Chapter 36

Chapter 36

The autumn hunt had always been a grand affair in the capital.

Though most residents never witnessed the hunt itself, living in the imperial city granted them the privilege of seeing the emperor's retinue emerge from the palace and majestically pass through Zheng Yang Gate, the city's main entrance. This spectacle alone filled them with a sense of superiority.

—"Those provincials will probably never see His Majesty's carriage in their lives, but we've seen it more than once!"

Despite such sentiments, on the day of the emperor's departure, the entire route from the imperial city to Zheng Yang Gate was under strict lockdown.

Most eager spectators, who had waited by the roadside hoping for a glimpse of the imperial carriage and a touch of good fortune, found themselves blocked by rows of soldiers. As the imperial carriage passed, they were forced to kneel, catching little more than the rolling wheels.

By the time they could straighten up, the imperial carriage was long gone, replaced by the procession of imperial relatives, nobles, and officials—along with their families—following the emperor to the hunting grounds.

Still, for the capital's armchair critics, who reveled in discussing state affairs, even this was ample material.

After all, it was a rare occasion for nearly every prominent family in the capital to parade by in order of rank and office. Standing by the roadside for a while provided enough gossip for days to come, a worthwhile endeavor for those with time on their hands.

Moreover—

"Well, I'll be! The Empress's carriage isn't here!"

"Pfft, that's old news. I told you, but you wouldn't believe me. With the princes grown, His Majesty doesn't trust any of them to stay behind. Better to leave his wife to manage things."

"Manage things? I heard His Majesty originally intended for Her Majesty to attend court with the grand ministers—nothing could proceed without their discussion and her final nod. But the ministers bickered for days, forcing the emperor to compromise. Now, the grand ministers just need her veto; if she disapproves, a swift messenger will be dispatched to the hunting grounds for His Majesty's final word."

The speaker, clad in a Hangzhou silk gown, lifted his chin and surveyed the crowd with a superior air, instantly making those around him feel belittled.

But seeing that he seemed well-informed, the onlookers, eager for gossip, swallowed their irritation.

With a smug grin, the man continued, "So, while the Empress remains in the capital and can converse with the grand ministers, she holds no real authority. She's merely a symbolic presence."

The crowd murmured in dawning realization.

"Nonsense!" Another man, unable to tolerate such flippancy, retorted, "Even if Her Majesty lacks direct authority, why would His Majesty entrust this to her and no one else? Clearly, she holds immense importance in his eyes! Though she has no sons of her own, everyone knows Prince Ping was born to a palace maid under her care—he's as good as her own!"

Sensing the conversation veering into sensitive territory, the self-proclaimed political commentators tactfully ignored the latter remark, instead marveling at the deep affection between the emperor and empress.

"Exactly! In the past, His Majesty always brought only the Empress. This time, though she didn't accompany him, none of the other consorts did either!"

"And consider where His Majesty is hunting—Phoenix Ridge! With a name like that, how could any secondary wife be worthy to go? Only the principal wife belongs there!"

As the discussion veered towards trivialities, Madam Chen, who rarely ventured out for such spectacles, discreetly wrung her handkerchief and distanced herself from the group.

Watching the continuous stream of carriages heading out of the city, a pang of regret struck Madam Chen: why hadn't her son been honored with an imperial summons to the autumn hunt? If he had gone, she, as his mother, might have seen something truly extraordinary.

Phoenix Ridge, they called it—did the mountain truly resemble a phoenix? She had never seen such a wondrous mountain in her life...

Lost in thought, she suddenly noticed the curtain of a nearby carriage twitch. A child's angelic face peeked out, with bright, lively eyes.

Madam Chen was instantly charmed, until a woman's face appeared behind the child, whispering something that made the little one pout. Then the curtain fell, obscuring the scene.

That fleeting glimpse left Madam Chen with a bitter taste, like finding an insect in a favorite dish. That half-seen woman's face—who else could it be but her former daughter-in-law, Ming Tang?

The thought that while she had knelt by the roadside, Ming Tang rode comfortably in a carriage behind the emperor's procession, perhaps even privileged to meet His Majesty and the princes, filled Madam Chen with resentment.

How unjust heaven was—why should a woman her son had discarded live so well?

Her interest gone, Madam Chen turned abruptly and, with Shu Ma and her maids, climbed into her carriage waiting in a nearby alley.

Perhaps because most of the capital's residents were out watching the spectacle, the streets were eerily deserted on the way back to the Chen residence. Peeking out, Madam Chen felt as if the city had become a ghost town. She imagined the crowds still lining the main street, likely boasting of the honor of accompanying the emperor to the hunt. Automatically, she projected those glories onto Ming Tang, making her even more resentful.

And that child who had peeked out earlier... so exquisite and beautiful, even more charming than the children in New Year's paintings.

Noticing the heavy silence in the carriage, Shu Ma hesitated a moment before asking, "Would Madam like to visit the eldest young master? Since moving to the new place, they say he's been much less fussy—very well-behaved."

The "eldest young master" was the child born to Ya Yun months earlier. Unnamed, he was simply called "Big Brother" for now. Though Madam Chen had initially doted on him, her attention had waned with the impending marriage of her son and the expected arrival of a legitimate grandson.

Lately, the child had been crying every morning, disturbing not only Chen Wenyao's sleep but also Madam Chen's in the main residence. So, when Wu Shi mentioned it, Madam Chen instantly forgot her earlier fondness for Ya Yun and had the mother and child sent away almost overnight.

Now, well-rested and free from the morning disturbances, she remembered that the boy was, after all, her own grandson. Her spirits lifted, and she directed the coachman to detour, stopping directly in the alley behind the Chen residence.

The small, three-room house Wu Shi had bought for Ya Yun was directly behind the Chen mansion, separated by just one street—a barrier that would forever prevent it from merging with the main estate. While her attendants knocked on the door, Madam Chen strode past the bowing maid without a glance, stepping over the threshold into the courtyard.

A tall locust tree dominated the small yard, its autumn leaves lending a touch of desolation.

From inside the main room, Ya Yun's voice drifted out, tinged with an indescribable tenderness: "Has my lord come?"

With that, the curtain stirred, and Ya Yun stepped out—only to freeze at the sight of Madam Chen. She quickly curtsied. "Greetings to Madam."

Madam Chen stopped, eyeing her askance. "Has Wenyao been visiting you lately?" She, his mother, hadn't heard of it.

"Only a few times... because of the eldest young master," Ya Yun replied meekly, tempering her usual delicate demeanor.

"Hmph." Madam Chen snorted, then warned, "It's only right for him to see his child. But don't you dare seduce him into anything else—if I find out, you'll regret it!"

She was eagerly awaiting a legitimate grandson. How could her son waste time with a concubine?

With that, she swept into the main room to inspect the sleeping child.

Behind her, Ya Yun murmured, "Yes, Madam."

But inwardly, she scoffed. If her lord visited again, she'd use every trick she knew to secure another pregnancy as quickly as possible.

Once the child was well along, and if neither Madam nor her lord disposed of her before the new mistress's arrival, she'd be even safer.

As a willing concubine, why pretend to virtue? The truly "virtuous" new mistress had schemed to make the child cry incessantly, forcing her into this exile. Now, she barely saw her lord—only when he remembered his son. Should she play hard to get? She wasn't a fool.

Inside, the infant, only a few months old, lay soundly asleep in his small bed, smacking his lips in his dreams, appearing utterly docile.

Madam Chen smiled. "Look at him, sleeping so soundly." She glanced at Ya Yun, who had followed her in, and nodded. "You've done well." The child was thriving.

Shu Ma chimed in, "The eldest young master cried so much before, but he's improved since moving here. The feng shui must suit him—he'll grow up clever and bright."

Madam Chen nodded. "There's truth in feng shui after all." Perhaps the capital's energies favored the Chen lineage—why else would Wenyao have passed the imperial exams so smoothly after arriving?

Gazing at the child, her smile softened. She stroked his cheek, then suddenly recalled the beautiful face she'd seen earlier that day. If only her grandson could grow up so fair... perhaps another handsome *Tanhu* in the making.

But with the child too young to speak or smile, Madam Chen soon lost interest and returned to the Chen residence.

When Wu Shi, in her eastern courtyard, learned that Madam Chen had returned through the back gate, she slammed her hairbrush onto the dressing table. "A proper lady, going to gawk at common spectacles, then stooping to visit a concubine and a bastard child—how utterly vulgar."

Her maid soothed, "Why trouble yourself, Miss? Madam is easily managed..." She lowered her voice. "Besides, though she dotes on the grandson, she'll favor a legitimate heir more. Miss should focus on conceiving soon."

Wu Shi flushed with frustration. "My lord returns so late every night, and he won't even... How am I to conceive? Must I take the initiative myself?" The very thought mortified her.

At this, the maid found it hard to continue and simply echoed, "The court has been very busy lately. Perhaps the young master is occupied because of that. It'll be better once this busy period passes."

"His rank isn’t high enough to be this busy!" Wu Shi remained displeased, muttering under her breath. Yet, recalling that Chen Wenyao had indeed become suddenly busy only in recent days, her mood improved somewhat, and she said no more. Secretly, she resolved to visit the temple another day to pray for offspring.

*

Seated in the carriage, swaying with its motion, Pei Ze had no idea he’d become someone’s ideal of a perfect child. At that moment, he pursed his lips, his face full of anxiety.

After waiting for fifteen minutes and hearing the noise outside gradually fade, he hurriedly urged Ming Tang, "Auntie, is it alright now?"

Auntie had told him that when there were too many people outside, he mustn't lift the carriage curtain, or others might mistake A Ze for a naughty child. He had to wait until the crowd thinned and no one could see before he could do so.

But Auntie hadn't said when the outside would become less crowded...

Seeing Ming Tang still shaking her head, Pei Ze despondently cupped his face in his hands, thinking: Being good is so hard. Maybe A Ze shouldn’t be good...