The Red Mansion

Chapter 223 Tai Shun's Shock and Anger, Consort Xi's Weeping
In mid-March, the capital city is bathed in the gentle spring rain.

On this day, spring rain was falling in the capital. In Changchun Garden in the western suburbs, the willows were shrouded in mist, the new peach blossoms were covered with dew, and the rain curtain made the pavilions and towers look like a hazy painting.

Inside the warm pavilion of Danning Residence, Emperor Taishun was reviewing memorials at his desk, which was piled high with documents. Beside him, the gilded lion-shaped incense burner emitted wisps of ambergris, creating a fragrant and lingering atmosphere.

Although Emperor Taishun wore glasses, his brows and eyes were sharp and imposing, and the fine lines at the corners of his eyes could not hide the traces of his hard work day and night.

Outside Danning Residence, footsteps sounded. Prime Minister Wang Tingyu arrived in the rain, carrying a sandalwood folding box in his hands, the hem of his robe stained with rain.

Wang Tingyu entered the warm pavilion, straightened his clothes, and knelt down. Emperor Taishun raised his eyes and looked at the secret box, saying indifferently, "Could it be that the Emperor Emeritus has written something again?"

Wang Tingyu respectfully presented the sealed box with both hands and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, it is indeed the one. It was sent from Yangzhou by express courier, six hundred li away."

Emperor Taishun nodded slightly.

It is not surprising that Emperor Jingning, the retired emperor, frequently exchanged letters during his southern tours.

Emperor Taishun then took the key, personally opened the secret box, and unfolded the secret letter on yellow silk.

At first glance, Emperor Taishun's expression remained unchanged, but then his pupils suddenly contracted. Upon reaching the end, he slammed his hand on the table with a thunderous roar.

In the secret letter, the retired Emperor Jingning mentioned that his fourth son, Yuan Li, had been assassinated in Yangzhou, and that he would remain in Yangzhou to thoroughly investigate the case. He also instructed Emperor Taishun to strictly conceal the matter of Yuan Li's assassination, as it might damage the imperial dignity if it were to spread, and that the historian's pen was as firm as iron, so caution was necessary.

In his letter, Emperor Jingning also mentioned the matter of a new crown prince, saying that since Yuan Li had passed away, Emperor Taishun could choose another virtuous one from among the princes. He also specifically pointed out: "Yuan Shi is not suitable to be the crown prince. We should focus on cultivating Yuan Zhou and the youngest sons who have not yet reached the proper order of age, and choose the virtuous one to be the crown prince in the future."

These words clearly indicate that Emperor Jingning has made a firm decision not to force his favorite eldest grandson Yuan Xi to be the new crown prince, nor to support Emperor Taishun's brothers, but to return the throne to Emperor Taishun's lineage and let Emperor Taishun decide for himself.

Upon closer examination, the reasons are twofold: firstly, Emperor Jingning knew that Emperor Taishun's imperial power was now secure, and if the new crown prince was not his own son, there might be a rift between father and son, leading to turmoil in the court; secondly, Emperor Jingning felt guilty about Yuan Li's death—if he hadn't insisted on making his seventh southern tour and insisted on taking Yuan Li with him, this disaster would not have occurred.
At this moment, Wang Tingyu was surprised to see Emperor Taishun suddenly become furious, but he dared not utter a sound and simply stood with his hands at his sides.

Emperor Taishun's face was ashen and his gaze sharp as a blade. It took him a while to recover his composure, but he only waved his sleeve and said, "You may all step back."

Wang Tingyu and the eunuchs all held their breath and composed themselves before leaving the warm pavilion.

In an instant, the room fell eerily silent.

A wisp of ambergris incense curled up inside the gilded lion-shaped incense burner, giving it a somewhat desolate feel.

Emperor Taishun sat alone for a while, then suddenly got up and walked to the carved window.

The rain outside the window fell like a cascade, scattering the newly sprouted crabapple blossoms into mud.

Layer upon layer of rain, accompanied by a chilling wind, felt like thousands of silver needles piercing Emperor Taishun's heart.

Emperor Taishun felt a sharp pain in his chest and instinctively pressed his hand to his heart.

If we include his son Jiang Nian, who was raised among commoners, Emperor Taishun should have had ten sons and four daughters.

It is lamentable that even imperial family members are reduced to the state of a flickering candle in the wind.

Emperor Taishun had previously lost five sons and four daughters, some of whom died young, some of whom died of illness, and others of unknown causes.

And now, even the emperor's most favored fourth son, Yuan Li—the promising prince secretly designated as heir apparent—has perished in the bloody storm of Yangzhou!
Emperor Taishun suddenly felt a slight coolness on his cheek. He raised his hand to wipe it and found a few cold tears.

He paused for a moment, then suddenly sneered, took the dragon-patterned handkerchief and wiped away his tears heavily. He straightened his clothes and in the blink of an eye, he was once again the supreme ruler who commanded respect throughout the land.

"Li'er..." Emperor Taishun stared into the depths of the rain, uttering a venomous whisper between his teeth, "Whoever did it, I will make the murderer pay with blood!"

Emperor Taishun immediately issued an imperial edict, ordering his imperial guards to ride into the city in the rain to summon Prince Zhongyi.

At this moment, the Emperor felt lost and uncertain, realizing that he could not trust anyone except Prince Zhongyi. Only his thirteenth brother, with whom he shared a deep brotherly bond, could be entrusted with his heart.

Prince Zhongyi was busy with official duties in the Imperial City when he received an urgent summons from the Imperial Guards. He quickly boarded his carriage and sped off.

From the city to Changchun Garden in the western suburbs, spring rain poured down, the whip cracked, and the carriage rolled over puddles. Horses galloped wildly, their manes flying, splashing water that soaked the clothes of the attendants and guards beside them. A corner of the carriage curtain was lifted by the wind, revealing half of Prince Zhongyi's frosty face.

Upon arriving at Changchun Garden, Prince Zhongyi walked straight through the puddles towards Danning Residence.

Because of the gloomy sky, gilded palace lanterns hung in the warm pavilion of Danning Residence, and dim yellow light and shadows wandered between the dragon pillars.

When Prince Zhongyi entered, Emperor Taishun was sitting alone behind his desk, his face darker than the sky outside the window.

The memorials on the desk were piled up, and a jade seal with a dragon-shaped knob and nine dragons was placed directly on top of the yellow silk secret letter from the retired Emperor Jingning, as if it were pressing down a secret that could not be seen by the public.

The area inside and outside the warm pavilion had been cleared away, and even the guards outside had retreated to a distance of more than three zhang (approximately 10 meters). Only the sound of rain hitting the glazed tiles could be heard under the eaves.

"The thirteenth brother has arrived." Emperor Taishun's voice was hoarse, like gravel grinding against each other, as he pointed to the brocade stool beside him.

After Prince Zhongyi finished his grand ceremony, he was surprised and suspicious upon seeing Emperor Taishun's appearance, but he remained silent and sat down, waiting for the thunder to rise on its own.

In silence, Emperor Taishun reached out and slowly pushed Emperor Jingning's secret letter across the table, the silk rubbing against the sandalwood making a soft "shh" sound.

Prince Zhongyi took the book with both hands, but after reading only a few lines, his pupils suddenly contracted. After reading it, he hurriedly stood up: "Fourth Brother! This..." The words turned into a long sigh, and he lifted his robe to kneel down and comfort him.

"Let's talk while seated," Emperor Taishun waved his hand.

Prince Zhongyi took a deep breath and returned to his seat.

Emperor Taishun suddenly leaned forward, his bloodshot eyes piercing Prince Zhongyi, his voice like it was filled with ice: "Thirteenth brother, you have always been discerning. Tell me, who is the mastermind behind this bloodshed?"

Upon hearing this, Prince Zhongyi pondered for a long time before whispering, "This matter may have been the work of the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Princes... or perhaps..."

At this point, they suddenly fell silent, like cicadas in winter.

"Go on," Emperor Taishun said, his gaze sharp as lightning.

Prince Zhongyi gripped the jade pendant at his waist with one hand and bowed his head, saying, "This matter is of great importance, and your subject dares not speculate."

"Speak freely!" Emperor Taishun snapped.

Prince Zhongyi's Adam's apple bobbed, and he finally uttered a few words: "Or perhaps it's Third Brother. He's among those accompanying the emperor on this southern tour. And... Brother Shi..."

Before he could finish speaking, he shivered and quickly swallowed the rest of his sentence.

The moment the words "Shi Ge'er" were uttered, the warm pavilion instantly became chillingly cold.

This is because these three characters refer to Yuan Shi, the third son of Emperor Taishun.

Emperor Taishun's face alternated between pale and flushed, and after a long while, he finally managed to squeeze out a question through gritted teeth: "Is Yuan Xi involved?"

Prince Zhongyi carefully considered his words and said softly, "Yuan Xi is gentle and doesn't seem capable of doing such a thing... unless someone instigated him."

Emperor Taishun suddenly got up and walked to the window. He saw that the rain outside had intensified, and the rain curtain was so thick that he could not see the Taihu stone three zhang away.

With his back to Prince Zhongyi, Emperor Taishun asked coldly, "Will Yuan Yi participate?" Prince Zhongyi was taken aback, his fingers digging into his palm as he whispered, "That... is also uncertain."

Seeing that Emperor Taishun's shoulders and back were as stiff as iron, Prince Zhongyi quickly stepped forward and advised, "Fourth Brother, this matter should be thoroughly investigated by Father. What we need to do now is keep a close eye on the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Princes."

Emperor Taishun said sternly, "Keep a close eye on Yuan Shi as well!"

The two characters "袁时" were pronounced very heavily, as if blood was being ground from between the teeth.

Prince Zhongyi was taken aback. From Emperor Taishun's expression and tone, as well as the address "Yuan Shi," he knew that his fourth brother suspected Yuan Shi of being involved in the plot to murder Yuan Li.

……

……

Consort Xi, née Liu, is over thirty years old this year, fifteen years younger than Emperor Taishun.

She was quite beautiful, and although she had passed the prime of her youth, she still looked like a peony in full bloom on a branch, thanks to her careful maintenance, and had a charming and graceful demeanor.

Consort Xi, née Liu, had only one son, Yuan Li, and poured all her heart and soul into this sole offspring.

Yuan Li was favored by two emperors, Emperor Jingning and Emperor Taishun, and was secretly designated as the crown prince. This was largely due to the upbringing and maneuvering of Consort Xi, née Liu.

Emperor Taishun, having aged, lost interest in women, even after becoming the Emperor of Daqing. However, he still treated Consort Xi, née Liu, with special favor. Firstly, because Consort Xi, née Liu, still possessed charm and was adept at pleasing him; secondly, because she was, after all, the mother of his beloved son. Even so, he only visited her once or twice a month.

Last night, Emperor Taishun had just chosen Consort Xi, née Liu, for his concubine, and tonight another eunuch came with a green plaque to convey an imperial decree to her.

Consort Xi, née Liu, was both delighted and surprised.

Once she came to her senses, Consort Xi, née Liu, hurried into the inner room and called out repeatedly, "Open the dressing table!"

Zhang Feixia's face was reflected in the mirror. Consort Xi, Liu, gently touched her hair and noticed a stray lock of hair that was not in the way. She quickly applied jasmine hair oil to smooth it down and then whispered to her personal maid, "Go and fetch that set of peach-colored cloud-patterned nightgowns."

Although her voice was calm, a smile had already appeared in the corners of her eyes.

When Consort Xi, née Liu, arrived at Danning Residence, she waited by the dragon bed as usual.

At this time of day, Emperor Taishun would usually be reviewing memorials at his desk until 9 PM or even 11 PM.

Unfortunately, at the third quarter of the hour of Xu (7:45 PM) tonight, Emperor Taishun arrived at Consort Xi, Lady Liu's, feet clattering in his boots.

Emperor Taishun wore only a plain silk undergarment, his golden crown still on but already loose, with a few strands of hair falling across his forehead. His usually chiseled face now appeared somewhat dejected under the palace lanterns, his eyes were dark and swollen, and even his usually straight back seemed to be slightly bent under an invisible burden.

"Why is Your Majesty retiring so early today?" Consort Xi, née Liu, asked with a smile.

Emperor Taishun waved his hand and uttered two words: "Tired."

The two words were spoken very lightly, yet they seemed to carry a thousand pounds of weight.

While serving him his bath, Lady Liu deliberately poured an extra half bottle of jasmine perfume. In the misty steam, she noticed that Emperor Taishun's shoulders and neck were taut, so she skillfully massaged them. Usually, Emperor Taishun would praise her skillful touch when she did this, but tonight he remained silent with his eyes closed, only the flower petals floating on the water rising and falling with his heavy breathing.

After the bath, within the red silk curtains, clouds rose and rain fell.

After the matter was hastily concluded, in the dim light, Emperor Taishun pulled Consort Xi, Lady Liu, into his arms, his fingers unconsciously twirling a strand of her hair. Lady Liu was secretly delighted when she suddenly heard a hoarse voice above her: "Li'er... was assassinated in Yangzhou... and is dead!"

These words were spoken very softly, but to Consort Xi, Lady Liu, they sounded like a thunderclap.

Consort Xi, née Liu, seemed not to react for a moment, only feeling a buzzing in her ears. When she finally came to her senses, her blood seemed to freeze.

She suddenly sat up, her eyes wide as she looked at the Emperor Taishun, who was barely visible in the darkness: "Your Majesty... what did you say?"

Emperor Taishun held Consort Xi, née Liu, tightly in his arms, his voice hoarse as if tearing silk: "Li'er was assassinated and died in Yangzhou, I... I'm so sorry!"

Consort Xi, née Liu, was stunned. In her daze, she bit her lip and silently shed tears, which fell like broken strings of pearls, soaking a patch of Emperor Taishun's front.

"How...how were you assassinated?" she asked in a trembling voice. "Who could be so cruel?"

Emperor Taishun briefly recounted what Emperor Jingning had said in his secret letter.

Before the words were even finished, Consort Xi, née Liu, could no longer contain herself. At first, she was only sobbing, but gradually it turned into wailing. Her cries were so shrill that they pierced through the carved window lattice, startling the palace maids on night watch outside, who looked at each other in dismay. One of the younger maids was so frightened that she knocked over a candlestick.

“My Li’er—” Consort Xi, Lady Liu, gripped Emperor Taishun’s robes tightly with her fingers, “He was so lively and energetic before he left the capital… He promised to bring me many local specialties from Jiangnan…” Her voice suddenly turned shrill, “How could he… how could he…”

Emperor Taishun let her struggle in his arms, only holding her tighter.

As the crying subsided, Emperor Taishun patted Consort Xi, Liu's back and said, "The Emperor Emeritus is thoroughly investigating this case in Yangzhou, and I will also..." He choked up at this point, "...make those murderers pay for their crimes in blood!"

Consort Xi, Lady Liu, was so exhausted from crying that she nestled in Emperor Taishun's arms. Emperor Taishun gently patted her back, but felt that the body beneath his palm was still trembling slightly.

The two of them stared blankly at the dark tent ceiling, completely lost in thought.

Suddenly, Consort Xi, née Liu, said softly, "Your Majesty, did Li'er suffer when she left?"

Emperor Taishun felt a lump in his throat and quickly closed his eyes to hide his tears: "Pain is inevitable... but it will pass in an instant. Once the person is gone, the pain will be over."

In fact, Yuan Li was pierced by a crossbow bolt and then stabbed twice in the heart. He died with his eyes wide open, suffering both pain and extreme resentment.

A sudden downpour began outside the window, pattering loudly.

Amidst the sound of rain, there seemed to be auditory hallucinations of arrows piercing the air and blades cutting into flesh...

……

……

The Eighth Prince's Party secretly set up many post stations along the thousand-mile official road from Jiangnan to the capital, keeping fast horses and strong servants so that important matters could be delivered over hundreds of miles.

The day after Emperor Taishun received Emperor Jingning's secret letter, the former Eighth Prince Yuan Si received news of the successful assassination of Yuan Li. He immediately ordered his confidants to invite Yuan Tang and Yuan Guo to his residence for a chat.

The three brothers gathered in a secluded pavilion in the back garden to drink and celebrate.

Yuan Si's phoenix eyes held a hint of arrogance, and he held a luminous cup filled with fine grape wine: "Now that Brother Li is gone, it's time to move on to the next step: the fake assassination of Father Emperor."

Yuan Tang grinned: "Don't worry, Eighth Brother. With Mr. Zhuge in charge in Jiangnan, plus the elite warriors I've carefully trained over the years, we're sure to succeed."

Yuan laughed and said, "Let's wait for the good news, brothers!"

The three looked at each other and smiled, then raised their glasses and drank together.

The wine in the glass was a deep, blood-red color...

(End of this chapter)