Chapter 1084: Chapter 1074: The Betrothal (2)
Fourth Master Xiao suddenly laughed, his smile like the stars, as refreshing as a summer breeze. "Early this morning, the Emperor issued an Imperial Decree and betrothed Miss Zhuang, the legitimate eldest daughter of Marquis Taiping, to Min as his consort."
"Really?" The heart she had been holding up finally relaxed. Xiqiu smiled, and Fourth Master Xiao took her hand and slowly walked with her toward the rear courtyard, saying in a low voice, "The Emperor coughed all night last night, and early this morning he issued the decree... I fear in a few days the matter of the Crown Prince will also be settled."
Xiqiu pressed her lips into a smile. Just a few days ago she had been sighing over Sheng’s engagement, and now Min was also betrothed. As a mother, she suddenly felt a kind of timidity, like a homely daughter-in-law about to meet her parents-in-law. She turned to look at Fourth Master Xiao and asked, "Since the match has been set, Marquis Taiping can’t return to Taiping for the time being, right? Will Miss Zhuang be coming up to the Capital with her mother to give thanks for the grace?"
"Not necessarily." Fourth Master Xiao said lightly, "Since Marchioness Taiping is in poor health, it would be no great issue if she doesn’t come."
The news of the Eldest Prince’s betrothal spread through the Capital in the span of half a day. Madam Ruan, Madam Qian, the Grand Dowager, and Madam Jiang all came calling. Everyone’s brows and eyes were full of smiles. Though they could not make a public display of it, once the doors were closed they still gathered around to talk about Miss Zhuang for a long while.
Madam Ruan said, "I made careful inquiries about Miss Zhuang’s character. They say her looks are not particularly outstanding, but what is precious is that she has a steady temperament. Marchioness Taiping has always been frail of health, and all the household management in the manor has been handled by Miss Zhuang and a nanny since she was very young. From this it can be seen that she is not only steady, but also very clever."
Miss Zhuang was only about ten years old and could already manage the household accounts; her ability was indeed impressive.
As soon as Min entered Wenhua Hall, congratulatory voices rose one after another around him. Min kept a smile on his face and thanked each person in turn, but in his heart Xiqiu’s face kept appearing. He wondered what reaction his mother would have upon hearing of his betrothal... Thinking of this, he chuckled. With his mother’s temperament, she would certainly have already inquired thoroughly about Miss Zhuang’s conduct and disposition; upon hearing the news now, she would only let out a long sigh of relief.
He lifted his head and glanced at Tong Shen Zhi, who was sitting in the distance with his head bowed over a book. Min’s gaze narrowed slightly. If only he could go back home for a while.
"Your Highness." Chief Su walked in with small steps and whispered something by Min’s ear. Min’s expression froze; he frowned and asked, "Have the Imperial Physicians gone over?" He was already rising to his feet.
The Second Prince, Third Prince, and several other Princes seated behind all turned their gazes on him.
"The Imperial Physicians have rushed over." Chief Su replied softly, "But at this moment the main doors of Jiaotai Palace are shut tight. Chief Chang has given the order that no one is allowed to approach."
If no one was allowed to approach, did that mean the Emperor’s illness had worsened again?
He sat back down and instructed in a low voice, "Go and take another look. If anything happens, come back and report to me at once."
Chief Su agreed and bowed his way out of Wenhua Hall.
Xiqiu was talking with the Grand Dowager. The Grand Dowager said, "If this were an ordinary household, once the betrothal is set, one would naturally have to pay some visits..." She paused, a trace of emotion in her eyes. "Now we want to meet this Miss Zhuang, but there’s no way."
"Mother." Xiqiu said with a smile, "If you want to know Miss Zhuang’s character, why not send a nanny to Taiping to quietly inquire?" She paused and added, "The palace will certainly assign capable nannies to go to Taiping to tutor Miss Zhuang. Perhaps they could even catch a distant glimpse of her."
"That’s a good idea." The Grand Dowager smiled and nodded, then instructed Mrs. Qiu, "Find a reliable nanny to go along with the people from the palace to Taiping, and make careful inquiries."
Mrs. Qiu smiled and answered, "Understood, I’ll see to it right away." After speaking, she exchanged a glance with Xiqiu, and in both their eyes there was a hint of indulgence, as if toward a child, for the Grand Dowager.
As the three were talking, Housekeeper Hu hurried in. "Grand Dowager." He glanced at Xiqiu and Mrs. Qiu and bowed to them as well. "First Madam, Fourth Madam."
The Grand Dowager inclined her head slightly, smiling as she asked, "What is it?"
Housekeeper Hu’s expression was very grim. In a low voice he replied, "A message has come out from the palace. They say the Emperor fainted in the Imperial Study Room this morning, while several cabinet ministers were present. He has not yet awakened, and the palace is in utter chaos."
The Grand Dowager and Xiqiu exchanged a look. The smile faded from the Grand Dowager’s face as she asked, "Which cabinet ministers were there? Were Lord Tong and Lord Wu present?" She paused, then fired off questions like a string of firecrackers: "Where is the Eldest Prince right now? Is he attending closely upon the Emperor?"
"Lord Tong and Lord Wu have both hurried into the palace, and as for the Eldest Prince, he and the other Princes are still in Wenhua Hall." He then showed a strange expression. "Jiaotai Palace is under strict guard; no one is allowed to approach."
How could it be under strict guard? Who had given that order?
A question rose in Xiqiu’s heart; she asked, "Who ordered the lockdown, and who is leading the troops guarding it?" Housekeeper Hu replied, "It was on Chief Chang’s orders. Lord Shi is leading the Yulin Guards and has sealed Jiaotai Palace so tightly not even a breath of wind can slip through. The cabinet ministers are also waiting outside."
Before Housekeeper Hu could finish, Xiqiu instructed him, "Go see where Fourth Master is." Presumably Fourth Master Xiao should have heard by now.
If the Emperor had merely fainted, that would be one thing; but if he were to pass just like this, then a great upheaval was bound to break out next. This matter had come too suddenly, and Xiqiu was not sure whether Fourth Master Xiao was prepared.
Housekeeper Hu agreed and hurried out the door.
By afternoon, not only the palace, but the entire Capital City was under strict guard, and people were panic-stricken. No one walked on the streets.
Xiqiu rode back to the Governor Mansion in a carriage. The road was completely clear; she could not even hear the cries of the street vendors by the roadside. She could not help but think of the riot in the 22nd year of Emperor Dezong’s reign—back then, the streets had been just as quiet, as if one could hear a pin drop.
This was the result of not having established a Crown Prince. Otherwise, with the Emperor gravely ill, the Crown Prince and several cabinet ministers would be there to preside over the situation, and under no circumstances would things come to such a pass.
As soon as Xiqiu entered the gate, Tianjing was already waiting for her at the second gate. Seeing her alight from the carriage, he reported, "Fourth Master has gone to the palace and told me to inform Madam."
"I understand." Xiqiu let out a breath of relief. Since Fourth Master Xiao had entered the palace, she could set her mind at ease about Min.
Fourth Master Xiao did not return all night, and Xiqiu did not sleep either. She tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep. She thought through every possible outcome, only to reject them all, and still her heart remained uneasy.
She hoped the Emperor could pull through this ordeal.
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