Xu Silin was stunned, and his drunken mind immediately cleared up.
He rushed forward to check, frantically stepping on a stool to try and put the person down quickly, but although his mind was clear, his body wouldn't obey him. The maid who had helped him over hurriedly steadied his limp body, and after getting the young master onto the wedding bed, she painstakingly pulled Su Miaoyi down from the hanging rope.
Xu Silin sat weakly on the bed, watching as the maids reached out to check the bride's pulse and trembled, saying, "Dead, dead."
The maids quickly went to inform Xu Yan. Upon arriving at the bridal chamber, Xu Yan immediately ordered the door closed. Seeing the corpse on the floor, he had no time to spare; he simply stepped over her and went to the bedside to comfort his son, saying, "Life is unpredictable. Since she chose death, she has no one to blame but herself. My Xu family married her to give her the best life, but she refused. Neither you nor I could do anything about it. Don't blame yourself."
Xu Silin sat blankly on the bed, completely numb. His father's words reached his ears, but they stirred no emotion within him. Such a vibrant life, gone just like that, all because of him. He knew this marriage was destined to be unhappy; he had prepared himself for misfortune, but he hadn't anticipated such a terrible outcome.
Fate plays tricks on people.
Seeing that his son was distraught, Xu Yan calmly instructed the two maids: "No one is to reveal the news of the bride's death. If anyone dares to say it, I will take the lives of your entire family."
The two maids knelt down tremblingly and kowtowed in agreement.
Xu Yan then turned to his son and said, "As long as the Duke of Ying's mansion doesn't know this news, they will quickly send troops to aid the Prince of Shu. After a few days, once the war is over, we'll say she died of an accident and send her back... A few days later, when she returns to her parents' home, I'll find an excuse to postpone it. Her body will remain in the mansion; we won't bury her yet. Son, didn't you not want to marry this Su Miaoyi? You should be happy that she's dead."
Xu Silin remained silent, overwhelmed by a surge of alcohol, shock, and guilt, his mind in turmoil. The two maids, meanwhile, couldn't help but grumble inwardly; in Beijing at the end of summer, when it was still quite warm, leaving the body unburied meant it would likely decompose in no time…
Such a beautiful young woman, it's truly pitiful...
...
At this very moment, Mingxiang was tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep. The candle dripped tears all over the lamp, and her tears soaked her pillow.
They had only been intimate a few days ago and became husband and wife. It would be heartbreaking for anyone to see him marry another woman as his legal wife in just a few days.
She shouldn't have belonged to this household. By a twist of fate, she first suffered the loss of her virginity, and then met someone who treated her well and whom she loved. Her enemy and her beloved turned out to be father and son; why did fate have to play such cruel tricks on her?
Tonight, on his wedding night, he will have to do with another woman what he did with her a few days ago. She is not a petty person, but she feels a sour and sticky feeling in her heart, and a sharp pain, as if she is being stabbed with a knife.
Starting tonight, he probably won't come to her anymore. His wife is young, beautiful, from a powerful family, and still a virgin. How could she, a withered flower in the wild, possibly catch his eye again?
Mingxiang took out the letter of divorce from under her pillow, and the more she read it, the more tears streamed down her face.
On July 11, the 30,000 troops under the command of the Duke of Ying were already heading towards the Zhen Ding and Taiyuan area.
Xu Yan suppressed the news of Su Miaoyi's death and, as a relative by marriage to the Duke of Yingguo, he even invited the Duke of Yingguo to drink and have tea every few days, acting very warmly.
The Duke of England drank Xu Yan's wine and sipped Xu Yan's tea, unaware that his daughter's corpse was already rotting in Xu Yan's mansion.
...
At this time, the birthday of Emperor Zhu Rui of the Ming Dynasty was also approaching.
Since it wasn't a major birthday celebration and Zhu Rui was ill, the palace didn't plan on a grand affair. As instructed by Consort Zheng, they simply held a small banquet in the Qianqing Palace, inviting a few imperial concubines, along with the emperor's beloved princes and princesses, to gather together and enjoy family time.
Zhu Rui's condition seems to have eased in the past few days. He is more conscious and can barely sit up. It is hard to tell whether this is because he is about to die or because he is having a final burst of energy before he dies.
After the eunuch Huang Heng of the Directorate of Ceremonial informed him of the Consort's wishes, he nodded and said weakly, "Very well... It's been quite a while since I've seen the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince. I'm happy that they've come to keep me company... You should go and help the Consort with the preparations. She's been by my side day and night these past few days; she's worked so hard..."
"This old servant obeys."
On the 18th day of the seventh month, it was the birthday of Emperor Zhu Ruishou of the Ming Dynasty.
The Qianqing Palace was decorated in a warm and festive manner. The birthday banquet was held in a side hall, with only a large round table covered with red silk for the emperor's relatives to sit on.
There were no officials offering birthday greetings, no singing and dancing, just a simple family banquet. Such gatherings were quite rare in the Qianqing Palace.
Zhu Rui, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, lay on the couch, his complexion not particularly good, though a smile played on his lips. Today was his birthday, and with the White Lotus Sect turning its attention to attacking the Prince of Shu, the fighting in the capital had eased, making Zhu Rui unusually cheerful.
A small table was placed in front of his bed for serving imperial meals, while the others sat around a round table.
Crown Prince Zhu Yuluo arrived quickly. He was dressed in a vermilion robe today, and at fifteen years old, he was already quite tall and slender, looking very refined and handsome. When he bowed to Zhu Rui, Zhu Rui was very pleased and praised him for growing taller.
These past few days, Zhu Yuluo had been confined to Cining Palace by Consort Zheng and hadn't seen Zhu Rui for a long time. Today, he finally saw his father, and seeing his complexion, which was vastly different from what it had been more than half a year ago, he looked as if he was about to pass away. He couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness in his heart. Although Zhu Rui had previously suspected him because of the strange omens in the sky, no matter what, he was still the closest person to him in this world.
The deep affection between father and son was evident to Consort Zheng, who smiled slightly but remained silent.
Once inside the banquet, she exchanged a few words with the concubines and princes, pleasing Zhu Rui. Despite feeling unwell, Zhu Rui managed a smile and praised her for her thoughtful and considerate preparations.
The dishes at the banquet were all strictly controlled by the Directorate of Ceremonial. Zhu Rui was in poor health and should not eat greasy food, so the dishes were mostly light and bland. With the war still raging outside, at Zhu Rui's request, the usual extravagant and lavish practices were also avoided, with only about twenty of his favorite dishes remaining. The ingredients used in these meals had also been checked by the imperial physicians, and none of them would harm Zhu Rui's health.
After the banquet began, Zhu Rui's relatives first wished the emperor a long life, and then the palace maids brought small dishes to distribute the dishes on the table. A portion of each dish was taken and placed in a small dish in front of each person present, so that they could later serve it to Zhu Rui.
There was a tradition in the inner palace of the Ming Dynasty that on the emperor's birthday, his wives, concubines and children had to personally test the poison for him and then kneel down to serve him a meal, in order to show their respect and filial piety.
In front of everyone, the palace maids arranged the dishes one by one. In front of Crown Prince Zhu Yuluo was a plate of steamed sweet cheese. Zhu Yuluo looked at the small plate of food in front of him, calmly raised his head, glanced at the Consort Zheng, and met her ambiguous gaze.
He picked up the teacup in front of him, took a sip of tea, and moistened his slightly dry lips.
"Alright, stop staring at each other. Now that everyone's here, let's eat." Zhu Rui smiled and looked at the six-year-old Fifth Prince. "Don't let my little Fifth Prince go hungry."
Seeing Zhu Rui's affection for her son, Consort Zheng was pleased, but said reproachfully, "Your Majesty, he eats a lot in the morning, he won't go hungry. In the end, Your Majesty should be served first. What do you say, Your Highness?"
After saying that, he smiled at Zhu Yuluo, his eyes revealing a hint of eagerness that others couldn't see.
"Mother is right." Zhu Yuluo nodded calmly, scooped some of the steamed sweet cheese in front of her with a spoon, and tasted it first.
Zhu Rui loved sweets, and this steamed sugar-coated cheese was one of his favorite treats. However, he had been ill lately and hadn't had it for a long time. Today, at Consort Zheng's instruction, less sugar and more milk were added. The imperial physician had warned that it wasn't good for a patient to eat too much sweetness.
After Zhu Yulu tasted it, she felt that the sweetness was indeed less than what she had eaten before, but the aroma of milk was exceptionally strong. Just a small sip filled her mouth with the fragrance of milk.
"Is it good?" Zhu Rui asked, looking at his son.
Zhu Yulu nodded to him, "Delicious, Father."
Consort Zheng chuckled, "Look how anxious His Majesty is! His Highness the Crown Prince is about to serve you your meal."
Zhu Rui did not respond to her. Zhu Yuluo picked up the small bowl containing the steamed sugar cheese, came to his father's bedside, lifted the hem of his robe, knelt down on both knees, and raised the small bowl above his head, "Your subject congratulates Your Majesty on your birthday, and wishes Your Majesty good health and longevity."
Zhu Rui leaned against the couch and smiled at his son, "Good son."
Huang Heng, a eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial who was serving nearby, took the bowl of cheese and, with his back to the others at the banquet, served it to Zhu Rui. From an angle unseen by the others, Zhu Rui and Huang Heng exchanged a glance, and Huang Heng, understanding without saying a word, put the cheese that was being fed to Zhu Rui into his own mouth.
Consort Zheng only saw Huang Heng's back and couldn't help but feel anxious. "His Majesty loves this milk-based cheese the most. Since he hasn't had it in a long time, let him eat more today. Eunuch Huang, don't rush, feed His Majesty slowly, and it's best if he finishes it all."
"This old servant obeys, Your Highness."
A short while later, the small bowl containing the cheese was emptied, and Zhu Yulu stood up and returned to her seat.
Consort Zheng looked at the empty bowl in his hand, and a smile couldn't help but appear on her lips. "Your Highness's filial piety is evident as bright as the sun and moon. Look, His Majesty has finished all the food you personally served. It's clear how much His Majesty loves you, the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty. Your Majesty, am I right?"
Zhu Rui did not reply. A moment later, his head, which had been propped up on his hand, suddenly fell onto the couch, and he lost consciousness.
Huang Heng rushed forward to check, calling out to the Emperor several times but received no response.
One of the concubines present hurriedly asked, "What's wrong with Your Majesty?"
Most of the others' expressions changed slightly, showing worry. Only Consort Zheng calmly got up and went to Zhu Rui to check his breath.
"His Majesty has passed away," she said calmly, without any trace of sadness on her face.
"What!" The remaining people at the table were all shocked and began to whisper among themselves.
"What did you say?" Zhu Yulu looked at her and asked.
She probed again with her fingertip, now even more certain. "I said, His Majesty has passed away. Your Highness, His Majesty was perfectly fine just now. How could he have suddenly died after consuming the food you served? Your Highness is likely to bear the blame."
Huang Heng said, "Your Highness, the Emperor might still be saved. Please summon the imperial physician to take a look."
"He's already dead, what's the point of summoning the imperial physician? If you don't believe me, you can all come up and check if he's still breathing." As she spoke, her expression immediately changed, and she said coldly, "Now that the Emperor has passed away, the palace must obey me! Guards! Crown Prince Zhu Yuluo has murdered the Emperor; he is a traitor to the country. Arrest him immediately! Also, notify the Ministry of Rites to prepare for the Emperor's funeral..."
"You wretch!" Zhu Rui's voice rang out again, "I have treated you well, yet you dare to poison me. Do you want me dead?"
Consort Zheng turned around in surprise, her almond-shaped eyes widening instantly like copper bells.
Just as she was caught off guard, Zhu Rui suddenly pulled his imperial sword from the quilt behind him. As the sword was drawn, a flash of cold light appeared, and Zhu Yuluo, with quick reflexes, immediately covered the eyes of the Fifth Prince beside her.
The next moment, the hard, cold blade pierced into Consort Zheng's chest!
The onlookers were all stunned and dumbfounded, seeing only blood splattering everywhere, staining Zhu Rui's dragon bed and the exquisite dishes at the banquet. Even the powerful Consort Zheng, who held sway over the harem, hadn't had a chance to speak before collapsing to the ground.
The imperial sword, carved with dragon patterns, was still stuck in her chest.
Zhu Rui wiped his blood-stained hands with the blanket and slumped back onto the couch, feeling utterly exhausted. "Drag him out."
The concubines, princes, and princesses at the banquet were all terrified and fell silent. He glanced at them and said weakly, "Don't be afraid. This matter has nothing to do with you. I will not hold a grudge against you. The Fifth Prince will be raised under Consort Li's care. I am tired. You may all leave."
After saying that, he closed his eyes, as if the sword strike had exhausted all his strength.
Huang Heng and Zhu Yulu exchanged a glance, and both of them let out a soft sigh.
If Huang Heng hadn't received a letter from Song Yue a few days ago, the situation today would be completely different.
Song Yue feigned getting caught in the rain, enticing Consort Zheng to fetch a doctor for him. The letter he entrusted to the doctor was addressed to Huang Heng. Huang Heng was the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and also Zhu Rui's closest confidant. He was a kind and honest man, and had always sympathized with Zhu Yuluo's plight. Song Yue had some prior dealings with him and knew that he owned a residence in the city, so the letter was delivered to that residence.
Consort Zheng's scheme to kill two birds with one stone, using a borrowed knife to kill someone else, was ruthless and vicious. She planned to eliminate the Emperor and then frame the Crown Prince, thus seizing power in both the court and the harem, and making the Fifth Prince's ascension to the throne a legitimate path. Unfortunately for her, although Song Yue was unaware of the specifics of her plot, he discerned her intentions through the fragrance emanating from her.
That fragrance came from a poisonous flower from the Western Regions called Datura. Song Yue was the Minister of Rites, and his job was to deal with foreign countries. He knew everything about their specialties and rare treasures. One year, an envoy from the Western Regions, wanting to curry favor with him, gave him a small bottle of poison powder—an aphrodisiac made from a small amount of Datura pollen. He remembered its strange, subtle fragrance vividly.
Taking datura pollen can cause dilated pupils, rapid heartbeat, delirium, and hallucinations, and can also increase libido. Zhu Rui had always been fond of sexual activity and had no self-control. The imperial physicians advised against it, but he did not listen. Consort Zheng took the opportunity to mix this drug into his food, making him feel lustful every day, which damaged his body and mind.
This datura flower is actually a poison. Long-term consumption will cause toxins to accumulate in the body, placing an increasing burden on the internal organs, especially the heart. When the burden reaches a certain level, further ingestion of unsuitable substances can cause cardiac arrest and death.
The milk used to make steamed ghee is an unsuitable ingredient. And to make matters worse, Consort Zheng had extremely concentrated milk added to today's dish. If Zhu Rui drinks it, he will surely meet his doom.
After receiving Song Yue's letter, Huang Heng immediately summoned Li Shizhen to the palace for detailed questioning. He learned that those poisoned by datura could not consume certain things, and cow's milk was one of them. He told Zhu Rui all this, and Zhu Rui, though skeptical, decided to try it anyway. This led to the three of them working together, causing Consort Zheng to expose her true nature.
"Guards," Huang Heng said to the eunuchs outside the hall, "drag the Imperial Concubine away."
Zhu Yulu looked at Consort Zheng's corpse and slowly released her hand from her brother's body, her palm already filled with tears.
Thus, this beautiful woman met her tragic end due to her own ambition.
Only ten days had passed since the grand wedding at the Xu family mansion, but the festive atmosphere within the mansion quickly vanished.
That day, Mingxiang was watering the flowers in the courtyard when she vaguely heard two maids hiding behind a pillar talking about something.
"How come I haven't seen Madam for so many days?"
"That's right. I heard that after the wedding night, the madam didn't serve tea to the master and the old madam."
"Have you ever seen what the lady looks like?"
"I've never seen her before. She was wearing a red veil when she entered the manor that day, and I haven't seen her since. Isn't that strange?"
"It's said that the day for her to return to her parents' home has passed, but she hasn't. It's as if she disappeared after marrying into the family. I asked Xiang'er and Cui'er, who served her on the wedding day, but neither of them would say anything. They just turned around and left as soon as I asked. It's very strange."
Mingxiang's mind was no longer on the flowers; hearing the two of them talking like this, she couldn't quite understand it either.
The newlywed lady neither serves tea to the elders nor comes out to meet people, nor does she return home in a grand manner. Is there something she is ashamed of? But she has heard that Su Miaoyi is very beautiful.
Xu Silin hadn't come to see her these past few days. But she'd heard he was always getting drunk by himself. Why would he drink on such a joyous occasion? Drinking too much is bad for his health, so why didn't Su Miaoyi keep him company or try to persuade him otherwise?
That's so strange.
Furthermore, Xu Silin had left her a letter of divorce before the wedding, saying that the Xu family was facing a great calamity. However, the wedding was hastily arranged in the face of this calamity. Could it be that Su Miaoyi, who married into the family, is related to the predicament that the Xu family is about to face?
Thinking of this, she put down the shower, went back to her room, and wrote a letter to Qingchen. After finishing the letter, she put it in stationery, sealed it, and had a servant deliver it to her parents under the guise of a family letter.
Xu Yan confined her to this small courtyard, preventing her from moving around. Fearing she would become bored, Xu Silin instructed the servants to allow her to correspond with her parents. Before this, she had written a few letters home.
However, this letter was not written to his parents, but was simply for them to pass on to Qingchen.
...
The war was fierce. After several days of intense fighting with the White Lotus Sect, the Shu King's army had been forced to retreat to the Taiyuan area. Only knowing that the Duke of Ying's 30,000 troops were on their way could the Shu King bolster his morale and fight back with all his might. In another half month, he would catch Meng Gexing off guard, and the tide of the war would surely turn.
That day, Qingchen was reading in the mansion when she suddenly received a letter from a servant. She glanced at it and saw that the letter was written with the names of Mingxiang's parents, which puzzled her.
After opening the letter and reading it carefully, she learned what had happened at the Xu residence.
The Xu family's marriage alliance with the Duke of Ying's mansion was clearly intended to leverage the Duke's power against the White Lotus Sect—a fact everyone knew. She had even discussed this with Lu Shenyun; the situation had become complicated and difficult to handle. Unexpectedly, Ming Xiang sent a letter saying that since Su Miaoyi married into the Xu family, no one had seen her, and she hadn't even returned home. Furthermore, Su Miaoyi was deeply in love with Gu Shaoheng and insisted on marrying no one else…
Thinking of this, Qingchen frowned.
What if that girl...?
Perhaps she should go and see the Duke of England; they probably don't know about her daughter's situation at the Xu residence.
Thinking this, Qingchen changed into her clothes for going out. As she pushed open the door to leave, she was surprised to see someone walking towards her.
Her eyes immediately welled up with tears.
He finally returned safe and sound.
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