Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Empress Xu, once the celebrated noble daughter of the Xu family in the capital, then married the emperor when he was still a prince. She was a pillar of support behind his ascension to the throne, earning a reputation for virtue. Naturally reserved, she disliked conflict and had a gentle, aloof demeanor. After the Crown Prince was born, she rarely involved herself in court affairs, often visiting temples to pray and handing over the trivial affairs of the inner palace to other consorts.

This woman, once so detached from worldly matters, later schemed multiple times for the false Crown Prince, turning the Xu family into a backing force behind him.

Ying Fusheng hadn’t seen her in many years. When he learned of her identity, he was already confined to the Cold Palace. He vaguely remembered palace rumors that Empress Xu was in poor health, but trapped there, he never saw her again. In later years, he sent tokens to her through others, but they were never received, lost without a trace.

Of this birth mother, what lingered most in his memory was her eyes.

He looked away, hiding his emotions.

Empress Xu merely glanced at Ying Fusheng, then turned to murmur a few words to the Crown Prince, a rare softness in her eyes.

Consort Ning’s face darkened at Ying Fusheng’s arrival. She hadn’t expected this brat to even have the strength to leave his room. “Sheng’er!”

The Sixth Prince’s arrival did nothing to ease the tension in Cining Palace. Few present had seen much of him; he performed poorly in his studies, was often sick, and frequently missed palace banquets. In the eyes of the inner palace consorts, he was timid, reclusive, and taciturn, rarely mingling with other princes.

As probing gazes fell on him, Ying Fusheng ignored Consort Ning’s call, completed the customary courtesies with full propriety, and got straight to the point: “Grandmother, the incident at Wangyue Pavilion is peculiar. I urge a full investigation.”

“Sheng’er, why are you out!” Consort Ning panicked. She had always disliked Ying Fusheng appearing in public, afraid he might draw attention. As a child, it was manageable, but as he grew, his features bore no resemblance to the Ning family. The Nings were generally tall and sturdy, while Ying Fusheng was slight of frame, the difference stark.

For this reason, Consort Ning preferred him to stay out of sight. She had even suppressed news of his severe illness to avoid stirring up trouble during the Empress Dowager’s birthday festivities. Yet here this wretch was, flaunting himself.

Ying Fusheng remained composed inside. Hearing Consort Ning’s words, he forced a worried expression, feeling sick inside, yet his face showed feigned concern. Before speaking, he coughed weakly. Kneeling, he looked up at the Empress Dowager, who was examining him in her anger.

“If you’ve come to plead for your mother, don’t bother,” the Empress Dowager said, frowning. She waved dismissively, signaling for Ying Fusheng to be taken away. She had little impression of this grandson. Seeing his frail frame and overly timid demeanor, coupled with Consort Ning’s involvement in the Wangyue Pavilion affair, she felt no goodwill toward him.

The braziers in the hall blazed hot, the warmth seeping over Ying Fusheng. He caught the Empress Dowager’s gaze, knowing she, once the daughter of a martial family, loathed weakness. Steadying his voice, he said, “The Wangyue Pavilion incident happened barely two hours ago. Many details remain unexamined. With the birthday banquet coming up, palace personnel inspections have been meticulous. No problems turned up for days. Yet the trouble hit during the monthly beast patrol at the Imperial Menagerie. The cause may go beyond Wangyue Pavilion. Furthermore, Mother has diligently prepared the banquet. All know the pavilion was her charge. If trouble arose, she could not escape blame…”

He paused, breathing heavily, and coughed again.

Ying Fusheng’s voice was low, weakened by illness, forcing those present to listen closely.

His words, just loud enough, reached the ears of several people in the hall.

From the high seats, Empress Xu and the Crown Prince turned their attention to Ying Fusheng.

Consort Ning didn’t want him to stand out. At worst, she’d be punished and lose a few hidden informants, pinning the blame on servants. “Your Grace, the child is delirious from fever…”

But the Empress Dowager paused, thinking over his words. After the incident, the palace guards had searched thoroughly without finding a trace. Consort Ning was summoned because she was the most convenient scapegoat. Yet the affair was strange—no other consorts or affairs were nearby when it happened. If Consort Ning were behind it, why would she bring trouble on herself for no reason?

The Sixth Prince was known in the palace as timid and feeble. Yet when Consort Ning was in trouble, he could argue so clearly on her behalf. Many in the hall watched the prince. He seemed cautious, and his reasoning was slow but coherent.

“You’re suggesting someone framed your mother?” the Empress Dowager asked.

Ying Fusheng quickly denied it: “Grandson wouldn’t dare presume that. I just feel there’s more to this; such a conclusion is too hasty.”

This was a public challenge to the Empress Dowager’s judgment. Those present were startled. The Empress Dowager had ordered the investigation, and the Crown Prince had carried it out—the Sixth Prince’s words targeted both.

As expected, a voice followed.

Beside the Empress Dowager, the Crown Prince’s sharp gaze landed on Ying Fusheng. “Sixth Brother finds it hasty?”

Consort Ning’s heart raced. She wanted to muzzle this brat—being summoned by the Empress Dowager was a minor punishment at worst, but if Ying Fusheng kept talking, the stakes would rise. She glared at him, but he knelt meekly, avoiding her warning look.

Without lifting his head, Ying Fusheng lowered his body, eyelids drooping. “Grandmother’s birthday draws near. Wangyue Pavilion cannot fail. Grandson believes it must be investigated, and thoroughly!”

Silence fell. Others looked to the Empress Dowager.

Unexpectedly, she didn’t grow angry. Instead, regarding Ying Fusheng, her tone softened. “Since you say so, what have you found?”

Hearing this, Ying Fusheng hid the scheming in his eyes. He knew what piqued her interest.

Being reborn at this point was a passive position. Getting out of Weiyang Palace was extremely hard. Only when Consort Ning was in trouble did he have room to maneuver. But this risked drawing fire—one wrong step and he’d be consumed. He had to come, had to see the Empress Dowager for his next move.

The Empress Dowager, unlike other consorts in her youth, was bold and principled. Showing weakness before her was like a losing move, draining her patience. Only direct hits worked.

He knew she’d listened, that his gamble had paid off. “Grandson has ordered servants to investigate. This is the detailed log of Wangyue Pavilion in recent days.”

Nearby, the eunuch from Weiyang Palace finally dared to move, presenting the records to the Empress Dowager.

The Crown Prince glanced at Ying Fusheng. Had he found nothing?

The Empress Dowager frowned. The eunuch whispered explanations. Even before Weiyang Palace’s people reached Wangyue Pavilion, news had already reached her. The eunuch reported that the Sixth Prince was meticulously inspecting the treasures and paintings displayed there. These items, brought from outside the city to decorate the pavilion for the birthday, had been Consort Ning’s recent focus.

These were also checked by the Empress Dowager, even for poison, to no avail.

Her patience wore thin. “What’s the issue?”

“There is one,” Ying Fusheng said, then turning to the beast tamer. “Beasts follow instinct. The Imperial Menagerie is some distance from Wangyue Pavilion. After breaking free, the cage beast didn’t head for where more servants were but charged straight for the pavilion. Grandson suspects something inside attracted it.”

The beast tamer replied, “Your Grace, the Sixth Prince’s reasoning holds merit.”

“Everything inside was inspected upon entry. If something were problematic, it wouldn’t have been brought in. By your logic, only servants entering and leaving the pavilion could tamper with it. Grandmother, when the palace guards searched, the hounds were more excited than usual but found no poison.” The Crown Prince immediately spotted a flaw in Ying Fusheng’s argument. “How do you prove this isn’t tied to your mother?”

“There’s one thing easily overlooked,” Ying Fusheng said.

“What?” the Empress Dowager asked.

“Incense,” he replied. “Hounds’ senses are keen; they react to such things.”

This was plausible. Incense would be examined by physicians, while hounds only checked surfaces—an oversight. At his words, the Empress Dowager ordered an immediate check. The beast attack had thrown Wangyue Pavilion into chaos, leaving only traces of ash from incense urns.

Presented to the hounds, the ash caused notable excitement, though not to frenzy—insufficient to clear Consort Ning.

“Hounds are trained, intelligent, and controlled. Even excited, they obey the tamer,” Ying Fusheng said, drawing a deep breath. “Grandmother, the Wangyue Pavilion incident likely isn’t an ill omen.”

Not an ill omen? All were astonished. Empress Xu shifted her gaze, also looking at him.

Even if the incense passed scrutiny, how could this alone rule out an omen?

“You claim it’s not an omen. Are you pleading for your mother?” the Empress Dowager asked.

“Grandson learned that the beast attacking the pavilion was a tiger cat,” Ying Fusheng said.

This wasn’t secret—those who knew of the omen knew this.

Kneeling, his voice hoarse from days of illness, he controlled his tone. “The disturbance in the Imperial Menagerie likely stems from the incense. I read in miscellany that some herbs, potent and mildly toxic, are often deemed harmless and used as medicinal supplements. They’re common. Yet, they have a peculiar effect—they can drive cats into a frenzy.”

Frenzy—exactly like today’s event.

As the atmosphere eased, Consort Ning felt no relief at her impending exoneration. Instead, she coldly eyed Ying Fusheng. Watching others drawn to his talk of catnip’s effects, including the Empress Dowager and Empress, her anxiety grew. She grabbed him, snapping, “You foolish child, what nonsense! Can you trust idle books?”

Ying Fusheng feigned timidity, stumbling toward her at her pull.

“Consort Ning,” the Empress Dowager interjected.

Consort Ning hadn’t expected her light tug to knock him over. Hastily, she explained, “The child is delirious, speaking wildly.”

Ying Fusheng barely managed to kneel upright and explained, "It concerns Mother Consort, I dare not speak falsely."

The Empress Dowager's brow finally relaxed, but still puzzled, she said, "Summon Chu Taiyi."

Soon, a court physician arrived in response to the summons.

As soon as he arrived, the Empress Dowager ordered him to identify the incense.

The physician pinched the powder and examined it carefully, his expression grave. Everyone in the hall awaited Chu Taiyi's conclusion.

After a long moment, Chu Taiyi cautiously concluded, "In this incense, besides Consort Ning's formula, there are some special medicinal herbs mixed in, like Actinidia polygama (silver vine)."

Upon hearing "silver vine," those slightly familiar with pharmacology immediately understood.

Seeing the Empress Dowager's confusion, the physician explained, "Your Majesty, these herbs like silver vine are often used as guiding herbs and are common in ordinary prescriptions."

Ying Fusheng remained silent, knowing that the plan had worked.

Silver vine is not a rare herb. In his previous life, Ying Fusheng suffered from chronic body pain, and silver vine could promote blood circulation, relieve pain, and calm the mind and nerves. He had used it for years, and over time, he learned that this herb had an effect unknown to most people.

Human sense of smell is not acute; the dogs and beasts in the palace are specially trained to control themselves. But fierce beasts have exceptionally keen senses, and their wild nature is hard to suppress. When this substance reaches a certain amount, animals like lynxes and leopards would be attracted to the scent.

Silver vine would briefly excite these animals but is harmless to them, and it would not be detected by the beast tamers.

For the fierce beasts that had been confined in the animal sheds for a long time, this substance could arouse their wild instincts to the utmost, causing them to become excessively agitated.

Seeing that the Empress Dowager had sent people to investigate, Ying Fusheng then slowly continued, "Mother Consort was very careful with the Moonview Pavilion; the incense was recently prepared by a master perfumer to have calming and soothing effects. Silver vine is similar to some incense ingredients, and if they were mixed up, it could have been mistaken. This substance is non-toxic to humans; in small doses, it can even calm the mind and brighten the eyes. Perhaps it was a mistake."

The beast tamer followed a fixed route when letting the animals out. He had Song An deliberately scatter silver vine along these routes to attract the fierce beasts to the Moonview Pavilion. As long as they reached the Moonview Pavilion, his goal would be achieved.

Many people had trodden through the snow, and the Imperial Guard's movements were particularly heavy. With the cold weather persisting these days, the powdered silver vine left in the snow lingered for a long time. However, once the Imperial Guard launched a thorough investigation, disturbing the snowy ground, these powders would melt with the snow and sink into the soil. The small amount of remaining powder, when examined by the Guard, would likely be dismissed as accidental spillage from palace attendants carrying spices, arousing no suspicion.

Moreover, with the Empress Dowager's presence today, the Imperial Guard had been waiting outside. One or two tigers escaping, with a beast tamer nearby, was no great challenge for the battle-hardened Guard.

After hearing the physician's explanation, the Empress Dowager frowned and asked the beast tamer, "Is this true?"

"Your Imperial Highness, there are indeed some folk methods for taming beasts. I have heard that certain herbs can soothe an animal's mood," the beast tamer replied truthfully. "Such herbs are not found within the imperial city; they must have come in with the spice deliveries. The Sixth Prince's reasoning is not without merit. If Your Imperial Highness has doubts, you could order some silver vine brought here to test it."

Soon, attendants fetched some silver vine, as the Empress Dowager's palace happened to keep several cats. When the silver vine was placed before them, the cats rolled over, mewled, and gnawed on it in utter excitement.

Cats were usually lethargic in winter, but this sight intrigued the Empress Dowager. She had never expected such a small thing could have such a remarkable effect. She had always loved these animals and had even replaced several groups of attendants because the cats were too inactive, never realizing this herb could work wonders.

The Imperial Guard also took some cats to the Moon-Gazing Pavilion to investigate. They found traces of powder residue on some of the spice stands and in the surrounding environment. This fully explained the scene: although the tigers had attacked, they were more drawn by the scent of the herbs, appearing frenzied but easily avoided by others. If not for this, it would have been difficult to escape without casualties under those circumstances. If the herb had such an effect, then all the doubts were resolved.

"Your Imperial Highness, this appears to be the case," reported the Imperial Guard.

Consort Ning hadn't expected things to go exactly as Ying Fusheng had said. She looked at him, only to meet his gaze. His eyes were as flat and devoid of emotion as when he had first opened them during his illness days ago, yet they carried an eerie chill. For a moment, she found herself unable to speak, and then Ying Fusheng began—

"I do not believe this is an ill omen," said Ying Fusheng.

The Empress Dowager looked at him. "How so?"

Ying Fusheng continued, "Grandmother treats all living beings with kindness, and Father Emperor's triumphant return is a joyous occasion for the entire court. Though this incident was an accident, it harmed no one. Instead, it revitalized the listless beasts of the Imperial Menagerie. Their wild nature is unavoidable, but couldn't this be seen as all creation celebrating this omen?"

At these words, the hall fell silent for a moment.

The Crown Prince beside him looked at the kneeling Ying Fusheng. Seeing the hall silent and the Empress Dowager's expression softening, he seized the opportunity to step forward and say, "Grandmother, the Sixth Brother is right—this is an auspicious omen."

"Yes, it's an auspicious omen!"

"Congratulations to Her Majesty, this is a good sign!"

Others chimed in with a few words, following the Crown Prince's lead to join in congratulating Her Majesty.

Ying Fusheng knelt, his gaze fixed on the Crown Prince. This man never missed an opportunity.

A flicker of coldness passed through his eyes. He said nothing more, only slightly bowed his head, knowing that his scheme was nearing completion.

The ominous omen turned auspicious, and the Empress Dowager's brows finally relaxed completely. The incident at Wangyue Court would inevitably stir rumors if spread, but with Ying Fusheng's few words turning the ill omen into a blessing, and since no serious harm had been done, if slightly embellished, it could spread as a double celebration—a joyous event blessed by all.

The Sixth Prince turned the bad omen of the beast attack into a good one. The palace servants, who had nearly lost their heads over the bad omen, looked at him gratefully. The Sixth Prince remained kneeling, his complexion still somewhat pale. As he knelt upright, there was a faint sharpness about him. The Empress Dowager, playing with the cats, could not help but look down at the child kneeling below. From where she sat, she noticed that his features bore a resemblance to the current Emperor in his youth.

The current Emperor, trained in martial arts from a young age under her guidance, was slightly thinner than the other princes due to years of practice.

As a child, there was hardly any flesh on his face, making him especially similar to the current Ying Fusheng.

Consort Ning had kept to herself for years, and even this prince of hers rarely came to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. She still thought of him as she had when he was a child. A few days ago, when she heard he had fallen into water and caught a chill, she had sent people to check on him several times. Consort Ning said the illness was not severe, but judging by his current state, he still hadn't fully recovered.

Her mood lifted somewhat thanks to the cats. Seeing that the boy had come to beg for his mother even though he was sick showed he was filial. Her impression of Ying Fusheng improved.

The more she looked, the more she liked his face.

"Little Six speaks well—this is an auspicious omen," the Empress Dowager declared. At her words, the others in the palace immediately understood how to proceed.

Consort Ning broke out in a cold sweat. Though displeased inside, she had no choice but to acknowledge this little bastard's contribution.

"Why is he still kneeling? The Sixth Prince is still ill. Give him a seat," said the Empress.

Ying Fusheng looked up at the speaker, his expression unreadable.

The Empress's words jerked the others back to their senses. Only then did they realize that the Sixth Prince had been kneeling all this time. Several palace servants hurried forward to help him. They saw the Sixth Prince rise, his face pale. He bowed slightly as if to thank them, but at that moment, his body swayed, and he collapsed, fainting and falling to the floor.