Volume Eleven Tall and Elegant is the Artemisia
Just as Zhenzhen had anticipated, as Wei Qingxun was the wealthiest person in Ningguo Prefecture, the local affluent families had always paid close attention to her every move, hoping to learn her methods of generating wealth. Once they heard rumors that she had purchased fifteen ordination certificates in one go, how could their hearts remain unmoved? Her background as a relative of the imperial family had long been quietly circulated among the wealthy households. Now, with her frequent meetings with Zhao Ai, they naturally concluded that she must have obtained insider information from the government to make such a large investment. They speculated on two possible reasons: first, that the official paper currency would depreciate significantly, and the court would use ordination certificates to redeem it, causing their value to soar; second, that corvée labor would soon become more burdensome, taxes would rise sharply, and holding ordination certificates would exempt one from such duties and taxes, leading to increased demand. Regardless of the reason, it seemed inevitable that the price of ordination certificates would rise. Thus, the wealthy families acted swiftly upon hearing the news, quickly snapping up the remaining fifteen certificates.
Zhenzhen ran a restaurant and interacted with different customers daily. Most of her patrons enjoyed chatting with her, so she was exceptionally well-informed and deeply familiar with the social dynamics and customs of Ningguo Prefecture. After waiting for the ordination certificates to sell out, Zhenzhen spent the following few days shuttling between the three major monasteries in Ningguo Prefecture every morning after handling her restaurant affairs. She met with the abbots, discussed matters with them, and after reaching agreements, she took the ordination certificates entrusted to her by Wei Qingxun to the prefectural office to see Zhao Ai. Zhao Ai was quite surprised to hear that she had requested to see him and immediately had her brought to his study.
Zhenzhen told him, "The ones who need ordination certificates the most are actually the monasteries. Besides the certificates issued to them by the court, they usually have to purchase many on their own to ordain monks. Now that the court strictly controls the number of certificates, the ones issued this time sold out so quickly that not a single one went to the monasteries. Moreover, those who previously held certificates in the private sector, seeing the current situation, are reluctant to sell, waiting for prices to rise. This makes it difficult for monasteries to acquire certificates from the public. Over the past few days, I met with the abbots of the three major monasteries. I explained to them the current situation in Ningguo Prefecture: the collapse of the polder fields, the dispersal of tenant farmers, your sincere desire to serve the people and repair the embankments, and the financial and grain shortages you face. I asked for their assistance. Each monastery has a large number of devotees. I urged the abbots to take the lead in raising charitable funds for this cause and donate them to Ningguo Prefecture for the repair of the public embankments. I myself am willing to donate five ordination certificates. Whichever monastery raises five thousand strings of cash in charitable donations, I will give them one certificate. I hope to raise a total of twenty-five thousand strings in the end. The abbots indicated that if the final amount of charitable funds falls short, the monasteries' perpetual treasuries could lend a portion to make up the twenty-five thousand strings for the prefecture. After two years, the prefect could repay them with the corresponding amount from the collected land rents and taxes. I think this is also a good arrangement. Regardless of whether the final funds come from donations or loans, I will still give them the certificates."
The perpetual treasury was a pawnshop operated by larger monasteries to accumulate and manage money and goods. Its funds mainly came from donations or loans provided by devotees. Residents could pledge valuable items to the perpetual treasury for loans, agreeing on a repayment date with interest. Large monasteries with thriving incense offerings typically had ample funds in their perpetual treasuries.
"Where did you get the ordination certificates?" Zhao Ai immediately asked her.
"I sold Zhanle Tower to Wei Qingxun in exchange for six ordination certificates. I donated five and kept one for emergencies," Zhenzhen replied with a faint smile. "Actually, I only transferred the management rights to Wei Qingxun. I can still manage Zhanle Tower in the future, and I can even participate in managing Luming Tower. In fact, it makes things run more smoothly."Zhenzhen, seeing Zhao Ai remain silent for a long time, thought he was worried about loan interest and explained, "Don’t worry. Even if donations fall short and we need to borrow from the Eternal Treasury, aside from the ordination certificates I’m donating, the monasteries won’t charge interest. The abbots have also said they’ve noticed Prince Wei pays special attention to the people’s welfare—he’s a good official who loves the people as his own children. Repairing the public embankments benefits the nation and the people, and they’re willing to contribute. The Eternal Treasury has always been protected by the court and the government, and its earnings have never been taxed. Now that the government has a need, how could they charge interest? They’ll also do their best to raise donations. Although there are government-owned fields within the embankments, most are privately owned. Prince Wei is overseeing this project for the people’s benefit—an act of charity and virtue. I believe many people will be willing to donate for this cause."
After speaking, she took out five ordination certificates and presented them to Zhao Ai. "These are the certificates I’m donating. Please keep them. If you think it’s feasible, I’ll go confirm this with the monasteries. In the future, when a monastery contributes five thousand strings of cash, you can give them one certificate. Once they’re all given out, please inform them promptly so they don’t need to raise more. I think, with these twenty-five thousand strings, plus what the prefecture can mobilize and the funds from selling ordination certificates, it should be enough to repair the embankments."
"This is feasible, but we can’t use your money," Zhao Ai said, looking at the certificates. "I’ll buy these ordination certificates from you. I’ll give you the money, and you can use it to redeem Zhanle Tower. The certificates will still be given to the donating monasteries as you planned."
Zhenzhen couldn’t help but laugh. "You may be the local official, but you’re not our parent. The affairs of Ningguo Prefecture aren’t limited to this one matter. If you pay for everything yourself, even mountains of gold and silver won’t be enough. Let’s settle it this way. I have a skill—money spent can always be earned back. You focus on repairing the embankments well, ensuring the people have bountiful harvests every year and every household prospers. In the future, I might not even have the chance to contribute like this."
Zhao Ai shook his head. "How can I let you lose Zhanle Tower, which you worked so hard to build, just because of one official duty of mine?"
"I may lose a restaurant, but you... you might lose the entire world." Memories of the past surged in her heart, and Zhenzhen lowered her eyes sadly. "I’m sorry, Second Brother. Please let me express a little apology, though this compensation is truly insignificant compared to what you’ve lost."
"Why do you think that way?" Zhao Ai smiled sadly. "Is it because I once persuaded the Crown Prince to eat Songjiang perch? Those words weren’t forced by you. I’ve never blamed heaven or others for this. I take responsibility for my actions and bear all the consequences."
Zhenzhen immediately replied, "I’m also taking responsibility for my mistakes."
"Then let’s do it together," Zhao Ai said, gazing at her intently. His eyes were calm and resolute, unlike the carefree youth she remembered. Now he seemed like a mature man with depth and vision. "The matter of the Eastern Palace is very strange—it might not be your fault. True responsibility lies in uncovering the truth. I’m willing to accompany you in seeking it, so you no longer fear facing the world’s doubts."
"Seek the truth?" Zhenzhen asked in confusion. She had always harbored doubts about the Crown Prince’s cause of death, but all his food and drink had passed through her hands, and she had spent the most time with him during those days. Aside from herself, she truly didn’t know who else to blame."Yes, I believe the truth is not as simple as what is currently known," Zhao Ai said. "Think carefully. In the days before my elder brother passed away, what unusual events occurred?"
Zhenzhen closed her eyes in pain. The events surrounding Crown Prince Zhuang Wen's death were unbearable for her to recall. Every time she even slightly remembered them, it felt like being burned, forcing her to immediately pull herself away. Those days had long become a deep, unhealed wound, too painful to revisit.
"Don't avoid it, Zhenzhen," Zhao Ai urged gently. "Finding the truth is the only way to ease your pain. My elder brother would not have wanted to leave so ambiguously, causing such great harm to the country, the family, and you... Tell me everything you saw and know. Perhaps I can help analyze it and see what exactly went wrong."
Zhenzhen remained silent for a long time. Under the soothing gaze of Zhao Ai, her tense and uneasy emotions gradually eased, and she finally began to slowly recount the events of those days: "His Highness the Crown Prince had mostly recovered by then, his daily routines were normal, and his mood was also good... If there was anything unusual, it was probably a few days before his passing, after he asked me to accompany him to the Hall of Blessing and Tranquility. That day, he had a eunuch carry a painting to the Hall of Blessing and Tranquility to present to The Emperor. But once inside the hall, he asked Feng Jing and me to wait outside. He spoke with The Emperor inside for a long time, and when he came out, he seemed in low spirits. After dinner, he sent the eunuch back first and asked me to accompany him to Moon Rock to admire the moon..."
"What was the painting he showed The Emperor?" Zhao Ai suddenly asked.
Zhenzhen replied, "He didn't show it to me at the time, but judging from the appearance of the scroll, it was likely the portrait of my mother that he showed me a few days later."
Zhao Ai was surprised. "Why would my elder brother show Father a portrait of your mother?"
"Later, His Highness told me that my mother might be Madam Ju. When he showed The Emperor the portrait, The Emperor confirmed it was Madam Ju," Zhenzhen said wistfully. She then told Zhao Ai in detail everything she knew about Madam Ju, Official Liu, and Zhang Yunqiao's connections, as well as how Crown Prince Zhuang Wen had explored the information about her origins with her.
"So, my elder brother's implication was that Zhang Yunqiao and Official Liu are your biological parents, and Madam Ju is your adoptive mother?" Zhao Ai asked.
Zhenzhen sighed softly. "That was the conclusion he inferred. Although he also mentioned the possibility that Madam Ju simply liked the name 'Zhenzhen' and gave me the name of Official Liu's daughter... he clearly thought that possibility was unlikely. He probably said it just to comfort me."
Zhao Ai neither agreed nor disagreed and continued to ask her about the events at Moon Rock. Zhenzhen said, "Along the way, His Highness seemed preoccupied and unhappy. He also spoke to me about Empress Anshu. That day, he missed his mother deeply. He talked about the affection between The Emperor and Empress Anshu, how Empress Anshu was poisoned by a maid sent by Grand Tutor Qi through food, how heartbroken The Emperor was, and how he planned for a long time to finally exact revenge."
"Planned for a long time, finally exacted revenge..." Zhao Ai pondered, then said after a moment, "But as everyone knows, Grand Tutor Qi died of illness."
Only then did Zhenzhen realize why the Crown Prince had abruptly stopped there and changed the topic: "So, Grand Tutor Qi was actually... by The Emperor? I had always heard that Zhang Yunqiao once treated Grand Tutor Qi but failed to cure him, and because of this, he was pursued by the Qi family.""After the turmoil surrounding Feng Jing's background, I also inquired about Zhang Yunqiao. I heard that because of his illicit affair with Official Liu, he fell under the suspicion of the late emperor, so he sought refuge with Grand Tutor Qi for protection and later became the most trusted physician by Grand Tutor Qi on his deathbed..." Zhao Ai said. "But I still remember when Father was investigating Feng Jing's background, the expression he had upon seeing the bathing ritual text written by Zhang Yunqiao. He blurted out 'Yunqiao,' immediately recognizing his handwriting, as if facing an old friend of many years... Father hated Qi Xun to the bone. If Zhang Yunqiao had truly defected to Qi Xun, how could Father have had such an attitude?"
"Yes, The Emperor also sent people multiple times to search for Imperial Physician Zhang and ordered his portrait to be hung in the Imperial Academy of Medicine alongside those of renowned physicians throughout history. If Imperial Physician Zhang had been part of the Qi faction, even if only in the past, The Emperor would certainly not have given him such treatment." Zhenzhen pondered and speculated, "So, Imperial Physician Zhang first sought refuge with Grand Tutor Qi and then deliberately... failed to cure his illness, acting under The Emperor's orders?"
Zhao Ai affirmed, "Very likely, which is why Elder Brother said 'long-planned, great vengeance achieved'... That day, after seeing Madam Ju's portrait, Father must have spoken with Elder Brother about the past, and that's why Elder Brother missed Mother so much."
Zhenzhen also found this reasoning plausible. Zhao Ai then asked Zhenzhen to recount the events that followed. Hearing her mention Consort Liu's moon worship to honor her father, he showed a slight surprise but did not interrupt, letting her continue.
"And then... until the night before his passing, His Highness seemed somewhat troubled and absent-minded..." Zhenzhen recalled the events of that night, her heart uncontrollably stirred, and her cheeks flushed, but she forced herself to remain composed and continued, "On the night before his passing, His Highness was reading in the Zhanlu Hall. When I entered, he was holding a scroll, staring at it in silent contemplation..."
"What book was he reading?" Zhao Ai interjected.
"The chapter on Jing Ke from 'Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of Assassins,'" Zhenzhen replied. "I approached to take a closer look, but His Highness wouldn't allow it. He placed the book back on the shelf, saying that since the tutor would mention it the next day during the lecture, he was reading it in advance."
"I also attended the lectures at the Eastern Palace back then. The tutors would inform us of their teaching content beforehand, but 'Records of the Grand Historian' was not among them," Zhao Ai recalled. He then stood up, walked to the bookshelf, took out a volume, opened it to a page, and handed it to Zhenzhen. "Is this it?"
Zhenzhen took the book and looked closely. The page before her was indeed the chapter on Jing Ke that the Crown Prince had been staring at that night.
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