It was the third month of spring, a fine season of lush grass and singing orioles. Normally, people in the capital would be strolling and boating by the Qujiang Pond as they did every year. However, due to the late emperor’s grand funeral, the entire city was under strict martial law. Not to mention people, even a mosquito would find it difficult to fly out of the capital.
Yet the atmosphere inside the palace was not as solemn and tense as outside. The new emperor had just ascended the throne and was currently holding court with his ministers in the Duanming Hall.
The new emperor was twenty-five years old this year. Even while seated, his stature was taller than that of an ordinary person. His complexion was as warm and smooth as jade, making him look like a handsome scholar. However, when he occasionally glanced down, his gaze was as sharp as an eagle’s.
He wore a white mourning robe, with a dark green coiled dragon jade pendant tied at his waist, appearing exceptionally dignified and solemn. He was no longer the impulsive youth of years past.
“Your Majesty, Zheng Fang’s troops have all withdrawn from the capital as per the deployment order and are now heading to Bozhou as you commanded.”
The new emperor pondered for a moment before replying, “Bozhou is guarded by Wei Duo’s army. Wei Duo has long coveted Jizhou, and I have already promised to make a daughter of the Wei family the empress. I believe the Wei family knows what to do. This is also to avenge your sister, Yuniang. If not for you, I would not have known that the Zheng family could be so ruthless.”
The person standing below to report was none other than the elder brother of Yuniang, the new emperor’s former concubine when he was still the crown prince. Originally a stable hand, he followed his sister, Dong Yuniang, into the Eastern Palace as a subordinate after she was selected to serve as a sixth-rank Zhaoxun. Later, when his sister became pregnant and was promoted to third-rank Liangyuan by the crown prince, his own military talents were also discovered by the crown prince, who recommended him to the Imperial Forest Guard.
The siblings’ future should have been bright.
Unfortunately, his sister, Dong Yuniang, was persecuted by the crown prince’s favored concubine, Concubine Zheng, and both mother and child perished.
Dong Yu had risked his life countless times in the Imperial Forest Guard to shield the crown prince from assassinations and had gathered witnesses and evidence, all in anticipation of the moment to bring down the Zheng family. Now, hearing that Concubine Zheng was also implicated in the death of Crown Princess Chuoren, and that her father was likely to face the wrath of Wei Duo, who commanded a million-strong army, how could he not be excited?
Dong Yu knelt again in gratitude and said, “Your Majesty is wise.”
The new emperor smiled. “You may leave.”
Dong Yu rose, took a few steps backward with his head bowed, and then strode out with purpose. The emperor was truly a wise ruler. To deliver justice for them, he dared to punish even his favored concubine. With two charges combined, the Zheng family was surely doomed this time.
The new emperor stood with his hands behind his back, feeling slightly dizzy. These days, with his father’s passing, he had been busy with funeral arrangements and state affairs, leaving him utterly exhausted.
As Dong Yu served as a guard in the palace, he naturally kept a close watch on the situation in the Duanming Hall. He first noticed a palace maid from Concubine Zheng’s side speaking with the chief eunuch.
He heard the chief eunuch ask, “It’s you again, Xiao Kangzi. Did Concubine Zheng send you?”
Xiao Kangzi replied with an ingratiating smile, “Yes, Chief Eunuch. This is ox knee bone soup made by Concubine Zheng herself. She started preparing it early this morning and has been simmering it until now. As you know, His Majesty loves the food prepared by our Concubine Zheng the most.”
After watching Xiao Kangzi enter the Duanming Hall, Dong Yu still comforted himself: Zheng Fang had not yet gone far, and the Emperor would still have to give Concubine Zheng some face. Moreover, the new Emperor had only one son, Prince Fengyi, born to Concubine Zheng. Besides, a night of marital affection was worth a hundred days of grace. Just yesterday, Concubine Zheng had come to accompany the Emperor, personally preparing a nourishing soup that had been simmered for a long time and presenting it to the new Emperor. It was said her hands had even been scalded red.
But soon, his hopes were shattered when the Emperor bestowed fifty bolts of palace silk and one hundred taels of gold upon Concubine Zheng at Linde Hall. Yet, he did not lose heart and continued to closely monitor the situation within the palace.
It was said that rewards flowed like water into Linde Hall, where the main hall was occupied by Concubine Zheng, who had yet to be formally enfeoffed since the new Emperor’s ascension. She had entered the Eastern Palace five years ago. During the Crown Prince’s time, she enjoyed exclusive favor for three years. In the following two years, the Crown Prince was dispatched to Xuzhou for battle. Upon his return, the Crown Prince ascended the throne.
Inside Linde Hall, crystal curtains were drawn high, revealing a hall filled with opulence. A jade-green gauze curtain embroidered with silver threads hung in the center, while carpets and cushions were adorned with orchid patterns. Not far away stood a large Ge kiln vase, filled with thousand-petaled green lotuses and water-heart orchids. A white jade incense burner emitted the fragrant smoke of storax, creating a delightful and soothing atmosphere.
Xiao Kangzi immediately knelt behind the curtain and said, “This servant has fulfilled his mission without dishonor.”
The woman inside was none other than Concubine Zheng. She laughed softly and said, “Rise. I heard the Emperor has bestowed many fine gifts upon me.”
Xiao Kangzi replied, “The Emperor’s affection for Your Highness is known throughout the land.”
Concubine Zheng sighed and said, “The Emperor was never one to indulge in women. Crown Princess Chuoren’s father defied the court and repeatedly massacred cities. The Emperor personally beheaded her entire clan, young and old. Yet, she herself was blameless. Upon hearing the news, she took her own life by hanging. It’s also my fault—I shouldn’t have told her these things. I thought she already knew.”
Xiao Kangzi hurriedly said, “Your Highness, why trouble yourself over her? It was her own choice. If not for her, you would have been the Crown Princess back then. Empress Dowager He intervened, but now our good days are coming.”
Concubine Zheng smiled again. Even the palace maids who often served her were still stunned by her beauty. The Zheng family was renowned for producing stunning beauties, and she was no exception—radiant and enchanting, with delicate yet voluptuous grace, a peerless and unparalleled beauty.
“I need to rest for a while. Preparing the ox knee bone soup this morning was too exhausting,” she said, yawning.
Soon, night fell. Dong Yu saw the chief eunuch preparing to visit Linde Hall late at night and was overjoyed, wondering if the new Emperor intended to have Concubine Zheng executed. Unexpectedly, at that moment, a eunuch from Duanming Hall shouted in panic, “Terrible, terrible! His Majesty’s headache has struck again. He collapsed to the ground and has stopped breathing.”
Dong Yu was horrified.
The new Emperor had died suddenly, leaving only one son, born to Concubine Zheng. Under the protection of Marquis Zhaojie, Zheng Fang, Concubine Zheng was enfeoffed as Empress Dowager Zheng, and her son, Prince Fengyi, was proclaimed the new Emperor. Due to his young age, Empress Dowager Zheng took control of the court.
Upon assuming power, Empress Dowager Zheng appointed her father, Zheng Fang, as Grand Marshal, Grand General, and Chief Secretary to govern the state. Her younger brother, Zheng Wuheng, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Quyang, and even her half-brother from a different father, Pei Shuo, was posthumously honored as Palace Attendant and Commander of the Waterways.
How glorious the Zheng family had become!
**
Outside the capital’s suburbs, a carriage arrived. Its wheels were vermilion, its canopy a blend of green and gold, and it was adorned with exquisite gold and silver ornaments, making it exceptionally splendid.
The woman seated in the carriage was dignified and proper. The green lotus-patterned skirt at the hem of her dress, which should have flowed with an ethereal grace, now lay perfectly still. Beside her sat a lively young girl whose skirt lining was even visible.
Several officials at the relay station, upon seeing the carriage, immediately approached and respectfully said, “We greet the Princess Consort of Huaiyin. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager instructed us to await your arrival here. She also said that if it is already late, you should rest at the relay station tonight, and tomorrow, thirty imperial guards will be specially dispatched to escort you into the palace.”
So the woman in the carriage was the Princess Consort of Huaiyin, the elder sister of Empress Dowager Zheng. The officials treated her with great courtesy. As the young girl beside her alighted from the carriage, she cheerfully remarked, “Aunt, see how well Empress Dowager treats you.”
Having been widowed for a year, the Princess Consort of Huaiyin dressed in plain and subdued clothing, her face expressionless. Upon hearing her niece’s words, she forced a slight smile.
To the young girl, however, her aunt’s smile seemed more like a grimace. She couldn’t understand why her aunt was like this. Wasn’t Empress Dowager Zheng her own younger sister? Shouldn’t she be overjoyed that her sister had become the empress dowager?
Thanks to her aunt, the young girl also got to stay in the best room, a far cry from the ordinary relay stations they had stayed in on their journey to the capital. Just as she was reveling in her delight, she heard Nanny Chun, who served the Princess Consort of Huaiyin, say, “Princess Consort, it’s not even dark yet. Why aren’t they letting you enter the palace to see Her Majesty and stay there? Why must you stay at the relay station?”
“Nanny, we are already in the capital. We must be cautious with our words and actions,” the Princess Consort of Huaiyin replied.
But Nanny Chun grumbled discontentedly, “Back then, when you were raised under the care of the Grand Madame, your manners were impeccable—well-educated, refined, and well-read, unlike the Second Miss, who was unruly. When the late Emperor was still the Crown Prince, he rescued you when you fell into the water. If our Zheng family hadn’t favored the Prince of Huaiyin, perhaps you would be the empress dowager today.”
The Princess Consort of Huaiyin paled and said, “Nanny, stop talking nonsense.”
Nanny Chun, however, grew more impassioned. “You’ve suffered so much over the years. The Prince of Huaiyin was indeed wise, handsome, and accomplished in both civil and military affairs. But he already had someone in his heart, and he was narrow-minded. He died young, and your marriage with him had long since turned sour. Now you have to remain a widow for him for the rest of your life. How can this be…”
The young girl noticed that the Princess Consort of Huaiyin grew paler as Nanny Chun spoke. She had never imagined such a story behind it all. Back then, Empress Dowager Zheng had married the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, who was merely the adopted son of Empress He and a puppet of the He family, unlike the Prince of Huaiyin, who held real power in Jiangnan.
Then she heard the Princess Consort of Huaiyin say, “It’s my fault for being useless and failing to bring honor to my mother. Second Sister is more fortunate than I am. Even as a concubine, she managed to make the Crown Prince neglect his consort and favor her alone. She also gave birth to the Crown Prince’s only child. Now, with the new Emperor’s passing, she has become the empress dowager, and her son has become the Emperor. I have no such fortune.”
Nanny Chun had been the dowry maid of the Princess Consort’s birth mother. Hearing her mention her mother, she wiped away tears and said, “Our Madam was originally the principal wife of General Zheng, a compassionate woman who cared for the poor and weak. She pitied Lady Ji, who had divorced due to jealousy and was raising her son alone, and befriended her as a close companion. Little did she know she was inviting a wolf into the house, driving your mother to spend her life in seclusion with a lamp and Buddha. That scoundrel, that vile woman, and their illegitimate children are living happily as a family, and tomorrow we must bow and worship them.”
The Princess Consort of Huaiyin wept uncontrollably.
The young girl had not expected the situation to be so complex behind the scenes. She had only heard her mother mention that the current Empress Dowager Zheng, in her youth, was not as accomplished as her own aunt when it came to talent, poetry, song, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
The next day, she followed her aunt into the imperial city. The Imperial Guards stood majestic and imposing, the jade steps rose layer upon layer, grand and magnificent. The roof of the Empress Dowager’s bedchamber was paved with white-glazed porcelain tiles, crystal jade walls served as lamps, and the inner pillars were carved with golden dragons coiling upward. The floor was laid with golden bricks, making it all the more extravagant and luxurious.
With each step further inside, the young girl felt as though her aunt was walking on the edge of a knife, showing no joy of a family reunion. Even when paying respects to Empress Dowager Zheng, she was surprised to find that compared to the similarly widowed Empress Dowager, her aunt appeared as withered as dead wood, while Empress Dowager Zheng was radiant, charming, and blooming with beauty.
Why was this so?
Looking back at her aunt, who had performed too many courtesies and was physically exhausted, she swayed like a withered lotus in the wind and actually fainted on the spot.