The Palace Stewardess

As the sun set in the west, Zhao Ai followed Wei Qingxun to the Great Stone Buddha Monastery, accompanied by Yin Ti and a middle-aged woman.

Zhao Ai led Zhenzhen alone into a meditation room and told her, "After arriving in Lin'an, I learned that Yun Yinge had moved out of the Eastern Palace a year ago with Crown Princess Zhuang Wen and now lives in the residence bestowed upon the Crown Princess by the Emperor. Seizing the opportunity to deliver mountain delicacies from the Ningguo Estate to my elder sister-in-law, I found Yun Yinge and chatted with her, steering the conversation toward the congratulatory gift she gave you back then. She seemed completely unguarded, openly admitting that the gift she gave you was a pearl diadem. Then she mentioned my elder brother's passing, appearing quite sorrowful as she wiped away tears and said, 'I never imagined Crown Prince Zhuang Wen and Zhenzhen would be separated by life and death so soon. Poor Zhenzhen, who knows where she is now or whether she is safe.' I observed carefully, and her concern for you didn't seem feigned. If it was an act, her skill is truly profound."

"She has always been simple-hearted. Back then, if she had lied, she would have blushed and stammered, unable to deceive anyone," Zhenzhen sighed. "I suspect she truly doesn't know the secret of the pearl diadem... Did you ask her where she obtained it?"

"Of course I did," Zhao Ai replied. "She said she bought it at a high price from outside the palace, but when she mentioned this, her expression seemed somewhat unnatural. I wanted to press further, but then Crown Princess Zhuang Wen approached, and I couldn't continue the conversation... But it doesn't matter. Once Yang Zicheng enters the palace and reports the hidden details of this case to the Emperor, His Majesty will summon Yun Yinge for questioning. Today, the palace gates are already closed, so we cannot enter. I'll take you back to my princely residence first, and we'll enter the palace together early tomorrow morning."

Zhenzhen asked in surprise, "Me too? If I go so openly, won't I be captured and imprisoned before even nearing the palace gates?"

"Originally, I planned to have Yang Zicheng report to the Emperor first and then bring you in, but now the situation has changed..." Zhao Ai frowned. "Earlier, a eunuch from the Eastern Palace came to the Wei Princely Residence, saying that the Crown Princess had met the Lady of Xinan Commandery on her way back to the city and, feeling an instant connection, specially invited you to observe the ceremony in the palace tomorrow... Did you really meet her?"

Zhenzhen then told him about her chance encounter with Fengxian and added, "I was wearing a veil hat the whole time, so she didn't get a clear look at my face. But we spent many years together and know each other too well. Even though I deliberately changed my accent when speaking to her, she might still have recognized me. Now, with this special invitation, I don't know whether it bodes well or ill."

Zhao Ai pondered for a moment, his expression growing serious. "Ling Fengxian is quite suspicious. You once told me that the pearl diadem Yun Yinge gave you consisted of five pieces. On the day my elder brother passed away, you only wore the one on your forehead, leaving the rest in your room. After you were imprisoned, your small courtyard was sealed, and all your belongings were confiscated and stored in the treasury. Upon returning this time, I managed to investigate the items from your confiscated belongings. It turns out that after Ling Fengxian was designated as Crown Princess, she requested the Empress to grant her the jewelry you left behind, citing fond memories of sisterly affection and a desire to keep something as a memento. The Empress agreed, and among the jewelry bestowed upon her was this set of pearl diadem."

"You mean Fengxian might be connected to this pearl diadem?" This possibility was far beyond Zhenzhen's expectations. Instinctively, she resisted linking Fengxian to the matter, yet a shadow of doubt began to stir in her heart."Whether it is related or not, we will know after questioning Yun Yinge tomorrow." Zhao Ai continued, "Since the Crown Princess has personally extended the invitation, refusing would be a grave act of disrespect. There is no avoiding it, so I went to find Yin Ti. The patrols of the Imperial City Bureau often need to disguise themselves when gathering intelligence in the city, and there are specialists skilled in makeup and disguise. I asked Yin Ti to find one, and that is the woman outside. Later, I will ask her to apply makeup for you and Yang Zicheng, so that no one can recognize your true appearances. Tomorrow, you will accompany me into the palace. The seats for the consorts of princes are far from the imperial throne, so it is unlikely that anyone will recognize you for a while. The Transport Commissioner of Zhejiang East Circuit has presented a batch of rare delicacies to The Emperor, which will be delivered to the imperial kitchen early tomorrow morning. To prevent Yang Zicheng from being recognized and pursued, before entering the imperial city, I will have Yin Ti arrange for him to disguise himself as a minor official transporting goods, blending into the crowd to enter the imperial kitchen. After the wedding ceremony concludes and the banquet is about to begin, The Emperor, the Empress, and the Crown Prince and his consort will each return to their respective chambers to change attire. At that time, I will bring Yang Zicheng into the Hall of Blessing and Tranquility to meet The Emperor."

The woman brought by Yin Ti was indeed highly skilled in the art of disguise. After applying powders, rouge, and dark pigments to Zhenzhen's face, Zhenzhen looked into the mirror and felt as though she were facing a stranger. The onlookers marveled, all saying they could not recognize her at all.

Last year, The Emperor had bestowed an estate outside the palace to Zhao Ai. Tonight, Zhao Ai took Zhenzhen back to the prince's residence and entrusted Yang Zicheng to Yin Ti, instructing him to ensure Yang Zicheng's safety and to have him disguised and sent into the imperial kitchen the next day.

At the fourth watch, the woman returned to apply makeup for Zhenzhen and helped her put on the ceremonial attire of a commandery consort. Then, as planned, Zhao Ai escorted Zhenzhen through the palace gates. Zhenzhen took her place in the queue of inner and outer court ladies according to her rank, awaiting the Crown Princess's entry into the imperial city.

After dawn, Zhao Hao, who had left the palace to personally welcome the Crown Princess, returned to the imperial city with Fengxian in a golden carriage drawn by six red horses. The carriage stood over eighteen feet tall, shaped like a square chamber and adorned with gold and silver. With 154 attendants leading the procession, it entered the Lizheng Gate in a grand display. The Crown Prince and his consort descended from the golden carriage and, guided by the Chief Eunuch and the Chief of Palace Surveillance, walked one after the other toward the Great Celebration Hall.

The inner and outer court ladies knelt in two rows to welcome the Crown Princess, with Zhenzhen among them. As Fengxian passed before Zhenzhen, Zhenzhen slightly raised her head to look at her. Fengxian was dressed in ceremonial robes, wearing a floral crown adorned with eighteen large and small flowers, with two broad side locks. She walked gracefully without glancing sideways, her slightly upturned chin giving her an air of pride, with no trace of the humble demeanor she once had as a palace attendant.

In that brief glance, Zhenzhen also noticed that Fengxian wore pearl diadems on her face—one on her forehead, two at her temples, and two beside her lips, five in total. The shape and color of the pearl diadems appeared almost identical to the set she had once owned.

Could she be using the ones I left behind? This thought flashed through Zhenzhen's mind, but she quickly dismissed it: the Crown Princess's wedding was such a grand occasion; how could she use pearl diadems left behind by a palace attendant awaiting punishment? This set was likely just similar.

The Emperor, wearing the Tongtian Crown and crimson gauze robes, presided over the ceremony in the Wende Hall. The ceremonial officials read aloud the edict appointing the Crown Princess, and the Crown Prince and his consort bowed in gratitude to His Majesty. The wedding proceeded smoothly according to ritual. After the ceremony concluded, the Emperor returned to the Hall of Blessing and Tranquility, while the Crown Prince and his consort returned to the Eastern Palace to change into ceremonial attire for the upcoming grand banquet. Zhao Ai immediately arranged for Zhenzhen to wait outside the Hall of Blessing and Tranquility for a summons, while he found Yang Zicheng and personally escorted him into the hall to request an audience with The Emperor.The Emperor was utterly astonished upon first seeing Yang Zicheng, repeatedly asking what had happened back then and why he had disappeared. With tears streaming down his face, Yang Zicheng prostrated himself on the ground, pleading with The Emperor to dismiss all unrelated personnel. Only then did he recount everything that had occurred before Crown Prince Zhuang Wen's passing, starting from when the Crown Prince had tasked him with investigating Zhenzhen's origins. He continued up to the point where he was pursued by assassins after the Crown Prince's death, forcing him to flee Lin'an, though he temporarily omitted any mention of Consort Liu.

Weeping as he spoke, his account was intricate and chaotic, leaving The Emperor thoroughly confused. The Emperor first addressed one matter: "Are you saying that Wu Zhenzhen is most likely the daughter of Zhang Yunqiao and Liu Mingchu, later adopted by Madam Ju and raised in Pujiang?"

Yang Zicheng confirmed this, adding, "Back then, Crown Prince Zhuang Wen ordered me to hand over the documents and evidence related to Wu Zhenzhen's origins to Secretary Meng for transcription. Secretary Meng should still have them preserved. Your Majesty may wish to retrieve them for review."

The Emperor sighed, "After Wu Zhenzhen disappeared into West Lake, I sent people to search inside and outside Lin'an. Meng Yunxiu then came to plead with me to spare Zhenzhen and presented those documents for me to see. Thus, I did not order further pursuit of Zhenzhen, thinking that if she were indeed Zhang Yunqiao's daughter, it might be fate's will for me to grant her a chance at life."

Yang Zicheng continued, "Before Crown Prince Zhuang Wen passed away, he and Wu Zhenzhen had already fallen deeply in love, their hearts devoted to each other. Crown Prince Zhuang Wen trusted me and never concealed their relationship from me. I also witnessed how distraught Wu Zhenzhen was when the Crown Prince was poisoned by mushrooms, and how she tirelessly worked to help him inside and out. Therefore, I understood Zhenzhen's feelings for Crown Prince Zhuang Wen—she could not possibly have intended to harm him. Moreover, Crown Prince Zhuang Wen was the heir apparent; in the future, Wu Zhenzhen could have become a consort, with a promising future ahead. By reason or emotion, she had no motive to harm her own husband. After Crown Prince Zhuang Wen's passing, assassins soon came after me, and I knew then that they must have been sent by the true culprit."

"Do you know who the culprit is?" The Emperor pressed.

Yang Zicheng replied, "I only have some suspicions and dare not speak of them outright. Wu Zhenzhen is waiting outside the hall. There are more important matters that she should report to Your Majesty."

The Emperor widened his eyes in surprise, "Wu Zhenzhen has returned to the palace?"

At this moment, Zhao Ai, standing nearby, raised his voice and instructed the eunuch outside the door, "Summon Lady Xinan Commandery to enter the hall."

Upon hearing the summons, Zhenzhen entered the hall unhurriedly and performed a grand bow to The Emperor.

The Emperor understood, "So you are the concubine my second son took in. Song Taosheng is your alias."

"I am Wu Zhenzhen," Zhenzhen calmly responded. "I was swept away by the floodwaters back then but was fortunately rescued. I left Lin'an and returned to Ningguo Prefecture, where I lived as a child. Later, I met the Prince of Wei, and we have always treated each other with propriety. Using the title of Lady Xinan Commandery to enter the palace was merely a temporary measure. I and the Prince of Wei are not married."

The Emperor scrutinized her coldly but did not press further on the matter, simply commanding, "Tell me everything you know about what happened back then."

Zhenzhen began by recounting how Crown Prince Zhuang Wen had helped her investigate her origins, mentioning the Crown Prince's suspicions and surveillance of Cheng Yuan. She then detailed how she and the Crown Prince had witnessed Consort Liu and Madam Yu performing moonlit rituals. Hearing this, The Emperor immediately furrowed his brow.

At this point, Yang Zicheng interjected from the side, "Crown Prince Zhuang Wen subsequently ordered me to investigate Consort Liu's father's birthday. I discovered that the date was not Liu Kun's death anniversary but rather... Qi Xi's..."

The Emperor was utterly shocked and slammed the table heavily, "Do you know what you are saying?"Yang Zicheng immediately prostrated himself and pleaded earnestly, "I dare not lie. This matter is of great importance. If I speak a single false word, may I suffer the punishment of dismemberment and lingering death."

The Emperor closed his eyes, his chest heaving uncontrollably. It took a while for his expression to ease slightly before he turned to Zhenzhen and said, "What happened afterward? Continue."

Zhenzhen lowered her eyes sorrowfully, struggling to compose herself. After a long pause, she slowly recounted how, after she and Crown Prince Zhuang Wen had grown intimate that night, the Crown Prince had taken the pearl diadem into his mouth to taste the breath-activated adhesive. She then spoke of discovering the snake venom at the Ningguo Estate and how it might be related, concluding with Han Suwen's confirmation using the hamster.

Zhao Ai summoned Han Suwen, who had been waiting outside the hall, and presented the pearl diadem still tainted with the toxin to the Emperor. Zhao Ai then bowed deeply and said, "Father, snake venom has been listed as a forbidden substance by the Imperial Academy of Medicine, making it extremely difficult for anyone in the palace to obtain it. Later, I had someone investigate and found that Cheng Yuan has been using snake venom to treat his headaches for years. He has privately hired several snake catchers to provide him with venomous snakes over a long period."

"So, are you suggesting that the one who harmed Crown Prince Zhuang Wen was Consort Liu or Cheng Yuan?" the Emperor asked.

"To determine who is involved, we must trace the origin of the pearl diadem," Zhenzhen said. "That diadem was given to me by the palace attendant Yun Yinge. Summon her for questioning, and we will know where it came from."

Yun Yinge had also been brought into the palace that day by Crown Princess Zhuang Wen and was currently in the Empress's hall. The Emperor immediately ordered Zhang Zhibei to send someone to bring her to the Hall of Blessing and Tranquility.

Unaware of what was happening, Yun Yinge entered the hall and, seeing the stern expressions on everyone's faces, immediately fell to her knees in fright. Zhao Ai questioned her about the origin of the pearl diadem, and she dared not conceal the truth any longer. With tears streaming down her face, she confessed, "It was Fengxian... no, the current Crown Princess who gave it to me. At the time, she said she wanted to thank me for my care and guidance and gave me this pearl diadem. Seeing how valuable it was and knowing Zhenzhen's joyous occasion was approaching, I passed it on to her."

"The Crown Princess?" the Emperor frowned and asked. "Where did she obtain it? Did she know you were going to give it to Zhenzhen?"

"She knew. I told her I planned to give it to Zhenzhen, and she didn't object, saying that once she gave it to me, I could do as I pleased with it," Yun Yinge sobbed. "But I don't know where she got it from."

The Emperor called for a eunuch outside the door, intending to send him to summon the Crown Princess. At that moment, however, an Eastern Palace attendant rushed in frantically, knelt before the Emperor, and reported, "Just now, the Fourth Prince and the Crown Princess suddenly vomited and fainted in the Eastern Palace. They are now unconscious. The imperial physician says it appears they have been poisoned."

The Fourth Prince was the young prince Zhao Jiao, born to Consort Liu. Today, Consort Liu claimed to have caught a cold and was bedridden in her chamber, unable to attend the ceremony, but she allowed the nurse to take Zhao Jiao and Princess Ruying to the Eastern Palace to witness the grandeur of the wedding.

Upon hearing that Zhao Jiao might have been poisoned, the Emperor grew both anxious and furious. He immediately stood up and angrily demanded an explanation from the eunuch, who replied that the imperial physician had yet to determine the cause of the poisoning. Zhenzhen suddenly recalled the pearl diadem Fengxian had used earlier and mentioned this suspicion to the Emperor. The Emperor immediately roared, "Go! Follow me to the Eastern Palace."Upon arriving at the Eastern Palace, they found the place in utter chaos. Many palace attendants had gathered in the Crown Princess's bedchamber, calling out and weeping over the unconscious Fengxian and Zhao Jiao. Several imperial physicians stood with furrowed brows, occasionally consulting or arguing among themselves, while eunuchs hurried about, appearing anxious and busy, though it was unclear what they were actually doing. Princess Ruying cried incessantly in her wet nurse's arms, and Zhao Hao sat dejectedly before Fengxian's bed, his eyes red as if he had just been weeping.

The Emperor first went to check on Zhao Jiao's condition, while Zhenzhen approached Fengxian. Bending down to examine her, she noticed that the pearl diadem had been removed from Fengxian's face.

"Where is the Crown Princess's pearl diadem?" Zhenzhen asked the maid attending Fengxian's bedside.

The maid replied, "Upon returning to the Eastern Palace, the Crown Princess immediately removed the pearl diadem. Later, the Fourth Prince played with it for a while."

"Did he put it in his mouth?" Zhenzhen pressed further.

"Ah, yes, yes!" Before the maid could answer, Zhao Jiao's wet nurse suddenly realized and stepped forward to answer Zhenzhen's question. "While the Crown Princess was removing her makeup, the Fourth Prince and the Princess were chasing and playing in the hall. Suddenly, the Fourth Prince fell, cutting his lip and bleeding a little. He cried out in pain, so the Crown Princess beckoned him over, held him in her arms, and showed him the jewelry she had taken off to comfort him. The Fourth Prince was particularly fond of the pearl diadem the Crown Princess had worn in her hair. He picked it up to play with and eventually put it in his mouth. The Crown Princess quickly urged him to spit it out, but the Fourth Prince refused. Instead, he picked up another piece and offered it to the Crown Princess's mouth, saying it was sweet and asking her to taste it. The Crown Princess initially didn't want to, but the Fourth Prince, being a child, insisted on pushing the pearl diadem into her mouth. She had no choice but to taste it and also said it was sweet, after which the Fourth Prince allowed her to spit it out. They chatted for a while longer, and then the Fourth Prince began vomiting. The Crown Princess hurriedly arranged for a physician, but soon after, she also started vomiting and then fell unconscious along with the Fourth Prince..."

Zhenzhen instructed the maid to quickly find all the pearl diadems Fengxian had removed. She then parted Fengxian's lips to examine her oral condition. Seeing that Fengxian's gums were swollen and red, with signs of bleeding, she asked the maid if the Crown Princess had been suffering from internal heat recently. The maid replied, "Yes. The Crown Princess traveled a long way back to Lin'an and hasn't been resting well at night, so she developed some internal heat and has had a toothache for several days."

Zhenzhen immediately sought out the imperial physician Guo Siqi and asked him to treat the Fourth Prince and the Crown Princess with an antidote for snake venom. Guo Siqi complied, preparing a decoction for the two to take. After a while, Fengxian's eyelids began to twitch, and she started moaning, while Zhao Jiao still showed no response. The Emperor grew increasingly anxious and repeatedly questioned Guo Siqi about whether the medicine was correct. Guo Siqi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the medicine must be tailored to the specific ailment to ensure effectiveness. At present, we only know that the poison may be snake venom, but we have no idea which snake's venom it is or the dosage. We can only provide conservative treatment. If we can identify the specifics, we will know how to better administer the antidote."

"Cheng Yuan!" The Emperor suddenly remembered Cheng Yuan, whom Zhenzhen and the others had mentioned earlier, and shouted, "Arrest Cheng Yuan immediately!""Your Majesty, this must not be done!" Zhang Zhibei, the Chief Palace Attendant who had followed him, knelt and advised, "Cheng Yuan is currently serving the Empress Dowager in Cifu Palace. If we arrest him for this matter, it would be tantamount to declaring to the world that the Empress Dowager is involved in the plot to harm the princes. Firstly, the Empress Dowager might not allow us to enter Cifu Palace to arrest him. Secondly, even if Cheng Yuan is captured, to save his own life and protect the Empress Dowager, he will firmly deny any involvement and will not reveal how to detoxify the poison."

Yang Zicheng also concurred, "Chief Attendant Zhang speaks wisely. It is indeed not appropriate to go to Cifu Palace to arrest Cheng Yuan under the pretext of investigating the princes' poisoning at this moment."

"Then what do you suggest?" the Emperor roared.

At this moment, Zhenzhen stepped forward, bowed to the Emperor, and said, "This humble servant has a method that may resolve this matter. I beg Your Majesty to return to the Hall of Blessing and Tranquility first, and then allow me to present my proposal."

The Emperor, now at a loss and seeing the determined, confident look in Zhenzhen's eyes, had no choice but to grant her request.

Upon returning to the Hall of Blessing and Tranquility, Zhenzhen solemnly raised her hands to her forehead, knelt before the Emperor, and said gravely, "I, the Palace Provisioner Wu, recommend myself for the position of Palace Commandant, to investigate the truth behind the poisoning of Crown Prince Zhuang Wen, the Fourth Prince, and the Crown Princess on Your Majesty's behalf, and to cleanse the palace of corruption. I beseech Your Majesty to grant me this favor and approve my request."

The Emperor was utterly astonished. "What did you say? Palace Commandant?"

"Yes," Zhenzhen calmly lifted her head, meeting the Emperor's gaze, and said clearly, "Only the Palace Commandant has the authority to oversee the palace attendants of both the Northern and Southern Inner Palaces, and can rightfully enter Cifu Palace to investigate without fear of opposition from the Empress Dowager."

"The Palace Commandant oversees only female officials and palace attendants, not eunuchs like Cheng Yuan," the Emperor questioned.

"Cheng Yuan's crimes are not limited to poisoning. He is also suspected of unlawfully imprisoning Madam Ju. Madam Ju was a palace attendant of the late Emperor, falling under the jurisdiction of the Palace Commandant. I will first enter Cifu Palace under the pretext of investigating Madam Ju's case, then persuade the Empress Dowager to hand over Cheng Yuan. At that point, whether he is handed over to the Censorate and the Ministry of Justice for interrogation, or Your Majesty issues an edict to establish a special tribunal, will be entirely up to Your Majesty." Zhenzhen calmly laid out her plan. Seeing the Emperor remain noncommittal, she added, "The case of Madam Ju not only involves the matter of Crown Prince Zhuang Wen but is also related to the whereabouts of Imperial Physician Zhang. If Your Majesty appoints me as Palace Commandant, I can uncover the mystery of Imperial Physician Zhang's disappearance and personally bring him before Your Majesty."

After a moment of silence, the Emperor asked in a low voice, "Are you truly confident you can uncover the truth behind all these matters?"

"I am confident," Zhenzhen declared resolutely. "I have already pieced together many things. Now, I only need to interrogate those involved to verify them. I am also implicated in these cases, and perhaps I should not be the one investigating them. However, no one understands the intricacies better than I do. If I lead the investigation, I can ensure the results are accurate and swift. Moreover, I can first swear to Your Majesty that I will uphold justice impartially and will not conceal or omit any truth due to personal feelings."

Seeing the Emperor still hesitant, Zhenzhen bowed again and continued her plea: "I only need one day—to serve as Palace Commandant for one day, twelve hours. Within this day, I will uncover all the truth. Tomorrow, I will resign and await punishment, kneeling on a straw mat, ready for Your Majesty to determine my guilt and punishment for my responsibilities in the case of Crown Prince Zhuang Wen and for today's presumption."The Emperor pondered for a moment, then raised his arm and pointed toward the southwest. He said to Zhenzhen, "Face the direction of Crown Prince Zhuang Wen's resting place and swear to him that if you become Palace Commandant, you will adjudicate cases impartially, never violate the laws of the state, never show favoritism, and never seek personal gain."

Zhenzhen immediately turned toward the direction he indicated and bowed solemnly once more. Word by word, she swore, "Your Highness, if Zhenzhen is appointed as Palace Commandant, I will adjudicate cases impartially, never violate the laws of the state, never show favoritism, and never seek personal gain. Should I break this oath, may I suffer the torment of ten thousand snakes devouring my flesh, fall into the Avici Hell, and for all eternity, never meet Your Highness again."

As she spoke the final sentence, her voice trembled slightly, and a glimmer of tears welled up in her eyes as she stared straight ahead.

Seeing this, the Emperor sighed inwardly, then raised his voice to summon Zhang Zhibei, who was waiting outside. He instructed, "Summon the scholar on duty and have him draft the decree: appoint Wu Zhenzhen, the Palace Provisioner, as the fourth-rank Palace Commandant. Her term shall begin from the hour of the Goat today and last for twelve hours."