Chapter Thirty-Three: The Phoenix's Cry Startles the Palace
The news of the completion of "A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" spread like an autumn breeze carrying the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms throughout the vermilion walls and corridors of Changchun Palace in less than half an hour.
The palace maids sweeping the streets paused to whisper among themselves, holding copper basins; the eunuchs on night duty leaned against the corridor pillars exchanging glances; even the usually lazy peacock in its cage under the corridor seemed to be startled by the commotion, shaking the golden and emerald patterns on its tail feathers.
When Eunuch Jin arrived, the hem of his long blue satin robe swept across the fallen leaves on the steps, leaving a few hurried afterimages. His face, which usually carried a hint of a smile, was now so gloomy it could drip water—he had originally planned to use the excuse of "inspecting the quality of the painting materials" this afternoon to pressure Su Moqing to make her change the phoenix's eyes to be more obsequious, but he hadn't expected this girl to be so efficient, completing the finishing touch overnight.
The moment he stepped into the side hall, Eunuch Jin abruptly stopped.
The scroll painting spread out on the Eight Immortals table took up most of the table surface. Pale blue cloud patterns spread out from the edge of the Xuan paper. Birds either perched on the branches of the paulownia tree or flew among the clouds. With their red beaks, golden claws, and colorful feathers, every stroke exuded freshness and vitality.
What truly made his pupils shrink was the phoenix in the center of the clouds—its dark-black wings gleamed with a dark gold luster, its tail feathers drooping like a cascading sunset, and its eyes, as Su Moqing had said before, were as clear as autumn water and as firm as cold stars. The slightly upturned corners of its eyes held an unassailable majesty, without a trace of the subservient attitude they desired.
"Well done, Miss Su, your brushwork is excellent." Eunuch Jin's Adam's apple bobbed twice, and his nails almost dug into his palms, but he dared not lash out on the spot because of the Imperial Concubine's special instruction three days ago that "the painter should not be disturbed while he is painting."
He bent down, feigning to examine the painting. When his gaze swept over the phoenix's eyes, his sarcastic tone almost overflowed. "But these phoenix eyes look too sharp. They seem to lack a bit of gentleness and good fortune. Miss, you should study the palace rules more carefully when you paint in the future." After saying that, he turned and left without waiting for Su Moqing's reply. The wind from the hem of his robe made the edges of the scroll tremble slightly.
Su Moqing stood by the table, her brows furrowing slightly as she watched Eunuch Jin's retreating figure. She naturally understood the warning in his words, but she simply reached out and gently smoothed the creases in the drawing paper—the phoenix's gaze was both the demeanor a phoenix should possess and the unwavering conviction in her heart that she refused to compromise; how could she easily change it?
Three days later, at Chen Shi (7-9 AM).
The gilded bronze incense burner in the main hall of Changchun Palace is filled with the finest Canaan incense, and the wisps of smoke curl around the dragon-patterned caisson ceiling, making the silk tapestry paintings of flowers and birds hanging on the four walls even more elegant.
The palace maids all stood with their heads bowed, the double fish pendants at their waists swaying gently with their breaths, and even their footsteps were kept extremely quiet, leaving only the soft sound of the silver pot pouring tea.
The imperial concubine, dressed in a dark blue palace gown embroidered with subtle patterns, leaned against a throne covered with a white fox fur. The red gold bracelet inlaid with pearls on her wrist made a soft tinkling sound as her fingertips tapped the armrest.
On the pearwood chairs on either side of her sat several concubines who had come to pay their respects—on the east side was Consort Qing, dressed in a begonia-red palace gown, playing with a string of amber prayer beads in her hand; on the west side was Noble Lady Rong, who had recently been promoted, bowing her head to lightly wipe the edge of her teacup with a silk handkerchief, her gaze occasionally glancing towards the palace gate.
"Summon Su Moqing to the palace." The Imperial Concubine's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority, instantly silencing the faint whispers in the palace.
Two eunuchs dressed in royal blue satin robes stepped forward and carefully carried the painting "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" into the hall.
The moment the scroll was slowly unfurled, the aura of light ink and heavy colors wafted over, and the hall fell into a deathly silence, followed by a soft gasp.
Consort Qing abruptly stopped holding her prayer beads, while Noble Lady Rong put down her teacup and leaned forward slightly—the lark on the paulownia branch seemed about to flap its wings and sing, the crane in the lotus pond was bowing its head to drink water, even the clouds had a flowing texture, and the phoenix in the clouds seemed to be about to fly out of the painting, its eyes looking through the rice paper as if it could see into people's hearts, its elegance contained wisdom that understood the world, and its majesty contained a gentle compassion for all living beings.
"This...this phoenix is painted with such spirit!" Consort Qing couldn't help but exclaim softly, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the embroidery on her sleeve. "I had only heard that Painter Su was exceptionally skilled, but seeing it today, I know that the rumors are absolutely true."
Consort Rong nodded in agreement, her gaze falling on the phoenix's wings: "Look at the layers of these feathers, from dark brown to golden red, the transition is so natural, even the court painters might not be able to achieve that."
The imperial concubine gazed at the painting, remaining silent for a long time. Her fingertips tapped lightly on the armrest, the rhythm sometimes fast and sometimes slow, and no one could discern her thoughts at that moment—she admired the phoenix's demeanor, yet was secretly astonished that Su Moqing, a folk painter, had such audacity to depict such a dignified and unyielding gaze in a painting presented to the palace.
"Su Moqing." After a long silence, the Imperial Concubine finally spoke, her voice so steady that no emotion could be discerned, "The eyes of your phoenix are painted in a way that is unique."
Su Moqing knelt on the cool blue bricks in the hall, her skirt spread out like an elegant white lotus.
She could feel all eyes in the hall focused on her, and her heart leaped into her throat. Her fingers unconsciously tightened their grip on her skirt, but her voice remained calm: "Your Majesty, I believe that the phoenix, as the king of birds and a symbol of auspiciousness, should bestow virtue upon all living beings and benefit all things. Its eyes should be discerning, distinguishing right from wrong, and its heart should embrace the world, caring for the suffering of the people. In my humble opinion, only a phoenix of such noble character can match Your Majesty's regal bearing and be worthy of the name 'All Birds Pay Homage to the Phoenix.'"
These words were spoken sincerely, both flattering the Imperial Concubine and upholding the artist's original creative intentions. Consort Qing couldn't help but cast an approving glance at Su Moqing, and Noble Lady Rong also nodded slightly, thinking that this painter was not only skilled but also eloquent.
Just then, a eunuch's clear voice announced from outside the hall: "The Emperor has arrived!"
Everyone in the hall was startled. Consort Qing and Noble Lady Rong hurriedly got up and knelt down with the palace servants. Even the Imperial Concubine rose from her throne, straightened her palace dress, and prepared to greet the Emperor.
Su Moqing lowered her head even further, the chill of the blue bricks seeping through her clothes, making her shiver slightly—although she had seen the emperor's entourage from afar on a painted boat in Yangzhou, she had never imagined that she would face the emperor directly on such an occasion.
The Emperor, dressed in a dark blue casual robe with a bright yellow belt around his waist and a white jade double-fish pendant hanging from it, strolled into the hall. A slight smile played on his lips as his gaze swept over the kneeling crowd. His voice was gentle: "Rise, all of you. I heard that my beloved concubine has acquired a wonderful painting, and having had some free time today, I've come to see it." Before the crowd could express their gratitude, his gaze was drawn to the unfolded "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" painting in the hall, and his steps involuntarily led him forward.
The emperor nodded slightly at the birds' agility and their rich colors, but what truly made him stop was the phoenix's eyes.
He bent down to examine it closely, his brows furrowing slightly at first, then slowly relaxing, a look of surprise appearing in his eyes: "These eyes... actually have some of the charm of the phoenix eyes in Emperor Taizong's 'Auspicious Omens Picture'!"
Emperor Taizong's "Auspicious Omens" was a secret treasure of the Qing Palace. The phoenix in the painting had majestic yet not fierce eyes, carrying a compassionate look that soothed all living beings. Ordinary people rarely saw it. The Emperor had seen it several times since childhood by his father's side and was deeply impressed by the charm of the phoenix's eyes. Now, seeing that the phoenix in Su Moqing's painting was somewhat similar, he was immediately curious.
"Who painted this picture?" The Emperor straightened up, his gaze sweeping across the hall before finally landing on Su Moqing, who was standing in the corner.
The Imperial Concubine hurriedly stepped forward and replied softly, "Your Majesty, this painting was created by Su Moqing, a folk painter from Yangzhou." She gestured for Su Moqing to step forward, "Moqing, why don't you quickly pay your respects to His Majesty?"
Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, Su Moqing lifted her skirt and stepped forward, curtsied, and said in a clear voice, her voice trembling slightly with nervousness: "This commoner, Su Moqing, pays her respects to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty!"
The Emperor sized her up—the woman before him was dressed in a moon-white cloth dress, with only a simple silver hairpin in her hair. She had a delicate face and clear eyes. Although she was somewhat reserved, she showed no sign of flattery.
He recalled the phoenix's eyes from earlier, and his admiration grew even stronger: "To have such skill and breadth of vision at such a young age is truly remarkable! Especially those phoenix eyes, the finishing touch, a stroke of genius!" With that, he turned to the chief eunuch beside him and announced loudly, "A reward! One hundred taels of gold, ten bolts of palace silk, and a plaque inscribed with 'Exquisite Brushwork and Painting' for Painter Su!"
The head eunuch hurriedly bowed and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, this servant will go and convey the imperial decree to prepare the reward."
Everyone in the hall was overjoyed and congratulated the Emperor. Consort Qing even said with a smile, "Your Majesty has a discerning eye for talent. Painter Su truly deserves this reward."
Consort Rong echoed her sentiments, and the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became lively.
However, at this joyous moment, Wen Shichang, who had been standing silently in the corner, suddenly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should say it."
Wen Shichang was a principal officer in the Imperial Household Department, responsible for procuring supplies for the palace. Although his official rank was not high, he often accompanied the Imperial Concubine and thus held some influence. When he spoke, his tone was hesitant, instantly chilling the lively atmosphere in the hall.
The Imperial Concubine frowned, a hint of displeasure in her eyes: "Master Wen, please speak frankly if you have something to say."
Wen Shichang feigned hesitation, but when his gaze swept over Su Moqing, a barely perceptible glint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes. He had heard the other day that Su Moqing had gained the favor of the Imperial Concubine and learned of her close ties with the Shen family of Yangzhou, and a scheme had begun to take shape in his mind. The Shen family had previously refused his request for salt permits, and he already harbored resentment towards them. Now, he would use Su Moqing's matter to drag the Shen family into the mess as well.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this painting is indeed exquisite, but I have recently heard some rumors about this painter, Su." Wen Shichang lowered his head, his voice very low, yet loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear clearly. "I have heard that the painter Su has close ties with the Shen family, salt merchants in Yangzhou, and that the young master of the Shen family, Shen Rulan... seems to be suspected of deceiving the Emperor!"
The moment the words "suspected of deceiving the emperor" were uttered, the entire hall was shocked!
Consort Qing nearly dropped the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, and Consort Rong subconsciously took a half step back—the crime of deceiving the emperor was a capital offense, which would implicate her family as well!
Su Moqing abruptly looked up at Wen Shichang, only to see a faint, smug smile playing on his lips. Her heart sank to the bottom—her worst fear had come true. Wen Shichang not only intended to destroy her, but also to use this opportunity to completely bring down the Shen family!
The Emperor's smile vanished instantly, his gaze sharpening like a knife as he swept over Wen Shichang: "Shen Rulan? I recall that the Shen family contributed significantly to the Imperial Household Department's procurement of Western clocks, glassware, and other items, and they also paid their annual salt taxes on time. How could he be suspected of deceiving the Emperor?"
Wen Shichang took a deep breath, as if he had made a great decision, and said loudly, "Your Majesty, according to my secret investigation, the young master of the Shen family, Shen Rulan, is not a man, but a woman! She has disguised herself as a man since childhood and has been in charge of the Shen family's salt affairs for many years, deceiving not only the people of Yangzhou, but also the court! Over the years, she has been dealing with officials from various prefectures and cities in Jiangnan as a man, discussing salt administration and negotiating business, which is a great crime of disrespect! As for the painter Su, she lived in the Shen residence for a long time when she was in Yangzhou and was inseparable from Shen Rulan. I am certain that she must have known all along, but deliberately concealed it, which makes her a suspect in the conspiracy!"
Boom! These words resounded like thunder in the main hall of Changchun Palace.
Seeing Wen Shichang's attack, Eunuch Jin added fuel to the fire: "Your Majesty, Your Highness, I have also heard that when Su Moqing was in Yangzhou, she ate and lived with Shen Rulan, and even the paints she used for painting were specially supplied by the Shen family. It is hard to believe that she was unaware of this!"
He deliberately emphasized the phrase "eating and living together," implying that their relationship was unusual and attempting to confirm Su Moqing's guilt as an accomplice.
Su Moqing knelt on the cold blue bricks, feeling as if the blood in her body was about to freeze.
A chill crept up from her feet, making her teeth chatter.
She might not care about her own safety, she could simply die, but what about Shen Rulan? What about the dozens of people in the Shen family? If Wen Shichang's accusations are proven true, the entire Shen family will be executed!
She clenched her fingers tightly in her sleeve, her nails digging deep into her palms. The sharp pain brought a slight clarity to her muddled mind. She couldn't panic, absolutely couldn't panic! Rulan was still waiting for her to return to Yangzhou; the Shen family still needed her to prove her innocence!
Just as the Emperor's face grew increasingly grim, his brows furrowing into a deep frown, and he was about to order a thorough investigation, Su Moqing suddenly raised his head, his gaze clear and resolute, without the slightest hesitation, his voice resounding clearly throughout the hall:
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, please be wise! This humble woman does not know where Steward Wen heard such absurd words! Young Master Shen is the well-known head of the Shen family in Yangzhou. Since she took over the Shen family, she has not only managed the salt affairs in an orderly manner, but also increased the annual salt tax paid to the court by 30% compared to previous years. She has also taken the initiative to fund the repair of the canal wharves from Yangzhou to Jiangning, making it easier for the government to transport grain. She acts with integrity and uprightness, sharing the burden of the court and working for the benefit of the people. How can she allow others to slander her like this?!"
Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was firm and resolute, carrying an undeniable conviction.
Consort Qing couldn't help but look up at her, her eyes filled with admiration—under such pressure, an ordinary woman would have been terrified out of her wits, but Su Moqing was still able to defend the Shen family with clear reasoning.
Wen Shichang was surprised that Su Moqing dared to retort, and his face darkened: "Don't try to argue! Everything I've said is based on evidence..."
"Master Wen!" Su Moqing interrupted him sharply before he could finish, her gaze piercing as she stared at him. "You keep saying you have evidence, but what is it? Is it that someone saw with their own eyes that Young Master Shen is a woman, or is there any written evidence to prove that he deceived the court? If it's just hearsay, you want to convict a merchant who has made great contributions to the court, and also implicate a mere painter like me? Master Wen, is this the code of conduct that court officials should follow?"
She paused, then changed the subject, her tone filled with grief and resentment: "Or is it... that someone is holding a grudge because the Shen family refused to satisfy their insatiable demands, and is deliberately fabricating rumors to frame the Shen family and this woman, in order to settle their own personal scores?!"
This last sentence, like a sharp dagger, pierced Wen Shichang's vitals—he had indeed previously asked Shen Rulan for ten salt permits, intending to resell them to private salt dealers for profit, but Shen Rulan refused on the grounds that "salt permits are controlled by the imperial court and cannot be exchanged privately."
Although only he and Shen Rulan knew about this matter, Su Moqing's words aroused suspicion in the hearts of the Emperor and the Imperial Concubine.
"You...you're talking nonsense!" Wen Shichang's face turned pale with anger. He pointed at Su Moqing, his voice trembling. "Your Majesty, this woman is a smooth talker who is twisting the truth! I...I will immediately summon witnesses to prove that Shen Rulan is indeed a woman!"
That's enough.
A dignified voice rang out, interrupting Wen Shichang's explanation.
The Emperor sat on his throne, his face calm, his gaze slowly sweeping between Su Moqing and Wen Shichang, his deep eyes revealing no emotion.
He first glanced at the painting "A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix." The phoenix's eyes remained clear and firm, as if silently telling a story.
Then she looked at Su Moqing kneeling on the ground—although she was slender, her back was straight, and there was no fear in her eyes, only openness and determination.
The hall was eerily quiet; even the sound of incense smoke drifting from the incense burner could be clearly heard.
Everyone held their breath, heads bowed, awaiting the emperor's decision.
Consort Qing secretly clenched the hem of her dress, Consort Rong's palms were covered in cold sweat, and the Imperial Concubine also leaned forward slightly, her eyes fixed on the Emperor, wanting to know how he would handle the matter.
Su Moqing knelt on the ground, her heart pounding wildly, blood seeping from the wound on her palm, yet she felt no pain whatsoever.
She knew that the Emperor's next words would not only determine her life or death, but also the lives of dozens of members of the Shen family. She could only pray silently in her heart…
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