Chapter 42: Pushing Others and Oneself

Chapter 42: Pushing Others and Oneself

"Your Highness, Princess Linchuan and her husband, Marquis Deng Seventeen, hanged themselves in the prison of the Ministry of Justice."

"When did this happen?"

"Last night," Qu Gu replied.

Zhu Yan fell silent for a moment, "What about Ling Zhao?"

"It is said that she died under torture."

After speaking, Qu Gu looked at Zhu Yan's solemn expression and cautiously advised, "Your Highness, I know you have a compassionate heart, but since they harbored the intent to harm others and caused the death of Miss Xiangcao, such an end is deserved. Your Highness need not feel distressed."

Zhu Yan, understanding the misunderstanding, indeed did not wish for anyone's death, yet she had no intention of sparing those who harmed Xiangcao. She was more aware that their actions were not targeted at Xiangcao; the root cause lay either with her or within the confines of this imperial palace. "I just regret not having sent Xiangcao out of the palace earlier."

"Miss Xiangcao was loyal and dedicated, entering the palace to serve Your Highness as a maid. She would not have wished to leave the palace. If her spirit knows what's happening now, she can rest in peace. Seeing Your Highness so grieved would only make her uneasy."

Hearing Qu Gu's words, Zhu Yan shook her head, suddenly understanding why people emphasized treating the dead as if they were still alive and the belief in an underworld after death – it provided a sense of solace for the living. "In the royal temples, besides Xiangguo Temple, which one is closer to the palace gate?"

Qu Gu thought for a moment, "The nearest temple is Kaiye Temple, outside the Anfu Gate."

"Prepare some silver and inform Xing En to place Xiangcao's spirit tablet in Kaiye Temple for worship. Also, arrange for a perpetual lamp to be lit before the Buddha in her memory, for at least three years," Zhu Yan instructed.

Qu Gu agreed, relieved, "I'll take care of it right away." She was glad that Zhu Yan was letting go of the matter.

——

The tumultuous events in the court had little impact on the harem.

The one-month celebration for the Fifth Prince was held as scheduled in Consort Wang De's Yuhua Palace. Zhu Yan did not attend, sending Qu Gu and Butler Zhong with her son Ajie to the celebration, accompanied by the eunuch Ping'an.

It was said to be a lively event. The princesses who could leave their residences in the capital, likely recently reprimanded by the Empress, all attended. Over thirty princesses were present, the most senior being the Grand Princess Tongle, the 73-year-old sister of Emperor Yingzong. She was granted the title not for being born legitimate or favored but for outliving all her siblings. The Emperor had specially bestowed the title upon her.

By the afternoon, when her son and Qu Gu had not yet returned, Zhu Yan received a visit from Qin Zhuzhu in the palace.

Qin Zhuzhu arrived carrying the Sixth Princess, "I left early. Tian Tian insisted on being held by his princess aunts, and I was afraid that waiting for him would make it awkward to enter your palace."

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. I've stopped others, but I didn't ask anyone to stop you," Zhu Yan said, glancing at Qin Zhuzhu. Hearing the Sixth Princess call her 'Auntie' in a childish voice, she responded with an 'Ah' and smiled, reaching out to gently pinch the plump and tender round face of the princess, resembling a little meatball. "Our little Yi Yi recognizes people now."

Yi Yi was the Sixth Princess's nickname.

Zhu Yan took a rattle drum and a cloth tiger from Qiu Bai to amuse the Sixth Princess. She preferred daughters – soft and affectionate. In the dynasty, princesses generally lived unrestrained lives as long as they didn't get involved in treason cases.

"With Yi Yi being so adorable, what's there to worry about?" Zhu Yan noticed that Qin Zhuzhu seemed unusually worried since she arrived.

"How can I not worry? I guess now everyone will be afraid to marry a princess."

Zhu Yan paused, then realized what was being implied. It seemed the matter involving Xiangyang Princess had spread in the harem. She argued, "Since the founding of the dynasty, only Xiangyang Princess has done such a thing. The main issue with her case was her husband taking a concubine and bringing the child to her knees. Wouldn't you be upset if Yi Yi's future husband took a concubine, or if she was bullied and remained silent? If you ask me, it's better for Yi Yi to have a character like Xiangyang Princess."

As she spoke, she shook the rattle drum to tease the Sixth Princess, "Right, Yi Yi? When you grow up, be like your Xiangyang aunt. Pursue what makes you happy and don't let yourself be wronged."

The Sixth Princess, hearing the sound, grabbed at the cloth tiger in one hand and reached for the rattle drum in Zhu Yan's hand with the other. Zhu Yan playfully twirled it a few times before letting her grab it. As soon as the little chubby hand seized it, she grinned, drooling. Seeing this, Qin Zhuzhu handed her daughter to the nursemaid.

"Happy and vengeful, you almost scared people to death. Princesses divorcing and remarrying is common, but what Xiangyang Princess did is unheard of. It's terrifying," Qin Zhuzhu exaggerated, "Everyone already thought princesses were arrogant and unruly, and now they're outright terrified to marry them."

"If it's like those husbands who take concubines, like the one from Dengcheng, they really shouldn't be matched with Yi Yi. Yi Yi is only three years old, what's the rush? It's not like the daughter of the Emperor has trouble finding a match. Yi Yi will have her own fief in the future; you shouldn't worry about her well-being." Zhu Yan said this, considering Qin Zhuzhu's acceptance level, not daring to say that if there really wasn't a suitable match, they could even consider keeping a male concubine.

Though not officially allowed, given the boldness of the dynasty's princesses, it was certain that some had kept male concubines in private.

Zhu Yan didn't expect Qin Zhuzhu, usually cheerful and straightforward, to be so unable to accept this matter.

Of course, it might be due to her worrying too much and being overprotective of her daughter.

"Of course, I hope for her to have a good life," Qin Zhuzhu agreed, then had the Sixth Princess's nursemaid and the palace staff step back. She moved closer to Zhu Yan and whispered, "Ayan, at the banquet just now, I noticed the Empress had unusually thick makeup on her face, as if she was unwell but forcing herself to sit in the main seat. Several senior princesses excused themselves, and she didn't even rise to see them off."

"You know how she is always meticulous and courteous," Qin Zhuzhu said, seeing Zhu Yan's skeptical look and reminded her.

Zhu Yan expressed doubt, "But recently, there hasn't been any news of anything happening in the palace, has there?"

"The Empress is always composed and proper; she wouldn't be upset by those princesses. I think it's more likely that something significant happened outside the palace that affected her. Unfortunately, we can't get any information," Qin Zhuzhu regretted, referring to the division between the inner palace and the court, with the Qianyuan Hall and Fengyi Palace separated by the imperial waiting hall, isolating even news.

Only the Empress had the privilege of being informed about matters of the court.

Suddenly, Zhu Yan remembered what Qu Gu told her in the morning about Princess Linchuan's death. Princess Linchuan had been in prison for over ten days, so why would she suddenly commit suicide? Perhaps there was a connection.

That evening, Zhu Yan learned a shocking truth from Qu Gu.

The Dowager Empress had been deposed to commoner status and died just a few hours after the deposition.

The Dowager Empress was the late Emperor's successor, childless, and had a reputation for virtue during her fifteen years in the late Emperor's palace. Yet, she was deposed and did not meet a good end. Empress Liu, as her successor, was probably greatly shaken, feeling the repercussions personally.

The next day, news came from Fengyi Palace that Empress Liu had fallen ill.

Zhu Yan realized her speculation might be true. In the afternoon, after her son Ajie returned from his lessons, she took him to visit Empress Liu in Fengyi Palace.