Chapter 2, Part 2: King Zhao
The idea of having sex with King Zhao was never in Chi Ying's mind.
Although her father and stepmother never mentioned Prince Zhao's ruthless and mad nature to put her mind at ease, there were always people in the mansion gossiping about it in private. In addition, Chi Yingyue's terrified expression whenever Prince Zhao was mentioned made Chi Ying realize that Prince Zhao had such a cruel and gloomy nature.
Especially after he lost his sight, his violence became even greater than before. It is said that the women dragged out of his room all died in extremely gruesome ways.
Therefore, even though he is now seriously injured and dying, Chi Yingyue still refuses to marry him, fearing that she will be like those other women, angering King Zhao and suffering torment until death. For the sake of her daughter's life, Lady Yin would rather deceive the king and keep it a secret, letting her, a concubine's daughter, marry in his place.
Chi Ying was naturally afraid as well.
But now that things have come to this, there's no going back for her.
Mother's illness requires urgent medication; otherwise, it's uncertain whether she can survive the next six months.
Besides, she had already agreed, and if she went back on her word now, how could the Yin mother and daughter possibly agree? They might even fight to the death.
Although she was married in place of another, it did not mean that she was willing to be a real husband and wife with King Zhao.
It would be best if she didn't even see King Zhao's face, because that person would die from his injuries. That way, she could get away as soon as possible, take her mother away from the capital, and go to a beautiful place to live and recuperate.
The plan is wonderful, but I don't know how much longer I'll have to stay in this Prince Zhao's mansion.
She married into the family today without anyone noticing, which means she's passed the first hurdle.
Chi Ying was exhausted after a long day. She tossed and turned all night, plagued by nightmares. One moment she saw Yin Shi's bleeding pregnant belly, the next her mother's blood-soaked back, then her elder sister's clenched teeth and threats, and then a blurry-faced, blind man grabbing her neck tightly...
...
The next morning, Chi Ying got up to wash up. She had a faint dark circle under her eyes, which Xiang Qin covered up with makeup.
Xiangqin was a maid specially assigned to her by Madam Yin. She was most skilled at dressing up and styling. With just a few minor details and the addition of the hairpins and ornaments that Chi Yingyue often wore, she could improve the original six or seven points of resemblance to eight points, which made people have to admit that she was amazing.
Aunt Fangchun served Chi Ying to bed last night and saw her beautiful face without makeup. Today, seeing her heavily made-up, she is still beautiful, but there is an indescribable awkwardness.
It's like a simple and elegant ink painting; if you rashly add a few gorgeous and colorful strokes, it loses its charm.
Of course, as long as the princess is happy, that's all that matters; her face is still beautiful nonetheless.
After having breakfast, Chi Ying followed Aunt Fangchun to Shouchun Hall in the north of the Prince's Mansion to pay her respects to Consort Zhuang, the mother of Prince Zhao.
Given the special nature of Consort Zhuang's condition, Fangchun informed her in advance: "Your Highness is an extremely gentle and kind person, but she suffered a shock when Prince Ding died on the battlefield a few years ago. Since then, she has become somewhat delirious. Sometimes she sees Prince Zhao as Prince Ding, and sometimes she sees him as the enemy who killed Prince Ding..."
At this point, as if remembering something, she sighed and said, "But Your Highness need not be afraid. There are guards inside and outside Shouchun Hall, and they will not allow Your Highness to harm others or yourself."
Chi Ying nodded: "Thank you for telling me, Aunt."
The Prince Zhao's Mansion is decorated with painted beams and flying eaves, exuding an ancient and solemn atmosphere. It is heavily guarded, with numerous soldiers patrolling everywhere.
As Chi Ying listened to the faint sounds of armor clashing, a thin layer of sweat seeped from her palms. She felt as if she were constantly under the watchful eyes of the Prince's mansion, with nowhere to hide.
She kept reassuring herself that her appearance and makeup were already very similar to Chi Yingyue's. Even if the two of them stood together now, even the maids in the Chi family might not be able to tell them apart.
Moreover, the Changyuan Marquis's mansion is now in decline and can't even be considered a prominent place in the capital city where powerful and wealthy people gather. In addition, Chi Yingyue has been waiting to be married in the mansion for a year and rarely goes out. She is also a marginalized figure in the circle of noble ladies. Furthermore, she herself has lived on the estate for seven years. Even the relatives who are close to the Changyuan Marquis's mansion may not remember Aunt Xue who was kicked out back then and that illegitimate daughter who made a mistake. No one in the Zhaowang Mansion would recognize her.
As long as she doesn't reveal any flaws, she is still safe in the Prince's mansion for the time being.
But Chi Ying couldn't help feeling nervous, afraid that someone would notice something was amiss.
Fang Chun smiled and sighed at the same time: "Our prince went to the battlefield with Prince Ding when he was only thirteen years old. Back then, he was full of vigor and invincible. It's just a pity..."
She couldn't bear to continue, a faint sadness showing in her eyes. She then looked at the guards standing watch outside the hanging flower gate. "These guards are all former subordinates of the two princes. They are all highly skilled. Now that Prince Zhao is blind and the Empress is ill, if the palace is not heavily guarded, there will always be those with ulterior motives who will harm the prince and the Empress. What do you say, Your Highness?"
Chi Ying's eyelashes trembled slightly, perhaps out of guilt, but she sensed a warning in her words.
The struggle for the crown prince position is extremely dangerous, and the Prince Zhao's mansion will certainly be on high alert. She is just an outsider who has just married into the family, and her character is unknown. How can she let her guard down completely?
A draft swept across her back, making Chi Ying's hands and feet stiff and cold. She felt as if the coiled dragon on the vermilion pillar, the stone lion crouching outside the door, and the fierce-looking chiwen on the eaves were all like ferocious trapped beasts baring their fangs, ready to devour her in one bite.
As they approached Shouchun Hall, Aunt Fangchun's expression became slightly more solemn. "There is one more thing I urge Your Highness to remember."
Chi Ying: "Please speak."
Fangchun sighed, "Her Majesty is frail and cannot withstand any shocks. The matter of His Highness's blindness is a closely guarded secret in the Prince's mansion. Her Majesty has also stayed at home for the past two years, so we still do not know the extent of His Highness's condition."
Chi Ying was slightly taken aback.
As far as she knew, King Zhao had been blind for over a year, yet Consort Zhuang was still unaware of it.
King Zhao was indeed filial to his mother; otherwise, why would he have gone to the trouble of concealing his blindness?
After regaining her senses, she quickly nodded in agreement.
Fangchun continued, "Her Majesty was unconscious yesterday and is unaware that His Highness and the Princess Consort have not yet consummated their marriage. We will see Her Majesty later..."
Chi Ying understood what she meant. "Don't worry, I won't let it slip."
Shouchun Hall is located in a secluded spot behind the Prince's Mansion Garden, connected to a small Buddhist hall to the east. Under heavy guard, it was almost completely isolated from the outside world.
The maids guarding the courtyard gate were all armed, their eyes scanning all directions with the sharp, alertness of eagles.
Chi Ying felt a sudden unease and subconsciously lowered her gaze.
Aunt Qionglin, whom I met yesterday, quickly came forward. "Her Majesty is awake and in good spirits. She was just talking about you. Please come in, Your Highness."
What must be faced must be faced. Chi Ying took a deep breath and then went to the hospital.
Compared to the magnificent grandeur she had imagined, Shouchun Hall was more like a delicate and cozy little courtyard, with black tiles and flying eaves, lush flowers and trees, and the fragrance of weeping crabapple blossoms floating in the cool early spring air. Pale yellow forsythia blossoms peeked out from the latticed windows and swayed gently against the mottled white walls.
The courtyard's layout likely reflects its owner, suggesting that Consort Zhuang was a fairly easy person to get along with.
Upon entering the house, the aroma of medicine mixed with a faint sandalwood scent wafted towards me. Further inside, I saw a gaunt and pale woman sitting on a black lacquered couch adorned with five bats. Her temples were slightly frosted, and her eyes had a sickly bluish-gray tinge. Her clothes were extremely simple, yet it was not difficult to discern that her features were exquisite and that she still retained her former elegance. Every gesture she made exuded the composure and grace of someone who had long held a high position.
Chi Ying lowered her head and gracefully curtsied.
Consort Zhuang was delighted to find her daughter-in-law to be so quiet, beautiful, polite, and kind. "Good girl, come here and let me see her."
Looking outside again, she wondered, "Why didn't Qilang come with you?"
King Zhao's poem about the snow's devastation on the seventh day of the lunar month refers to him.
As Chi Ying was considering how to answer, Aunt Qionglin explained from the side, "His Highness had official business to attend to and left the residence this morning."
Consort Zhuang retorted, "What could be more important than accompanying the new bride to pay her respects?"
Chi Ying remained silent, served tea to Consort Zhuang according to custom, and then presented her with a sachet she had made herself to soothe the mind and calm the spirit.
Consort Zhuang put down the prayer beads in her hand, held the sachet to her nose and sniffed it. Her brows relaxed and she said, "The stitches are fine and the fragrance is delightful. You've put a lot of thought into this."
He then gave Qionglin a wink, and the latter immediately brought out the prepared gift, a pair of jade bracelets that were entirely emerald green and lustrous.
Chi Ying had never seen any treasures before, but she knew they were extremely valuable.
Consort Zhuang said, "These were bestowed upon me by Empress Dowager Huiren years ago. Originally, I intended for each of my two daughters-in-law to have one, but now... never mind. I will give you this pair today, hoping that you and Qilang will be of one heart and mind, and live in harmony and love."
Chi Ying obediently agreed.
Consort Zhuang's kind gesture was too much for Chi Ying to refuse, so she accepted it for the time being, intending to return the bracelet intact when she left the manor in the future.
Consort Zhuang, having sat on the couch for a long time, grew somewhat tired and was helped back to bed by her maid. She then instructed Qionglin and Fangchun, "Tomorrow, please help me double-check the list of gifts for the Princess's homecoming. Make sure nothing is missing… All matters of the household should be gradually handed over to the Princess. She's new here; first, send the stewards to recognize her. The Princess is young; help her establish her authority…"
After giving a long, detailed explanation, he could no longer stay awake, his eyelids closed, and he fell asleep, exhausted.
Looking at the haggard woman on the bed, Chi Ying felt a strange sensation rising in her heart, as if she herself was being cared for.
But this unusual feeling quickly disappeared.
No matter how much concern Consort Zhuang showed, it was only for her daughter-in-law, but unfortunately, she was nothing to her.
Fortunately, Consort Zhuang took the initiative to suggest returning to her parents' home, and she was able to take this opportunity to visit her mother, which was an unexpected joy.
The next morning, Chi Ying put on a veil and returned to the mansion with her two dowry maids, Xiangqin and Baoshan.
The two maids were fully aware of her identity, but in order not to give themselves away, they presented the princess with an obedient and submissive attitude in front of everyone in the Prince Zhao's residence.
Inside the carriage, Chi Ying glanced at the gift list for the homecoming visit, her gaze lingering on the two century-old ginseng roots, lost in thought.
When Changyuan Earl and Madam Yin learned that she was returning to her parents' home today, they pretended to come out to greet her. However, when they saw that she had only brought her own maid, they completely wiped away their feigned smiles as she turned to go back to her residence.
The Earl of Changyuan was already worried about his daughter's remarriage, and as soon as the man entered the mansion, he immediately inquired about her situation in the Prince's residence.
Chi Ying knew, of course, that the Earl of Changyuan was not worried about her safety, but rather that she might not be careful enough and could implicate the entire Earl's mansion. So she simply replied, "Prince Zhao is bedridden and I have not seen him. Consort Zhuang is also unwell, but I paid my respects to her yesterday. For the time being, no one suspects anything."
Changyuan Bo nodded slightly, his feelings complicated.
When this arranged marriage fell upon the Earl's family, Madam Yin felt it was a death knell for her daughter, but he thought otherwise.
The Earl's family has been in decline for a long time, and none of its sons have amounted to anything. If a princess were to appear now, even if she were a blind and severely injured demon prince, the wealth and prestige she would bring would be immeasurable.
But he never expected that Lady Yin would dare to risk deceiving the emperor and take such a dangerous step for the sake of her daughter.
Chi Ying married into the Prince's mansion as the legitimate daughter, but there was no wedding ceremony and she didn't even get to see Prince Zhao. In just a few days, the Changyuan Earl's mansion became the talk of the town, causing him to lose face in front of his colleagues in court.
But then he thought about it again. He realized that he had found a concubine's daughter to deceive him, and it was already a stroke of luck that she was able to get away with it. How could he expect anything more?
Madam Yin stared at the woman before her, adorned with flowers and jingling ornaments. She recalled how last year, the woman had knelt outside the mansion gate, thin and frail, wearing a tattered padded jacket, and felt a mix of emotions welling up inside her.
If King Zhao hadn't been so tyrannical and bloodthirsty, and his life hanging by a thread, Yingyue would be a queen consort now, not this lowly maid's daughter!
She gritted her teeth and coldly reminded him, "Even so, you must not be careless. If something happens in the future, no one can protect you."
Chi Ying sneered inwardly and looked at Marquis Changyuan: "I want to see my mother."
Before the Earl of Changyuan could speak, Madam Yin immediately interrupted, "We will take care of Aunt Xue ourselves. You are now a substitute bride, so you should be careful with your words and actions. What kind of talk is it to keep mentioning a concubine? If the people of Prince Zhao's mansion hear this, they will definitely find it suspicious."
Chi Ying refused to back down: "If I can't see Mother healthy, I'm afraid I can't continue playing the role of Princess Zhao. Mother, why don't you let Second Sister come back? I can then return the title of Princess Zhao to her as soon as possible..."
"You!" Madam Yin was furious. "You dare threaten me? You killed your brother back then, and I haven't even made you pay with your life yet. Now you're just covering for Yingyue's marriage for a while. Even if you marry the wrong person, you've still climbed the social ladder and are living a life of luxury with gold and silver and servants at your beck and call. Others can only dream of such a life! The Earl and I have to spend money and effort to take care of Consort Xue. It's one thing if you're not grateful, but do you want the entire Changyuan Earl's Mansion to be buried with you?!"
Chi Ying gritted her teeth and said, "Mother, ask yourself honestly, was what happened back then truly..."
"Enough!" Marquis Changyuan couldn't help but interrupt in a low voice, "Why are you saying all this? Do you want everyone to know?"
He waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "Aunt Xue is in Chunliu Garden. Go ahead."
Chi Ying immediately went to Chunliu Garden.
Aunt Xue was also secretly brought back to the mansion. The servants who had served the mansion for many years were all in Chunliu Garden. Madam Yin had warned them long ago not to reveal a single word about Aunt Xue and her daughter. Otherwise, they would be punished by having their tongues pulled out. So no one dared to say anything.
When Chi Ying entered the room, she saw Aunt Xue lying on the bed. Although her complexion was not very good, it was much better than when she was frail and sickly at the farm. She breathed a slight sigh of relief and said, "Mother."
Aunt Xue, who hadn't seen her daughter for a long time, immediately forced herself to get up: "Aying, where have you been these past few days? I heard them say that they want you to marry in place of the second young lady?"
Chi Ying quickly helped her lie down, saying, "Mother, don't worry, I'm fine."
To reassure her, Chi Ying only said the less important part: "The young master of that family is terminally ill and has only a few days left. Second Sister does not want to marry him, so she asked me to take her place."
Aunt Xue looked worried: "How can you substitute? You two may look alike, but your temperaments are completely different. What will we do if someone finds out?"
Chi Ying said, "I stayed at that mansion for a few days and no one noticed anything amiss. Mother, please rest assured. I will come back to be with you after that young man passes away."
Aunt Xue was skeptical, but Chi Ying smiled and showed her her gorgeous dress.
“Look, our daughter is now living a life of luxury, and Mother’s illness is gradually improving. Our lives are so much better than when we were on the farm, aren’t they?”
Aunt Xue recalled the days when she and her daughter were isolated and helpless on the farm. Ah Ying's appearance made her a target for many men. But returning to the capital was like entering a den of wolves. How vicious was that Madam Yin? She didn't want her own daughter to marry, yet she wanted her Ah Ying to jump into that fire pit...
Thinking of all this, Aunt Xue burst into tears, "You are going to get married properly. After this incident, how will you face yourself in the future?"
“That’s alright,” Chi Ying patted her back. “Once things are settled over there, we’ll leave the capital and go somewhere where nobody knows us. Hmm… how about I take Mother to Jiangnan?”
Aunt Xue sighed, unsure how much longer her body could hold on. Not wanting to worry her daughter, she could only say, "We'll talk about the future later. Right now, you must be careful in everything you do."
Chi Ying nodded.
She couldn't show her face in public at the mansion, so she stayed with Aunt Xue at Chunliu Garden for a while. Before leaving the mansion in the evening, she made two requests to the Earl of Changyuan.
"The two ginseng roots in the homecoming gift are excellent tonics. I want to save them for my mother to help her recover."
Ginseng is the main ingredient in the Jiji Pill that Mother took, and it is also a fine product from the Prince Zhao's treasury. It should be very beneficial to Mother's health, and she does not want to give it to others.
After examining the ginseng, the Earl of Changyuan, who had originally intended to give it to his youngest son as tuition, hesitated upon hearing this and reluctantly agreed.
Chi Ying was silent for a moment, then said, "I have a hard time moving around in the Prince's mansion, and I need to make connections with everyone."
The dowry belonged to Chi Yingyue and the Chi family. Marquis Changyuan forbade her to use it privately, hoping that after Prince Zhao died, the dignified royal family would not covet the meager dowry of the Chi family and would return it intact.
Therefore, Chi Ying did not have any silver.
The Earl of Changyuan clicked his tongue. "You're a substitute bride, so you should behave yourself. Do you really think you're the Princess Consort of Zhao?"
Chi Ying tried her best to remain calm and said, "Father wouldn't want anyone to see that the legitimate daughter of a noble family is penniless and needs to sell her jewelry to make a living, would he? If people see this, they will inevitably become suspicious..."
Changyuanbo gritted his teeth and had his steward fetch her fifty taels of silver, thinking he would see it through to the end.
Chi Ying took out ten taels of silver and gave it to the maid who was preparing medicine at the pharmacy and the old woman who was taking care of her mother. The two were overjoyed and promised to take good care of Aunt Xue.
Chi Ying doesn't expect anything else; as long as her mother isn't mistreated in private, that's enough.
On the way back to the manor, Chi Ying pondered how to use the remaining silver to start a business, earn enough money for her mother's medicine so that she would not always be at the mercy of others, and also to find out the truth about Yin's miscarriage back then... In short, there were many places where money was needed.
A thousand thoughts raced through my mind when, unexpectedly, the carriage braked suddenly, the shafts rattling as the carriage came to an abrupt stop.
The three people inside the carriage, master and servant, all suddenly lurched forward.
The sounds of clashing swords and spears could be heard from ahead.
Chi Ying gripped the window frame tightly and asked, looking outside, "What happened?"
The coachman recognized the insignia on the carriage opposite him, then looked closely at the guards with swords, and almost stammered, "Your Highness, it is...it is His Highness's carriage!"
Your Highness...
The coachman said, "Our Highness."
Chi Ying's mind went blank for a moment, and then, with a sharp sound of blades clashing outside the car, the name rang out in her mind like a thunderclap.
Chi Ying clutched the handkerchief in her hand, her heart pounding like a drum.
The fighting continued outside the carriage.
The sounds of clashing swords were incessant, each clash like a relentless drumbeat pounding against her heart.
King Zhao was seriously injured and bedridden, so why did he appear on Chengxian Street?
Does he know that he is returning to his parents' home today?
To hide or not to hide?
A note from the author:
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