Four Seasons Brocade – CH 227

Chapter 227 ☆、

“Your Majesty, I am innocent! Your Majesty, I am innocent!” Consort Xiang pounded her head on the ground, her forehead turning bruised. Her hair disheveled, she was a far cry from the dignified figure of a favored concubine. “Your Majesty, please understand! Your Majesty, I am innocent!”

The Longqing Emperor slumped back, dejected and powerless.

Consort Xiang’s heart sank. She had served the Longqing Emperor for so many years; if it were not for his ‘attentiveness and concern,’ she would not have been able to attain the position of Imperial Concubine. Now, the Longqing Emperor was not offering any real evidence, only questioning her about the ‘sheguocao.’ Consort Xiang knew that, regardless of whether she had done it or not, the Longqing Emperor wanted only one outcome.

Consort Xiang gritted her teeth; she had no choice but to risk everything and take the path of ‘fighting to the death.’

“Your Majesty,” Consort Xiang said, “if admitting to using sheguocao to kill the late Empress would ease your mind, then please consider it my doing. However, all of this has nothing to do with Yu’er, so please do not blame him. As long as Your Majesty is happy, I will do anything you ask, even risk my life.”

Consort Xiang’s act of sacrificing a pawn to save the king showed a motherly heart. “The Yuan family woman is unchaste and impure, seducing Yu’er into committing shameless acts. Yu’er is young and impetuous and could not resist the temptation. I beg Your Majesty to punish her. However, the Yuan family woman is pregnant, and I cannot allow her to defile the harem, so I had no choice but to resort to this drastic measure. I had someone put fuzi in her medicine.”

Consort Xiang admitted to killing Consort Yuan but still only admitted to using fuzi. As for the sheguocao, her attitude remained the same: if the Longqing Emperor insisted she admit to something she did not do, she was willing to admit it for the Emperor’s sake.

However, the Yuan family woman mentioned by Consort Xiang was not just Yuan Rongmeng. The reason the Longqing Emperor hated the late Empress so much was because of her ‘infidelity,’ was it not? Like niece, like aunt.

Consort Xiang secretly glanced at the Longqing Emperor and, sure enough, saw his expression become even more unpleasant, yet he seemed lost in thought. Seizing the opportunity, Consort Xiang crawled to the Longqing Emperor’s feet, embracing them and saying, “Your Majesty, I was foolish enough to commit this error, but it was also because Your Majesty was once again deceived by Lady Yuan. For Your Majesty and Yu’er, I would gladly die immediately. But, Your Majesty, did you not investigate thoroughly beforehand? The late Empress committed suicide by swallowing sheguocao because she resented Your Majesty for forcing her. She had taken abortifacients when she was pregnant; if it were not for the Fourth Prince’s good fortune, she would have miscarried long ago. Later, Your Majesty had people keep a close watch on her, preventing her from succeeding. But she cursed Your Majesty day and night—have you forgotten?” Consort Xiang wept bitterly.

The Longqing Emperor was once again plunged into memories and boundless pain; those days were truly the darkest and most painful of his life.

When he left the palace incognito, he fell in love with Ah Wei at first sight. Before Ah Wei entered the palace, she already had a lover, but her power-hungry father and brothers forced them apart and sent her to the palace. Although he knew Yuan Yiwei had someone else in her heart, he arrogantly believed he would one day remove that person.

However, he never expected that he would fall deeper and deeper into the beautiful and talented Ah Wei, yet he could never enter her heart. She kept pushing him away to others, and he tried to favor other concubines, but his heart only ached more and more, as if being twisted and spun three times.

His Ah Wei even called out another man’s name in her dreams, putting him on the verge of exposure, yet he could not bear to hurt her.

He still remembered the first time he lost his temper with Ah Wei. It was snowing heavily that day, the sky so dark it seemed about to collapse. He neglected state affairs and went to Yuankun Palace to see her.

Yuankun Palace was originally named Kunming Palace. Because Ah Wei’s surname was Yuan, he renamed it Yuankun Palace to please her, a name opposed by his ministers. Yuan meant Heaven, a name reserved only for Emperors. Yet he persisted.

However, he did not expect that it was in Yuankun Palace that he discovered his Empress, who had been infertile for three years, was secretly drinking contraceptive soup. Years later, he could barely remember the words he had used to curse her, but the painful feeling lingered.

The Longqing Emperor touched his chest; it was empty.

Later, after he forced Ah Wei to become pregnant, she became a different person. She cried day and night, the once gentle and lovely Ah Wei transforming into a vicious woman, cursing and hurling insults at him whenever she saw him.

The palace matrons told him that some women experience drastic personality changes during pregnancy, becoming violent. He simply thought he would endure these few months, and once he and Ah Wei had a child, Ah Wei’s heart would gradually turn to him. He had a lifetime to spend with her.

But he never expected that Ah Wei, usually kept under close surveillance and unable to find an opportunity, would tamper with the labor-inducing drugs on the day of childbirth.

The Longqing Emperor’s hands began to tremble. He wished he were blind and his nose were damaged, so he would not see the pool of blood, smell the pervasive stench of blood, and Ah Wei would not die.

He still remembered Ah Wei’s eyes at that moment, looking at him like a vengeful spirit, saying, “I am finally free.”

She was free. They were all free.

A surge of overwhelming hatred rose in the Longqing Emperor’s heart. Why could she not see his own heart? Why, even though he treated her a thousand times, ten thousand times better than that other man, could she not see him? She hated him, cursed him, resented him, and even refused to bear his child, heartlessly tampering with the delivery.

His heart was cold, shattered, empty—utterly empty.

Yuan Yiwei’s wet nurse was a Miao person, and even the imperial physicians could not recognize the sheguocao, which was why she could tamper with it. Although the Longqing Emperor had suspected someone might be trying to harm Yuan Yiwei, she was the Empress, and while Yuan Yiwei was gentle and kind, she was by no means incompetent. She was surrounded by his people; who could harm her? Only herself!

Perhaps because so much time had passed, even the Longqing Emperor could now somewhat step back and reflect. He could not quite recall who had recognized the sheguocao and thus pointed out that Ah Wei had committed suicide, not been murdered.

The Longqing Emperor narrowed his eyes. “Su Dehai, go and call the Fourth Prince over.”

When Chu Mao arrived at Ziyun Hall, the Sixth Prince, Chu Yu, rushed in as well. The eunuchs behind him wanted to stop him but dared not. In the Longqing Emperor’s prime, such a thing would never have happened, but the inner court was about to change hands, so some shrewd individuals were happy to do him a favor.

“Father Emperor, I beg you to investigate! Mother Consort would never harm Consort Yuan. With her current status, why would she need to harm Consort Yuan?” Chu Yu prostrated himself at the Longqing Emperor’s feet as soon as he entered.

“Yu’er!” Consort Xiang called out loudly to Chu Yu, repeatedly giving him meaningful glances.

Although Chu Yu did not know the full story, he knew he could not continue pleading, so he stopped and silently knelt before the Longqing Emperor.

“Father Emperor,” Chu Mao greeted respectfully.

The Longqing Emperor sized up his son, the son that Ah Wei would rather die than give birth to, the son he had originally thought would fill him with ecstatic joy. If it were not for him, perhaps Ah Wei would not have died. The Longqing Emperor had thought this countless times, but this time he hoped someone could give him a different answer.

“Fourth Prince, have you found out who the eunuch was who only recognized the sheguocao?” the Longqing Emperor asked.

Consort Xiang’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“Reporting to Father Emperor, that eunuch’s name was Wang Xiaohu. He died of illness in the tenth year of Longqing’s reign. However, I still managed to find out his background. He was once a neighbor of Consort Xiang’s family in Mao’er Backalley. Later, when Consort Xiang entered the palace, he was also castrated and entered the palace,” Chu Mao replied.

“He’s been dead for so many years, and you still managed to find out? Prince Qi, you truly have impressive methods. With no one left to testify, you can make up anything you want.” Consort Xiang, abandoning her innocent facade in front of the Longqing Emperor, turned to mock Chu Mao.

Chu Mao remained as calm as ever. “Thanks to the kindness of Her Imperial Highness the Consort, who did not wipe out the entire neighborhood, some of those who remember Wang Xiaohu are still alive.”

Anyone who could enter the palace, even if their ancestral lineage was not thoroughly investigated, would at least have a few generations of relatives. Their physical characteristics were also meticulously recorded. Therefore, finding the eunuch who identified the sheguocao back then would not be too difficult if one were determined. Besides, Chu Mao had not started his investigation more than twenty years later.

Consort Xiang was so angry at Chu Mao that her nose almost twisted, but she was speechless.

“Fourth Brother, I know you are heartbroken over Pure Consort’s death, but every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt its debtor. What benefit would my mother gain from harming Pure Consort? You should go back and ask the Fourth Prince’s wife. She could not tolerate Pure Consort remaining in the Prince Qi’s mansion, so she went to great lengths to send Pure Consort to the palace through Yan Guangde’s connections. Unfortunately, Pure Consort remained devoted, harboring ulterior motives despite being Father’s consort. Your Princess Consort will likely be even less tolerant of her,” Chu Yu said sarcastically.

Chu Mao’s expression remained unchanged, though Chu Yu’s knowledge of such a secret was a turbulent storm brewing within him. Chu Mao did not answer Chu Yu; only a mocking smile played on his lips. The reason he kept Chu Yu and Pure Consort’s affair so secret was simply to let the suspicious Longqing Emperor investigate himself. Only what he discovered would he believe. And the harder this matter was to uncover, the more the Emperor would fear the Xiang family.

“Yu’er,” Consort Xiang had to interrupt Chu Yu to stop him from continuing.

Chu Yu glanced at Consort Xiang, then followed her gaze to the Longqing Emperor. His heart sank.

The Longqing Emperor sighed inwardly. All his sons had their shortcomings, and he had initially favored his sixth son. Today’s events had deeply disappointed him. It was merely adultery with a concubine, yet he dared not admit it and failed to grasp his own situation, uttering such foolish words.

“Sixth Prince, you return to your residence. Without my decree, you are not to leave even a step,” the Longqing Emperor said.

This was house arrest. Chu Yu’s eyes widened instantly. He threw himself at the Longqing Emperor’s feet, tears streaming down his face, and said, “Father Emperor, it’s all my fault, all my fault! I was young and impetuous, and that vile woman Yuan seduced me, leading me to commit such a grave mistake. Please forgive me this time, Father Emperor. I will never dare to do it again.”

Indeed, he was young and impetuous. Unfortunately, the Longqing Emperor’s body could not withstand the strain for many more years; he would not live to see Chu Yu mature.

“Go back and reflect for a few days. I will speak with you later,” the Longqing Emperor sighed.

Having received these words, Chu Yu rose, glaring fiercely at Chu Mao before leaving.

“Tell me the truth. If you tell the truth, the Sixth Prince is my son, not even born yet. I will not blame him. But if you deceive me, and I find out myself, I will ensure he never leaves the Prince Wei’s residence again.” The Longqing Emperor had no energy left to waste on idle chatter with Consort Xiang.

“Your Majesty, I am innocent! I am innocent!” Consort Xiang was not easily fooled by the Longqing Emperor. If she truly confessed, it would be the death of the Fourth and Fifth Princes, and the Sixth Prince would certainly not fare well either. “I have already said that if Your Majesty wishes for me to confess to killing the late Empress so that Your Majesty can deceive yourself and feel better, then I will confess. I only beg Your Majesty to take care of Yu’er.” Consort Xiang prostrated herself on the ground, weeping.

“Fourth Prince, what do you think?” the Longqing Emperor asked Chu Mao.

Chu Mao looked up at the Longqing Emperor, somewhat wistfully, and said, “Your Imperial Highness’s maternal heart moves me deeply. I think, how could my mother, carrying her child for ten months, bear to take her own life at the last moment, not even sparing her son?”

Yes, what mother in this world could bear not loving her son when she could feel him kicking playfully inside her every day?

The Longqing Emperor had never considered this question before, but seeing Consort Xiang’s state today, he suddenly realized that Ah Wei was such a gentle and kind person; how could she treat her own child like that?

“Su Dehai, have someone keep an eye on Consort Xiang. Do not let her commit suicide,” the Longqing Emperor said coldly, standing up.

Consort Xiang’s face turned deathly pale in an instant. She opened her mouth to speak, her lips trembling, but she could not utter a single word.

When Chu Mao returned to Yanjia Hall, Ah Wu rushed into his arms like a gentle breeze, “How was it? How was it?”

Chu Mao chuckled and patted Ah Wu’s head. He had never known Ah Wu’s curiosity could be so intense.

However, Ah Wu clearly sensed that Chu Mao’s mood was not good. She had also heard that the Longqing Emperor had gone to Ziyun Hall alone earlier, and Ah Wu had felt this was bad; was this not clearly giving Consort Xiang a chance to defend herself?

“Your Highness, are you unhappy?” Ah Wu asked Chu Mao cautiously. “Actually, Your Highness does not need to worry. After all, Consort Xiang has served the Emperor for over twenty years…”

Chu Mao did not speak. After settling down, he pulled Ah Wu into his arms and gently lifted her chin. “When you were born, Teacher and his wife must have been overjoyed, right?”

Ah Wu was puzzled by Chu Mao’s sudden question, but then she understood. Today’s events had probably brought back memories for him. From the moment he was born, the Emperor had never shown him any affection, and Empress Xiaozhen had died in childbirth.

Ah Wu wrapped her arms around Chu Mao’s neck, pressing her forehead against his, and said, “How could I know if they were overjoyed?”

“Ah Wu, Ah Wu…” Chu Mao suddenly pulled Ah Wu into a tighter embrace.

Ah Wu nearly had her ribs broken from the grip. She tried to struggle but felt a warm, damp sensation at the nape of her neck, and Chu Mao’s head was pressed against it. Ah Wu remained motionless as Chu Mao strangled her. She had seen Chu Mao angry, happy, and excited, but she had never seen him cry.

Finally, Ah Wu could no longer breathe and abruptly pushed Chu Mao away, looking up at his eyes. Sure enough, they were red.

“What’s wrong? Did I strangle you?” Chu Mao gently rubbed Ah Wu’s chest.

“Your Highness, what happened at Ziyun Hall today?” Ah Wu asked. News was tightly controlled; even Lu Weizhong could not find out anything. He only knew that all the eunuchs who accompanied the Longqing Emperor to Ziyun Hall were flogged and dismissed by Su Dehai; even Su Dehai himself received twenty strokes of the cane.

Chu Mao led Ah Wu to the bathing room, and Ah Wu was somewhat used to Prince Qi’s habit of sharing secrets while bathing.

Ah Wu suppressed her shyness and gently removed her outer robe and undergarments. She did not want to get her clothes wet again. That day, when Zi-Yi had led the palace maids into the bathing room to clean, Ah Wu’s face turned fiery red at the sight of her damp clothes.

Ah Wu’s hand had just reached the strap of her inner garment when Chu Mao grabbed it. “Do not take it off; it’s best this way.” Chu Mao lifted Ah Wu and stepped into the bathtub, pouring water over her shoulders. The damp, transparent undergarments clung to her skin, possessing a unique allure.

“Our Yulan Hall’s bathing room has mirrors. When we get back, look at yourself now. Even the Emperor would be driven mad by you,” Chu Mao whispered in Ah Wu’s ear.

Ah Wu felt a ticklish sensation on her neck from Chu Mao’s hot breath, and she turned her head away. “You are so unserious.” Just a moment ago, he was feeling so down, and now he was thinking about these things again. Ah Wu could not understand how Chu Mao could change so quickly.

Chu Mao did not dwell on Ah Wu any longer. He scooped up some water and poured it over her shoulders, slowly recounting the events at Ziyun Hall.

There were so many things that shocked Ah Wu. It turned out that Empress Xiaozhen had not died in childbirth, but had been murdered by Consort Xiang. And Chu Yu knew so much about her scheming against Yuan Rongmeng.

“We absolutely cannot let that bitch Consort Xiang get away with this,” Ah Wu said bitterly. This was the hatred for his mother’s killer.

Chu Mao gave a mocking smile but did not speak. Ah Wu did not understand what Chu Mao was mocking and looked at him with some confusion.

“What if I told you that the late Empress really committed suicide?” Chu Mao said, enunciating each word clearly.

“How could that be?” Ah Wu could not believe a woman would commit suicide while giving birth.

Chu Mao’s face was wet with tears; it was hard to tell if the drops were from bathwater or from sweat. His voice was hoarse as he said, “No one would believe that. But she knew there was something wrong with that medicine, Ah Wu.”

His own mother did not want him; how heartbreaking was that!

Ah Wu gently stroked Chu Mao’s face. “Your Highness had just been born. How could you know about the late Empress’s condition? You only heard it from others, did you not?”

“A woman’s life during childbirth is incredibly difficult; she was already exhausted. How could she have discerned whether the medicine was problematic in her condition?” Ah Wu asked.

“But Nanny Hao told her,” Chu Mao said.

Ah Wu would not doubt Nanny Hao, just as Chu Mao would not, because Nanny Hao was the most loyal person to the late Empress, and it was she who protected Chu Mao.

“Perhaps the late Empress wanted to use this as an opportunity to deal with Consort Xiang, but in the end, she did not expect the sheguocao to be so potent?” Ah Wu said somewhat uncertainly.

Chu Mao smiled, his eyes filled with desolation. “Back then, Consort Xiang was just a minor concubine. Did she really need to risk so much to get rid of her?”

Ah Wu lowered her head and remained silent. Unfortunately, she and Chu Mao, limited by their knowledge at the time, did not know about “prenatal depression,” nor how serious its harm was.

Author’s Note:
I’ve experienced both prenatal and postpartum depression. Before giving birth, I cried all night long, crying in front of the computer, feeling like I could not go on living. I even wrote thousands of words cursing Mengmeng—it’s terrifying to think about now. In the month after giving birth, I had countless thoughts of divorce; I simply could not go on living. In times like these, unless you have a strong heart, you absolutely must see a doctor.