Even though the mansion of Duke Ying was determined to keep the news under wraps, the scandal of the Yao family's eldest daughter's secret liaison with the Third Prince spread through the capital as if it had grown wings. In the end, a censor managed to convey the matter directly to the Emperor's ear.
The Emperor, his imperial countenance filled with wrath, launched into a scolding that lasted a full half-hour in front of everyone in Guangyang Palace. His tirade was so fierce that Wei Mindé could not even lift his head.
"You think yourself worthy of anything! With you, you even dare to snatch a woman away from Mindan?"No sooner had the words left his mouth than the Emperor delivered a swift kick to Wei Mindé's back.
The blow unsettled Wei Mindé completely, causing him to stumble to the ground in a most disheveled manner. He endured the Emperor's beating and harsh words in silence, his eyes burning red without uttering a single word.
Not willing to see her beloved son suffer, Consort Yi rushed to stand in front of him, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes. "Your Majesty, please calm your anger! It is all my fault—I was remiss in raising my son properly. If you wish to punish someone, punish me alone."
Though the Emperor had always treated Consort Yi with courtesy, seeing her bawling like a child only deepened his ire. "Of course it is your fault! You are naturally jealous and your mind is malicious! Do you not remember the words you once promised me? You were sworn never to covet the position of empress dowager, nor to trifle with the legitimate son—and you seem to have forgotten all about that!"
Consort Yi wept as if her heart were being torn apart; the world went black for a moment, and she nearly fainted.
Still not satisfied, the Emperor immediately issued an edict on the spot: "Effective immediately, relieve the Third Prince of all his duties in the Ministry of Works. As for Consort Jiang—you, who have failed in the art of mothering and have meddled in the affairs of the Six Palaces—strip you of your title and demote you to the rank of consort!"
Before his final word had even faded, the chief eunuch hurried in with a report, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince requests an audience."
At these words the Emperor's features softened slightly. Waving a dismissive hand, he said, "It is good that he has come—I was just about to ask him how we should deal with the Yao matter."
No sooner had Wei Mindan stepped into the hall than the Emperor signaled that no formalities were necessary."Mindan, although this debacle has been stirred up by Consort Jiang and her unruly son, I do realize that I owe you a favor. If you have any grievances, speak now—consider it compensation from your father."
Wei Mindan's eyes narrowed slightly; his long, dark lashes half-obscured his expression, leaving his countenance shrouded in ambiguity."Father," he began in a measured tone, "now that things have come to this, I believe no excessive punishment is warranted. As the saying goes, it is better to demolish ten temples than to break one marriage. Since the Third Prince is so taken with her, then let him have his way."
Though the Emperor still bore a measure of discontent, his anger seemed to subside a bit. "I understand—you hold fraternal bonds in high regard. Your third brother can be spared a grievous punishment, but as for the Yao family, have you given any thought as to how they should be dealt with?"
He knew all too well that he could never be harsh on his own flesh and blood. In the end, his only outlet for his inner indignation was to vent it on the Yao clan.Bowing low with an unusually firm tone, Wei Mindan continued, "I humbly beg you, Father, to pardon Duke Ying."
"Eh? What is this?" the Emperor demanded.
"Father, throughout these many years I have never once asked for anything of you. Now, I only desire a single imperial edict—grant me the hand of Second Miss Yao in marriage."
Wei Mindan lifted his eyes boldly to meet his father's gaze. The Emperor, initially inclined to refuse, recalled his own earlier counsel—better to sacrifice ten temples than to break a marriage. Was this not precisely the occasion for such an imperial decree? He snorted lightly. "All the while you have evaded even the smallest errand I set before you, and today you go to such lengths that you even include me in your scheming."
Although his tone carried a hint of reproach, it was scarcely meant as a rebuke. "My son, since you insist, I hereby grant your request."
"Thank you, Father, for your gracious favor."
After the Emperor and the Crown Prince departed in succession, Consort Jiang hurriedly ordered a junior palace maid to summon the imperial physician. Yet before anyone could act, Wei Mindé shouted, "There's no need for that."
In the next moment he sprang to his feet, seizing the white porcelain tea set on the table and flinging it to the ground—smashing it into countless fragments.
Consort Jiang's legs buckled, and she cried out in terror, "Do you have any idea that these are imperial gifts? As if we were not already being scolded enough!"
"Imperial gifts?" Wei Mindé scoffed coldly. "They are hardly worth anything—no doubt it was that detested person in Fengyi Palace who forced them upon your consort."
Raising his voice in agitation, he continued, "In Father's eyes, his son is faultless in every way. Though he may appear to be a frivolous playboy lacking proper decorum, he is nonetheless the rightful Crown Prince. And what of me? What do I amount to?"
Consort Jiang tugged at his pant leg with her hand. "Stop quarreling—can't you see that it would be far better for a mother and son to live in peace?"
In his eyes the tenderness and sorrow were gone, replaced by a dark, piercing intensity. "I will show Father who it really is…" he vowed.
At that moment, Wei Mindan was riding in his sedan chair along Palace Street.Atop Fengyi Palace, the roof was covered with glazed, colored tiles; from afar the upturned eaves, adorned with a pair of dragon and phoenix motifs in golden scales and armor, appeared as though ready to take flight. Two large red lacquered doors stood ajar in the center, from behind which the faint sound of weeping could be heard.
Wei Mindan had already heard that for several days the Empress had wept bitterly day after day, yet he had never imagined that the situation would be so dire. Contemplating these events, his footsteps grew even heavier.
A junior palace maid, upon seeing him, practically beamed as if she'd spotted a savior. "Your Majesty the Empress, the Crown Prince has arrived," she announced joyfully.
Empress Su, though still weeping uncontrollably, nodded imperceptibly and signaled for the maid to fetch him inside.
Wei Mindan stepped into the hall and was about to offer his respectful greeting when Empress Su, tears streaming down her face with snot and sorrow, burst into a plaintive cry, "My son, your wife is gone!"
Sure enough, it was all because of this matter.
Slowly, Wei Mindan rose, smoothing the hem of his robe before saying, "Mother, do not worry. As they say, when the old is gone, the new will come."
Empress Su trembled with anger, her whole body shaking, and she immediately began to scold, "Foolish child! I have cherished my daughter-in-law for over a decade—just like that, you dismiss her, and all my past heart's work goes to waste!"
No sooner had she spoken than she burst into inconsolable sobbing again.
"Mother," Wei Mindan's tone hesitated for a moment as he thought how his mother was as pure and elegant as a white lotus—so undeserving to have her ears soiled by the sordid affairs committed by Yao Sisou. He quickly corrected himself, "I truly do love Second Miss Yao."
Gradually the Empress's sniffles subsided, and she asked in a low, almost conspiratorial tone, "Is she truly better than Sister Rou?"
"Indeed—better by many measures," he coaxed patiently.
"Is there anyone even better than a mother's own daughter?""If you doubt it, why not summon her here for your own eyes to see?"
Wei Mindan knew well that his mother retained a childlike spirit, and so he varied his approach to please her. Only after eliciting a radiant smile from Empress Su did he quietly take his leave.
Soon after his departure, Empress Su adopted a lofty air and called a diligent palace maid forward. "Send for Second Miss from the mansion of Duke Ying at once."
After a moment's thought, she added in a firmer tone, "At first light tomorrow, as soon as the palace gates open—do not delay even a moment!"
Thus, early the next morning, Yao Sishan forced open her heavy eyelids and, fighting against sleep with eyes streaked with red fatigue, entered Fengyi Palace.
"Daughter Yao humbly pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress. May you enjoy a thousand years of prosperity."
Empress Su slowly lifted her eyelids and, with a deep, appraising gaze, examined the young woman before her from head to toe before finally withdrawing her scrutiny.Her etiquette was impeccable at first glance, leaving no obvious fault; yet compared with the slightly more voluptuous figure of Yao Sisou, this Second Miss appeared rather slender and fragile. One's gaze might remark upon her delicate waist—so slight it seemed it could be broken with the slightest pinch—a true picture of a fragile beauty.
Such a woman was not known for bearing children easily, yet she was adept in the art of coquettish charm—a quality not easily appreciated by her elders.
With one hand supporting the bottom of her cup and the other delicately holding the tea cover, Empress Su idly caressed the floating tea leaves. Her expression was languid, showing no sign that she intended to summon Yao Sishan to stand at attention.
After a long while, she finally brought the tea cup to her lips and sipped, "This tea tastes strangely astringent."
At these words the palace maid reached out to replace the cup, only to be brushed aside by the Empress.
Turning her head, Empress Su fixed her gaze on Yao Sishan, who still knelt on the floor, and asked in a gentle yet measured tone, "I have heard that Duke Ying is utterly obsessed with tea. Surely, having grown up amid such influences, you can prepare a proper cup for me?"
The maid's small face went instantly pale.
All imperial tea is prepared with boiling water. Should Second Miss Yao be even a bit careless and scald her hand, we servants are bound to suffer the Emperor's wrath.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Yao Sishan replied.
Though well aware that the phrase "nimble-fingered" hardly applied to her, when it came to tea-making she was a professional.Obediently, Yao Sishan rose and proceeded in one smooth motion: warming the teapot, preheating the cups, measuring out the tea, and finally brewing it.
However, as she approached the settee and presented the cup, Empress Su barely glanced at it. Instead, she fussed repeatedly with the jade bracelet on her wrist. "Too weak… brew it stronger."
After a pause, seeing that Yao Sishan offered no immediate reaction, the Empress raised her head, her face troubled. "What is it? Are you unwilling?"
A pale, green-tinged mist seemed to envelop Yao Sishan's face, rendering it indistinct. Slowly, she knelt down again, her tone steady yet respectful, "May I ask, Your Majesty, are you trying to slight me?"
Empress Su was momentarily taken aback and, uncharacteristically, did not seem angry but instead smiled with an ambiguous mixture of pleasure and mischief. "I never would have guessed—you have quite a bit of nerve, don't you?"
Changing her tone, she added, "But do not think that merely because you enjoy a man's favor here in this palace you can guarantee your life. Duke Ying is lax in discipline; today I shall personally temper your temperament."
"Since you wish to kneel, then kneel you shall. Until I call you to rise, you are not to stand!""Your humble servant will obey."
Yao Sishan offered no further retort and remained silently at the Empress's feet. From afar, her petite, helpless figure appeared utterly pitiable.
After a long while, Sergeant Liang could no longer hold back his words. "Your Highness, since you have taken the trouble to come all this way, why not help your master out of this predicament?"
Leaning casually against the doorway, Wei Mindan replied with unhurried ease, "And what benefit does that have for me? Besides, looking at her—so daringly indignant yet silent—it is rather amusing."
Sergeant Liang's mouth agape, he could not hide his shock. No wonder, no wonder, that the Crown Prince, after all these years without a single woman gracing his side, remains unaccustomed to the pleasures of female companionship. Such a temperament—who could endure it?
Empress Su, resting her cheek on her hand and tilting her chin ever so slightly, revealed a graceful, flowing line. With her eyes half-closed in a languid manner, she murmured softly, "Your elder sister's ungrateful behavior has gone so far. Had I not been so gentle as a mother-in-law, I might have given you a hard time."
Yao Sishan offered no reply.
Empress Su continued, "But last night I pondered for nearly an entire night, and I could not devise any effective methods to trouble a daughter-in-law."
Still, Yao Sishan remained silent. Unexpectedly, Empress Su turned her face and, with a tone tinged with inquiry, asked, "Tell me, when your mother first married into the mansion of Duke Ying, was she ever made to suffer at the hands of the old madam?"
At these words, Yao Sishan finally reacted. Her beautiful eyes widened, and her lips parted and closed for a long while without uttering a sound.At this rate, did she intend to contrive a way to make things difficult for herself? No—she was not an imbecile!
After weighing her words carefully, she replied in an overly ceremonious manner, "Your Majesty, my father is a man of great tact; he has always maintained harmonious relations between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. There has never been any such discord in our household."
No sooner had her words fallen than a male voice resounded softly from behind, "Are you blaming me for not knowing how to run a household?"