Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, the court was on recess for three days.
Li Xiaozheng went to deal with the remnants of the Crown Prince’s faction who were still in hiding and returned to the military camp last night. Meng Dongting met with him there, and together they saw another person being held in custody, the Second Prince.
The Second Prince was born of a Zhaoyi at the Late Emperor’s side. He had a congenital disability in his legs and usually needed crutches or a wheelchair.
Such a man posed no threat to the throne. He was also close in age to the deposed Crown Prince. The Crown Prince was unusually consistent in how he treated him. He secretly bullied all the other princes but never did anything to the Second Prince.
Through the Second Prince, the Crown Prince built an image of himself as broad-minded and benevolent. The better he treated the Second Prince, the more the Late Emperor noticed and approved of him.
After the Crown Prince fell from power, the one who tried to mediate on his behalf in the capital was also the Second Prince.
The “that person” Ji Qinggou referred to was him.
Meng Dongting had long suspected this. But the Second Prince held no real power and could not stir up trouble. Meng Dongting let things lie, waiting for solid evidence before acting. After all, he could not start his reign by killing too many brothers without provoking those sanctimonious civil officials.
Blessings and misfortunes went hand in hand. Because of his leg disability, the Second Prince had been treated as the Crown Prince’s “only” brother and lived the best life among all the princes. Yet the Crown Prince was shrewd. He treated him well but never once pleaded with the Late Emperor to grant him any authority.
Meng Dongting did not envy his second brother’s twenty years of life. Being called a brother by someone like the Crown Prince was itself a kind of humiliation and trampling.
The Crown Prince’s remaining faction had now been completely eliminated. Meng Dongting gained nothing of value from the Second Prince and ordered him imprisoned for life in a country estate outside the capital.
The Second Prince, however, was clear-minded.
“Trading the second half of my life for the first half of living like a proper person is worth it. Perhaps this leg disability was Heaven’s favor. Otherwise, facing the Crown Prince, I fear I would not have broken free of the cage and lived on like Your Majesty.”
“Sixth Brother, you are indeed better as emperor than Eldest Brother. At least among us seven brothers, six are still alive. In this matter, Father was muddleheaded all his life, yet clear-headed for once.”
His feelings toward the Crown Prince were complicated. He had no choice but to rely on him, no choice but to repay his kindness. In the end, everything came to nothing, leaving him oddly unburdened.
When Li Xiaozheng escorted him to the country estate, the Second Prince suddenly asked for a pair of crutches.
“The Crown Prince liked me sitting in a wheelchair. In truth, I prefer walking on my own.” He sighed. “This subject bids Your Majesty farewell.”
Meng Dongting returned to the palace late at night, but after sleeping just two hours he was already full of energy. There was no morning court today, and matters related to the deposed Crown Prince had come to an end. For the first time, he found himself unexpectedly idle.
Fu Quan asked, “What does Your Majesty plan to do today?”
Meng Dongting thought for a moment. “Walk around the palace. Fu Xinghe has returned, hasn’t she?”
Fu Quan replied, “Word has already been sent.”
His Majesty was clearly concerned about the Noble Consort. Watching him stroll aimlessly through the Imperial Garden admiring flowers, Fu Quan felt that the route seemed to be drifting closer and closer to the Laundry Bureau.
Even after sending someone ahead, he still wanted to go himself?
Fu Quan felt he had glimpsed the truth.
Meng Dongting was in a good mood, until he was surrounded by a group of consorts.
After several warnings from him earlier, hardly anyone dared to manufacture chance encounters in the Imperial Garden anymore.
But recently, perhaps because the Empress Dowager had returned to the palace, the consorts were encouraged to bear heirs for the royal family. With Li Xiaojing urging them to stroll together in the garden, the Imperial Garden became unusually lively, filled with fragrant clothes and jeweled hair.
If it were merely lively, Meng Dongting would not have minded. But time and again they blocked his path, making a fuss to draw attention, which irritated him.
His original hope was that everyone would be like the Noble Consort and keep the harem quiet. Reality proved otherwise. They were all clamoring around Li Xiaojing. It showed how important a group’s core figure was.
Another strong exotic fragrance hit his nose. Meng Dongting held his breath briefly, veins throbbing at his temples.
Just as well. He was free today and could sort out the affairs of the harem.
Li Xiaojing was overjoyed when the consorts finally managed to stop Meng Dongting. She had stayed in the palace for days and had hardly seen His Majesty, let alone spoken to him.
Her brother had advised her not to enter the palace. She said she was merely accompanying the Empress Dowager. But she did not want to truly be only that.
She stood to the side, happy and shy, imagining the day of the selection. If she were there, would the woman personally chosen by the emperor be her?
If it were her, she would not choose Yu Feng, Yan Pianpian, or Wang Chanjing like Fu Xinghe did. She would choose obedient ones.
“Who suggested to the Empress Dowager that the Noble Consort wash clothes?” Meng Dongting asked coldly.
The Empress Dowager alone could not have come up with such a malicious idea. He did not care who washed clothes, but upon closer thought, the Noble Consort was someone he had personally conferred the title on.
Many in the palace still failed to realize that Fu Xinghe was his Noble Consort, seeing her only as the daughter of a Grand Preceptor about to fall from power. They were all too concerned with her natal family and had forgotten who her husband was.
Li Xiaojing felt as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head.
The consorts, who had been jostling one another, fell silent and turned their gazes toward her.
Li Xiaojing knelt on the ground, choking with sobs. “It was me. I suggested it to the Empress Dowager. In the past, when my brother returned from missions, I often helped wipe his armor, hoping he would return safely each time.”
Yu Feng rolled her eyes discreetly. She knew Li Xiaojing would bring up her brother.
Having a brother like Li Xiaozheng was indeed convenient. Even if she instigated the Empress Dowager to make the Noble Consort wash the imperial guards’ armor, so what? At the time, Yu Feng thought both the old and young women were naïve.
His Majesty would never truly do anything to Li Xiaojing.
Meng Dongting nodded. “Azheng works for me and is away from home constantly. It is only natural for families to worry. You are thoughtful.”
Li Xiaojing’s eyes filled with tears, partly genuine, partly proud.
Meng Dongting continued, “He was slightly injured at the camp last night. I have seen the affection between you siblings. I will speak to the Empress Dowager. You are to leave the palace at once to care for your brother. Watch over him well for me. Within ten days, he is not to go out. Let him recover at home.”
Li Xiaozheng, who had just finished escorting the Second Prince and was about to go home to catch up on sleep, sneezed. He had no idea he was about to be confined for ten days, despite not having a single injury on him.
Li Xiaojing was stunned, staring blankly at Meng Dongting, unable to tell whether he was serious or not.
If Li Xiaozheng could not leave the house for ten days, neither could she. She would completely miss the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet. Back when Fu Xinghe was confined and failed to greet the Empress Dowager, a few pointed remarks were enough to sour the Empress Dowager’s opinion of her. She would be next.
“The Empress Dowager… the Empress Dowager asked me to help…”
Meng Dongting cut her off. “I have my own arrangements. You need not worry.”
Fu Quan waited silently. His Majesty’s ability to lie with a straight face was becoming more impressive. He dismissed her without mercy while still leaving the Li family ample dignity.
After His Majesty walked away, Yu Feng stomped her foot. As expected, Li Xiaojing could not be relied upon to engineer an encounter with the emperor. Since she had not appeared on the day of the selection, she was already out of the running.
Escorted by two palace attendants, Li Xiaojing returned home. As she stepped down from the carriage at the gate, she saw Li Xiaozheng riding back. He leapt off the horse, patted its head, and handed it to a servant.
The tears Li Xiaojing had been holding back immediately spilled over. Seeing that her brother was unharmed, she did not know whether to feel relieved or heartbroken. In that instant, a certain dream shattered completely.
Fu Han had been part of the deposed Crown Prince’s faction. Her brother risked his life for His Majesty. Why did His Majesty insist on protecting Fu Xinghe?
Li Xiaozheng saw his sister crying and felt his drowsy mind clear a little. He asked tenderly, “Who bullied you?”
Li Xiaojing sniffed. “No one. His Majesty said you were injured and told me to come home to take care of you.”
Li Xiaozheng patted his chest and abdomen. No injuries. He was perfectly fine.
“His Majesty said you’re not to go out for ten days. You’re going to rest and recover.”
Seeing how upset his sister was and recalling Meng Dongting’s words, Li Xiaozheng understood. Meng Dongting was deliberately sending Li Xiaojing away.
He patted the back of her head. “Tsk, a man’s heart is iron. You wouldn’t believe it until you hit the wall. Now you do, right? Don’t be sad. Another day, I’ll find you someone who doesn’t lose to him.”
If Li Xiaojing only wanted a rank, that would be one thing. What she wanted was Meng Dongting’s love. Li Xiaozheng could not manage that no matter how hard he tried.
Li Xiaojing could barely accept it, but being dismissed so publicly still felt humiliating.
“There are plenty of young officers in the camp who are brave, handsome, talented, and good to their wives. Want me to grab a few for you to look over?” Li Xiaozheng teased.
Li Xiaojing nodded. “Alright. Tall ones. Strong ones. Line them up.”
Li Xiaozheng froze. His sister’s marriage was to be decided by their parents. The camp was full of rough men. He had only been joking to comfort her, not seriously planning a public husband selection.
Li Xiaojing continued, “Give each of them a sheet of paper. Have them fill in their parents, family background, strengths, how they treat their wives, whether they will take concubines, whether they are willing to be reassigned, and whether they mind if their wife returns to her natal home for ten days or half a month…”
Why did this sound so familiar?
Wasn’t this exactly how the Noble Consort selected consorts for the emperor?
But he could hardly organize a husband selection assembly for Li Xiaojing.
Li Xiaozheng had talked too big. Faced with his sister’s trusting and expectant gaze, he nodded with difficulty.
It would have been better to let her bother Meng Dongting instead.
Fu Xinghe truly caused trouble wherever she went.
“Reassigned? Reassigned to whom? Do you plan to marry several husbands?” Li Xiaozheng asked.
Li Xiaojing looked at him as if he were an idiot. “I have maids with me. Don’t they need to marry too?”
Seeing Li Xiaozheng stunned, Li Xiaojing grabbed his arm and enthusiastically explained how “the Noble Consort did it this way” and “the Noble Consort did it that way.”
Li Xiaozheng’s head throbbed. “Stop. I was there that day.”
What exactly had his sister been doing in the palace these few days, that she knew the Noble Consort’s methods inside and out? He began to suspect that Li Xiaojing was more interested in the Noble Consort than in the emperor.
Though Li Xiaozheng had praised the men in the camp earlier, it was mostly an exaggeration. Many were illiterate. How could they be worthy of his sister?
He said, “I’ve thought it over. All the outstanding ones were snapped up long ago.”
Just then, the commander of the imperial guards passed by, saw Li Xiaozheng, and came over to complain. “Brother, His Majesty ordered me to arrange marriages for the guards. Anyone unmarried has to marry. I didn’t realize until I counted. Seventy or eighty young men, all handsome, yet none of them want wives.”
Li Xiaozheng said nothing.
The imperial guards were the face of the palace. Naturally, there were no ugly ones among them. Many were chosen from younger branches of prominent families in the capital.
Li Xiaojing’s eyes lit up.
Li Xiaozheng clenched his teeth. Meng Dongting and Fu Xinghe truly took turns wreaking havoc. If he encouraged his sister to choose a husband from the guards and his mother found out, he would surely be beaten. His mother had long warned that her daughter was not to marry a soldier who went to war.
Fine. This time he really would be lying in bed for ten days or half a month.
Fu Xinghe had just finished washing two sets of armor when a eunuch reported, “His Majesty says the Noble Consort need not wash anymore. Please return to the palace.”
Fu Xinghe set down the armor, tucked her loose hair behind her ear, and asked, “Then how does His Majesty intend to punish me instead?”
If it were worse than washing clothes, she would rather squat here.
Only if she satisfied the Empress Dowager could she have peaceful days ahead. Otherwise, in a few days the Empress Dowager might think up something new again. Last time, she had knelt in the Buddha hall for too short a time, and those two were not pleased.
Washing clothes until her hands froze hurt less than kneeling and copying scriptures.
The young eunuch was stunned. “Will this servant go back and ask?”
“Go.”
After hearing the report, Meng Dongting asked in return, “Punish her for what?”
Fu Quan reminded him, “Your Majesty has forgotten. The Noble Consort was accused of teasing the imperial guards. Her Highness is righteous and likely does not wish to put Your Majesty in a difficult position.”
Meng Dongting said, “Is something wrong with her? Why is she rushing to be punished?”
Fu Quan said nothing. With no power or backing, the Noble Consort naturally feared that any unintentional favoritism from the emperor would bring her disaster, let alone openly opposing the Empress Dowager for her sake.
Meng Dongting reluctantly said, “If she likes working so much, let her make two sets of my everyday clothes.”
The eunuch smartly accepted the order and left.
Meng Dongting opened a register of tribute items for the autumn. Skimming it rapidly, he said, “Fu Xinghe’s needlework must be terrible.”
“The Noble Consort is intelligent. With practice, she will improve,” Fu Quan replied calmly. Yes, otherwise why not have her make a dragon robe?
From a punitive standpoint, the more complex the embroidery, the harsher the lesson.
His Majesty’s everyday clothes had no embroidered patterns.
Was he worried that a dragon robe made by her could not be worn, yet willing to wear her everyday garments?
Fu Xinghe waited and found that the tyrant no longer wanted her to wash clothes but wanted her to make clothes instead.
“Do I look like I have talent in that area?”
There was a saying about bowing one’s head to toil like an ox. Washing clothes had stirred up a bit of class defiance in her.
Xia Mian hurried to say, “His Majesty’s everyday clothes only require measuring and tailoring. There’s no need to rush or embroider patterns.”
As she applied ointment to prevent chapping, she coaxed gently, “Your Highness, making clothes is easy.”
Fu Xinghe said, “I teased the imperial guards and offended the Empress Dowager. Why am I making clothes for His Majesty?”
She was grateful to Meng Dongting, but could he really step in to save her every time? If it happened too often, even a tyrant would grow annoyed.
She was being portrayed as a calamity-causing beauty, yet Meng Dongting was no foolish ruler. The premise did not even exist. They were fabricating charges out of thin air.
After thinking it over, Fu Xinghe decided that since she had to spend the time anyway, she might as well curry favor with the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager should not be hard to please. Fu Xinghe had once hosted many senior tour groups. Compared to them, the Empress Dowager was nothing.
“I’ll make it for the Empress Dowager.”
The young eunuch had been running errands all day and returned again to the Imperial Study. “The Noble Consort says Your Majesty has enough clothes. Since the Empress Dowager has just returned to the palace, it would be better to make clothes for her instead.”
Meng Dongting had not expected her to bargain like this.
Wasn’t it I who kept helping her? Fool.
Fu Quan suggested, “One piece each?”
Meng Dongting said nothing. Fu Quan made the decision himself and signaled to the eunuch.
The eunuch ran off. This was truly difficult. Not everyone could be Xia Mian or Fu Quan.
Fu Quan soothed him. “This old servant has heard that the Noble Consort hasn’t smiled since last night. The well water is cold in autumn. Her hands froze from washing clothes. Her mood was low, and she had a moment of confused thinking. It’s understandable.”
Meng Dongting recalled that Fu Xinghe usually liked to smile while discussing matters. But after encountering the Grand Preceptor and Ji Qinggou yesterday, she had worn a grim face all day. Then she was punished by the Empress Dowager upon returning. It made sense that she could not smile for a day or two.
For Fu Xinghe, not smiling must be serious.
Meng Dongting pointed at the register, to the Lingnan tribute of autumn lychees, and asked, “Have they been stored?”
These were a new variety grown by local farming women. The yield was low, sent to the royal family to sample. If His Majesty liked them, he was to bestow a name.
If the emperor named them, the locals would surely publicize it widely, carving the name on gilded plaques and hanging them in ancestral halls, giving the lychees instant fame.
Fu Quan checked. “Not yet. All of them are still there. None have been issued.”
Meng Dongting thought for a moment. “The agricultural officials want me to name them. I think ‘Consort’s Smile’ is a good name.”
Fu Quan fell silent.
Meng Dongting said, “Reward them all to the Noble Consort.”
Fu Quan fell silent again.
Wenhua Hall.
Fu Xinghe was rubbing fragrant balm into her hands. Her index finger was slightly swollen, but her mood was good.
She smiled and asked, “What auspicious pattern should I draw for the Empress Dowager?”
As for the tyrant, she planned to secretly embroider a lump of pig brain in the lining, perfectly suited to his cluelessness about mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relations.
Xia Mian pointed at the pig brain and asked curiously, “What pattern is this?”
White, layered, delicately shaded.
Fu Xinghe said, “A cluster of auspicious clouds.”
Xia Mian praised dutifully, “It looks nice.”
As they spoke, someone knocked and delivered several boxes of lychees.
The young eunuch felt confident he had done well this errand. “Your Highness, His Majesty bestows Consort’s Smile.”
The smiling Noble Consort’s face darkened.
After Bao Si and the beacon fires, was the tyrant now mocking her as Yang Guifei?
“One rider through red dust, the consort smiles. None know it is lychees that arrive?”
How sarcastic.
Did he think she did not know her position as a hostage? Fu Xinghe suppressed the urge to curse and said, “Put them aside.”
Upon learning of the Noble Consort’s reaction, Meng Dongting set down the register and sneered. “Have I offended her?”
Fu Quan said carefully, “This old servant truly does not know.”
Fu Xinghe, fuming, drew two more clusters of auspicious clouds and yawned. “I’m taking a nap.”
Xia Mian asked, “What about the lychees?”
In this season, in the capital, seeing lychees was unheard of. They were plump and glossy, clearly thin-skinned and sweet.
Fu Xinghe was actually a little tempted. “I don’t like them. You all share them.”
Not just a little tempted.
But she had to have some backbone.
Xia Mian had no choice but to take the lychees away. The Noble Consort clearly wanted to eat them. His Majesty had obviously given them to cheer her up after her hands were injured from washing clothes. What was wrong with her today?
When Fu Xinghe woke from her nap, a flash of realization struck her.
Damn it. She had mixed up the histories of two worlds. Meng Dongting did not know Yang Guifei.
In this world, lychees were innocent.
And the tyrant was innocent too.
Fu Xinghe’s face burned.