"This suggests that child could have been Feng Jing?" Zhao Ai exclaimed in surprise, then immediately dismissed the idea himself. "What utter nonsense!"
Zhao Xi said, "My initial reaction was exactly like yours. Later, Wang Muze explained the whole story to me in detail... Consort Li was very young at the time, with narrow hips and poor health. The imperial physicians had long warned that childbirth would be extremely dangerous for her, but she still desperately wanted a child of her own. Our mother had already given birth to two sons and was soon expecting her third. When Consort Li became pregnant, she naturally saw this child as her greatest hope in life and was determined to carry it to term no matter what. Her family often visited her, and even in front of others, they would openly say she must bear a son..." At this point, Zhao Xi gave a cold smile. "Because our mother's health was poor and had worsened with each pregnancy, the Li family believed that if anything happened to our mother, Consort Li would be the most likely to take her place. A son was the most important condition for her to be elevated to the principal wife in the future, and she had to give birth to a son before any other concubines. Although Father was only a prince at the time, everyone in the court and beyond understood that he would eventually become the crown prince, and even the Emperor. Therefore, the position of his principal wife was of utmost importance."
Zhao Ai began to understand. "Are you saying that Consort Li was encouraged by her family to switch the babies?"
Zhao Xi nodded. "Her pregnancy was unstable from the start, with constant health issues. At one point, she even slipped and fell in the snow. Every time the imperial physicians examined her, they said her pulse was weak... For the last few months, she was mostly confined to her bed. Coincidentally, her younger sister, who had married into the Feng family, was also pregnant and due around the same time... As the delivery approached, she was in labor for three days and three nights. On the final night, it was said she lost consciousness several times, and the situation was extremely critical. During those two days, Father had been summoned to the palace by Grandfather to discuss state affairs and had not returned. In the prince's residence, people only saw midwives and maidservants going in and out of the delivery room, carrying soup and water, their expressions grave. The Li family also sent messengers several times to report news of Consort Li's sister's delivery. In the middle of the night, faint cries of a baby could be heard from the delivery room, but they soon fell silent. A physician named Zhou came out and announced that Consort Li had given birth to a son. The eunuchs in Consort Li's quarters were overjoyed and immediately sent someone to deliver the customary gifts for royal relatives, the 'Bath Child Buns,' to the Li family to announce the news. Soon after, the Li family sent people with various gifts, saying that Consort Li's sister had given birth to a daughter that day... The gifts they exchanged included not only gold and silver but also wine, food, dried fruits, and fresh fruits. By then, it was nearly midnight. When Wang Muze saw them transporting the gifts near the gate of the prince's residence, he found it strange. Usually, gifts for royal relatives were exchanged during the day, not rushed at midnight... Most of the gifts were packed in lacquered boxes, but the seasonal fruits were placed in bamboo-woven Food Hampers, the standardized ones provided by the Inner Treasury, each about a foot tall. Muze said that when the bamboo-woven Food Hamper being sent to the Feng family passed by him, he thought he heard a baby's cry, but when he listened again, there was nothing. He dismissed it as his imagination and didn't inquire further.""So they swapped the child using a bamboo-woven food hamper. In truth, Consort Li gave birth to a daughter, while her sister had a son?" Zhao Ai asked. Seeing Zhao Xi nod, he frowned. "But didn't that child die? Why would Consort Li exchange a perfectly healthy daughter for a dead infant?"
"The baby was alive when placed in the food hamper. It might have suffocated inside, or perhaps the Feng family gave the infant medicine to keep it from crying during the journey, which led to the newborn's death... This was Muze's later speculation after consulting the imperial physician," Zhao Xi explained. "In any case, when Father returned the next day, he heard the news that Consort Li's newborn son had died... Consort Li's schemes were thwarted by fate. She sent away her daughter but gained no son, and after that, she could no longer bear children, so she had to place all her hopes in you."
Zhao Ai lowered his gaze in deep thought, then pressed further, "How did Wang Muze come to know all this? And since he knew, why didn't he tell Father?"
Zhao Xi replied, "He said he first noticed that some of the midwives and maidservants present in the delivery room that day had disappeared, while others had requested to return home—all of them leaving Lin'an to settle far away. Recalling the untimely gift exchange and the sound of a baby crying from the food hamper, he grew increasingly suspicious. He then sought out Imperial Physician Zhou to inquire. Imperial Physician Zhou tacitly acknowledged the baby-swapping incident but warned him not to reveal it. Since no one had spoken up at the time, witnesses and evidence were now difficult to find. Moreover, Father doted exclusively on Consort Li. Without sufficient proof, Muze feared he might be accused of framing her... At this point, Muze broke down in tears, saying, 'This old servant's life is of little consequence, but at that time, Empress Anshu was bedridden with illness, and Your Highness and your brothers were still young. I feared that if anything happened, Your Highness would be left without anyone trustworthy by your side. I dared not take that risk.'"
Zhao Ai pondered for a moment before saying, "This matter now rests solely on Wang Muze's testimony. I'm afraid it cannot be fully trusted."
"I've checked the records of people entering and leaving the princely residence that day," Zhao Xi responded promptly. "Consort Li and the Feng family did indeed exchange gifts at an unusual hour. In the past decade or so, among the imperial clan and relatives, this is the only instance where gifts for a newborn were delivered at the third watch. Tell me, what necessity was there to go through the trouble of opening the residence gates and transporting food and fruits in the dead of night?... One of the two imperial physicians who treated Consort Li back then has since passed away. As for Imperial Physician Zhou, I questioned him. Though he dared not speak openly, he trembled and knelt, begging for mercy as soon as he heard about this matter—clearly tacitly confirming everything Muze said. Moreover, you must also remember how vehemently Consort Li opposed Feng Jing when she was included in the list of candidates for Crown Princess."
Zhao Ai asked again, "Since Elder Brother believes this to be true, why haven't you explained it to Father to restore Feng Jing's status as a princess?"
"It's too late. Now everyone believes that Feng Jing and I have engaged in improper conduct..." Zhao Xi looked up at Zhao Ai, a tear tracing down his face, which was tinged with a bitter smile. "How can I tell Father, or even the world, that the woman I met privately with many times in the Gathering Fragrance Garden is my sister? I could die to atone for my sins, but I cannot disregard Feng Jing's situation or the reputation of the imperial family. Besides, if this matter were made public, Consort Li's attempt to confuse the imperial bloodline—even if Father wished to protect her—would not be tolerated by the ministers. She would not be allowed to live. If Consort Li were to die because of this, how deeply would Feng Jing suffer? She would likely feel life is worse than death."
Zhao Ai thought it over and found himself empathizing. He looked at Zhao Xi with sympathy and asked softly, "Then, Elder Brother, why are you willing to tell me about this?""The next prince to choose a consort will be you," Zhao Xi silently wiped the tears from his face and said, "I hope that neither you nor Father will include Feng Jing among the candidates."
Zhao Xi said no more and immediately rose to leave. Zhao Ai respectfully escorted him out, then quickly returned and stood silently for a moment with Zhenzhen, who had emerged from behind the screen. He lowered his voice and said, "Don't tell anyone."
"I understand," Zhenzhen replied, fully aware of the seriousness of the matter and solemnly promising to keep it secret. After a moment, she asked Zhao Ai, "Do you believe it?"
"Right now, the most important thing isn't whether to believe it or not," Zhao Ai said, gazing at her seriously. "It's about finding evidence. Whether this is true or false, we need evidence to prove it."
Upon returning to Phoenix Arrival Pavilion, Zhenzhen carefully observed Consort Li's every move. She found her consistently amiable and kind, speaking of Feng Jing in a natural tone and showing genuine affection for Zhao Ai. It was difficult to detect any signs of pretense. Zhenzhen herself was unwilling to believe that Consort Li could have done such a thing, but if she were to search for evidence as Zhao Ai suggested, she was at a loss, truly unsure where to begin.
A few days later, joyous news spread through the palace: Consort Liu was pregnant and had already completed three months.
No one in the palace had given birth in over a decade, so this was undoubtedly tremendous news for the Emperor. According to tradition, when a consort was with child and nearing the seventh month, officials would arrange a birthing chamber and fetch silver, silk, and other items from the Inner Treasury for bestowal. However, upon hearing the news, the Emperor did not wait until the seventh month. He immediately ordered people to retrieve treasures, related supplies, food, and fruits from the Inner Treasury, sending them continuously to Furong Pavilion, where Consort Liu resided.
Upon learning the joyous news, the various pavilions in the palace also prepared gifts for Consort Liu. Consort Li naturally did not neglect this, personally selecting gold and silver fruits, agate-patterned silk, dried meats, nuts, and fine vegetables early on. She instructed Zhenzhen to take several Junior Eunuchs and deliver them to Furong Pavilion.
Furlong Pavilion was built in a corner of the Rear Garden on Phoenix Mountain. When Zhenzhen had passed by before, she had noticed that this pavilion was unique—four stories high with a spacious terrace for viewing stars, the moon, and mountain scenery. Now, stepping inside, she felt even more that every detail was exquisitely carved and adorned with jade. The design of the pavilions and terraces was so ingenious that it made Phoenix Arrival Pavilion pale in comparison, clearly demonstrating the Emperor's deep favor.
Consort Liu's wet nurse, Madam Yu, was known as Granny Yu. Around fifty years old, her delicate facial features suggested she had been a beauty in her youth. Granny Yu now came out with a smiling face to welcome Zhenzhen, informing her that Consort Liu had risen late today and was still washing and grooming by the hot spring in the rear courtyard. If Zhenzhen didn't mind, she was invited to follow Granny Yu inside to meet the Consort.
Zhenzhen followed Granny Yu through two layers of pavilions to the rear courtyard. There, she saw a rounded stone pool ahead, divided into two tiers from top to bottom, each with an outlet. Hot spring water gushed forth, mist swirling over the pool's surface, with lush trees behind it, resembling a fairyland.
Consort Liu was still wearing a white sleeping robe, sitting by the misty upper tier of the pool. Her bare feet were immersed in the hot spring water, and the two sections of her calves visible above the water were as smooth as congealed fat. Her long hair, seemingly freshly washed, hung damply. She had draped it over her left shoulder and gathered it in front of her, slowly combing it with a jade comb.
Below her by the poolside, seven or eight palace attendants were also grooming themselves by the water. On the terrace of the adjacent pavilion sat two musicians—one playing the zither, the other the sheng—performing the "Qingping Melody." Beside them stood a songstress, singing along with the tune: "A branch of lush beauty, dew condenses its fragrance; clouds and rain over Mount Wu bring futile heartbreak. May I ask, who in the Han palace could compare? Pitiful, Flying Swallow leans on her new attire."Consort Liu closed her eyes toward the morning sun that brushed her cheeks, a faint smile lingering as she continued combing her hair. The palace attendants by the pond all smiled upon hearing the song, and one called out toward the Terrace, "Xiangli'er, this tune suits the scene perfectly. Sing another one."
Zhenzhen looked up and realized the songstress was Xiangli'er, who had once told her stories about Madam Ju.
Xiangli'er cheerfully agreed and continued singing, "A peerless flower and a beauty bring mutual delight, often drawing the sovereign's smiling gaze. To dispel the boundless sorrows of spring, she leans on the railing north of Eaglewood Pavilion."
After she finished, Granny Yu approached Consort Liu and chided gently, "My lady, you must take good care of yourself now and not indulge in play as you used to. Though the water is warm, you shouldn't linger too long. Please return to the pavilion."
Consort Liu laughed softly, "It's been two or three months since I last played by the pond. I waited eagerly for the full three months to pass, and now I've only just begun to enjoy myself, yet you're already urging me back."
Having entered the palace many years ago, she was likely around twenty-five or twenty-six now, but her voice remained soft and sweet as a young girl's, charming and pleasant to hear.
Though expressing discontent, she rose slowly nonetheless, her black hair cascading like silk down her back. Barefoot, she walked along the rounded stones by the pond toward the pavilion.
Her feet were delicately shaped, with toenails tinted a soft pink like peach blossoms. As she stepped over the stones, the soft hem of her white silk skirt brushed lightly, leaving faint damp footprints on the surface. The gesture held a hint of allure, yet her serene and composed demeanor gave an impression of purity, untainted by coquetry. Watching her, Zhenzhen felt a stirring in her heart and instantly understood why she now enjoyed the Emperor's exclusive favor.
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