Jing Wang1 returned from the Imperial Palace to his wangfu2. When he arrived at the main hall, he heard the sound of a wooden fish 📹 being struck. Hearing this sound made him particularly irritated. He asked Momo Gui, "Is Wangfei3 reciting scriptures again?" This was a pointless question because apart from Yuchen, no one else dared to strike the wooden fish in the main hall.
Seeing that Jing Wang1's expression had changed, Momo Gui hurriedly explained, "Wangye4, Wangfei3 intends to recite scriptures for Junzhu5 for one hundred days. She will stop when that period is over."
A hint of guilt flashed across Jing Wang1's face, but he quickly regained his composure. "Take care of Wangfei3 and make sure she doesn't get sick again." Yuchen fell ill after Zhou Xia's death. She had only recently recovered, and after her recovery, she began fasting and reciting Buddhist scriptures.
As Momo Gui watched Jing Wang1 leave, the smile on her face immediately disappeared. She instructed someone to find out where Jing Wang1 had gone to. When that person returned with the information, Momo Gui entered the Buddhist Hall and reported to Yuchen, who was reciting the scriptures, "Wangfei3, His Highness has gone to Qingfang Courtyard." Qingfang Courtyard was where a beauty favoured by Jing Wang1 resided.
Yuchen replied expressionlessly, "Xia-er hasn't even been gone a hundred days, and he's already in the mood for pleasure and entertainment." Every time she thought of her daughter's death, it felt like ants were gnawing at her heart, making it so painful she could barely breathe. Seeing Jing Wang1 act as if nothing had happened filled her with intense hatred, but she couldn't show it. Even though she was the Wangfei3, if she lost Jing Wang1's love and respect, she would be nothing. Therefore, she could only rely on reciting scriptures in the Buddhist Hall to suppress her anger and resentment. The Imperial family was the most heartless of all. Not only was there no love between husband and wife in the Imperial family but there was also no love between father and son or father and daughter. They only had themselves in their eyes and hearts.
Yuchen then asked, "Has there been any news from the Song family about Tong Shi?" Yuchen had planted people in the Song family to inquire about the whereabouts of Second Madam Song, Tong Shi.
Momo Gui hesitated before answering, "Yes, it is said that Tong Shi will go to Huangqi Temple to offer incense in a couple of days." After saying this, she added, "Wangfei3, it's too risky to take action at the Huangqi Temple."
A hint of mockery flashed across Yuchen's face as she replied, "It's precisely because it's the Huangqi Temple that Tong Shi will let her guard down. At other times, there's hardly any chance."
Momo Gui felt that this plan was very risky and said, "Niangniang6, if Wangye4 finds out about this later, it will be very detrimental to you. Wangfei3, please wait a little longer. Let's wait for the right opportunity." No matter what one did, there would always be traces left behind.
Yuchen responded, "I can't wait any longer." They said a gentleman would take his revenge ten years later, but she couldn't even wait a year. If those responsible thought they could get away with killing her daughter, they were merely dreaming. Furthermore, those who had waited ten years to take revenge were the ones who had no choice but to endure. She, on the other hand, wasn't incapable; it was just a matter of daring. Her daughter had been killed, and if she, the mother, didn't even dare to seek revenge, she was unworthy of being one.
When Momo Gui saw the determination in Yuchen's eyes, she knew that Yuchen had made up her mind. Since persuasion was futile, she could only help Yuchen perfect this plan as much as possible.
After hearing Momo Gui's plan, Yuchen shook her head. "I don't want Tong Shi to die." Seeing Momo Gui's confused expression, a sinister smile flashed in Yuchen's eyes as she elaborated, "I want her to suffer a fate worse than death."
Five days later, Tong Shi was attacked by assassins while offering incense at the Imperial Prayer Temple. However, she was lucky to survive. This news shocked the capital and even alarmed the Emperor.
The Emperor was furious that someone would dare to murder a person at Huangqi Temple. It was simply outrageous. Huangqi Temple was where high officials and nobles offered incense, which meant that even the Emperor would not be safe when he went there to do the same in the future. Therefore, the Emperor immediately issued an Imperial Decree, ordering the Prefect of the Capital to thoroughly investigate the matter and find the real culprit.
Momo Gui also received this news and reported to Yuchen, "Madam7, although Tong Shi survived, she can only lie in bed for the rest of her life." Even though Tong Shi survived the assassination, her heart and lungs were so severely damaged that she could not even speak. She was basically crippled.
Yuchen asked, "What about the others?"
Momo Gui nodded and replied, "The young novice monk from the Huangqi Temple is dead. The person who hired him left the capital for the northwest after the deed was done. The only problem is that old woman servant from the Song family." The person Momo Gui was talking about was the one who assassinated Tong Shi. That person was the Jiang family's su*cide assassin who had worked for Yuchen for several years. Yuchen didn't want to kill that person, so she sent her to the Northwest. The Northwest was in a state of rebellion, making it the perfect place to hide. In fact, according to Momo Gui, it would be best if this person was dead. After all, dead men tell no tales, but Yuchen's orders were something she couldn't disobey. As for the old woman servant who delivered messages to them, they were now powerless to eliminate her.
With one less worry, Yuchen stood up and said, "Let's go for a walk in the garden!" She hadn't been out of the house for months.
The crabapple blossoms in the garden were in full bloom, their deep and light shades of pink exceptionally vibrant under the sunlight. Yuchen picked a few branches and handed them to her maid, Shiqin, instructing her, "Put these crabapple blossoms in the blue and white porcelain vase." Placing some brightly colored flowers in the room could improve one's mood. Yuxi also liked to put some flowers and plants around the house, but she didn't have the same conditions as Yuchen. Speaking of which, both Yuchen and Yuxi were influenced by Teacher Song in this regard.
Shiqin's face also broke into a smile as she replied, "Yes!" Wangfei3 had been confined to the Buddhist Hall for some time now, chanting scriptures and observing vegetarianism to pray for the deceased Grand Junzhu5, which had caused them great concern. Now that Wangfei3 had finally come out, how could she not be happy?
When Jing Wang1 returned that evening, he no longer heard the sound of the wooden fish as he entered the main house. Instead, he heard the sound of a child reciting characters. Entering a room, he saw Yuchen holding Zhou Yan and teaching him to recognise characters.
When Yuchen looked up and saw Jing Wang1, she put Zhou Yan down and greeted him, "Wangye4, you're back." With that, she walked over and helped Jing Wang1 unfasten his jade belt and take off his court robes.
Jing Wang1 looked at the crabapple blossoms 📹 in the blue and white porcelain vases beside him and smiled, "I got a pot of black chrysanthemums the other day. I'll have someone send them to you later." Yuchen loved flowers and plants, but lately, he had been reluctant to send her beautiful flowers because of her constant fasting and praying.
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A faint smile finally appeared on Yuchen's face. "Black chrysanthemums are rare treasures among chrysanthemums. They are hard to come by," she replied. While she smiled on the surface, her heart felt cold. Her daughter's mourning period had not *even reached one hundred days, yet her husband was already in the mood to appreciate flowers and scenery. What a good father he was. Thinking that Yuchen truly liked the flowers, Jing Wang1 immediately ordered someone to bring the pot of black chrysanthemums from his study. As soon as the pot was brought into the room, it immediately caught Yuchen's attention.
The black chrysanthemums were already in full bloom, but the flowers were very peculiar, all curled backward. The colour of the flowers was rich but not heavy. The flower disc was large, the petals were hollow and curved at the ends, and the flower diameter was like a palm, red with purple and purple with black. The flower heart was thick, the petals were like silk, and the flower colour was like ink.
Yuchen couldn't help but exclaim, "It's gorgeous! Where did Wangye4 get this pot of black chrysanthemums?" It was the first time she had seen such beautiful black chrysanthemums.
Jing Wang1 smiled. "I got it from Master Luo'an. He only has two pots." Master Luo'an loved chrysanthemums and was an expert in growing them. As long as he cultivated new varieties of chrysanthemums, they would be sought after by literati and scholars. It was a pity that Master Luo'an wasn't short of money, and he would rather let the flowers wither and fertilise the soil than sell them.
Seeing that Yuchen was interested, Jing Wang1 couldn't help but speak a little more about it. The couple talked for a long time about this pot of black chrysanthemums, and the estrangement they had felt earlier began to disappear. It was very important for a couple to have something in common.
Momo Gui was relieved to see this situation. However, it was obvious she felt relieved too soon. Two days later, Yuchen received a summons from the Empress to enter the Imperial Palace the next day.
Now Momo Gui couldn't stay calm. "Wangfei3, has the Empress found out something?" At this point, the Empress was most likely looking for Wangfei3 because of Tong Shi's case. Momo Gui knew the Prefect of the Capital was from the Yu family.
However, Yuchen was not anxious at all. She said, "Even if she knows, I'm not afraid." The Empress wouldn't expose her even if she knew she was behind it, for the Song family was their common enemy.
The next day, Yuchen went to the Imperial Palace.
Empress Yu Xiyu looked at Yuchen and smiled. "Heaven truly shows extraordinary favour to Dimei8." Yuchen had become even more beautiful, so much so that *even she couldn't take her eyes off her.
Yuchen smiled as she replied, "Huang Sao9 overpraises me. After all, appearances are only superficial; what truly matters is one's inner qualities." In the past, she had been proud and conceited of her stunning beauty, but reality had slapped her hard in the face. What was the point of being beautiful? Even Jing Wang1 still went looking for other women. Compared to her, she was not as good as Yuxi! At least Yun Qing had only stayed with Yuxi so far. Therefore, sometimes beauty was not an advantage but a burden. Without her stunning beauty, she might not have married Jing Wang1. Yuchen only dwelled on what she hadn't gained without considering what her beauty had brought her.
Yu Xiyu was a little confused by Yuchen's words, but this was not the time to dwell on it. She smiled as she said, "Dimei8, Prefect Wu of the Capital Daren10 has found something very strange. An old cleaning woman from Second Madam Song's courtyard has been in frequent contact with someone called Zeng Liu for the past few days." That person had been in contact with Zeng Liu, Yuchen's shop assistant. And this shop assistant was extremely close to the son of Yuchen's dowry maid.
After careful investigation, Prefect Wu of the Capital finally placed his suspicion on Yuchen. However, Yuchen's status was noble, and he couldn't convict her. Therefore, he reported what he had discovered to the Eldest Master Yu. Naturally, the Empress also found out about this.
Yuchen smiled bitterly as she responded, "Huang Sao9, to be honest, I've been ill ever since Xia-er passed away from smallpox. I've been recuperating at home these days and haven't been paying much attention to what's happening outside." Zhou Xia had lost her life to smallpox, and her body had to be cremated to avoid any problems. This meant that there were no remains of Zhou Xia.
Yu Xiyu said softly, "A lost life cannot be brought back. Dimei8, you must take care of your health." She had also experienced the pain of losing a child, so she could empathise with Yuchen.
Yuchen nodded, "Yes, I've done everything I should. Now I just hope Xia-er can have a good reincarnation in her next life."
Yu Xiyu sighed. "That's right! I also hope she can have a good reincarnation in her next life." When she thought of her eldest son, who had died in an accident, her heart ached. However, no matter how much she suffered, she couldn't bring her son back to life. She could only hope he would have a good reincarnation and live a good life in his next life.
Yuchen smiled. "Our Wangye4 received a pot of ink orchid from Master Luo'an. It's especially beautiful. I have brought it over for Huang Sao9 today in the hope that Huang Sao9 will like it."
As soon as this pot of ink orchid was brought in, Yu Xiyu immediately fell in love with it. However, she still shook her head and refused, "A gentleman doesn't take what others love, let alone what was given to you by Jing Wang1."
Yuchen saw that Yu Xiyu was determined not to accept it, so she didn't insist. In the end, she took the pot of black orchids back to the wangfu.
Footnotes Full List
- king
- wang=king, fu=residence
- Wang=king, fei=consort
- wang=king, ye=lord
- formal title for a King(wang)'s daughter
- addressing or referring to an empress or an imperial concubine
- The author used the word 夫人 (fūren) here. I am translating it as it is, although Wangfei & Niangniang would have been more appropriate because of her husband's royal status.
- younger sibling / younger brother's wife
- huang=imperial, sao=sister-in-law
- title of respect toward superiors
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The Rebirth of Han Yuxi