Spring Remains the Same - Chapter 122

The Prince of Han was terrified, while in the palace, Puyang was worried sick.

This matter was truly strange and extremely difficult to handle.

Puyang was nearly ten years older than the Prince of Han, and she still remembered some things from the prince’s childhood.

“When the Prince of Han was young, the Prince of Zheng once said that he bore a striking resemblance to the late Emperor in his youth,” Puyang recalled. Given the Prince of Zheng’s seniority, he would not have flattered a mere child; if he said there was a resemblance, it must have been true.

Wei Xiu nodded. “The Prince of Han is of the Xiao bloodline. That should be true.”

The Prince of Han’s mother was of a low rank. Only after giving birth to a son was she granted the title of a third-rank Jieyu; before that, she was merely a Beauty.

Puyang tried her best to recall, but she could not remember that Jieyu’s appearance or character. The Jieyu had passed away early; Puyang vaguely remembered it was when the Prince of Han was seven or eight. After the prince’s birth, her rank had never been promoted again, remaining at the third rank. Puyang had grown up at the Emperor and Empress’s knee and had little contact with the imperial concubines. After so many years, she simply could not remember what kind of person that Jieyu had been.

Puyang sighed and said, “When the Prince of Han was an infant, she was also held in high regard by the late Emperor. It seemed she was born adorable and was exceptionally clever. On her first birthday, the late Emperor even invited a Daoist priest to offer prayers for her. That priest once said the Prince of Han had the air of an emperor, which made the late Emperor overjoyed, and he rewarded the priest handsomely. But two or three years later, the Prince of Han grew more and more timid, often hiding in corners, afraid to make a sound. The late Emperor was greatly disappointed and stopped paying her any mind.”

There must have been some reason for raising a princess as a prince. It was unknown how the Jieyu had instructed her, but she had taught the Prince of Han to be increasingly timid. Could it be that the Prince of Han had received too much attention, and the Jieyu, fearing she couldn’t protect her, had intentionally taught her to be more dull?

Wei Xiu shook her head. “If she had only that much courage, she should have just said from the start that a princess was born. Why go through all this trouble?”

Puyang thought that made sense. She raised a hand and pinched the bridge of her nose. “No more guessing. I’ll have someone investigate.”

To investigate this matter, they naturally had to start with the Jieyu’s palace. The palace attendants from that time had either left the palace, grown old, or been scattered to unknown halls. The investigation would take considerable effort.

Fortunately, all matters in the palace were clearly documented, so it was not entirely without a trace.

Puyang summoned two trusted aides and ordered them to investigate secretly.

For the next few days, Puyang supervised this matter daily, even setting aside the issue of an heir for the time being.

Wei Xiu, on the other hand, wasn’t particularly concerned about whether the Xiao family bloodline was in disarray. She thought with some resignation that regardless of whether the Prince of Han was found guilty, the matter of an heir was temporarily on hold. In that case, the only way to quiet the ministers was to find them something else to do.

Wei Xiu pondered what matter could keep the ministers so busy they couldn’t spare a moment, and keep them busy for a long time.

Seeing Puyang listening to a report from her aide about the investigation, she took two palace attendants and went to the Hall of Proclaimed Virtue.

Archives of memorials from all regions were stored in the Hall of Proclaimed Virtue. Wei Xiu had someone retrieve the recent ones. She sat behind the imperial desk and flipped through them for half a day before she saw the report on the Qi Emperor’s critical illness.

The investigation into the Prince of Han’s matter had hit a dead end, stopping on the day of the prince’s birth. Of the palace attendants who had served in the Jieyu’s hall that day, all had died, except for those who had left the palace. Even the midwife who delivered the Prince of Han had left for a distant land many years ago and was nowhere to be found. The trail of clues was completely cold. Not a single trace could be found within the palace.

Someone must have tampered with things. Puyang was quite annoyed and ordered her aides to leave the capital to investigate. It was impossible that all the palace attendants who had left the palace were dead. And the midwife—as long as she was still within the borders of Great Wei, it was impossible not to find her. When the Emperor wanted to find someone, unless they were dead, it was only a matter of time.

As soon as the aide withdrew, Puyang began searching for Wei Xiu everywhere in the hall. She checked all the places Wei Xiu frequented but couldn’t find her. Growing more irritable, Puyang summoned a palace attendant, only to learn that Wei Xiu had gone to the Hall of Proclaimed Virtue.

Puyang looked at the sky; it was already time for the evening meal. After a moment’s thought, she ordered the palace attendants to keep the meal warm and went to the Hall of Proclaimed Virtue to bring Wei Xiu back herself.

As summer approached, the days grew longer, and dusk fell later.

Seeing that the weather had been good for several days in a row, Puyang wanted to ask A Xiu if she would like to leave the capital and stay at a detached palace for a couple of days. If the scenery at the villa suited A Xiu’s taste, staying there to escape the summer heat was also an option.

Thinking this as she walked, the annoyance she felt after hearing her aide’s report dissipated completely.

Halfway there, Puyang saw Wei Xiu walking toward her. She couldn’t help but smile and quicken her pace. Wei Xiu also stopped and looked up at her. Seeing her walking in a hurry, the tassels on her palace sash in disarray, Wei Xiu reached out to straighten them for her.

Puyang’s smile deepened, and she casually mentioned what she had just been thinking. “The weather has been very good these past few days. Judging by the sky, there shouldn’t be any rain for a while. Would you like to go stay at a detached palace for a few days?”

There were several detached palaces outside the capital. The farthest was several hundred li away, while the closest was only a one or two-day journey. Regardless of the distance, it was very convenient for them to go if they wished.

Wei Xiu also showed some interest and thought for a moment. “Why don’t we wait a few more days? When it’s closer to summer, we can go to Mount Zhongnan to escape the heat.”

It was more or less what Puyang had been thinking. Puyang naturally agreed, planning to have the palace make preparations the next day.

After the evening meal, Puyang couldn’t help but complain to Wei Xiu, “The trail went cold right at the crucial point. Who knows how long it will take to investigate outside the capital.”

Seeing her troubled expression, Wei Xiu found it rather amusing and said with a smile, “Why don’t you just ask the Prince of Han directly?”

Hearing this, Puyang was no longer troubled and smiled as well. “With the Prince of Han’s timid nature, asking her directly would probably frighten her.”

Hearing her words, Wei Xiu knew that no matter what the investigation uncovered, the Prince of Han’s life was likely not in danger. If Seventh Lady were only seeking the truth, she wouldn’t have gone to such great lengths to investigate secretly; she would have just thrown the Prince of Han in prison.

Wei Xiu saw through it but didn’t say it aloud. Instead, she brought up another matter. “Since you ascended the throne, you haven’t sent an envoy to Qi or Song yet. Why not send someone to take a look soon?”

The three kingdoms of Qi, Wei, and Song did not have much interaction on a normal basis. For Wei Xiu to suddenly bring it up, she must have a plan. Puyang also remembered the matter of the Qi Emperor’s grave illness. “The line with the Prince of Yuzhang?”

“It’s time to reel it in,” Wei Xiu said.

Puyang smiled. “In that case, I’ll think about who would be a good person to send.”

This trip would take at least half a year. She had to send a reliable and resourceful minister who could act according to the circumstances within Qi’s borders. The Prince of Yuzhang had already become the Crown Prince, but unfortunately, his methods were insufficient to suppress his royal brothers. With the Qi Emperor critically ill and the Crown Prince about to ascend the throne, a good show was surely about to unfold in the Qi Kingdom.

Wei Xiu added, “If the Qi Emperor passes away, the Song Kingdom will also send an envoy to offer condolences. At that time, we must drag the Song Kingdom into this as well.”

Neither Wei nor Song cared who the new ruler of Qi would be. What both kingdoms would be happy to see was continuous internal strife in Qi. Puyang understood her meaning. If a country’s government was in turmoil, it would have no strength to wage war externally. At that time, both Wei and Song could tear off a piece of flesh from Qi.

Wei had never used military force against Qi or Song, a crucial reason being the great river that served as a barrier. The armies of the Central Plains were not skilled in naval warfare and had difficulty crossing it. If they could occupy a piece of land in the south, it would be much easier to dispatch troops in the future.

Puyang said with delight, “First, we send an envoy to visit Qi, then we send someone to persuade the Song Emperor. The several princes of Qi each have their own agendas and their own power bases. I’ll have someone light a fire, and the day the Qi Emperor dies will be the day Qi’s internal strife begins.”

Wei Xiu nodded and smiled faintly. “The court should also start preparing.” She paused, then added, “It’s a pity about that deposed Crown Prince of Qi. If he were around, we would have no opening to exploit.”

Puyang also thought of the previous life and the actions of that deposed Crown Prince after he ascended the throne. She agreed strongly, “If he had been able to take the throne, he would have been a formidable ruler.”

“For twenty years, Great Wei would have found it difficult to cross the river,” Wei Xiu also said.

For her to speak with such certainty, it was clear she had spent time studying the deposed Crown Prince’s history. Puyang’s teeth were suddenly on edge with jealousy. She looked at Wei Xiu with a faint smile. “It seems A Xiu holds this person in high regard.”

Wei Xiu picked up her teacup, her eyes filled with a deep smile as she looked at Puyang. “I do hold him in some regard, but it does not compare to my admiration for Seventh Lady.”

Caught off guard, Puyang stared blankly for a moment, then her cheeks gradually turned red. She forced herself to sound calm, “Of course I know A Xiu’s heart.” But the smile in her eyes could not be hidden, and her gaze toward Wei Xiu was full of joy.

Wei Xiu’s heart filled with joy as well. If a simple sentence like that could make Seventh Lady so happy, why should she be stingy with her words?

The next day, Puyang summoned the Chancellor, the Piaoqi General, and the Minister of Revenue, three high-ranking ministers, for a secret discussion about sending an envoy to Qi.

Great matters of the state were not decided just by Wei Xiu and Puyang’s words. Puyang still needed to consult with her ministers. Only after an agreement was reached could the edict be issued and tasks assigned. This also involved the administration of officials, which was extremely complex and tedious.

Both the Chancellor and the Piaoqi General were quite invigorated, appearing eager to get started. The Minister of Revenue, however, was hesitant. “I fear the funds in the state treasury are insufficient.”

The Piaoqi General frowned. “Taxes flow into the treasury every year, yet we see little expenditure. How can it be insufficient again?”

Like the late Emperor, Puyang had neither repaired palaces nor built mausoleums since her accession. Not to mention other matters that would exhaust the people and drain the treasury. The country had been stable for the past two years, and the court administration was clean. For the Minister of Revenue to speak of insufficient funds now displeased the Chancellor as well.

The Minister of Revenue hurriedly explained in detail to the Emperor, “If it’s just one or two battles, our Great Wei naturally has nothing to fear. We could fight for three to five years without shaking our foundation. However, if the war drags on for a long time, even if the treasuries were overflowing, they could not withstand the consumption.”

The Minister of Revenue feared that one battle would not settle things, leading to one after another.

No matter how weak the kingdoms of Qi and Song were, they still had foundations. Three to five years would not be enough to settle matters.

The Piaoqi General was greatly displeased. “According to the Minister’s words, we should just do nothing and let the grain and money pile up in the storehouses to be eaten by insects…”

The Chancellor frowned and shot him a glance. The general resentfully held his tongue and said no more.

Puyang observed the attitudes of the three and had a general idea. She said to them, “This is a matter of great importance. The Ministry of Revenue might as well organize the income and expenditures of recent years and present them to Us. The Chancellor and the General should also go and consider how to approach this matter. Great Wei has abundant national strength and does not fear war, but we cannot afford to waste it for nothing.”

Hearing this, the three men all agreed.

Her Majesty summoning them meant she was already inclined to act. The important thing was how to proceed. The Minister of Revenue’s words, though somewhat timid, were reasonable. The Chancellor and the General, while invigorated, also maintained a sense of caution and left the palace to ponder the matter carefully.

By the eighth month, while Puyang and Wei Xiu were escaping the summer heat at the detached palace on Mount Zhongnan, the matter of the Prince of Han was finally cleared up. An old palace maid from the Jieyu’s palace was still alive. This maid had been greatly trusted by the Jieyu, and because of her loyalty, she had been allowed to live.

After being released from the palace, the maid had married and had children. With family to worry about, she confessed when questioned by the palace.

It turned out that the Jieyu had harbored ambitions and intended to vie for a higher position, which was why she had resorted to this poor strategy. At first, things went well; the little prince was clever and much doted upon. When the Prince of Han grew a little older, the Jieyu, to prevent her identity from being discovered outside, told her the truth. Perhaps the Jieyu’s description of what would happen if she were discovered was a bit too brutal, for it terrified the Prince of Han. Not only did she not dare to speak in front of others, but she also became extremely timid and prone to crying.

The Jieyu had exhausted all her schemes only to get such a result. She was deeply disappointed and passed away within a few years. The pitiful Prince of Han was left to keep the secret alone, becoming even more cautious and timid, not daring to stand out.

“Your servant has conducted several investigations and verifications, confirming that her words are true. The matter of the Prince of Han is, for the most part, as she described.”

Puyang suddenly remembered a time in her youth when the Prince of Han was cornered by the Prince of Teng and two sons of noble families. The Prince of Teng was domineering, and with his companions to back him up, he pushed the Prince of Han. The Prince of Han fell to the ground, her eyes red and brimming with tears, looking both pitiful and wronged. She did not know how to fight back, nor did she beg for mercy, merely enduring it.

It was she who couldn’t bear to watch and had stepped forward to reprimand the Prince of Teng. Only after the Prince of Teng left did the Prince of Han let her tears fall. While crying pitifully, she had mumbled to her, “Thank you, Elder Sister.” After saying that, she wiped her tears and walked away, sobbing. She was about six or seven at the time, a tiny figure with small hands, wiping her tears with the back of her hand while stealing glances at her. That little gaze was timid, like a frightened kitten.

Puyang was silent for a while, then said to the aide, “How many of those who know the truth are still alive? Send people to keep them under surveillance. Do not let even a whisper of this leak out.”

The aide understood. From this day forward, not a single word related to the Prince of Han’s identity would ever be spread in this world.

That night, nestled in Wei Xiu’s arms, Puyang sighed, “Being an older sister is truly difficult. I had to protect her when she was little, and now that she’s grown, I still have to protect her.”

Hearing this, Wei Xiu knew that the Prince of Han would remain the Prince of Han. She patted Puyang’s back and said nothing.

Before long, Puyang fell asleep in her arms.

Wei Xiu looked at her sleeping face and smiled faintly.

The envoy to Qi had already departed today. The court had become busy. Whether it was to slowly devour the two kingdoms of Qi and Song, or to strike with a single, thunderous blow, for at least the next ten years, the ministers would not have the spare time to meddle in the affairs of the rear palace. And after ten years, Seventh Lady would surely be able to select a capable junior from the imperial clan to inherit the great throne. Even if she couldn’t, by then, Seventh Lady’s prestige would be enough to quell all rumors.

Wei Xiu looked down at Puyang again, a smile gracing her lips. She closed her eyes and also drifted into sleep.