Yu Zi Heng
CHAPTER 4:
24
On the day of Níng Pín's little princess's full moon, Níng Pín was promoted to Shú Pín, and Wèi Zhāoyuán was promoted to Wèi Zhàoyí.
After the banquet, because Shú Pín was still unable to serve the Emperor in the bedchamber, he naturally summoned Wèi Zhàoyí.
When they were in the midst of their passionate embrace, Wèi Zhàoyí brought up the topic of taking Chén Xi back from me.
The next day, the Emperor, without consulting the Empress Dowager, came to my residence.
He arrived just as I was trying on winter clothes for Chén Xi. He had grown a bit, and the clothes made by the Internal Affairs Office were becoming too small.
Chén Xi was changing clothes and reciting the genealogy of noble families, stumbling on “Chén Liú Zǐ Xún”, and he was so flustered that he was pulling his hair.
The Emperor interjected, “Chén Xún Zǐ Jì.”
Everyone in the hall quickly bowed to the Emperor.
The Emperor looked at the chubby Chén Xi, almost failing to recognize him as his Third Son.
“Why are you teaching him the genealogy of noble families?”
Chén Xi responded in a dignified manner, “Guì Pín Niángniáng said that next spring, during the hunt, I will meet many people. If I am not familiar with the genealogy of noble families, it will be embarrassing.”
“You are a prince, what does it matter if you don't recognize the officials? Don't learn these ways of women.”
Was the Emperor deliberately trying to pick a fight?
I lowered my head and said nothing. Chén Xi, despite being reprimanded by the Emperor, didn't flinch. After all, I had scolded him a lot, and most of the time, I was more ferocious than the Emperor.
“Emperor Father, please forgive me. I think that a ruler governs his subjects and cultivates the people. If he doesn't know his officials, he will not know the people either. As the ancient saying goes, the people are paramount, the state is next, and the royal family should deeply understand the noble families and the lives of the people. Otherwise, if their ears and eyes are closed, then it will be a disaster.”
“Insolence!”
The Emperor roared.
The palace people in Shuyue Residence were so frightened that they all knelt down.
Chén Xi looked at me before calmly kneeling, “This son is lacking in knowledge and experience; I made a mistake.”
The Emperor looked at me intently. He had never scrutinized me so formally, not even during my first night with him.
“Did you teach him that?”
I knelt down with the same proper etiquette, “I only taught the Third Prince the genealogy of noble families. Perhaps the Third Prince saw the rise and fall of noble families and came to this understanding on his own.”
The Emperor went to the desk and flipped through the scrolls, leaving me and Chén Xi kneeling beside him.
“These are the calligraphy scrolls of Liú Dajiā?”
“Your Majesty, Liú Dajiā is indeed my mother.”
The Emperor was taken aback, “I almost forgot. General Yù is your uncle, you are the daughter of Chóngwén Gōng. I had heard that Chóngwén Gōng was eloquent and persuasive, and that he had once berated an official in the Imperial Censorate to death. His daughter is indeed equally quick-witted and sharp-tongued.”
A suppressed gasp filled the air, as expected, from my foolish Fu Bao.
“Your Majesty, please be careful with your words.”
Your Majesty, please be careful with your words. I can guarantee that I am the first person in the world to say this to him.
The Emperor was so taken aback that he didn't respond for a moment, while Chén Xi's mouth hung open, unable to conceal his shock.
“What did you say?”
“I said, Your Majesty, please be careful with your words.”
The world became silent, then exploded.
25
Slap!
The Emperor slammed my mother's calligraphy scroll onto the ground.
“Yí Guì Pín is disrespectful to the ruler. I will punish... punish…”
Before the Emperor could finish, I took off my Third-Class Guì Pín headpiece, revealing my natural curly black hair—my hair, like my personality, is unconventional.
“I am Yu Zi Heng, daughter of Chóngwén Gōng Yù Lí. From Liáng to the capital, there are over 3,000 li (miles). Xiàng Liáng's soldiers returned with Yù Lí's clothes and hat, and the people set up roadside memorial services for over 3,000 li, their cries of sorrow echoing through the sky. The late Emperor personally went to pay his respects and posthumously conferred the title of Chóngwén Gōng.”
“This is the Chóngwén Gōng, the father of this 'eloquent and persuasive, berated an official in the Imperial Censorate to death,' as Your Majesty put it.”
I looked directly at the Emperor, not even bothering to hide my disdain. “I, your humble servant, implore Your Majesty to be careful with your words.”
The Emperor pointed at me, his anger causing his fingers to tremble. He opened his mouth twice, but ultimately said nothing. He turned on his heel and left.
Fu Bao came over to help me up, and Chén Xi looked at me with concern.
I smiled calmly, “Where did we leave off? What comes after Chén Xún Zǐ Jì?”
Chén Xi's calves were still trembling slightly. He stammered, “Who Chén Jì's son is, it really doesn't matter anymore…”
26
The Emperor never brought up taking Chén Xi back to raise him again.
In fact, because I had stood on the highest moral ground, he couldn't unleash his anger on me, so he gave Wèi Zhàoyí a good scolding.
I lectured Chén Xi, “Do you know why The Emperor doesn't dare to get angry at Ben Gong?”
Chén Xi probably wanted to blurt out that it's because you're too fierce, but thankfully, he suppressed that dangerous thought.
“Because he can't.”
The Emperor could punish and humiliate his concubines, but he could never make light of a loyal minister who had sacrificed himself for the country.
Unless he was ready to abandon his sense of self and become a tyrant.
I didn't need to explain this too explicitly. Chén Xi was already capable of understanding.
Because he quickly learned and applied what he had learned, doing something that brought me great credit.
At the end of the year, during the severe cold, the women of the inner court and the women of the outer court held their annual ritual of donating grain to open soup kitchens. This good deed, which brought fame and reputation, was naturally initiated by the Empress Dowager and managed by Shū Fēi. The other noble ladies contributed money and effort—those with money would contribute money, and those without money would borrow money to contribute.
That day, all the women of the inner and outer courts of rank Three or above gathered, creating a lively scene.
As soon as I entered with Chén Xi, the ladies and wives showered him with praise, saying that Chén Xi had a lucky appearance (he was chubby), and that he looked like me, with a clever face.
To be honest, I didn't see any resemblance.
Where on earth would you find a head full of curls like mine?
They collectively had amnesia and pretended that Wèi Zhàoyí had never existed—of course, she had recently been reprimanded by the Emperor and was embarrassed to show her face.
After everyone took their seats, they began to discuss how much grain each family would donate. Chén Xi listened intently.
Xián Fēngwáng said, “I'll shamelessly donate two thousand taels of silver.”
Yīngguó Gōng Fūrén said, “Sister Fēngwángs donate two thousand taels, so we'll donate sixteen hundred taels.”
Xián Fēngwáng teased her old friend, “Don't pretend to be poor. I know you have some money.”
Yīngguó Gōng Fūrén said, “I wouldn't dare to surpass Sister Fēngwáng.”
Xián Fēngwáng said, “Empress Dowager, look at this woman, she's stingy herself but wants to blame me!”
With the two masters of bickering from the capital present, Cínīng Palace was immediately filled with laughter and chatter.
It was at this moment that Chén Xi went to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager had been hugging the eldest princess, but when she saw him, she had him sit on her footstool.
Chén Xi looked up at the Empress Dowager with a pure expression, “Grandmother, why can't Yīngguó Gōng Fūrén donate more than Xián Fēngwáng? Although their ranks are different, this is a good deed that benefits the victims of disaster, and more is always better.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall, which had been bustling with noise just moments ago, became silent, as if a needle had been dropped.
I pretended to apologize, but the Empress Dowager waved her hand, indicating that it was not necessary.
“Xiēr, good intentions don't mean you can break the rules. If you do something good but break the rules, it can't be considered a good deed.”
Chén Xi thought for a moment, then suddenly ‘realized.’
“I understand, Grandmother. It's like when I first arrived at Shuyue Residence, the Internal Affairs Office sent many servants to take care of me. This was for my benefit, a good deed, but Guì Pín Niángniáng said that as a prince, the number of servants I have is fixed. More would be exceeding my rank, breaking the rules, so she had the extra servants sent away. If it had been entirely for my benefit, and I kept all the servants, then Xiēr would have become a prince who breaks the rules, and I wouldn't have even known it. I would have thought that I needed so many people to serve me, and my good intentions would have led to bad consequences.”
Chén Xi ‘nervously’ patted his head, “Luckily, Guì Pín Niángniáng sent them away.”
The Empress Dowager looked at me, her eyes seeming to ask, “Did you teach him that?”
I frantically hinted: I didn't! It wasn't me! Don't talk nonsense!
As soon as those words were spoken, Shū Fēi had already knelt down to apologize, “Empress Dowager, it's my fault for not managing the palace strictly, leading to this situation!”
Chén Xi, sitting on the footstool, enduring the palpable hatred radiating from the eldest princess beside the Empress Dowager, ‘comforted’ Shū Fēi, “Shū Fēi Niángniáng, I know you were trying to help me. Thank you, but Xiēr still wants to be a child who follows the rules.”
Shū Fēi's face turned green—in recent years, the national treasury had been overflowing, and after she took charge of the palace, she had become increasingly extravagant. Because the palace people had all benefited, they praised her, so she had gone further down this path. Where she should have used silver, she used gold; where two people should have served, she used six. The Empress Dowager had already lost hope in her, but she was oblivious.
I had originally planned to take action next spring when the weather was warmer, but who knew that Chén Xi would have a sudden flash of insight and pull off such a move, even I was taken aback.
This boy is truly teachable!
27
The Empress Dowager had flexed her authority, Shū Fēi had been reprimanded, Xián Fēi had been silenced, and I, Yu Zi Heng, had officially become part of the management echelon of this grandest architectural complex in Dà Yè, the palace.
It all stemmed from Chén Xi's impromptu performance.
I held my precious Chén Xi's hand, walking happily along the path in the imperial city.
It was the heart of winter, and Chén Xi, to maintain his dignity, was only wearing a peacock fur coat. It was thin and not windproof, and perhaps because he felt he had accomplished a great feat today, he was feeling bolder than usual. He walked for a while, then complained that his legs hurt and asked to be carried.
I thought it was necessary to give the little guy some encouragement, so I instructed Fu Bao, “Carry the Third Prince.”
Chén Xi said, “I don't want Fú Bǎo to carry me, I want Niángniáng to carry me!”
“Are you addicted to pretending to be a child?”
“I am a child!”
“Shouldn't children listen to adults?”
“I... I'm also an adult in a way!”
“You're so big, and you don't know anything. Fu Bao, Yōng mómó, let's go, Ben Gong don't want to play with a fool.”
Round and chubby Chén Xi was left bewildered in the snow...
I had only taken a few steps away from Chén Xi when I was stopped by a woman wearing a silver fox fur coat.
The woman was slender and tall, with skin as white as snow. Her brows and eyes were delicate, her nose was thin and straight, and the golden flower ornament on her forehead slightly curled her hairline. She lightly supported her waist as she bowed to me, her posture elegant.
“Aunt-in-law, you don't have to be so polite.” I helped her up, examining her rounder cheeks, “Ben Gong heard you were pregnant recently. You're showing so quickly.”
Liǔ Shì smiled sweetly, “Niángniáng, you make fun of me. I eat more when I'm pregnant, I'm afraid I've gained weight.”
“How is everyone at home?”
“The imperial physician said that General's health is much better this year than in previous years. ¹Second Brother, Third Brother, and Fourth Brother are studying at the Bái Lù Academy, they won't be coming back for the New Year this winter. Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, and Sixth Brother have grown quite a bit. Seventh Brother has started his education now. Everything is fine at home. Niángniáng, don't worry.”
“How is Yu Zi Yu?”
Liǔ Shì paused, “Big Brother... he still doesn't want to come back.”
“What a temper,” I scoffed. “When did Yù Zǐ Líng and Yù Zǐ Xiá become so studious? Aunt-in-law, just send someone to Yàn Yún Què to deliver spring couplets to those three deadbeat sons.”
“Ah?”
“Those two brats must have gone to find Yù Zǐ Yú, and the younger brothers probably even helped them pay for their travel expenses!”
“I... I'll send someone to look for them when I get back.”
“No need. They're long gone.”
Liǔ Shì apologized, “It's my fault, I didn't discipline the children well.”
“Aunt-in-law, all these things are written in the letter my uncle sent to the palace. Why did you come to see me?”
Liǔ Shì was caught red-handed and laughed bitterly, “Niángniáng is a capable person, but I'm just an ordinary woman. If it weren't for you, my cousin, I wouldn't have been able to marry into the General's mansion… I've always wanted to repay Niángniáng.”
“Taking care of Ben Gong's uncle, your husband, is the best way to show your gratitude.”
Liǔ Shì touched her belly, her eyes full of tenderness. Finally, she looked at me, “The Liǔ family… is interested in sending a daughter into the palace.”
I savored the meaning behind her words.
“Why not? If the Liǔ family wants to send a daughter, go ahead.”
Can I eat people?
Next spring, the palace will surely be expanding. While there aren't many high-ranking concubines in the palace, it's time to get in and secure a position. Even if you die, you might enjoy a state-level cemetery.
Liǔ Shì didn't expect me to say this, and she was stunned for a moment.
“Niángniáng… I thought Niángniáng…” she lowered her voice, “had great ambitions.”
“Even if I do, what does it have to do with the girls entering the palace?”
Liǔ Shì was completely confused.
You can't discuss ice with a summer insect. I patted Liǔ Shì's shoulder, “The snow makes the path slippery, Aunt-in-law, you can take my sedan chair out of the palace.”
“How can that be?!”
“It's perfectly fine!” Chén Xi came over, “Niángniáng has just been promoted to Deputy Director of the Palace, it's nothing to arrange a small sedan chair. Besides, Madam is Niángniáng's aunt-in-law, which makes her my great-grandmother. If anyone doesn't let you take the sedan chair, I'll personally carry you out, and see who dares to gossip.”
Chén Xi definitely has a natural talent for coaxing women, and he coaxed Liǔ Shì into happily leaving the palace.
Chén Xi held out his hand to me, “Niángniáng, let's go home.”
The wind and snow were getting heavier. I didn't take his hand because I saw Wèi Zhàoyí, wrapped in a large scarlet monkey fur cloak, standing at the corner of the corridor, looking at me and Chén Xi, silently shedding tears.
Chén Xi followed my gaze and also saw Wèi Zhàoyí.
“Aren't you going to see her?”
Chén Xi turned back and smiled at me. It was a smile, but I felt that he was even more heartbroken than Wèi Zhàoyí, who was crying.
“Like this, we are all fine. If I go back to her, she will be like a three-year-old child holding a treasure in a crowded market. She won't be happy, and neither will I.”
Chén Xi shook his head slightly, “Why bother…”
I reached out, picked him up, and covered his cold body with my cloak, slowly walking back to Shuyue Residence.
Neither of us looked at Wèi Zhàoyí again.
________________
Glossary:
¹Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, Sixth Brother, Seventh Brother:
In the context of this story, these terms refer to the stepmother’s way of addressing her sons. In traditional Chinese culture, siblings are often referred to by their ordinal numbers (e.g., "Second Brother" for the second son) rather than by their personal names. This practice emphasizes family hierarchy and relationships within the household.
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