Perhaps because of those two earlier coughs, she even saw a hint of color. Relieved, she nodded. “Master Pingyi truly is remarkable. I have already discussed with your imperial brother about recasting the golden statue of the Buddha at Longhua Temple.”
“My thanks to Imperial Brother and to Mother. Please inform Imperial Brother that I am still bedridden. Once I recover, I will enter the palace to express my gratitude.”
Chu Heng withdrew his hand and pushed himself upright. Then he added, “Mother, is Master Pingyi still in the capital? He saved my life — I ought to thank him personally.”
The Empress Dowager dabbed her tears away and smiled. “Very well, I’ll tell him. Your brother cherishes you dearly; these formalities are unimportant. You only need to focus on recovering.”
Chu Heng nodded. “Thank you, Mother.”
The Empress Dowager continued, “Of course Master Pingyi is still in the capital. Once I return, I will send someone to invite him to the prince’s residence to meet you.”
“Thank you, Mother,” Chu Heng said quietly.
Ever since the second year of the Emperor’s reign, the Empress Dowager had been planning Chu Heng’s marriage. But Chu Heng was too stubborn and refused to give consent.
Was it possible the Empress Dowager had finally grown impatient and was using Master Pingyi to force the matter?
Chu Heng could not guess her motives. She would not answer him even if he asked. He could only try to draw something out of Master Pingyi.
Oh — and there was another thing. Who exactly was this future Princess Consort?
Naturally, he would never ask the Empress Dowager. Only after sending her off and keeping only Zhao Qing in the room did he finally ask which family the future princess consort belonged to.
Seeing Prince Duan’s expression, Zhao Qing replied, “Your Highness, the princess consort-to-be is a young lady of the Lin family of Suzhou. Her parents passed away years ago. She now lives with her maternal family at Rongguo Mansion on Ningrong Street.”
“Rongguo Mansion?” Chu Heng thought briefly. “I vaguely remember someone in the imperial harem who is from that family.”
Zhao Qing said, “Your Highness, His Majesty’s Noble Consort Jia is the eldest daughter of the Rongguo Mansion’s second master.”
“And the Lin family?” Chu Heng asked again.
Zhao Qing sighed. “Your Highness, the princess is a pitiful young lady. The Lin family has produced only one son per generation for several generations. By the time it reached the princess consort, not only were her parents gone, she had no siblings nor even cousins. Otherwise, she would not have had to take refuge with her grandmother’s family.”
“Oh.” Chu Heng remained unmoved. As if having siblings was anything fortunate.
The Lin family had no members left. The Lin girl could rely only on Rongguo Mansion.
Although Chu Heng held no real power and showed little interest in court affairs, as the Emperor’s full younger brother he had heard his brother complain a few times.
Rongguo Mansion… the late Emperor favored these old noble clans, and thus the current Emperor disliked them. The Noble Consort from that mansion had been granted her title by the late Emperor when he was still the Retired Emperor.
Why would the Empress Dowager choose a match from this family?
The Emperor, as the legitimate eldest son of the late Emperor, had been named Crown Prince at fifteen. Over the years, a few fools had coveted the heir’s position, and all were crushed by him.
As for Chu Heng — weak in body and younger in age — he had always been harmless, neither useful nor threatening. To the Emperor, Chu Heng’s existence was that of a decoration. He had never been a pawn nor a danger.
The Emperor treated Chu Heng with both brotherly affection and fatherly kindness. The Empress Dowager was always pleased to see this harmony.
There was no reason for her to use a marriage to drive a wedge between them. Having the Emperor eliminate Chu Heng would benefit neither him nor her.
Chu Heng truly could not understand. Was this marriage really just to bless him with good fortune?
Staring blankly at the canopy above his bed, he casually asked, “This Miss Lin… what is her name?”
Zhao Qing froze. “How would a servant know the princess consort’s given name? Your Highness must ask the Empress Dowager.”
It was not an important matter anyway. Chu Heng sank back into the embroidered quilt and closed his eyes. “Call me when the master arrives.”
…
On the imperial carriage back to the palace, the Empress Dowager ordered, “Shuangyun, send a reliable person to fetch Master Pingyi.”
Shuangyun had served the Empress Dowager for over thirty years. Even the Emperor called her ‘Aunt.’ After completing the order, she returned to find the Empress Dowager leaning wearily against her cushion. She hurried to her side, whispering, “Your Majesty, now that His Highness is recovering, you no longer need to worry day and night.”
The Empress Dowager shook her head, eyes closed, speaking softly. “Heng’er’s health — one illness after another, grave ones at that. It pains me deeply. It is all my fault…”
“Your Majesty, there was no helping it,” Shuangyun comforted. “You suffered greatly bringing His Highness into this world. If not for your virtue and blessing, he would not have survived this long.”
The Empress Dowager considered for a moment. “Master Pingyi truly is a high monk. This time, Heng’er’s recovery is better than any he’s had before.”
Shuangyun smiled. “Indeed, which is why I say His Highness will surely be fine soon.”
The Empress Dowager slowly smiled. “With the master’s auspicious words, if Heng’er regains his strength, marries a princess consort, and leaves descendants, I will have nothing more to ask.”
“Speaking of the princess,” Shuangyun said as she gently massaged her legs with a beauty hammer, “the moment the decree was issued, His Highness recovered. If they truly marry… perhaps the master’s prophecy will manifest through the princess herself.”
The words struck the Empress Dowager’s heart. She had two sons and two daughters; her eldest son ruled the world, her daughters lived well, but her youngest son had suffered illness all his life.
This time, she had believed Master Pingyi was merely a last desperate attempt. She never expected the monk’s words to come true.
The Empress Dowager pressed her palms together in prayer. “Though the Emperor and I dislike the Jia family, the old Madam of Rongguo Mansion raised fine daughters. I have seen the late Lady Lin before — if the Lin girl resembles her mother even a little, she will barely be worthy of Heng’er.”
Shuangyun smiled. “Your Majesty may summon Miss Lin for an audience to see for yourself.”
“No rush,” the Empress Dowager said, reclining again. “I will discuss the wedding rites with the Emperor first, then summon her.”
After resting in Renshou Palace, the Emperor arrived to pay respects. When he heard his brother was recovering, he let out a deep breath. “Since he is well, Mother can be at ease, and so can I.”
The Empress Dowager smiled. “Master Pingyi is indeed extraordinary. Once Heng’er is fully well, I intend to take him personally to Longhua Temple to offer prayers.”
“Of course.” The Emperor sipped tea and added, “The Empress already mentioned the six marriage rites this morning. Mother, when do you think they should begin with the betrothal gifts?”
The Empress Dowager hesitated. “No hurry. I still think we should find the Lin family in Suzhou. The girl bears the Lin surname — it is improper for her to marry from the Jia household.”
The Emperor lifted an eyebrow in amusement. “Mother, Lord Lin entrusted his daughter to her grandmother precisely because no one in the Lin family remained. Fifth Brother’s life is more important; no need to delay over such details.”
“So once again, we must give face to the Jia family,” the Empress Dowager chuckled.
The Emperor sighed. “I would gladly use these old noble clans if they were competent. Unfortunately, their offspring are useless. It is fortunate the girl is a woman — the old Madam of Rongguo Mansion is virtuous, and her upbringing will be decent. Had she been a son, I would never marry my sister or daughter into their household.”
The Empress Dowager understood. Once a girl marries into the imperial family, she is royal, not a Jia. Whether good or bad, she would be disciplined and guided by palace rules, having nothing to do with the Jia family.
Relieved, the Empress Dowager said, “When I was still in the women’s quarters, the old Madam of Rongguo Mansion was already the wife of the marquis. In those days the Jia family was glorious. Sadly, their men failed to live up to their legacy. A woman alone can only do so much.”
She shook her head, no longer wishing to speak of them. After all, she hardly felt true pity for the Jia family.
“Have the astronomy bureau choose an auspicious day,” the Empress Dowager soon said with a smile. “This wedding must be blessed.”
While the Emperor and Empress Dowager discussed Chu Heng’s wedding in the palace, outside at Prince Duan’s residence, Chu Heng was speaking to the very man who had dragged him into this marriage.
“Miss Lin was a celestial maiden in her previous life, descended to the mortal world to repay a debt,” Master Pingyi recited solemnly. “But she could not fulfill her destined bond with another. Your Highness owed her a debt in your past life, and only by marrying her and saving her from suffering can you repay it.”
Chu Heng: “…”
A complete fraud.
“Let me get this straight…” Chu Heng said, “You mean Miss Lin already has someone she favors?”
Master Pingyi replied, “That man is not her true match…”
Before he could finish, Chu Heng interrupted, “So you are saying that because I owe her a debt, I must break her apart from the man she loves? Master, this doesn’t sound like repaying a debt — it sounds like seeking revenge.”
Master Pingyi said, “Your bond with Miss Lin is fated from previous lives. If Your Highness does not marry her and free her from the prison that is the Jia household, she will become a stepping stone for another’s ascension. When that man completes his trial and attains enlightenment, Miss Lin will fail her own tribulation. Without a rightful position, her soul will have nowhere to go and may disperse into nothingness.”
“Oh, how capable this celestial maiden is,” Chu Heng said sarcastically.
“And Your Highness too will fail to complete your tribulation and will never return to the celestial realm,” Master Pingyi added.
Chu Heng said coolly, “Wonderful. I have been weary of living for quite some time.”
Master Pingyi remained unbothered by Chu Heng’s mockery. He pressed his palms together and began to bow, preparing to take his leave.
Suddenly Chu Heng asked, “Master, since you claim I’m a deity, what is my heavenly title?”
Master Pingyi shook his head. “Heaven’s secrets cannot be revealed.”
Chu Heng sneered. “Next time you swindle someone, may your luck be as good as it was this time.”
Had Chu Heng failed to survive his illness, and this fraud been exposed, the monk’s head would have long been parted from his body.
“Thank you, Your Highness,” Master Pingyi said politely.
End of Chapter 2.