Chapter 1078: Chapter 1068: Five Steps (5)
Chunliu turned and left, and in a moment returned with a woman dressed in coarse cloth with her hair in a round bun. Gone was the smooth face she had in the palace; the Nanny Mao before Xiqiu was wearing the short jackets and skirts common among civilian women. Yet the demeanor and grace she developed over years in the palace remained unaltered.
She approached the bedside and first gave Xiqiu a glance, then knelt to give a ceremonial greeting: "This common woman, Mrs. Mao, pays her respects to Fourth Madam."
"Nanny, no need to stand on ceremony. Please, have a seat." Xiqiu coughed as she finished, "My health is frail and I couldn’t greet you properly, my apologies."
Nanny Mao stepped closer with a comforting smile: "Fourth Madam, there’s no need for formalities." She accepted the tea Chunliu had brewed and sat down, while Xiqiu asked, "Nanny, where are you resting nowadays?"
"Everywhere is my home." Though she said this, there was no sign of restlessness or helplessness on her face. "While somewhat adrift, I am also at ease," she added with a self-mocking smile.
Perhaps she had been confined in the palace for too long, that upon leaving, she felt like a bird released from its cage, free to wander the vast sky.
Xiqiu smiled and said, "Indeed, quite at ease!"
Meanwhile, Fourth Master Xiao invited the Emperor to be seated. The Emperor remarked, "You’ve left me with a heap of mess, while you find leisure."
"I am helpless too," Fourth Master Xiao said with a fatigued and helpless expression, "My humble wife’s health has not improved, and she is losing appetite and health daily—my focus now can only be on her, unable to spare attention elsewhere." He was about to kneel, "I beg the Emperor for forgiveness."
"Alright, alright." The Emperor waved his hand, excusing the bow: "I know you care for your wife, but there’s no need to show off before me." After a pause, he asked, "How is her health?"
Fourth Master Xiao stood and responded in a low voice, "The physician only advised careful nourishment but dared not give a definite prognosis." After hesitating, he added, "I think while she still can move, I’d like to take her out for a stroll; perhaps a change in scenery will aid in her recovery."
The Emperor was momentarily stunned and looked at Fourth Master Xiao, seeing his determined gaze. "What if I do not permit it?" Fourth Master Xiao appeared surprised, then said, "Then I must apologize for being unable to balance duty and loyalty. My wife has given her all to me, and I cannot fail her feelings."
"So you wish to disregard me?" The Emperor’s face turned dark, his tone cold.
Fourth Master Xiao replied calmly, "The Emperor is an enlightened monarch, and Great Zhou has been prosperous in recent years, the nation’s stability growing with capable people in the court—whether I serve in court or not makes little difference." He spoke sincerely, "But my wife is different; I am her and our children’s sole support, so..." He clasped his fist, "I request the Emperor to accept my resignation."
The Emperor looked at him with an unreadable, scrutinizing gaze, then suddenly stood up, flicking his sleeves as he headed for the door, leaving with half a sentence: "... Then as you wish." With his entourage, he departed briskly.
Fourth Master Xiao followed to see him off, while Tiancheng, weak-kneed, supported himself on the doorframe to stand.
As the Emperor left the Xiao Mansion and reached outside the palace gates, Nanny Mao followed and replied through the curtain, "Reporting to the Emperor, the Fourth Madam’s complexion is ashen and lifeless; based on my experience, it indicates severe illness unlikely to recover."
A long silence permeated the Imperial Carriage until a voice finally issued, "You may leave."
Nanny Mao acknowledged her dismissal.
Early the next morning, Chen Hui, who thought he had evaded disaster during the observation period, was at home having a meal, when suddenly a group of Jinyi Guards clad in brocade robes and armed with large swords stormed in. They swiftly seized people, subduing any resistance on the spot. As Chen Hui choked on a mouthful of rice, a slap on the back forced him to spit it out, and without a word more, shackles were clamped on him; he was dragged away in silence.
The fall of the Chen Family was as monumental and swift as their rise, declining overnight from prosperity to ruin. Every member, male or female, of the Chen lineage was imprisoned, awaiting the Emperor’s judgement.
The New Year joy in the capital was replaced by rampant suspicion and gossip throughout the city. Mrs. Chen, her heart pounding as she watched the family’s concubines weeping, sent someone to inquire privately about the situation of her imprisoned relatives. Uneasy, she approached First Master, seeking answers, but he offered no clarification, simply advising her to return home and be at ease. How could she find peace, she wondered, as she spent her days in fear, awaiting the Emperor’s final ruling.
At the end of March, Mrs. Chen gave birth to a son, and after several months, the case of the Chen family reached its conclusion. Count Dingyuan Chen Hui and his son were executed publicly, and the Chen women turned into officials’ consorts. As for the once-favored Princess Consort Ying, she was banished to the Cold Palace, where three days later, she took her own life by poison.
At the end of the month, the Emperor approved the resignation of the Left Army Commander and First-class General, Fourth Master Xiao, allowing him to retire and return to the countryside.
On the eighth day of April, Imperial Concubine Ms. Le was plagued by nightmares, becoming disoriented and unable to eat or sleep despite treatments. Consort Le requested permission from the Emperor to retire to the Imperial Awakening Temple for meditation, seeking peace and praying for the nation’s prosperity.
The Emperor granted permission!
First, the Chen family was eradicated, then Fourth Master Xiao’s post relinquished, followed by the implications to the Le and Ruan families. As Consort Le entered the temple for meditation, bypassing the palace and court, the public buzzed with speculation, suggesting the Emperor was clearing the court for the future Crown Prince before deciding on a successor!
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