Chapter 47: The Third Scholar

Chapter 47: The Third Scholar

This uprising was sudden, and Yuan Zixu's dispatch of the prince to lead the troops, along with his approval of Princess Bei Xi's marriage to the second prince, was shrouded in mystery. Add to that the search of the palace, and Rong Bi found herself entangled in a web of puzzles.

When the third prince sought her aid, she was unable to discern whether he genuinely needed help or if it was another trap. Hence, she ambiguously wrote "Zheng," luring the prince to seek out Zheng Tanhua. Zheng Tanhua was an intelligent man who had once sent her a cat as a gesture of goodwill when he was stationed in Jingbei. By using the third prince to convey this message to Zheng Tanhua, she hoped that with his astuteness, he would be able to take advantage of the situation and do something, at least transmitting some information to the princess and crown prince's side?

Yuan Ya began to feel uncertain. Rong Bi straightened a rose branch on one of the vases beside her and looked at him. "Summer has arrived, and there are fewer flowers to admire in the imperial garden now. My health is frail, so I cannot accompany you for long. Third Brother, please return."

Yuan Ya's gaze fell upon the delicate pink blossoms on a flexible branch, and he suddenly understood. He rose to bid farewell, deep in thought as he made his way to his mother, Consort Jiang. Upon seeing him, she hastily inquired, "Well? What did the Crown Prince say?"

Yuan Ya replied, "Eldest Brother wrote the character 'Zheng' with tea on the desk and then caressed the flower branch with his hand."

Consort Jiang remarked, "Zheng Tanhua?"

Yuan Ya nodded. "I suspect so. Didn't we hear that Eldest Sister has been trying to win over Zheng Tanhua?"

After a moment of contemplation, Consort Jiang said, "Zheng Tanhua is a wise man; he hasn't responded to the Princess's overtures. However, the Zheng family is wealthy and might possess some information. The fact that the Crown Prince directed you to seek him out suggests that he may not fully trust us yet."

Yuan Ya pondered for a moment and said, "I believe Elder Brother must also be worried about Eldest Sister. The Zheng family's business network spans the entire world; they might be of assistance. I think I should send one of my attendants to inquire."

Consort Jiang deliberated and replied, "Alright, tell him truthfully that it was the Crown Prince who advised you to seek his counsel, and you hope he can offer some guidance."

Yuan Ya let out a slight sigh of relief. "Will Father... suspect anything?"

Consort Jiang chuckled. "Not at all. You're too weak, and the Crown Prince is his favored heir. The issue is that he's not ready to abdicate yet. As for the Second Prince... he's already been disposed of. If I'm not mistaken, the Empress and the Luo family will undoubtedly focus on grooming the Fourth Prince. But he's still too young."

Yuan Ya's expression stiffened slightly as he whispered, "My writing used to be decent too, but Mother, you asked me not to surpass the Second Prince."

Consort Jiang stroked his hair. "Good boy. A life of luxury and leisure without pressure as a prince – what's wrong with that? I'm just waiting for you to establish your own household so you can take me away to enjoy my old age."

Yuan Ya rubbed his nose. "I know Mother has my best interests at heart." After further discussion with Consort Jiang, they reached an agreement. Seeing how concerned she was about his journey, she bestowed additional gifts upon him before allowing the Third Prince to leave the palace.

True to his word, the Third Prince dispatched an attendant to visit Zheng Changyuan. Zheng Changyuan deliberated and told the attendant, "According to our trade network, the Princess will accompany the Duke on this campaign."

The attendant was visibly startled. "Hasn't the Princess announced her pregnancy?"

Zheng Changyuan replied, "The public narrative is that the Princess and the Duke are deeply in love and cannot bear to be apart."

The guest fell silent for a moment. He was one of the most seasoned individuals chosen by the Jiang family, well-versed in court politics. He leaned slightly closer and said, "Could it be that Jingbei is using the princess as collateral to ensure the court's loyalty, so they won't be attacked from behind? But war is ruthless, and traveling would be arduous for the princess, who is heavily pregnant. If anything were to happen, wouldn't Jingbei be afraid of the court's wrath and punishment?"

Zheng Changyuan remained silent for a while before he replied tactfully, "Prince Third is young. On this military supervision mission, Duke Song is truly the one carrying out the emperor's command. His entire family is in the capital. Should the emperor have any orders, they would surely comply."

The guest was taken aback. Zheng Changyuan spoke with a profound meaning, "Princess is pitiful."

After some thought, the guest humbly asked for advice, "May I ask, based on your opinion, what mission does Duke Song have on this trip?"

Zheng Changyuan answered, "I dare not speculate on the emperor's favor. All I can say is that as an imperial daughter, the princess must share her father's burdens." He shook his head slowly and sighed again, "How tragic for the princess, to have to follow both her father and husband, how can she bear it?"

The guest pondered further, still confused, and ventured boldly, "If something happens to the princess, and the court holds someone accountable..."

Zheng Changyuan responded, "Perhaps Jingbei needs this pretext precisely? If the princess sacrifices herself for the righteous cause of the campaign, while carrying the unborn prince, Jingbei's king will grieve. Meanwhile, the court could use this opportunity to fabricate charges and launch an attack on Jingbei. The thirteen states of Jingbei have long been waiting for the king's order..."

The guest was surprised, "Fabricating charges? How so?"

Zheng Changyuan looked at the guest with apparent concern, "It depends on what Prince Third and Duke Song do in Jingbei... It seems the Jingbei King is awaiting Prince Third's arrival... Think about it, why would Prince Second defy the emperor's order in public? Empress Luo and Prince Second are no fools."

The guest's expression changed slightly as he bowed, "Thank you for your guidance, Scholar! May I ask, in such a dilemma, how should Prince Third resolve this? We're afraid that even if we don't act, the Jingbei King might, and then frame Prince Third and the court. If relations break down, there's a chance they may detain His Highness as a hostage..."

Prince Third, Zheng Changyuan, shook his head and sighed. "It's only right for His Highness to alleviate the Emperor's concerns."

The guest bowed deeply. "Third Scholar is known for your wit and resourcefulness. Please advise us. His Highness and Consort Jiang will surely reward you!"

Zheng Changyuan sighed again and whispered to the guest, "His Majesty is suspicious by nature. His Highness should first devise ways to make the Emperor doubt that King Jingbei might have ulterior motives. The court should refrain from accusing him hastily, lest we fall into his trap. When traveling to Jingbei, His Highness should ally with the princess and offer generous gifts to King Jingbei. This would soften his stance. King Jingbei is currently focused on attacking Bei Xi and wouldn't want to turn against the court just yet. If His Highness shows sincerity, and the princess, being a wise woman, intervenes, there might be a chance for reconciliation."

The guest replied, "But His Highness is only fourteen. Such a heavy responsibility might be too much for him..."

Zheng Changyuan sighed. "This is, in fact, an unprecedented opportunity for His Highness. Imagine if he could resolve the Jingbei issue peacefully and gain King Jingbei's support. What a historic achievement! Both the Crown Prince and Second Prince have fallen out of favor with the Emperor..." He expressed regret. "What a pity, what a great opportunity wasted. Even your generations of prosperity might stem from this!"

The guest was deeply moved. Which guest didn't dream of aiding a rising monarch? He was both elated and anxious, bowing repeatedly in gratitude before leaving. After the guest left, Zheng Changyuan summoned a trusted aide, quickly wrote down the day's events and the court's situation, sealed it securely, and instructed the aide to immediately deliver the letter to Jingbei with a merchant convoy. He emphasized it must reach Master Rong of the Xingyuan Escort Agency.

Before setting off, Yuan Ya visited his mother, Consort Jiang, under the pretense of bidding farewell. He recounted the conversation between the guest and Zheng Changyuan. "We've discussed it, and Zheng Tanhua's speculation seems plausible. You may not know, Mother, but when Second Brother defied the imperial edict, Father's expression was far from pleased. Despite his ashen face, he refused to comply. Since then, he's been locked away. Even Empress has claimed illness and remains secluded."

Consort Jiang sighed. "I understand you're tempted, but you're growing up and have your own aspirations. Just remember, Mother wants you safe. Princess Yi Yang and the Crown Prince are much wiser than you. Don't underestimate King Jingbei. He's a formidable figure who won't take a child's words seriously. However, Zheng Tanhua's advice is sound. The key lies with Princess Yi Yang and Duke Song. As family, Duke Song and the princess share a bond, and with her carrying King Jingbei's child, he'll likely heed her advice. Above all, ensure your safety. Under no circumstances can you be captured by King Jingbei. Once you return and report, let Father make his decision without interference."

Yuan Ya lowered his eyelashes, feeling somewhat resentful that his mother didn't see his worth. Nevertheless, he smiled and said, "Mother is right. I will return safely." One day, he would prove to her that he had his strengths.

Without mentioning how the Third Prince and Consort Jiang were swayed by Zheng Tanhua's words, Rong Bi was also worried. With the war raging, she wondered about the pregnant Princess Yi Yang and the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince, using her body, encountered danger, would her soul remember? If anything happened, would she be trapped within the Crown Prince forever?

Yet, if anything were to happen to Princess Yi Yang, the crown prince would lack support, and I, not being him, would likely find it impossible to protect myself within these deep palace walls, let alone survive.

Restless and unable to find solace in sleep, she felt trapped within the confines of her surroundings. Though she found joy in tending to the fields, in times of crisis, her helplessness here rendered her passive, a vulnerable position indeed. As she pondered into the depths of the night, a person suddenly came to mind - Eunuch Tang Xi. He had served the late Empress and seemed to possess a keen intellect.

On the following morning, after partaking in her breakfast of steamed buns, she closed her eyes for a moment in thought before instructing, "Send Eunuch Tang Xi from the Imperial Kitchen to see me. I believe there might be alternative methods to prepare these buns; bid him come and discuss it with me."

Ever since the commander of the guards who led the last palace search was publicly executed, coupled with the Emperor's apparent leniency towards this Crown Prince, his treatment within the Precious Scroll Palace had been rather indulgent, save for the restriction of not being allowed to leave. Hence, it was only natural that someone would convey his request to meet an obscure eunuch from the Imperial Kitchen.

Tang Xi entered, naturally having undergone a thorough search before being allowed in. He knelt down respectfully and bowed. Rong Bi said, "Eunuch Tang, please rise. Today, I recalled that when Mother Empress was still with us, she used to make a kind of pearl buns herself. They were incredibly delicious. Suddenly, I've been quite nostalgic for them. Do you happen to know the recipe, Eunuch Tang?"

Tang Xi's round face lit up with a smile. "Your Highness has indeed asked the right person. This pearl bun recipe was originally presented to the Imperial Kitchen. The late Empress tried making it herself. The buns have thin skins and generous fillings, and they taste delightful – even His Majesty enjoyed them. If Your Highness wishes to try them, this servant will immediately return to prepare them personally."

Rong Bi shook her head. "There's no need. I'm idle at the moment and prefer to make them myself. It would be enough trouble for Eunuch Tang to write down the recipe for me." She gestured toward a writing desk nearby, where she had just practiced calligraphy; the ink and brush were still ready for use.

Tang Xi hurriedly bowed and went over. Soon, he had written out the recipe and presented it with both hands.

Rong Bi took it and glanced over before asking, "The other day, I came across a recipe in an ancient text that is quite different from Eunuch Tang's."

Tang Xi chuckled. "Ancient recipes might not suit modern tastes. May I ask what recipe you found in the old book? Please share it with this old servant and broaden my horizons?"

Rong Bi casually reached for a book on a nearby shelf and handed it to him. "Page twenty-five."

Tang Xi took the book with both hands. After flipping open the pages, his eyelids fluttered slightly, but his expression remained unchanged. He merely glanced at it before closing it again and respectfully holding it back out to Rong Bi with both hands, his smile warm. "Your Highness, this recipe for Pearl Buns uses water chestnuts and lotus seeds as the pearl filling. Although the flavor is delicate, it loses its charm once steamed. It's not as good as the taro balls the Empress used back then."

Rong Bi seemed deeply intrigued. "In that case, I'll try making them all."

Tang Xi chuckled. "Since Your Highness is taking the trouble to do it yourself, allow this servant to attend to you."