Not counting the night he first returned to the capital, Prince Qing had already been confined to his residence for nine days.
When being interrogated by the Emperor, Prince Qing had truly believed that the irrigation channels in Liangzhou had been destroyed, and that it was his maternal grandfather Shen Shiyan who had sent people to do it. That was why the Emperor scolded him, interrogated him, and kicked him. When he saw the dispirited Zheng Yuanzhen with handprint marks on her face at the palace gates, Prince Qing had thought his cousin had suffered on his account and received a slap from the Emperor before he did.
Once in the carriage, Zheng Yuanzhen knelt beside him begging him to plead more with the Emperor for her aunt’s sake, for San Lang’s sake. Only then did Prince Qing realize with shock that he had jumped into a trap in the Emperor’s words due to his preconceived notions, and had confessed his own malicious thoughts. In reality, none of this had anything to do with him or his maternal grandfather. It was that self-righteous poisonous woman, Princess Imperial Fucheng, who had caused him to be kicked twice by the Emperor and lose the Emperor’s favor completely. And the slap Zheng Yuanzhen received was from his mother consort!
In that moment, Prince Qing was equally consumed by rage, equally raising his hand to strike Zheng Yuanzhen.
From the carriage behind where the wet nurse sat came San Lang’s sudden crying.
Looking again at Zheng Yuanzhen’s tear-streaked face, Prince Qing could not bring himself to strike. He collapsed dejectedly onto the carriage couch.
What would hitting her accomplish? Would it make the Emperor stop being angry with him?
If it had only been the Princess Imperial who excavated the channels, he could still extricate himself. But he too had entertained thoughts of digging channels, and the Emperor knew about it.
So there it was—he was finished. He needn’t think about being Crown Prince anymore. Whether he could even keep his current princely title was uncertain.
If hitting his cousin could undo all this, Prince Qing would definitely do it. But it wouldn’t undo anything, so what use was there in hitting her?
Returning to his princely residence, Prince Qing shut himself in the front courtyard, refusing to see anyone, thinking through countless scenarios but all to no avail.
Until yesterday afternoon when the Emperor sent a eunuch to tell him to bring his princess consort and child to attend the Dragon Boat Festival palace banquet in good spirits, and not to mention anything else.
Prince Qing knelt on the ground with tears streaming down his face. The Emperor still thought of him, still thought of him!
Just like in previous years, the dragon boat races and willow shooting took place before the palace banquet.
This was Yao Huang’s first time feeling so uncomfortable at such an occasion.
Because she was still seated between Chen Ying and Zheng Yuanzhen. To her left, Chen Ying was pregnant and full of joy. To her right, Zheng Yuanzhen was surrounded by an aura of death.
Yao Huang was all too familiar with this death aura. When they first married, Prince Hui had been like this. But Prince Hui was her husband—if she wanted to console him she would, and if she didn’t want to, she’d just go walk in the gardens by herself. Whether she consoled him or not, no outsiders would know. Now Zheng Yuanzhen sat right beside her. If she truly acted as if nothing was wrong and only chatted and laughed with Chen Ying, what would Zheng Yuanzhen think of her? What would the Emperor and Empress seated in the center think of her?
But making her just sit there doing nothing made Yao Huang uncomfortable all over.
To be safe, Yao Huang chose to zone out by herself.
So many imperial relatives had come, yet only Princess Imperial Fucheng had not appeared. Combined with the death aura surrounding Prince Qing and his wife, and the imperial consorts’ complete avoidance of mentioning Princess Imperial Fucheng, had the Princess Imperial and her husband done something to anger Emperor Yongchang? Was claiming illness and declining visitors just their cover for being snubbed by Emperor Yongchang?
Princess Imperial Fucheng was Emperor Yongchang’s blood sister, just as she was her brother’s blood sister.
They were close enough, but Yao Huang had heard a saying: “The imperial family has no true father-son bonds.”
Even imperial fathers and sons could kill each other, let alone brothers and sisters?
Based on what Yao Huang had heard in teahouses or read in storybooks, had Princess Imperial Fucheng oppressed the common people, or colluded with officials in embezzlement and bribery?
Rebellion seemed unlikely. Princess Imperial Fucheng and the Marquis of Jining had no military forces, and if it were rebellion, it couldn’t be as simple as mere house confinement.
To frighten Prince Qing and his wife to such an extent, the matter shouldn’t be small. Yet Emperor Yongchang was still willing to let them attend the palace banquet, so it shouldn’t be too serious either?
Lost in these thoughts, the dragon boat race ended. There were five dragon boats in total, sent by the four major capital garrisons and the Imperial Guards, all crewed by skilled oarsmen. Only the championship boat could come before the Emperor to receive rewards.
This year’s champions were from the Northern Garrison—twenty-two men in total, all with robust and upright physiques.
Finally finding some entertainment, Yao Huang couldn’t help leaning forward to watch. As she looked, her gaze shifted and actually met Prince Hui’s eyes where he sat not far from Emperor Yongchang.
The twenty-two Northern Garrison elite soldiers had rowed around the moat until their faces turned red from exhaustion. Prince Kang and Prince Qing, seated on either side of Prince Hui, had spent a month running at Lingshan and were tanned to a wheat-brown color. Whether red or dark-skinned, they made Prince Hui appear even paler and more handsome by contrast.
Yao Huang secretly winked at Prince Hui.
Prince Hui silently lowered his eyelids, no longer looking at her.
Yao Huang smiled and continued surveying those twenty-two valiant faces, then watched as Eunuch Wang handed a tray of gold ingots to the lead helmsman.
Having bestowed rewards, next should come the willow shooting.
Emperor Yongchang suddenly looked toward his four sons: “Will you all try this year?”
The Fourth Prince was already fifteen years old and had participated in hunting at the Northern Park last year.
Prince Kang immediately led by standing up, expressing his willingness to make a poor showing before the Emperor.
Emperor Yongchang smiled and waved his hand, indicating they could set off.
Prince Kang turned and grasped the handles of his second brother’s wheelchair. Ramps wide enough for wheelchair passage had been built in the middle of the stairs on both sides of the platform two years ago, and the red sandalwood wheelchair his second brother now sat in was very lightweight.
To be safe, when the wheelchair reached the top of the ramp, Prince Kang still gave Prince Qing a look, having him walk in front to prevent the wheelchair from rolling away out of control.
Prince Qing walked to the front like a walking corpse. The Fourth Prince glanced at him and cleverly stood on the stairs on the other side of the ramp.
Second brother was finished, third brother clearly was about to be finished too, and eldest brother was so dull—perhaps he could still catch a small opportunity?
The Fourth Prince had never coveted these things before, but now that heaven seemed ready to hand that position to him voluntarily, of course he wanted to strive for it.
Soon the four brothers stood side by side on the bank of the moat.
Yao Huang secretly glanced toward Emperor Yongchang.
Emperor Yongchang caught his second daughter-in-law’s furtive peek, smiled, and looked toward the two princesses: “If you want to watch, all go to the front.”
Since the Emperor had spoken, Yao Huang helped Chen Ying stand up. Because Zheng Yuanzhen never joined in such excitement, there was no need to invite her with unnecessary words. She simply accompanied Chen Ying and the two princesses to the railing, watching the competition from their elevated position.
The Second Princess called out teasingly: “It’ll definitely be Second Brother who wins first place again. When Second Brother receives his reward, Second Sister-in-law, will you give me a gold ingot?”
Yao Huang laughed: “If that truly happens, I’ll give each of you sisters one, as an advance addition to your trousseau.”
The First Princess, who would marry on the ninth day of the month, immediately blushed.