Chapter 84

Chapter 84

◎Combined Two Chapters◎

"Empress, the emperor has sent several boxes of autumn plums. They appear undamaged, so I brought them all over," Chief Steward Qin An announced from outside.

Huiyin opened the boxes and had a dish washed for tasting. The plums were a deep purple with a red tint, both sour and sweet—just the right flavor. After her menstruation passed, she felt revitalized, her skin had improved, and she was in an excellent mood, especially with the food specially sent by Li Cheng.

Seeing Ling Lu bring tea over, Huiyin quickly said, "I just ate plums and can't drink hot tea yet, or my stomach will hurt. You can take it and drink it yourself. Also, please keep this box of plums for me."

Ling Lu smiled and replied, "Yes, His Majesty is truly good to you, remembering how much you love plums. We didn't even know."

"I love eating these, but I love them too much, which is why my stomach hurts easily. Usually, I just don't have them delivered. I didn't expect the emperor to remember. I vaguely recall these are from Lingnan. It would be laborious and costly to continue doing this. I'll write a letter to him, asking him not to worry about me in the future." Huiyin shook her head.

Ling Lu said, "If it were any other monarch, I wouldn't dare to guarantee, but our emperor truly cares for his people and would never cause laborious and costly actions."

The plums were a small matter. As winter approached, the palace began preparing winter clothes. Huiyin instructed the wardrobe department to make clothes for the palace residents first, including the Empress Dowager, Princess Wei, Yin Cifei, Princess Jianjia, Prince Yuzhang, and others. Clothes were also made for Jing'er and Zhan'er, and even Guo Xing, who lived in the palace.

At the same time, Huiyin sent some warm clothing to the imperial mausoleum, saying, "They guard the mausoleum and can't leave. It's hard work."

Previously, Cui Yuehuan thought Huiyin wanted to let the people at the mausoleum fend for themselves. Unexpectedly, she sent cotton clothes and quilts, and Madame Ji remarked at home, "I must say, the Empress is indeed too kind."

Elder Madame Xu, sitting above, uncharacteristically agreed, "If you don't remove the roots, they'll just grow back when spring comes. Those people are descendants of the disgraced crown prince, causing misery. Given her young age, Madam should also advise her."

Referring to the Empress as "she" was something only Elder Madame Xu would dare to do.

Madame Ji, who used to endure silently, now felt the need to speak, "Madam Xu, please be careful with your words. The Empress is wise and compassionate, far beyond our ability to judge."

Elder Madame Xu almost blurted out that she was the elder but remembered that Huiyin was the Empress. Her face flushed with embarrassment. Sitting nearby, De Yin, aware that her grandmother was standing up for her, felt a mix of resentment towards the palace people, especially since Li Heng had drugged her.

Thus, she helped smooth things over, "Madam, this is the tea I brewed myself. Please try it."

Madame Ji graciously accepted the gesture, praising De Yin, "Your tea-brewing skills are excellent."

De Yin humbly replied, aware that her poor health required constant medical attention, which Madame Ji diligently arranged. She no longer harbored the same hostility towards others; at least Madame Ji didn't deliberately withhold anything from her. Living under someone else's roof, enduring some grievances was inevitable.

Madame Xin chimed in, "I remember the eldest young miss used to have a maid who was exceptionally skilled at brewing tea, capable of thirty-six tea arts."

That was Yunzhi, but she betrayed her. De Yin didn't want to mention her anymore.

Imperial Mausoleum

Yunzhi emptied the chamber pot early in the morning and hurried back to her room to dress her daughter and lift her clothes for her son to nurse. After finishing these tasks, she broke out in a sweat.

When she left the palace, she had some silver for rewards. Princess Wei forbade them to take anything, but money talks, and she used these funds to get extra food for her daughter and some rice paste. For herself, she was content with cornmeal porridge, a small dish of pickles, and a palm-sized bun.

However, winter was approaching, and the quilts were too thin, the jackets mere lined clothes, offering no warmth.

If her lady could send some, it would be wonderful. As the elder sister of Princess Wei, she should be treated kindly. Initially, she did betray her lady, but she never harmed her and even actively helped her during difficult times.

She was disappointed; instead, it was Princess Wei who sent the cotton clothes, delivered by her own brother.

When Huiyin asked Pei Shuo to deliver the clothes, she gave him a task: observe how the Wei family woman lived. If she treated these as treasures, it indicated she wasn't adapting and had no support. If she appeared indifferent, even disdainful, and had better items in her room, it suggested she had secret support.

Wei Liangdi, having borne the emperor's first son, was not someone Wei Duo would abandon entirely. It wasn't that Wei Duo loved and valued his daughter and grandson so much, but in his current situation, claiming the title of emperor meant facing greater opposition. Thus, under the guise of Li's descendants, Wei Liangdi's son was under strict surveillance.

Yunzhi was delighted to receive the quilts and even more so when she saw the cotton clothes. Though the fabric was indigo linen, which was relatively expensive, the cotton clothes were still very good. Holding her daughter's hand, she said joyfully, "This is wonderful. We can get through this winter comfortably."

Upon seeing this, Wei Liangdi, who was standing nearby, had a look of mockery in her eyes.

The distributor of the cotton clothes called out, "Wei, come and get yours."

Wei Liangdi, who was once the daughter of a chancellor like Wei Duo and the top figure under the Eastern Palace, was being treated this way. Furious, she grabbed the cotton clothes and mattress, and upon entering her room, threw them on the floor and stomped on them, saying, "One day, when my son becomes emperor, I'll make you all cry."

……

Pei Shuo couldn't help but admire his sister. Instead of immediately checking the people on the list, she took a different approach and sent him to investigate Wei Liangdi first. It turned out to be a fruitful decision.

He pretended to return with his team but doubled back to observe the surroundings.

As for Huiyin, after receiving the list, she couldn't fully trust it. As she had done this time, Huiyin asked them to verify two points: first, whether their backgrounds matched what they claimed, and second, whether their families had recently become wealthy.

However, these points could also be falsified, so she only used them as a reference and didn't fully trust them.

"The Empress Dowager has submitted a request to enter again," said Nanny Nan.

This Madam Ma was Xun Rou. After returning to the capital, Xun Rou's father thought she wasn't capable and wanted to marry her off as a second wife because her dowry wasn't much. However, her father passed away that year, and Xun Rou requested to observe three years of mourning. Later, when news came that the Prince of Huaiyin had annexed Qingzhou and Yanzhou, Xun Rou used this to prevent her stepmother from marrying her off easily, eventually choosing a promising young man, Ma Sichu, who was the military registrar of Linzhou at the time.

In fact, Xun Rou's life wasn't too bad. Huiyin had only made her taste the bitter fruit of her own design, but these rumors hadn't reached her hometown. She was being sent back to her family for marriage due to her age.

Since Li Cheng ascended the throne, Xun Rou had repeatedly requested to enter the palace to visit the Empress Dowager. However, since Huiyin was managing the palace affairs, she had the authority to decide who could visit and who couldn't.

The Empress Dowager was someone who was often confused, and Xun Rou was full of schemes. Putting these two together wouldn't lead to anything good.

"Ignore the request; there's no need to respond," said Huiyin.

The Empress Dowager was getting old, like Elder Madame Xu, not in power but with a high status. Knowing they were old, people couldn't do much about them.

Hearing Huiyin's response, Nanny Nan also breathed a sigh of relief. "It should be like this. Xun Rou isn't a good person; she has many tricks and schemes up her sleeve."

Huiyin smiled. "I'm not stupid. Why would I let her come? She's just the wife of a military registrar; what qualifications does she have to request an audience?" Oh, by the way, I saw that the prince's clothes were made very well yesterday. Please take four strings of cash to reward the clothes officer of the Imperial Clothes Bureau for their excellent work."

Nanny Nan left to carry out the order. This Clothes Officer Zhong was said to have a sister who recently bought a three-courtyard house and whose son had married with a generous dowry, raising suspicions within the Cui family.

Moreover, Clothes Officer Zhong had originally been under Empress He, which was already problematic. After being warned last time, the Imperial Clothes Bureau had been very diligent in their work.

However, Huiyin didn't directly deal with Clothes Officer Zhong. Instead, she publicly rewarded her to see how the person behind her would react.

If Clothes Officer Zhong wasn't a spy, and someone aware of the list knew it contained Clothes Officer Zhong, would they send an anonymous tip? If something happened to Clothes Officer Zhong or if she was reported and exposed, the spy might take Clothes Officer Zhong's position.

Upon receiving the reward from Huiyin, Clothes Officer Zhong was delighted, not because of the money itself, but because it represented the Empress's trust in her.

At her age, never having married and working hard to reach the position of Clothes Officer, it was hard to leave the palace where she was still respectfully called Lady Superintendent. Now trusted by the new Empress, Zhong used the reward money to buy wine and food for the Imperial Clothes Bureau staff.

"Today, the Empress rewarded me. While it’s credited to me, it couldn’t have happened without everyone’s help."

Having a meal with Clothes Officer Zhong were two Clothing Officers, two Garment Officers, and four Ladies, all from the Clothes Department. Currently, the Imperial Clothes Bureau had four departments, and Clothes Officer Zhong had temporarily managed the bureau, with the deepest seniority, making her a likely candidate for the next Lady Superintendent.

However, the decision rested with the Empress, so she personally oversaw the clothing production.

"It's all thanks to Clothes Officer Zhong's efforts; we just did some minor work."

Everyone laughed.

Another Garment Officer sitting nearby said, "I heard that the Head of the Ornament Department also intends to become the Lady Superintendent. The Empress was very pleased with a bath fragrance formula she presented the other day."

Clothes Officer Zhong glanced at Cai Zhangyi and thought to herself that she had been the one to recruit Cai Zhangyi, who was still quite junior in rank. However, it was always Cai Zhangyi who paid attention to details for her, acting as a sort of confidante. This was in contrast to the two lower-ranking officials beneath her, who were eyeing her position with envy.

Unbeknownst to her, Cai Zhangyi was a hidden spy planted by the Weis. Before Wei Liangdi entered the palace, the palace was recruiting female officials, and Cai Zhangyi had joined at that time. Yet, she remained just a Zhangyi and had not even been promoted to the rank of official. Clothes Officer Zhong was a very meticulous and hands-on person, managing the Bureau of Clothing tightly, which made it difficult for anyone to take action under her watch.

In recent days, there was news that the Empress had begun to suspect Clothes Officer Zhong. With a little push, if Zhong were to leave, the two incoming officials would not be as meticulous and would be more eager for quick success, making things easier to manage.

Children's skin is delicate. If they wear clothes soaked in poison, they would die without a clear cause, unlike in the kitchen where food is tested for toxins. Clothes are never tested in the same way.

Cai Zhangyi secretly stirred up trouble, hoping for a conflict to arise between Clothes Officer Zhong and another official.

After three days, Pei Shuo asked for an audience. Huiyin met her brother in a side hall and had her trusted aides guard the door.

"Brother, how did it go?" Huiyin asked.

Pei Shuo replied, "Your Majesty is exactly right. That woman from the Wei family appeared no different from other women on the surface, but she had warm quilts and carefully prepared food. I feared I might misjudge if she had used money, so I had someone search her room when she was unaware. No silver was found, and the fur came from places like Jinzhou. At night, an old woman delivering night soil often sneaked in to deliver food. I followed her for two days, only to find out she was disguised. She has been captured."

"Good. We should have a clearer picture soon. If we can find their base, there might be other uses for it," Huiyin said.

Pei Shuo then asked, "Should this matter be reported to His Majesty?"

Huiyin shook her head, "No need to trouble His Majesty yet. He is occupied with war and might get distracted."

The siblings chatted casually for a few more sentences before dismissing.

Huiyin then went to pay her respects to Empress Dowager. She specially brought some milk cakes and said, "Your Majesty, I tasted these milk cakes in the kitchen, and they were soft and flavorful. I offer them to the Ancestor."

At her age, Empress Dowager preferred easily digestible food. Seeing the box open to reveal the white and tender pastries, she couldn’t help but ask, "Are there any for the Crown Prince and the Second Prince? They enjoy these kinds of snacks."

"Rest assured, they each have some. Your Majesty, how has your health been lately? The weather is getting colder, and you must take good care of yourself," Huiyin said with a smile.

Empress Dowager nodded.

After some polite exchanges, Huiyin excused herself. After she left, Empress Dowager muttered, "The Zheng family often visits her, but few from our Xun family enter the palace, and when they do, they just follow the crowd."

Nanny Fan had long been Huiyin's ally. She thought to herself that since Xun Rou had done those things on her orders, Huiyin was now eyeing her again. And Marchioness Xun, who were both grandchildren of Empress Dowager, what feelings did they truly have for the Grand Empress Dowager?

But she couldn’t say that. Nanny Fan said, "Your Majesty, I heard that every time someone visits the Empress, rewards are given. Even the Empress privately complains that the storeroom items are insufficient. Since you are now a Marquise, if the Xun family comes to the palace asking for rewards or official positions, it would be difficult for you to grant their requests. Even if you do, it’s better to wait until the Emperor returns to have a say."

Empress Dowager's attention was oddly drawn to something else, "Are you saying the Empress is also short of money?"

Nanny Fan nodded, "Exactly. The Emperor is fighting wars outside and needs money. The internal treasury has been exhausted. Now, with many people in the palace needing their allowances and external meritorious officials requiring rewards, even Princess Wei living here needs help building a house. In winter, the entire palace makes winter clothes. To show the new court's benevolence, I heard the Empress said her relatives wouldn’t enter the palace for some time."

Empress Dowager's private treasury was quite abundant, so it was fine to reward her natal family, but if the Empress was short of money and she herself gave lavish rewards to her natal family, what if the Empress asked her for money? What would she do then?

With that thought, Empress Dowager decided to hold off.

**

Late at night, Huiyin looked at the list: Clothes Officer Zhong, Jiang Siyishi, Peng Neishi of the Gongde Hall, and the palace maid from the flower room in Linde Hall. The first four had suddenly become wealthy, while the last one's background was completely off.

"Fugui, the maid named Rou'er from the flower room is already twenty years old, right?" Huiyin asked.

Fugui confirmed, "Yes, she is twenty this year."

"How is her work?"

"She is quite meticulous, appears gentle and quiet, doesn’t talk much, and is liked by everyone."

"Tomorrow, find an opportunity to search her room. If you find any heavy gold or medicine packets, take her into custody immediately," Huiyin ordered.

She needed to act on the most obvious person on the list first, making them believe she trusted Cui Yuehua’s list. Naturally, the so-called evidence would be delivered to her, and everyone on the chain of connections would be implicated.

Fugui moved swiftly. She first had Rou'er deliver some flower pots to Elder Madame Xu, then searched her own quarters thoroughly but found nothing out of the ordinary. She had Lingjiu restore everything to its original state and erased the footprints, leaving her to stand guard.

When Rou'er returned after delivering the flowers, she was covered in mud and needed to change clothes. Lingjiu, hiding on the rafters, watched as she stripped off her outer garments and changed. Lingjiu waited until Rou'er left and inspected her again but found nothing.

Lingjiu reported back to Huiyin: "Your Majesty, there was nothing unusual. There was nothing on her."

"Was she wearing any jewelry on her head or body?" Huiyin narrowed her eyes.

Lingjiu thought for a moment. "Yes, a thin silver hairpin with amber at the tip."

"Take the hairpin apart and see if there's anything inside," Huiyin ordered.

Lingjiu nodded. Within a day, she returned to report: "Your Majesty, you were right. The hairpin contained a powder made from withered vines. The imperial doctors said that if placed on flowers, it could cause adults to vomit uncontrollably and might be fatal to children. No wonder we noticed you, who love flowers, haven’t been sending or receiving any recently."

Huiyin sighed. "It's impossible to guard against everything. I'm not omnipotent. Fortunately, this Rou'er wasn't too vicious. She can't be kept around. Her crimes should be made public, and the Palace Affairs Bureau should interrogate her. Ideally, she'll reveal her accomplices. If she doesn't confess, ensure she doesn’t die too soon. After her death, announce that she killed herself before we could extract a full confession."

Once the order was given, the Palace Affairs Bureau moved swiftly. Despite Rou'er's seemingly gentle name, she was tough and refused to talk. It wasn't until Huiyin gave a specific command that she broke, revealing that Xiao Neishi from the laundry bureau, who was often bullied, had been relaying messages for her.

Xiao Neishi and Rou'er were both executed on the spot for plotting against the imperial heirs and being spies for the Weis. Their heads were displayed for three days.

The incident shocked everyone. When Cui Yuehuan saw the heads hanging on the city wall, she flinched.

"This should serve as a deterrent."

Even Yin Lifang and Princess Wei, hearing of the event, visited Huiyin's palace. They comforted her but were also somewhat frightened. Yin Lifang wasn't surprised. Her sister had once mentioned how ruthless Princess Zheng could be toward her rivals. Now, facing someone who truly intended harm against the crown prince, she would be even less merciful.

As for Xun Rou, she had planned to use her improved circumstances to visit Elder Madame Xu and seek revenge. But seeing the heads on display made her faint, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

"Better to stay home quietly," she thought.

Elder Madame Xu also fell silent. Huiyin generally disliked violent people, but Li Heng and Huiyin were known to be ruthless. It was no wonder that in a previous life, Li Heng and Huiyin were a couple, and in this life, Li Cheng and Huiyin were as well.

...

Cai Dianyi, observing secretly, saw how the empress dealt with the palace maid who plotted against the crown prince. Emboldened, she began using her connections. She wrote an anonymous letter and, late at night, slipped it under the door of the Linde Palace. She also placed a packet of poison under Clothes Officer Zhong's bedding.

She believed that even if the empress investigated, she wouldn't trace it back to her. After all, she had nothing on her at the moment.

That night, she thought to herself that if this succeeded, the Weis would certainly reward her and her family. Her father, in his fifties and long disheartened in his career, would have a brighter future with the Weis' support.

Unexpectedly, the next morning, Zhong stood at her door. Zhong looked at her coldly. "I didn't expect you to be an eye of the Weis and try to frame me."

Cai Dianyi, not fully dressed, was confused. "Clothes Officer, what are you saying?"

Wasn't the empress supposed to come for her? After all, Rou'er was executed based solely on the poison.

Zhong said, "The Clothes Office has someone like you attempting to frame me. Your accomplice has already been caught. Empress Huiyin said your family has been detained by General Pei. The old woman, Qiao, you were in contact with, has also been captured. If you cooperate, the empress might allow you to see your father. If not, your fate will be the same as Rou'er’s."

Cai Dianyi, being of a higher rank than Rou'er, led to the discovery and elimination of ten hidden Weis agents.

...

Later, Madame Ji entered the palace and asked, "I didn't expect Clothes Officer Zhong to be innocent. How did you know there was a problem with Cai Dianyi?"

Huiyin smiled. "It was a case of mistaken identity. The emperor had warned me, but I already knew how to handle it. It’s absurd how Wei Duo has suffered such a loss!"