Chapter 368: The Imperial Concubine and the Princess

At noon that day, dozens of guards escorted a carriage slowly into Beijing. The carriage had a bronze bead canopy, a silver-framed round roof, red curtains with gold-edged borders at the front, and red oil-silk rain covers surrounding it to keep out the rain. The interior was exquisitely luxurious—there were cushions on a red bed, a silver vase on a rosewood table, making it seem like a small moving house. One could sit or lie on the red bed without even feeling the vibrations from the carriage’s movement.

“Princess, this is your first time using this carriage. It seems everyone outside is staring at us. Isn’t it too conspicuous to go straight to the palace to see the Emperor?”

“Boats are far too slow. If it weren’t for the sturdiness of this carriage, I wouldn’t have been able to arrive so quickly. Besides, as long as I remain my father’s daughter, even if it’s just a simple sedan chair parked at the palace gate, it would still be too noticeable. The Emperor personally sent the Jinyiwei to summon me, with guards accompanying me all the way—this shows how serious Queen Mother’s illness is. If anything happened, how could I face her? Over the years, Queen Mother has spoken well of my father many times, and she took care of me during my last stay. I must see her one last time.”

Compared to the luxurious furnishings inside the carriage, Princess Chenliu, Zhu Ning, was dressed very simply—a silver-white robe with a sash, covered by a butterfly-patterned armor in pine blossom colors, and a plain-colored skirt beneath. Her black hair was tied neatly with a palace-made jade comb, without any complicated hairpins or jewels. She wore only a pair of white jade earrings, with no other ornaments. Yet, she still exuded an undeniable air of noble dignity.

One of the maids wanted to say more, but another quickly pulled her sleeve. They glanced at Zhu Ning again. Seeing that though she sat lazily, her gaze was sharp, they quickly lowered their heads and sat still.

The carriage moved along Front Gate Street and finally arrived at Fengtian Gate of the Western Palace. Since it was escorted by the Jinyiwei, the palace guards dared not stop them. After seeing the three of them get out of the carriage, they bowed their heads even lower. Zhu Ning entered through the right-side gate, where a eunuch who had been waiting there promptly came forward to guide her, leading her along a secluded path rarely used by officials.

When there were no outsiders around, he finally slowed down and whispered, “Princess, these days the Emperor has not seen any ministers, nor the Prince of Zhao or the princesses. He often punishes the palace maids and eunuchs. Even the imperial physicians treating the Concubine have been thrown into the inner palace prison. The Princess of Anyang was punished with house arrest for saying the wrong thing yesterday, and a Shunyi was stripped of her rank and demoted for defying the Emperor. Not even the Prince of Zhao and the imperial sons dare to advise the Emperor. Everyone is looking to you.”
“What about those who serve in Xiuchun Hall?”
The young eunuch couldn’t help but shudder, his voice so soft it sounded like a mosquito’s buzz: “The Emperor said they failed in their duties. If anything happens to the Concubine… all over twenty people in Xiuchun Hall will be forced to bury her alive!”
Having lived in the royal family, Zhu Ning naturally knew about the tragedy of being buried alive. In the past, the principal and secondary wives of the Prince of Qin were ordered to be buried alive, and when other princes and dukes died, their concubines and servants were often sacrificed as well. But since she had lived with the Concubine Wang for a while in the palace before, she knew all the maids and eunuchs in Xiuchun Hall. The thought of them all dying filled her with pity.
Yet despite her pity, she didn’t let go of the talkative young eunuch easily: “Do you have anyone you’re close to in Xiuchun Hall?”
Seeing that Zhu Ning had hit the nail on the head, the young eunuch’s face turned pale, and he quickly knelt down, crying, “Princess, I have a full-blooded younger brother who has always been in Xiuchun Hall. I really don’t want to see him die!”
“Get up!” Zhu Ning frowned slightly before calmly ordering, “There’s no need to say more. If I can find a way, I will. But if it’s not possible, it’s fate. Let’s go; we shouldn’t waste time.”
Although the Western Palace was just a separate building, since Zhu Di came here every time he was in Beijing, it gradually became the de facto imperial palace, though with fewer halls and pavilions. Xiuchun Hall was originally an unimportant villa. It was only moved here a year ago because the Concubine Wang loved its tranquility. At that moment, three people—Father and Son Zhu Gao Sui, the Prince of Zhao—along with seven or eight princesses and imperial sons stood in the small courtyard, all looking solemn and not daring to speak loudly. It wasn’t until they heard a sudden cry that they turned their heads.
“Sister Ning, you’ve come.”

Ever since she was caught by Zhu Di chewing her tongue last time, Princess Yongping dared not casually wander around Xiuchun Hall. Only when all the imperial relatives gathered did she dare to come here. Upon seeing Zhu Ning, she quickly spoke up first. Yet though she acted fast, someone was even quicker—Prince Anyang Zhu Zhanhuan rushed forward in a stride and bowed, saying, “Aunt Ning, His Majesty has been in there for half a day now, and no one is allowed in. We’re really worried and can only ask you for help…”

Glancing at the crowd standing all over the courtyard, Zhu Ning couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. A prince, a crown prince, a county prince, along with a bunch of princesses and imperial sons—all staying outside and not daring to enter, clearly showing their deep fear of the emperor inside. Her esteemed fourth uncle indeed had a temper, but how many people in the world truly understood his thoughts? She kept those thoughts to herself, exchanged a few words with everyone, promised to find a way to persuade the emperor, and then stepped up the stairs and entered. Seeing her back disappear inside, Princess Yongping muttered under her breath, “Will Father really listen to her advice?”

“If Second Sister doesn’t believe it, why not go in and try herself!” Zhu Gao Sui, who wasn’t her biological brother, was already annoyed and snapped back. The others were also upset at the moment, so none paid her any attention. Though Princess Yongping deeply regretted speaking those words, her anger grew the more she thought about it, until she finally remembered the letter sent by the Prince of Han earlier.

Walking deeper into the main hall, Zhu Ning felt the gloomy and chilling atmosphere growing stronger. The eunuchs and maids standing there like wooden posts in the outer hall had been replaced; the original ones must have been thrown into prison, which made her even more uneasy. Inside, she saw the silk curtains in front of the large black wood bed carved with dragons and phoenixes lifted high. Zhu Di sat there like a clay or wooden puppet on the brocade cushion. After pondering for a moment, she slowly stepped forward and called out softly, “Fourth Uncle.”

This long-absent title instantly jolted Zhu Di awake. Since ascending the throne, all titles had been prefixed with “His Majesty,” to the point where he himself had forgotten some distant memories. Turning his head stiffly, he saw it was Zhu Ning. He couldn’t tell whether he was happy or relieved, and he didn’t mind at all that she hadn’t bowed properly. “The Imperial Concubine has been mentioning that you’re coming soon. Now that you’ve returned, please spend some time with her.”

Zhu Ning stepped forward and then realized that the Imperial Concubine Wang on the bed was still in a deep sleep. Once a serene and graceful woman from the Jiangnan region, her plump cheeks were now sunken, her lips devoid of color, and she appeared utterly emaciated. Thinking of the kindness the concubine had shown her in the past, she forgot there was the emperor behind her. Kneeling beside the bed, she held her hand tightly against her face, motionless and silent.

Emperor Zhu Di himself sat motionless by the bed for a long time, like a clay or wood statue. Seeing Zhu Ning’s actions, he felt a sense of kinship. Though he had countless women—dozens of beautiful virgins brought from Korea alone—compared to them, the Imperial Concubine Wang was not the most beautiful. She always knew when to remain quiet and when to offer advice. Her presence usually didn’t seem significant, but now that the imperial physicians said her illness was incurable, he simply couldn’t accept it.

After what seemed like an eternity, Zhu Ning suddenly felt the hand in hers tremble slightly. Overjoyed and alarmed, she looked at the bed and saw the Imperial Concubine Wang slowly opening her eyes. She quickly turned around, speaking incoherently, “Fourth Uncle, Fourth Uncle! She’s awake! She’s awake!”

At that moment, Emperor Zhu Di’s heart skipped a beat. He sprang to his feet and knelt beside the bed without hesitation. Seeing that the Imperial Concubine Wang was indeed awake, with her eyes slightly open, he instinctively grasped the hand Zhu Ning offered, trying to speak but unable to utter a word. He could only stare at those eyes.

“Your Majesty… please promise me one thing… the people in my palace…” The Imperial Concubine Wang slowly regained consciousness, struggling to muster some strength. “Pardon them… and the imperial physicians too…”

Although his heart was filled with anger and murderous intent, now that the concubine had pleaded with him, Zhu Di hesitated. Empress Xu was dead, Concubine Quan and Concubine Zhang were dead too—now even the Imperial Concubine Wang was on the verge of dying. What would he do next? Who would be left by his side? Those servants were useless, and those imperial physicians were liars!

“They all deserve to die!”

Seeing Zhu Di’s face turn red and his eyes widen in anger, Princess Wang wanted to persuade him again but couldn’t speak. In the end, she could only turn to Zhu Ning for help. At that moment, Zhu Ning could clearly see that Zhu Di was on the verge of losing control. Yet, facing Princess Wang’s gaze, she mustered up the courage to say, “Fourth Uncle, Princess Wang has always done good deeds and has never punished those around her. These eunuchs and maids in Xiuchun Hall have served her for decades; everyone remembers her kindness. How could they not give their all? In the past, she often interceded for the princes, princesses, and even their husbands. Today is the first time she’s asking the Emperor to intercede for others.”

Hearing Zhu Ning’s words, Zhu Di was stunned. Over the years, Princess Wang had only interceded for the Prince of Zhao and the princesses and their husbands. Even her own family had never asked for favors. Now, on her deathbed, she was asking him again. If he refused, he would truly be a heartless emperor. After a long while, he reluctantly nodded.

“Very well. I’ll spare their lives and send them to guard your tomb. As for those imperial physicians, they should all return to their hometowns!”

Princess Wang knew it was impossible to ask for further mercy and could only accept this outcome. Straining to turn her head toward Zhu Ning, she finally managed to utter her last words weakly, “Aning, find a good husband…”