The Black Chamber Dream: Daiyu's Revenge

Song Huilan didn't believe that the Crown Prince was really so pure and abstinent.

Regardless of whether it was true or not, rumors can always be deadly. So, following Wang Xiyun's advice, Song Huilan deliberately spread the Crown Prince's scandalous reputation to Shandong. Their plan was not only to ruin the Crown Prince's reputation but also to sow discord between the Crown Prince and his wife.

At that time, the emperor in Shandong was leading his grandson, princes, and ministers to pay homage to Confucius.

By this time, the Crown Prince was already over three years old. In the past, he would get tired and refuse to walk if it took too long, but now, following the Emperor, he was quite determined. The Emperor happily held his grandson's little hand and walked with him in front of everyone.

Today, Cong'er was taken away by the Emperor, and naturally, a clever and sweet-talking eunuch ran back to report to the Empress and the Crown Princess, describing the scene vividly: "The Crown Prince is extremely steady and intelligent. He did not need his wet nurse to hold him; the Emperor himself led him. When it came time to offer incense to Confucius, the Crown Prince did it very well, and the Emperor personally praised him for his exceptional intelligence."

The Empress gave the gift as usual. After seeing the little eunuch leave happily, she turned to the Crown Princess beside her and said, "A child who is over three years old can already walk. It is clear that His Majesty really likes Cong'er."

Daiyu was already used to her father's favoritism, and upon hearing this, she smiled and said, "Mother, don't you know? It's the same whether Father praises me or not. This time it's just that it's rare to have the opportunity to say it in front of all the officials. I only hope that Cong'er will live up to Father's expectations after he begins his studies next year."

The Empress smiled and said, "You have a good attitude."

Then he suddenly spoke to Daiyu about the recent rumors about the Crown Prince: "It seems that people's hearts are still unsettled in the capital."

Daiyu nodded and said, "That's natural, but these two sets of rumors are clearly contradictory."

The Empress couldn't help but laugh and said, "That's right. On one hand, they praise the Crown Prince to the skies, as if he were a reincarnation of Yao and Shun. On the other hand, they portray him as utterly despicable, a complete lecher."

“Indeed. A closer analysis of the two sets of rumors reveals some interesting points. One set’s tone is completely mimicking the sentiments of the court officials, and its intent and wording are comparable to the essays of the top scholar.” Daiyu had already analyzed it. “The other set of rumors, on the other hand, is entirely the gossip of a common woman, so vivid and detailed that it’s even more impressive than a storyteller.”

At this moment, the emperor returned with the crown prince and asked them what they were talking about. The empress then told them everything.

Upon hearing this, the emperor's expression immediately darkened: "Hmph, they're all up to no good. Do they think I don't know? Trying to sow discord between me and the crown prince won't be so easy."

It must be said that the Crown Prince is indeed capable and not afraid of hard work. He sends memorials and letters by fast horse every few days, so the Emperor is well aware of all the affairs of the court. Seeing how cautious the Crown Prince is and how he listens to the Emperor's opinions and guidance, the Emperor is extremely satisfied. Not to mention, the Crown Prince's letters also concern the health of the Emperor and Empress, and whether they have suffered from acclimatization issues on the way.

Therefore, the emperor preferred to believe what he saw rather than rumors.

"Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. Tomorrow we'll all go boating on the lake. I've heard that Daming Lake here is incredibly beautiful."

Chapter 276 Old Case Revealed, Emperor's Foresight

Little did they know that before they even reached Daming Lake, a major incident would occur just as they arrived at the Jinan Imperial Palace.

Zhou Guangming, the prefect of Jingzhou, returned to his hometown to observe the mourning period after his mother's death. He was also a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations and ranked highly in the palace examinations. The emperor had some impression of him, remembering him as upright and capable. Upon arriving at the temporary palace, in addition to receiving officials from Jinan, the emperor specifically summoned Zhou Guangming for a questioning, partly to offer words of comfort during his mourning period, and partly to hear his views on local administration.

To everyone's surprise, after meeting with the Emperor, Zhou Guangming actually submitted a memorial.

The Emperor frowned slightly, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "I am currently in the temporary palace. For matters of state, you should submit your memorials directly to the court." The Emperor was quite satisfied with the Crown Prince, who had been in charge of the government since then, and the administration was running smoothly. He was unwilling to accept any memorials from outside the court, lest it arouse unnecessary suspicion.

To everyone's surprise, Zhou Guangming knelt down directly, holding the memorial in both hands, his voice low but firm: "Your Majesty, I have submitted several memorials, but there has been no response from the court. I suspect that my memorials have failed to reach Your Majesty's ears."

The moment these words were spoken, the hall fell silent. The Emperor frowned slightly, his gaze fixed intently on Zhou Guangming, his heart churning with turmoil. What did this mean? Could it be that someone was preventing him from seeing Zhou Guangming's memorial? A hint of displeasure rose within the Emperor, but his face remained impassive.

After a moment's thought, he gestured to Hu Delu, the chief eunuch beside him, to bring the memorial forward. Hu Delu bowed and took the memorial, carefully presenting it to the emperor. The emperor unfolded the memorial, and after reading only a few lines, his expression gradually darkened.

The memorial mentioned that the Emperor had initially appointed Prince Rui, Xiao Tingkai, to oversee the snow disaster relief efforts in Hunan and Hubei. On the surface, Xiao Tingkai performed his duties admirably, and the Emperor even commended him. However, it now appears there might be more to the story. Zhou Guangming's memorial detailed Xiao Tingkai's various misdeeds during the disaster relief process, including embezzling funds, falsifying disaster reports, and enriching himself. It even included evidence of local officials being secretly suppressed for their dissatisfaction with his actions.

The Emperor closed the memorial, a cold glint in his eyes. His second son's ambition was indeed considerable. But he didn't immediately lash out; instead, he took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. This matter couldn't be based solely on Zhou Guangming's account; the truth had to be thoroughly investigated.

Thinking of this, the Emperor made a decisive decision, his tone calm yet carrying an unquestionable authority: "Alright, you don't need to submit another memorial on this matter. I will naturally investigate the matter you mentioned in your memorial thoroughly and give the people of Hunan and Hubei an explanation."

The emperor paused for a moment, his gaze sharp as a knife as he stared at Zhou Guangming, his tone carrying a warning: "But I do not wish for this matter to be known by others. Until I have investigated everything, you should pretend you know nothing about this."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Guangming felt a great weight lifted from his heart. He had risked his life to submit this memorial on behalf of the people, and now that the emperor had made arrangements, his purpose had been achieved. He immediately kowtowed and said, "I have only asked Your Majesty to investigate this matter truthfully on behalf of the people. I have no intention of getting involved in anything else."

Zhou Guangming knew very well that Prince Rui was the emperor's son, and no matter how much the emperor investigated, he wouldn't easily shake the prince's position. All he could do was ensure that the people benefited; he didn't ask for anything else.

The Emperor gave Zhou Guangming an approving look, his tone softening slightly: "I appreciate your loyalty." Then, he changed the subject, asking, "What is the situation in Xiangtan and other places in Hunan now? Are the people alright?"

When Zhou Guangming saw that the emperor inquired about the local conditions, he gave a detailed report on the situation in various parts of Hunan, especially the reconstruction efforts after the snow disaster. The emperor listened attentively, nodding occasionally, but in his heart, he had already begun to plan how to secretly investigate Xiao Tingkai.

After Zhou Guangming withdrew, the emperor sat alone in the hall, his gaze deep and thoughtful. He gently tapped the table and muttered to himself, "Second son, you are indeed restless. However, I want to see what kind of trouble you can stir up."

He then summoned Hu Delu and whispered a few instructions. Hu Delu bowed and accepted the order, then quietly withdrew. The emperor gazed at the darkening sky outside the palace, a glint of deep cunning flashing in his eyes.

He knew that this matter could not be investigated openly, otherwise it would alert Xiao Tingkai and make him more cautious. He had to secretly plan to both find out the truth and stabilize the court.

The emperor remained calm and composed. After meeting with the officials in Jinan, he enthusiastically took the empress and his grandchildren on a sightseeing tour.

They even went to Mount Tai to hold a worship ceremony.

A visit to Mount Tai naturally includes a trip to the main hall of Lingyou Palace. To the left and right of the main hall are east and west side halls. The east side hall is dedicated to the Goddess of Eyesight, who is responsible for dispelling diseases and evil spirits, and granting clear vision and a bright mind. The west side hall is dedicated to the Goddess of Fertility, who governs childbirth; many superstitious families come here to pray for children.

The emperor himself is here today, so ordinary people naturally cannot come.

However, the Empress was getting old, so it was naturally better to go to the East Annex Hall than to pray for a child. Daiyu now had both a son and a daughter, and she hoped that Yueyue and Cong'er would grow up safely and healthily. Therefore, the Empress and the Crown Princess both went to the East Annex Hall.

After returning from their pilgrimage to Mount Tai, the emperor and his entourage stayed at the residence of the local officials in Tai'an. Since they had been ordered not to build a temporary palace, the officials arranged for the emperor and his entourage to stay in the residence of a local gentry.

Nestled at the foot of the city wall, this residence, though not as grand and imposing as a palace, is nonetheless ingenious, exquisitely designed, and sturdyly constructed, showcasing the owner's taste and status in every detail. Before the main gate, two long white walls extend to either side, their pristine white paint contrasting beautifully with the greyish-blue city walls. A pair of imposing stone lions stand guard before the gate, their intricate carvings and dignified expressions seemingly protecting the tranquility of this mansion.

Inside the main gate, four neatly arranged, oil-green wooden screens are painted with lifelike depictions of landscapes, flowers, and birds. The screens not only block the view from the outside but also add a touch of mystery and elegance to the mansion. Passing the screens, the view opens up dramatically, revealing a lush and verdant front courtyard. A winding path paved with bluestone leads directly to the main hall. On either side of the path, several peach trees are in full bloom; a gentle breeze causes petals to fall softly, as if carpeting the path with a gentle breeze.

The emperor requested to meet the owner of the house, and the owner of the house led his mother, wife, son, and daughter-in-law in to pay his respects.

The old lady was short in stature, dressed in a deep purple brocade robe embroidered with delicate, subtle patterns, and adorned with gold thread at the cuffs and hem, giving her an air of both solemnity and elegance. She leaned on a red lacquered cane, and although her face bore the marks of time, her eyes remained bright and spirited.

When Daiyu saw the old lady, she felt a strange sense of familiarity for some reason.

Chapter 277 Unwilling to Cling to Favor, They Recognize Each Other Privately

After meeting the old lady, Daiyu felt a sense of familiarity and summoned Xueyan in the evening.

"Do you remember? My father used to have a portrait of my grandmother at his place in Yangzhou," Daiyu asked.

Xueyan felt a sense of familiarity when she saw the old lady today. When Daiyu asked, she quickly replied, "I remember, does the Crown Princess think that this old lady looks somewhat similar to the portrait in the master's study?"

Daiyu nodded: "My grandmother passed away not long after I was born, so I have no memory of her at all. However, I have heard my mother and father talk about her. They said that my grandmother had a half-sister who married and moved to Shandong."

"Could it be that, Your Highness, you think this person is...?" Xueyan had a guess, but she couldn't be sure, since the other party didn't seem to have any intention of acknowledging their relationship.

If this old lady is indeed the elder sister of the Crown Princess's grandmother, then logically, she should be very happy to come and acknowledge her relative.

Daiyu also had this question. Apart from the fact that the old lady's appearance was somewhat similar to the portrait, the old lady always looked into Daiyu's eyes, which also gave Daiyu information.

If it were a stranger, the old lady wouldn't have looked at her like that.

But if they were truly related, it seems the old lady and her family have no intention of acknowledging them.

Just as Daiyu was wondering what was going on, the old lady's head maid, Xueliu, brought over a bowl of yellow peach and pear soup on a tray decorated with magpies perched on plum blossoms.

“Our old lady wishes to pay her respects to the Crown Princess alone.” Xue Liu did not go directly to see the Crown Princess, but instead brought a bowl of sweet soup to Zi Juan. “This was made by the old lady herself. Knowing that the Crown Princess would not eat anything from outside, she asked you to check it and then present it to the Crown Princess on her behalf.”

Zijuan took the tray and handed it to the physician Meng. Speaking of Meng, the Crown Princess originally thought that since the Emperor was accompanied by Physician He and the others when he went out, Meng did not need to go out with him. However, Xiao Tingjun felt that it would be more appropriate for Meng to accompany him.

Madam Meng was very meticulous. She took care of not only Daiyu's meals, but also the meals of the Empress, the little princess, and the young princess.

After listening to Xue Liu's words, Daiyu drank a few sips of sweet soup and asked Xue Yan to accompany Xue Liu to invite the old lady to come and sit down.

The old lady was quite direct. After paying her respects to the Crown Princess, she frankly stated, "My maiden name is Yang."

Daiyu's grandmother also had the surname Yang.

"Is the old lady from Zhenjiang Prefecture?" Daiyu's grandmother was from Zhenjiang Prefecture.

The old lady nodded and slowly said, "My grandmother and the Crown Princess are half-siblings. Only my son knows about these things; no one else knows. I also specifically instructed him not to tell anyone else in the family."

"I've thought this through very clearly. We can't let them take this opportunity to curry favor with us, or it will make things difficult for you in the palace."

Daiyu nodded slightly, feeling admiration for the old lady's profound understanding and righteousness. She knew that the relationships in the palace were complex and intricate, and a slight misstep could lead to unnecessary trouble. The old lady's caution was clearly to protect herself and to avoid getting involved in the conflicts.

The old lady's gaze fell on Daiyu's face, a hint of affection flashing in her eyes: "But when I look at the Crown Princess's eyebrows and eyes, I think of your father, and I can't help but want to say a few words." Her voice trembled slightly, as if she was suppressing her inner emotions.

Upon hearing this, Daiyu was startled and quickly stood up, bowing respectfully according to the etiquette of a junior to an elder. Seeing this, the old lady hurriedly reached out to help her up, saying, "Please don't do that, I can't accept it."

“Speaking of which, I should call you Auntie,” Daiyu said, raising her head with genuine sincerity in her eyes.

"I dare not accept such praise. You are now the Crown Princess, and there is a distinction between ruler and subject." The old lady quickly waved her hand.

“Today, as you said, we are meeting in private. We will not discuss the relationship between ruler and subject, but rather that of relatives.” Daiyu personally helped the old lady to her seat. “I would also like to hear about my grandmother.”

Hearing the Crown Princess say this, the old lady began to speak slowly.

"I am more than six years older than the Crown Princess's grandmother. When I was a little over two years old, my birth mother passed away due to illness, and my father married a new wife two years later, who is the Crown Princess's great-grandmother."

"Back then, I always felt that stepmothers weren't close to their children, so when I first had a younger sister, I was extremely uncomfortable. I would always take the opportunity to bully her."

"The Crown Princess's grandmother, although the youngest daughter in the family, was the gentlest and most understanding person. I, on the other hand, was quick-tempered when I was young, and most of the time, my younger sister had to tolerate and give in to me. Even now, when I think about it, I still feel that I was a very incompetent older sister."

"Later, when I was twelve years old, I finally became sensible. In fact, my mother treated my sister and me equally well. So I learned to get along well with my sister."

"My grandmother and the Crown Princess had a very good sisterly relationship. At that time, my father was the prefect of Zhenjiang Prefecture, and he often took us sisters out."

"Zhenjiang City is nestled against the mountains and beside the water, with towering city walls and crisscrossing streets lined with shops. The docks outside the city are bustling with boats coming and going. Whenever a family has free time, they go to watch the fishing boats shuttling back and forth on the river in the early morning. They often buy shad, knife fish and other fish on the riverbank and take them to a nearby restaurant to cook and enjoy together."

"These leisurely and pleasant days lasted until I got married and came to Tai'an. Later, my younger sister married and moved to Suzhou, where she lived with her husband. The two families were too far apart, so we only exchanged letters and local specialties during festivals."

"One year, the Crown Princess's grandparents actually came to Tai'an together. They said they wanted to go to Mount Tai to pay their respects."

"It seems that the Crown Princess has just been to Mount Tai and knows about the Goddess of Fertility in the West Annex, who is in charge of childbirth. The couple came here precisely to ask the Goddess of Fertility for help."

“They had been married for five years but still didn’t have any children, so their family was naturally getting anxious. Originally, your great-grandmother was even thinking of having your grandfather take in a concubine, but your grandfather firmly refused.”

“Your grandparents were very loving, so your grandfather persuaded your great-grandparents to resolutely refuse to take a concubine.”

"The couple came to Mount Tai to worship the Goddess of Fertility, and also spent a whole month traveling in Shandong. They stayed here for about ten days, in the same small courtyard where Your Highness is staying."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu immediately understood that the old lady had specially arranged for her to stay here.

"It's quite a coincidence that your grandparents came to worship the Goddess of Fertility, and by the end of the year, they were pregnant with your father."

The old lady spoke of it as if it were all just yesterday.

"But your grandmother passed away early, and later your grandfather also missed his wife and passed away a few years later."

"After that, although the two families maintained friendly exchanges, the distance between them made it impossible for them to visit each other in person."

"I have two sons, neither of whom have the talent for studying nor the ability to become officials. I think it would be better to manage the family business well and leave it to future generations."

"Later, your father passed away. Actually, I did think about whether I should bring you here. But things were a bit complicated back then."

Daiyu knew that things were complicated at that time, and in the end, it was all because of the Rongguo Mansion.

Chapter 278 Recalling the Past: A Note

When the old lady talked about the past, the first thing she mentioned was the Rongguo Mansion.

"Back then, I thought that since she was my sister's flesh and blood, I simply sent my two sons to Yangzhou."