Spring Remains the Same - Chapter 105

Hall of Proclaimed Virtue.

Puyang was granting an audience to a military general.

He was one of her trusted confidants. She had transferred Jiao Yong to the Grand Herald’s office, and the now-vacant position of Capital Commandant was given to this man.

With Wei Xiu in the capital, the people she needed to use were also mostly in the capital. The strike had to be decisive, without letting a single fish slip through the net. To achieve this, she needed to have Luoyang firmly in her grasp. Jiao Yong was Wei Xiu’s man and a disciple of Lord Zhong, so Puyang would naturally not use him. His transfer was a promotion in name, but confinement in reality.

There was also a captain in the Gold Guard named Zhou Qi. Thinking back now, he was likely one of A-Xiu’s people as well.

Arrangements also had to be made with the Capital Governor to have him coordinate with the Gold Guard.

Plans were also needed for Qian and Fang prefectures. While they likely hadn’t gathered much momentum yet, dismantling them shouldn’t be too difficult.

She then pondered whom to dispatch. This matter could not be publicized; it was best handled quietly, without a trace.

By the time Puyang had laid out her arrangements one by one, the sky had already darkened. Even though she had done everything in her power and made the most thorough plans, Puyang still felt no sense of relief. Her state of mind had changed, and A-Xiu was a person who noticed the finest details. Deceiving her for a short while was possible, but she feared that over time, she would be seen through.

The night was slightly cool.

Inside the Hall of Containing Light.

Wei Xiu sat alone in the courtyard.

The sky was full of stars, like the surface of a lake under the bright sun, glittering with countless points of light.

She raised her head to observe the stars, looking from east to south, then from west to north. The Azure Dragon of the East was gradually setting, while the Black Tortoise of the North was becoming more prominent. The star Dou Mu Xie was nestled in the southwest, and the Purple Forbidden Enclosure was flanked on both sides, presenting the image of an honor guard.

Wei Xiu’s brow gradually furrowed. As summer turned to autumn, the seven mansions of the east would hide while the seven mansions of the north would appear. This was a seasonal phenomenon, the same every year. Apart from the northeast, the other constellations were all in their proper places. Compared to a few days ago, there were no major changes, let alone any shift that would alter fortunes, good or ill.

Wei Xiu lowered her gaze, lost in thought.

Seventh Lady had lied to her.

Although moving the investiture ceremony forward was a bit rushed, it was not an impossible task. Why did Seventh Lady use it as a pretext to cover something up?

These past few days, the court had been so busy that no one had a moment’s rest. The Ministry of Rites, needless to say, was working doubly hard to avoid any mistakes, as Her Majesty placed great importance on the ceremony and inquired about it almost daily. The Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review were ordered to investigate the rebellion case. This was a major affair that had reached the Emperor’s ears, yet Her Majesty rarely asked about it, as if she would accept whatever they found.

Neither the Ministry of Justice nor the Court of Judicial Review had been close to Puyang before. Not only that, but the current Minister of Justice had once been inclined toward the Prince of Jin. Puyang’s lack of inquiry, far from reassuring the two departments, left them feeling as if they were sitting on pins and needles, unsure of what to do.

To have reached the positions of Nine Ministers and Minister, both men had weathered the ups and downs of official life for most of their careers. When it came to divining their superior’s intentions, if not masters of the art, they could at least grasp some of it.

But faced with this emperor who had been on the throne for less than a month, the two were filled with trepidation, unable to figure her out. It went without saying that Her Majesty and the Prince of Jin had a long-standing grudge; it was secretly rumored that years ago, the Prince of Jin had sent assassins who nearly took Her Majesty’s life. With such a history, now that the Prince of Jin had finally fallen into her hands, even the most benevolent ruler would be expected to seek some revenge. The Prince of Jin was dead, so his wife, children, and the ministers who had once supported him would have to step forward to bear the brunt of that anger.

But Her Majesty seemed to have no such intention, not even a hint.

This left the chief investigating ministers, who had been prepared for a wide-ranging purge, at a loss. If they judged too leniently, they feared Her Majesty would harbor a grudge despite saying nothing; if they judged too harshly, they feared Her Majesty might be using this case to project an image of benevolence and win the hearts of the people.

After much discussion, the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review finally decided that they would only conduct the investigation and present all findings to Her Majesty, letting her decide the sentences. In this way, although it smacked of shirking responsibility, it would not be considered a major transgression.

The Prince of Zhao and the others were still in prison for questioning and would be sent to their places of exile only after the case was concluded. The Prince of Jin’s wife and children were also temporarily confined to their residence. The mothers of the Prince of Zhao and his two brothers, being concubines of the former emperor, were not enslaved but were reduced to commoners and moved to the Yeting Palace for confinement. The Prince of Jin’s mother, Consort Dowager Shu, was guilty of the same crime as her son. She was now confined in her old palace, and once the case was concluded, what awaited her was a white silk cord or a cup of poisoned wine, and nothing more.

The four Consort Dowagers were also women of noble status who had spent most of their lives in the palace, attended by servants and clad in silks and brocades. To fall to the status of criminals overnight was naturally a difficult life.

Consort Dowager Shu sat in her hall.

In just ten short days, this palace had lost its color. The palace staff who used to serve her had all been imprisoned, and the valuables in the hall had been confiscated. She remained here, but she was now merely a commoner. Anyone in the palace who disliked her could come and trample on her.

The Feathered Forest Guard stood watch outside, the main gate tightly shut. It opened only three times a day, each time to deliver food. The food container was not brought to her; as soon as the door opened, it was casually tossed inside for her to retrieve herself. If she didn’t take it, it would be collected at the next mealtime and a new one would be delivered with the same contempt, just tossed at the door. Whether she ate or not, their duty was done as long as they delivered it.

After starving for one meal, Consort Dowager Shu came to her senses. Each time, she would go and bring the food container inside. The food was naturally not good; in the past, even the maids in her palace would have looked down on it. Occasionally, the coarse porcelain bowl of rice would be overturned, and she could only force herself to swallow it to keep from starving to death.

This was how it was in the forbidden palace: when you were in power, everyone flocked to you; after you fell from grace, everyone wished to kick you when you were down.

Consort Dowager Shu was not one to dwell on it. Her life would soon come to an end. The only reason she still cherished it was that she had unfinished business.

The faint sound of bells and drums drifted from a distance. Consort Dowager Shu listened intently, and it didn’t take long for her to recognize it as the ceremonial music for the installation of the central palace. She had heard it once before, many years ago.

Consort Dowager Shu’s face, as lifeless as a dry well, finally showed a change. She pulled at the corners of her mouth, revealing a smile. If anyone had seen this smile, they would have felt no joy, only an indescribable chill running through their body.

She walked out of the main hall, knocked on the door, and took out a gold hairpin from her sleeve. The hairpin was of a pleasing quality, inlaid with gemstones and adorned with jadeite, making it extremely valuable. She passed the hairpin out, her expression grim, her eyes filled with the sinister anticipation of a good show about to begin. She slowly parted her lips and said, “I have an important matter to report to Her Majesty.”

How could a condemned criminal on the verge of death expect to see the Emperor just by asking?

The gold hairpin was certainly dazzling, but one’s future was more important. Consort Dowager Shu did not press the matter, simply offering the hairpin. The next day, she offered another treasure. By repeating this, she wore down the guards’ vigilance. Afterward, she presented a clever plan, demonstrating that they would not be implicated in any way.

It was a wonder she had managed to hide so many valuables during the confiscation and had spent so much effort scheming. Five days after the investiture ceremony, she finally managed to get a handwritten note delivered to the Emperor’s desk.

At that moment, Puyang was asking Qin Kun, “Has the Prince Consort left the palace?”

Qin Kun replied, “Yes, he left after the midday meal. He left a message for Your Majesty, saying he will surely be back before dark.”

Puyang nodded.

Qin Kun felt a little uneasy. In the past, whenever the Prince Consort was mentioned, regardless of whether it was good news or bad, Her Majesty’s expression would always soften, and she would occasionally even smile. However, this exception had vanished since Her Majesty ascended the throne.

Qin Kun served with increasing caution, his mindset gradually changing. He recognized that the person he served was no longer just a princess with immense authority, but the emperor who held the power of life and death over all people.

“Is anyone with him?” Puyang asked again. The rebellion case was not yet closed, and there might still be people left behind by the Prince of Jin in the capital. A-Xiu needed someone to protect her when she left the palace.

Qin Kun said respectfully, “The Prince Consort took several attendants with him.”

Only a mere few? Puyang frowned. “How many exactly?”

How could Qin Kun know such a detail? He was unable to answer at once. Trembling, he saw Puyang’s expression gradually darken, and he hurriedly knelt. “This servant will go and inquire at once.”

“Go quickly,” Puyang said.

Qin Kun did not dare to delay for a moment and hurried off.

Puyang raised a hand to rub her brow, feeling utterly exhausted. She seemed to have become exceptionally timid, not quite daring to see A-Xiu, nor daring to let her get too far away. Just now, hearing that she had left the palace, she had become frightened, terrified that once she left, she would not return, terrified that she would encounter some disaster with no one to save her.

A-Xiu seemed to have already noticed something. Puyang urged her subordinates to hasten their pace, yet also thought, thankfully, the investiture ceremony was over. She was now her husband, in the most legitimate way possible.

Puyang no longer knew what she truly wanted. She knew they would eventually turn against each other, yet she had insisted on holding the ceremony. She knew that in A-Xiu’s heart, this ceremony was nothing more than a dispensable formality, yet watching her approach slowly, dressed in the Imperial Consort’s regalia, she still couldn’t hide her joy.

It was at this moment that the handwritten note was delivered.

Puyang saw the palace attendant state, “The commoner has an urgent matter to report. We servants did not dare to conceal it.”

She took it casually. Upon opening it, her expression changed drastically.

On the paper were written only eight characters. Though clearly written in black ink, to Puyang’s eyes, they seemed to flow with scarlet bl00d.

Her face turned deathly pale, the color instantly draining from her lips, her eyes a mixture of shock and fury. Her hands trembled, her entire body lost its strength, and the paper fluttered down onto the desk. Written upon it was:

“The former emperor’s death was Xiu’s doing.”

The palace attendants stood far away and couldn’t see a thing, but Puyang seemed to suddenly snap back to her senses. She hastily picked up the paper, found a flame, and burned it to ashes.

“Order the Department of Palace Attendants to strictly interrogate the commoner’s servants! The more trusted they were, the less they should be spared! Order them to confess everything the commoner has done!”

“Summon Dou Hui.”

“Summon all the physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau who ever attended to the late emperor.”

The edicts were issued one after another. It wouldn’t be long before Dou Hui and the physicians arrived. As for the Department of Palace Attendants, that would likely take longer, but they had plenty of ways to pry open a person’s mouth.

Puyang had almost immediately believed what was written on the paper.

It was only logical that Wei Xiu would want to kill the former emperor.

However, as she calmed down slightly, she thought, if this was truly A-Xiu’s doing, how could anyone have found out, let alone a deep-palace woman like Consort Dowager Shu? She had seen A-Xiu plot before; every step was airtight, leaving no trace for anyone to detect. She would never be so careless as to leave a handle for others to grasp.

Moreover, Consort Dowager Shu had been confined for days. What could she possibly know? She must have learned of this beforehand. If it were true, why hadn’t she brought it out before, to be used as leverage for the Prince of Jin’s attack? Why wait until now, when she had no hope of turning the tables, to write it on a flimsy piece of paper and send it to her?

It must be a frame-up against A-Xiu!

It must be an attempt to drive a wedge between them!!

Insidious intentions! A crime deserving of death by a thousand cuts!!

Puyang rarely showed her anger so openly, but now, the more she thought, the angrier she became. Seeing that Dou Hui and the physicians had not yet arrived, she issued another order: “How did this handwritten note get past layer after layer of security to my desk? Investigate! All persons involved will be punished! My palace will absolutely not tolerate such scheming and audacious individuals!”