Chapter 219: Final Chapter · Part Four

Chapter 219: Final Chapter · Part Four

After lunch, Minglan took a soft sedan chair and toured around the Marquis's residence.

Spring is typically a time when all things flourish, but overnight, the garden that was once as vibrant as brocade had fallen into disarray, trampled into the mud by the frantic, life-taking footsteps in the dark. The smooth, paved flagstones had been washed several times with water, yet there were still a few places where dark red stains persisted. The scent of death lingered most strongly in Kouxiang Courtyard, where people had died both inside and outside the house. A few timid maids cried and dared not go in. Minglan didn't force them, considering arranging a new place for Rong. The original location was already a little off-center, so she simply decided to repurpose it.

The most tragic scene was elsewhere.

The thick vermilion-painted gate, nearly half a foot thick, slowly creaked open with a chilling sound of gold and iron. As it swung outward, one could see the bloodstained ground below, with patches of dark red stains, some of which were still sticky with human skin, hair, and congealed oil. Despite the bodies and severed limbs having been cleared away, the air was still thick with the horrible stench of rotting flesh.

On the ground lay several tree trunks as thick as the rim of a cup, their origin unknown, seemingly cut from someone's property by the intruders. The large brass nails on the gates had been knocked loose, with over half scattered haphazardly across the ground. Steward Liu from the gatehouse muttered nearby, "Good thing we didn't gild them back then. At least we can gather them up, melt them down, and reuse them."

Minglan felt like laughing but couldn't muster a smile.

Returning to Jiaxi Residence, she sat gloomily by the edge of her kang mat, staring blankly at the sky as it turned a dull yellow with a golden hue.

Before dinner, Tu Laoda returned from outside. From the corridor, without even stepping inside, he knelt down in front of the curtain separating them. His face was as dark as though he'd just been cuckolded, stifled with frustration but unable to find the words to say. Finally, he spat out, "That Han San really wasn't clean! I failed to keep things under control. I'm ready to accept punishment from Madam."

He had led a few guards to search Han's household thoroughly, only to uncover two newly transferred land deeds and a hundred taels of gold—discovery enough to make Tu Laoda feel like chopping the man into minced meat on the spot.

Minglan was slightly startled: "Did Tiger Ye make a move?" Han San, despite defecting, still had relatives of good standing in society.

"This did not happen!" Tu Laoda said in frustration. "We've only detained him for now. It's not the right time to deal with him, but we'll settle this account later."

Minglan nodded tiredly. "That's good. Any punishments or decisions should wait for the marquis to return."

For someone like her, who preferred a peaceful and leisurely life, constantly handling matters like this was exhausting. She comforted Tu Laoda briefly, assuring him that since the spy had clearly failed, there was no need for excessive guilt—just be more vigilant in the future.

By the third day, though martial law was still in place, the tension had noticeably eased. Many impatient families were already discreetly sending servants to exchange messages. The first letter came from the Duke of Ying's household, asking again if all was well. They offered assistance, saying that if Minglan needed guards, doctors, or even medicine and supplies, she should feel free to ask. Madam Zhang even joked that her household had stood guard all night for nothing since the prepared items were left unused.

Minglan felt deeply touched. No wonder Madam Zhang had been one of the most respected figures among noblewomen in the capital for decades. Her conduct indeed showed remarkable poise and strength. Not long after, a letter arrived from this formidable woman's daughter. However, this short note was written in a fit of fury, with every stroke exuding anger.

It turned out the Imperial Uncle's residence had also faced unrest that night, though it was purely a robbery. The letter read: "For nearly twenty years, I've prided myself on maintaining the reputation of the Zhang family and upholding its prestige. I never imagined such a brazen theft could occur under my watch!"

Madam Zhang truly gained new insight—she never imagined there would be a day when thieves would have the audacity to target her household! After sulking for half a day, she finally remembered that this family bore the surname Shen, not Zhang. Regardless, even with her father's recent defeat and reputation tarnished, no pickpocket dared to operate within a three-mile radius of the Duke of Ying's residence.

The letter stated that no external thief could have succeeded without an insider's help. Upon investigation, it turned out that the trouble was provoked by the Zou family's flaunting of wealth.

"What did the Zou family do outside?" Minglan asked.

The servant delivering the letter had a sullen expression as he explained: "That black-hearted Zou family… they spread rumors that the Imperial Uncle had been gravely injured, and if anything happened to him, the heir would soon inherit the title. They bragged that their family's influence would only grow, and that everything would have to go through them. They even suggested that, once widowed, Madam Zhang wouldn't be able to hold her ground without consulting them on everything. Sigh… After interrogating the culprits, our madam was livid…"

The Zou family's drunken boasts caught the attention of some opportunistic thugs, who cozied up to them, pried for details about the Shen household, and eventually learned about the layout of the inner residence. When chaos broke out in the capital, they used the Zou family's name to deceive the guards at the Shen estate's back gate, gaining entry to loot and slaughter.

Fortunately, Madam Zhang had been vigilant. Upon hearing the news, she immediately led her guards to eliminate the intruders. Ordinary thieves stood no chance against the battle-hardened men trained by the Duke of Ying's household. In no time, many of the bandits were killed or captured.

Madam Zhang was seething with pent-up frustration—those preparations were originally meant for a much more serious and large-scale political persecution, for goodness' sake!

During the chaos, she personally wielded her soft bow and shot several bandits, injuring them. Two particularly fierce bandits, after being captured and seeing a house full of women and children, still acted arrogantly and spewed vile and threatening words. Enraged, Madam Zhang said nothing, grabbed a sword, and swiftly sliced off their ears, throwing the severed pieces on the ground to feed the black hounds. At that moment, the entire room fell silent, and no one in the Shen household dared to make a sound.

The servant recounting this story looked immensely proud, while Minglan inwardly exclaimed in awe. 

From that point onward, everyone in the Shen household avoided Madam Zhang whenever they could. For the next several decades, Madam Zhang lived with undeniable authority: her concubines dared not talk back, and her stepchildren did not dare complain. If one were to say she benefited from this misfortune, it wouldn't be entirely wrong—but this is a story for another time.

Apart from this, the women of the Duan, Zhong, and Geng families had yet to return home from the palace, and the reasons remained unclear. The servants sent to the Bo and Fu households finally returned with news after being delayed by attacks on the road. Both households were unharmed, with the Bo family in particular having sent all their women to the countryside early on with Old Madam Bo.

The letter from the Sheng family was the thickest of all, written by Changfeng, spanning over a dozen pages. Minglan patiently read through it and couldn't help but laugh, sarcastically remarking, "Third Brother is truly impressive." 

In truth, the story was quite simple. That day, Old Master Sheng followed his usual routine, going to work and coming home. After having a bowl of rice and half a roasted chicken, he began reviewing Changfeng's studies. Just as he was scolding him, saying, *"If you fail the autumn exams again, I'll…"*, chaos broke out outside.

With the capital under martial law, Old Master Sheng had no choice but to remain idle for two days and is still unable to return to work—such was the situation for most civil officials. Compared to the previous rebellion by the Prince of Ning, the hardest-hit areas had shifted elsewhere.

The letter, despite its length, contained no major news or even minor updates. Instead, it was filled with flowery prose, meticulously rhymed phrases, and elaborate rhetoric. Just to lament the instability of the times, Changfeng used three different historical references in a single sentence. Even the detail about the kitchen maid being unable to go out to buy fresh vegetables and fruits was accompanied by a self-composed humorous poem: *"Chaos stirs above, the kitchen god sighs below."*

Tuan Ge'er had been lying wide-eyed and refusing to sleep no matter how he was coaxed. However, once Minglan began reading the letter to him, she had barely finished a page and a half when the little chubby boy's head drooped, and he drifted off to sleep.

"Alright, I give up on expecting you to study. In the future, you'd better follow your father and learn to smash stones on your chest," Minglan resignedly muttered as she patted her son's chubby little arms and legs. His small belly rose and fell as he peacefully slept.

The news from the Zheng family arrived late, only coming after the lamps were lit—and it was worse than the news of the burglary at the Guojiu Manor.

The messenger choked up, saying, "Our Old Master passed away the day before yesterday, and this morning… the Old Madam also… also passed away."

Both elders passed away within three days?!

Minglan was shocked beyond words. "What happened? How could this happen so suddenly…?"

She wanted to ask further, but the Zheng family was ruled with strict discipline by the Grand Madam, and the messenger simply shook his head, unwilling to say more.

"…These years, the Old Master and Old Madam had never fully recovered from their illnesses… The Grand Madam asked me to pass on her message: she and the Second Madam are currently overwhelmed, but when they have time, they will share the details with Lady Gu in person."

Minglan saw that the little servant was drenched in sweat, breathing heavily, yet still spoke with proper and respectful words, not a single lapse in etiquette. She couldn't help but admire Madam Zheng's ability. After instructing Lv Zhi to give him a handful of copper coins as a reward, she had someone send him off.

Mother Cui watched the figure disappear at the door before speaking: "Madam, this situation is strange. Just a few days ago, we sent the fruit wine we made over the winter to the Zheng family, and Old Master Zheng and the Old Madam were still doing well. There's an old saying: 'A small bend in the beam signals a slight shift.' This… this…" She stammered several times but couldn't continue.

Minglan understood what she meant. The more elderly and sick someone was, the less likely it was for them to pass away suddenly. It usually took a few days for someone to go from critical to death. The two elders were still fine just a few days ago, and now they had suddenly passed away—it was indeed strange.

After thinking for a while, Minglan couldn't come up with an explanation. She hated her lack of imagination, and spent the whole night pondering with her pillow, confused. The next morning, however, someone came to provide her with an answer.

Madam Liu arrived wearing a half-worn reddish-brown gown with dark gold thread patterns, and a narrow dark red velvet headband with a large pearl in the center. Her face was powdered, and a small red flower was tucked into her hair, making her look like a "newly prosperous" version of Liu Laolao from a modern story.

At that time, Minglan was having breakfast, and casually greeted her. To her surprise, Madam Liu immediately agreed and, without hesitation, picked up a pair of chopsticks to start eating.

She seemed to be in a particularly cheerful mood, praising as she ate, "Sister, your family's food is so refined, tsk tsk, this sticky rice soup is so fragrant… What did you put in it? Oh my, your family's fried dough is also so crisp and perfect…"

Minglan felt a sense of despair at this comparison, forcing a dry smile and replying, "Oh no, it's nothing, just some old recipes passed down. In an old, well-established family like ours, even the cooks' skills are passed down through generations. Every family has a few signature dishes that are their pride. If you like it, I can have someone copy the recipes and send them to you tomorrow."

"Don't mention it, don't mention it," Madam Liu hurriedly waved her hand, grinning. "To be honest, my family isn't used to the food in the capital, so I specially invited a cook from Sichuan last year. I was just saying this casually, don't take it to heart, sister. Since I was a child, the elders always said that when you go to someone's house, you should always compliment the food." She continued to chatter on for a while.

Minglan opened her mouth but then closed it again.

Madam Liu wasn't just rambling, though. After finishing her meal, wiping her mouth and washing her hands, without waiting for Minglan to ask, she took the initiative to speak up. "Last night, my husband came back, oh my, his clothes were covered in blood… but I won't talk about that, I don't want to scare you, sister… He told me a lot of things. He asked me to explain everything to you today, so you won't worry yourself sick… Well, where should I begin? Sister, what would you like to know first?"

Of course, what Minglan really wanted to know was whether Gu Tingwei was dead, whether the Hou residence was safe, and if that old witch, the Old Madam Qin, was finished—ah, but unfortunately, she couldn't ask that! After all, this was ancient times, and she was an imperial consort granted by the emperor.

Minglan swallowed the words, forcing a few dry laughs, and said, "Naturally, what we most worry about is whether the Emperor and Empress are well. As subjects, that is our primary concern."

Madam Liu seemed very moved. "Sister, you really are loyal to the Emperor and love your country."

Once moved, to show her own political awareness, she began to praise the Emperor.

"…Those little clowns, always sneaky and conniving, thinking they're so clever. They don't realize that our Emperor is a rare, exceptional ruler, a sage sent down from the stars. He already sees through everything. But for the sake of the late Emperor, he wanted to show some mercy to the Empress Dowager and the Prince Rui, but who would've known…"

Minglan, barely holding back from gagging on the sugary praise, interjected, "Is it really related to the Empress Dowager and Prince Rui?"

"Isn't that right? What does sister think, who could have had the audacity to deceive the ministers' families with fake imperial orders and get them into the palace?" Madam Liu wiped her dry eyes, sounding like the lead mourner of a country funeral procession. "Oh my, our Emperor is such a kind-hearted ruler, but the Empress Dowager, she's neither the Emperor's biological mother nor was she ever crowned as Empress. For the late Emperor's sake, our Emperor has been dutiful, constantly serving him with devotion, a model of filial piety, meticulous in his care…"

Minglan thought deeply that the last three idioms were rather inappropriate, but seeing how the woman was so caught up in her emotions, it didn't seem right to correct her.

"…He supported them, but they were still not satisfied, wanting to seize the Emperor's throne for themselves! And that Consort Rong, truly a wolf-hearted, dog-lunged creature… Thankfully, General Zheng was loyal and brave, otherwise, our Emperor might have fallen into a trap…"

Madam Liu went on for over half an hour—half of which was spent praising the Emperor, while Xiao Tao changed the tea twice, and Lü Zhi replenished the snacks three times, before they managed to cover the general events of the disturbance.

In Minglan's judgment, while the Empress Dowager and her faction certainly had ulterior motives, the beloved, filial, and benevolent Emperor was not necessarily as pure and innocent as a lamb.

In recent years, as the Emperor's faction (Zhang, Shen, Gu, Zheng, Duan, Liu, etc.) grew stronger, the Emperor's actions became more aggressive, ruthlessly weakening the Empress Dowager's influence. Among the civil officials, there were either staunch loyalists to the Emperor like Elder Yao, or those like the retired Elder Zou who pretended to be neutral and feigned ignorance.

Among the elderly ministers who had been entrusted with the Emperor's will before the late Emperor's passing, those who had fervently advocated for the Emperor to show filial piety to the Empress Dowager had, over the years, been gradually sidelined or "retired."

As for the third- and fourth-rank officials and below… the young and immature Duke of Rui, after all, could not be claimed to be entirely legitimate, and among the younger and more vibrant ministers, very few were willing to get involved in this power struggle for the throne.

As the current Emperor's position grew more and more secure, with several of his sons gradually growing older, the Empress Dowager's faction was becoming increasingly anxious, like a cat scratching at its heart. On the other hand, whenever the Emperor met the clever and gifted Duke of Rui, he felt uncomfortable, as if a thorn was lodged in his throat.

The Empress Dowager's faction wanted to take action but could not find a good opportunity, so they dared not move. The Emperor, aware of their ill intentions, also could not take the initiative to strike, for fear of earning a reputation as one who does not support his mother, concubines, or nephews.

The two factions were thus locked in a stalemate—similar to two nations in a civilized society, each eager for war but unwilling to bear the shame of being the one to start it, so they continued to provoke one another, praying that the other side would make the first move.

By the following year, the Emperor felt that he had a decisive advantage and could no longer remain patient.

So, he set up a plan that killed multiple birds with one stone.

It's still remembered that several years ago, when the new Emperor ascended the throne, the Xiongnu took advantage of the situation and plundered the south. Though they were eventually driven back, they still managed to occupy several towns in the northwest. The Emperor had spent years preparing his army, and finally, after a long campaign, he managed to reclaim these lands—this was the first bird.

As the army advanced westward, the capital became vulnerable, presenting a perfect "rebellion opportunity," with malcontents stirring and ready to act, which would expose them—this was the second bird.

The Empress Dowager came from a prominent family in the northwest, and for decades, her family had deeply entrenched roots in the region, with extensive connections. They often controlled the military and political power in the northwest (it was this faction spreading news of the Zhang and Gu army's defeat). The Emperor secretly instructed General Bo to first deal with the enemy and then focus on eliminating local power. If the Empress Dowager could no longer hold back, even better. If she could, then he would take the opportunity to eliminate this northwest threat once and for all—this was the third bird.

It is said there were several other "birds," but Madam Liu could not clarify, and Minglan could not guess either.

"The Emperor is too risky," Madam Liu said. "If the army is all out, and something goes wrong… how could this be good? Sure, if you win big, the rewards are great, but if the gambling gods don't smile upon you, you could lose everything."

"What kind of person is our Emperor? He is truly a dragon among men, descended from the heavens…" Madam Liu once again passionately praised the Emperor's wisdom and martial prowess, before revealing the truth—The Emperor had secretly issued an order to General Zheng to act as an insider, coordinating with Liu Zhengjie to stabilize the situation.

The military power in the capital was divided into three parts: the first was General Liu Zhengjie's imperial guards, the second was the edict guards, jointly commanded by General Zheng and another military officer, and the third was the five-city military office. To stage a rebellion, at least one of these three must be swayed.

Of these three forces, apart from General Zheng, the other commanders were all military officers appointed by the Emperor, hailing from humble backgrounds. When the trusted aides of the Prince of Rui, who were also from prominent families, attempted to persuade them, General Zheng pretended to comply, preparing to capture them all at once after the rebellion was exposed, seizing both the criminals and the evidence.

It could be said that General Zheng's task was carried out excellently—those who are usually prudent and steady are often more convincing when they feign participation. Everything was progressing smoothly until this point.

However, what no one expected was that not only did the Emperor know of the spies placed in the enemy camp, but the enemy also knew, and they had placed two spies of their own.

On the morning of the rebellion, after the Emperor had finished court duties as usual, he suddenly collapsed, falling unconscious. Empress San'an and the Empress Dowager were left at a loss, only able to cry; the palace descended into chaos, and the Empress Dowager seized the opportunity to take action.

"Did Consort Rong do this?" Minglan exclaimed, her eyes wide as copper bells. "The Emperor favored her so much!" The Emperor and the Empress had always had a good relationship, and the Empress had quarreled countless times because of Consort Rong.

Madam Liu said angrily, "It's that seductress!" She clearly had no good opinion of concubines.

"Her father said that it was the Empress Dowager who deceived Consort Rong, telling her that apart from the eldest and second princes, Consort Rong's son was the oldest. Once the Emperor passes away—tut tut, not that I'm saying the Emperor will die, it's what her father said, cough cough, actually it was the Empress Dowager who said it—then they would push the blame for the Emperor's death onto the Queen and her sons, and the Third Prince would ascend the throne!"

"Such nonsense, and Consort Rong actually believes it?!" Minglan found this hard to believe. Whenever she had visited the palace, she had always thought Consort Rong was quite intelligent. "Why would the Empress Dowager, who already has grandsons, want to make Consort Rong's son the Emperor?"

Madam Liu sneered loudly, "That kind of woman, using her looks… using her looks, uh, serving men, what brains does she have? The Empress Dowager coaxed her, saying that the Prince of Rui isn't even her real grandson—she only sees him a few times a year, and there's little affection. But the Third Prince is always around her, being filial, and she likes him very much… Besides, Consort Rong and the Empress aren't on good terms. Once the eldest prince ascends, will they have a good time with their mother and son?"

Minglan was silent. Although the Empress was broad-minded, she was not the type to play up to others or feign humility. Consort Rong, with her high birth and prideful nature, had enjoyed favor for many years, and with the Third Prince showing great potential, he was quickly overshadowing the other princes. As is often the case with concubines, there was constant rivalry among them, and sometimes even the Empress Dowager had to intervene to mediate.

Fear and greed are the simplest and most effective baits.