Chapter 33 The Willow Tree in the Breeze (Part 1) "The Crown Prince's wet nurse, Madam Ying, suddenly had an emergency..."
As March arrived, the lingering chill of late winter gradually faded, and a few scattered drizzles fell, bringing a touch of warmth to the cool air and painting Kyoto with vibrant colors. Even the chirping of birds under the eaves of the palaces grew increasingly noisy.
Prince Xin rarely took the initiative to visit the Eastern Palace, but he only stayed for less than half an hour before leaving. When he arrived, his steps were still steady, but when he left, he sounded quite hurried.
As I walked through the corridor, I glanced up and saw an exquisite bamboo birdcage hanging under the eaves. Inside was a lively thrush, which, perhaps not yet tamed, struggled and thrashed about in the cage.
His mood was already somber, and he had managed to remain composed while in the hall. But now, seeing this scene, he felt an even greater tightness in his chest.
He asked a eunuch as if it were a casual question: "I remember that the Crown Prince did not like to keep pets. Why is he suddenly keeping birds now?"
The young eunuch was fiddling with and examining the bamboo posts outside the cage, as if afraid of damaging them to prevent the birds from escaping. Hearing the question, he quickly turned around, bowed, and reported, "Your Highness, the Bird House sent over several birds this morning. His Highness the Crown Prince said this one looked quite healthy, so he kept it."
Prince Xin frowned. This one was indeed in good spirits, but if this continued, it would likely die soon. Just as he was about to say something more, footsteps approached from behind.
Yan Chao's gaze lingered on the birdcage, as if admiring the thrush's desperate struggle, and he said in a light tone, "If Fourth Brother likes this thrush, I will give it to you. I've heard that Fourth Brother is good at raising birds, which is better than staying in the Eastern Palace."
“No need. If Sixth Brother likes it, how can I, as his elder brother, bear to take away what he cherishes?” He turned slightly to the side, taking a step away from the birdcage, stared at it for a while, and then said, “Your Highness might as well go to the Bird House and ask someone to come and soothe it.”
Yan Chao nodded: "Okay, thank you for the reminder, Fourth Brother."
The two remained as amicable as ever in public, displaying the true spirit of brotherly affection. It was as if the barbed words spoken in the hall had never been uttered, and as if there had been no open or covert struggle between them.
Prince Xin took his leave, but after taking a few steps, he turned back again, his gaze deep and unfathomable: "Does the Crown Prince really think that with my mother confined to her quarters, the silkworm-raising ceremony can be smoothly handled by Consort Ning?"
In ancient times, the emperor personally tilled the fields and the empress personally tended silkworms to encourage the people. At the beginning of the Xuan Ning reign, the ancestral system was still followed. After the death of Empress Wenhui, the position of empress was vacant, and the silkworm-raising ceremony was once organized by the Imperial Noble Consort Liu, who was in charge of the six palaces at the time. After that, it was put on hold.
However, when the Second Prince Yan Ping was later investigated for treason, his birth mother, Lady Liu, was also considered to have overstepped her bounds and harbored treacherous intentions, ultimately leading to the downfall of her entire clan.
Two years ago, some court officials also advised that the silkworm-raising ceremony should not be neglected, but because of the previous disaster caused by the Liu family, no one dared to speak up easily, and the issue eventually turned into advising the establishment of an empress.
The position of Empress has been vacant for nearly seven or eight years. The court officials are hoping for it, the Li family is hoping for it, and the concubines in the harem are all eager to make a move. However, the Emperor has always refused to appoint another Empress and has not given any leeway.
At the beginning of this year, it was suddenly proposed by the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Rites. The memorial stated that Consort Ning, as the foster mother of the Crown Prince, was the most suitable candidate for the silkworm sacrifice ceremony.
After Consort Li, a favored concubine in the harem, was placed under house arrest, and this incident occurred, Consort Ning, who had always kept a low profile, was suddenly thrust into the limelight. In no time, news that Consort Ning was to succeed as Empress spread like wildfire. The uproar that immediately erupted in the court surged forth like fallen petals in spring.
The Crown Prince's side had already expressed its stance, submitting a memorial stating that although Consort Ning was his adoptive mother, she was not the Empress and should not overstep her bounds. Subsequently, it was mostly the Chamberlain He Shu who stepped forward to strongly oppose it.
However, for several days in a row, the emperor's attitude remained unclear.
Yan Chao looked at Prince Xin and smiled gently, following his words: "It is certainly inappropriate for Consort Ning to do this. This is the Empress's prerogative, and any concubine who takes it upon herself to do so would be overstepping her bounds."
Prince Xin felt a sudden stiffness in his body, realizing that he had spoken rashly. He remained calm and said, "I was confused. Now that the harem is harmonious, such an overstepping act will certainly not happen."
He still had a few words to say, but now he felt it was inappropriate to say them aloud. He took his leave again, and as he turned around, another voice came from behind him.
"In any case, matters of the inner palace are not something we juniors can speak of lightly. If Fourth Brother truly cares about Consort Jieyu, he should be more cautious."
Yan Chao's voice was gentle, slightly hoarse with a hint of a sigh. How could Prince Xin not understand the deeper meaning behind it? Sometimes he suddenly found it laughable; what else could Yan Chao use to suppress him besides his status?
He turned around politely and bowed according to the etiquette between a ruler and his subject, saying, "I will obey His Highness the Crown Prince's instructions." Then he turned and left.
After the person left, Yan Chao turned his gaze back, chuckled, and ordered the eunuch to release the bird.
The young eunuch froze, momentarily speechless: "Your Highness..."
Yan Chao didn't speak, but reached out and opened the cage. The thrush couldn't wait to flap its wings and fly away, its sharp claws almost cutting her hand. She only felt a flash of wind before her eyes, and her hand was already empty.
She took a few steps and stood in front of the porch, facing a clump of greenery against the wall. A rain had washed all the flowers and trees clean and vibrant, and the budding life brought her a greater sense of peace.
Xiao Jiu walked in from outside the hall, her eyes lowered. She stopped in front of her and bowed, hesitating for a moment before saying, "Your Highness, this servant sent Yingniang out of the capital, but she still couldn't bear to leave..."
He took a letter from his sleeve, stepped forward, and presented it to the person in question.
The envelope was sealed twice, and each one was empty. As Yan Chao opened it, he said softly, "Since she has already confessed, she should know that this is the best outcome for her."
She was forgiving enough, but she was filled with disappointment and didn't want to repeat the same mistake.
Xiao Jiu lowered her head and whispered, "Yes. It's just that she can't let go of Your Highness."
Yan Chao pursed his lips and remained silent.
That night, as she listened to Ying's confession, her whole body became numb and she could no longer feel anything.
Before and after the New Year, all the news that inexplicably leaked from the Eastern Palace was brought out by Ying Shi, such as when Yan Chao left the house on a certain day, or how she intentionally or unintentionally led Xiao Jiu to meet Meng Tingke.
Ying was a person carefully selected by Empress Wenhui. She was meticulous and had some literacy, so her actions would go unnoticed. She herself admitted to having secret dealings with the Li family, using her elderly mother as leverage.
She didn't complain, she just cried sadly.
That evening, Yan Chao stopped Ying Shi, who was attempting suicide, and had someone bring her a bowl of soup. Not long after, news spread that Ying Shi, the Crown Prince's wet nurse, had suddenly fallen ill and died.
Ying was conscious when she was lifted onto the carriage. Yan Chao picked a white magnolia blossom and tucked it into her hair. Looking at her familiar face, he felt a pang of reluctance. From childhood to adulthood, she had always been the only one by her side.
After leaving the palace, Yan Chao had secretly made all the arrangements, sending people to escort them away, and also sending someone to say a final word to Ying: "Ying Niang is my wet nurse. I will only tolerate you this once. You need not come to the capital again in this life."
The Ying family's ancestral home is in Huai'an, where there are also branches of the Cui family who would offer some assistance.
Yan Chao lowered his eyelashes slightly, slowly bringing his thoughts back to the present, and turned to enter the hall. Xiao Jiu followed behind, wanting to ask something more, but after considering it for a long time, she held back.
She took out Ying's letter and glanced at it. Besides repentance and confession, there was another matter: Ying recommended a palace maid named Shen to replace her.
When asked, Liang Lu replied, "The palace maid Shen Caichan lost both her parents at a young age and was later sold into the palace by her aunt. However, because she had a severe stutter and could not even form sentences, Lady Ying took pity on her and asked for a favor to bring her back to the East Palace to serve. Over the years, she has been sweeping and cleaning in the back hall, and Lady Ying has never mentioned her. It is understandable that Your Highness has never heard of her."
Yan Chao then said, "Check her character. If there's nothing wrong with her, then transfer her over."
.
After the court session ended, the officials gradually withdrew. Several cabinet ministers, as usual, left late, not emerging until about half an hour after their audience. Chen Xiu was deep in thought, falling behind the others once again.
As he approached the Huiji Gate, he heard someone call his name. Chen Xiu turned around and saw He Shu standing by the roadside, looking as if he had been waiting for quite some time.
"Why is Master He waiting here?" Chen Xiu asked, tucking his official tablet into his robes and rubbing his hands.
He Shu bowed: "It would be impolite for this humble official to wait in front of the palace. I can only hope to intercept Lord Chen here." Chen Xiu raised an eyebrow: "Wei Zhong and I weren't always this distant."
He Shu gave a bitter smile and remained silent. Chen Xiu asked, "This is not a place for prolonged discussion. Tell me what it is." He Shu hesitated and said, "...The silkworm-raising ceremony... What is His Majesty's attitude? It concerns the Eastern Palace. These days, apart from His Highness the Crown Prince, who seems unconcerned, everyone else is secretly gossiping about it..."
Chen Xiu pulled up his sleeves and sighed, "Wei Zhong has probably been arguing too much lately. Even the Crown Prince isn't worried, so why are you?" He Shu looked embarrassed and asked curiously, "What do you mean, sir..."
Chen Xiu counted on his fingers for him: "It was proposed on February 17th, and you argued with him until the 27th. Now it's March. Putting aside His Majesty's attitude, this 'Sericulture Ceremony' has been postponed for nearly ten years. The Ministry of Rites won't move without an imperial decree, and it's unclear whether the various rituals need improvement. The Altar for the First Silkworm Festival hasn't prepared anything yet. If there are any problems, it won't be a matter of just a day or two to discuss them. According to the rules, the 'Sericulture Ceremony' should be held in the Inner Garden in April. How is that enough time? His Majesty is clearly just postponing it."
He Shu paused, then said, "But what about the matter of establishing an empress..."
"The appointment of an empress has been delayed for so many years, what do you expect this time? Besides, the appointment of an empress has even less impact on the crown prince right now. You worry about nothing all day long, no wonder you're aging faster than me..."
"..." He Shu remained silent, his brows furrowing, revealing a distinct crease between his brows. After a long pause, he stammered, "I..."
"Shouldn't you be worried about what you should be worried about... Are we going back to the Imperial Household Department?"
He Shu shook his head: "No. There are some trivial matters at the Ministry of Personnel that I need to go and take a look at." Chen Xiu nodded and parted ways with him. He secretly sighed, thankful that Cao Ying had not made things difficult for him, otherwise, given his personality, he would have been depressed all day long.
Just as he turned around, he happened to see Cao Ying talking with an unfamiliar eunuch. As he passed by, he overheard the eunuch saying something like, "Your Majesty, please accept my condolences."
He habitually pondered for a moment, but found nothing, so he didn't pay much attention.
From afar, it seemed as if a bird was perched on the black glazed tile eaves of the Wenyuan Pavilion, preening its wings before flying away in the blink of an eye. It didn't resemble a swallow or a magpie; was it a thrush? It was too far away to see clearly.
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