Chapter 23

Chapter 23

[Prince Consort, the Princess Has Been Beaten to Death – 22]

Lü Xiuzhen’s face turned livid. His stiff lips trembled several times, but in the end he dared not remain. He cast Princess Qinghe a resentful look, flung his sleeves, and left.

The servants had witnessed Court Lady Du’s rebuke and then the quarrel between the Prince Consort and the princess. Inevitably terrified, they now knelt in deathly silence, not one daring to raise a head.

Punishment had already begun in the courtyard. Wooden rulers cracked against palms, the sound carrying with exceptional clarity through the desolate night.

Princess Qinghe sat upright and said sternly, “Since matters have already reached this point today, I shall say a little more. This is my Princess Manor, not the Lü Family home. The foremost master in your hearts is Princess Qinghe, not Princess Qinghe’s Prince Consort. From now on, the Prince Consort may not enter without my summons and permission. I do not wish to pursue tonight’s affair too far, but if it happens again, I will show no mercy!”

The servants knocked their heads against the floor and acknowledged the order. Just then, Court Lady Du and the others finished receiving their punishment outside and were led in by the attendants to report.

Princess Qinghe dismissed the remaining servants. She stared vacantly at the bright lamps in the inner chamber for a long while, her exhaustion impossible to conceal.

With a sigh, she rose and sat on the bed, leaning weakly against its head without looking at Court Lady Du or the others. “I truly am tired. You should go rest as well, Aunt. What happened tonight was an undeserved calamity for all of you, but it nearly led to a grave mistake, so I could not leave it unpunished. Have someone prepare medicine for your injuries and summon a physician to examine you. As for the lost pay, I will find a reason to reward it back to you in time.”

Court Lady Du had originally served as a court lady in Empress Miao’s palace and had known Princess Qinghe before her marriage. She knew the princess to be gentle in character and lenient toward those beneath her. Seeing her so severe tonight, Court Lady Du understood that something must have gone badly wrong. Now that Princess Qinghe appeared so disheartened as well, alarm filled her heart. She truly could not rest easy. “What did the Prince Consort do to anger the princess so deeply?”

When Princess Qinghe frowned, she hurriedly continued, “If you say nothing, we servants will not understand the circumstances. We may overlook something again in the future. What will happen if tonight’s affair repeats itself?”

Princess Qinghe’s spirits were heavy, and she had no strength to discuss it. Yet Court Lady Du’s sincere concern moved her. She rose, took the woman’s hand, and examined it with a sigh. “Even after being punished, you still worry so about me…”

She then ordered someone to bring medicine for bruising and swelling. She gave half to the other two maids, sat opposite Court Lady Du, and personally applied the rest.

Court Lady Du hastily tried to refuse. “Princess, this servant truly cannot bear such treatment…”

“Enough. At a time like this, why cling to empty formalities?”

Princess Qinghe carefully spread the salve over her palms. When she had finished, she slowly sighed. “I am exhausted tonight and do not wish to say more. Tomorrow.”

Court Lady Du saw the weariness between her brows. Remembering how husband and wife had glared coldly at each other not long ago, she could vaguely guess what had happened. She stopped asking, rose, and saluted. “Yes.”

…

Princess Qinghe retired to rest, but a raging fire burned in Lü Xiuzhen’s chest, scorching his organs and feeding his fury.

He strode back to the side room and encountered several retainers from the Lü Family. They were preparing to salute the Prince Consort when their gazes reached his cheek and froze. One asked cautiously, “Prince Consort, your…”

Lü Xiuzhen’s gaze turned sinister. “What about me?!”

The retainer dared say no more and merely gestured discreetly toward his own cheek.

Understanding, Lü Xiuzhen stormed over to a bronze mirror. One side of his face was swollen high, and a vivid handprint marked his cheek, all five fingers plainly visible.

He had walked all the way back like this. Who knew how many people had seen him!

And never mind the walk. Had so few people witnessed it in the main rooms?!

Lü Xiuzhen’s expression darkened to a frightening degree. He ordered a servant to fetch ice and held it to his face, but after a long while the swelling showed no improvement. When he glanced toward the outer room, he caught a flash of pity in a retainer’s eyes. His already crumbling self-respect shattered completely, beyond any hope of repair.

He sprang to his feet and strode outside.

The retainers were startled and hurried after him. “Prince Consort, it is so late. Where are you going?”

Lü Xiuzhen said coldly, “I am not a man without a home. Why should I live beneath another’s roof and endure their contempt?!”

He went to the stables, led out a horse himself, mounted, and rode straight back to the Lü Family.

Court Lady Du had not yet retired. When someone reported that the Prince Consort had left the residence, she merely frowned. Only after a long silence did she say, “Let him go. There is no need to interfere.”

The Patriarch of the Lü Family and Madam Lü were both still awake. Hearing that the Second Young Master had returned, the couple exchanged a look and saw the same confusion in each other’s eyes.

Madam Lü could not help muttering, “Why has he come back again?”

The Patriarch of the Lü Family was surprised. “What? He returned earlier as well?”

Madam Lü did not answer. She rose and went outside to receive her son.

The Patriarch of the Lü Family remained seated inside. He heard her ask in confusion, “Why are you wearing a hat at this hour?” Then came a shocked cry of “Ah!” trembling with alarm.

His heart lurched. He had only just risen when a figure appeared in the doorway: Lü Xiuzhen, tall and grim.

Madam Lü clutched her son’s hand in distress and repeated, “What happened? Who hurt you? Have you applied medicine?” She hurriedly ordered the servants to prepare salve.

Only then did the Patriarch of the Lü Family see the bright handprint on his son’s fair cheek, every finger distinct and painfully conspicuous.
His expression tightened, and he asked urgently, “What happened? Your face…”

Lü Xiuzhen curled his lips coldly. “Your gentle and virtuous daughter-in-law did this!”

The Patriarch of the Lü Family’s expression changed at once, while Madam Lü began complaining through her tears. “I said long ago, what good could come of marrying a princess of the Imperial House? Before the wedding, she pretended to be perfection itself. Look how little time has passed, yet she has already revealed her true nature! She truly is the descendant of a butcher, utterly devoid of upbringing. Her birth mother came from a petty household too, and every inch of her reeks of small-minded vulgarity. I only pity my son. He never suffered the slightest grievance growing up, and now… Enough. I cannot bear to speak of it!”

The servants brought salve. Madam Lü sobbed as she applied it to her son’s face. The Patriarch of the Lü Family looked somber and frowned. “What exactly happened? Why did matters come to blows for no reason?”

After a brief pause, he added, “You did not strike the princess, did you?”

Madam Lü shot her husband an irritated glare.

Lü Xiuzhen gave a mocking laugh. “She is a Daughter of the Emperor, a precious branch of jade. Even though I did not strike her, she threatened to have me dragged away and caned. Had I raised a hand against her, would she not have had me beaten to death on the spot?”

Madam Lü’s heart twisted with pain. She slammed the medicine jar onto the table and said resentfully to her husband, “Your son has been beaten like this, yet you do not even ask how he is. You care only whether the princess suffered any grievance. Which of them is your own flesh and blood, the princess or your son?!”

The Patriarch of the Lü Family glared at her. “What nonsense! Show some restraint in what you say!”

Then he turned solemnly to Lü Xiuzhen. “What exactly happened? We must understand the full sequence of events before deciding who was right and who was wrong.”

Madam Lü knew about Gao Yanyan, but the Patriarch of the Lü Family did not. If he learned that his wife and son were secretly sheltering the daughter of a convicted official, he would probably hand her over at once, costing Yanyan her life.

Lü Xiuzhen dared not mention what had come before. He hesitated for a long while before forcing himself to say, “The princess caught a chill several days ago, so we stayed in separate rooms. Now that she has recovered, I went to see her tonight. I did not expect her to resist me so fiercely. Not only would she not allow me near her, she even struck and injured me…”

Madam Lü’s brows knitted deeply. The Patriarch of the Lü Family was equally bewildered. “Why?”

“I am not a worm in her belly. How should I know what she is thinking?” Lü Xiuzhen replied.

After one incident after another, Madam Lü had accumulated a mountain of resentment. “You have performed the wedding rites and both recovered from your illnesses. What could be improper about husband and wife showing some intimacy? The princess truly has been spoiled rotten. Even after marrying and becoming another man’s wife, she has no idea how to serve her husband.”

At this point, she suddenly grew alert. Sitting bolt upright, she stared at her son in disbelief. “Xiuzhen, surely… surely you have not been married for nearly a month without consummating the marriage?!”

Lü Xiuzhen turned his face away and said nothing.

Madam Lü nearly fainted from rage. Unable to catch her breath, she collapsed weakly against the back of her chair.

The Patriarch of the Lü Family hurriedly supported her and helped her breathe until she recovered. Only then did he suppress his anger and ask, “You truly have not consummated the marriage?”

Lü Xiuzhen’s entire body went rigid. He barely managed a nod.

The Patriarch of the Lü Family’s expression changed as well. His lips opened and closed several times before he finally asked in anger, “Why in the world not?”

Lü Xiuzhen concealed his guilty conscience and shook his head. “I do not know either.”

Madam Lü said nothing. She merely clutched her son’s arm and wept. From time to time, she cast her husband an aggrieved, furious look, then turned away and sobbed quietly.

The Patriarch of the Lü Family’s thoughts were in chaos. His gaze traveled from wife to son before he said heavily, “Though you married a princess as her subject, it is still too much for the princess to humiliate you so…”

He concentrated in thought for a moment, his brows first tightening and then relaxing. At last, he said to his wife, “Although I met the princess only once before, she did not strike me as someone who would behave so outrageously. There may be some misunderstanding between them. Tomorrow, the two of us will visit the Princess Manor and listen to the princess’s account. It will not be too late to decide what to do afterward.”

If his father went and confronted Princess Qinghe with his version of events, would his lies not be exposed on the spot?

Lü Xiuzhen was horrified. He wished to object but could think of no way to begin.

Just then came the sharp crack of shattering porcelain. Eyes red, Madam Lü snapped, “Lü Mingjing, are you even a man? Your son has been bullied to this extent, and you still wonder whether there might be some misunderstanding? They have been married nearly a month without consummating it. She plainly despises your son. Can you not see that? Perhaps she has long kept a lover behind everyone’s back, and that is why she acts this way!”

The Patriarch of the Lü Family said helplessly, “Madam!”

“I will not go, and neither may you!”

Madam Lü scrubbed away her tears and said bitterly, “They beat your son, and for all you know, she has cuckolded him too. Yet you rush over to ask whether your family failed to serve her properly. Were you born without a shred of self-respect?! Who ever heard of such a thing?”

Lü Xiuzhen secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The Patriarch of the Lü Family’s face hardened. “The more you speak, the more outrageous you become!”

“Do as you please. In any case, I will not go, and neither will Xiuzhen!”

Madam Lü rose and led Lü Xiuzhen toward the door. “The princess may despise him, but I do not. My son is not an orphan without father or mother. How could he possibly lack a roof over his head?”

Frowning, the Patriarch of the Lü Family watched mother and son depart. Only after a long while did he release a weary sigh.

Madam Lü paid him no mind. She drew her son into a room, and when she saw his plainly swollen cheek, heartache softened her voice. “What truly happened?”

She pointed toward the neighboring courtyard and lowered her voice. “It does not have anything to do with Lady Gao, does it?”

“No.” Lü Xiuzhen could not conceal his irritation. “After what happened before, I humbled myself and apologized to her time and again, but she insisted on refusing. What else could I do? Tonight, I originally meant to consummate the marriage with her, but who knows what madness possessed her? She would sooner die than let me touch her. Then she struck me and declared before an entire hall of servants that without her orders, I was never to go to her again…”
Madam Lü found this inconceivable. “Has the princess lost her mind? Does she mean to live with you like this for the rest of her life?”

With husband and wife estranged, Princess Qinghe certainly would not speak well of him to the emperor. If they never consummated the marriage, the noble titles and hereditary favors Madam Lü dreamed of for her descendants would never materialize either. In that case, sacrificing a son to marry a princess would have been no more than drawing water with a bamboo basket-nothing but wasted effort.

Madam Lü was beside herself with vexation. She paced the inner chamber several times through gritted teeth, then said bitterly, “If she refuses to consummate the marriage, does she intend for you to die without descendants? Who ever heard of such a thing? You might as well separate completely. Let her live her life in the Princess Manor while you take several concubines and live yours.”

At this point, her eyes brightened slightly. “Was there not a precedent in the previous dynasty? When a princess had no children, the Prince Consort’s sons by concubines received the hereditary favor instead. Either way, they would all be descendants of the Lü Family. We would lose nothing.”

Remembering the emperor’s attitude on his wedding day, Lü Xiuzhen thought the prospect doubtful. But then Gao Yanyan, whom he had longed for day and night, came to mind, and his resolve began to waver.

He cared nothing for noble titles or hereditary favor. What mattered was becoming husband and wife with Yanyan and remaining together forever.

Madam Lü read the willingness in his expression. Delighted, she patted the back of her son’s hand. “Pay it no mind. Your mother will make all the arrangements.”

…

That night, Princess Qinghe tossed and turned, unable to sleep for a long while. Only after midnight did she finally sink into a deep slumber.

Probably for this reason, she rose unusually late the next morning.

Court Lady Du’s mind had been full of doubts, and she too had barely slept. After rising and applying medicine to her palms, she waited outside the inner room for Princess Qinghe to explain what had happened.

The servants brought warm water, towels, and combs and helped Princess Qinghe wash and dress. Seeing Court Lady Du so worried yet too hesitant to speak rashly, she laughed instead. She dismissed the others and recounted the whole affair.

“…Has the Prince Consort lost his senses? Because of a few absurd words from this supposed friend, he treated the princess so coldly and would rather make himself ill than consummate the marriage with you?”

Court Lady Du was furious. “Had the princess not exposed the truth of what happened years ago, who knows how long he would have continued avoiding you and treating you as an enemy!”

“I was angry at the time. After these past several days, I have come to take it more lightly.” Princess Qinghe smiled, fastening earrings before the mirror, and said with apparent indifference, “Let him be.”

“No wonder you forbade the Prince Consort from coming to you, and why last night he…”

Now that Court Lady Du understood what had come before, the incidents of the past several days became perfectly clear.

The Prince Consort had treated the princess with contempt. When she discovered the truth, he feared the affair would grow, so he hurried to display his attentiveness. That was why, the instant the princess recovered, he had been so eager to consummate the marriage. Had the princess not stopped him then, there was no telling how far he might have gone.

Court Lady Du hastened to confess her fault. “This servant’s negligence and oversight allowed…”

Princess Qinghe caught her sleeve and shook her head. “It has passed, and everyone has already been punished. Why mention it again? Besides, I too was at fault. If I had told you sooner, none of this would have happened.”

Court Lady Du sighed in shame. Looking again at Princess Qinghe applying her makeup before the mirror, so lovely, young, and graceful, she felt a turmoil of emotions. Lowering her voice, she asked, “Princess, matters may be left this way for now, but what do you intend to do in the future?”

Princess Qinghe’s elegant brows drew together, but she did not answer. She picked up an eyebrow pencil and carefully traced her brows. Only after a long while did she say, “I do not know either.”

“If I simply muddle through life with him, the thought leaves a knot in my heart. When he pressed close to me last night, his breath and his warmth made me truly, truly want to vomit… Yet if we part once and for all, I feel worried and uneasy.”

“Aunt, I am a little afraid.” She turned to Court Lady Du. “I fear that when others hear of this, they will think it no great matter and tell me to turn the page once the Prince Consort apologizes. I also fear they will say I am making a fuss over nothing, that husband and wife must always learn to accommodate each other, and insist I remain with him. What strangers say matters little. I am especially afraid my mother and the others will say the same…”

It was no great matter. The Prince Consort had apologized and repented. What more could she want?

Married life was always full of bumps and quarrels. Once husband and wife adjusted to each other, all would be well.

The advice of bystanders was always considerate and rich with experience. But to the person who had lived through it, matters were not like that at all.

Princess Qinghe sighed and clasped Court Lady Du’s arm, reluctant to let go. “It is enough that you know. Do not tell anyone else. The Prince Consort was wrong, but his crime does not deserve death. Yet if I call it merely a small transgression, I cannot forget his coldness on our wedding night, the distance he kept afterward, and what happened last night… If Father learns of it, whether he urges us to reconcile or to separate, something about it will inevitably feel wrong.”

Her brows remained tightly furrowed for a long while before she finally managed a smile. “Perhaps I simply need more time. Maybe everything will improve after a while.”

Court Lady Du said with feeling, “Even after the Prince Consort treated you this way, you are still willing to conceal it for him.”

Princess Qinghe remained silent for a long time. Finally, she said, “A single day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of grace. Let us wait and see. We need not condemn him entirely at once.”

Another day passed in this manner. Near evening, someone came from outside to report that Lord Lü had arrived to visit.

Princess Qinghe was briefly startled. Since he was her elder, she ultimately rose to welcome him and ordered tea prepared. “I recall that you enjoy Biluochun. Imperial Mother had some sent over not long ago. Please try it…”

The Patriarch of the Lü Family thanked her. After they sat and exchanged pleasantries for some time, he finally ventured, “Xiuzhen is young and inexperienced in the ways of the world. If he has caused offense, I hope the princess will show him greater forbearance.”

Princess Qinghe had met him only once before and held a favorable impression of her nominal father-in-law. Had he come today behaving like Lü Xiuzhen, she would have known exactly how to answer. But faced with this elder’s sincere expression and kindly tone, she did not know what to say. After hesitating for a long while, she barely managed a sound of acknowledgment and offered nothing more.
The Patriarch of the Lü Family had come alone. He had thought that if Princess Qinghe had truly broken with his son and was as overbearing as Lü Xiuzhen claimed, she would surely show him no courtesy either. Yet she had personally welcomed him and served him tea. She did not seem an unreasonable person. Then, when he cautiously apologized on his son’s behalf, she did not deny that Lü Xiuzhen had done wrong. She merely remained silent. Evidently, in Princess Qinghe’s eyes, his son truly was guilty of some offense.

The Patriarch of the Lü Family’s thoughts turned several times before he said indirectly, “Xiuzhen’s sudden return last night greatly startled me. His face did not look well either. I assumed he must have offended you somehow…”

He was both her subject and her elder by marriage. Naturally, he could not ask a junior to her face whether she had consummated her marriage, so his wording remained vague.

Since even he could not broach the subject, Princess Qinghe could hardly discuss such things with her father-in-law. She ran one finger around the rim of her teacup for a long while before saying softly, “The Prince Consort behaved without propriety.”

Those four words merited careful consideration.

The Patriarch of the Lü Family vaguely grasped part of her meaning, though not clearly enough. In the end, all he could say was, “Since you are already married, it cannot be good to live apart…”

Princess Qinghe studied his words and manner thoughtfully. Then she suddenly asked, “You do not know?”

The Patriarch of the Lü Family was puzzled. “Know what?”

“Why the Prince Consort and I quarreled. Did he not return home one evening several days ago? Were you absent from the residence then?” Princess Qinghe asked.

The Patriarch of the Lü Family remembered his wife mentioning the matter the night before. He had asked one question but had not pursued it. Only now, upon hearing Princess Qinghe raise it, did he realize there was more to the affair.

Princess Qinghe had assumed he knew the entire story and had come to plead for his son. Only now did she learn otherwise. A father had seen his son return late at night with a handprint on his face, yet rather than storming over the next day to demand justice, he had carefully sought the reason first. That was genuinely admirable.

If Lü Xiuzhen possessed even a third of his father’s self-command and had asked her clearly what happened on their wedding night, how could matters have reached this point?

Princess Qinghe sighed inwardly and said with sincerity, “I appreciate your kind intentions. As for what lies behind the matter, you should ask the Prince Consort. My conscience is clear.”

The Patriarch of the Lü Family’s expression changed. He hastily apologized, rose, and took his leave. Upon returning home, he ordered someone to summon his son to the study and asked without preamble, “Why did you return home several days ago? Is there some other reason the princess refuses to consummate the marriage with you?”

Caught off guard, Lü Xiuzhen froze. Because of Gao Yanyan, he dared not tell the truth and replied, “Have I not already said everything there is to say? Why does Father ask again?”

Only when he saw his father’s stern expression did he reluctantly continue, “I returned several days ago because the princess fell ill. I remembered there was a mountain ginseng at home and came especially to fetch it for her.”

The Patriarch of the Lü Family said furiously, “Even now, you still refuse to tell me the truth!”

“What exactly does Father wish me to say?” Lü Xiuzhen asked irritably. “You would sooner believe an outsider than your own son?!”

He suddenly laughed as though the situation were absurd. “Mother asked a very good question last night. Which of us is your child, the princess or I? How can you be so blind to right and wrong?!”

The Patriarch of the Lü Family said nothing. He regarded his son with heavy eyes for a long while before speaking gravely. “Xiuzhen, this matter is not as simple as you imagine. You married the daughter of the Son of Heaven, not an ordinary woman. The Lü Clan is now joined by marriage to the imperial family, not an ordinary household. You know how the Reigning Emperor conducts himself. It is not that I feel no love for my son, but I am not merely your father. I am also the patriarch of the Lü Family. I bear responsibility for the entire family and dare take no risks. For the sake of the Lü Family, I married your mother when I was young even though she was not entirely to my taste. Also for the sake of the Lü Family, I bowed my head and pledged allegiance to the new dynasty after the old fell.”

Lü Xiuzhen’s heart tightened. Guilt rose within him, and he lowered his head unconsciously.

The Patriarch of the Lü Family was overcome with emotion as he continued, tears running down his face. “Our ancestors entrusted the family estate to me, and I must not fail them. My younger siblings, their children, and all our kin depend upon me, and I must protect them. If the Lü Clan’s legacy of nearly a thousand years is destroyed in my hands, then even in death I will cover my face with my hair for shame and dare not meet our ancestors. Today I have spoken the truth in my heart to you. I hope you will tell me one honest thing in return. Did events truly unfold as you described? When you consider everything you have done, is your conscience truly clear?”

Lü Xiuzhen was not wholly heartless. Hearing his father speak with such earnest sincerity, he too began to weep. “The princess… the princess acted improperly in some ways, but I… I was also at fault. The blame cannot fall entirely upon her…”

The Patriarch of the Lü Family was silent for a long while before finally sighing. “Return to the Princess Manor.”

He rose, patted his son on the shoulder, and said, “Since the princess has not made the affair public, there must still be room to mend matters. Your life is yours to live. See for yourself how you choose to manage it.”

Lü Xiuzhen lowered his head and answered, “Yes.”