Night Pearl 2
"Speaking of the Great Sheng Dynasty, we must mention the Jiang family."
Going back five generations, the Jiang family were founding fathers, and during the reign of the previous emperor, they had rendered meritorious service in supporting the new emperor. Prime Minister Jiang was a veteran of three reigns and served as Grand Tutor to two emperors.
Back then, Prime Minister Jiang sent his youngest daughter, whom he had late in life, to the palace. As the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family, she entered the palace and was made empress. She was intelligent, virtuous, and a model of virtue for the nation.
Twelve years ago, the late emperor suddenly passed away. If it weren't for the Jiang family supporting us both on and off the ground, we wouldn't have had these past ten years of peace!
In the busiest teahouse in Yidu, a storyteller, at the request of the tea drinkers, began to speak of the most powerful Jiang family in the prosperous dynasty.
The storyteller asked, "What you're saying—who in the Sheng Dynasty doesn't know about it? Aren't there any interesting things to say?"
"Oh, I just told you the background." The storyteller tapped his folding fan on the table and cut to the main point, "As everyone knows, the current emperor is not Empress Dowager Jiang's biological son."
As soon as he finished speaking, a gasp rippled through the crowd. Even though the Sheng Dynasty did not tolerate public opinion, these words were far too audacious.
But this is indeed common knowledge. When the late emperor suddenly passed away, the only son he left behind was not born to Empress Jiang, who was still the empress at the time.
The storyteller was very satisfied with the audience's reaction and continued, "Do you know why? Empress Jiang was empress for eight years, yet she had no children."
The audience remained silent, their faces showing curiosity.
"In fact, not only did the Empress have no children back then, but the entire harem only produced one imperial heir in eight years, which is the current emperor."
To return to the time of the late emperor's ascension to the throne, Prime Minister Jiang, who had been his teacher, assisted him in his ascension and then sent his young daughter to the palace. The enthronement ceremony was immediately followed by the grand ceremony of her investiture as empress. However, at that time, the emperor and empress did not have a good relationship.
The tea drinker laughed and said, "How do you know that? The late emperor and Empress Jiang were childhood sweethearts."
"Alas! It was a bond forged from growing up together, but the two quarreled once after marriage. The late emperor, in his youthful impetuosity, yearned for the legendary love story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, but Empress Jiang disliked romantic love and adhered to her duties as the mother of the nation. The late emperor was annoyed by Empress Jiang's indifference to human feelings, yet he was deeply in love with her, so they remained estranged for many years."
These words were spoken as if they were something the late emperor knew hidden under his bed, and the tea drinkers burst into laughter.
Why did the late emperor and Empress Jiang have no children? Why did the imperial harem dwindle in the years that followed? There are no fewer than a hundred versions of the story circulating in the Sheng Dynasty, each trying to weave a different version of the emperor and empress's love story.
"Then how did the current emperor come to power?" A tea drinker, always eager for a good show, began to stir things up.
"To please Empress Jiang, the late emperor would naturally not favor other women, but he couldn't resist being drunk and favored a palace maid who was serving him, which led to the current emperor."
"The royal family should have many descendants; the late emperor's actions were inappropriate," one tea drinker commented sharply.
Some tea drinkers countered, "How can you say that? The late emperor was very young back then; who could have predicted the unexpected? It's only natural that the late emperor wanted his eldest son to be the legitimate heir."
The tea drinkers seemed about to start arguing, but the storyteller quickly changed the subject: "Speaking of Empress Dowager Jiang, she was truly upright and virtuous. She raised the palace maids she had given birth to with the same care as a mother, nurturing the current emperor to this day."
"According to you, the current emperor was born to a palace maid?"
There is no official account of who the current emperor's birth mother was, but in various folk tales, she was either a palace maid, a woman from the common people, or even a woman from a brothel—none of whom had a respectable background.
Xiao Congzhi sipped his tea, watching the tea drinkers downstairs with a blank expression. It seemed like they were about to start arguing again.
His birth mother was Consort Shu of the late emperor, the eldest daughter of the Xiao family, a scholarly family in Jiangnan with a history of hundreds of years. She was a victim of the struggle between the late emperor and Empress Jiang.
What love story is there?
The late emperor seized the throne amidst bloodshed and turmoil, relying on the Jiang family. After ascending the throne, the Jiang family sent an empress to the palace, intending to restrain the late emperor.
What kind of person was the late emperor? He could no longer tolerate being restrained, let alone the Jiang family's ever-expanding influence.
During those eight years, no one was born in the harem. This was naturally due to Empress Jiang's efforts. The reason why Consort Shu was able to have a child was because Consort Shu had been serving the late emperor before he ascended the throne. When the late emperor ascended the throne, she was already about to give birth, and Empress Jiang did not have time to intervene.
Even so, Consort Shu passed away not long after giving birth, and the twists and turns of her death are not hard to guess.
Empress Dowager Jiang would never let Xiao Congzhi know any of this, and she thought she had kept it a secret perfectly.
Xiao Congzhi was raised by Lady Jiang from infancy, and from the age of five, he was taught by Prime Minister Jiang. After the late emperor passed away, Lady Jiang did her best to ensure that the eight-year-old Xiao Congzhi ascended the throne. Over the years, the mother and son were kind and filial.
In Jiang's mind, Xiao Congzhi knew nothing of the sordid things that happened back then.
Because Jiang was unaware that behind the royal family was a Shadow Army, completely independent of the imperial court and the harem, loyal only to the emperor.
After Xiao Congzhi ascended the throne at the age of eight, the Shadow Department became his power, gathering all kinds of intelligence for him.
Therefore, Xiao Congzhi knew everything over the years, including that the late emperor's sudden death was not an accident...
What Empress Dowager Jiang perceived as maternal love and filial piety was merely Xiao Congzhi's constant pretense of harmony with his mother's killer.
The storyteller downstairs finished his tale, and Xiao Congzhi got up to return to the palace.
After returning to the palace from Xiacheng last month, he had been recuperating from his injuries. Now that he was much better, he couldn't wait to go out and move around. After all, in the eyes of the Empress Dowager, he, Xiao Congzhi, was a person who longed for the martial world and had no interest in politics.
Just as he was about to leave, a voice suddenly rang out: "By the end of this year, the current emperor will have come of age, and it would be time for him to assume personal rule, wouldn't it?"
"That's hard to say. His Majesty has been frail and sickly since childhood and has no interest in court affairs."
Xiao Congzhi glanced at it casually; indeed, this was his image in the eyes of the people of Shengchao. For twelve years, he had frequently skipped court sessions, forcing the Empress Dowager to claim that the emperor was frail and sickly.
"If she doesn't take charge of the government, does that mean the court will continue to be controlled by the Jiang family?" the person who spoke first asked again.
"Isn't it good? For the past ten years or so, the weather has been favorable, and the people have lived in peace and prosperity."
"What should we do? Wouldn't that make the current emperor a mere puppet?"
An uproar ensued.
In this prosperous dynasty, anything goes. You can say that the current emperor, the supreme ruler, was born to a courtesan, but you absolutely cannot say that he is a puppet emperor.
Lady Jiang assisted the young emperor in handling state affairs, making great contributions to the country and having no selfish motives.
How could you say such a thing? Are you out of your mind?
"There are no laws in this dynasty to punish people for gossip."
"You? I remember you. You were the scholar who failed the imperial examination two years ago."
"What? What? A failed scholar?"
"The autumn exam was the year before last. I forgot my name, but I was very famous. I came from Jiangnan, but I didn't pass anything."
"Oh! I remember now, he was said to be a talented scholar from Jiangnan, erudite and with an outstanding writing style. Heh~"
The crowd started discussing it again, with some mockery and ridicule. The young scholar who had failed the exam blushed immediately, threw up his sleeves, and ran out of the house.
Xiao Congzhi watched the man's departing figure and sighed silently in his heart. He knew this man.
Xiao Sizhao, or Xiao Sizhao, is his cousin.
The Xiao family began to fade into obscurity twenty years ago, or even earlier, during the late emperor's struggle for the throne. Over the years, they have been trying to reduce their presence, initially for the sake of their daughter, and later for the sake of their grandson.
Xiao Sizhao was the son of Xiao Congzhi's biological mother's younger brother, only a few months younger than Xiao Congzhi. Two years ago, disregarding his family's objections, he changed his surname and came to Yidu alone to participate in the imperial examination.
Xiao Congzhi saw his article; he came to Yidu to persuade the emperor to take control of the government.
With such an article published, how could anyone have a chance to pass the imperial examination? After seeing it, Prime Minister Jiang even investigated further and found that it was Xiao Congzhi who secretly intervened, thus preventing the Xiao family of Jiangnan from being implicated.
After returning to the palace, Xiao Congzhi seriously considered the Xiao family's affairs. He hadn't included them in his previous plans, and now he didn't want to involve them. However, Xiao Sizhao had already entered Yidu and was acting ostentatiously…
"Your Majesty, Prince Rong is requesting an audience outside the hall," Ge Yun announced softly from the entrance of the main hall.
Xiao Congzhi immediately broke into a hearty laugh, stood up, and said, "Please invite him in."
As Ge Yun turned to leave, Xiao Congzhi's smile faded, his deep gaze lingering on Ge Yun's retreating figure, lost in thought. That day, a torrential downpour had caused the Chuan River to surge swiftly. Ge Yun had been pushed away in the water by Xie Mowen, yet he had managed to return to Yidu unscathed, which truly demonstrated his skill.
On the way back to Yidu from Xiacheng, Shen Zhuo told Xiao Congzhi that after Ge Yun returned to the palace, he told the Empress Dowager about what happened in Qilin Village. The content was nothing more than the current emperor enjoying adventures in the martial world and wanting to do chivalrous deeds. This was what Xiao Congzhi wanted the Empress Dowager to know in order to dispel her suspicions.
Prince Rong entered quickly, laughing loudly as he strode in.
Prince Rong, Lin Shuo, courtesy name Yu Huai, was only five years older than Xiao Congzhi. In his early twenties, he was full of vigor, with bright eyes and white teeth, handsome and dashing. He was always smiling and seemed very easy to get along with.
"Why are you coming to the palace so late today?" Xiao Congzhi greeted Lin Shuo and sat him on the low couch, waving his hand to dismiss those around him.
Ge Yun led the eunuchs and palace maids on duty out, and closed the door behind them.
"I've been wanting to come for the past few days, but the Ministry of Rites has been too busy, so I haven't been able to find the time." Lin Shuo lifted his robe and sat down at a table across from Xiao Congzhi.
Xiao Congzhi asked with a slight smile, "What has the Ministry of Rites been busy with these past few days?"
"Your Majesty is truly forgetful. In a few days, envoys from vassal states will be coming to pay homage. The Ministry of Rites has been incredibly busy these past few days." Lin Shuo picked up the brewed Longjing tea from the low table, lifted the lid, and took a sniff.
"Uncle knows, I've never asked about these things."
“His Majesty’s coming-of-age ceremony will be held in a few months, so we can’t just ignore it.” Lin Shuo lowered his head and took a sip of tea, glancing at Xiao Congzhi out of the corner of his eye, but said, “This tea is quite good.”
Xiao Congzhi smiled and touched the rim of the cup, his eyes lowered: "Pre-rain Longjing tea, freshly picked this year from Hangzhou."
"It has to be that there are good things here."
Xiao Congzhi picked up the teacup, ran his hand over the tea leaves with the rim, his gaze obscured by the rising steam, and his tone was subtle: "Given by the Empress Dowager."
"..." Lin Shuo put down his teacup, his expression hardening slightly as he looked at Xiao Congzhi.
Lin Shuo had to admit that he had never understood his imperial nephew. At this moment, he had no idea whether the smile through the mist concealed any scheming, or how much scheming was hidden. He also couldn't discern any hidden meaning in the seemingly carefully crafted words.
A few years earlier, some restless members of the royal family had been urging Lin Shuo to harbor rebellious thoughts. Lin Shuo was somewhat tempted and frequently came to Xiao Congzhi to test him. He didn't get any definitive conclusions, but Lin Shuo was certain that he wasn't cut out for a high position.
So for the past few years, he has been trying to subtly express his loyalty, but Xiao Congzhi has remained unchanged, and it is unclear whether his intentions lie in the martial arts world or in the imperial court.
It's impossible to tell whether he's a genuine gentleman with a charming smile, or someone who hides a knife behind his smile, plotting and scheming.
Xiao Congzhi put the lid on the cup, making a clinking sound that blocked out the hazy steam and disturbed the subdued atmosphere.
"Putting that aside, has the Imperial Uncle been trying to come see me these past few days?"
Lin Shuo collected his thoughts and replied with a smile, "Isn't that right? His Majesty asked me for people to go to Xiacheng, and I've been curious about it for a long time. What exactly happened in Xiacheng?"
"Didn't Minister Sun tell the Imperial Uncle?"
“Sun Rang just returned from Xiacheng yesterday and went straight back to the Ministry of Justice. He hasn’t come out yet.”
“Minister Sun is truly diligent and conscientious.”
“Sun Rang is indeed a man of great responsibility to the country and its people. It is my honor that this trip has satisfied Your Majesty.”
"Uncle, rest assured, I will definitely reward Minister Sun later."
"That's alright. Let's quickly tell you about the matter in Xiacheng. Why is His Majesty so concerned about it?"
"It's a long story..." Xiao Congzhi thought for a moment and then began with the case of Zhou Zhengqi, the prefect of Xiacheng, who conspired with Guo Shaotian to murder Guo Shaoyu.
After only a few words about this case, the conversation turned to the Emei Sect Leader, the Demonic Sect Leader, the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, the Snow Mountain Sect Leader, and Qian Lin, the Diancang Sect Leader behind a series of disappearances.
Lin Shuo was overwhelmed by the endless stream of names and the complex relationships between various martial arts sects, and exclaimed, "Your Majesty has certainly had a wealth of experiences outside the palace."
Xiao Congzhi chimed in, "The world of martial arts is full of interesting things, and people get along better in it than in the palace, with more chivalry and less scheming."
"That's for sure. If I weren't so bound by worldly affairs, I would also like to take a trip into the martial world."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Congzhi looked at Lin Shuo strangely, hesitated for a moment, and then said seriously, "Uncle, you have never liked martial arts since you were a child, and your martial arts skills are too poor. I'm afraid you may be in danger."
"..."
As the night deepened, Xiao Congzhi suggested that Lin Shuo stay in the palace for the night, but Lin Shuo insisted on leaving, and Xiao Congzhi did not try to stop him.
Before leaving, Lin Shuo took advantage of the quiet of the night, with flickering lamplight, and asked meaningfully, "Your Majesty, I received your letter by carrier pigeon a month ago. I thought there was some important arrangement in Xiacheng. Was it really just for the Guo Shaoyu case?"
“Uncle.” Xiao Congzhi walked closer, looked at Lin Shuo for a while with an ambiguous expression, and replied, “It’s really just for the Guo Shaoyu case. I’m so sorry to trouble you and Minister Sun.”
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