Chapter 5: Dying?
"You're lying! How could Imperial Father refuse to see me!"
Upon hearing the message from the young eunuch by Emperor Jianyuan's side, stating that Her Highness the Princess should return to her palace for now, Princess Qing'an became instantly livid.
Pointing at the little eunuch, she barked, "Go report again! This Palace wants to see Imperial Father!"
The little eunuch did not dare go. He could only endure the Princess's grand rage, saying submissively, "Princess, please forgive me. His Majesty is currently discussing matters with Imperial Censor Qi; please remain calm, Your Highness."
Princess Qing'an became even more displeased. Imperial Censor Qi!
It was that Imperial Censor Qi!
He was simply a mad dog that moved at the slightest scent of trouble. Was such a trivial matter truly worth him making a special trip to the palace to file a complaint against her?
Unable to see Emperor Jianyuan, with the little eunuch refusing to report her arrival and not daring to force her way into the Wenhua Hall, she had no choice but to turn around and head to her mother, Noble Consort Xuan.
Meanwhile, in the Wenhua Hall, Emperor Jianyuan was receiving Imperial Censor Qi Fengdao.
Qi Fengdao was a veteran official of two reigns,
upright in character and devoted to the public good; he never spoke anything but loyal advice.
Unfortunately, loyal advice is often grating to the ear, and most of what he said was unpleasant to hear.
When Emperor Jianyuan listened to Qi Fengdao admonish the civil and military officials, he felt this man was useful, very useful. But when Qi Fengdao used that mouth to attack him, the feeling was not so pleasant.
This was especially true since Emperor Jianyuan was a ruler who cared quite a bit about his imperial dignity.
"Your Majesty! This old minister has a word for Your Majesty's sacred ear! Her Highness the Princess is the daughter of the Son of Heaven; she should be a model for all noble ladies in the world and set an example for the common people! Yet Princess Qing'an injured County Princess Mingzhu without any cause. How will others view the Princess's upbringing? How will they view Your Majesty! Furthermore, County Princess Mingzhu has committed no errors since entering the capital. The Princess... the Princess is practically asking the entire court to point their fingers at Your Majesty's spine!"
Imperial Censor Qi knelt before Emperor Jianyuan, his old bones prostrate on the ground.
Even if Emperor Jianyuan wanted to scold someone, he was afraid the man might literally kowtow himself to death right there.
If a veteran censor of two reigns died while remonstrating him, his reputation as a wicked Emperor would be impossible to scrub away.
Emperor Jianyuan was not a fool, and he understood perfectly the situation Imperial Censor Qi was worried about.
The reason Qi Fengdao had entered the palace in such a frantic rush was precisely because the person Princess Qing’an hit was the daughter of the Prince of Zhennan.
Had it been anyone else, Qi Fengdao would not have acted as if his backside were on fire.
A meritorious official should receive the treatment a meritorious official deserves, and the same applies to his family.
"Pass down Our decree: Qing’an’s character is stubborn and unruly. We treat County Princess Mingzhu like Our own daughter, yet she disregarded sisterly affection and severely injured Mingzhu. She is to be fined half a year’s salary, grounded for three months, given ten strikes of the ruler, and must transcribe the Admonitions for Women ten times. Noble Consort Xuan has failed in her moral guidance and is likewise fined half a year’s salary. Furthermore, request the Empress Dowager to dispatch another instructional governess to the Princess Qing’an’s Mansion."
Our is used in third pov by the Emperor in place of Zhen(we, our, us, imperial use by Emperors).
By issuing a decree of reprimand, Emperor Jianyuan accepted that the fault lay with Qing’an.
Whether Princess Qing’an had personally struck the blow was no longer important.
Under the watchful eyes of the public, Yu Lingzhao had left the Princess’s Mansion with a head injury; regardless of whether Qing’an personally did it, it was her failure of responsibility.
Once this decree was issued, the noble daughters who followed Princess Qing’an would also be dealt with by their own clans.
Even Princess Qing’an was reprimanded by Emperor Jianyuan; every single person standing behind her would have to share in the punishment, and their punishment would have to be even more severe than the Princess’s.
Furthermore...
Emperor Jianyuan knew very well that this matter was likely Princess Qing’an’s idea.
County Princess Mingzhu... he remembered that child; her gaze was clear and upright, like a bright, unbridled sun, just like her father, she disdained such petty tricks.
Emperor Jianyuan’s thoughts flickered, and he let out a scoffing laugh.
Ultimately not being a child of the legal wife, Qing’an was indeed inferior to Yu Lingzhao.
"Deng Cang, you personally go to the Zhennan Prince's Mansion to deliver the decree. Tell her that the Noble Consort was unkind in educating her daughter and that she has suffered a grievance. From now on, she has the privilege of not having to kneel to anyone except Us. Additionally, send the Head of the Imperial Physicians to examine her. Take that pair of jade ruyi and the red coral gifted as tribute from the foreign states from Our private treasury and send them to her, along with tonics for the body, pick the best ones. There is no need for her to hurry to express her gratitude; she can come whenever her body is recovered."
Deng Cang complied upon hearing this, feeling quite astonished in his heart.
Having followed Emperor Jianyuan since childhood, he had never seen the Emperor treat anyone with such extreme favor.
Imperial Censor Qi was also quite surprised; the way Emperor Jianyuan was treating County
Princess Mingzhu was indeed very close.
Having dealt with this farce, Emperor Jianyuan lost his mood for anything else.
He waved his hand to dismiss Censor Qi and rose to head toward the Empress’s palace alone.
—
Yu Lingzhao had long predicted that an Imperial Decree would arrive today.
She had already ordered the preparation of an incense altar, waiting for Emperor Jianyuan’s envoy to arrive before opening the main gates to receive the decree.
Huaping wanted to do Yu Lingzhao’s hair and makeup, but Yu Lingzhao refused, "An injured person should look like an injured person. The more miserable I am, the more the Emperor will feel that his decision to punish Qing’an was indeed correct."
Seeing this, Feiwu applied something to Yu Lingzhao’s lips, making her face look much paler.
This state of weakness was comparable to Lin Daiyu.
Lin Daiyu is a female character in The Dream of Red Mansions, cousin and thwarted lover of Jia Baoyu.
Yu Lingzhao gave Feiwu an appreciative look and then called Huaping over to whisper a few instructions.
Huaping nodded and withdrew.
When Deng Cang personally led a team of Yulin Guards to escort the decree and the rewards to the Zhennan Prince's Mansion, only Yu Xunyang was there to receive them.
When Deng Cang inquired, Yu Xunyang looked up, his eyes slightly red as he said with suppressed emotion: "My sister fainted as soon as she returned to the Mansion and has not woken up since. I ask His Majesty to forgive my sister for her failure to show respect."
What could Deng Cang do?
Since the person was unconscious, he couldn't exactly carry her out to receive the decree, so he could only read it aloud.
The contents of the decree were much like what Yu Lingzhao had predicted, bestowing rewards and summoning the Imperial Physician, but even Yu Xunyang had not expected the reward to include the privilege of being exempt from bowing.
Yu Xunyang didn't think twice; after accepting the imperial decree, he led Deng Cang and the others toward Yu Lingzhao's courtyard.
On the way, servants were coming and going. Deng Cang, being sharp-eyed, spotted a maid who had previously accompanied the County Princess into the palace.
She was carrying a basin of items that appeared to be covered in a large amount of blood.
Deng Cang frowned.
Could those be the County Princess's clothes?
Before he could take a closer look, the maid had already hurried away; he didn't even have time to call out to her.
Yu Xunyang acted as if he hadn't noticed Deng Cang's gaze and led Deng Cang and the Head of the Imperial Physicians to check Yu Lingzhao's pulse.
Yu Xunyang had already invited several doctors from the capital earlier. Most of them had left by now, with only one or two remaining; seeing the host arrive with the Head of the Imperial Physicians, they quickly made way.
The Head of the Imperial Physicians examined Yu Lingzhao. Observing her face, pale lips and signs of excessive blood loss, he then took her pulse.
His hand trembled in shock.
Yu Xunyang immediately darted in front of him, his expression fraught with tension.
"How is it? How is Zhaozhao!?"
Deng Cang’s heart also leaped into his throat.
Please, let nothing be wrong!
Sweat broke out on the Head of the Imperial Physicians' brow.
When he first took her pulse, he almost couldn't feel the County Princess's heartbeat at all!
Facing Yu Xunyang's inquiry, the Head of the Imperial Physicians tremblingly placed his hand back on her wrist.
This time he felt a pulse and let out a long sigh of relief, she was still alive. But in the next instant, his expression changed again!
Why was the County Princess's pulse... so intermittent?
Sweat poured down the physician's face. He looked at the Third Young Master, his lips quivering as he forced out a few words, "The County Princess's pulse is faint. I fear... I fear..."
Yu Xunyang predictably flew into a rage, pointing at the physician and barking: "What nonsense are you talking!"
Deng Cang's heart hammered with unease. His Majesty had just issued a decree reprimanding Princess Qing'an, but if County Princess Mingzhu were to die... wouldn't that set off a catastrophic storm!
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