Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Early the next morning, Cheng Muning was awakened by the sound of footsteps coming and going outside. Seeing the dark bruises under her eyes, Yin Zhu said, “The princess only went to bed around the fourth watch last night, and there are no urgent matters today. Would you like to rest a little longer?”

Cheng Muning closed her eyes wearily and shook her head. “Now that I’ve returned to the palace, I should pay my respects to the Empress.”

Yin Zhu replied, “Her Majesty is kind and understanding. She knows how hard you’ve been working. Even if you delay by a couple of days, she wouldn’t mind.”

“The Empress is kind, but etiquette must not be neglected.” Cheng Muning stretched out her arms for her maid to adjust her sleeves, then asked, “What’s happening outside?”

Yin Zhu answered, “Since the princess has returned to the palace, several concubines came to greet her. Knowing you wouldn’t want to entertain them, I sent them all away. However, gifts have been arriving from various palaces one after another. It’s difficult to refuse, so we’re busy registering and storing them.”

Hearing this, Cheng Muning asked, “Did Xu Yan also come?”

Yin Zhu smiled, “The gifts arrived, but she herself did not. She said she was ill and feared that if she passed her illness to the princess, she wouldn’t come.”

Cheng Muning’s lips twitched slightly.

She had rarely interacted with the Xu family since childhood. As for her cousin Xu Yan, their encounters were limited to distant glances at palace banquets during festivals, so they had lived in relative peace. Until Cheng Zheng ascended the throne, and she frequently entered the palace, showing disrespect to the Empress. But the Empress, born of a scholarly family, was gentle and composed, enduring repeated offenses with leniency. Cheng Muning, having taken time from her busy affairs to intervene once and reprimand Xu Yan, found it unbearable.

Since then, Xu Yan kept her distance. These past few years, Xu Yan had stirred trouble in the palace, confident that Cheng Zheng would never summon Cheng Muning back. Now that she had miscalculated, she barely had time to avoid her, much less approach her.

Cheng Muning selected two hairpins from her jewelry case and said slowly, “Send some tonic to her. Tell Consort Zhen to take good care of her health. When she recovers, I will visit her.”

Yin Zhu smiled faintly, thinking Consort Zhen’s illness was unlikely to improve.

After tidying herself, Cheng Muning headed to Fengyi Palace.

Inside Fengyi Palace, the chirping of insects and birds filled the air with tranquility.

Over the years, the Empress refrained from competing for favor with other consorts, retreating mostly to her chambers and seldom venturing outside. She spent her days tending flowers and caring for birds. The palace grounds were blooming with such splendid colors that they rivaled the Imperial Garden, clearly the result of much effort.

However, there were few attendants around, giving the place a somewhat desolate feel.

The chief palace maid led the way and said, “There’s nothing urgent in the palace. The Empress finds the attendants noisy and has sent half of them out.”

They reached the hall’s entrance, where the fragrance of tea wafted through the beaded curtains. The maid said, “Her Majesty knew the princess would come and has been brewing tea since early morning.”

A few steps inside, Cheng Muning saw Jiang Tingtong sitting by the window, carefully pouring tea. Her graceful technique was fluid and elegant, a refinement born of deep cultivation and upbringing. Hearing the footsteps, she looked up and smiled, placing a cup of tea on the table opposite. “This is the first batch of Qing Phoenix Sap this spring. I wonder if your Highness can appreciate my brewing skills.”

Cheng Muning stepped forward, observing the tea’s color, and smiled. “Such fine tea is only truly appreciated in the Empress’s hands.”

These were no mere polite words. Before entering the palace, Jiang Tingtong had been a model of refined young ladies, excelling in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, flowers, and tea. Cheng Muning always felt a natural fondness for her, as she reminded her of Empress Xiaoyi.

Yet, she was not entirely alike, and it was precisely this difference that once made Cheng Muning doubt Jiang Tingtong’s suitability as Empress.

Both came from noble families. Empress Xiaoyi was literate and courteous, gentle and gracious, with words and deeds as warm as spring breezes. Yet beneath the softness was steel; she handled affairs with composure. Jiang Tingtong, however, was too gentle and lacked authority. She would yield whenever possible, tolerate whenever possible, so much so that even before Xu Yan entered the palace, she could trample on her head, let alone now.

Still, it was because of this that Jiang Tingtong relied heavily on Princess Cheng Muning, who had helped her several times. When Cheng Muning was once confined in the palace and Shen Wenjie imprisoned for pleading on her behalf, the young emperor’s wrath silenced everyone. No one dared to speak of the matter—except Jiang Tingtong. The usually obedient Empress knelt outside the government hall all night, begging Cheng Zheng to revoke his decree concerning Cheng Muning’s impending departure to Dengzhou.

When Cheng Muning reached the main hall that day, she saw the Empress pale and trembling, as if the sky was falling. Stepping closer, she straightened the Empress’s collar and spoke softly, “If the Empress truly cares for me, please take good care of yourself. You were personally chosen by the late emperor to be his son’s wife. As long as you do not err, no one can ever surpass you. Don’t give others such easy leverage. When the time is right, you can advise him again.”

Jiang Tingtong seemed stunned, forgetting even to cry.

Cheng Muning was unsure if she understood, but that day she held little hope for the Empress.

To be honest, Cheng Muning once doubted whether Jiang Tingtong could keep her position as Empress intact. Unlike Pei Shao, the Jiang family lacked the power to rival Xu Jingqing. While the Hanlin Academy’s head might be considered an internal minister, he was no match for the legitimate Chancellor Xu Jingqing. Jiang Tingtong’s gentle nature made her an easy target for Xu Yan.

Yet unexpectedly, the secret letter Cheng Muning sent from Dengzhou two months ago had not sunk without trace. The Empress seemed steadier and more resilient than before—a subtle, imperceptible change.

They both took their seats.

Cheng Muning did not probe into the turbulent storms beneath the Empress’s calm facade, nor did she mention the secret letter urging Jiang Tingtong to “advise” Cheng Zheng. They merely chatted over tea like ordinary sisters-in-law.

Noticing a half sheet of paper on the table, Cheng Muning asked, “What is this? Quite novel.”

Jiang Tingtong smiled. “Paper-cut flowers. Young ladies in the capital have recently taken to these. I found it interesting and learned to make some to pass the time. But I think artificial flowers lack charm—no color, no fragrance. Real flowers are far more delightful.”

Cheng Muning sighed, “I’ve been away too long and missed these novelties. I thought the girls still played with flower ropes. Truly, times change swiftly. I must keep abreast to avoid seeming old-fashioned.”

Jiang Tingtong replied, “That’s no problem. When there’s a welcome banquet, your Highness won’t miss any new trends.”

Speaking of the welcome banquet, Jiang Tingtong added, “The Emperor claimed illness this morning and did not attend court, but he still cares about hosting a welcome feast for you. Zheng Chang came early to give instructions. Unless you have other requests, I’ll arrange everything as usual. The guest list will be prepared by the eunuch department and sent for your approval.”

Cheng Muning set down her teacup and considered. “The Emperor is ill, the front lines are at war, and the court struggles with funds and provisions. The palace is cutting costs. A grand feast is unnecessary. Instead, after the spring imperial exams conclude, I propose holding a Qionglin Banquet. Many new faces have appeared in the past three years. I would like to meet them and hear their ideas on raising funds.”

Jiang Tingtong nodded thoughtfully. “That makes sense. In past years, the banquet was held soon after the results were announced. This year, war delayed it, which was unfair to the new scholars. Also, since your household’s staff have dispersed, the banquet could be a chance to fill those vacancies. However...” She hesitated, looking at Cheng Muning. “The Qionglin Garden is outside the city. The capital is unsettled now, and security there is not as strict as in the palace. It might be risky. Would it be better to entrust the eunuch department and the Palace Guards Office to manage it?”

There was a hint of inquiry in Jiang Tingtong’s words. She privately wished to support Cheng Muning but, as a member of the Jiang family, would not risk her life on a princess just returned to the capital and not yet firmly established.

Pei Shao and his Palace Guards Office, however, were Cheng Muning’s trump card.

Cheng Muning smiled faintly, the situation seeming to return to years past. Yet she was not the only one watching carefully. Running her fingertip along the cup’s rim, she said lightly, “Your Majesty’s prudence is most commendable.”

Jiang Tingtong seemed relieved. “Then it’s settled.”

After brief pleasantries, Cheng Muning did not linger at Fengyi Palace. Jiang Tingtong knew she was busy and made no effort to detain her, only selecting a few potted plants to be sent out sturdily with her.

At noon, under the blazing sun, Yin Zhu held an umbrella and glanced at the fresh, dewy lilies held by a palace maid. She remarked, “The Empress is thoughtful. Lilies calm the mind. The flower house has sent many to our palace before.”

Cheng Muning brushed a petal aside. “She has always been considerate.”

Yin Zhu pondered, “I expected the Empress to take this chance to ask the princess to deal with Consort Zhen. Given the current situation, if the Empress made the request, it would be difficult for the princess to refuse. Yet the Empress is too gentle, allowing Consort Zhen to act arrogantly and retreating quietly to her chambers all these years.”

Cheng Muning replied calmly, “It’s just a form of yielding. She doesn’t need me to handle Xu Yan now. After three years, even a cornered rabbit will bite. We shall see.”

Yin Zhu was slightly stunned, then nodded thoughtfully but voiced a concern, “Today the Empress entrusted the Qionglin Banquet to the Palace Guards Office. Could the commander there cause trouble deliberately?”

Cheng Muning said firmly, “He won’t.”

Even if Pei Shao did not owe her any favors, he would not make things difficult over military funding. Otherwise, he would have acted before her return to the capital. The reason was evident: a puppet emperor like Cheng Zheng was irreplaceable. Holding the imperial guards, Pei Shao was the Jiang family’s stronghold in the capital. No one wished for a regime change now. Moreover, all those with power hoped the troops would depart smoothly. Cheng Zheng had entrusted her with provisions. Now, not only Pei Shao but even Xu Jingqing hoped she would resolve matters successfully.

As expected, the Qionglin Banquet preparations proceeded smoothly. By evening, news arrived.

Cheng Muning sat drafting the guest list. Yin Zhu reported, “The Empress quickly issued orders. All departments took the matter seriously and acted immediately. The Palace Guards Office cooperated fully and has already dispatched hundreds of imperial guards to secure the area.”

Cheng Muning nodded. “The banquet is usually in early spring, but it’s now late spring. Tell them to hurry and hold it this month before summer’s heat.”

Yin Zhu replied, “I will issue the orders at once.”

After her personal maid left, Ji Fang finally had a chance to show his worth. He took over serving tea and set down the cup. “I heard from Yin Zhu that the princess did not sleep well last night, so I arranged for the Imperial Medical Department to prepare some calming tea. Hopefully, it will help you rest better tonight.”

Cheng Muning did not look up. “Thank you for your kindness.”

Ji Fang smiled obsequiously. “I serve the princess by imperial decree and dare not be negligent.” He glanced at the list of names on the scrap of paper. “It’s best to have the eunuch department prepare the guest list. You’ve been away for three years and may not know these people well.”

Cheng Muning paused, then nodded slowly. “You’re right.”

“Since the feast is on behalf of His Majesty for the new scholars, not knowing them would seem arrogant. But we can’t summon each one.” She put down her brush. “Go to the Hanlin Academy and get this year’s imperial exam papers. ‘Know a person by their writing’—this will help us understand them.”

Ji Fang hesitated, “Princess, the palace gates are locked at this hour.”

“The Palace Guards are still on duty,” Cheng Muning said, lifting her chin. “You’re an eunuch. The old scholars at Hanlin won’t easily hand over exam papers to you. That would be troublesome. Better have the Palace Guards go.”

The Hanlin Academy was difficult, but troubling the Palace Guards at night seemed unwise. Ji Fang smiled awkwardly. “Perhaps tomorrow we can ask the Empress to send someone. She has more influence over the head of the Hanlin Academy.”

Cheng Muning looked at him with a faint smile. Ji Fang’s heart sank, and he dared say no more, bowing and leaving.

At the Palace Guards Office, Ji Fang flattered the guards as he relayed the princess’s request word for word. Before anyone could respond, a guard shouted, “Another banquet to hold by month’s end, and now a midnight trip to the Hanlin Academy for exam papers? Does the princess think we guards are eunuchs at her disposal?”

Before the words finished, a loud clatter came from the desk. Pei Shao tossed aside a set of nine linked rings he had fiddled with eight hundred times. The rings clattered onto the floor, the sharp sound striking like a blow to the head, causing a shudder.

Ji Fang and the guard both stepped back. Whenever Pei Shao fiddled with those rings, he was extremely irritable. Whoever approached then was unlucky. They exchanged a glance and fell silent.

Pei Shao threw down the rings and looked at Ji Fang. “Some dozens of candidates didn’t pass the selection. Should we get their exam papers too?”

Ji Fang was surprised at the easy acceptance. “Uh, since you say so, should we get them all?”

“Fine. Zhou Min.” The guard answered, then Pei Shao said, “Do as she says.”