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Chapitre 45

Xu inquired in detail about the princess's final moments, and Hao recounted them in detail, only omitting the matter of Pang Di that the princess had mentioned. Xu sighed, "So, in the end, what she couldn't forget was that husband who had wronged her!"

"Your Majesty, the Prince Consort has indeed wronged the Princess!" A woman's voice, hoarse from crying, suddenly rang out from the side.

Upon looking at her, he realized it was Ling, the princess's wet nurse, and asked her the reason.

Granny Ling sobbed as she recounted, "When the princess first married the prince consort, he treated her very well. But this didn't last long. Two years later, he started going out frequently, sometimes staying overnight. The princess didn't investigate further, simply assuming it was because he had many friends and social engagements. However, the prince consort, seeing how virtuous and unjealous the princess was, openly proposed taking a concubine. Although the princess was heartbroken, she readily agreed, and the prince consort bought a courtesan named Xiaowu. If Xiaowu had been gentle and obedient, it would have been fine, but she turned out to be a mean, shrewish, and seductive woman." "What a worthless piece of trash! At first, she was afraid the princess wouldn't tolerate her, so she pretended to be well-behaved to please her. Later, seeing the princess's gentleness and kindness, she became increasingly demanding, taking advantage of the prince consort's favor and disregarding the princess. She would fight for anything in the mansion that caught her eye, frequently contradicted the princess, and gossiped about her to the prince consort. She even wanted to monopolize the prince consort; if he visited the princess's room too often, she would throw a tantrum; if the prince consort and princess went out together for a little too long, she would claim to have a chest pain and always send someone to forcibly lure the prince consort back."

"Outrageous! This vile woman is so presumptuous, and the princess doesn't care?! Why have I never heard of this?" Xu Zhen roared in anger.

Ling Mama said, "The princess is too kind and loves her husband too much. She is afraid that hurting Xiaowu will make her husband sad, so she has always strictly forbidden us from revealing this to the emperor and the empress dowager. Prince Qi often comes to the mansion, and sometimes when the princess sees Xiaowu's arrogant behavior, she will quickly beg him not to say anything."

Xu turned and glared at Hao, saying, "She told you not to talk, so you didn't? How could you be so foolish!"

Hao nodded with tears in his eyes and admitted, "It was my fault. I was afraid that my sister would be even more heartbroken after my brother-in-law was punished, but I did not expect that Xiaowu would hurt her to this extent. Otherwise, I would have dealt with Xiaowu myself even if I did not tell the Emperor."

Ling Mama continued, "What I just mentioned are minor matters. There are two things that I dare not even mention, which are the biggest reasons that directly led to the princess's illness due to grief and indignation."

Xu and Hao were both surprised and urged her to speak quickly.

She continued, "Young Master Yanbi's death was directly related to Xiaowu. That year, Yanbi fell seriously ill. One night, he had a fever and cough, and couldn't breathe. The princess hurriedly summoned the imperial physician to treat him. While the physician was treating the young master, Xiaowu tossed and turned in her room, complaining of chest pain, and insisted that the prince consort bring the physician over. Seeing how much she was crying, the prince consort came and asked the princess to let the physician take a look. The young master needed emergency care and couldn't be separated from the doctor for even a moment, but the princess couldn't resist the prince consort's repeated pleas and agreed to let the physician treat Xiaowu. However, as soon as the physician arrived, Xiaowu clung to him, insisting that she also needed emergency care. This dragged on for a long time, and by the time the physician returned, the young master was already beyond saving."

After finishing her sentence, Granny Ling wiped away her tears and said to Xu, "I think Xiao Wu's chest pain is very suspicious. Every time she has an attack, it's meant to cause trouble for the princess. That night, I wanted to ask the imperial physician Xiao Wu about her condition, but when he saw that the young master was beyond saving, he refused to say anything and just bowed and took his leave. The next day, he resigned and returned to his hometown, probably because he was afraid that the princess would investigate."

Xu Leng said, "If the princess won't pursue this, I will. There's another matter."

“That matter is truly shameful to speak of; I am ashamed for that vixen and her husband!” Granny Ling said indignantly. “Xiaowu is licentious by nature. The erotic paraphernalia the Censorate jailers found last time was bought for her by the husband. After Yanbi’s death, the princess fell seriously ill. Although the husband served her during the day, he would always rest in Xiaowu’s room at night. Later, the Empress Dowager came to see the princess and, finding her illness very serious, ordered the husband to stay in the princess’s room at night as well. That night, the husband did indeed stay, but around midnight, that vixen Xiaowu sneaked into the small hall of the princess’s room and seduced the husband in every way. As a result, the two of them actually committed adultery outside the princess’s bedroom! I could hear the noise from the next room, so the princess must have known. Since then, the princess has become increasingly depressed and has been ill on and off, and now she has finally…”

"Shameless, lewd, and vile woman!" Xu slammed his fist on the table in fury. "Where is that slut now?"

Ling Mama replied, "After the prince consort was demoted to Junzhou, Xiaowu made a ruckus at home all day long, so the princess had someone send her to the prince consort's side."

Xu immediately said to the eunuch beside him, "Pass on my decree: order two hundred imperial guards to wait at the princess's residence. Once Wang Shen returns, immediately arrest him and Xiao Wu and bring them to the palace to see me."

Hao also felt that Wang Shen and Xiao Wu's actions were excessive and deserved punishment, but seeing Xu's anger and his order for the imperial guards to arrest them, it seemed he intended to execute them. Remembering the oath Xu had sworn before the princess's deathbed the day before her passing, and considering the matter of great importance, he reminded Xu, "His Majesty swore an oath before my sister..."

“Yes, I swore an oath.” Xu interrupted him, giving a cold smile: “I had long anticipated that there must be some hidden story, so I didn’t say anything definitive. I only promised the princess that I would not pursue the crimes of the consort or others to the point of harming their lives. As long as their lives are not harmed, any punishment is acceptable.”

Emperor Xu was so grief-stricken by his sister's death that he suspended court for five days. During this time, Wang Shen rushed back from Junzhou, only to be arrested by the Imperial Guards along with Xiao Wu as soon as he entered the palace and before he even saw the princess's coffin.

Xu sat in the main hall of the Funing Palace, coldly scrutinizing the shameless man and woman kneeling before him who had killed his sister, remaining silent for a long time.

Wang Shen, knowing he was in the wrong, dared not speak first to pay his respects or plead for mercy, and could only await the emperor's uncle's judgment on him once more. Xiao Wu, on the other hand, trembled all over, her once composed eyes now darting around in terror.

Xu suddenly smiled at Wang Shen and said, "I almost forgot, I issued an edict a few days ago to reinstate you to your original position. Guards, bring a seat. How can we let my brother-in-law, the Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant, remain kneeling?"

Unlike Hao, Xu did not frequently associate with Wang Shen, and due to his status, he never addressed Wang Shen as his brother-in-law. Therefore, Wang Shen knew that Xu was deliberately addressing him in this way, with an unspoken sense of sarcasm. Feeling uneasy and unsure of Xu's intentions, he dared not refuse the seat offered to him and sat down tremblingly.

Xu pointed at Xiaowu and said, "Is this my brother-in-law's concubine? She is indeed as beautiful as a flower. Why didn't you inform me earlier? I would have sent her a congratulatory gift in time."

Wang Shen was terrified and dared not reply. Na Xiaowu was almost scared to death, instinctively clutching her chest as if her heart was aching again.

Upon seeing this, Emperor Xu said, "I almost forgot that my brother-in-law's concubine suffers from heart disease. How can such a stubborn ailment go untreated? Today, I will have the best imperial physician treat her."

A royal physician stepped forward and approached Xiaowu, asking her to extend her hand so he could take her pulse. Xiaowu shrank back and declined, but Xu impatiently shouted, "Extend your hand!" Startled, she immediately obediently extended her wrist.

The imperial physician lowered his eyes to take her pulse, and after a moment stood up, cupped his hands, and reported, "Your Majesty, this lady shows no signs of chest pain whatsoever."

Xu was not surprised at all, but Wang Shen was dumbfounded, staring at Xiao Wu as if he did not recognize her.

Xu sneered and said to the imperial physician, "Tell Commandant Wang the diagnosis clearly again."

The imperial physician bowed to Wang Shen and said, "Commander Wang, your concubine is in good health and has never suffered from chest pain before."

Wang Shen forced a smile and said to Xiao Wu, "All these years, you've been lying to me." Then he turned away from her.

Xiaowu cried out in alarm, "Jinqing! Your Highness! Don't abandon me!" Then, in a panic, she repeatedly kowtowed to Emperor Xu, saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me! Your Majesty, please spare my life!"

Xu Leng said, "I promised the princess that I would not kill you. However, you may escape death but you will not escape punishment." He sat up straight and issued an imperial edict: "Have this slut flogged eighty times, and then give her to the dirtiest and lowest soldier in Bianliang City as a slave, so that she can continue to serve her new master as a concubine and never be given the title of principal wife."

Xiao Wu was stunned upon hearing this, while Wang Shen stood up and pleaded urgently, "Your Majesty..."

Xu waved his hand, and someone immediately came over to pull Xiaowu away. Xiaowu struggled and cried, desperately calling for the prince consort, but was eventually pulled away, and her voice gradually faded away.

Two tears welled up in Wang Shen's eyes as he angrily said to Xu, "If Your Majesty has any grievances, you can vent them all on me. Why punish such a delicate woman as Xiaowu with such cruel methods?"

"Ha! You actually shed tears for such a lowly woman!" Xu finally roared. "You probably weren't even this saddened when you learned of my sister's passing! My sister loved and protected you wholeheartedly from beginning to end, enduring your wrath for years, always tolerating and covering it up, until she died in despair. And you? How did you treat her? You didn't love her from the start; you loved the honor, status, wealth, and the sense of accomplishment you felt from capturing a princess's heart! She married you, and you got what you wanted, but you were still not satisfied. You indulged in pleasure outside, and that wasn't enough. You even took advantage of her gentle and unambitious nature to marry a courtesan, letting that despicable, shameless, and treacherous woman first steal the love she should have had, then murder her son, and finally destroy her health. My poor sister was still thinking of you before she died, yet you felt no sorrow for her death, but shed tears for the woman who killed her!"

"How does Your Majesty know I don't love her?" Wang Shen countered. "How do you know I wasn't saddened by her death? I do love her. From the moment I saw her through the veil, I fell in love with her. I admit, perhaps initially her status as a princess dazzled me more than she was herself, and becoming her husband was more appealing than being her consort. However, after I married her, her elegance, her talent, and her virtue deeply moved me. I truly love her; this love is mixed with many other factors—not just love, but also respect, complete dependence, and trust. But as a man, you should also understand that we need another kind of love, a kind that..." It was a pure, heartfelt love, drawn to her very being, without any regard for her status. I found this love in Xiaowu. She was so charming, delicate, understanding, and always in need of care, making one irresistibly drawn to her, to cherish her, and to protect her. In her presence, I forgot what a general or what a prince consort I was; I only felt that I was her man, and she was the woman I loved. I treated the princess with utmost respect, but with Xiaowu, I found the joy of intimate companionship. Has Your Majesty never experienced this kind of feeling? Is your most beloved woman your principal wife? You resent my neglect of the princess, but haven't you shown the same respect to your empress, albeit with a lack of intimacy?"

The last three questions left Xu speechless, but he didn't let the silence in the palace last long. He ended the accusations and disputes with a short sentence: "Insolence! Go back to where you came from."

The next day, Emperor Xu announced in court: Princess Shu was posthumously honored as Princess Yue, with the posthumous title "Princess Xianhui." He further stated that Wang Shen, internally, indulged in debauchery and moral depravity, and externally, he was disloyal and disrespectful to the emperor. As a result, the princess fell ill from resentment and shame, and her condition worsened over time. He was stripped of his title of Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant and demoted to Military Advisor of Zhaohua Army, and exiled to Junzhou.

Wang Shen requested to arrange the princess's funeral before leaving, but Xu refused, ordering him to immediately set off back to Junzhou and entrust the princess's funeral arrangements to Hao.

The following are historical records of this event:

According to the *History of the Song Dynasty*: The Empress Dowager was not jealous by nature, but Wang Shen took this for granted and was once demoted. On this occasion, the Emperor ordered Wang Shen to be reinstated to his post to appease the Empress Dowager. When the Empress Dowager inquired about his health, he was unconscious. The Empress Dowager wept bitterly, and after a while, she was able to speak again, saying she would not recover. They clung to each other, weeping. The Emperor arrived later, personally taking her pulse and feeding her porridge. The Empress Dowager forced herself to eat all the porridge for him. She bestowed upon him six thousand taels of gold and silk, and asked what he needed, but he only declined to reinstate Wang Shen. He died the next day at the age of thirty. The Emperor went there before even having his meal, weeping at the gate of his residence, and suspended court for five days. He was posthumously enfeoffed as the Princess of Yue, and given the posthumous title of Virtuous and Benevolent. Later, she was promoted to Grand Princess, and her title was changed to Qin, Jing, and Wei.

The emperor was fond of reading classical texts and calligraphy, and generously provided for his clan and relatives, earning him widespread acclaim. His son, Shen, was negligent in his conduct, even having an affair with a concubine who frequently offended the emperor. After Shen's death, his wet nurse filed a complaint, and the emperor ordered a thorough investigation. Shen was flogged eight times and exiled to the army. After his burial, he was exiled to Junzhou. His son, Yanbi, died at the age of three.

The *Continuation of the Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government* records: Princess Zhu married Wang Shen, and was renowned for her filial piety towards Wang Shen's mother, earning her praise both within and outside the court. When Princess Zhu fell seriously ill, the Empress Dowager and Empress visited her, and the Emperor followed. Seeing Princess Zhu's emaciated state, he wept, kneeling before her. He personally fed her porridge, and Princess Zhu forced herself to eat. The next day, she did not rise. Before the morning meal, the Emperor went to her residence, weeping as he gazed at the gate. He bestowed upon Princess Zhu's family five million coins, suspended court for five days, posthumously granted her the title of Princess Yue, and bestowed upon her the posthumous name Xianhui (Virtuous and Benevolent). Wang Shen, for his affair with a maid while serving Princess Zhu's illness, was demoted from his position as Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant, demoted to Military Commander of Zhaohua Army, and exiled to Junzhou.

Empress

After the court session ended, Xu still felt unhappy thinking about Wang Shen and the princess. The feeling of unease lingered in his heart, and the questions Wang Shen had asked him kept resurfacing in his mind: Is your most beloved woman your principal wife? You complain that I neglect the princess, but don't you also show the same respect to your empress, though lacking intimacy?

Indeed, he and the Empress maintained a respectful but distant relationship. For many years, the Empress silently cared for him, arranging all his needs without expecting anything in return. He rarely stayed overnight in the Empress's palace, yet she never showed any resentment. He took in many concubines, but she never objected or expressed dissatisfaction. Even the women who received his favor were kind and generous, never showing jealousy or resentment.

Xu thought that the Empress and his sister were actually the same kind of people, the kind who could be virtuous and devoted to each other until death without complaint. As for himself, wasn't he just as heartless and fickle as Wang Shen?

Suddenly realizing that he hadn't visited the Empress's palace in a long time, he boarded a palanquin and headed to the Kunning Palace where she resided.

The eunuch guarding the Kunning Palace was overjoyed to see him arrive and was about to announce his arrival loudly when he was stopped by his hand. He didn't want to disturb her by making a big show of going out to greet him; he just wanted to go in quietly, like an ordinary husband returning home.

They finally found her when they entered her bedroom. The Empress was sitting at the table, cutting something with her head down. She looked up when she felt someone approaching, and when she saw him, she panicked a little. She hid what she was holding behind her back and stood up to greet him.

Xu Dao became curious: "What is the Empress holding in her hand?"

The Empress hesitated and said, "It's nothing, just a little trinket..."

Xu laughed and said, "What is it that makes the Empress so nervous? How about I take a look?"

The empress did not respond and continued to hide behind her back, refusing to reveal herself.

Xu frowned slightly, puzzled: Could it be that she's hiding something from me?

Without asking any further questions, he walked over and grabbed her hand that was hidden behind her back... He was utterly astonished—she was holding a small white chrysanthemum in her hand!

The stems and leaves had been carefully trimmed; she had just been diligently doing this work.

It was her.

Since his sister's death, every morning when he opened his eyes, he would see a fresh white chrysanthemum in a vase on the table in his bedchamber. When he asked the palace servants around him, they all claimed not to know who had brought it in. He habitually lied to himself, saying it was the spirit of Wanji residing there. He was deeply grieved by the loss of his sister, and even after suspending court for several days, he could not shake off his sorrow. The flower reappeared at the right time, giving him some comfort as usual. However, he never expected that the flower was prepared for him by his empress, who had carefully trimmed each stem by hand. Presumably, she had instructed the palace servants of Funing Palace, or perhaps she herself, to place the white chrysanthemum in the vase on his table every night after he fell asleep and before he woke up in the morning.

"Did you send all these white chrysanthemums to my palace?" Xu asked, thinking to himself, including the one he saw late at night in the seventh year of the Xining era after talking to the Empress Dowager about Wanji's death.

The Empress blushed slightly and said, "Your Majesty is going to laugh at me for trying to imitate you so poorly."

Do you know the origin and significance of this little white chrysanthemum?

The Queen nodded.

"How did the Empress know?" Xu asked again, suddenly feeling an unspeakable embarrassment: since she understood the meaning of the white chrysanthemum, then she had known about his affair with Wanji all along.

"It was Princess Sister who told me," the Empress sighed, speaking softly. "Over the years, my grandmother, mother, and even Your Majesty have often praised me for being virtuous, understanding, and not jealous. But you don't know that I am not as perfect as you imagine. I, too, experience joy and sorrow, and feel the warmth and coldness of life, just like any other woman. From the moment I married into the Prince of Ying's household, I knew I would not be His Majesty's favorite. Although I often felt lonely, His Majesty had not yet ascended the throne and was diligently studying governance. I was also proud to have married such an ambitious husband and didn't think much of it. But soon after His Majesty ascended the throne, he took in many concubines. To my shame, I was so distraught at the time that I even contemplated suicide. Fortunately, my elder sister saw my sorrow and often came to comfort me. Gradually, she told me about His Majesty's past with the Princess of Qi, including the matter of Little White Chrysanthemum."

Indeed, the princess was one of the few who knew the meaning of this flower. In their youth, she often acted as a messenger for Xu, relaying messages between him and Wanji, inquiring about Wanji's feelings; the princess knew everything about their relationship.

Xu gave a bitter smile and asked, "What did my sister say?"

The Empress replied, “My elder sister said that His Majesty and Consort Wan grew up together as childhood sweethearts, their hearts intertwined and their affection deep since youth. Unfortunately, fate was unkind, and you were forced to separate, a devastating blow His Majesty has never experienced before. His reason for taking in so many concubines is not due to his inherent lust, but rather an act of venting after extreme heartbreak, much like how many people overeat when deeply disappointed and depressed. My elder sister earnestly begs me to understand and forgive His Majesty's actions. She says that His Majesty is like a wounded child; sometimes he acts impulsively without considering others' feelings, not intentionally, but simply because he is in pain and needs to find other ways to cope.” This pain was beyond my control. And so, I began to understand Your Majesty's feelings and emotions. Like my elder sister had taught me, I learned tolerance and restraint. Especially after overhearing my grandmother and Your Majesty discussing Wanji in the seventh year of the Xining era, I learned that Wanji loved Your Majesty to the point of sacrificing her life for him, and that Your Majesty's deep affection for her was unparalleled. I was truly moved. Later, seeing Your Majesty so grief-stricken after my grandmother's passing, I didn't know how to comfort you. Suddenly, I remembered my elder sister's words about Wanji giving Your Majesty a white chrysanthemum to encourage you. So I went to the flower room, found a white chrysanthemum, and quietly placed it on the table in the Funing Palace.”

Emperor Xu asked, "Did you hear everything I said to my grandmother that day?"

The Empress confirmed this, saying, "That day, before His Majesty returned, I arrived at Funing Palace and waited in the side hall. I intended to comfort His Majesty about the natural disaster, but seeing him return with a face full of anger, I hesitated, fearing that my words might be inappropriate and cause him further distress. So I lingered behind the curtain. Later, His Majesty summoned Han Wei, making it even more inconvenient for me to come out, so I remained in the side hall. I never expected that my grandmother would later come and speak to His Majesty about Consort Wan..."

Xu felt utterly ashamed. That day, the Empress Dowager forced him to recall his most secret affair with Wanji, and analyzed his despicable psychology in light of Wanji's death. The Empress, upon hearing this, claimed to be moved by his relationship with Wanji. In truth, Xu knew that before being moved, she should have felt a chilling sorrow: her husband, who had deeply loved someone for so many years, was not her, and had finally broken through the constraints of ethics and morality to have an affair with the one he loved. However, she swallowed her unhappiness and, with such understanding, went out to find a white chrysanthemum to comfort and console her unfaithful husband.

"And..." He suddenly realized something he hadn't understood before: "The lotus flowers in Yaojin Pond were planted by Song Yongchen on your orders, weren't they?"

The Empress smiled and said, “That pond was built with a lot of effort, and it would be a great pity to fill it up all at once. I thought that Consort Wan was pure and noble, just like a lotus flower. If we use lotus flowers to fill Yaojin Pond, Your Majesty would not find it inappropriate. Therefore, I have boldly ordered Song Yongchen to collect the finest lotus flowers from Bianliang City overnight and plant them in Yaojin Pond. Your Majesty can also use this to recall Consort Wan’s voice and smile.”

How could she be so magnanimous and forgiving? For so many years, he had endlessly mourned the passing of Wanji and his only love in his heart, but he did not realize that his wife would forgive his betrayal, both in heart and body, with such magnanimity and tolerance, and would tolerate everything he had done. She would still love him deeply as always, and would quietly care for and comfort him when he was sad and disappointed.

"Empress, I am sorry." These words came from the bottom of his heart and were spoken with utmost sincerity.

"Your Majesty, what are you saying?" The sudden apology made the Empress feel very uncomfortable. Instead, she said with shame, "It is I who have failed Your Majesty. I have served Your Majesty for so many years, yet I have not been able to give birth to a single prince for you."

Xu shook his head and said, "The fact that there is no prince proves my neglect of the Empress. Now, Consort Zhu Xichan is six months pregnant. If she gives birth to a prince, he will be raised by you. I also want to issue an edict that after I pass away, whichever prince inherits the throne must honor you as Empress Dowager. His birth mother can only be named a Consort Dowager and cannot be ranked alongside you."

"Your Majesty, please do not say such unlucky things." The Empress covered his mouth and said, "I do not want any empty titles such as Empress Dowager. I only ask to stay by Your Majesty's side forever, to be with you through life and death."

"Alright, we'll be together forever," Xu sighed. For the first time in his life, he embraced his empress out of genuine pity and love.

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Return the hairpin

Pang Di was saddened and grieved upon hearing the news of the princess's death. The princess had always treated her kindly and gently, and later, due to their respective misfortunes, they sympathized with and pitied each other, becoming increasingly close like sisters. The scene of the princess bringing Hao's birthday gift to her was still vivid in her mind, but unexpectedly, the gift remained while the person was gone, and that day's separation became a final farewell.

Therefore, she went downstairs to find Wang Pang and asked him if she could go to the princess's residence to offer her condolences.

At the time, Wang Pang was discussing matters with his father in the study. His wife's request was reasonable, and he couldn't object in front of his father, so he thought for a moment and agreed. Pang Di then prepared to leave, but as she reached the door, she remembered to turn back and specifically ask him, "I'll take Green Sleeve with me. Do you need someone else to accompany me, sir?"

Wang Anshi was unaware that Wang Pang had previously sent people to follow his wife, so he looked at them with puzzlement and confusion.

Wang Pang turned his head and said coldly, "No need."

So Pang Di took Green Sleeve and left in a carriage.

Upon arriving at the princess's residence, one finds the entire courtyard draped in white mourning clothes, a scene of utter desolation. The servants and maids coming and going are also dressed in mourning, their expressions somber. The princess has no children to attend her passing, and even her husband has left the capital. Only Hao, dressed in plain white, stands alone and forlorn in the mourning hall, receiving the relatives and friends who come to offer their condolences.

When Hao and Di met, they were speechless for a moment, unsure of what to say, feeling the impermanence of life and as if a lifetime had passed. Pang Di recalled that the last time she saw Hao was also in this princess's residence. At that time, there seemed to be sunshine, and a warm pink hue filled the courtyard—the color of peach blossom buds, feeling clear and warm. But now, all the scenery, and perhaps even their feelings, were equally cold and pale.