Chapter 15: Wearing Flowers as Your Wife 2
Emperor Xuanhe frowned and asked, "Has the case of the Zheng'an Wang family been settled?"
"yes."
"Last time, you mentioned promoting Zhou Zhenzhen, which caused dissatisfaction among many people in the court. They said that it was inappropriate for her to be promoted to the third rank after only six months of service. I know that you are a cautious person, so I agreed to your wishes. Today, I have some free time, so I would like to ask you what your plan is."
Cheng Jue lifted his robe, knelt straight on the ground, and said, "My nephew and Zhou Zhenzhen are in love, and have already obtained a marriage certificate from the matchmaker and have become a good couple. My nephew dare not deceive Your Majesty. Although Zhou Zhenzhen will be my wife in the future, she will also be a courtier of my Dayu. My Dayu is the first, and husband and wife are the second. My nephew does not want Zhou Zhenzhen to be my wife when she returns home, and be said to rely on Cheng Jue to gain a foothold in the Dali Temple. My nephew does not want her to be wronged."
"You!" His decision to act first and then report to the emperor made Emperor Xuanhe angry, but he regarded himself as a "nephew" and treated himself as a close relative and elder, expressing his true feelings word by word. His stubborn look was very similar to Feng Jue who was desperate for success in the past. Emperor Xuanhe couldn't get angry even though he wanted to. He said in a muffled voice, "I have already said that I will plan your marriage. How can you make your own decision? Have you told your mother?"
“No.”
“Nonsense!”
"I know that your majesty is worried about Zhou Zhenzhen's unknown identity. Now I have found out her origins, so please don't worry. As for mother, she never interferes in my life. When I left home, my mother told me that if I have someone I like, I don't need to tell her, I can make the decision myself. I have chosen Zhou Zhenzhen and will never change my mind for the rest of my life. I hope your majesty will grant my wish." Cheng Jue knelt down with a sincere and firm tone, and that heavy kowtow seemed to knock into Emperor Xuanhe's heart.
Emperor Xuanhe sighed deeply, and waved his hand after a long while: "Forget it, forget it. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. Since you like her, I will agree to your request. I will ask the Imperial Observatory to choose a good day, and you can marry her!"
"Your Majesty, this matter is not urgent. My nephew wants to take her to meet her father and mother at the end of the year before we discuss it."
"Well, that's fine." Emperor Xuanhe talked to Cheng Jue for a while, looking a little tired, so Cheng Jue stood up and left.
After this, Cheng Jue felt relieved. After leaving the imperial study, Cheng Jue thought of what Emperor Xuanhe said and went to the harem. Concubine Qing lived in Ciqing Palace, on the south side of the Imperial Garden, very close to Qianyuan Palace where Emperor Xuanhe lived, which showed his majesty's filial piety.
There were sounds of laughter coming from the Wangshan Pavilion in the Imperial Garden. Cheng Jue stopped and saw Concubine Qing inside, along with the two brothers Song Huaishi and Song Ji. Concubine Qing loved the younger generation, and the atmosphere was relaxed and harmonious.
Cheng Jue smiled from the bottom of his heart, walked up and greeted: "Your humble servant Cheng Jue greets Concubine Qing."
Concubine Qing was old, with gray hair and cloudy eyes. She squinted at him for a long time, then touched his face with trembling hands: "This is the child of Feng Jue. He is so handsome, even more handsome than the emperor's son. Get up quickly, get up quickly."
Song Huaishi sighed, "Since Weiqing came, the Empress Dowager has lost hope in us two brothers. Fourth brother, we should not stay here and be hated."
Song Ji just smiled gently, and Concubine Qing was happy: "Okay, okay, you can go now. You are forcing me to take this medicine and that medicine. Weiqing is sensible and will definitely not embarrass me like you brothers did."
Song Huaishi pulled Song Ji to his feet and patted Cheng Jue on the shoulder: "Weiqing, this task is up to you."
The white jade bowl on the stone table contained thick medicine, only half of which was empty. There were also several kinds of candied fruit syrups on the side. Concubine Qing didn't like taking medicine. Every time she was sick, she had to be coaxed and persuaded before she could drink a bowl of medicine peacefully.
Song Ji smiled at Cheng Jue and said, "You've been busy these days. Let's go for a drink some other day."
Cheng Jue nodded, and the two brothers walked down the pavilion one after the other.
"If the Concubine doesn't take medicine, how can this disease be cured?" Cheng Jue said in a gentle voice, full of patience, "When Weiqing gets married in the future, he will need the Concubine's help in planning it!"
Concubine Qing's eyes lit up: "Has Weiqing chosen a girl?"
"I just told His Majesty, and now I'm rushing over to tell the Dowager Concubine. She is a female official in our Dali Temple. She is very capable, well-behaved and sensible. She has been in love with Qing for a long time. I will bring her to the Dowager Concubine to see her next time she enters the palace."
Concubine Qing smiled so much that her eyes curved into crescents. She drank the bowl of medicine smoothly without even eating the candied fruit.
The last time Cheng Jue saw Concubine Qing was on New Year's Eve. She was energetic at that time, far from the old look she has now. After all, she is old, and a common cold can kill 30% of her life. Cheng Jue kept talking to her until she dozed off while sitting, and then he carefully called the palace servants to carry her back to Ciqing Palace.
Most of the candied fruit on the table was gone, as it was eaten by Concubine Qing when Song Huaishi and Song Ji persuaded her to take medicine. Cheng Jue thought of the little girl in his family who always ate candy, and a gentle smile appeared on his face, causing the little palace maid who had never seen him like this to blush.
Concubine Qing's personal maid, Aunt Ruyi, was brought in when she entered the palace. She had been doing all the personal service for years. After taking a nap, Concubine Qing liked to drink a bowl of iced drink made from fresh fruits and vegetables. After autumn, she would switch to sugar-boiled drink.
After settling Concubine Qing down, Aunt Ruyi went into the small kitchen to get busy.
Peel the white pear, dig out the flesh, cut into large pieces, boil the sugar water until it boils, put the pear pieces into the pot, sprinkle a handful of osmanthus flowers before serving, and serve in a white porcelain bowl with a transparent glaze. It has a light color, is soft, and sweet.
"Auntie, Auntie is not well..."
The little palace maid ran over, anxious to the point of tears, and kept saying, "The Empress Dowager... The Empress Dowager is in trouble, Auntie, please go and see her quickly!"
With a "pop" sound, the porcelain bowl slipped to the ground, broke into several pieces, and the osmanthus flowers splashed everywhere.
Concubine Qing died suddenly in her sleep, causing shock throughout the palace.
When Emperor Xuanhe arrived, he did not even see Concubine Qing for the last time. According to the palace maids, Concubine Qing fell asleep after returning from Wangshan Pavilion in the Imperial Garden. Not long after, she began to convulse all over and had difficulty breathing. She died before she could notify the imperial physician.
Wang Zhen, the director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, took Concubine Qing's pulse and confirmed that she had been poisoned by a strong poison with rapid onset and no medicine could cure it.
Emperor Xuanhe was furious and immediately ordered a thorough investigation, checking everything that Concubine Qing had eaten that day and interrogating all the palace servants who had been involved.
The little palace maid who followed Concubine Qing to the Imperial Garden said timidly, "The Concubine didn't have a good appetite today, and didn't eat anything in Ciqing Palace. But...but when Prince Min and Prince Xin were with her, the Concubine drank some medicine and ate a few pieces of candied fruit. Later, Dali Temple Minister Cheng came and coaxed the Concubine to drink up the medicine, and she didn't touch anything else."
Prince Min, Prince Xin... the decision was made...
Every time Emperor Xuanhe read one of these three names in his mind, his heart sank a little.
"Go, get the medicine residue and the remaining candied fruit, and let Wang Zhen check it out."
"yes."
Zhou Zhenzhen's birthday today also coincided with her engagement with Cheng Jue, so it was reasonable to celebrate after leaving the government office. But Zhou Zhenzhen promised Wang Dasao to go back for dinner in the morning. She was taken care of by Wang Dasao and his wife when she came to Chang'an City, so she didn't want to refuse their kindness, so she told Cheng Jue that she would see him in the evening.
"Why bother? Since you want to go back, I will go with you. They have been kind to you, so I should take this opportunity to thank them."
Cheng Jue sent someone to buy some high-quality gifts. Zhou Zhenzhen saw that he had a thoughtful idea and did not object.
At dusk, the two of them left the yamen, automatically ignoring the curious looks of Meng Fan and others, and left the yamen hand in hand.
Meng Fan spread his hands: "It's miserable, it's me who is miserable. I followed Cheng Da Ren for several years, but it's not as good as Zhou Zhen Zhen's half a year. I'm so sad... Come on, let's go drink, I need to heal my wounds."
The Man Yue Teahouse closed early, and Mrs. Wang prepared a table full of dishes, all of which were Zhou Zhenzhen's favorites, as well as a new dress she made for her. It was a delicate light crimson color with fine stitching, and you could tell at a glance how much care was put into it.
Everything seemed perfect, but when Zhou Zhenzhen saw Mr. Li Er appear at the banquet, she found that the face of the person next to her suddenly turned gloomy.
Mrs. Wang had met Cheng Jue and saw him following Zhou Zhenzhen with something in his hand. She immediately understood something.
This is really embarrassing.
"Zhenzhen is back?" Second Master Li came over with a smile. He recognized Cheng Jue and didn't think much about it at the moment. After a polite greeting, he said to Zhou Zhenzhen, "I was having dinner at the teahouse and heard from Sister Wang that it was your birthday today. I thought we have known each other for a long time and we couldn't miss it, so I gave this to you."
Young Master Li handed over a slender brocade box. Zhou Zhenzhen's hands were stiff and she didn't dare to take it, so he opened it on his own. Inside was a golden hairpin with a pair of crabapples on the stem. It was exquisitely made and the flowers looked lifelike.
"Pingdi" means a beautiful pair and is not something that can be given away easily. Mr. Li's meaning is self-evident.
Zhou Zhenzhen could feel the aura around the person next to her getting colder and colder, and she couldn't help shivering. How long had it been since she saw Cheng Jue like this?
Just as she was thinking, she felt a warmth on her shoulders, and heard Cheng Jue say, "You usually don't wear hairpins or jewelry. Last time, I saw you wear the jade hairpin your husband gave you twice. Do you still have time to wear this golden hairpin that Master Li gave you?"
"For... for your husband?" Mr. Li was stunned. Mrs. Wang couldn't believe her ears either: "Zhenzhen, you and Mr. Cheng..."
Cheng Jue squeezed Zhou Zhenzhen's shoulders and smiled as he turned to Sister Wang: "I came back with Zhenzhen today because I wanted to formally talk to Sister Wang about this matter. Thank you for taking care of Zhenzhen. These little things are just a token of my appreciation."
"Oh, Master Cheng, you are too polite. I can't accept this."
"Sister-in-law, just accept it!" Zhou Zhenzhen took the thing from Chengjue's hand, trotted inside, and escaped from the Shura scene.
Young Master Li was still holding the brocade box in his hand, and was awkwardly trying to find a hole in the ground to crawl into.
Cheng Jue glanced at him and said calmly, "Master Li, do you want to stay and celebrate this with my wife and me?"
"No...no...I...I have something else to do, Lord Cheng, I'll take my leave now." The second young master Li left in a panic. Cheng Jue snorted softly, you'd better know your place.
Although Mrs. Wang did not expect things to turn out this way, she saw that Cheng Jue was handsome, talented, and of noble birth, and most importantly, he was extremely considerate to Zhenzhen, and no one could find any fault with him.
The second young master Li is good, but compared with Cheng Jue, the gap is huge.
Halfway through the meal, Meng Fan came over.
"Master Cheng, something happened in the palace."
"What?"
Cheng Jue and Zhou Zhenzhen hurriedly got on the carriage and went to the palace. On the way, Meng Fan told Cheng Jue about the matter of Concubine Qing.
"Doctor Wang found poison in the candied fruit. The maid in Ciqing Palace said that when you met Concubine Qing, Concubine Qing did not use the candied fruit again, so you have no suspicion. The plate of candied fruit was prepared by the imperial kitchen. All the people who handled it were tortured, but nothing was learned. The poison is called phoenix gall. The dosage of all medicines in the Imperial Hospital must be recorded. Doctor Wang checked the records of the Imperial Hospital and found that the servants of Prince Min and Prince Xin had both been ordered by their masters to get phoenix gall. The two servants also confessed truthfully, saying that their masters wanted to kill the concubine and put the blame on the other master in order to gain the position of crown prince. Your Majesty has ordered that Prince Min and Prince Xin be detained in the Ministry of Punishment, and no one is allowed to see them. The case will be handed over to you for investigation, and it must be closed as soon as possible."
