Cui Huaiyin: “Why? We still haven’t found proof that Princess Shengping is not truly a princess.”
Rongyao shook her little head earnestly. In a childish voice, she said, “There’s no need. We only need to have Sun Niujin beat the drum and plead for justice. All we have to do is protect him and make sure his words reach Father Emperor and Imperial Grandmother.”
Cui Huaiyin’s eyes widened. “You want your father emperor and imperial grandmother to question Princess Shengping’s origins?”
“Not only that. More importantly, the news must reach Princess Shengping herself.” Rongyao’s soft, childish voice rang through the hall.
…
The mother and daughter returned to the palace.
The next day, the Empress Dowager personally brought Princess Shengping, who had been confined as punishment, to the Palace of Longevity and Prosperity.
Although the Empress Dowager was displeased by Princess Shengping’s conduct, she was still her own granddaughter. And after all the suffering she had endured in Qiu Ling Palace, the Empress Dowager could not bear to reprimand her too harshly. Especially when she saw how frail and bedraggled the girl looked, her heart softened completely. She hurriedly prepared a great many things for her to eat and use, sending them all to Princess Shengping.
Many in the palace said that Princess Shengping had turned misfortune into fortune. With the Empress Dowager’s protection, she was far better off than she had been under the Empress’s care. If Princess Shengping remained at the Empress Dowager’s side for years to come, she would surely gain many advantages.
At that moment, in the Palace of Longevity and Prosperity, the Empress Dowager instructed her attendant nanny to deliver the finest fabrics to the side hall where her granddaughter was staying.
“She has suffered greatly. Look at her—she has grown so thin these past few days, and her face has turned sallow. Earlier, she scarcely dared to say a word. She has become as timid as a frightened quail. She is a princess, after all. She must be properly cared for.”
The nanny replied, “Indeed. Princess Shengping is still young. So long as Your Majesty guides her well, there is no fear that she cannot be raised properly.”
The Empress Dowager said, “With her by my side, I will certainly not allow her to be misled by those wicked servants again!”
“Your Majesty, Princess Shengping has come to pay her respects.”
“Let her enter.”
Princess Shengping, noticeably thinner and now much more timid in manner, walked in with small steps. Kneeling before the Empress Dowager, she said, “Shengping pays her respects to Imperial Grandmother.”
Seeing the child in her current state, the Empress Dowager’s eyes flashed with pity. She reached out, drew her close, and patted her hand.
“Child, do not be afraid. Come to Imperial Grandmother. From now on, I will properly teach you right from wrong. Never again allow those wicked servants to provoke and mislead you.”
Tears welled in Princess Shengping’s eyes as she nodded vigorously. “From now on, Shengping will listen to Imperial Grandmother in all things—only Imperial Grandmother.”
A satisfied, affectionate smile spread across the Empress Dowager’s face. She pointed to the fine things she had specially prepared for her granddaughter.
“All these things were prepared by Imperial Grandmother for you. If you lack anything in the future, simply tell me. I will never allow anyone to mistreat you.”
With tears streaming down her face, Princess Shengping nodded hard. “Mm! Shengping will not disappoint Imperial Grandmother.”
As she spoke, she glanced at the fabrics and jewelry her imperial grandmother had prepared especially for her. A flicker of triumph passed through her eyes, too subtle for anyone else to notice.
She truly had turned misfortune into fortune. Staying with Imperial Grandmother was far better than remaining at the Empress’s side.
So long as Imperial Grandmother was there in the future, she would not lose to Princess Fuxi in the palace. She might even have a better chance to draw close to Seventh Prince Tantai Lin.
So long as she...
“Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, something terrible has happened!” A nanny came hurrying in from outside. It was Nanny Gui, one of the Empress Dowager’s most trusted attendants.
The Empress Dowager frowned. “Why are you in such a panic? So early in the morning—what could possibly have happened?”
Nanny Gui glanced at Princess Shengping, then quickly looked away. Fixing her gaze tightly on the Empress Dowager, she said in a trembling voice, “A man struck the Drum of Grievances at the Censorate early this morning!”
The Empress Dowager paused, curiosity flickering in her eyes. “It has been many years since anyone last struck that drum. What grievance does he claim to have? Tell me.”
Nanny Gui hesitated and cast another uneasy glance at Princess Shengping before forcing herself to speak. “This matter is... of great importance. The Left Censor-in-Chief has taken charge of the case personally. Perhaps because it is so extraordinary, both the Left and Right Censors-in-Chief have just entered the palace to seek an audience with His Majesty.”
The Empress Dowager frowned. “An audience with the Emperor? What kind of grievance could warrant troubling His Majesty?”
Nanny Gui opened her mouth, yet no words came out.
The Empress Dowager said anxiously, “Speak! You shall not be punished.”
Nanny Gui looked at Princess Shengping. “It—it concerns Princess Shengping. The man who struck the drum claims that...”
The Empress Dowager demanded, “Claims what?”
Nanny Gui lowered her head to the floor and announced loudly, “He claims to be Princess Shengping’s grandfather! He says he comes from Zhou County and is from the same hometown as Commoner Chen. His eldest son was once betrothed to Commoner Chen, and he says—he says Princess Shengping is his son’s child!”
The moment Nanny Gui finished speaking, the hall fell utterly silent—so silent that it was eerie.
Everyone was stunned, including the Empress Dowager.
A thunderous roar seemed to fill the Empress Dowager’s chest as she abruptly lowered her gaze to Princess Shengping.
Princess Shengping’s face had gone deathly pale. She immediately dropped to her knees. “It is a lie! Grandmother, someone must be slandering Yuer! Yuer was born in the princely residence—how could I possibly not be Father Emperor’s flesh and blood? Grandmother, you must uphold justice for Yuer!”
The Empress Dowager rose to her feet and gave Princess Shengping a long, searching look. “Prepare my carriage for Wenyuan Pavilion! I would like to see who dares fabricate such lies about a princess’s parentage!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
With that, the Empress Dowager hurried toward Wenyuan Pavilion, where the Emperor was.
Princess Shengping, left behind in the Palace of Longevity and Health, trembled all over as she struggled to rise.
Clutching her hands to her chest, she muttered over and over, “No... no... How could there still be someone? How could this be? It’s impossible...”
Wenyuan Pavilion.
The Emperor sat upon the dragon throne.
Grand Secretary Zhang Jianming stood before him. To one side stood the Left and Right Censors-in-Chief of the Censorate, along with the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and the Minister of Justice.
The Emperor’s expression was exceedingly grim, his hand clenched tightly around the dragon-shaped armrest of his throne.
“What did you say?”
The Right Censor-in-Chief stepped forward. “Your Majesty, the man who struck the Drum of Grievances is named Sun Niujin. His ancestral home is Zhou County in Huangzhou Prefecture, and he is indeed from the same hometown as Commoner Chen.”
“Even if he is from Commoner Chen’s hometown, how can you be certain that what he says is true?” Before anyone could respond, the Empress Dowager entered Wenyuan Pavilion without waiting to be announced and spoke at once.
At the sight of the Empress Dowager, the ministers all bowed in salute.
“Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager.”
“Mother, why have you come?” Dantai Ji rose to his feet and asked, looking at his mother’s grim expression.
The Empress Dowager said, “How could I not come? This concerns the imperial bloodline—how could I possibly stand aside and ignore it?”
Eunuch Wang Zhong immediately had a chair brought over and invited Her Majesty the Empress Dowager to take a seat.
The Empress Dowager fixed her gaze on the Right Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate. “Where is the person who keeps insisting that Princess Shengping is not of imperial blood? Have him brought into the hall to speak for himself! I would like to hear exactly what he has to say!”
The Right Censor-in-Chief replied respectfully, “That man is waiting outside the hall.”
The Empress Dowager said, “Bring him in!”
Eunuch Wang Zhong glanced at the Emperor, then promptly called out, “Summon Sun Niujin of Zhou County, Huang Prefecture, to enter the hall!”
Before long, Sun Niujin was dragged inside by two eunuchs. His legs had gone weak with terror, and he could scarcely walk on his own.
The moment he entered the inner hall, he dropped to his knees and performed a full prostration.
“This commoner, Sun Niujin, p-pays his respects to Your Majesty!”
