On the third day after the Crown Prince’s passing, the grand enshrouding ceremony was held, followed by the formal mourning attire day. According to protocol, the palace attendants of the Crown Prince’s household wore the coarsest mourning garments, his officials wore slightly less coarse ones, the Emperor wore a coarse cloth headscarf and a scholar’s robe, the Empress wore a coarse cloth veil, a long gown, a skirt with a shawl, and a silk undergarment, along with white silk shoes. The imperial consorts and ladies-in-waiting also followed the Empress in wearing coarse cloth veils, gowns, skirts, and white silk shoes.
On this day, the female officials from the Chief of Wardrobe’s bureau delivered the mourning attire to Consort Liu. Granny Yu received it and personally brought it to Liu Luowei’s bedchamber, urging her to change into it. After Liu Luowei changed, she walked to the dressing table and examined herself in the mirror from side to side. She picked up a floral hairpin and playfully pressed it to her forehead, her movements as graceful as a dance. With a faint smile on her lips, she softly sang a line from a romantic poem: “Drunk, she bites her new floral adornment, clinging to her beloved, coquettish and unrestrained…”
Granny Yu grabbed her arm and said sternly, “My lady, hush! No one must see or hear this!”
Liu Luowei smiled faintly, tossed the hairpin back onto the dressing table, and sat down.
Granny Yu walked behind her, looking at Liu Luowei’s reflection in the mirror as she adjusted her veil. She also smiled and whispered, “You handled this well, my lady. No one suspects a thing. Who would think to inspect the Pearl Diadem? Everyone believes it’s Wu Zhenzhen’s fault. The Crown Prince is dead, and the Emperor has wept in agony for three days straight. Wu Zhenzhen certainly won’t survive this.”
Liu Luowei sneered, “I knew she never truly loved Hong Ning. How quickly she entangled herself with the Crown Prince… The Emperor is still too merciful, hoping she might bear the Crown Prince’s posthumous child. And now, he’s even letting her live.”
“She won’t live much longer,” Granny Yu said indifferently. “Even if she truly is carrying the Crown Prince’s child, living on that remote island these past few months, any ‘accident’ would hardly be surprising.”
Liu Luowei nodded. “Such a small matter won’t trouble you, Mother.”
Granny Yu smiled and added, “Now is also the perfect opportunity to get rid of that old woman, Pei Shangshi. Don’t be fooled by her usual silence—she’s cunning through and through. Wu Zhenzhen was her protégée, and she’s caused you no end of trouble. Now she’s grooming Feng Jing, and the Emperor values her highly, still refusing to let you oversee imperial meals. If you want to regain control of the imperial kitchen, Pei Shangshi must not remain in your way.”
Liu Luowei thought for a moment and said, “It’s time to make use of those censors and officials we’ve been in contact with.”
“I understand,” Granny Yu replied. “I’ve already relayed your instructions to them.”
For several days, Zhenzhen lay in a daze, not crying but unwilling to do anything. She spent her days staring blankly or drifting in and out of sleep. The medicinal decoctions and porridge were forced down her throat by the palace attendants overseeing her, as instructed by the imperial physician.
She began to run a fever and later refused both medicine and food, showing no will to live. The only reason she didn’t take her own life immediately was that her depression had drained her of even the energy to move.
The Gathering Scenery Garden was connected to West Lake, and the small island where she was confined lay within it. For days, autumn rain fell incessantly, causing the lake’s water level to rise significantly. One night, a fierce storm raged again. The palace attendants guarding Zhenzhen suddenly noticed rainwater seeping into the room and opened the door to check. As soon as the door opened, a torrent of water surged in. Several eunuchs outside waded through the water, shouting, “The lake dam’s sluice gates have been opened! The island is about to flood!”
Not far from the island was a lake dam, primarily used for water storage and irrigation. This was certainly not the normal time for opening the sluice gates. Opening them during a heavy storm would flood this downstream island. Hearing this, the palace attendants panicked, each scrambling to escape. No one spared another thought for Zhenzhen, still lying on the bed.Zhenzhen heard the sound and turned her head to look. Seeing the lake water continuously pouring in, she felt no fear, merely closing her eyes and quietly waiting to be submerged.
The water soon rose above the bed, and Zhenzhen sank into it. As a child, she had learned to swim alongside boys, and she instinctively paddled a few strokes. But now, weakened by illness and lacking the strength to survive—nor the will to try—she allowed herself to sink.
Holding her breath and floating in the water for a moment, suddenly someone swam in, hands parting the water, groped for her, and then dragged her up, swimming outward.
Zhenzhen felt a pair of long-fingered hands first grasp her wrist, lifting her to the surface, then turn her body over, making her lie on her back. The person clamped her shoulders with their elbows and, swimming on their back, pulled her out of the flooded house.
By then, the rain had weakened, but the surroundings were dark, making it impossible to see where the shore was. The person brought Zhenzhen to a tree crown protruding from the water, letting her rest against the branches while they looked around. Finally, they spotted a boat with lit lanterns rowing toward the flooded island. As the boat approached, they dragged Zhenzhen toward it.
The boat was not small, with over ten people standing on board. Seeing the situation, they threw down a cedar lifebuoy attached to a rope. The person placed Zhenzhen into the lifebuoy, supported her, and let the people on the boat pull her up.
After Zhenzhen boarded, someone quickly came to check her condition and then helped her into the cabin. However, the people on the boat seemed unconcerned about her rescuer, not throwing another lifebuoy for them to board, and instead quickly sailed away from the area.
The person did not mind, silently watching the boat depart before turning back to swim toward the tree crown.
Zhenzhen’s consciousness was hazy, but she could sense how the person had saved her. She opened her eyes several times to see them, but the light was too dim. Even with the boat’s lanterns, she could only make out an indistinct silhouette. Exhausted from the ordeal, she soon fell unconscious after entering the cabin.
When she awoke, she felt warmth all around. Her clothes had been changed, and she was lying on a bed with fragrant, soft bedding. Through the bed curtains, she could see a dim lamp in the room, under which a woman seemed to be sitting.
Zhenzhen’s head still throbbed painfully, her body burned with fever, and she gasped for breath. As she shifted, she made some sounds. The woman heard her, hurried over, lifted the curtain, and called softly, “Zhenzhen.”
Hearing her voice, Zhenzhen was utterly astonished. She struggled to prop herself up, tears welling in her eyes as she reached out, her voice trembling, “Mother…”
Qiu Niang sat by Zhenzhen’s bedside and embraced her.
Though feverish and confused, Zhenzhen’s hands groped and recognized her mother’s features. The familiar scent and warm embrace were ones she had known intimately for over a decade. Like a glimmer of light in boundless darkness, Zhenzhen was overwhelmed with emotion. She cried out like a child, sobbing as she clung tightly to Qiu Niang, “Mother, Mother, where have you been? I’ve searched for you for so long… The Crown Prince is gone, I’ll never see him again, Mother…”
Qiu Niang held her close, pressing her cheek against Zhenzhen’s forehead, comforting her through tears, “I know, I know… It’s all right, Mother is here, Mother is with you…”Zhenzhen was overwhelmed with grief, and in her illness, her thoughts were in disarray. She sobbed intermittently as she poured out her heart: "I miss you so much, Mama. Have you suffered all these years?... The Crown Prince was about to help me find you. He is such a good person, and I always wanted to bring him to meet you. You would have liked him... But he's gone, Mama. I can't see him anymore... I didn't harm him. I ate the sliced perch too, and it wasn't poisoned. I didn't let him eat much either... I wasn't reckless. That night, I didn't even let him come back with me... I don't know what I did wrong, Mama. I don't understand why he left just like that... Mama, did I cause his death? What exactly did I fail to do?"
"You did nothing wrong, Zhenzhen. You didn't make any mistakes." Qiu Niang listened to her daughter's tearful words and shed tears herself, but she quickly wiped them away, trying to keep her voice calm as she comforted Zhenzhen. "The Crown Prince was such a good person. He must have been a celestial being who descended to the mortal realm to endure tribulations. Once his trials were over, he returned to the heavens, but he will surely watch over you from above and protect you. You must live well, just as you did when he was alive. If you drown in sorrow and cry all day, he will be saddened to see it."
"But I miss him so much, Mama. How can I see him again?" Zhenzhen continued to weep bitterly, tears streaming down her face. "If I die, will I be able to see him?"
"Zhenzhen, don't think like that!" Qiu Niang placed her hands on Zhenzhen's shoulders, making her face her, and spoke solemnly. "If you take your own life, you will fall into the hell realm, and then you will never see him again." Then she drew Zhenzhen into her embrace, her voice trembling with emotion. "And what about me? I'm still here waiting for you..."
Zhenzhen clung to Qiu Niang and wept uncontrollably, recounting fragmented memories of the Crown Prince and expressing her longing for him. Qiu Niang held her as she had when Zhenzhen was a sick child, gently patting her back and soothing her with soft words from time to time. Only when Zhenzhen gradually calmed down did Qiu Niang release her and fetch a bowl of porridge, feeding it to Zhenzhen spoonful by spoonful, encouraging her to eat.
After Zhenzhen finished the porridge, Qiu Niang brought her a bowl of medicine to drink, then washed her face and wiped her body with warm water. Zhenzhen gradually felt less discomfort, and after pouring out her heart, the heavy burden in her chest seemed to lighten. Drowsiness set in, and her eyelids involuntarily closed.
"Mama, where is this?" Zhenzhen murmured with her eyes closed.
Qiu Niang did not answer the question but whispered to her, "Zhenzhen, remember what I say: after today, you may not see me for a while, but don't be sad. I will always be here waiting for you. Your most urgent task now is to preserve your life. The Crown Prince was The Emperor's most beloved son, and The Emperor must be deeply grieving now. Although you did nothing wrong, he is not in a state to think calmly. His misunderstanding of you cannot be resolved for the time being, so it's best for you to leave Lin'an and avoid being found by The Emperor. You must understand the wisdom of retreating to advance. Only by staying alive will you have the chance to uncover the reason for the Crown Prince's departure. One day, you and I will be reunited."
Zhenzhen listened in a daze, her breathing growing rapid again. "Mama, are you leaving again?""Mother won't leave, Mother will wait for you here." Qiu Niang repeated emphatically, then solemnly instructed Zhenzhen, "Remember, leave Lin'an first. You must survive, only then will we have a chance to meet again."
Zhenzhen tried her best to grasp her mother's hand, and Qiu Niang also reached out to hold hers, comforting her softly. Zhenzhen wanted to open her eyes, but whether due to exhaustion or the effects of medicine, she couldn't open them no matter how hard she tried, and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Not long after, someone entered, carried her downstairs, placed her into a calf-drawn carriage, and drove her away from this place. When being helped into the carriage, Zhenzhen was briefly awakened and regained some awareness. Faintly, she heard the sound of a pipa drifting from the garden. Unlike ordinary pipa tunes, this melody carried an exotic flavor, its graceful and flowing melody occasionally punctuated by some resounding notes, adding a touch of grandeur. Listening to it gave one a feeling of an open heart and momentary forgetfulness of worries.
As the calf-drawn carriage moved forward, the pipa sound gradually faded. Drowsy and dazed, Zhenzhen once again lost consciousness in the boundless dark night.
In the small building of Shi'an Garden, Qiu Niang set down the pipa, staring fixedly in the direction where the calf-drawn carriage had disappeared, her gaze unwavering for a long time.
Cheng Yuan appeared behind her and said gently, "Madam has worked hard all night, you should rest early."
Qiu Niang did not turn to look at him, only replying coldly, "You promised to send Zhenzhen to a safe place. Don't deceive me."
Cheng Yuan responded calmly, "Madam also knows that over these past two years, I have always been honest with you. Whenever you asked about Wu Zhenzhen's situation, I told you everything I knew in great detail, without the slightest deception. Now, regarding what I have promised, I will not go back on my word."
"Good." Qiu Niang closed her eyes, facing the cool night breeze that brushed against her, and said lightly, "This time, as long as you save Zhenzhen, I will naturally fulfill my promise and marry you."
OpenNovel