Chapter 2 Pine Tree Embracing Snow (Part Two) "A thousand mountains covered in snow at dusk, a lone figure, to whom does it turn..."
Yan Chao held the cup in his hand, his breathing soft and shallow: "Yesterday, Grand Secretary Cao's distant nephew died in the imperial prison. There wasn't even anyone to collect his body. A few eunuchs dragged him to a mass grave, where he was later buried by heavy snow."
Few people are truly innocent; only snow is truly innocent.
"I have also heard about this matter; it was Lan Huaien's doing. Cao Hong had previously insulted one of Lan Huaien's eunuchs, and he has held a grudge ever since. However, since he is also involved in the Bai family case, the evidence of his embezzlement is conclusive, so Cao Hong is not entirely innocent."
Yan Chao glanced at him: "Knowing that Lan Huaien holds a grudge, you still dare to scold him."
Shen Wei smiled bitterly: "I thought I was doomed, so I had to vent my anger first. I had already prepared a memorial to impeach Lan Huaien. If I really die one day, I can submit the memorial as a 'deathbed remonstrance' and bring down this treacherous villain Lan Huaien. It wouldn't be a loss."
"It's not that easy. I'm afraid I'll just end up losing you for nothing."
Yan Chao glanced at him vaguely, a hint of melancholy in his eyes.
Bai Cunzhang's case had seemingly come to an end, but it was suddenly reopened by someone with ulterior motives. If it were handed over to the Eastern Depot for investigation, the case would be a chaotic mess, and she wouldn't be able to distinguish the truth from the falsehood.
The emperor deeply resented Bai Cunzhang, not only because of his greed and recklessness, but also because he had once belonged to the rebel prince's faction and was now colluding with other factions. The emperor was probably afraid of repeating the same mistakes, so he was particularly vigilant and severely punished all the officials involved in the matter.
A few months ago, the Bai family was convicted and their property confiscated, with hundreds, even thousands, imprisoned. Many later appealed for justice, and when she petitioned for a thorough investigation, she received no response. By the time she finally had an audience with the Emperor, it seemed as if overnight, irrefutable evidence had been presented. The Emperor refused to listen to her explanations, personally handling the matter and hastily concluding it, after which a period of relative peace ensued.
If we were to investigate each case thoroughly, even more people would be implicated.
Things have come to this.
Yan Chao suddenly came to his senses and said to Shen Wei, "Tan Ze, go back. If you have time, go to the Meng family for me and see Mr. Meng. These past few days, Mr. Meng's leg ailment has relapsed, and he has difficulty even walking."
“Yes. Lord Meng is also my mentor,” Shen Wei then stood up and bowed. “I take my leave.”
He had just reached the door when he suddenly stopped, then turned back and added, "Your Highness is always sensitive to the cold, please take good care of yourself."
Yan Chao smiled and nodded: "I know."
She didn't say much, and the deep meaning behind her thoughtfulness was understood only by the two of them.
The wind and snow outside seemed to have intensified again. Yan Chao had intended to open the window to look at the snow scene, but upon hearing the sound of the wind, he lowered his hand. Suddenly, he remembered a piece of calligraphy he had casually written in his study that morning, which happened to be the line, "Across ten thousand miles of layered clouds, a thousand mountains covered in snow at dusk, a lone figure, to whom does it turn?"
.
As evening approached, Yan Chao went to the Qianqing Palace. She chose that time to avoid bumping into others; if it were court officials meeting with the emperor, it should have ended by now. She happened to have some things she needed to report to the emperor.
Unexpectedly, they encountered Prince Xin, Yan Li, on the way, who appeared to have just come out of the Qianqing Palace. Prince Xin was the son of Consort Li, and the fourth among the princes. Consort Li was currently the most favored in the harem, and Prince Xin was also the most favored by the emperor among the princes, having been granted the title of prince at a young age, yet he remained in the capital.
When Prince Xin saw her, he was taken aback for a moment, then bowed and greeted her: "Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Yan Chao nodded and replied, "Fourth Brother."
Prince Xin gently reminded him, "Princess Yongjia has only been gone a short while. When I went in, Father Emperor seemed quite sad, probably because of Empress Wenshu. Crown Prince, you must be careful in everything you do."
Empress Wenshu, née Cao, was the emperor's first empress and gave birth to a son, Crown Prince Zhaohuai, and a daughter, Princess Yongjia. Empress Cao was the younger sister of Grand Secretary Cao Ying. She came from a distinguished family but grew up in the northern frontier. It was said that she was different from ordinary young ladies, skilled in archery and horsemanship, and had a forthright and generous personality.
When Emperor Xuanning was still a prince, he asked Emperor Jiahe for a wife from the Cao family. For more than ten years after their marriage, the couple lived in harmony and mutual respect. Their deep affection for each other is still talked about among the people today. Unfortunately, Empress Cao did not live to see the emperor become empress, as she passed away before Emperor Xuanning ascended the throne.
Later, Emperor Xuanning ascended the throne and appointed Empress Cui through a selection process. Although she was beautiful and virtuous, she could not compare to the deep affection he felt for his late father. At the end of the twelfth year of Xuanning's reign, Crown Prince Zhaohuai, the legitimate son of Empress Yuan, passed away. The emperor was deeply grieved and still mourns his passing to this day.
Princess Yongjia resembled her mother, so it was understandable that the emperor was saddened when he was ill. However, Yan Li's last words were quite meaningful.
Yan Chao replied calmly, "Thank you for the reminder, Fourth Brother."
On the way, I secretly considered whether I should postpone reporting certain matters. But I quickly thought that since I was already here today, delaying any longer would only lead to more complications.
When Yan Chao arrived at the Qianqing Palace, he was surprised to find Lan Huai'en absent. The eunuch in charge of the Imperial Secretariat, Ji Weixian, was on duty. Yan Chao inquired and learned that the princes and princesses who had come to visit had already returned home, and that Consort Ning was currently inside. The Emperor hadn't eaten well at dinner and was now taking a short nap, his eyes closed.
Yan Chao remained silent, turning back to stand under the corridor. She watched as the sky gradually darkened, the last ray of light disappearing behind the city walls. A chill crept into her from beneath the golden palace, yet she refused to go inside and wait.
About fifteen minutes later, Ji Weixian said that the emperor had woken up and summoned her in. Just as she entered the hall, Consort Ning came out, with a maid behind her carrying embroidery. Consort Ning looked somewhat tired, but her eyes still lit up slightly when she saw Yan Chao.
Consort Ning gently wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, her eyes still filled with tears, and said softly, "Your Majesty did not eat well at dinner just now. If the Imperial Kitchen serves porridge or soup later, the Crown Prince may take the opportunity to persuade Your Majesty to have some."
Yan Chao responded with a "Yes," and seeing Consort Ning turn to leave, he added in a low voice, "Your Highness, please take care of yourself." Consort Ning nodded and left, supported by a palace maid.
Over the years, the emperor had developed a strange quirk: he enjoyed watching Consort Ning embroider, saying that the hazy, beautiful figure under the lamplight was particularly endearing. Usually, the emperor would fall asleep first, but he wouldn't let Consort Ning leave. Some people had privately joked that this scene was somewhat reminiscent of the atmosphere depicted in a once-circulated painting titled "Weary Embroiderer Under the Lamp."
Yan Chao had always been puzzled, but had no intention of delving into it. Consort Ning had never been favored, and even after raising her for several years, she had not gained status through her son. Yan Chao herself had a fairly close relationship with Consort Ning, partly due to the kindness shown to her over the years, and partly due to the Empress Dowager's dying wish.
When Yan Chao entered the warm pavilion, the emperor had already put on his robe and sat up. Yan Chao stopped and bowed, saying, "Your subject respectfully wishes Your Majesty good health."
The emperor rose to sit down, but having been in bed for so long, his legs felt heavy and unsteady. Yan Chao got up and went to help him.
The emperor was in better spirits than a few days ago, but his complexion remained pale and haggard. He was no longer young, and the illness had aged him suddenly. Despite the Imperial Medical Academy's meticulous treatment, the illness continued to recur, though he had heard that his condition had improved significantly in the past few days.
That's probably why he had the energy to investigate Bai Cunzhang's old case.
The emperor glanced at her and said indifferently, "The Crown Prince has been working hard these days, and he has lost quite a bit of weight."
"Your Majesty is unwell, and as your subject, I should share your burdens. These past few days, I have been handling state affairs and have felt the weight of my responsibilities. I have not dared to slack off for a moment, and I have come to understand the hardships Your Majesty endures on a daily basis. Therefore, I dare not complain of my own suffering." Yan Chao lowered his head and composed himself.
The emperor noticed her cautiousness, lowered his eyelids and pretended not to hear, then said after a moment of silence, "You handled the snow disaster in Jiangnan very well."
A few days ago, a memorial was sent from the south, reporting that the snow in Suzhou and Changzhou had reached several feet deep, resulting in countless deaths of people and livestock. Furthermore, the Grand Canal in the Suzhou area had frozen over due to the snow, causing widespread panic. The report arrived in time, and Yan Chao dared not delay. He immediately began discussions with his court officials. The minister in charge of disaster relief made a decision on the spot, and after reporting to the emperor, the imperial envoy departed that very day. Those accompanying him were to provide supplementary instructions regarding disaster relief arrangements, the handling of the dead and wounded, and issues related to the dredging of the Grand Canal.
"You officials are all highly experienced, and I dare not take credit for it."
"It's good that you can remain calm in the face of danger," the emperor said, gesturing for her to sit down. He then continued, "You will still be responsible for the subsequent investigation and suspension of taxes and grain levies for the disaster-stricken areas. If you encounter any difficulties, you can discuss them with the cabinet and report them to me."
"yes."
The emperor suddenly asked, "What is the Crown Prince's opinion on the remaining cases of the Bai family?"
"Bai Cunzhang was convicted of embezzlement and corruption, and has been executed. If there are any remaining associates, they should be investigated and punished. We must not tolerate corruption."
The emperor then asked, "Who is Shen Wei?"
Yan Chao's heart sank. Without the emperor saying anything more, she knew that Lan Huaien must have spoken ill of her in front of the emperor.
“Your Majesty, Shen Wei is the Junior Grand Master of the Imperial Household Department. Although his father, Shen Yue, and Bai Cunzhang were once classmates, Shen Wei has no personal relationship with them. Moreover, Shen Wei did not commit any misconduct during the spring capital inspection. The Eastern Depot has not investigated thoroughly. If they were to accuse him of a fabricated crime based solely on this, it would be a great injustice.”
She rose, took a few steps back, and knelt down: "I beg Father Emperor to investigate."
"If such a trivial matter requires my thorough investigation, what use would I have for you, the Crown Prince who oversees the country? Since the matter hasn't been investigated yet, don't try to plead his case. I've already reprimanded the Eastern Depot; I'm just here to hear your explanation. As someone from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, it's understandable that you want to protect him, but I must tell you, never trust people too easily. You know that Shen Yue and Bai Cunzhang are from the same school, and there are many examples of collusion among fellow students. If Shen Wei were to do such a despicable thing, he naturally wouldn't have told you."
Before Yan Chao could speak, the emperor continued, "Since Lan Huai'en mentioned this person, I cannot ignore it. I have already ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate secretly, and we'll see what happens next. You were in charge of this case back then, and it should have been closed long ago. Now it's just a few more fish that slipped through the net. I will leave the minor cleanup to the Embroidered Uniform Guard. You just need to take care of your other matters."
This was no longer just about her avoiding suspicion; this seemingly insignificant ending revealed the emperor's attitude: the emperor wanted to investigate personally, and she had lost her last chance to control the situation.
In order not to arouse the emperor's suspicion, she had no choice but to obey the decree and not say another word.
After a moment of silence, Yan Chao reported on the important affairs of the court over the past two days and inquired about confidential matters. The emperor listened to her report one by one, but by the end he was getting tired and raised his hand to signal her to stop.
Yan Chao then went straight to the last matter: "Father, Mr. Meng has petitioned to retire for the fourth time." This was not an urgent matter, but Meng Huai was determined to leave and had repeatedly petitioned, so she really did not want her husband to be so anxious.
The emperor remained noncommittal, instead asking her first, "What does the Crown Prince think?"
"Your subject believes that since you are of advanced age, your request should be granted, but it is now deep winter, and you are ill..."
"He is too thoughtful while he is ill. Let's wait until he recovers before making any decisions."
"yes."
She already had her own ideas, and now only the emperor's decree could put her husband's mind at ease.
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