"This gray rabbit fur is quite nice—it could be made into a scarf. And this white mink pelt? Perhaps a fur blanket? When winter comes, Your Ladyship can use it to cover your legs while warming yourself by the fire." Shiliu examined the pelts before her, planning their use.
Qi Daiyu stood nearby, watching curiously.
These pelts had just been delivered—hunted by the Emperor that morning, freshly skinned and treated. Some still carried a faint metallic scent of blood.
The Emperor had quite the successful hunt today. Rumor had it he even bagged a white tiger!
Aside from the tiger, the rest of the game had been distributed by the Empress among the court. Qi Daiyu received one mink pelt and two rabbit furs.
How extravagant! In modern times, she wouldn’t dare imagine such luxury.
Shiliu gathered the pelts. Once they returned to the palace, the furs would need further processing before being crafted into usable items.
"This servant heard that County Mistress Zhaoyun miscarried after all. She’s already been sent back to the Grand Princess’s estate. The Grand Princess is currently in the Empress Dowager’s tent, berating that Yuan Zishi." News of County Mistress Zhaoyun being carried back to the capital had spread like wildfire, with rumors twisting into claims that Yuan Zishi had publicly slapped her, causing the miscarriage.
Qi Daiyu: "..." Three people spreading a rumor can turn it into fact—how true that saying is.
Pingguo: "What will happen to Yuan Zishi?"
Shiliu: "What can happen? He’s Concubine Shu’s younger brother. Even if the Emperor punishes him, it won’t be severe. Concubine Shu just gave birth to the Eldest Prince, after all."
Many were watching to see how Yuan Zishi’s fate would unfold.
This incident had damaged both Concubine Shu and the Yuan family’s reputation. At worst, it could turn the Yuan family and the Grand Princess’s estate into sworn enemies. Too many in the palace were eager to see Concubine Shu humiliated.
Meanwhile, in the Empress Dowager’s tent, the Emperor and Empress sat as the Grand Princess, seated beside the Empress Dowager, wept and wailed. Jiang Yuan’s temple throbbed.
His good mood from the morning hunt had completely evaporated.
The Grand Princess wiped her tears. "Zhaoyun is my eldest daughter—raised like a treasure in my palms, cherished like a pearl in my mouth. Now she has suffered such a grievous wrong! Empress Dowager, this subject’s heart aches!"
"That Yuan Zishi is fickle, indulging in brothels without a care for Zhaoyun’s pregnancy, even humiliating her in public! Not only has he shamed her, but he has also disgraced the imperial family! Your Majesty, the Yuan family, emboldened by their current influence, dares to trample on the dignity of the imperial house! You must uphold justice for us, mother and daughter!"
Her voice was raw with emotion. The memory of her daughter, covered in blood, sobbing and demanding a divorce from that scoundrel Yuan Zishi, twisted her heart unbearably.
Yuan Zishi had assumed that even if his misdeeds came to light, the Grand Princess’s estate would prioritize maintaining relations with the Yuan family over punishing him. But he had forgotten—the Grand Princess had lived in privilege for years, especially after the late Emperor’s passing. Now the Emperor’s elder, her pride had only swelled. How could she tolerate such humiliation?
Sharing a husband with a brothel woman? Even if County Mistress Zhaoyun could endure it, the Grand Princess never would.
One could say the Grand Princess might not have inherited the imperial family’s tolerance, but she certainly inherited their arrogance.
Add to that a mother’s fury—right now, she wished she could cut Yuan Zishi to pieces.
The Empress remained composed, observing the Emperor’s conflicted expression. Softly, she interjected, "Aunt, but Yuan Zishi and Zhaoyun are still husband and wife. If Yuan Zishi is punished too severely, Zhaoyun’s dignity will also suffer."
"Then let them divorce!" the Grand Princess blurted.
"Nonsense!" The Empress Dowager rebuked. "How can you speak so carelessly? If they divorce, how will Zhaoyun face society afterward? Can you and the consort support her forever?"
The Grand Princess faltered, then wept again. "Then must my Zhaoyun swallow this injustice?"
She turned and grasped her younger daughter Zhaorong’s hand. "Rong’er, your sister’s fate is so cruel!"
Zhaorong’s eyes also reddened.
With such a display, if the Emperor did nothing, it would reflect poorly on him.
Jiang Yuan: "Quan Fuhai, issue the decree. Yuan Zishi, as an imperial official, has disgraced his position by consorting with prostitutes. He is to receive sixty strokes of the cane. For his misconduct, he is stripped of his rank and barred from future appointments. Furthermore, his public humiliation of County Mistress Zhaoyun constitutes disrespect toward the imperial family. Another sixty strokes—let this serve as a warning."
The tent fell silent at the decree. One hundred twenty strokes, plus the loss of his official career—this was a severe punishment. At that number of strokes, it was uncertain whether Yuan Zishi would even survive.
Even the Empress glanced at the Emperor in surprise. She hadn’t expected him to punish Yuan Zishi so harshly.
The Grand Princess’s hands trembled within her sleeves. She had wanted the Emperor to discipline Yuan Zishi, but not to kill him! If Yuan Zishi didn’t survive, wouldn’t Zhaoyun be widowed? And even if he lived, with no official prospects, what future would he have?
She looked pleadingly at the Empress Dowager.
A mother knows her son best. With a single thought, the Empress Dowager understood the Emperor’s intent.
He intended to use Yuan Hao but not let him grow too powerful. Yuan Zishi’s scandal, while damaging to the imperial family’s dignity, also provided the perfect opportunity to strike at the Yuan family. A son with no political future would be a heavy blow to Yuan Hao.
As for the Grand Princess and County Mistress Zhaoyun’s feelings?
Why should the Emperor care?
Yet, seeing the desperate plea in the Grand Princess’s eyes, the Empress Dowager was reminded of the past.
She sighed deliberately. "Your Majesty, this punishment is too severe. Zhaoyun is still young and has just suffered a miscarriage. If she hears of this, she may not endure it. As her cousin, shouldn’t you consider her future?"
"Empress Dowager’s meaning is…?" Jiang Yuan feigned confusion, though he knew she understood his motives.
The Empress Dowager’s gaze settled on Zhaorong, standing behind the Grand Princess. "Zhaorong is of age now, isn’t she? Would she like to enter the palace to keep this old one company?"
Nanny Zhao at her side sighed inwardly—they had reached this point after all.
"Empress Dowager…" The Grand Princess paused, her expression shifting rapidly before she pushed Zhaorong forward. "This child has long spoken of missing her aunt. Now that the opportunity arises, she would be delighted. Zhaorong, thank Her Majesty at once!"
Zhaorong glanced at her mother, then at the Empress Dowager, and finally at the Emperor. A faint blush colored her cheeks as she knelt. "This subject is willing."
What the Grand Princess had realized, the Emperor and Empress naturally understood as well.
Yuan Zishi’s fate was sealed. County Mistress Zhaoyun would only have her title to rely on in the future. Once the Grand Princess and her consort passed, a mere county mistress would be nothing.
But if her younger sister Zhaorong entered the palace as a consort, Zhaoyun would regain her standing.
After all, to outsiders, Zhaorong—as the Emperor’s cousin—would hold considerable status even without favor.
The Empress Dowager’s move was compensation for the Grand Princess and Zhaoyun.
And the Grand Princess, who had already entertained such thoughts, now seized the opportunity gladly.
Jiang Yuan was not pleased. He didn’t mind adding another woman to his harem, but he had no desire for that woman to be the daughter of the Grand Princess. He had been deliberately weakening the influence of the nobility, and even the criteria for the next imperial consort selection had already been decided in his mind—Zhaorong was undoubtedly not on the list.
Yet, he couldn’t refuse the Empress Dowager’s wishes.
While the Emperor remained silent, the Empress, as the mistress of the inner palace, could not stay quiet.
She rose and walked over to Zhaorong, helping her up with a smile. “Sister, please rise. With you here to keep Her Majesty company, I might finally steal some leisure for myself.”
The address of “sister” was an implicit acknowledgment of Zhaorong’s new status.
Zhaorong’s face flushed even deeper.
The Empress Dowager teased, “Oh, you sly thing! You’ve probably long grown tired of my ramblings.”
For a moment, the tent was filled with an atmosphere of harmony.
Meanwhile, in the palace, at Chengguan Palace—
News of Yuan Zishi’s dismissal and corporal punishment reached the inner quarters, and Concubine Shu shattered another set of teacups in fury.
The Eldest Prince, who had been sound asleep, was startled awake and began wailing.
“Don’t you know to cover the Eldest Prince’s ears? If he suffers from fright, I’ll have your heads!” Concubine Shu snapped toward the side chamber.
The wet nurses huddled together in fear, soothing the crying prince. They were newly assigned to the Eldest Prince’s care, and Concubine Shu had taken a dislike to them, often finding fault and meting out harsh punishments.
“Your Highness, please calm yourself,” Diancui stepped forward to console her.
“How can I calm down? He’s my only brother, and now his career is ruined! My dignity has been trampled upon!” If the other concubines hadn’t been absent from the palace at that moment, they would surely have rushed to Chengguan Palace to mock her.
“Just days ago, Grandmother was granted an honorary title, and now he’s caused such a disaster! How can I not be furious?”
Word from home said their grandmother had fallen ill from rage. Barely recovered, she fainted again upon hearing that her beloved grandson had been flogged.
Concubine Shu’s mother had passed away not long after giving birth to Yuan Zishi. As the eldest sister, she doted on her brother deeply. A hundred and twenty lashes—half his life must have been beaten out of him. She was torn between anger and worry: anger at her brother’s recklessness, which had led to this scandal, and worry for his future.
He was her only full brother, but her father had other sons. Though the concubine-born child was still young, if their father devoted his efforts to raising him, wouldn’t the family one day fall under that bastard’s control?
“And that Chaoyun County Mistress—why must she make such a public spectacle? Air your marital grievances in private, not for all to see!” Then she remembered Chaoyun’s miscarriage, and with it, the loss of her own nephew. Tears welled in Concubine Shu’s eyes. “His Majesty didn’t spare a thought for me…”
Diancui grew anxious. “Your Highness, you mustn’t think that way.” She quickly improvised, “If I may say, though the young master is mischievous, he’s always been cautious. How could it be mere coincidence that he was caught visiting courtesans and Chaoyun County Mistress found out at the same time? The timing was too perfect—just when you were confined to the palace, leaving no chance to plead for him.”
Concubine Shu stopped crying and seized Diancui’s hand. “You’re right! This couldn’t have been an accident. Someone must have orchestrated it—but who?” Whoever sought to harm her had planned this flawlessly, revealing the scandal at the perfect moment…
“The Empress!” Concubine Shu declared with certainty. “It must be the Empress!”
Only the Empress had the cunning and influence to execute such a scheme successfully.
A bitter laugh escaped her. “Very well. To plot against my family like this… Empress…”
Tears glistened in Concubine Shu’s eyes, but beneath them burned a deep, seething hatred. “Just you wait!”
