Feng Xing: Chapter 95
Sorry for the lack of updates. I just needed to take a break from everything for a while. I’ve recently been overwhelmed by some mental health issues and stuff irl. The pandemic has greatly affected me. I’m back, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to update this as regularly as before until I’m feeling better. Thanks for understanding.
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Translation: marchmallow
“Even Your Majesty is convinced that it was this concubine’s doing?”
In Kunning Palace, Empress Chen was enrobed in a bright yellow informal robe, and on her head was a crown of six dragons and three phoenixes. Though exuding a dignified atmosphere, time and tide unfortunately waited for no man. She had taken great care of her appearance in her youth, but in the past two years, she had aged by a lot, quite possibly because she had just suffered two bouts of illness. A few silver threads had sprouted on her temples, and several fine wrinkles had formed on the corners of her eyes. Empress Chen had always covered them up, but today, she didn’t have the slightest intention to conceal them.
She had thought that the Jianping Emperor would consider their bond as decades-long husband and wife. He had more esteem and respect for herself than for others. He was always arbitrary in action and often preferred solitude, but he was also observant of conventional standards. Because of his orthodox origin, he nevertheless took pity on those similarly orthodox as him. He shouldn’t treat her too badly.
Several thoughts coursed through Empress Chen’s head, but she had forgotten that this man, this Son of Heaven, had changed without her noticing; otherwise, he would not have come to Kunning Palace today because of this insignificant matter.
“Then, who does the Empress think is responsible, you or the First Prince?”
Though cold, the Jianping Emperor’s rich and magnetic voice succeeded in sobering Empress Chen up.
“Not the First Prince!” She fervently negated.
“Is it the Empress, then?”
“How could this concubine do such an absurd thing!”
This exchange was so brusque that Empress Chen could only answer subconsciously, not even sparing every word a thought. When she calmed down, she realized that the culprit was neither the Crown Prince nor her, so who could it have been? Was it the Chen family? If so, she or the Crown Prince would be the ones shouldering the blame for the Chen family’s deeds.
One of them had to surrender for today’s affair to end.
Just because the Jianping Emperor would never make a fuss over such an innocuous matter, it didn’t mean that it was innocuous in his heart. Empress Chen couldn’t control the corner of her eyes from twitching. A burst of pain erupted in her heart, but she had to endure it.
“Your Majesty is convinced that we, mother and son, are responsible for this? Just because Fang Feng Sheng is actually Fang Feng Fu?”
Empress Chen finally asked. In fact, the Jianping Emperor had not at all the intention to conceal it from her. Just a bit of investigation would bring this matter to light; however, since the Jianping Emperor allowed the other to marry Prince Wei, it meant that they had moved beyond recrimination, and no one could intervene. This was the majesty of a monarch. Empress Chen or the Crown Prince would be challenging the emperor’s majesty by attacking Feng Sheng.
But at this time, in Empress Chen’s heart, she couldn’t be reconciled. She could only deduce that the Jianping Emperor had been muddled by feminine wiles, such that he was spoiling the concubine and doing away with the wife, blatantly disregarding her face.
For some reason, she recalled the instance when Consort Li had first come to her side.
She was but a maiden who resembled a delicate flower and couldn’t even be called a woman, her mien entirely different from the poise and grandeur of a noble lady. She was the petite kind. When she stood there shrunken and trembling, she was the very picture of a dewdrop on a flower bud early in the morning——beautiful, yet too fragile for sunlight to shine on.
She concluded that her husband had taken a liking to her even back when she was just a maiden, barely a woman; else, why would he, who had phenomenal self-restraint against the allure of women, forget himself? At that time, she had thought little of it, because although he had tacitly accepted when she offered her to him, she would never become a woman the emperor himself would personally visit because of his innate conduct and habits. Unfortunately, he bent the rules for her.
It was just that he was too covert with his feelings. Over the past twenty years, she had always been under the impression that he was just a little fond of that woman, but it wasn’t enough to sway his natural disposition, habits, and even the restraint inherent in his identity. Only when he conferred her an imperial noble consort, breaking the rules he typically regarded as pre-eminent as the heavens, did she realize he was sheerly worthy of being called an emperor. He had been able to exercise restraint for so long that she had consigned the past to oblivion.
“After all is said and done, Fang Feng Sheng is just an excuse, and the Imperial Noble Consort is the actual reason why you’re here. If it weren’t for the fact that the Imperial Noble Consort had cried in front of Your Majesty, Your Majesty probably wouldn’t have come to Kunning Palace today.”
Empress Chen heard an unfamiliar voice and brooded for a moment before she realized it was hers. At the same time, she also noticed that the palace hall was eerily quiet, so quiet that it was suffocating. When she saw Fu Chun’s startled and incredulous eyes widen, she realized that she had lost herself again.
Again?
“Empress, you have lost your temper.”
“How does Your Majesty feel about this concubine losing her temper? His Majesty dropped a visit for an interrogation. Is this concubine not allowed to lose her temper?”
In the Jianping Emperor’s ice-cold and choleric eyes, Empress Chen caught sight of her own disgraced countenance——so distorted, unsightly, and brimming with jealousy.
Yes, she was jealous of that woman.
“Whether you believe it or not, the Imperial Noble Consort did not come crying to zhen. Empress mustn’t steer clear of the crucial point. You and zhen have been husband and wife for many years. How well you know zhen, that’s also how well zhen knows you. Everytime zhen finds out that the First Prince did something wrong, you’re always like this, trying to gain the upper hand by a show of strength, twisting words and forcing logic. Zhen thinks the Empress is ill. Tend to her properly.”
After uttering such words, the Jianping Emperor rose to his feet and flounced off in large strides without giving Empress Chen so much as a chance to explain.
In truth, she also didn’t know how to explain it. Were the Jianping Emperor’s words wrong? Only Empress Chen herself understood what was right.
It was because she was right that her heart felt stifled.
“……You and zhen have been husband and wife for many years. How well you know zhen, that’s also how well zhen knows you……”
He finally said it——that she was trying to decipher the emperor’s thoughts.
Attempting to decipher the emperor’s thoughts wasn’t a major taboo; what was a major taboo was her aiding the Crown Prince in deciphering the emperor’s thoughts, especially since she had such an identity.
“Her Majesty, someone has arrived.”
Fu Chun lowered her head, her chest in her hand, as if aware that saying this now would displease the Empress.
Empress Chen pressed the pit of her stomach, rubbed the space between her brows, and said, “Let her in.”
*
The person who came was Duchess Cheng En, Empress Chen’s own sister-in-law.
When she left, silence settled in the palace hall.
Fu Chun cautiously and solemnly peered at Empress Chen’s face, noticing that her cheeks were twitching unconsciously. She hastily stepped forward and offered her hand for support to make her feel more comfortable.
“Her Majesty, quell your anger. By all means, please quell your anger. The imperial physician has already exhorted that you mustn’t nurse your anger,” Fu Chun pleaded mournfully. She fished out a vial from her bosom, shook out a few tiny black pills, and served it with water to Empress Chen.
After ingesting the pills, Empress Chen’s discomfort finally alleviated, and her heart no longer suffered much pain.
How could she not be angry?
One moment, the Jianping Emperor had just proclaimed herself to be ill, and the next, the Chen family had come to give her a blow. Her heart jumped wildly as soon as she thought about what Duchess Cheng En had disclosed just now.
Softening her approach to that slut and joining hands with her? Keep dreaming!
“Your Majesty, please don’t blame this servant for saying too much. In fact, what Madam suggested is also valid. Such a relationship already exists. If you tell her clearly, perhaps you will gain a great helper. Please think about it. The Imperial Noble Consort has been quite favored recently. If she helps speak up for His Highness, maybe His Highness will regain his position as the crown prince. If you express goodwill to the Imperial Noble Consort, His Majesty will no longer be so upset with you……”
“Stop talking. I tell you, you’re all insane!”
Empress Chen bellowed and swung her hand fiercely. Fu Chun was by her side, but she shoved her out of the way until the other collapsed to the ground. Fu Chun had served Empress Chen for decades and had always been loyal and devoted to her. When something like this happened so suddenly, not to mention herself, Empress Chen was also baffled.
She wanted to say something, but she closed her mouth in chagrin.
Fu Chun supported herself up and assured, “Your Majesty, this servant has no other intention. This servant is wholeheartedly devoted to you. It doesn’t matter. Treat it as nothing. Your Majesty should just treat her as a stranger. It doesn’t matter.”
Yes, ah. It wasn’t like Empress Chen hadn’t joined hands with others in the past. Regardless of empty feelings and pretense, the women who had survived in this palace had always had a much lower bottom line than most people.
But only ‘she’ was out of the question.
“Do you think she will believe it if we say it at this time?” This she, of course, referred to Imperial Noble Consort Li.
“Didn’t the family say that there is a way to convince her?”
“Even if she believes it, this palace doesn’t want to acknowledge it. This palace doesn’t have such a sister! She’s a lowly thing. What qualifies her to be a daughter of my Chen family?”
But she was, ah!
This was probably the Chen family’s greatest secret. Even Imperial Noble Consort Li didn’t know. Had the Empress known all along? Fu Chun was uncertain. Although Her Majesty the Empress behaved as though she had just recently found out, Fu Chun had served her for many years. To some extent, she could make out certain things. Her Majesty the Empress must have certainly known for a long time, which was why she had mercilessly stepped on Consort Li all those years in the past.
At the outset, the Chen family had given Empress Chen, who was only the Crown Princess then, a person they had sought to solidify her favor, somehow chancing upon Consort Li. That time, Consort Li was but a young miss. It was said that she was a thin horse found in Jiangnan. When she was taken to the Chen family, it was discovered that she was actually a concubine-born daughter the Chen family had lost in the early years and was born to the old master’s precious concubine.
The old master had already recognized the person, yet it was also the old master also who had her sent to Empress Chen. Why didn’t the old master acknowledge her and instead chose to send her to the Crown Princess to solidify favor? Fu Chun didn’t know. In brief, Consort Li was Empress Chen’s sister from a different mother.
This matter had been hidden for decades. If it weren’t for the Crown Prince’s deposition and Consort Li’s favor solidifying, no one would mention it.
“This servant is afraid. Your Majesty wouldn’t tell her, but Old Master might have someone mention it to the Imperial Noble Consort. You clearly know Master’s character,” Fu Chun remarked. This Master referred to the current family head of the Chen family, who was also Empress Chen’s own big brother, Duke Cheng En. The Chen family was an old aristocratic family that had been passed down for over a hundred years. The reality the Chen family had beneath the surface had also been accumulated from several generations.
As the head of an aristocratic family, he would not care about personal honor or disgrace, especially since the Chen family’s recent situation hadn’t been well. Duke Cheng En might disregard Empress Chen’s wishes and express goodwill to Imperial Noble Consort Li.
Going back a step further, the wind blew the strongest towards Imperial Noble Consort Li’s side. She had given birth to the Third Prince and the Sixteenth Prince. If the Crown Prince truly failed, since Prince Wei ranked third, with the Chen family’s full support, it might not be impossible for him to obtain the great throne. No matter what the situation was, the Chen family wouldn’t abandon the idea of expressing goodwill to the Imperial Noble Consort.
Fu Chun was able to stay by Empress Chen’s side for many years precisely because she was tactful, but in fact, it was Empress Chen who had taught her. The fact that Empress Chen could tower over everyone for so many years was not without reason. Unfortunately, because of the Crown Prince’s indiscretion, Empress Chen fell ill once again in her old age, rendering her irascible and impatient; otherwise, she wouldn’t have failed to clearly understand this truth, but now, Fu Chun still needed to remind her.
Maybe she understood, but she was just unwilling to face it.
“Stop talking! This palace has a severe headache. You, help me up. I will go rest for a while.”
*
After returning, she exchanged information with Prince Wei, which verified the suspicion in Feng Sheng’s heart.
Sure enough, it was the Crown Prince who had set up this game, and his tactics were still so crude. He had gone so far as to seek Sun Wen Cheng. Furthermore, Zhi Chun had that kind of intention for Sun Wen Cheng. If he hadn’t found the right person, this might not have happened at all.
Feng Sheng surmised that there was still a shadow of the Chen family behind it, but Prince Wei shook his head.
She wondered why Prince Wei was so adamant about it. Prince Wei looked a little strange, but he refused to further discuss the matter at that time. When night fell and the two were about to sleep, Prince Wei told her the reason.
Feng Sheng was mum for a long time, enough to express just how appalled she was.
“How did you find out about this?”
“Consort Mother told me.”
Feng Sheng was silent again for quite some time, and only after a while did she sigh, “Consort Mother sure can endure.”
Prince Wei’s hand was kneading her back. Feng Sheng was still too skinny. The bony joints on her spine were still too prominent. Although he disliked the discomfort his hand felt from rubbing her back, he nevertheless liked touching her.
“In fact, Consort Mother already knew, but she didn’t want to have anything to do with that family. I’m afraid the Chen family won’t be able to endure for long. Just a while ago, they sent someone to get in touch with me. Several middlemen were involved in between, so he obviously wasn’t from the Chen family.”
“Yet you already know that such is the case.”
Feng Sheng’s tone was somewhat sarcastic. Prince Wei shot her a glance. She immediately understood that look of ‘if you still want to hear the story, just be honest and shut up’ and was instantly quiet.
Prince Wei seemed to be very fond of her ‘docility’, regardless of whether it was real or a farce. Since that time he caught her and brought her back, he was happy to act like an imposing grand prince in front of people, and let her, his little princess consort, be docile for a while and enjoy it. She actually thought that he was a lot more docile to her than she was to him, so she would satisfy him for just a little while.
“Restaurants, inns, teahouses, brothel courtyards, and other such places are convenient for gathering all kinds of news.”
“Wait wait wait,” Feng Sheng propped herself up and probed, “You mean you secretly opened a number of restaurants and inns to gather all sorts of information?”
Prince Wei nodded, very much appreciative of how she could draw inferences from just one sentence.
“That inn I had taken Uncle Yu and the others to, what does that have to do with you?”
Feng Sheng’s ability to deduce several things from a single instance was actually so remarkable that Prince Wei could only be honest and explain that the inn was also one of his properties, which was why he had chased after her so promptly that day.
She lay back again.
“Based on what you said, because the Chen family wanted to rope you in, it was not their doing, and it was the First Prince acting on his own initiative. Has it ever occurred to you that many are now attentively watching the First Prince’s every move? He may not be as far-reaching and magical as you think. He certainly has a helper.”
This helper could only be the Chen family.
“Don’t forget, this strategy may seem filthy, but it’s still highly beneficial. If I, Princess Consort Wei, part from you and lose the protection of my identity as Princess Consort Wei, the Empress and the Crown Prince can easily kill me to take revenge. And without me as the obstructive Princess Consort Wei, the Chen family could pick a daughter from the clan to connect with you by marriage, completely tying you to the Chen family’s boat until death.”
Prince Wei was taken aback and narrowed his eyes.
It seemed that some trifles had overshadowed such an intent from him! It was because he understood the First Prince too well and knew that Empress Chen had greatly influenced him. He couldn’t execute his methods well enough and enjoyed doing things more underhandedly, much like wives contending in the rear court. Therefore, he was certain that it must’ve been the Crown Prince’s handiwork. However, he had forgotten that the Chen family could completely pick up some of the work and make up for his shortcomings on this basis, achieving their own goal in passing.
“I’m suddenly a little impatient. I want to see what method the Chen family will ultimately use to placate Her Majesty the Empress and conveniently tell Consort Mother the ‘truth of the matter’. This will certainly be a full-fledged drama.”
As she spoke, Prince Wei saw the corners of her eyes tilt like that of a cunning fox and could not resist kissing her.
Author’s Note:
I’ve read some comments saying Empress Chen is actually quite innocent, but what about the Jianping Emperor and Consort Li?
In fact, there are not many descriptions of Consort Li, Empress Chen, and the Jianping Emperor in the text. Their appearance is only intermittent, occasionally in interspersed paragraphs because the plot needs it. However, it could be seen that the Jianping Emperor has always deeply respected and valued the Empress and even the Crown Prince. He hailed from an orthodox background. Because of the open attacks and covert tricks he had to face when he was still a crown prince, the Crown Prince aroused his pity since he could put himself in his shoes. At the same time, he also attaches great importance to Empress Chen’s identity as the wife he had married since his youth.
However, he actually had some discontent with Empress Chen, but this discontent was suppressed for the sake of the overall situation, reputation, and conjugal affection. In this chapter, the cause of his outburst is that Empress Chen had stepped on Consort Li and Prince Wei too much. Moreover, the Jianping Emperor had actually liked Consort Li for decades. Not only that, but also because Empress Chen relied on the fact they had been husband and wife since their youth to constantly decipher the emperor’s thoughts. It has been said more than once before that Empress Chen taught the Crown Prince what to do to appease the Jianping Emperor and keep his position. This is actually a major taboo.
