Four Delicate Offenders – CH 103

Chapter 103. End Of Main Text.

If the Emperor were to fall seriously ill, many urgent matters would need to be addressed, such as drafting the name of his mausoleum, the eulogy, the posthumous title, and deliberating on the posthumous name—each and every one requiring someone to handle.

Those inside, having heard Bi-Xie’s explanation, finally breathed a sigh of relief. They had suffered too much fright recently and could not withstand another such ordeal.

Li Chenjian said, “Prepare the carriage first.” He then turned back inside to report, asking everyone to continue their meal and not to worry about him.

Yunpan stood up, telling him to wait a moment, and then instructed those outside, “Quickly fetch a thicker cloak.”

Summoned to the palace now, he would certainly not return tonight. The weather was still cold, especially at night when the thick fog made it feel like walking in a cloud; she would only feel secure if he was dressed warmly.

Lu-Tan brought over the large woolen cloak, which she carefully fastened for him, escorting him to the corridor. In truth, it was precisely at this point that one needed to be more careful and avoid suspicion. She did not say much, only reminding, “Follow Elder Brother’s instructions. Do not act on your own.”

He smiled, said he understood, took his leave, and quickly walked towards the courtyard gate.

The carriage was in a hurry. Upon arriving at the palace gate, a eunuch was waiting. Seeing him arrive, he led him into the Yanyi Pavilion for a meeting.

Upon entering, the Duke of Chen and several elders of the clan were present. He greeted them before sitting down. They had already discussed the appointment of the five envoys for the mausoleum. Li Chenjian listened quietly; he was truly not knowledgeable about these matters before and after the funeral.

An uncle coughed and said, “The mourning attire and leading the officials in the ancestral worship and weeping are all handled by us. The most important thing is to proclaim the imperial edict. There are also favors and rewards for civil and military officials at all levels. Zhaoqin, you must prepare these as soon as possible.”

The Duke of Chen nodded. “The Prime Minister and others will handle these matters. We just need to make sure the ceremony is grand and impressive so that His Majesty’s decades of hard work for the country are not in vain.”

Only then did Li Chenjian understand. The imperial edict must have already been sent from the Funing Palace, but because it was a will, it could not be read now. It had to wait until after the Emperor’s death for the Prime Minister to announce it to the world.

He lowered his head, sighed softly, and increasingly felt that life was short, only a few decades. In the end, regardless of poverty or wealth, everyone arrived at the same destination. What good was holding great power? Power was a double-edged sword. When one was strong and healthy, one enjoyed glory, but in old age, it became a deadly weapon. It seemed that everyone was only concerned with the fate of the throne and the grandeur of the funeral; no one cared about the Emperor’s life or death.

The crowd chatted amongst themselves, eager to share the burdens of the soon-to-be-ascended Emperor. Li Chenjian had to muster his energy. He was assigned a task related to the post-funeral sacrifices and the ancestral temple arrangements. The temporary court finally adjourned near midnight.

Leaving the Yanyi Pavilion, the moon was high in the sky. He said to the Duke of Chen, “Brother, I will go check on the Emperor.”

Now that the imperial edict was in hand, the Duke of Chen no longer needed to doubt or fear and readily agreed, “I already checked; it does not look good. Go see him. After all, he was not bad to us when we were young.” The growing suspicion and suppression that followed could all be forgiven when the man was on his deathbed.

Li Chenjian cupped his hands in farewell and turned to follow the eunuch towards the Funing Palace. Walking through the Forbidden City at night was vastly different from during the day, each time filled with a sense of desolation.

Lanterns burned both inside and outside the Funing Palace, their concentrated light breaking through the darkness of the night, illuminating the dark sky—magnificent yet lonely. He lifted his robes and ascended the steps into the palace. The eastern side hall, used by the Emperor for his daily living quarters, was separated by a massive six-panel screen. Turning past the screen, he saw the Emperor lying on a couch, his face ashen, mouth half-open, eyes closed, and unable to speak.

The Empress had been watching over him. Seeing him enter and bow, she turned to call out to the Emperor, “Jifu is here; Your Majesty, please wake up.”

But it was to no avail. The Empress said sadly, “He’s been like this since this morning. Even after all this night, he will not respond.”

His illness had fluctuated, lingering for far too long. The Empress had long been prepared; now that this day had truly arrived, she could face it with equanimity.

She gave a wink to the lady-in-waiting beside her, signaling her to stand guard at the door. There were some things the Emperor could not explain himself; it was better for her to clarify them so that he would not have any regrets after his death and could pass away peacefully.

“Please sit,” the Empress gestured. “I have two things I’d like to say to you.”

Li Chenjian agreed and sat down in a nearby armchair.

“Have they already begun discussing the Emperor’s funeral arrangements?” The Empress spoke calmly. Although she would no longer be in charge, asking at least assured her that the Emperor would not suffer any injustice, and that put her mind at ease.

Li Chenjian bowed from his chair. “Please rest assured, Your Majesty, the officials of the Inner Palace have all been appointed. My Elder Brother will personally oversee the rest.”

The Empress nodded, murmuring, “The Empress Dowager is bedridden due to the Emperor’s illness, and I cannot attend to her; I can only stay here.”

Li Chenjian guessed she must be worried about their future, so he said, “Your Majesty, please do not worry. My Elder Brother said that future titles and honors will all be in accordance with ancestral rules, and he will never mistreat the Empress Dowager or Your Majesty.”

The Empress smiled calmly. “I no longer care about those things. Even if we were granted the titles of Grand Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager, so what? He still has his own grandmother and mother. In the end, with both empresses in power, it’s just a title.” She then looked at the Emperor, her voice filled with sorrow. “I only pity the Emperor. He schemed his whole life, never expecting it to end like this. Recently, he repeatedly weakened your military power, even believing that so-called evidence of corruption to imprison you. You must resent him deeply!”

Li Chenjian hesitated, seemingly sensing a hidden meaning in the Empress’s words.

He looked up, and the Empress slightly pursed her lips. “Do not hate him. He did this only to protect you. The three brothers were vying for power, openly and secretly, and the Emperor knew all this. He transferred the Third Son back to the capital to prevent him from amassing power and becoming too influential. But the Emperor was too soft-hearted, leaving the Third Son room to maneuver, which led to the coup on the fifteenth, allowing him to attack the inner city.”

The Empress turned her gaze to him. “There’s something you do not know yet. The Emperor has always favored you and even prepared an edict to make you the Crown Prince once the Eldest Son and the Third Son were suppressed. Unfortunately, man proposes, God disposes; it fell short by just a little bit. Now that the situation is settled, there’s no point in saying more. I just want you to know that the Emperor has never doubted you, nor did he genuinely intend to punish you. Do not harbor any resentment towards the Emperor; he has his own difficulties.”

Li Chenjian remained expressionless, though inwardly deeply shaken. However, this shock was fleeting and quickly dissipated. He paused for a moment before saying, “Your Majesty, I am grateful for your kindness, but I am of limited talent and learning and unfit for such a great responsibility. I only wish to assist my Elder Brother and do my utmost to support the nation. I have never blamed His Majesty. All fortune and misfortune are trials set by Heaven for me. I obey Heaven’s will and dare not disobey it.”

His prudence and restraint were so impeccable that no one could find fault with him. It was truly a pity that such a detached and emotionless person was not the Emperor. But if it was his fate, there was nothing to dwell on. After all, just looking at the man lying on the couch showed that being Emperor was not as glamorous as one might imagine.

Anyway, having spoken the truth, there was no regret. The Empress lowered her eyes and said, “I’ve only said those things once in my life, simply to let you know the reason behind them and to ease the Emperor’s mind. The Emperor’s matter will be resolved in the next two days, and I will need you, brothers, to handle it diligently. I will stay here; you may go. If anything happens, I will send someone to summon you.”

Li Chenjian acknowledged, stood up, bowed deeply, and withdrew from the front hall.

The night wind outside was cold, and the stars in the sky seemed to sway erratically. He paused briefly, then headed towards his quarters.

He had taken a nap in his quarters, fully clothed, for an hour. Around dawn, he suddenly heard loud weeping coming from the Funing Palace. Startled, he immediately ordered a eunuch to inform the Duke of Chen and rushed into the palace himself.

Inside, palace servants were kneeling on the floor, and the Empress was wailing by the bedside. The Empress Dowager stumbled in from outside, and seeing the Emperor lying there stiffly, she cried out, “My son!” before collapsing and fainting.

Then came another flurry of activity. The Emperor needed a small encoffining, and the imperial physician needed to be summoned to treat the Empress Dowager. Fortunately, there were many servants present, and once everything was settled, Li Chenjian withdrew to meet the Duke of Chen, bowing and saying, “Brother, order the funeral bells to be rung.”

Yes, yes, this was the most important thing, to announce the Emperor’s death so that the new court could proceed.

With a resounding clang, the bell in the Forbidden City rang, a signal that quickly spread to the three hundred temples large and small in Nanshan, creating a vast, interconnected sound that roused the entire bewildered capital.

Qin-Dan entered to help Yunpan change her clothes. Noblewomen of the outer court, holding official titles, were required to enter the Forbidden City. Since the previous dynasty, a system of “days replacing months” had been implemented, with mourners paying their respects every seven days until the forty-ninth day, at which point the grand mourning period would finally end.

Nanny Yao also came to help with the preparations, still lamenting, “Our Young Lady Mei’s marriage was quite fraught with hardship. Just as she was about to get married, the Emperor passed away. Even with the day-to-month system, the twelfth day is the ‘minor auspicious day,’ the twenty-fourth is the ‘major auspicious day,’ and the mourning and removal of clothes can only take place three days later. That means we will have to wait another month or so.”

But there was nothing that could be done; what a coincidence! Yunpan changed into the mourning clothes of a noblewoman and went to the front courtyard. After waiting a while, she saw that the Grand Madam and others had also arrived. Everyone had removed their jewelry and was dressed in somber attire. Looking outside, the streets of the capital were unusually busy that morning, with caravans stretching endlessly, all heading towards the Forbidden City.

Meanwhile, at the Gongchen Gate, mourning clothes were being distributed. The noblewomen, dressed in white mourning attire, entered the Wende Hall. The mourning hall was filled with prayer cushions, and after finding their places, they prostrated themselves and wailed loudly.

Yunpan, being in the early stages of pregnancy, was not yet heavily pregnant, but she was exhausted. Kneeling for an hour straight had left her somewhat disoriented. Fortunately, there were only two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. At midday, everyone gathered in a side hall to drink tea and eat fruit, making it relatively relaxed.

As for the court, the situation was largely settled. Although the Duke of Chen had not yet ascended the throne, everyone knew it was his. Therefore, Lady Jing was practically surrounded by sycophants, like a star fawning over the moon.

Yunpan stopped joining the commotion and simply watched with a smile, discussing with Huicun how delicious the imperial chef’s pastries were. It was Lady Jing who eventually managed to leave them and join them in conversation. Yunpan said, “Sister-in-law, you are quite heavily pregnant. Kneeling for so long, you must be tired, right?”

Lady Jing smiled faintly and said, “The pregnancy is stable; it’s no problem. As for you, you do not need to kneel for two hours straight. A rest in between is fine; no one will hold it against you.”

Just then, the head maidservant beside Lady Jing entered and whispered something in her ear. Lady Jing nodded slightly, dismissed the maidservant, and turned to tell Yunpan, “The imperial edict has been read. The late Emperor’s will appoints your Elder Brother as his successor and also rewards the officials who quelled the rebellion.”

Upon hearing this, Yunpan quickly rose, walked to the center of the ground, placed her hands on her eyebrows, and solemnly kowtowed. Everyone immediately understood what was happening and rose from their seats to follow her in bowing. Lady Jing was quite embarrassed. These were people she frequently interacted with, and now they were bowing so deeply to her, which was truly difficult for her. But then she thought the imperial edict had indeed bestowed upon her the title of Empress, and from this day forward she was undeniably the Empress. Since times had changed, she accepted it.

“Ladies, there’s no need for such formalities. During the Emperor’s mourning period, everything must be done according to the proper order,” she said, gesturing with her hand. “Please rise.”

After everyone thanked her, they stood up and looked again at the noblewoman at the head of the table. They had always thought her dignified and composed, but now they realized it was the demeanor of an Empress.

That evening, back home, Ming-Ke came to help Yunpan change her clothes. For some reason, her arm felt sore and cracked when she moved it, and she could not help but hiss in surprise.

Li Chenjian sat beside her, massaging her hands and saying gently, “It seems you injured your meridians from kneeling and weeping all day.” He then recounted the events of the previous dynasty, omitting the Empress’s words to him, only saying, “With the passing of the late Emperor, many were promoted. His edict, personally drafted, meticulously listed all the officials who had served him well. The officials, remembering the late Emperor’s kindness, secretly shed tears in court, which made me feel uneasy. Now it seems the late Emperor was truly a benevolent ruler; there were undoubtedly unavoidable circumstances in the past. Since he is gone, there’s no need to dwell on it.”

Yunpan hummed in agreement, turning to ask him, “Was there any reward for you?”

Li Chenjian smiled. “My rank was raised two levels; I was made a prince. However, my Elder Brother said the title still needs to be decided. We will see then!”

Yunpan, however, was overjoyed, clapping her hands and exclaiming, “You’ve been made a prince! Does that not mean I am a princess?” Her eyes crinkled with laughter. “I never imagined I’d have this day!”

Was this what contentment is? But Li Chenjian understood that she might not truly value status and position. Her sentimental words were meant to comfort him, because she could have gone even further; her title, far higher than just a princess.

She was afraid he would feel disappointed watching the cheers of “Long live the Emperor!” But how could he? He would never change his mind. Having served as a subject for so many years, why should he not continue?

However, with a new leader, many affairs needed to be reorganized. During the period of mourning for the late Emperor, and the enthronement of the new one, Li Chenjian worked long hours, only gradually relaxing after the mourning period ended.

After nearly a month, the empire began to function normally again, and the streets returned to their former bustling state. Yunpan rode in a carriage to the Duke of Shu’s residence to visit Meifen. Meifen’s wedding date had been moved to the twelfth day of the fourth month. The two sisters chatted together, and Meifen said, “This time it will not change again. Heavens, getting married is really difficult; it’s a case of good things coming to those who wait.”

Yunpan agreed, laughing, “Young Master Zhao has rendered meritorious service in resisting the Iron Cavalry, earning seven promotions and being awarded the title of Light Cavalry Captain. Now his rank is even higher than his brother’s. I’ve come today specifically to congratulate my cousin.”

Meifen still blushed easily, saying shyly, “Although he’s made a contribution, he still had to recuperate for a month. When I went to see him, he pretended he could not eat by himself, and I had to feed him for quite a while. The other day, I saw him on the road talking loudly and confidently, swinging his arms with great ease, but when he came home for dinner, he immediately became all sickly and weak again. He’s really shameless.”

Yunpan chuckled. “He’s a straightforward person, and he does not know how to be charming. This method might have been taught to him by Chunsheng, and he found it very useful, so he plans to keep using it.”

The two chatted and laughed, just like when they were still young, sitting under the eaves, boiling water, enjoying the bright spring sunshine, and eating exotic snacks.

The weather warmed up day by day, and everything became more interesting. Because there were no worries in their hearts, even the wind felt soft, like silk.

Meifen, mentioning the Marquis’s Mansion, smiled and said, “It cannot be called a Marquis’s Mansion anymore. My uncle has been promoted to Founding County Duke. I heard yesterday that the mansion is ordering a plaque in the south city.” She paused, then asked, “Has the verdict been handed down for that Liu-niang woman? It’s been dragging on for months; the trial should be over by now.”

Yunpan took a sip of water and said, “She’s been exiled to Jiangzhou Prison. She’s someone who cannot withstand scrutiny, and she also committed crimes with her two brothers. She should have been sentenced to death, but the new Emperor ascended the throne, so she was given a lighter sentence.”

Meifen said, “Oh, she’s lucky. But being exiled to Jiangzhou means she will never come back. It’s good that she’s suffering there to atone for her sins. It’s just a pity about the three children she left behind; I wonder what will become of them.”

As for Xuepan, needless to say, she was already engaged to a guard under the Loyal General. Her father had no intention of changing his mind, so the marriage was settled. As for Yupan and Jiang Mi, Yunpan said, “Mi’er has actually improved since leaving his mother. He’s been well-behaved under Aunt Jin’s guidance. Yupan, on the other hand, is only fourteen, still young, so there’s no rush. I will find her a good match when it’s time for marriage.”

With their birth mother in such a state, they were bound to suffer in terms of social standing. However, if they were sensible and Aunt Jin was willing to take them under her care, their future would not be too bad.

Just then, they saw Nanny Yao approaching from the opposite corridor. Reaching the pavilion, she reported through the bamboo curtain, “The Duke has sent word that Madam should return immediately. Someone from the Forbidden City will be sending someone to read the imperial edict later.”

Upon hearing this, Yunpan quickly pulled up her shawl and stood up. Meifen escorted her to the door, and they waved goodbye before she told the servant to hurry back. Upon arriving home, the Imperial Attendant had not yet arrived, so she could change her clothes, set up the incense altar, and quietly await the imperial decree.

Finally, a messenger entered to announce the decree. The accompanying eunuchs set up a grand procession, and the entire family knelt in the front courtyard awaiting the imperial decree. The eunuch’s voice was loud and clear as he read aloud, word by word: “I, having received the mandate of Heaven and respecting the teachings of the past, extend courtesy to my esteemed relatives who demonstrate loyalty and virtue. My younger brother, Chenjian, is filial, amiable, kind, gentle, and respectful, embodying the virtues of a gentleman and understanding the principles of morality. Therefore, I hereby bestow upon him the title of Prince of Xiang. His wife, Jiang, possesses gentle conduct and frugal manners and is hereby granted the title of Lady of Rong. The relevant officials shall select an auspicious day for the formal investiture ceremony, which shall be carried out by the presiding official.”

This was the investiture of the couple. The Grand Madam and the Princess Consort, having reached the maximum title, could not be further rewarded, but their fiefs were increased. The reward for Huicun exceeded expectations; the Emperor treated her and Jingcun equally, bestowing upon her the title of Princess of Liyang. Thus, the entire family’s status increased significantly, and the Duke of Wei’s mansion could now be officially renamed the Prince of Xiang’s mansion.

The Imperial Attendant rolled up the edict and respectfully handed it to Li Chenjian, smiling as he said, “Congratulations to Your Highness and all the nobles. Furthermore, His Majesty has instructed me to convey a message to Your Highness: ‘Xiang’ means ‘to assist,’ and His Majesty hopes to work together with Your Highness to jointly govern the state.”

Li Chenjian accepted the edict and bowed deeply. “I will serve His Majesty with utmost loyalty and dedication, even unto death.”

The Imperial Attendant nodded and then said, “Your Highness, today I must deliver another imperial decree. Can Your Highness guess where?”

Li Chenjian hesitated for a moment. “Please enlighten me, Magistrate Xu.”

The Imperial Attendant smiled and said, “Huajing Street, the Liang residence.”

Li Chenjian and Yunpan exchanged a glance. Yunpan said, “The Liang residence on Huajing Street… is that the residence of Liang Huiying, Lady Liang?”

The Imperial Attendant said, “Indeed, His Majesty is grateful for Lady Liang’s merits, and given that her family was unjustly accused and Lady Liang is all alone and facing hardship, he has specially bestowed upon her the title of Lady of Fengyi County as a sign of imperial favor.”

Li Chenjian nodded and said, “His Majesty is more thoughtful than I was. Lady Liang has indeed rendered meritorious service; granting her an imperial title will ensure her future security.”

Yunpan then ordered someone to bring red envelopes and smiled at the Imperial Attendant, saying, “I appreciate your hard work, Magistrate Xu. Please accept this small token of my appreciation. Spring is in full bloom; please, Magistrate Xu and your esteemed guests, purchase incense and refreshments.”

The Imperial Attendant smiled and cupped his hands in thanks. “To the light of spring, and thank you, Your Highness.” The group bowed again before leaving the Prince’s residence.

Looking around, the vegetation was lush and green, and the streets were bustling with activity. In the capital, springtime was filled with a rich fragrance; it seemed Qing Chuang Ji was burning agarwood shavings again!

The Imperial Attendant, beaming with pride, waved his hand and led his entourage of junior eunuchs eastward in a grand procession towards Huajing Street.

—End of Text—