Today’s second update~
Chen Wang turned his head and looked at the person who arrived with a smile that did not reach his eyes: “Fourth brother.”
“Fifth brother.” Yun Yanze walked into the candlelight, without looking at the Zheng family members imprisoned in the prison cell. He nodded slightly at Liu Zhongbao and turned to Chen Wang: “Why has fifth brother come here?”
“I should be the one asking this question, fourth brother.” Chen Wang looked at Yun Yanze, who was dressed in white from head to toe, looking totally incompatible with his surroundings: “Why are you here and not recuperating in Zhangliu Palace?”
Yun Yanze slowly turned his head and looked at the people behind the bars, “Please don’t worry, fifth brother. I am not here to plead for Uncle and Aunt. I just came to see them, don’t think too much.”
“I haven’t thought of anything.” Chen Wang crossed his arms, “Now that you have seen them, you should leave.”
“Your Highness.” Zheng Zhen spoke up: “We have been wrongly accused, please find a way to help us.”
“Cousin, Father Emperor dedicates his heart and soul to serving the people of this nation. The court officials are impartial. They will definitely give you justice.” Yun Yanze looked at the Zheng family members: “Tell me if there’s anything you lack, and I will have someone bring it to you.”
Madam Zheng smiled bitterly. Of course, they lacked everything in the cell. Even if His Highness sent them something, they could not possibly keep it. What they wanted now was not food or drink, but to get out of here.
“Aunt.” Yun Yanze smiled apologetically at Madam Zheng: “Please forgive my incompetence, I cannot immediately clear your names. Now… now that Mother Consort has been demoted to a meiren and I have to live in the Palace, I cannot attend to many things. But there is one thing you can stop worrying about. Little cousin is kept in a separate courtyard and I have arranged people to take good care of him.”
“I believe you are innocent.” Through the bars, his smile was gentle as jade: “Just cooperate with the officials in the investigation. You don’t have to worry about little cousin. Leave everything to me.”
Madam Zheng clasped the bars, her grip tightening and loosening repeatedly: “I am relieved to have Your Highness watch over us.”
“It’s good that Aunt understands.” Yun Yanze turned to Liu Zhongbao, “Liu gonggong, can I send someone to bring clothes for Uncle and Aunt?”
“If Your Highness wants to send something for the Zheng family, you can make a list and give it to this old slave. This old slave will have it delivered for you.” Liu Zhongbao smiled, “This old slave knows Your Highness is kindhearted. However, a prison has its own rules. Please don’t make it difficult for this old slave.”
“Thank you, Liu gonggong.” Yun Yanze paused for a moment, then turned to glance at the Zheng family: “Then I won’t disturb fifth brother and Liu gonggong any longer. Farewell.”
Yun Yanze came and left, leaving behind nothing and asking nothing, as if he had really just come to show concern for his imprisoned Uncle.
Chen Wang sneered and raised his hand to beckon the Dragon Guards standing near: “Stop standing there and take Zheng Wangnan to the purification chamber.”
“I’ll talk, I’ll talk.” Large drops of tears streamed down Madam Zheng’s cheeks as she choked: “Master and the Old Madam are unaware of these things. Everything was done by me.”
Master Zheng, who was kowtowing on the ground, froze for a moment, and then looked at her in shock: “Madam, why did you do this? It’s a capital offense!”
“It is all my fault,” Madam Zheng covered her face and wept bitterly. “It is all my fault.”
“Mother, how could it be?” Zheng Zhen had always thought that they were being framed by that Demon Consort. But unexpectedly, everything was true?
“Twenty years ago, the guilty woman met Guifei niangniang at a teahouse in the capital. This guilty woman felt jealous and resentful of her fairy-like beautiful appearance. After she entered the prince’s residence, this guilty woman visited there and saw that her meimei1T/N: By meimei (which means younger sister), Madam Zheng is referring to her husband’s concubine-born half-sister and Qi Junwang’s birth mother, Zheng Lanyin. was not as favored by His Majesty, which increased the resentment towards Guifei niangniang. Later, when His Majesty ascended the throne, the guilty woman learned that Guifei niangniang was going south with his entourage, so this guilty woman began to have thoughts of harming her.”
“The guilty woman knows that she had committed a heinous crime. She doesn’t expect niangniang and Your Highness’ forgiveness, but she begs them not to implicate the innocent.” Madam Zheng repeatedly kowtowed to Chen Wang: “The guilty woman is willing to endure death by a thousand cuts to redeem her own sins.”
“Out of jealousy and hate, a young Madam of a Marquis family sent numerous assassins to secretly kill the Emperor’s favored Guifei and a prince?” After listening to her words, he laughed: “This story is put together quite well, but unfortunately, Ben Wang doesn’t believe it.”
“Your Highness!” Madam Zheng looked at him in shock. “That matter is indeed the work of this guilty woman.”
“Ben Wang specially looked at Madam Zheng’s natal family’s genealogy before coming here,” Chen Wang shook his head ruefully. “Madam has two older brothers and a younger sister. Ben Wang heard that both of your brothers already have grandchildren. The little children are also fair, adorable and very pleasing to the eye.”
“You committed a great crime. If Master Zheng is willing to divorce you, they can naturally keep their lives. But the unlucky ones would be your brothers and sister, who know nothing and yet have to suffer the consequences. They will be imprisoned and their descendants will become slaves.” Chen Wang looked at Madam Zheng. “Madam, won’t you regret it?”
Madam Zheng knelt on the ground sobbing as her shoulders trembled. Chen Wang stood for a while but he didn’t hear her say a word about regret. He turned his head and glanced at the kneeling Master Zheng and Zheng Wangnan, who didn’t dare to speak. Suddenly, he felt extremely irked: “Imprison Madam Zheng separately in a cell. If she dies suddenly, it would be because the Zheng family made her take the blame on their behalf and then killed her.”
“If she stays alive, she will be dealt with according to the law. Children under the age of nine and elderly people over eighty may be exempted from being implicated.” Chen Wang turned around and walked out, leaving behind a sentence: “Lock up that little troublemaker of the Zheng family with… Madam Zheng.”
After leaving the prison, he took a deep breath and looked up at the sun in the sky. “Thank you for accompanying me for so long, Liu gonggong. You may now take your leave.”
“This old slave will excuse himself.” Liu Zhongbao bid farewell to Chen Wang and went straight back to Taiyang Palace. There, he recounted everything that had just happened to Emperor Longfeng.
“That child has always been unwilling to suffer losses.” Emperor Longfeng laughed upon hearing his words. “Even when he was young, he dared to fight the guards of Qian residence2Qian residence [潜邸] – The Qian residence, also known as the Qianlong residence (潜龙邸), is the estate where an emperor, who was originally not of crown prince status, resided before he ascended the throne. If the emperor was a crown prince before ascending, he would naturally live in the East Palace (东宫) and would not have a Qian residence. after he heard them speak ill of zhen. Although he was only seven or eight years old, he came back with a bruised and swollen face, and proudly told zhen that he had grabbed a handful of his opponent’s hair.”
“This old slave still remembers. At that time, little Highness had a big bump on his forehead and his pants were torn.” Liu Zhongbao chuckled. “During dinner that night, His Highness ate half of your portion as well.”
During the time when they were confined in the Qian residence, life was particularly difficult; even the amount of rice for each person was fixed. Little Highness had a big appetite and a lively personality, so the Guifei planted some sweet potatoes in the backyard. When he couldn’t bear the hunger at night, the young prince would dig out a sweet potato from the ground, peel it, and eat it before going back to sleep.
Recalling the past, Emperor Longfeng smiled. Even he himself hadn’t expected that the girl who was sent to his princely residence by her own father would accompany him through so many years of ups and downs.
His Mother Concubine came from a humble background. Not one woman in his residence then was there by his own choice except Meidai. When he saw her crying pitifully as her father took her to his residence, he became soft-hearted. Perhaps she wouldn’t have anywhere to go if he were to drive her out, so he nodded and let her stay.
“It’s almost New Year.” Emperor Longfeng looked at the red plum blossoms outside the window. “Go pick some well-bloomed ones. Zhen will take them along to Mingyue Palace.”
“This old slave will go right away.” Liu Zhongbao trotted to the plum tree and started picking the flowers.
On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, Jiuzhu sat on the wall adjacent to her eldest Uncle’s courtyard, eagerly waiting for her sixth brother Fu to return after the marriage proposal.
After a long wait, there were finally some sounds outside the courtyard. Seeing Ming Cunfu walking into the courtyard with a joyful smile, she knew this marriage was finalized.
“Sixth brother, sixth brother.” Jiuzhu waved at him from the wall. “Congratulations on fulfilling your wish, sixth brother.”
“Sixth Young Master, you finally came back.” Chunfen smiled helplessly at Ming Cunfu. “Young Miss didn’t go anywhere today. She has been waiting here for a whole shichen.”
“Thank you for your concern, meimei.” Ming Cunfu took out an embroidered pouch from his bosom and handed it to Jiuzhu over the wall. “Use this money to buy rouge.”
“Thank you, sixth brother.” Jiuzhu happily accepted it. Indeed, waiting here for sixth brother to come back was the best choice.
With this money from him, the New Year’s money from the elders, and the gift given to her by the Palace as a xianzhu, she would have enough money to support His Highness in the Palace.
After receiving the money, Jiuzhu decisively climbed down from the wall and walked away in a good mood.
Ming Cunfu looked at his meimei’s indifferent figure and suspected that she had been waiting here just to make him give her some money.
No, how could he think this way about his innocent and adorable meimei!
He was not a competent and good older brother.
“Ten taels!” Jiuzhu opened the pouch that Ming Cunfu gave her and laughed happily, “Sixth brother is so generous today!”
She put the silver into a box and counted the contents again.
“Young Miss.” Chunfen handed her a piece of fruit and whispered: “On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, the stewards from each one of our farmsteads and shops come to the residence to hand in the profits.”
Clever juniors would know how to serve tea and water to their elders when they counted the money. When the elders were happy, money would naturally come to the juniors.
“Thank you, Chunfen jiejie. I’ll go keep Mother company now.” Jiuzhu quickly ate the fruit, held up her skirt and rushed toward the main courtyard.
“Sigh.” Chunfen glanced at the still open box and tidied it up.
This was the kind of interaction that happened between ordinary parents and their children, but for Master and Madam, this happiness cost a long sixteen years of wait.
“Jiuzhu.” Shen-shi was counting the profits and when she saw her daughter peeking at the door. She beckoned, “Come, come in.”
“Mother.” Jiuzhu looked at the copper coins packed in a cloth bag and exclaimed openly: “So much money!”
“This is the yearly profit from the farmsteads.” Shen-shi casually handed her a handful of broken silver and smiled warmly, “Take it. Sit beside me and play, don’t disturb me while I’m checking the accounts.”
“Thank you, Mother.” Jiuzhu put the broken silver into her purse and obediently sat by the side, watching Shen-shi’s abacus clatter as she calculated.
“If you’re bored, go play by yourself.” Shen-shi looked up at her daughter: “Don’t force yourself.”
“Not bored.” Jiuzhu shook her head seriously: “When Daughter was young, she went to the city and saw the lady boss of a bun shop calculating the accounts while her daughter sat beside her. After the lady boss finished her work, she gave the girl five copper coins.”
Speaking of this, Jiuzhu smiled, “Mother is much more generous than the lady boss. You gave me a handful of broken silver.”
Shen-shi’s hand paused. She stood up and walked to Jiuzhu before embracing her.
Jiuzhu, her child.
She must make her the happiest little guniang in the capital.
“Mother.” Jiuzhu hugged Shen-shi back and rubbed against her like a little puppy, “Father said he had a day off today. Why isn’t he at home?”
“He ah.” Shen-shi stroked her daughter’s head, “He went out to settle some accounts.”
Jiuzhu was puzzled: “Does Father need to go out to settle the accounts for some years?”
“Of course.” Shen-shi smiled: “It’s almost the New Year, and the days are getting cold. We need to collect the debts that are owed to us.”
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