Chapter 7 A Loss of 71 Years, A Regret for All Time
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Qingfu arrived at Fuyou Mountain at dawn, and by the time he received Wang Yuying's letter and returned to the palace, it was already past noon. At that time, Xu Heng was reviewing memorials in the Imperial Study. Qingfu dared not barge in, and knocked on the door softly, saying, "Your Majesty."
Xu Heng didn't think of Wang Yuying during the morning court session, nor did he think of her during lunch. He seemed to have recovered, but his heart skipped a beat the moment he heard Qingfu's voice.
Thinking that Wang Yuying might be outside the door, or already settled somewhere in the palace, waiting for him to summon her, Xu Heng was as nervous as a young man, his heart pounding and his breathing becoming rapid.
Xu Heng put down his pen and tried to calm himself down, saying, "Come in."
He stared intently at the doorway, but as soon as it opened, he quickly lowered his head, then raised it again after a moment, gradually composed himself—only Qingfu was there, not Wang Yuying.
"Where is she?" Xu Heng asked, beginning to ask—which palace had she been placed in?
Qingfu shook his head, lifted his robe, and knelt down—the Empress had failed to persuade her to return to the palace.
Xu Heng felt a pang of disappointment.
Qingfu presented Wang Yuying's reply with both hands, his heart trembling as he spoke: "The Immortal Master said that everything he wanted to say is in this letter. Your Majesty will understand after reading it."
Xu Heng slightly lifted his eyelids, and Qingfu stood up and jogged over to carefully place the letter on the desk.
Xu Heng didn't glance at Qingfu again. He raised his hand, opened the letter, read it word by word, and remained silent in thought.
Just as Wang Yuying said, he understood everything after reading it.
However, it's difficult to do.
She would only return to the palace if she was reinstated as empress, but he had already established a new empress, Lady Wei.
Empress Wei has done nothing wrong, and he cannot depose her arbitrarily.
Xu Heng glanced down at Wang Yuying's reply. She must be very sad, so she struggled to write, and not a single word was written neatly.
He understood her because when he wrote the divorce papers that year, he felt the same way she did.
The letter was thin, but Xu Heng felt as if he were holding a thousand pounds in his hand. He put the letter down very slowly, his mind heavy with recollection. After being slapped by Wang Yuying, he had not actually considered deposing the empress. However, since the incident had happened in front of everyone, news of it had spread, and memorials from officials were flying into the imperial study like snowflakes, more than before, advising against the selection of concubines. If they were stacked up, they could block the door of the imperial study.
Every day at court, civil and military officials took turns recounting the Queen's great disrespect, kneeling and begging Xu Heng to draft an edict to depose her. He had only been on the throne for four years at that time, and his position was unstable. Unable to withstand the pressure, he had no choice but to reluctantly depose her.
He clearly remembered that Wang Yuying left Beijing on July 29th. The weather was gloomy and windy. He stood on Xuande Tower watching her go, regretting that she had chosen such a day. Was she cold? Would she catch a cold from the wind all the way?
As Wang Yuying walked further and further away, her carriage turned into a black dot and disappeared from sight. Only then did Xu Heng turn around and leave the railing.
At that time, he had no plans to establish a new queen. He firmly believed that Wang Yuying had only left temporarily, and that once she had cultivated herself in the Taoist temple and everything had improved, he would bring her back.
For the next year, Xu Heng kept spies planted in Fuyou Mountain, and most of Wang Yuying's actions were reported back to the palace and presented to Xu Heng. She had a falling out with the nuns in the temple, but he suppressed all the discord, not allowing anyone to bully her. He remembered that just after the first year, he learned from a report that Wang Yuying had contracted typhoid fever and had been running a high fever for three days. He was extremely anxious. Disregarding the restrictions, he dispatched the head of the Imperial Medical Academy to treat Wang Yuying, ordering his spies to report her condition three times a day.
Wang Yuying fell seriously ill and took more than a month to recover. During this time, Xu Heng also put the reinstatement of the empress on the agenda. He had already drafted the edict, but it was met with strong opposition from court officials led by Prime Minister Li. Zheng Yangzhi, the Minister of Personnel, even risked his life to remonstrate by striking his head against a pillar. Unable to withstand the pressure, Xu Heng had no choice but to establish a new empress.
Only after wearing that half of the white jade pendant for so long did I take it off, my heart heavy with unspoken emotions.
Xu Heng did not promote Jiang Mei, knowing that Wang Yuying would be even angrier if he chose her.
The Imperial Household Department selected three of the most virtuous and gentle noble ladies for him. He chose Lady Wei because of her reputation for virtue, and also because when she looked up at the emperor, he noticed that her eyes were lively and she must be very cheerful.
After establishing her, he realized he had made a mistake. Lady Wei was only eighteen years old, but she was stiff and mature beyond her years. Xu Heng sometimes observed that Lady Wei's demeanor was like that of an old woman, full of the lifelessness of a setting sun.
Those eyes were also stiff and lifeless.
Xu Heng had no interest and had not yet consummated his marriage with Wei.
Someone knocked lightly on the door again, and Qingfu tiptoed to open it. Xu Heng caught a glimpse of Qingfu whispering with a young eunuch. His hearing was quite good, and he had already heard what they were saying, but he still waited for Qingfu to come and report: "Your Majesty, Minister Zheng requests an audience."
Xu Heng nodded slightly, and Qingfu then announced the news to the outside. A moment later, a tall, youthful man in a purple robe with crane patterns entered. He was none other than Zheng Yangzhi, who had been promoted to vice prime minister at the beginning of this year.
The Zheng family was a distinguished family, with three generations serving in the central government. Zheng Yangzhi's father had also served as prime minister ten years ago. Like father, like son, they were known in the court as "Prime Minister Zheng the Elder" and "Prime Minister Zheng the Younger."
Zheng Yangzhi was a year younger than Xu Heng. Like the emperor, he looked younger than his actual age and was also exceptionally handsome. However, his appearance was different from the emperor's. The emperor had a broad jaw, deep-set brow bones, and a straight nose, exuding masculinity. Zheng Yangzhi, on the other hand, had phoenix eyes, a teardrop nose, and slender, delicate eyebrows, making him androgynous.
He bowed to Xu Heng, straightened up, and reported that the flood peak had passed through Jiangjing smoothly without any breaches or breaches in the dikes.
"Great! Last year's embankment repairs weren't in vain!" Xu Heng smiled, confirming that the Ministry of Works' funds hadn't been misallocated, but he still reminded him, "However, the flood season isn't completely over yet, so we can't let our guard down."
Zheng Yangzhi bowed and said, "Your humble servant will respectfully follow your instructions."
Xu Heng nodded and offered him a seat. Zheng Yangzhi sat down in a grand chair near the cabinet, with floor lamps and a square table on either side of him.
Xu Heng ordered Qingfu to serve tea.
The fragrance of the small dragon tea cake wafted out even before the lid was lifted. Zheng Yangzhi took a small sip, and a flower stand with a mud base behind the green gauze cabinet revealed a newly picked lotus flower and two lotus leaves, one long and one short, both reflected behind Zheng Yangzhi.
Xu Heng opened his mouth: "Xia Bochen from the Ministry of Works has returned home. I intend to promote one of Ma Yingxing and Zhang Ye to fill the vacancy. Who do you think is more suitable?"
Zheng Yangzhi immediately put down his teacup: "Lord Ma has made great contributions in repairing the Jing embankment, but in my opinion, he is somewhat rash and biased and still needs to be tempered. Choosing Lord Zhang might be a more prudent option for now. But this is just my humble opinion, and it is up to Your Majesty to decide."
Xu Heng smiled and said, "I think the same thing as you."
Zheng Yangzhi nodded, and after a short while, said slowly, "Actually, I have another matter to report. Now that the world is at peace, the tax system, which includes the measurement of grains, silk, corvée labor, and so on, is too complicated and prone to injustice. It would be better to simplify it and keep only two items, which are not necessary and are not required."
Xu Heng had long wanted to reform the tax system, but because it was a major and potentially damaging matter, he hesitated and never expressed his opinion.
Upon learning that Zheng Yangzhi shared the same idea, Xu Heng was secretly pleased, but his hesitation returned. He frowned and said, "This matter still needs to be considered carefully."
He picked up his teacup from the desk and took two small sips. Seeing this, Zheng Yangzhi also picked up his teacup and sipped. Xu Heng put down his teacup, looked at Zheng Yangzhi, and a smile gradually appeared on his face.
“You’re twenty-six this year,” he suddenly said, remembering that Zheng Yangzhi’s birthday was also in the first month of the lunar calendar, making him a full year younger than himself.
Zheng Yangzhi raised his head: "Why did Your Majesty suddenly ask this?"
Xu Heng smiled faintly, not knowing why, but he suddenly thought that Zheng Yangzhi was only one year younger than him, yet he was still unmarried and didn't even have a concubine.
Now that he had spoken, there was no need to hide anything. Xu Heng spoke frankly: "In the past, when I wanted to matchmake, you said you weren't interested in any of the girls, that you didn't have a crush on any of them. These past two years, I've been busy with state affairs and forgot to ask again. Have you met any beautiful young ladies who have stirred the heart of our pure and abstinent young master Zheng?"
Before Zheng Yangzhi could speak, Xu Heng laughed again, "You're not getting any younger, settle down soon so that Elder Zheng can have a grandson soon."
Zheng Yangzhi suppressed his smile: "I have failed Your Majesty's expectations; I have no one in mind to choose from."
"Then I will help you select a noble lady, and arrange the marriage—" Xu Heng wanted to say that not so many men and women have feelings for each other before marriage. Aren't they all like each other after marriage, where they get to know each other and develop feelings over time? But then he suddenly thought of Wei Shi and Wang Yuying. Comparing the two, his smile froze, and he couldn't say anything more.
"Your Majesty!" Zheng Yangzhi stood up, lifted his robe, knelt down, cupped his hands and bowed his head. "I have decided to dedicate my life to the country and can no longer dedicate it to my family! Moreover, I have already discussed with my father that after my death, my cousin's son will continue the bloodline."
Zheng Yangzhi pressed his forehead to the ground and kowtowed heavily.
Xu Heng slowly lowered his head, not responding to Zheng Yangzhi, but staring blankly at the writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone on the desk.
His face gradually darkened.
He belatedly realized why he had suddenly become concerned about Zheng Yangzhi's marriage—because he thought, Zheng Yangzhi had no children, yet he was doing well. How could he and Wang Yuying have fallen so far because of his childlessness?
That year, Consort Shu died in the womb. He and Wang Yuying had a quarrel. What did this argument between husband and wife have to do with his mother, the Empress Dowager?
Her words were truly harsh; she had found his weak spot and stabbed him hard.
That night, Xu Heng was furious and just found a side hall to spend the night in. He didn't actually go to Qingyin Palace, nor did he see any other women.
This was the first time Wang Yuying wasn't by his side. He tossed and turned all night, and before he could fall asleep, dawn broke.
He sat up, gritted his teeth, and decided to go back and apologize and make peace, only to find that Wang Yuying had moved out of Funing Palace in just one night!
She took all her personal belongings with her, but left his things behind, and didn't take any of the things they shared.
She made the distinction perfectly clear, leaving Xu Heng furious. He wondered if she had been planning this all along, and he hated her cold-heartedness.
He was already furious when he heard that Consort Shu had miscarried, so he angrily went to find Wang Yuying to confront her.
He was a bit harsh with his words at the time, and like her, he went too far.
Xu Heng lowered his head even further. He had initially agreed to bring Mei Niang into the palace because he had lost an argument with Wang Yuying and wanted to spite her; he couldn't afford to lose.
Both of them were stubborn and refused to admit it, while there were always people around them whispering, "In which dynasty or era was there only one woman in the harem? Your Majesty, you are the Son of Heaven!"
And so things got worse and worse...
And... Mei Niang lied to him; she didn't actually drink the infertility-preventing medicine.
In fact, before Wang Yuying slapped him that day, he had already given an order from the side hall not to keep the fetus in the concubine's womb.
Filial piety is filial piety, and being moved is being moved, but the Jiang family cannot have children.
Later, after Wang Yuying left the palace, he did not get close to the imperial concubine again because of her deception.
He has no children to this day.
"Your Majesty." After a long silence from Xu Heng, Zheng Yangzhi raised his head and called out softly.
Xu Heng was still lost in thought.
Zheng Yang parted his thin lips and raised his voice slightly: "Your Majesty?"
Xu Heng finally snapped out of his daze and looked down. He and Zheng Yangzhi had grown up together, and despite their difference in status, they were as close as brothers and considered each other confidants. He should have confided his bitterness and sorrow to his best friend, but Zheng Yangzhi had always disliked Wang Yuying, so he decided to avoid the topic and didn't want to hear Zheng Yangzhi criticizing her.
"Get up," Xu Heng sighed. "I know your intentions, and I will not force you to do anything in the future."
Zheng Yangzhi slowly got up.
Xu Heng had no interest whatsoever, and didn't even have the strength to speak, but he still forced himself to stay until Zheng Yangzhi finished his tea. Only then did he manage a weak smile and say, "If there's nothing else, you may leave now."
"Your subject obeys the decree." Zheng Yangzhi bowed and backed away from the imperial study.
Xu Heng appeared to be looking at the doorway, but his eyes were unfocused, his mind wandering. After a moment, he lowered his head, his heart like an inkstone, being slowly ground and milled, sadness like thick, dark ink, engulfing him.
Xu Heng sighed heavily. If only he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have done it in the first place.
Comparing himself to Zheng Yangzhi, he regretted it; he should have kept only Wang Yuying as his woman in this life.
A note from the author:
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