Chapter 126
Chapter 126
[The Prince Consort Brought Home Another Woman – 1]
The moment those words fell, Jiang Yingchen seemed to lose every bone in his body. He collapsed to the floor and began trembling uncontrollably.
The attendants to either side cared nothing for his condition. They stepped forward, seized him, and dragged him out.
Jiang Yingchen never participated in exchanges of poetry.
Jiang Yingchen never wrote poems in front of others.
Jiang Yingchen never discussed the classics or their meaning with anyone.
How could they fail to understand now?
“This is truly…”
Pain filled the Duke of E’s face. He wrung his hands and sighed. “He was such a fine child. How did he become like this?!”
Out of regard for his old friendship with Jiang’s grandfather, he had wished to seize an opportunity to help the descendant of an old friend. Never had he imagined that Jiang Yingchen was nothing but an impostor who had somehow obtained a collection of famous poems and dared swindle his way into the Emperor’s presence!
Fortunately, the Emperor possessed keen judgment. His Majesty had tested the man on the spot and exposed him. Otherwise, if Jiang Yingchen had truly received an official appointment and entered the court, any disaster he caused would have harmed both the people under his administration and the Duke of E’s own descendants!
The Duke of E was advanced in years. Overcome by agitation, his face turned ashen. His second son, who stood closest, hastened to support him and gently stroked his back to ease his breathing.
His eldest son dropped to his knees to plead guilty. “Your Majesty sees all. The Duke of E’s household knew nothing of Jiang Yingchen’s fraud and hunger for fame beforehand. My father merely valued talent and therefore wished to recommend him!”
The Duke of E was a highly respected veteran of three reigns. His intentions had been entirely benevolent, yet the affair had ended like the fable of the farmer and the snake.
Ying Zheng could not help feeling compassion when he saw the Duke’s condition. He ordered someone to summon an Imperial Physician, then gently reassured the eldest son. “We naturally trust the Duke of E’s character. That petty man’s pursuit of advancement has nothing to do with your household.”
Most of those who had come to celebrate the Duke of E’s birthday were connected to his family. They promptly spoke up to smooth matters over and flatter the Emperor along the way. “Ultimately, it was Your Majesty’s wisdom that saw through the emptiness in that man’s belly. A few simple questions were enough to expose him!”
“Indeed. Nothing escapes Your Majesty’s penetrating gaze!”
Jiang Yingchen had faced death several times, but none had terrified him as much as this one. He had always been able to return from death before. This time, once he died, there would truly be no hope left!
Not long after the attendants dragged him from the front hall, Jiang Yingchen finally struggled free of his terror long enough to say in a trembling voice, “I have something to say! I want to see His Majesty! I know many things. I can help His Majesty in countless ways!”
The attendants were carrying out an imperial command. How could they possibly compromise?
Without a second thought, they gagged him and took him directly from the Duke of E’s residence for execution.
When ropes were fastened to all four of his limbs, Jiang Yingchen wet his trousers on the spot. Tears streamed down his face without pause. He wanted to curse at the top of his lungs or at least sob aloud, but the gag sealed his mouth so tightly that he could do neither.
This time, he was truly finished.
…
The Duke of E had always possessed a robust constitution. His pallor had merely resulted from a sudden surge of anger. After the Imperial Physician examined his pulse and administered several needles, he quickly recovered.
Jiang Yingchen had gained an audience with the Emperor entirely through the Duke of E’s household. Once the Duke caught his breath, he inevitably knelt to plead guilty. Ying Zheng knew Jiang Yingchen alone was to blame and naturally did not direct his anger at anyone else.
The Emperor remained in attendance and appeared to be in undiminished spirits, so the birthday banquet continued. The Duke’s household had erected a stage in an open courtyard, where the imperial capital’s most famous acrobatic troupe performed with exquisite coordination.
Another burst of cheers and applause rang out. At that same moment, the emperors in the System’s space all felt a sudden sense of separation.
The foreign soul that did not belong to this world had been completely erased.
The corner of Ying Zheng’s mouth lifted slightly. His gaze remained on the stage as he raised his hands and applauded several times, as though joining the crowd’s cheers.
With Jiang Yingchen dead beyond recovery, Ying Zheng slept exceptionally well that night. He rose early the next morning for court. When his gaze passed over the hourglass in the hall, his thoughts abruptly paused.
He summoned a trusted attendant and pretended he could not quite remember. “There was once a Duke Jiang…”
The attendant froze for an instant, then quickly understood. “Yes. Duke Jiang passed away several years ago. His title was stripped because of his son’s unworthy conduct.”
The difference was that, in the past, the transmigrated man would have crossed over yet again. Now he was thoroughly dead and could never reappear. The only man who would remain in this world was the native Jiang Yingchen, who had depended upon his younger sister for years and possessed a gentle yet stubborn nature.
The emperors in the System’s space understood. Their expressions revealed unmistakable relief.
Emperor Gaozu sighed with feeling. “That was the final reset, wasn’t it? Good. We never met the real Jiang Yingchen, but from the descriptions alone, he sounded like a fine young man. If he had simply died like that, lost even his reputation after death, and left his sister to endure everyone’s gossip, it would have been far too unjust.”
The corner of Ying Zheng’s mouth rose in an almost imperceptible curve. It quickly subsided, restoring his usual composure.
Li Shimin noticed the slight movement. Thoughtfully, he asked, “Shi Huang, do you seem somewhat concerned about the original Jiang Yingchen?”
Reminiscence entered Ying Zheng’s eyes. He remained silent for a long while before saying, “He reminded me of Fusu.”
Not “We,” but “me.”
The emperors all froze.
Ying Zheng offered no further explanation. He merely asked the attendant, “Who remains in the Jiang Family?”
After thinking for a moment, the attendant replied, “The main family has few descendants. I believe only a son and daughter remain, but this subject knows very little about them. If Your Majesty wishes, I will make inquiries at once.”
Ying Zheng nodded. “Go. Investigate thoroughly.”
The attendant acknowledged the order with utmost respect and withdrew from the hall. Inwardly, however, he could not help feeling puzzled. Why would His Majesty suddenly ask about a house that had declined so long ago?
The moment he uncovered the old affair, he understood why the Emperor had asked about the Jiang Family. Realizing it might concern the marriage of an imperial princess, he dared show even less negligence. He dug through all eighteen generations of the Jiang ancestry and compiled more than a dozen pages of information on each of the two siblings, Jiang Yingchen and Jiang Weier. Only after confirming that everything was accurate did he present the documents.
In terms of natural aptitude, Jiang Yingchen was merely average: neither particularly clever nor particularly stupid. However, he was diligent enough to understand that a slow bird needed an early start.
Imperial-examination novels were full of teenagers who ranked first at all three examination levels, but in the real world, passing the Presented Scholar examination at twenty-seven or twenty-eight already placed a man among the most successful of his age. Jiang Yingchen was only eighteen. There was truly no need for haste.
What Ying Zheng genuinely admired was his character.
He was gentle and generous. He treated his servants kindly, raised his younger sister, and possessed a streak of stubbornness deep within his bones. At the same time, he understood his circumstances. He knew Su Zhong was an old friend of the Jiang Family but never attempted to cling to him. His household retained wealth from their ancestors, but he never squandered it.
He wished to restore his family’s reputation but had never considered depending on anyone else. He knew of his engagement to a princess, but since the imperial family had never mentioned it, he did not visit the Court of the Imperial Clan to inquire.
Cultured and refined, a gentleman like polished jade.
Like the Fusu in Ying Zheng’s memories.
Such a son-in-law would not be bad.
Ying Zheng also harbored another, more private thought.
Jiang Yingchen’s temperament resembled Fusu’s, so the two would likely understand each other. At the same time, the collapse of the Jiang Family had given Jiang Yingchen a degree of worldly wisdom Fusu lacked. He understood the need for patience, indirection, and lying low.
If the Eldest Imperial Son truly was Fusu, Ying Zheng could place Jiang Yingchen at his side. Scholarship was secondary. The true priority was for Jiang Yingchen to remonstrate with the Eldest Imperial Son and prevent the tragedy of his previous life from happening again.
Ying Zheng closed the investigative report on Jiang Yingchen. When he recalled the ages of the unmarried princesses, his brows knotted together.
The older princesses had long since married, and those a little younger were already betrothed. Marriages and engagements took place early in this age. The most senior princess without an engagement was the Sixth Princess, who was only eleven-seven years younger than Jiang Yingchen. The Seventh Princess was a few months younger than her elder sister and was also eleven.
The Sixth Princess, the Eldest Imperial Son, and the Eldest Princess were all children of the late Empress. The Seventh Princess was Consort Shu’s daughter.
Every time he thought of the Eldest Imperial Son, Ying Zheng’s heart lurched. He worried that the young man was Fusu, and he worried that he was not. In the end, Ying Zheng could only smile bitterly and set the matter aside for now.
Zhu Yuanzhang tried to persuade him. “We all know what it feels like to have your heart clawed by uncertainty. If you truly can’t stop thinking about him, summon him back and find out for yourself.”
“Affairs of state come first,” Ying Zheng said, and refused to discuss it further.
Since he intended to make Jiang Yingchen a Prince Consort, he naturally did not wish to create a resentful couple. Whether the marriage proceeded would depend upon the attitudes of the two princesses as well.
The Sixth and Seventh Princesses were both eleven, an age neither entirely young nor entirely grown. Ultimately, however, their mothers and elders would have to make the decision.
Consort Shu was still alive and would naturally decide for the Seventh Princess. The late Empress had died years ago, so the person who had watched over the Sixth Princess as she grew was her full elder sister, the Eldest Princess Linchang.
Princess Linchang had already married and established her own household. Ying Zheng found a pretext to summon her to the palace, then sent someone to call Consort Shu to attend as well.
The first child was always different, especially when Princess Linchang was also the legitimate daughter of the late Empress. She naturally enjoyed greater honor before her father. After entering the palace, paying her respects, and inquiring after him, she took a seat beside him with a radiant smile. Although Consort Shu had arrived earlier, she still had to yield place.
Ying Zheng looked upon a face resembling the eldest daughter from his memories and felt a surge of emotion. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he broached the true subject. “While the late Emperor lived, he reached an agreement with Duke Jiang…”
He explained the origin of the matter, then said solemnly, “Since the late Emperor arranged this marriage, his descendants have no reason to reject it. We have already sent men to investigate. Jiang Yingchen’s learning is somewhat lacking, but his character is excellent. He would make a suitable husband for a princess.”
An attendant delivered the documents concerning the Jiang Family and Jiang Yingchen to Princess Linchang and Consort Shu. The two women read them in turn, their expressions entirely different.
The Second Imperial Son was born to a concubine, and so was the Third Imperial Son. Which one was nobler than the other?!
The Jiang Family had declined long ago. Their title had been stripped, and Jiang Yingchen did not even hold office. Strictly speaking, his family circumstances were worse than those of every Prince Consort in the dynasty. Consort Shu still hoped to marry her daughter into a powerful house and secure a strong ally for her son. Would marrying her into the Jiang Family not be throwing her away?!
Her smile turned unnatural. She neither approved nor refused, merely lowered her brows meekly. “The Sixth Princess is the elder sister, higher in birth order and legitimate besides. Little Seven would not dare overstep her.”
Princess Linchang glanced at her and smiled. “The way Consort Shu puts it, one would think Little Six was a tyrant. But they are sisters of the same flesh and blood. Why distinguish between them so rigidly? If Consort Shu has taken a liking to this son-in-law, then just as Kong Rong once yielded a pear, Little Six can yield a husband to her younger sister today and create a splendid marriage.”
Consort Shu choked upon the retort and flushed crimson with humiliation. Afraid the Emperor might truly agree and marry her daughter into that ruined house, she lowered her lashes. Tears immediately welled in her eyes. “This consort has spoiled Little Seven since childhood, as Your Majesty well knows. The Jiang Family is no longer what it was. If you truly marry her into that household, wouldn’t that be the death of her?!”
What a damned hypocrite!
After serving the Emperor for many years, Consort Shu knew he disliked conflict within the harem. She also knew that Princess Linchang, his eldest daughter, occupied a place of great importance in his heart. Despite her hatred, she did not dare quarrel. She merely dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief and gazed pleadingly at the Emperor, as lovely as pear blossoms in the rain.
Ying Zheng raised a hand and rubbed his forehead. He asked Princess Linchang, “Consort Shu does not wish the Jiang Family to marry a princess. Do you object as well?”
Instead of answering, Princess Linchang asked, “Has Imperial Father sent anyone to verify that Jiang Yingchen truly is as these documents describe?”
Ying Zheng nodded.
Princess Linchang rose from her seat and bowed solemnly. “This marriage was arranged by Imperial Grandfather. How could we, as his descendants, refuse it? Moreover, Imperial Father has already ordered an investigation and confirmed that Jiang Yingchen is a man of noble character, worthy of a lifetime’s trust. This daughter would not have Imperial Grandfather break his word, nor would I make matters difficult for Imperial Father. Little Six has always been filial and must surely feel the same. This daughter is willing to accept this marriage on her sister’s behalf.”
When Ying Zheng first heard her trade barbed words with Consort Shu, her sharpness had given him a headache. Now, however, every sensible and righteous word she spoke went straight to his heart. How could he not feel relieved and moved?
Princess Linchang rose with a smile and calmly returned to her seat beside her father.
Consort Shu remained frozen to one side, too stunned to react.
After leaving the palace and boarding the carriage bound for the Princess Manor, Princess Linchang’s maid finally asked in a low voice, “Princess, this engagement…”
“It is a good thing.”
Princess Linchang removed the heavy ruby earring from her ear and gently massaged her earlobe. “Imperial Father never leaves a flaw in anything he does. If Jiang Yingchen possessed no merits, why would he ever catch Imperial Father’s eye?”
She shot her maid a bright, animated glance. “Do you truly think Imperial Father wishes to make Jiang Yingchen a Prince Consort solely because Imperial Grandfather and Duke Jiang exchanged a few drunken words many years ago-words that were never even entered into the official record?”
Understanding dawned on the maid. “His Majesty intends to entrust Jiang Yingchen with important duties!”
Princess Linchang said, “In public terms, Jiang Yingchen will soon be appointed to office and become worthy of a princess. In private terms, he truly is an excellent choice of husband. He has a gentle disposition, never chases women, and has a simple household. I have never met Jiang Yingchen, but I have met his younger sister. She is a lovely, refined young woman. With such a sister, her brother cannot be too poor a man.”
She sighed. “A gentle husband, a harmonious marriage, and a peaceful life-that is good enough. Of what use are wealth and rank to a princess of the Imperial House? Others may not know the truth of it, but how could I not?”
The maid knew she had remembered her own sorrows, and her expression dimmed. “Princess, you…”
“Never mind.” Princess Linchang shook her head with a bitter smile. “At this point, what more is there to say? I no longer hope for happiness between husband and wife. I only wish for my younger siblings to live peaceful lives, with everything going smoothly. My brother is stubborn, and Imperial Father is the same. I can only do my best to mediate between them. He is the legitimate eldest son. If he does not inherit the throne, how could he preserve his life? And then there is Little Six. A Prince Consort like Jiang Yingchen is perfectly suitable. Why insist upon a husband from an eminent house?”
The carriage wheels rumbled all the way to the gates of the Princess Manor.
Princess Linchang descended with a hand on her maid’s arm. Several servants hurried to welcome her, looking both panicked and furious. Once they reached her, one suppressed her voice with difficulty and reported, “Princess, the Prince Consort has returned! He brought back a pregnant woman, and she looks like…”
The maid’s arm trembled with anger and shock. Princess Linchang, by contrast, remained perfectly calm. “Like whom?”
The servant replied, “Like your younger sister, Princess Jiangyang!”