YeYao City.
Inside the Imperial Palace.
The ministers in the morning court finally welcomed their monarch.
Since the field hunt, the palace had been in chaos. The Ninth Prince and the two little princesses were killed in the fire, additionally, some imperial concubines also lost their lives in the sea of flames. Now, this unrest had finally quelled a bit. His Majesty was also burdened by these events and the dragon body had fallen ill, because of which he did not attend morning court, however, the theory of alien star had spread far and wide like wildfire and was almost universally known.
During this eventful time, another filthy and disgraceful scandal broke out in the harem that alarmed the Imperial Court!
As soon as the matter was revealed, everyone was surprised and His Majesty also appeared in the court.
They saw that Emperor Cang He, Qi Xutian’s face was dark as he leaned against the dragon throne. His somewhat narrowed eyes concealed his hawk-like sharp gaze and the depth in his eyes was unfathomable.
His long, slender fingers gently tapped on the armrest of the dragon throne. Once, twice, each tap directly fell onto the hearts of the courtiers below. His Majesty had always been fickle and unpredictable, but it had become better ever since the Second Prince came. However, right now, the Second Prince was rumoured to be the alien star and hadn’t appeared before the public for a long time, even so, His Majesty’s unfathomable and unpredictable nature was more alarming.
The long silence in the hall made the atmosphere heavy and suffocating. The ministers bowed their heads, and no one dared to speak first, they just kept giving Chief Liu, who was next to His Majesty, indicative looks.
Chief Liu stood quietly, intending to turn a blind eye to the gestures from below, but after five or six times, he finally bowed slightly to the monarch on the dragon throne and said, “Your Majesty, the matter of Hua Fengjin[1] messing around in the harem has been confirmed. All the evidence is here, please make your decision.”
[1] Her actual name is Jing Fenghua, but when she entered the palace as a consort, she was renamed Hua Fengjin.
The hand tapping the armrest stopped. Qi Xutian lifted his eyes and his gaze swept over all the ministers below. In a plain tone of voice that signified neither anger nor joy, he spoke, “Bring her up.”
When the ministers saw Qi Xutian speak, they immediately breathed a sigh of relief. They feared that the matter would arouse His Majesty's wrath, then they would not be able to live in peace.
Hua Fengjin messed up in the harem. Although she was in the Cold Palace, she still belonged to the harem and this was a matter concerning the imperial household’s prestige. Especially after the previous incident, she did not introspect while in the Cold Palace, instead, she hooked up with one of the palace guards and was even caught. Even if she was given a death sentence by His Majesty, it was her own fault.
The ministers had been waiting for His Majesty to make a decision for a long time and it would be for the best if His Majesty took out all his anger on that hapless Hua Fengjin so they wouldn’t have to suffer.
Emperor Cang He's anger was not something anyone could bear. They wondered what would happen to those who offended him this time.
Under everyone’s attention, Hua Fengjin was led into the hall with dishevelled hair and a haggard face.
Her clothes were messy, and her former grace and elegance were nowhere to be seen. Her mouth was gagged, and her hands were tied behind her back as she knelt on the floor. Her panicked eyes were full of fear. She didn't dare to look up at the person sitting on the throne; thinking of what she had done, she was overwhelmed with panic and fear.
Qi Xutian looked at the woman kneeling on the floor and asked with a soft smile, “What was the crime you spoke of... an obscene sin, dishonouring the court? Should I kill you or...” His suggestive tone seemed to trail off, leaving people in endless suspense. People could already foresee how painful her death would be.
The former imperial Consort[2] Hua was now reduced to the prisoner of today, and it was all her own fault. No one in the hall felt sorry for her.
[2] She was called Hua Guifei which is the second-highest rank in the harem, just below the Empress. That’s how high she was ranked. Further explanation at the end.
Hua Fengjin knelt on the ground and shook her head, the cloth in her mouth made it impossible for her to speak. She let out a whimper, it wasn’t known whether she wanted to beg for mercy or defend herself.
Raising his eyebrows in sudden realisation, Qi Xutian smiled, “Right, I forgot that you can't answer right now.” He gestured his head to the side and Chief Liu ordered someone to take away the cloth blocking her mouth.
“Your Majesty, this concubine has been wronged! It was him! He stormed into the house with sinister intentions and I resisted desperately, then some people came in and rescued me! This concubine is innocent!”
After hearing about the charges, Hua Fengjin hurriedly recounted the events of that day.
If it was this crime, she was truly innocent, so she felt relieved and the fear in her eyes lessened. However, upon thinking about the emperor’s methods and remembering what she had done, she began feeling nervous again and tried to keep her composure. She decided to take a gamble and pretend that nothing had happened and she knew nothing.
“It's clear that you are the one who demeaned yourself, but you are accusing me of wronging you.” Qi Xutian's indifferent words contained contempt, but there was an undetectable trace of cold murderous intent that flashed past his eyes, “There are so many witnesses and you still dare to refute? It seems that you have never told the truth before...”
Qi Xutian’s voice gradually lowered until he sighed with regret, then inquired as if in a dilemma, “I really don't know, what’s the use of keeping that mouth?”
A casual question was asked, then someone understood. Before Hua Fengjin could react, the guards in the hall rushed forward, opened her mouth, and shoved something unknown inside. Hua Fengjin let out a scream and fell on the ground with blood pouring from her mouth.
“You should know for yourself what should be said and what shouldn’t be. Since you have the courage to do it, you should also have the courage to bear the consequences. I had no intention of killing you, but you were so restless in your room in the Cold Palace and want to stir up the wind. If I don’t punish you properly, what explanation would I give to others? What about the royal face?”
The unhurried, steady and even tone, the majesty and grandeur of an emperor as well as the complete lack of anger was so convincing that the ministers repeatedly nodded their heads in agreement with His Majesty’s words.
But Hua Fengjin trembled while lying on the ground, he actually knew about it! The crime of dishonouring and causing chaos in the harem was just in name to dispose of her, everything was planned by him long ago!
She ignored the blood dripping from her mouth, her eyes showed horror. Could he also know...
“Your Majesty, the Eldest Prince has requested an audience.”
When Qi Xutian heard this from the eunuch, his eyes faintly swept over the panicked Hua Fengjin and a mocking smile was hidden in his hawk-like eyes, “Granted.”
When Hua Fengjin heard this word, her mind went blank and she couldn’t control the trembling of her body. With imploring and fearful eyes, she looked up at the person sitting on the throne.
The monarch seated on the dragon throne was also looking at her, the corners of his mouth slowly raised, showing her a very faint smile. That shallow curve of his lips contained imperceptible malicious derision, and the ruthlessness and ridicule in his eyes stunned her. The fear in her heart expanded infinitely and spread to every part of her body.
She indeed used the theory of alien start to secure the position of Crown Prince. Qi Xutian knew that the root cause was her, then he would naturally also know that if the status of her son as an imperial prince was abolished, she would never be able to turn over a new leaf!
Shaking her head desperately, she lay on the ground with a bloodied face and her mouth full of blood, making a vague and indistinguishable sound as she struggled in vain.
The entire court consisting of civil and military officials exchanged knowing glances and all had expressions as if they were waiting to watch a good show as they waited for the Eldest Prince Qi Musheng to enter the hall. They constantly scrutinise him, wanting to see how the neglected prince would react.
To everyone's surprise, when Qi Musheng entered the hall and saw Hua Fengjin on the ground, he just showed an expression as if he couldn’t bear the scene he was witnessing but did not make any major movements. Instead, he bowed towards the monarch seated on the throne, his father, Qi Xutian.
“This son kowtows to Father Emperor.”
“HuangEr[3] does not need to salute. I wonder what your reason is for seeking an audience at this time?” Qi Xutian asked with interest in his eyes.
[3] 皇儿 (HuangEr) which translates to Imperial Son, I used Emperor’s son at places before though. Imperial son is correct.
Qi Musheng knelt beside Hua Fengjin and saw how his Consort Mother was in a mess with blood still spilling from her mouth. She had obviously been punished, so he panicked a little.
He didn’t know whether Father Emperor knew of Consort Mother's involvement with the rumours, if he did, he was afraid that his identity as a prince would be abolished. Feeling anxious and panicky, he looked up and replied, “Father, Consort Mother has made a mistake, but after all, she is this child’s mother. Please, Father... Please forgive Consort Mother for her sin of infidelity!”
This sentence was reasonable. The ministers were not surprised, but this matter was of major importance; it was a disgrace for the royal family and was a matter concerning their dignity, moreover, it happened amid such a chaotic time. How could she be so easily forgiven for such an act? A minister stood up right then, “Your Majesty! Never!”
“She has disgraced the harem and should be sentenced to death.”
“In this lowly minister’s opinion, it would be better to throw her into the dungeon.”
“Your Majesty! She did this without shame, Your Majesty must not be soft-hearted and must not forgive her!”
“This is a matter of great importance, a major issue. Even though she was in the Cold Palace, how can such a woman be in the harem? Please punish her severely, Your Majesty, as a precept and warning for the harem.”
All the ministers urged Qi Xutian to punish her harshly. Qi Musheng knelt on the floor with his head hanging low, clearly in despair.
Qi Xutian remained expressionless. Listening to what the ministers said, he raised his hand and the people seated below suddenly fell silent. “You ministers don’t have to be so outraged, after all, the matters of the harem are my family affair. Could it be that you want to instruct me on how to manage the harem?”
Although he questioned jokingly, no one dared to answer. His Majesty’s temperament was unpredictable. Who dared to make a fool out of themselves at this time? As long as His Majesty had a plan in mind, they, as subjects, could only listen to his orders.
Therefore, they lowered their heads one after another and said they didn’t dare.
Qi Xutian looked at the kneeling pair of mother and son, then said to Qi Musheng, “I wonder whether HuangEr still has anything else to say?”
Qi Musheng shook his head and spoke in a whisper with a tone as if he was on the verge of crying, “Consort Mother is inherently a sinner and is guilty. I implore Father to forgive her, but I also ask for you to not be angry with me, I know I was wrong.”
“HuangEr is rather sensible.” Qi Xutian exclaimed in praise and the sly look in his eyes did not fade away but grew deeper.
The ministers looked at the Eldest Prince in a different light. Before they only thought him to be cowardly and useless, however, now upon listening to his words, he seemed to be quite sensible and understanding about the situation. Although he was somewhat timid, but not as weak as they previously thought him to be. At least he knew how to retain his princely status.
Subsequently, the hall fell silent again as they waited for the emperor on the throne to make a decision on this matter.
After a long silence, Qi Xutian finally said, “Since HuangEr is pleading for leniency for her, I also have to consider my flesh and blood. So, for your sake, I will spare her from the death penalty, but she can’t escape punishment. Flog her fifty times, if she doesn’t die, let her spend this life in prison. If HuangEr misses her, he can go visit.”
“This child thanks Father Emperor on Consort Mother’s behalf for not killing her.” Qi Musheng kowtowed, but Hua Fengjin had been looking him with incredulous eyes since he appeared.
HuangEr should know of her innocence, but he didn't defend her. Instead, he was determined to keep his position as a prince. He couldn’t be unaware that his father already knew the inside story, could he? Thinking of Qi Xutian's tactics, Hua Fengjin hurriedly grabbed his sleeves and shook it.
Qi Musheng lowered his eyes and kowtowed. He saw his Consort Mother’s bloody hand on his sleeve and frowning slightly. If she hadn’t told him those things, he wouldn’t have been so desperate and taken the risk to spread rumours about the alien star, but now Second Imperial Brother no longer appeared before the public, so it was obvious that the intended effect had been achieved. If Father Emperor wanted to interrogate her on the crimes, no matter what the reason, as long as Consort Mother shouldered the blame, everything would be fine from then on.
With a gentle tug of her hand, Qi Musheng hugged her in comfort and whispered in her ear with a timid voice, “Thank you, Consort Mother. In the future, I will visit you often.” It was his consort mother who taught him since he was a child that as the Eldest Prince, his position was so prestigious that he must never be subservient to others. He was also taught by her that he must do whatever to took to please his father and to never disobey his father's will.
Now, he had done it all for the sake of his future. Consort Mother must also be pleased. With a smile in his eyes, he continued to whisper in her ear, “Didn't you want me to please Father Emperor? I have already done it. Are you happy, mother?”
Upon hearing these words being whispered in her ear, Hua Fengjin’s eyes suddenly widened in horror. Her eyes went out of focus for a moment and in her trance, she saw HuangEr's timid face and the cold gleam in his eyes.
She slumped down in dejection and from the corner of her vision, she saw the monarch seated high up reveal a mysterious dark look on his face.
Indus’ Notes:
[2] You may have noticed how I used Concubine (fei) to address some of the harem members while Consort (guifei) for others. All the women in the harem were ranked, from the lowest to the highest, there were several ranks (they kept changing though the dynasties, you can read about them here). It would have gotten a tad bit complex if I had stuck with their ranks, although there weren’t many rankings mentioned in this novel. I tried to show their difference in English, hope this isn’t confusing.
Xiao Fei, that is, Concubine Xiao was relatively low among the other harem members we have been introduced to till now. In case you forgot, she was the Third Prince’s mother and also AnYang’s spy. She died in the fire.
An Ruolan was also Guifei, that’s why Consort An. As mentioned earlier, Consort Hua was Hua Guifei. However, when they refer to themselves, they just say 'this concubine' in English translation.
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