[Pleading for Mercy in the Hall]
Empress Xu was once a renowned lady from the prestigious Xu family of the capital. She later married the Emperor, who was then only a prince, and became a pillar of support on his path to the throne, earning a widespread reputation for her virtue. Her nature was introverted, averse to conflict, and characterized by a gentle yet cool detachment. After the Crown Prince was born, she seldom managed palace affairs, often retreating to temples to pray and delegating the daily minutiae of the harem to other consorts.
Such a woman, seemingly untainted by the world, would in the future scheme multiple times for the sake of a fake prince, leading the Xu family to become the power behind the pretender.
Ying Fusheng had not seen her for many years. By the time he learned of his true identity, he had already been confined to the Cold Palace. He had vaguely heard rumors that Empress Xu’s health was failing, but trapped in isolation, he never saw her again. In his past life, he had once sent a token to her, but it was like a stone sinking into the sea—no response ever came.
Regarding this biological mother, the deepest impression in his memory was her eyes. He averted his gaze now, showing no emotion.
Empress Xu cast only a single glance at Ying Fusheng before turning to whisper a few words to the Crown Prince, her eyes softening with a tenderness rarely seen.
Seeing Ying Fusheng’s arrival, Consort Ning’s expression soured. She never imagined this child would have the strength to leave his room: “Sheng’er!”
The Sixth Prince’s presence did nothing to ease the tension in Cining Palace. Those present rarely saw him; his academic performance was unremarkable, he was perpetually ill, and he frequently missed palace banquets. In the eyes of the other consorts, the Sixth Prince was cowardly, reclusive, poor with words, and seldom associated with the other princes.
Probing gazes swept across the hall. Ying Fusheng ignored Consort Ning’s call. After performing his salutations with perfect etiquette, he went straight to the point: “Grandmother, the incident at Moon-Viewing Pavilion is bizarre. I implore you to investigate it thoroughly.”
“Sheng’er, why have you come out!” Consort Ning couldn’t help but feel anxious. She had always disliked Ying Fusheng appearing in public, fearing his presence might draw unwanted attention. It was manageable when he was young, but as he grew, his features bore no resemblance to the Ning family. The Nings were mostly tall and sturdy, whereas Ying Fusheng had a small, delicate frame—the difference was stark.
Because of this, she kept him hidden. She had specifically suppressed the news of his severe illness to avoid scrutiny during the Empress Dowager’s birthday preparations, yet she never expected this “spawn” to run out on his own.
Ying Fusheng remained calm as a still pond. Hearing Consort Ning’s words, he feigned an expression of worry. Though he felt disgusted inside, he maintained a concerned facade, even letting out a weak, practiced cough before speaking. He knelt, slightly raising his head to look at the Empress Dowager in the center, who was currently watching him with fury in her eyes.
“If you are here to plead for your mother, then say no more.” The Empress Dowager frowned, waving her hand to have him taken away. She had little impression of this grandson. At first glance, he looked sickly and excessively frail; given the situation with Consort Ning and the pavilion, she felt little goodwill toward the boy.
The charcoal braziers in the hall were burning bright, and the heat began to wash over Ying Fusheng. Noticing the Empress Dowager’s gaze, he knew exactly what this woman—who had been raised in a military household—loathed most. He deliberately controlled his voice and spoke: “It has only been two hours since the incident at Moon-Viewing Pavilion, and many things have yet to be examined. We are on the eve of the banquet; the scrutiny of servants entering and exiting is rigorous. No flaws were found for days, yet trouble struck exactly during the mid-month animal patrol. The cause likely lies beyond just the pavilion itself. Furthermore, my Mother has been diligent in organizing the banquet. Everyone in the palace knows she is responsible; if something goes wrong, she cannot escape punishment…”
At this point, he grew short of breath and couldn’t help but cough.
His voice wasn’t loud, but because it was weakened by illness, the people in the hall listened more intently. His words reached the ears of everyone present. On the high seats, Empress Xu and the Crown Prince now turned their full attention toward him.
Consort Ning had no intention of letting Ying Fusheng stand out. At most, she would be punished or lose a few secret agents by shifting the blame to the servants. “Empress Dowager, this child is delirious from his fever…”
However, the Empress Dowager straightened up slightly upon hearing him. After the accident, the Imperial Guard had searched the area but found nothing; she had summoned Consort Ning because the Consort had the most opportunity to interfere. But the event was strange. Only servants were present at the time; no other consorts were nearby. If Consort Ning had done it, why would she bring disaster upon herself so needlessly?
The Sixth Prince had always seemed cowardly, yet now that Consort Ning was in trouble, he could defend her so clearly. Many looked at him; his manner was cautious, but his defense, though slow, was exceptionally logical.
“Are you suggesting someone framed your mother?” the Empress Dowager asked.
Ying Fusheng immediately denied it: “Your grandson wouldn’t dare. I simply feel there is more to this story, and such a conclusion would be too hasty.”
This was a public challenge to the Empress Dowager’s judgment. The others in the hall were shocked. The orders had come from the Empress Dowager and were executed by the Crown Prince; Ying Fusheng’s words targeted both of them simultaneously.
Sure enough, as soon as he finished, a voice followed. Beside the Empress Dowager, the Crown Prince’s sharp gaze landed on him. “Sixth Brother thinks we are being ‘hasty’?”
Consort Ning was terrified. She wanted to rush over and silence him. A summons from the Empress Dowager would result in a fine at most, but if Ying Fusheng kept talking, the problem would change entirely. She glared at him, but he remained kneeling with downcast eyes, appearing perfectly submissive and missing her warning look.
Ying Fusheng did not look up. He lowered his body further, his eyelids drooping slightly. “Grandmother’s birthday is approaching. Moon-Viewing Pavilion must be beyond reproach. I believe it must not only be investigated, but investigated with the utmost scrutiny!”
Silence fell over the hall as everyone looked to the Empress Dowager.
Surprisingly, she wasn’t angry. Instead, she looked at Ying Fusheng, her mood actually softening: “Since you say so, what have you found?”
Hearing her question, Ying Fusheng hid the calculation in his eyes. He knew exactly what would pique her interest.
Rebirthing at this specific moment left him in a passive position. Leaving Weiyang Palace was nearly impossible; only through Consort Ning’s downfall could he find a way to maneuver. Doing so was a risk—a single slip could burn him—but he had to come. He had to see the Empress Dowager to take the next step.
The Empress Dowager was unlike ordinary consorts; she was bold and acted on principle. A personality that was too weak would be a losing move in her eyes, causing her to lose patience. He had to strike directly at the heart of the matter.
He was certain the Empress Dowager was listening and knew he had gambled correctly. “Your grandson has already ordered the servants to investigate. This is the detailed record of the affairs at Moon-Viewing Pavilion over the past few days.”
Beside him, the servants from Weiyang Palace finally dared to move, presenting the itemized accounts of the past several days to the Empress Dowager.
At that moment, the Crown Prince couldn’t help but look at Ying Fusheng. ‘Isn’t this just admitting they had found nothing?’
The Empress Dowager frowned as a eunuch whispered an explanation to her. The news of the Sixth Prince sending people to the pavilion was not a secret. By the time the Weiyang Palace staff arrived there, the report had already reached the Empress Dowager. The eunuch reported that the Sixth Prince was having the precious vessels, paintings, and calligraphy displayed in the pavilion thoroughly inspected. Over the past few days, the pavilion had seen many people coming and going as rare treasures were transported from outside the Imperial City for decoration—one of the tasks Consort Ning had been busy with.
The Empress Dowager had already ordered an inspection of these items, even testing them for poison, but no issues were found. Her patience was wearing thin. “What is the problem here?”
“There is one,” Ying Fusheng said, looking toward the nearby beastmaster. “Caged beasts act on instinct. There is a distance between the Imperial Zoo and Moon-Viewing Pavilion. After the beasts broke their shackles, they did not charge toward the areas with the most servants; instead, they went straight for the pavilion. Your grandson suspects there must be something within the pavilion drawing them in.”
The beastmaster replied, “To the Empress Dowager, the Sixth Prince’s words are not without merit.”
“Everything brought inside undergoes inspection. If there were a problem with an object, it wouldn’t have been sent to the pavilion. By your logic, the only ones who could have tampered with anything are the servants entering and exiting. Grandmother, when the guards investigated, the hound units were indeed more excited than usual, but no poisonous substances were detected.” The Crown Prince immediately seized the flaw in Ying Fusheng’s words. “How do you explain that this ‘thing’ has nothing to do with your mother?”
“There is one thing that is easily overlooked,” Ying Fusheng said.
The Empress Dowager was puzzled. “What thing?”
“Incense,” Ying Fusheng replied. “Hounds have a keen sense of smell and would react to such things.”
This was indeed true. Incense would be sent to physicians for detailed checks, while the hounds only did a surface inspection—it was an easy place to overlook. Hearing this, the Empress Dowager immediately ordered people to check the situation. Since the beast attack had left the pavilion in chaos, they could only retrieve a small amount of incense ash from the burners.
When the ash was placed before the hounds, they showed obvious excitement, but not to the point of frenzy—not enough to serve as a reason to exonerate Consort Ning.
“Hounds are specially trained animals; they are intelligent and disciplined. Even if excited, they follow the beastmaster.” Ying Fusheng took a deep breath and said loudly, “Grandmother, the incident at Moon-Viewing Pavilion should not be considered an ill omen.”
‘Not an ill omen!?’ Everyone in the hall was astonished. Upon hearing this, the Empress’s gaze shifted slightly, also landing on Ying Fusheng. Even if there was nothing wrong with the incense, how could he conclude it was unrelated to an ill omen based solely on this?
“You say it is not an ill omen; are you merely making excuses for your mother?” the Empress Dowager asked.
“Your grandson heard that the attack involved tigers and bobcats?” Ying Fusheng asked.
This was no secret; anyone who knew of the “ill omen” knew this.
Ying Fusheng remained kneeling, his voice raspy from days of illness as he controlled his tone. “The agitation at the Imperial Zoo was likely caused by something in the incense. Your grandson once read in obscure books that some herbs are potent and slightly toxic, often classified as non-toxic when used as medicinal catalysts—they are common medicines. But they have a peculiar effect: they can drive felines into a frenzy.”
Frenzy. That matched the situation today perfectly.
Seeing the tension in the room gradually ease, Consort Ning felt no relief at her impending escape. Instead, she looked at Ying Fusheng with cold eyes. Seeing that others—even the Empress Dowager and the Empress—were becoming intrigued by the effects of medicinal herbs, she grew increasingly anxious. She immediately grabbed Ying Fusheng and said coldly, “Child, what nonsense are you talking! Can things from obscure books be taken as truth?”
Ying Fusheng appropriately showed cowardice; under her pull, he actually tumbled toward her.
“Consort Ning,” the Empress Dowager barked, stopping her.
Consort Ning hadn’t expected him to fall from such a light pull. She hurriedly explained, “The child is muddled by fever and is saying whatever comes to mind.”
Ying Fusheng barely managed to kneel upright again and explained, “This concerns my Mother; your grandson would not dare speak in jest.”
The Empress Dowager’s brow finally smoothed, though she remained curious. “Have Imperial Physician Chu come here.”
Soon, the physician arrived and was ordered to distinguish the incense. After inspecting the powder seriously, the entire hall waited for his conclusion. After a long moment, Physician Chu cautiously concluded: “In this incense, besides Consort Ning’s formula, there should be a mixture of Silver Vine and other special medicinal herbs.”
At the mention of Silver Vine, those slightly familiar with pharmacology reacted immediately. Seeing the Empress Dowager’s confusion, the physician explained: “To the Empress Dowager, Silver Vine and these herbs are mostly used as catalysts; they are common in many formulas.”
Ying Fusheng remained silent, knowing he had succeeded.
Silver Vine was not a rare herb. In his past life, Ying Fusheng suffered from chronic pain; Silver Vine, which promotes blood circulation and has sedative properties, was used by him for years. Over time, he learned of its effect unknown to most. Human smell is not that keen, and palace hounds are disciplined through training, but wild beasts have extraordinary senses and uncontrollable ferocity. When this substance reaches a certain amount, animals like bobcats and leopards can smell it.
Silver Vine causes these animals brief excitement but is harmless to them, meaning a beastmaster wouldn’t notice anything wrong. For beasts confined in cages for a long time, this substance could trigger their wild nature to the maximum, making them hyper-excited.
Seeing the Empress Dowager send people to investigate, Ying Fusheng slowly continued: “Mother was cautious with the pavilion; the incense was also recently prepared by an incense master for its calming and spirit-condensing effects. Silver Vine is similar to some medicinal ingredients used in incense; if confused, it is possible to make a mistake. This substance is non-toxic to humans; used in small amounts, it can calm the spirit and improve eyesight. Perhaps it was simply a mistake.”
The beastmaster’s route was fixed; he had specifically told Song An to scatter Silver Vine on those paths to lure the beasts to the pavilion. Once they reached the pavilion, his goal was achieved.
Many people had stepped on the snow, and the Imperial Guard’s movements were loud and disruptive. Given the freezing weather, the Silver Vine powder would last a long time in the snow. But once the guards investigated on a large scale and disturbed the snow, the powder would melt with it and sink into the earth. The tiny bit of powder left would likely be dismissed as something accidentally dropped by a servant carrying incense.
Furthermore, with the Empress Dowager visiting today, the guards were already waiting outside. One or two tigers escaping—with a beastmaster nearby—was no difficult task for the battle-hardened Imperial Guard.
After hearing the physician’s explanation, the Empress Dowager turned to the beastmaster: “Is this true?”
“To the Empress Dowager, there are indeed folk methods for taming beasts. I have heard of specific herbs that can soothe their moods,” the beastmaster reported truthfully. “There is none in the Imperial City; it must have come in when the incense was transported. The Sixth Prince’s words are logical. If Your Majesty is in doubt, you may have some Silver Vine brought here to test.”
Soon, servants brought some Silver Vine; it happened that the Empress Dowager kept several cats in her palace. When the Silver Vine was placed before the cats, they actually acted spoiled, rolling around and chewing the herb with extreme excitement.
Cats are usually inactive in winter, so this sight amazed the Empress Dowager. She had always liked these animals and had even replaced several batches of servants because her cats were too lethargic. She never expected this tiny thing to have such a wonderful use.
The guards also took several cats to the pavilion to check and found traces of powder residue on some incense stands and the surrounding area. This was enough to explain the scene. Although the tigers attacked people, they were lured more by the scent of the incense; they seemed frenzied, but people could easily avoid them. If not for this, it would have been hard to avoid casualties. If the incense had this effect, the doubts were explained.
“Empress Dowager, it should be as he said,” the guard reported.
Consort Ning never expected things to go as Ying Fusheng said. She looked at him and suddenly met his eyes. That gaze was just like when the child woke up from his illness days ago—emotionless, yet with a piercing, bone-chilling coldness. For a moment, she missed her chance to speak, hearing only Ying Fusheng say:
“Your grandson does not believe this is an ill omen,” Ying Fusheng said.
The Empress Dowager looked at him. “How so?”
Ying Fusheng continued, “Grandmother treats all living beings with kindness, and Father’s triumphant return is a grand occasion that brings joy to the entire court. Although this was an accident, no one was harmed, and it has breathed new life into the once-listless beasts of the Imperial Zoo. While the fierce nature of beasts is unavoidable, why should this not be seen as an omen of all living creatures offering their congratulations?”
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent.
The Crown Prince, standing nearby, looked at the kneeling Ying Fusheng. Seeing the silence in the hall and the softening of the Empress Dowager’s expression, he took the opportunity to step forward and say, “Grandmother, Sixth Brother is right. This is an auspicious omen.”
“Yes, indeed, it is an auspicious sign!”
“Congratulations, Empress Dowager! This is truly a blessing!”
The others chimed in with their congratulations, following the Crown Prince’s lead.
Ying Fusheng remained kneeling, his gaze falling on the Crown Prince. ‘This man never misses a single opportunity.’ A flash of coldness crossed his eyes, but he said nothing more, merely bowing slightly. He knew that his scheme here was nearly complete.
An ill omen had been transformed into an auspicious one. The Empress Dowager’s brow smoothed completely. The incident at Moon-Viewing Pavilion would have inevitably caused rumors if leaked, but Ying Fusheng’s few words had turned disaster into luck. Since no major catastrophe had occurred, with a little embellishment, this would be broadcast as a “joy upon joy” event where all creatures offered their blessings.
The palace attendants, who had nearly lost their heads over the “ill omen,” looked at the Sixth Prince with immense gratitude for resolving the crisis. Meanwhile, the Sixth Prince remained kneeling. His face was still pale, but as he knelt, he held himself upright with a faint, sharp aura. As the Empress Dowager played with her cat, she couldn’t help but look at the child kneeling below. From her angle, she realized that this grandson’s face actually bore a slight resemblance to the current Emperor when he was a child.
Under her tutelage, the current Emperor had practiced martial arts since childhood. In his youth, due to years of rigorous training, he had been slightly thinner than the other princes. Back then, there was hardly any fat on his face, making him look particularly similar to Ying Fusheng’s current appearance.
Consort Ning had lived in seclusion for years, and her son rarely came to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager’s impression of the child was still stuck in his infancy. A few days ago, when she heard he had fallen into the water and caught a cold, she had sent people over several times. Consort Ning had claimed the illness wasn’t serious, but looking at him now, it was clear he hadn’t fully recovered. Her mood improved because of the cat, and seeing that the child didn’t forget to plead for his mother even while sick, she deemed him a filial son and her impression of him improved further.
The more she looked at him, the more she liked his features.
“Little Six is right; this is an auspicious sign.” As soon as the Empress Dowager spoke, everyone in the palace knew exactly how to proceed.
Consort Ning was breaking out in a cold sweat. Though she felt indignant at the Empress Dowager’s words, she had no choice but to accept the credit brought by this “little brat.”
“Why are you still kneeling? The Sixth Prince is still ill. Grant him a seat,” the Empress said.
Ying Fusheng looked up at the person who had spoken, his eyes devoid of emotion.
The Empress’s remark made the others snap out of it; they realized that during all the back-and-forth, the Sixth Prince had been kneeling the entire time. Several palace attendants hurried forward to help him up. The Sixth Prince stood up with a pale face and bowed slightly to give thanks, but at that moment, his body swayed. His strength failed him, and he collapsed directly onto the floor of the hall!