Chapter 53 Who should he trust after the incident?
The Qianqing Palace was filled with a strong smell of medicine.
Zhou Xian took a deep breath and tried to walk steadily and gracefully. The eunuchs, palace maids, and even the concubines moved cautiously, fearing to disturb the ailing Emperor.
"Jiayi, you're here." Empress Guo drew aside the curtain and emerged from her bedroom. She had spent several days caring for the Emperor at his bedside, diligently tending to him. Her well-maintained face barely showed the wear and tear of time, and she appeared exceptionally tired.
"Your son respectfully wishes the Queen a long life." Zhou Shan bowed to her.
"Get up," the Queen sighed. "Your father has something to ask you. Go in later and answer carefully. Don't say anything nonsense. Remember?"
Zhou Xian replied, "I'll remember that."
It was also strange that this woman could actually speak to him calmly. In the past, she had basically ignored the existence of Concubine Jing and her son in the palace. On the occasional encounter, she would ignore them, even treating them with disgust.
Come to think of it, how would she, the legal wife, feel about Emperor Yongchang using shady means to acquire a commoner woman? The Daning harem was strictly regulated, and concubines were forbidden from participating in government affairs. The princes fought each other to the death in the previous dynasty, and their mothers could barely offer a word of pleas. The last Concubine Shen to bring her family into government… had perished along with her son, Prince Yu, Zhou Cong, and her entire family.
As for palace fighting, it was even more impossible. Women spent their time in the harem gaining experience, their best years wasted in this deep palace. They didn't even have time to pity each other, let alone fight to the death.
Even when the Empress disliked Sun Ningxiang, she never bothered her or Zhou Xian, at most simply giving them the cold shoulder. Sometimes, when Sun Ningxiang didn't want to attend a palace banquet, she would acquiesce.
Thinking of this, Zhou Shan looked at the queen again and suddenly felt a sense of sympathy.
At this time, the palace maids presented the medicinal soup. The Queen said, "When you go in, take the medicine with you and feed it to your father. It will be considered as a filial piety."
Zhou Xian agreed repeatedly.
Entering the inner hall, the heavy aroma of incense made Zhou Xian dizzy. He took the porcelain bowl from the maid and had the eunuch test it for poison. Then he tiptoed to the bedside and whispered, "Your Majesty, your son Jiayi respectfully wishes you well. Father, it's time to take your medicine."
"It's Shan'er." The old man coughed a few times.
Zhou Xian didn't know how to respond and could only say "hmm". He and Emperor Yongchang were the most familiar strangers in the world.
He scooped up a spoonful of medicine, blew on it carefully, and after confirming that it was not hot, he handed it to the old man's mouth.
"Good boy." After feeding him the medicine, the old man took Zhou Shan's hand and praised him lovingly. He lay on his sickbed, looking just like any other old man. Dry, thin, and sagging, his face was filled with a kind smile. His hair was all white, and he had a somewhat sickly, immortal look.
"I don't deserve it." Zhou Xian felt uncomfortable being held by those hands. They were both old men, and Sun Yi was so old that he was confused, but the love and sadness in his heart were real. And the old man in front of him...
His kindness was tinged with coldness.
Zhou Xian shuddered slightly.
"Did you embroider that "Chao Yuan Tu" yourself?" The old man patted the back of Zhou Xian's hand and asked softly.
Zhou Shan said, "Yes. I have neither ability nor talent. I can only do needlework to a passing degree. I am good at painting a picture called 'Chao Yuan Tu'. All the immortals wish my father good health and eternal peace for the country as a token of my filial piety." These words made Zhou Shan feel a little nauseous.
"You are thoughtful." The old man smiled lightly. "Come, have a good talk with me. You have grown up so much, and I still don't know what you like. I heard that you write well and compose good poems. It shows that your mother has taught you well."
"Thank you for the praise, father." Zhou Xian's heart sank slowly.
How could he be worthy of mentioning his own mother?
Unexplained anger.
"Is Zhang Jinwei good to you?" The old man smiled. "I originally chose him because of his outstanding appearance and his talent. I should have given him the third place, but considering his outstanding talent, I promoted him to the first place. I originally wanted you to marry him, and at the very least, we could treat each other with respect. But why did you leave so suddenly a few years ago, making it so difficult for people to find you?"
Zhou Xian lowered his head and said, "I just want to go and see the beautiful mountains and rivers. Your Majesty has been very kind to me and will leave everything to me. Your Majesty, don't worry."
"Really? From what Shan'er said, you really like him?" The smile on the old man's lips gradually faded. "Go to the table and bring over the top memorial."
Although Zhou Xian was confused, he still stood up obediently, walked to the table to pick up the memorial, and then returned to the side of the dragon bed.
"Open it and take a look." The smile disappeared from the old man's face.
"I dare not." Zhou Shan immediately knelt on the ground. Concubines were not allowed to interfere in state affairs, and princesses certainly were not allowed to do so either. Her husband had violated ancestral rules and was granted a special position of confidentiality in the court. If he wanted to survive, he had to stay away from state affairs and become a clueless woman in the backyard.
He didn't dare open it.
His intuition had always been sharp, like the cats in the yard, and he would be startled by the slightest footstep. His intuition told him that there was something seriously wrong with this memorial.
The old man chuckled and said, "What are you afraid of? Just watch."
The emperor's order was difficult to disobey, so Zhou Shan had no choice but to open the memorial and read it word by word.
Those words were all words, and they were all words, but when put together, Zhou Xian couldn't understand them at all, until his eyes went dark. At the end of his sight, he saw Emperor Yongchang, whose kindness had faded and whose face was filled with indifference.
"Impossible..." Zhou Xian muttered, the memorial in his hand dropping to the ground with a clatter. "Sixth Brother and him... would never do such a thing..."
"Really? Take another look." Emperor Yongchang's voice suddenly became very distant, but it was like a thunder, rumbling in Zhou Shan's ears.
His fingers trembled as he picked up the memorial from the ground and read it word by word. His heart withered bit by bit. He thought, my head hurts so much. Why can't I read it? I can't read it no matter what!
"Your Majesty, I don't understand." Zhou Xian shed tears unconsciously. "How can I possibly understand something they haven't done? Please, Your Majesty, understand."
After saying this, he bent down deeply and burst into tears.
"If he hadn't done it... humph!" The old man sneered. "Tell me, where is your good brother now? He volunteered to provide disaster relief, and I thought he was truly capable. But who knew he'd been missing for half a month? Who knows if he'd fled for fear of punishment? I trusted him and Zhang Jinwei so much, and because they were defending the border, I wanted to suppress this matter, but your good brother... he truly disappoints me."
Zhou Heng is missing? !
Zhou Xian couldn't believe his ears. Mu Guang had just informed him that he was safe a few days ago...
Who should he trust?
…
"Oh, Prince Consort, are you still waiting for the princess?"
Zhang Jinwei stood motionless in front of the palace, his gaze fixed on the entrance to his bedroom, almost like a statue looking out for his wife. The rest of the princes and grandchildren had mostly dispersed, and even the empress was being helped back to Kunning Palace to rest. Zhou Shan was the only one missing.
"Excuse me, Eunuch Liu, why hasn't the princess come out after being gone for over an hour? What happened?" Seeing that it was Liu Renfu, Zhang Jin hurriedly bowed and asked anxiously.
Liu Renfu raised his eyelids and sighed, "My Lord, please don't worry about the princess for now. Worry about yourself first! The princess is a royal daughter. No matter what happens, the emperor won't make things too difficult for her. But you... the imperial prison is not a good place."
"Eunuch Liu, I don't understand what you mean." Zhang Jinwei narrowed his eyes slightly. He had a subtle premonition.
Liu Renfu sighed and nodded towards the nearby area: "The Imperial Guards are here, Prince Consort. If you have any questions, go ask them!"
Jinyiwei?
Zhang Jinwei suddenly felt something was wrong. He turned around and saw Mu Guang leading a team of Jinyiwei hurriedly coming, with obscure expressions on their faces.
"Lord Mu." Zhang Jin clasped his fists.
Mu Guang looked reluctant, "Huaiyu... I may have to trouble you to endure a little hardship. His Majesty has personally decreed that someone has secretly accused Prince Rui and Deputy Minister of War Zhang Jinwei of reselling military rations specially allocated by the Ministry of Revenue during the campaign against the Tatars and embezzling the money. Their crimes are unforgivable..."
"What nonsense!" Zhang Jin interrupted Mu Guang. He was always gentle and polite, and his expression would not change even if the sky was falling. But now, a hint of anger appeared on his face.
Mu Guang had only seen this expression twice.
One was when Zhou Xian disappeared, and the other was right now.
Mu Guang didn't believe it either. He couldn't possibly believe it. He had seen everything Zhou Heng did. But the memorial, like a ghost, floated out of nowhere, arousing the emperor's suspicion.
"Whether he did it or not, we have to interrogate him carefully to find out." Mu Guang tried to take out the imperial seal from his sleeve. He tried several times, but his hands were shaking so much that he couldn't hold it. "Master Zhang, please come with us."
"good."
Unexpectedly, Zhang Jinwei immediately agreed. His face still tinged with anger, but his mind raced—he'd been set up. Someone was trying to eliminate Prince Rui, and him along with him. The only option now was to submit to the arrest, and he couldn't offer any resistance, fearing the consequences for Zhou Shan and everyone else in the palace.
Mu Guang was stunned: "You..."
Zhang Jinwei had calmed down and said calmly, "I am worthy of His Majesty and my parents. I have never done the things you just mentioned, so I have a clear conscience. I believe Prince Rui is the same. But then again, where is Prince Rui?"
Mu Guang whispered, "He... is nowhere to be found."
"Don't be anxious." Zhang Jinwei could see that he was trembling, so he whispered to comfort him.
"Aren't you anxious?" Mu Guang smiled bitterly. "If you're in prison, who will protect the princess? His Royal Highness Prince Rui is also missing. How anxious will the princess be?"
"Why wouldn't I be anxious..." Zhang Jinwei turned around and stared at the doorway of the bedroom for a long time, eager to see that person, but also unwilling for him to see his miserable appearance. "It's just... there's no point in being anxious. Lord Mu, could you please give him a message for me?"
"Please go ahead."
"Tell him not to worry about me and to focus on finding His Royal Highness Prince Rui. He's smart and knows how to contact that elusive monk... Tell him to ask for his help."
"good."
"Besides..." Zhang Jinwei slowly knelt on the ground and bowed to Mu Guang, "I beg you to protect his safety. If I can clear the suspicion in the future, I will do my best to repay your kindness!"
"Between you and me, there's no need..." Mu Guang felt grief in his heart, and almost subconsciously stepped forward to help Zhang Jinwei up. But he immediately realized that he was still the emperor's lackey, and he couldn't show any signs of getting close to Prince Rui's party.
Besides, Zhou Heng is missing, Zhang Jin is under arrest, and he is the only one who can still move around in the court...
This is a tough battle against time.
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