Zhao Ai knew that the interrogation that night was extraordinary, and had been waiting outside the kitchen of the Bureau of Palace Provisions with Zhang Zhibei. He overheard most of the conversation between the mother and daughter inside. Finally, hearing Zhenzhen burst into loud weeping, he quickly entered, checked Qiu Niang’s pupils and breathing, realized there was no hope of saving her, and immediately had Zhang Zhibei summon the imperial physician for examination and preparations for the burial.
He silently stayed with Zhenzhen, waiting until she had wept for a long while before softly suggesting, “You are too exhausted today. Leave matters here to me. I will speak with The Emperor tomorrow about Madam Ju’s confession. You should go and rest first.”
Hearing this, Zhenzhen was momentarily stunned, then stopped her sobs. Gently laying down Qiu Niang from her embrace, she wiped away her tears, stood up, and said, “I will go now to record Madam Ju’s confession.”
Zhao Ai wanted to persuade her further, but she waved him off and walked toward the main hall of the Bureau of Palace Provisions, leaving behind these words: “This is my duty.”
At noon, she submitted the contents of the investigation from the previous day and the related confession transcripts to the Emperor. As promised, during the hour of the goat, she removed her official headdress and robes, dressed in plain white clothing, and knelt on a straw mat before the Hall of Blessing and Tranquility to await punishment.
The Emperor summoned her into the hall and said to her, “Although the Pearl Diadem was brought before Crown Prince Zhuang Wen by you, you were unaware of Consort Liu’s conspiracy. Even if there was negligence, you exposed the truth of Consort Liu’s background and prevented her and Madam Yu’s plot to usurp the throne, which is akin to removing the sword hanging over my head. Thus, your merits offset your faults. Moreover, you are Zhang Yunqiao’s daughter. In the past, he eliminated traitors for the state at great cost—his future, his reputation, and his untimely death are all connected to this. Had your mother, Liu Mingchu, not revealed Qi Xun’s conspiracy to me, she would not have met such a tragic end. Whether in reason or in righteousness, I cannot harm their daughter. Therefore, all grievances involving you are now erased, and you may still live an ordinary, peaceful life. If you are willing, you may also remain in the palace as a female official. However, to formally become the Palace Commandant, your experience is still too shallow. Start first as the Director of Palace Catering.”
Zhenzhen bowed in gratitude for the Emperor’s grace but requested, “I beg Your Majesty to show mercy and allow me to leave the palace and return to life among the common people.”
“You wish to leave the palace?” The Emperor pondered briefly before asking again, “Is it because you wish to be with Second Brother? Forgive my bluntness, if you had not shared that past affection with Crown Prince Zhuang Wen, I could have granted you and Second Brother your wish, posthumously bestowing your father a high-ranking official title and allowing Second Brother to marry you as his wife. But now, among the imperial clan and nobility, everyone knows you once served Crown Prince Zhuang Wen. You and Second Brother can no longer become husband and wife. However, I have heard a little about Song Taosheng assisting the Prince of Wei in the Ningguo Estate. With Second Brother serving as an official outside the capital, having such a virtuous partner is indeed fortunate. If you go with him to Mingzhou, you will still be the Lady of Xinan Commandery, Song Taosheng.”
Zhenzhen replied, “My wish to leave the palace is not to seek marriage, but because I feel that compared to the splendor of the nine-layered palace, I look forward more to the willows greening year after year along the riverbanks. I love to see the tender green seedlings, the busy waterwheels, the morning light spilling over the crisscrossing paths between fields, and the wheat fields shimmering like liquid gold under the setting sun... I was born in the countryside. To gallop freely along the paths, welcoming the fragrance of grass and trees carried on the breeze—that is the life I hope to have.”"Riding horses on the country roads..." The Emperor mused, gradually revealing a faint smile. "Back in the day, Yunqiao, Lin Yu, and I also rode together on those country roads, laughing and chatting amidst the willow-swept breeze. Before Yunqiao became a royal physician, he had treated many farmers among the common folk. Along the way, numerous people recognized him and eagerly offered him freshly harvested vegetables and fruits. Both Lin Yu and I sighed in admiration, saying Yunqiao's practice of medicine to aid the world had accumulated immense merit, while we were merely scholars, seemingly useless in every way. Yunqiao then said, 'Actually, you are also aiding the world through your work—it's just that I heal people, while what you save is the fate of the nation.'"
He sighed softly, blinked, pulling his distant thoughts back to the present, and looked at Zhenzhen again. "I agree to let you leave the palace. Where will you go afterward? What are your plans?"
Zhenzhen replied, "I wish to bury my father's remains with my mother, allowing him to rest in Lin'an. Then, I will escort my adoptive mother's coffin back to Pujiang and bury her somewhere not far from the Suitable Treasure Tower."
The Emperor asked, "Was the name 'Suitable Treasure Tower' given by Madam Ju?"
Zhenzhen confirmed it was.
The Emperor fell silent for a moment before saying, "'Food has no fixed taste; what suits the palate is precious'—this was a principle often spoken by the late emperor to those around him."
Seeing Zhenzhen remain silent, the Emperor suggested, "Would it not be better to bury Madam Ju in Lin'an? She grew up here. If she is buried here as well, you wouldn't have to travel between two places during the Qingming Festival to pay respects."
"I believe she would prefer to be buried in Pujiang," Zhenzhen said. "She spent the most peaceful years of her life there, and there are many people there who genuinely loved and remember her."
"And afterward, what will you do?" the Emperor asked again.
Zhenzhen lowered her gaze. "I'm not certain yet. Perhaps I'll continue running a restaurant, or maybe rest for a while, then record the dishes I know how to make and compile them into a book. That way, even after I pass away, people can still follow my recipes, ensuring these culinary techniques are passed down."
"That's an excellent idea," the Emperor encouraged with a smile. "Write it down, have it printed, and sign it as 'Palace Commandant Lady Zhang.' Many people will surely read it."
"No," Zhenzhen looked up at the Emperor and said firmly, "I will sign it as 'Lady Wu of Pujiang.'"
After Consort Liu took her own life, the Empress took Princess Ruying under her care. Sympathizing with Grandma Song's plight, she ordered a residence to be found for her not far outside the imperial city, provided her with two maidservants, and allowed her to visit Ruying in the palace regularly.Before leaving the palace, Zhenzhen made a special trip to the Kunning Hall to bid farewell and express gratitude to the Empress. The Empress asked if she truly intended not to serve as a female official anymore. Zhenzhen nodded in confirmation, and the Empress sighed softly. After dismissing the attendants, she spoke to Zhenzhen with heartfelt sincerity: "Since Fengxian became the Crown Princess, her temperament has grown fiercer than before. Yesterday, the Crown Prince summoned several dancers to perform in the Eastern Palace. Xiangli'er danced the best, and he praised her a few times. When Fengxian heard about it, she called Xiangli'er to her chambers and ordered someone to whip her calves until she could no longer walk. She even forbade others from helping her. Xiangli'er crawled out of the Eastern Palace on her own before someone finally sent her back to the Immortal Music Academy... After hearing this, I summoned Fengxian for questioning, but she defended herself vehemently, claiming her actions were meant to deter seductive individuals from tempting the Crown Prince into indulging in pleasures. After she left, someone informed me that during the year she returned to her maternal home, several of her father's concubines died one after another—some by suicide, others in unexpected accidents... So many deaths in just one year—isn't that too much of a coincidence? Alas, I have an ominous feeling that the palace may not remain peaceful in the future. You and she have been sisters for many years. If you could stay in the palace and offer more guidance, perhaps she might restrain herself somewhat. And if her actions go too far, I believe you could also devise ways to help me manage her."
Zhenzhen replied, "Now that there is a clear distinction in status between her and me, it is no longer appropriate for me to advise her as a sister. Even if I stayed in the palace, there would be little I could do. As her mother-in-law, if she makes mistakes, Your Majesty should speak plainly and punish her as necessary. Do not be overly lenient, lest she gain the audacity to overstep her bounds. I believe that although she is strong-willed, she knows how to weigh the pros and cons and would not do anything too extreme. If one day she truly stirs up a storm, as long as Your Majesty summons me, I am willing to return to the palace and lend a hand."
As soon as Zhenzhen stepped out of the Kunning Hall, an attendant from the Eastern Palace approached and invited her to visit, saying the Crown Princess wished to speak with her.
Upon seeing Zhenzhen, Fengxian greeted her with a warm smile and inquired about her well-being. She took Zhenzhen's hand and led her into the inner chamber before fixing her gaze on her and asking, "Why did the Empress summon you to the Kunning Hall? Was it to ask you to stay and serve as a female official?"
Zhenzhen denied it, saying, "She only asked about my plans after leaving the palace."
Fengxian said, "You and I share a deep sisterly bond. Now that I have a promising future, I will not forget you. You could stay by my side, and whenever we encounter any difficulties, we can work together to resolve them. In the future, if I become Empress, I will surely appoint you as Palace Commandant, and together we will wield authority over the inner palace."
"Sisters..." Zhenzhen repeated the word with a faint smile. "Did Your Highness forget we were sisters when you sent out the Pearl Diadem?"
Fengxian's expression changed abruptly. "What are you saying? Do you suspect me? If I had known the Pearl Diadem was poisoned, why would I have tasted the one the Fourth Prince handed me, nearly losing my life to the potent toxin?"
"Yes, everyone thinks so, including me," Zhenzhen said. "I thought the same until I accidentally heard that before the Fourth Prince and the Princess entered the hall, you had spilled hair oil and ordered the floor to be polished until it was so smooth even a fly could slip on it."
"Are you going to tell The Emperor?" Fengxian sneered. "That was merely a coincidence."Zhenzhen shook her head. "I won't speak of it. Without further evidence, this can only be a coincidence. I am leaving the palace, and from now on we will be worlds apart, likely with little chance of meeting again. The Fengxian in my heart remains the sister who cared for her younger sister in the Suitable Treasure Tower. I hope the thousands of medical books you have read will preserve your compassion as a healer, not merely teach you to recognize poisons."
She raised her hands to her forehead in a farewell bow to Fengxian, then slowly retreated, leaving the Eastern Palace under Fengxian's silent gaze.
Upon returning to Lin'an, Zhao Ai naturally faced renewed pressure to marry. After handling major palace affairs, the Emperor personally settled Zhao Ai's marriage, this time without discussion, directly arranging a betrothal. Strangely, however, the young lady in question requested to meet Zhao Ai first.
Arranged by the Empress, the two met on a boat in Little West Lake. Zhao Ai sat idly at the bow of a small skiff, drifting on the lake for a long time before a painted pleasure boat slowly approached. Glancing sideways, he saw a youth in white wearing a folded headscarf, holding a folding fan at an angle, standing with hands clasped behind his back outside the cabin, facing away. Only when the two boats were nearly touching did he turn around and flash Zhao Ai a bright smile. "Second Great King, what a pleasure. What brings you here today?"
It was Wei Qingxun.
Zhao Ai glanced at him and said irritably, "A matchmaking meeting."
"What a coincidence, so am I," Wei Qingxun replied with a leisurely smile.
Zhao Ai studied her smile hesitantly, then suddenly jumped up in shock. "It's actually you!"
The boat was small, and his sudden movement upset its balance, causing it to rock violently. Zhao Ai stumbled, nearly falling into the lake.
Wei Qingxun smiled and extended her folding fan toward him. "Come aboard my boat. Though not large, it's spacious enough for two to converse."
Zhao Ai glanced briefly at the eunuch rowing behind him, signaling him to draw closer to the pleasure boat, then leaped aboard himself without touching Wei Qingxun's fan.
Zhao Ai entered the cabin and sat down without ceremony. Wei Qingxun followed slowly, taking a seat opposite him. "We are both straightforward people, so let's skip the pleasantries. I know you don't want to marry any woman other than Zhenzhen, and I have no desire to marry any man. But both our fathers are forcing us into marriage. After some thought, I believe these two dilemmas might be resolved into a mutually beneficial arrangement."
"How so?" Zhao Ai asked.
Wei Qingxun explained, "We will proceed with the wedding as scheduled. Afterward, you go to Mingzhou, and I return to Ningguofu. If we must return to Lin'an for holidays or festivals, we will come together. For events like palace banquets, I will cooperate fully, so others will see us as a 'harmonious couple.' Then we will continue living separately. The wedding won't take place for another year or so. During that time, you are free to marry Zhenzhen—I won't interfere. I have only one condition: after our marriage, you must never share a bed with me. Even on our wedding night, though we must share a room, you cannot sleep on the same bed as me. I will take the bed, and you will sleep on the floor."
"Sharing a bed wouldn't matter," Zhao Ai couldn't help but laugh. "To me, you seem even more like a man than Lin Hong. I wouldn't touch you."
Wei Qingxun took no offense and asked, "So it's settled?"
"But there is one issue," Zhao Ai hesitated. "If you become my nominal principal wife, any children Zhenzhen bears in the future would have to call you 'Mother' or 'Madam,' while they could only call her 'Sister'...""It's fine," Wei Qingxun said unhurriedly, gently waving her folding fan. "The children can call Zhenzhen 'Mama' and me 'Daddy'."
Zhao Ai widened his eyes. "How absurd! If they call you 'Daddy,' then what should they call me?"
"They can call you 'Father'—it's no trouble," Wei Qingxun replied with a laugh. "Your Highness, I also have an estate that needs an heir. Having the children call me Daddy brings only benefits, no harm."
Seeing Zhao Ai fall silent, Wei Qingxun urged, "Does Your Highness agree? Where else could you find such a magnanimous principal wife? If you hesitate any longer, I might just call off the engagement."
"Actually, titles are trivial matters," Zhao Ai said, lifting his head and looking at her sincerely. "If you marry me, but we aren't truly husband and wife, wouldn't that ruin your entire life?"
"I'm not marrying you," Wei Qingxun said seriously. "What I'm marrying, and what you're marrying, is freedom."
Zhao Ai pondered for a moment, then said to her, "Let's proceed as you wish. But I promise you this: in the future, if you ever meet someone you truly care for, I will grant you a divorce at any time, so you can marry that person."
"Why do people always refuse to believe that some of us simply don't need marriage?" Wei Qingxun said. "A life like my mother's—a wealthy noblewoman—is predictable from the start: vying for favor, bearing children, scheming against others or being schemed against. That has never been what I wanted."
Seeing Zhao Ai's expression grow somber, she smiled again, picked up the wine jug from the table, poured two cups of rose dew, and handed one to Zhao Ai. "Come, since this matchmaking has gone so smoothly, let's drink a toast to celebrate!"
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