Chapter 6: Speaking Privately

Five years ago, the Emperor fell gravely ill. Empress Jiang closed the palace gates to the officials, while Prime Minister Zhu Xingjian and General Li Chengyuan rallied behind the Prince of Changyang, leading over a hundred Imperial Guards to storm the Imperial City. They killed Empress Jiang on the spot. The Emperor then named the Prince of Changyang as Crown Prince, and the following day, the Emperor passed away, with the Prince of Changyang ascending the throne.

Thus ended the chaos of Empress Jiang’s regency. The new Emperor granted a general amnesty, but simultaneously purged the remnants of Empress Jiang’s faction. This task was entrusted to Zhang Ze, a captain of the Imperial Guards who had helped the Prince of Changyang storm the palace. Naturally, Zhang Ze was no longer a mere captain; he was appointed as a Censor by the new Emperor and placed in charge of the newly established Supervisory Court, tasked specifically with investigating the injustices caused by Empress Jiang and setting things right.

Although the original intent of the Supervisory Court was to redress grievances, in Zhang Ze’s hands, it became a tool to hunt down Empress Jiang’s partisans.

Over the past few years, countless nobles and aristocrats have been exposed by Zhang Ze for their ties to Empress Jiang, leading to their homes being raided and their families executed.

Empress Jiang had many sycophants who followed her, but there were also many who submitted out of helplessness, and even more who suffered inexplicable, unjust disasters.

But in Zhang Ze’s hands, all were considered unforgivable.

Earlier this year, Zhang Ze discovered a painting by Empress Jiang hidden in the home of Bai Xun, the Jiedushi of Shuofang. Bai Xun claimed it was a gift received during an audience with the Empress, which he could not refuse. Furthermore, Bai Xun’s daughter was a Baolin to the Prince of Changyang, now titled Virtuous Consort (Xianfei), making Bai Xun a relative of the imperial family.

Yet, in Zhang Ze’s hands, he was still convicted of mourning the "evil empress," harboring dissatisfaction with the current Emperor, and harboring ulterior motives. He was sentenced for the great crime of treason; Bai Xun and his son were beheaded, his female relatives were sent to the Jiaofangsi (Music Bureau), and his clansmen were exiled as convict slaves.

The Virtuous Consort in the palace escaped the death penalty but could not escape punishment, and was cast into the cold palace.

Zhang Ze had become addicted to killing. After dealing with Bai Xun, he refused to return to the capital, requesting imperial permission to inspect the provinces. Wherever he went, people were terrified; the Prefect of Qingzhou, upon hearing that Zhang Ze wanted to question him, was so frightened that he committed suicide by poison.

Does this mean Zhang Ze has already arrived where Zhou Jingyun is?

"He—is he targeting my son?" the Marchioness of Dongyang asked, her face turning deathly pale.

The Marquis of Dongyang hurriedly said, "No, no." Thinking of the letter he had just received from his son mentioning this matter, he stood up in alarm, then comforted his wife, "Madam, do not be afraid. We have always been cautious and dutiful. I retired from my post early, and Jingyun is serving as an official away from home. We have no connection to Empress Jiang’s faction; we are clean. He cannot find a pretext."

Although he said this, for those skilled in framing others, there are plenty of ways to find a pretext.

The Marchioness of Dongyang gripped her hands until they turned white. "Then what does he want?"

The Marquis sighed. "He made a joke."

The joke was: "The Heir of Dongyang has yet to remarry; could it be that he is waiting for His Majesty to act as a matchmaker and bestow a marriage? Indeed, only that would be worthy of the Heir of Dongyang, after all, his previous marriage was bestowed by the late Emperor."

Hearing the Marquis’s retelling, the standing Marchioness of Dongyang’s voice trembled. "What does he mean? Is he saying Jingyun’s marriage was related to Empress Jiang? That is nonsense. The Earl of Ding'an is a distant relative of the late Emperor; that matter was decided by the late Emperor himself."

Perhaps because the late Emperor was mentioned, the Marquis’s expression grew somewhat melancholy. "Back then, the late Emperor still liked to see us old officials, until that Jiang woman bewitched and clouded the late Emperor’s mind..."

The Marchioness of Dongyang sighed. "My Lord, this is not the time to reminisce." She scoffed inwardly: A monarch who fought his way through his brothers to seize the throne and sat firmly on the empire for decades—if he hadn't lost his own mind first, how could he have been seduced by beauty? It was clearly the late Emperor who was foolish and absurd first, which gave the Jiang woman the opportunity to climb onto the heads of the Great Zhou officials and act with impunity.

Mentioning the past was dangerous, so the Marquis put away his wandering thoughts. Seeing his wife’s fearful expression, he hurriedly said, "Do not fear this. Jingyun’s previous marriage was bestowed by the late Emperor. Now, because the current Emperor seized the throne by force, he does not want any stains on the history books and is determined to be filial. Although he would dig three feet into the ground to avenge the chaos caused by the Jiang clan, he will not touch anything involving the late Emperor."

His expression turned solemn as he said this.

"What Jingyun is worried about is that the Emperor might truly bestow a marriage upon him, and Zhang Ze and his ilk might stir up trouble. You know how complicated and chaotic the court is now, filled with all sorts of monsters and demons. If they were to incite His Majesty to give him an unsuitable match, agreeing would make our lives miserable, and refusing would offend the Emperor."

The Marchioness of Dongyang understood, murmuring, "So that is why Jingyun immediately married while away?" She began to shed tears. "And he coaxed me with talk of her being elegant, refined, and extraordinary, and that it was love at first sight."

The Marquis couldn't help but laugh. "Our son was just afraid of making you sad."

"How can I not be sad?" the Marchioness of Dongyang choked out. "My son, in such a state, was forced to marry someone like this. It is truly a bitter fate."

"I actually think it’s quite good," the Marquis said. "Selecting someone from a family of equal status in the capital would bring many troubles. Besides, this Zhuang woman comes from a scholarly family; it’s just that her family background is a bit thin."

"That’s more than just thin; she’s an orphan," the Marchioness of Dongyang thought to herself.

"Jingyun said he only thinks of the Lu family for the rest of his life," the Marquis said.

Their son had indeed said that, with the air of someone who would never remarry, though he stopped saying it when he saw his mother’s face turn pale with fright. Although he hadn't refused her attempts to pick a wife over the years, he had never agreed either. The Marchioness of Dongyang muttered something under her breath.

The Marquis continued, "Having a wife is enough. Isn't the purpose of marrying to pass on the family line? With this wife, he can have heirs, and Jingyun’s future will be secure. That is enough. Our family motto is not to rely on in-laws to strengthen our house."

Seeing his wife’s sullen expression, he added, "In the future, can’t you just pick a good concubine for Jingyun?"

The Marchioness of Dongyang’s eyes lit up. It didn't look right for Jingyun to have only one concubine, who was just a maid promoted from his bedchamber.

It was troublesome for Jingyun to marry a primary wife, but taking a concubine was much simpler. Although she would be a concubine, with the status of the Dongyang Marquis Mansion, picking a girl from a good family with a good background, appearance, and talent would be effortless.

The gloom in the Marchioness of Dongyang’s eyes dissipated.

The Marquis then said, "You don't need to worry about the Zhuang woman; just have someone watch her so she doesn't cause any embarrassment."

The Marchioness of Dongyang smiled and said she understood. "Don't worry, my Lord."

Seeing his wife smile, the Marquis also breathed a sigh of relief. His son had said in the letter to appease his mother; his mother missed her son and would inevitably be dissatisfied with this daughter-in-law. He did it for his own future and that of the Marquis Mansion. Zhuang did not know this, and although she was an orphan, it was precisely because she was an orphan that she had a proud and aloof temperament. If the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were to clash and attract the attention of people in the capital, it would be disastrous if someone with ulterior motives found trouble.

Actually, he didn't think a clash between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was a big deal. It was common for a daughter-in-law to suffer a little grievance; would a daughter-in-law dare to make a scene? Making a scene would only give her the charge of being unfilial.

Was Jingyun being too cautious, or did he actually care about this Zhuang woman?

...

...

At this moment, Zhuang was meeting with the steward matrons of the Heir’s courtyard.

After Mother Xu had called everyone over, she made an excuse that the Marchioness of Dongyang needed her and took her leave. It was clear she did not want to help Zhuang Li hold her ground.

Because the Heir was rarely home, and the marriage was recent, there weren't many people here—only two, Mother Lu and Mother Wei.

"Before the Heir was married, he spent his time studying at the Hanlin Academy. Once he was married, everything was arranged by the late Heir’s wife," said Mother Lu, a woman of about forty with a round face and small eyes, wearing a blue-green jacket and skirt. She spoke with a calm expression. "Since the late Heir’s wife is gone, the rules have not changed over the years. If you see anything improper, feel free to give your orders."

Zhuang Li’s expression was calm. "I have just arrived. You may each continue with your duties for now; we will discuss it if there is anything improper."

The new Heir’s wife was very easy to talk to.

However, Mother Lu, who had exited the courtyard, was biting her teeth in anger.

"If there is something improper, what will she do? Drive us out?" Mother Lu said, then spat in the direction of Zhuang Li’s room. "Who does she think she is? She’s not worthy of putting on airs in front of me!"

Mother Wei laughed.

"No matter who she was before, or what her background is," she said, "she is the Heir’s wife now, and we are people of this courtyard. She naturally has the final say."

Mother Lu lowered her raised eyebrows and sighed. "I naturally know that. This is the Heir’s choice, and I will respect it. I just... it was too sudden. I thought of the late young mistress, and for a moment, I felt sad."

The previous Heir’s wife was also the Heir’s love; otherwise, he wouldn't have gone so many years without remarrying. Of course, no one really wanted the Heir to never remarry, but the sudden arrival of a new love left a strange taste in their mouths.

"Don't think about it," Mother Wei gently consoled. "Now that a new person has arrived, let’s just treat it as starting a new job."

Mother Lu muttered, "I have a feeling these days are not going to be peaceful."

Mother Wei smiled and said, "It’s not easy to live a peaceful life; even the Marchioness had to endure." She looked toward the inner courtyard. "Life has only just begun now that she has entered the door."