Chapter Forty-Six
The Palace of Benevolent Peace consisted of three successive halls. Once one entered through the Palace of Benevolent Peace Gate, the seven-bay main hall stood directly ahead. It was kept closed on ordinary days, and only opened when festivals came around or when Empress Dowager Chen held her birthday celebrations. Her birthday banquet had been held in the main hall the last time.
The second section was a five-bay residence hall, where Empress Dowager Chen ate, slept, and went about her daily life.
The central room was where Empress Dowager Chen received guests. The first room to the east was where she usually sat and took her meals, and whenever Cui Lanyin visited, she always entered through this room. The eastern rear room beyond it was Empress Dowager Chen’s bedchamber.
The first room to the west had been arranged as Empress Dowager Chen’s study. The western rear room beyond it was another bedchamber, generally used to store her out-of-season clothing and ornaments.
The main hall and the residence hall each had side halls to the east and west. Each side hall had three bays, along with small adjoining rooms.
Qi An and Qian He each occupied a room in the western side hall of the main hall. Aunt Gao and Aunt Xia each occupied a room in the western side hall of the residence hall. Technically, this was against the rules, but since Emperor Xuanning never questioned it, everyone else simply pretended not to know.
The third section was the Buddhist Hall of the Palace of Benevolent Peace, where Empress Dowager Chen worshiped Buddha and copied scriptures. Before, she had spent much of her daytime there. Now that she no longer needed to copy scriptures to calm her mind, she went over only twice a month, on the first and fifteenth days.
After Meng Ru and the other five young ladies arrived, they were assigned to the Jasper Glory Pavilion in the garden attached to the palace.
Cui Lanyin had assumed that she would either stay in the eastern side hall or be lodged in the garden as well. Instead, Empress Dowager Chen had her stay in the bedchamber in the western rear room of the residence hall. She even had Aunt Xia and Aunt Gao clear out the clothing from the cabinets, then asked Buyu to replace the furnishings, decorations, bedding, and everything else in the room with things suited to Cui Lanyin’s tastes.
She was only staying for a few days. There was no need to go to such trouble, but no matter how Cui Lanyin tried to persuade her, she could not change Empress Dowager Chen’s mind.
Perhaps she had been tired from the morning’s journey, and perhaps it was because everything in the room had been arranged according to her preferences. Cui Lanyin slept straight through until the first watch of the afternoon.
After asking Yushan, the little palace maid assigned to serve her, she learned that Empress Dowager Chen had been awake for some time. Cui Lanyin changed her clothes and went to the eastern side room.
Meng Ru and the others were all there. Three stood in a row along each wall, their gazes fixed straight ahead. Exactly how they smiled, how high they held their heads, where they placed their hands, and how they stood—none of it could be the slightest bit careless. If anything was even a little wrong, the ruler in Aunt Gao’s hand would come down at once.
Only then did Cui Lanyin understand the meaningful tone behind Qian He’s words when she had asked whether Empress Dowager Chen was free and he had replied that they had “sorted out some leads.” Empress Dowager Chen had been drilling these young ladies in proper conduct all this time.
Cui Lanyin had still been thinking too simply. The training was even harsher than she had imagined. Knowing Empress Dowager Chen as she did, Cui Lanyin knew she would not be this severe without reason. These young ladies must have done something to irritate her.
So Cui Lanyin could not bring herself to sympathize with them. Without waiting for Empress Dowager Chen to call her over, she removed her shoes and climbed onto the heated kang.
Empress Dowager Chen had her sit beside her and pointed to the small table on the kang. “These snacks were just brought in. They’re all your favorites. Eat them while they’re hot.”
When Yushan moved to pour her some hot tea, Empress Dowager Chen stopped her. “Boiling tea will harm her throat. Bring her some warm tea.”
Cui Lanyin accepted the warm tea from Yushan, took a small sip, and set it down again. Then she sat there swallowing the pastries dry.
Aunt Gao shook her head with a smile. “You see, Your Highness? They really are blood relatives, uncle and niece alike. Both would rather swallow their pastries dry than drink warm tea.”
After she said that, Cui Lanyin felt embarrassed and hurriedly picked up the cup, draining it in one go.
Empress Dowager Chen and Aunt Gao were still laughing when Qian He came in from outside. He said to the six young ladies, “Ladies, you may go down and rest. Come back before the meal.”
Once they had all left, Empress Dowager Chen asked, “Any news?”
“There is.” Qian He came over and sat down on the chair before the kang. “Prince Kang chose the wrong time to enter the palace. By the time he arrived, His Majesty had already lain down for his afternoon rest. He only managed to see His Majesty afterward.”
At this, Qian He’s face filled with disdain. “Just as expected, he went in and knelt there, weeping and complaining. He said that he had failed to govern his household properly, and thus had not noticed that Princess Kang had been carrying on such a shameless affair behind his back. Then he begged His Majesty to demote him from a prince to a commandery prince…”
Although the weather was warm and the wind pleasantly scented, Cui Lanyin felt a chill run through her body.
She knew that the imperial family was heartless, but she had never imagined it could be heartless to this extent.
Once a woman acquired a reputation for consorting with the pleasure quarters, not only would her own life be ruined, but even if her children were imperial descendants, their futures would be destroyed as well. They would be mocked and pointed at, and when it came to marriage, they would inevitably have to settle for matches several grades beneath them.
That was why, although she hated Princess Kang, she had never considered exposing the matter to Emperor Xuanning and Empress Dowager Li. There were plenty of other ways to fight her; there was no need to stoop so low.
She had let the matter go, yet Prince Kang had apparently been waiting for Princess Kang to make a mistake. Worse still, he was willing to disregard the two sons and one daughter they shared.
Earlier, Cui Lanyin had anticipated that Prince Kang would promise the Li family that he would not make his primary wife empress, allowing the Li family’s daughter to take the throne as empress instead. There were precedents for such an arrangement. Normally, even if the primary wife did not become empress, she would at least receive a respectable consort title.
Prince Kang, however, intended to drag Princess Kang and all her children down with her.
“Li Yixin has remained inside the Palace of Tranquil Blessings without showing herself, while Prince Ping keeps going there under the pretext of meeting those six young ladies. Prince Kang must be desperate,” Aunt Gao said with a tsk.
So Prince Kang had acted against his wife and children without even having a promise from the Li family, merely to gamble on a possibility.
Cui Lanyin slowly exhaled. If she did not, the pressure in her chest would have become unbearable.
“What did His Majesty say?” Empress Dowager Chen asked.
“After learning that the pastries from Princess Kang’s shop were being sold to the pleasure houses across the Wu-Yang River, His Majesty smashed everything on the imperial desk and cursed Prince Kang until he was utterly berated. In the end, that old fox Guangsheng repeatedly urged him to consider that Prince Kang had not known about it, and that the moment he found out, he had immediately entered the palace to confess his guilt. He said Princess Kang’s crimes should not be visited upon Prince Kang, and that His Majesty ought to think of their three children.”
“Remembering the children, His Majesty did not punish Prince Kang severely. Princess Kang was demoted to a secondary consort. The official reason given was that she had indulged her maternal family in forming a faction for private gain. Xin Chong was also demoted from Vice Minister of War to a department director.”
Emperor Xuanning had dealt with Princess Kang and the Xin family according to the charges Chief Aide Song had prepared, but Cui Lanyin could not feel happy about it.
There was too much hidden meaning in everything Qian He had said, and she understood only some of it. She had originally thought that Empress Dowager Chen took no interest in court affairs, that she merely shut herself away and lived her own life. But after Prince Wei’s conversation with her at noon, Cui Lanyin realized that Empress Dowager Chen not only knew about Prince Wei’s ambitions—she supported them as well.
So many things were not what she had believed them to be. Some had gone beyond what she could accept.
Prince Kang’s actions had shaken her deeply. For the sake of that position, a person could truly resort to such ruthless and unscrupulous means. Cui Lanyin had once merely been wary of imperial power. Now, she feared it from the bottom of her heart.
If Prince Wei took that position, what kind of person would he become?
They all said that whoever sat upon that throne would become utterly alone, suspecting and distrusting everyone. Would she still be able to approach him as freely as she did now?
“And what else?” Empress Dowager Chen asked.
Qian He glanced at Cui Lanyin, whose spirits had fallen. He knew that Prince Kang’s ruthlessness had frightened her.
But if she did not go through these things now, then in the future, when she came and went in the palace, even with Empress Dowager Chen and the others watching her every moment, there would inevitably be times when something slipped through the cracks. Rather than suffer then, she might as well endure a few scares now and learn from them.
Qian He steeled himself and continued, “After kneeling there and crying for a while, Prince Kang said that although Princess Kang was certainly in the wrong, Prince Wei had indulged his niece and allowed her to take the guards of Prince Wei’s residence around shouting threats and attacking people. Even the princesses of the imperial family do not command such authority. This is an insult to the dignity of the imperial house and must be properly dealt with.”
Qian He paused. When he saw that there was no fear in Cui Lanyin’s eyes, he continued, “His Majesty originally ordered someone to summon Second Miss to the palace from Prince Wei’s residence. But when Guangsheng said that Second Miss was at Palace of Felicity and Peace, His Majesty changed his mind and ordered Empress Xu to send someone to the Palace of Felicity and Peace to reprimand Second Miss. The people from the Phoenix Palace should be arriving shortly.”
Cui Lanyin had no time to feel dejected anymore. She finally understood why Qian He had been so eager to bring her to the Palace of Felicity and Peace earlier. At noon, when Prince Wei had told Empress Dowager Chen to let her stay there for two days, and when Empress Dowager Chen had said, “Not a single hair on her head will be harmed,” both of them had been preparing for the situation before them.
Empress Dowager Chen pulled Cui Lanyin into her arms. “Don’t be afraid. As long as I am here, no one can lay a finger on you.”
Cui Lanyin truly was not afraid. “I know Your Majesty and my uncle will protect me and keep me completely safe.”
“Then lift your spirits.”
“Mm. I’ve realized there is still so much I need to learn. Things are handled one way outside, but once you enter the palace, everything changes.”
“We’re family. There’s no need to beat around the bush. Isn’t it simply that the imperial family acts ruthlessly, striking with lethal force at the very first move? Once you see enough of it, you’ll get used to it. This business with Prince Kang is nothing. There have been plenty of cases of men murdering their wives and sons.” Empress Dowager Chen spoke bluntly.
The longer Cui Lanyin spent with her, the more she realized that Empress Dowager Chen and everyone in the Palace of Felicity and Peace were truly unfathomable. Even though she had been away from the palace for twenty years, events that had only just happened on Emperor Xuanning’s side were known in the palace in full detail within less than half an hour.
Empress Dowager Chen had seen through Prince Kang’s intentions long ago as well.
An hour later, people from Empress Xu’s palace arrived. Leping, who had delivered the rewards to Prince Wei’s residence the last time, was at the head of the group, followed by two instructing palace matrons.
The two matrons looked extremely stern. They were probably even stricter than Aunt Gao and Aunt Xia, who had been drilling those six young ladies in etiquette. Cui Lanyin was already prepared.
After offering their greetings, Leping said humbly, “Your Majesty, would you permit us to sit in one of the side rooms for a while? We’ll return at exactly six. We promise to keep quiet and not disturb your peace.”
“I understand the Empress’s difficulties.” Empress Dowager Chen pointed toward the west. “We still have to put on an appearance. You may sit in the western study.”
Leping let out a long breath of relief and said gratefully, “Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.” He then bowed and followed Qian He to the study in the western side chamber.
Empress Dowager Chen was afraid that Cui Lanyin would resent having outsiders enter her quarters, so she explained, “There are outsiders in the courtyard. We have to keep them in the main hall.”
Cui Lanyin naturally understood that this was to prevent Meng Ru and the other young ladies from sending word outside. “Your Majesty has gone to so much trouble for my sake. How could I quibble over something like this?”
Cui Lanyin stood there completely stunned. So this was what the so-called instruction amounted to? They did not even bother pretending? Did Emperor Xuanning know about it or not?
After witnessing this farce, the last of Cui Lanyin’s dejection disappeared. She accompanied Empress Dowager Chen in conversation and told her about Cui Chang. “I was even planning to see him off tomorrow. It’s just as well that I won’t have to go now.”
Empress Dowager Chen was still furious. “That ungrateful, good-for-nothing wretch. Have someone tell your parents that none of your branch is to go either.”
Cui Lanyin also wanted to see what attitude Cui Mian would take. She summoned Buyu and sent him to the Cui family to make inquiries. Yet he had only been gone a short while before returning, accompanied by Buyan.
“Did my uncle have something for me?” Cui Lanyin asked Buyan.
“I came to report on behalf of Geng Dayou,” Buyan replied with a smile. “When Young Master Cui Su was taken away by the Five City Military Command, Cui Chang was afraid to return home and face his punishment. He was also afraid that if Princess Kang and the Xin family locked horns with the Cui family, it would affect him. So he left for Shanxi without even going home.
“The excuse he gave Master Mian was that he had received a private letter from Meng Huaizong. There was an urgent and confidential assignment for him to handle, so he had no choice but to leave quietly. He told the family to have a steward pack up his luggage and necessities and send them after him.”
“Did my uncle believe him?”
“At first, he was doubtful. Before long, news of what Young Master Cui Su and Second Miss had done reached him, and Master Mian naturally understood what had really happened.
“He was deeply contemptuous of Cui Chang’s actions and declared that from then on, Cui Chang would be left to fend for himself. No one in the family was to concern themselves with him. As for sending his luggage after him, Master Mian would not even hear of it.
“Since Second Master Cui Fang also supported this decision, Madam Mian, though reluctant, had no choice but to refrain from doing anything. Lady Dong, however, returned to her parents’ home.”
Although Cui Mian’s decision was largely meant to give the second branch an explanation, and was also influenced by the fact that she had once again gained the upper hand against Prince Kang’s household, Cui Mian had indeed changed considerably under Cui Fang’s influence.
Just as Cui Su had said, so long as the two branches could stand united against outsiders, there was no harm in having some private motives and minor schemes between them.
Cui Lanyin felt that the situation before her was good enough. The rest could be observed slowly over time.
At six, Leping returned with the two instructing matrons to report to Empress Dowager Chen. The three then went back to the Phoenix Palace.
Afterward, Cui Lanyin accompanied Empress Dowager Chen to dinner. Once they had finished eating and walked off the meal, Aunt Xia and Aunt Gao served Empress Dowager Chen as she bathed in the inner side chamber.
The day’s etiquette training for the six young ladies had also come to an end. After waiting for them to leave, Cui Lanyin stepped down from the heated brick platform and headed toward the western side room.
Meng Ru, who had been waiting in the main hall, called out to her. With a look of sympathy, Meng Ru asked, “How was it? Were the instructing matrons very strict? Come to your room with me. I’ll teach you how to deal with them.”
“Don’t listen to her. What could she possibly teach you? She’s only trying to use you to get close to Prince Wei. You’d be a fool to pay her any attention.”
A young lady in pink suddenly emerged from behind the door. Her almond-shaped eyes and peach-like cheeks gave her a beauty that was difficult to describe, and she had exposed Meng Ru’s intentions without the slightest hesitation.
Meng Ru immediately lunged at her, intending to tear at her clothes and hair, but the other girl was no pushover. She nimbly dodged and continued provoking Meng Ru, leading her farther away. There would probably be quite a show once they reached the garden.
Empress Dowager Chen had been making them follow the rules, yet they could still pull tricks like this. Cui Lanyin could easily imagine what a spectacle things must have been before.
She slept soundly through the night. After washing and dressing, she went to the eastern side chamber. They had barely exchanged a few words when Qian He entered with a grave expression and reported, “His Majesty began feeling unwell last night. This morning, he was unable to rise.”
An hour later, Buyan arrived at the Palace of Felicity and Peace. After offering his greetings, he said to Empress Dowager Chen, “The Prince has ordered me to escort Second Miss home.”
Empress Dowager Chen considered the matter, then said to Cui Lanyin, “Then I won’t keep you here. Once things have settled down, come and keep me company again. You may stay as long as you like then. Don’t be afraid. His Majesty is ill, so he won’t have the time to concern himself with your matter. Besides, the palace is in turmoil now, and no one knows what may happen. With those six young ladies still here, it is not convenient for me to protect you. You’ll be safer back at Prince Wei’s residence.”
She then praised Prince Wei. “He has truly grown more considerate with age. I hadn’t even thought of this, yet he had already anticipated it.”
Cui Lanyin took her leave of Empress Dowager Chen and left the Palace of Felicity and Peace. She had not expected to see Prince Wei at the Horse-Dismounting Bridge.
Thinking of Emperor Xuanning lying ill, she asked, “Uncle, are you going to attend to His Majesty?”
“Keep the household safe, and take more people with you whenever you go out.”
“I know. Uncle, if you’re tired, go rest at the Empress Dowager’s.”
Prince Wei raised a hand and tapped her on the head. “When I get back, I’m going to keep an eye on you while you face the wall.”
“What? Then I’ll go back to the Empress Dowager’s.”
“Go ahead and try.”
