Chapter 76

Chapter 77: The Mother's War

The sky quickly darkened, and lanterns throughout the imperial city lit up. However, the lanterns were covered with white cloth, casting a ghostly white light that was eerie and chilling. Zhao Cheng still stood firm at his 'post.' The tear marks on his face had dried, leaving countless tiny cuts from the wind. His lips were cracked, seeping blood, and his eyes, red and swollen from crying and lack of sleep, had lost all the grace of a young prince.

Throughout the afternoon, countless people passed by this small memorial hall, seeing a child exhausted from crying, but no one stopped to offer comfort. Normally, the nightlife of this city would just be beginning, but with the Empress's recent passing, all entertainment activities were banned, and the streets around the palace were much less crowded.

"Your Highness, I've brought back the things!" Jianxi said as he walked over.

"Good!" Zhao Cheng stood up, wiping his hands on his clothes, and opened a food box. He respectfully placed the food on the altar and said, "Mother, please have your meal!" After that, he lit two more candles and inserted three new incense sticks into the incense burner.

"Jianxi, you and everyone else should eat. Find an inn nearby to take turns resting; you don't need to stay here all night!" Zhao Cheng said, rubbing his hands together to warm them.

"Your Highness, you should eat something too!" Jianxi said, holding out a bowl of rice.

"No need. A filial son mourns and does not eat for three days, sleeps on a brick pillow, and rests in a grass nest. After the mourning period, neighbors will offer porridge. These are the rules you taught me!" Zhao Cheng shook his head and smiled.

"Your Highness, but your body is always weak, and you've been busy all day. If you don't eat, your body might not hold up. Besides, the other princes in the palace, though they don't eat, are sustained by ginseng soup. You can't compare yourself to them!" Jianxi tried to persuade him again. The prince usually hated following rules, so why was he talking about them today?

"Jianxi, there are gods three feet above us. People act, and heaven watches. We must act with a clear conscience!" Zhao Cheng refused again. Although no one was around, he knew many eyes were secretly watching him, waiting for him to make a mistake. "Pan Long, you don't need to wait. The food is getting cold. It's a pity we can't invite you to drink today!"

"Your Highness, you're too kind. The brothers all know the gravity of the situation. If you don't eat, we can't eat either. If you don't sleep, we can't sleep either. The chief steward has already instructed us not to leave your side. Please reconsider your order!" Pan Long bowed and said solemnly.

"Please reconsider your order!" the guards echoed in unison.

"Zhao Cheng thanks all of you, but I'm sorry to cause you such hardship!" Zhao Cheng was deeply moved by these men and returned a bow.

"Your Highness, this is our duty!" Xue Bao smiled and said, "Come, everyone, huddle together. It will be warmer!" He called the guards to gather around, naturally forming a circle with Zhao Cheng in the center, both to shield him from the cold and to prevent any attacks.

"Why hasn't Mother responded to the message? Has she also encountered trouble?" Zhao Cheng, sitting among the group, felt the wind lessen and his thoughts became active again. He had hoped for some support, but the lack of action made him suspicious.

Rensheng Hall was the residence of the Concubine. Zheng Hongmei, who had been busy with the Empress's funeral for two days without sleep, was now wide awake after a long day of moving the coffin. "Cui Zhu, have they left?" Zheng Hongmei asked the night duty officer.

"Your Majesty, Xi Gui just went out to check. The soldiers at Xuande Gate said they haven't left. This afternoon, I also asked a eunuch from Funing Palace, who said that Prince Yanzhou refused to leave, saying he would wait until the grand sacrifice and then return. The Emperor, upon hearing this report, was very displeased but only said to let them do as they please and issued an order: Prince Yanzhou is not allowed to enter the palace!"

"I see. Have Xi Gui keep a close watch and ensure nothing goes wrong!" Zheng Hongmei's face showed no emotion as she spoke softly, but a trickle of blood seeped from her palm.

"Your Majesty, should you plead with the Emperor? It's already winter, and the cold is severe. Prince Yanzhou is weak!" Cui Zhu said.

"No need!" Zheng Hongmei shook her head. "Prince Yanzhou first disobeyed the imperial edict by returning to the capital, and now he refuses to comply again. The Emperor has already shown leniency by not punishing him. If I plead for him, how can I maintain discipline in the future?"

"Your Majesty, should I send some food and supplies to Prince Yanzhou tomorrow?" Cui Zhu asked again.

"No, he brought this upon himself. Do not send anything to him, and warn the palace staff not to send anything either!" Zheng Hongmei's face suddenly changed, and she spoke sternly.

"Yes, yes, I will pass the order immediately!" Cui Zhu, startled by the Empress's expression, quickly agreed and retreated.

Zheng Hongmei looked at the empty hall and felt a sense of powerlessness. She supported herself on the table, stood up, and went to the window, pushing it open to look toward the palace gate. Her view was blocked by the layers of palace buildings, and a chill rushed in, making her shiver. Mother and son had been separated for two years, but now they were only two palace walls apart and could not meet. "Cheng'er, it's not that I'm heartless, but I must act this way. I hope you understand my intentions and don't hate me!" Zheng Hongmei whispered, tears streaming down her face.

"Miss Cui, has there been any movement from Rensheng Hall?" In the Yuxie Study, Consort Wang, hugging a warm stove, asked.

"Miss Wang, there's been no movement. No one has been sent, and no supplies have been delivered. It's as usual!" Consort Cui, tightening her fur coat, said.

"Hmph, she's truly heartless. Her own son is freezing outside, and she remains indifferent!" Consort Wang pouted.

"Hehe, I heard that the rogue refused to leave, saying he would wait until the grand sacrifice. It's only the seventh day, and there are still eight days to go. As long as he's her flesh and blood, I don't believe she can hold out." Consort Cui laughed.

"Exactly, as soon as she moves, we'll have something to say. Now that Ciming Hall is empty, perhaps you can move in."

"Where would I fit in? With the Empress gone, Prince Huan has lost his greatest support. The rogue outside the palace is causing trouble, and the Emperor is already angry. Prince Kai is very favored by the Emperor. If you move in, the Eastern Palace will be Prince Kai's!" Consort Cui, envious, said.

"Hehe, I just want Prince Kai to be well. I won't compete for that position!" Consort Wang, who had once been a fellow attendant to Empress Dowager Xiang, quickly reassured her.

"I only hope the Emperor will visit me more often. I don't dare to ask for more!" Consort Cui's face relaxed, and she said happily.

"Ah, that's what you say, but we might end up disappointed!" Consort Wang sighed. She was a wise woman and knew that as long as Empress Zheng remained unmoved, they had no chance.

"Don't worry, Yang Duzhi has already made arrangements. As soon as the rogue has a problem, she won't be able to hold out. If that doesn't work, we'll send someone." Consort Cui, excited by the prospect of a better future, raised her voice.

"Shh!" Consort Wang suddenly covered her mouth and shook her head, pointing to the eunuch on night duty at the door, signaling her to lower her voice.

"Oh!" Consort Cui stuck out her tongue and lowered her voice. "Hehe, you didn't see how awkward she was in front of the Emperor today. It was hilarious!"

"Oh, she also had a setback in front of the Emperor? Tell me more!" Consort Wang, eager for gossip, urged her.

"Well, it all started with Yang Duzhi and Liang Chengzhi. Today, she somehow got the news that the rogue had entered the capital but was blocked outside the palace. She went to question the Emperor, who was unaware of the matter and called Yang Duzhi to inquire."

"What did Yang Duzhi say?" Consort Wang's heart tightened. She had been involved in this plan, sending Yang Jian to inform Zhao Cheng of the Empress's death and then suppressing his memorial, keeping it from the Emperor. This way, if Zhao Cheng did not come to mourn, he could be charged with great disrespect. If he did come, he would be disobeying the imperial edict. It was a double-edged strategy.

"Yang Duzhi said, 'Your Majesty, you didn't issue the edict. I didn't dare to act on my own!' It seems everyone around the Emperor has acting skills. Consort Cui imitated Yang Jian's manner and tone perfectly. 'The Emperor said, 'That's not right. I've already ordered the princes, princes, and officials to come to the capital for the memorial. Everyone else came, so why would Prince Yanzhou be the only one left out? It must be your negligence!'"

"Was Yang Duzhi blamed and reprimanded?" Consort Wang asked urgently.

"Yang Duzhi replied, 'I have been busy with the arrangements for the late Empress in Ciming Hall and didn't hear the Emperor's instructions. Perhaps the Emperor, in his grief, remembered incorrectly. The order might have been given to someone else!' The Emperor then called Liang Chengzhi to ask."

"Liang Chengzhi is usually quiet and doesn't get along with us. How did he respond this time?"

"Liang Chengzhi said that the Emperor did indeed give him the order, and he had drafted the edict accordingly. However, the edict for Prince Yanzhou hadn't been sent out when he arrived in the capital. Liang Chengzhi is indeed experienced; he even brought out the written edict, which shut her up. Not only did she fail to get an explanation for her son, but she also ended up disobeying the imperial edict. Truly, she lost more than she gained!" Consort Cui laughed.

"Did the Emperor just let it go? Why didn't he punish him for disobeying the edict?" Consort Wang asked, seemingly unsatisfied.

"Hmph, it was that Tong Guan who ruined it. He told the Emperor, 'Although disobeying the edict is against the law, mourning one's mother is a great act of filial piety and is understandable.' The Emperor, moved by this, forgave him but was still angry at his defiance and didn't let him enter the palace!" Consort Cui said through gritted teeth.

"How did Tong Guan get involved with her? He now commands the northwest border army and holds military power. Although he has been impeached, he still enjoys the Emperor's favor. If we don't guard against him, he could become a great enemy in the future!" Consort Wang was alarmed and pondered for a moment before speaking.