Chapter 5: Secret Plot
"Madam Dingxiang?"
The three of them chatted in the Daming Palace. The Empress searched for this name in her memory, while the Crown Prince was even less familiar with these imperial ladies. He asked Qian Deng, who mentioned her, "Who is this?"
Qian Deng explained, "She's my mother's cousin, my aunt. Twenty years ago, she married into the Hongnong Yang family and is now the head of the fourth branch of the Guozhou branch, the Lady of Dingxiang County. Because I was still young and there was no one in the mansion, she came from Guozhou to help with the funeral arrangements."
"Oh? So the cousins of Lady Qi also married into high-ranking families?" The Queen asked, recalling Qiandeng's mother's situation. "Everyone in the capital says your mother was a beautiful girl from a humble family. It was fate that saved the Crown Prince of Changhua, and that's how they got married, right?"
Qian Deng replied, "Yes, my maternal grandfather died young, and my mother lived with my uncle. She grew up with my aunt and had a very close relationship. My aunt first married a goldsmith from a neighboring town. A year after their marriage, she returned to her parents' home to help with my mother's wedding. Unexpectedly, something happened to her husband's family, and their entire family was wiped out. As a new widow, she met Yang Haixing, the Supervisor of the Guozhou Arsenal. He was over 40 at the time, and his first wife had died young, leaving him without someone to take care of the family, so he married my aunt as his second wife. Later, my uncle was promoted to the position of Supervisor of the Guozhou Pasture. During the An-Shi Rebellion, my uncle defended the Guozhou Pasture and died of exhaustion. He was given a higher title, and my aunt was also given the title of Dingxiang County Lady."
The queen lowered her eyes and sipped her tea, and she knew the origin of this marriage.
He was an insignificant illegitimate son of the Hongnong Yang family. His wife died early and he was old. He was looking for a meager job, so when he saw his cousin, the Crown Prince's Consort of Changhua Palace, he became attracted to her.
Even if she was just a widow from a small family, being a brother-in-law to the Prince of Changhua would naturally benefit him greatly, without any need for the palace to express any opinion. Otherwise, how could a ninth-rank arsenal supervisor climb to the sixth-rank pastoral supervisor?
"Very well, as the head mother, she must be familiar with all matters concerning weddings, funerals, and sacrifices. I can rest assured that she will assist with Madam Qi's affairs." The Queen consoled Qian Deng, "You are young and fragile. Do not overwork or grieve, or your family will worry about you in the afterlife. Understand?"
Qiandeng responded with tears in her eyes and stood up to thank the Queen for her concern.
The Empress ordered her to stand up and asked, "There's another thing. Back then, your grandfather and father were given state funerals, and the Minister of Rites was appointed to hold the coffin and preside over the funeral. But now that Lady Qi is being buried, who will preside over the funeral procession at the Changhua Palace?"
Qiandeng had been pondering this matter for some time, but she still couldn't find a solution. Now that the Queen had asked, she could no longer avoid it and had to answer, "Lingling has no brothers. I have already sent a letter to Kucha to invite the sons and nephews of my father's family to come. If they are too busy... I can only consider the young men in the backyard."
The Queen nodded and said, "Now, there are less than ten days until the burial. If the Kucha side fails, you must quickly consider candidates and choose the one you think is the best husband, so as to avoid the funeral being unsuccessful and the Lady of Qi being restless in the grave."
"Yes." Qiandeng lowered his head and responded, but the expression on his face was dazed and confused.
The prince looked at her expression, sighed softly, and asked, "Lingling, do you have a choice in mind?"
Qiandeng shook his head silently, feeling confused.
The Queen then said, "Think carefully over the next few days and decide on a husband as soon as possible, and report it to the court."
Qiandeng responded softly, bowed his head and left, walking down the high steps with heavy steps.
The prince accompanied her to the palace gate, watched her leave, then turned back to the queen, wanting to say something but finding it difficult to open his mouth.
The Queen sipped her tea and asked calmly, "Yan'er, do you have anything to say to your mother?"
The prince knelt before her and looked up at her. "Mother, ten days is too short a timeframe. It's normal for Lingling to be unable to make a decision. Actually... I do have a suggestion."
The Queen looked at him inquiringly and motioned him to speak.
The Crown Prince hesitated for a moment, then spoke nervously, "Back in the manor, Madam Qi showed me kindness and protection. Furthermore, the Changhua Palace is full of loyal and valiant people, and my relatives in Lingling all died for their country. How about… Madam Qi's funeral also be handled by the court or the inner palace bureau? What do you think, mother?"
The Queen glanced at him thoughtfully. "The funerals organized by the Imperial Court or the Imperial Palace Bureau are all for the royal family. During the previous rebellion, many nobles lost their lives. If Lady Qi handles it this way, and once an exception is made, there will be hundreds of relatives from the royal families. How will the Imperial Palace Bureau manage it?"
She was firm in her attitude. The prince knew that this matter would not succeed, but he refused to give up. He knelt before her, seeming to want to say something but stopping himself.
The Queen sighed, dismissed all the palace maids, gestured for him to stand up, and said, "Lingling has been a sensible child since childhood and has done a lot for you. Your Majesty has seen it all. But Yan'er, this is all we can do for her. We can't really go beyond the court regulations for a mere county lady."
The Crown Prince looked up at the Empress and pleaded, "How can Lingling choose a good husband from among all those candidates in such a short time? I beg the Queen Mother to show mercy and send the Ministry of Rites to preside over the funeral to avoid disputes over who will preside over the funeral."
The Queen stared at his drooping face and said in a slightly cold voice, "Raise your head, look at me, and say it again."
The prince bowed his head before her, not daring to look up.
Only his slightly trembling shoulders revealed his confusion and bewilderment.
"Aside from state funerals, the Ministry of Rites can only arrange the funeral because the deceased's relatives are of noble descent, untainted by shady practices. The Changhua Palace now has no sons or nephews, so the Ministry of Rites will arrange the funeral for her husband? Who is her husband? The emperor, or the crown prince?" The queen stared at him intently, her voice so cold it seemed to pierce his heart. "I never thought that Lingling would risk her life for you so many times, risking her own life, yet you secretly plotted against her!"
"My child... I'm just thinking, everyone in the capital says Lingling's fate is too strong and will damage her family relationships. But I think Lingling's fate is precious. It's not her fault that her husbands couldn't control her! And I... I come from an imperial family and am the crown prince. Why would I be afraid of such things?"
"Unfortunately, you have Xiao Fuyu, the Crown Princess designated by the late Emperor, while Lingling has no relatives who can harm her husband!" The Queen's voice was cold and hard, shattering all his fantasies of pleading. "Even though Your Majesty and I both love her and are willing to protect her, her fate is truly terrifying. You are the Crown Prince, the foundation of the country. If anything were to happen to you, what would happen to your mother, the court, and the entire world?"
The prince had no answer; he could only kneel on the ground, trying his best to control his grief.
The queen sighed, raised her hand to help him up, and patted his shoulder gently.
Her tone was gentle, but every word was firm: "We can give her all the graces we can give, but Yan'er, forever and ever, she can't have any connection with the royal family or you!"
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