Chapter 195: "You Truly Carry Jiang Yu's Child..."
The neutral faction officials panicked upon hearing this. They glanced at Chancellor Jiang, but seeing he still showed no intention of speaking up, they could no longer afford to hesitate and hurriedly addressed Wen Yu: "Your Highness, please calm your anger. We never intended this..."
Zhao Bai coldly stated: "While stationed in Liang territory, Her Highness has been occupied with coordinating the entire war front, yet still concerned about your Chen State's internal affairs. She summoned Liang officials to discuss reopening Pingzhou's border trade, intending to establish commercial relations with your Southern Chen and surrounding minor states to alleviate Chen's heavy taxation. Now Her Highness has traveled thousands of miles back to Southern Chen, yet before even entering the royal court gates, your Chen officials and commoners blockade her here, falsely accusing our princess of colluding with Northern Wei in your general's death, coercing her to return power. How utterly ridiculous!"
By the end, Zhao Bai was practically sneering: "Very well! Since your Chen State never truly intended proper cooperation with our Great Liang from the beginning of this marriage alliance, our princess shall issue a letter of divorce. Henceforth, she need no longer exhaust herself for Chen State's affairs!"
Southern Chen's treasury had remained impoverished year after year, forcing the continuous imposition of heavy corvee labor and taxes.
Hearing that Wen Yu had already begun preparing for bilateral trade, coupled with the clear evidence that Jiang Yu's death was unrelated to her, the assembled ministers grew genuinely alarmed.
Even when Liang Camp was weak, they hadn't dared to completely break with Wen Yu. Now with Liang Camp ascendant, there was no reason to terminate this alliance.
The neutral faction officials hastily declared: "We never demanded Your Highness return power! The irresponsible remarks of a mere minor official from the Ministry of Rites shouldn't be taken seriously! We beg Your Highness to reconsider!"
The former Chancellor Jiang protégé who had spearheaded the attacks against Wen Yu now dared not speak further, his eyes shifting nervously as he repeatedly glanced toward Chancellor Jiang, seemingly afraid of being sacrificed as a scapegoat.
After all, during the last cabinet corruption investigation, many subordinates had been offered up to take the blame.
A neutral official softly called out to Chancellor Jiang, seemingly urging him to bow appropriately to Wen Yu for today's disrespectful behavior, demonstrating proper ministerial conduct.
Through the wind-driven sleet, Chancellor Jiang gazed at Wen Yu sitting silently opposite him in her heavy cloak, finally speaking: "This old minister, grieving the loss of his son, feels heart-wrenching pain and lacks strength to control his subordinates. For their reckless offense against Your Highness, this old minister offers apology on their behalf."
After weighing his options, Chancellor Jiang's protégé realized that remaining silent might indeed get him sacrificed by the chancellor. Gritting his teeth, he knelt down and said: "This guilty official, distraught over the Cavalry General's death, spoke recklessly and offended Your Highness. I willingly offer my life in apology. The Cavalry General was renowned as Southern Chen's God of War. The people mourn his passing and, hearing my false words without knowing the truth, foolishly demanded Your Highness return power. All fault lies with this guilty official. Please punish me alone, and do not vent anger upon the city's commoners!"
Having spoken, he kowtowed to Wen Yu in the sleet.
Zhao Bai listened nearby, his eyes growing colder. While ostensibly apologizing to Wen Yu, the man's plea "do not vent anger upon the city's commoners" subtly implied that Wen Yu was threatening divorce because she was angered by the citizens' demands, thus planning to abandon Southern Chen.
Acting impulsively against public sentiment was a grave taboo for rulers.
This man's clever tongue truly excelled at sophistry.Zhao Bai said coldly, "When has our princess, who even while supervising battles in Liang territory remained concerned about the corvée taxes in Chen, ever vented her anger upon the common people of Chen? Was it not you who, moments ago, groundlessly attempted to pin the blame for your cavalry general's death on our princess? And now, what do you mean by shifting the fault onto the people?"
Her words directly threw back the man's attempt to create conflict between Wen Yu and the Chen populace onto himself and the people.
The man's face stiffened, and he hastily pressed his waist lower to the ground. "This guilty official knows he deserves death ten thousand times over, but I never intended such meaning in my words..."
An Azure Guard presented a cup of hot tea to Wen Yu. She accepted it and began slowly skimming the tea froth with the lid. Through the rising steam, her lowered lashes half-revealed eyes colder than the swirling snow and rain.
She paid no attention to the display from Chancellor Jiang's protégé, saying only, "Will Chancellor Jiang not dispatch men to King's Well Street to apprehend those villains?"
On the day Jiang Yu's coffin was brought back, after she had set a trap that captured several Southern Chen spies, Zhao Bai had pried open their mouths to learn the total number of infiltrators, obtained their recognition signals, and uncovered their methods of communicating with their master.
They then rooted out all remaining spies in the army and had the captured spy leader send a false message claiming Jiang Yu was indeed alive but had detected anomalies about the ambush, nearly exposing their investigation—this to keep their master from covering all tracks.
Before entering the city today, to add another layer of insurance and have the royal court personally capture more assassins sent by the mastermind, they deliberately had the spy leader send another message claiming some operatives had been captured, luring the master into sending assassins to silence them.
Chancellor Jiang watched Wen Yu with inscrutable intensity for a long moment before raising a hand to signal his trusted subordinate.
The subordinate immediately led men toward the route to the royal palace.
Chancellor Jiang continued scrutinizing the Princess of Liang across from him.
Since Liang and Chen formed their alliance, their interests had become inextricably linked. Given her temperament, she wouldn't sever ties with Southern Chen over today's provocation alone.
Moreover, though she possessed the spies as material witnesses, her previous messages to Southern Chen had made no mention of them. It was highly probable she had deliberately withheld this information to provoke them into missteps.
Thus, her current "anger" was clearly aimed at securing greater advantages.
Once again, Chancellor Jiang witnessed the terrifying shrewdness of the Liang princess' methods.
At the city gate where fine rain slanted through the air, both sides stood motionless in silent confrontation.
After approximately fifteen minutes, the men Chancellor Jiang had dispatched came galloping back. Dismounting in disarray, one quickly approached the chancellor and whispered in his ear.
Instantly, Chancellor Jiang's face turned utterly grim, his eyes blazing with unmistakable fury.
Neutral officials observing the scene now largely believed Wen Yu's earlier claims. While privately horrified that Southern Chen truly harbored traitors and speculating about their identities, they also sensed today's offense against Wen Yu would not be easily resolved.
Chancellor Jiang whispered to the returned messenger: "Send the Divine Martial Camp.""The confidant, having received the instructions, hurried back once more. When Chancellor Jiang looked at Wen Yu again, he saw the maid beside her holding out a bowl of dark brown liquid resembling medicinal brew. "Your Highness, it is time for your medicine."
Wen Yu’s shoulders were draped in a white fox fur cloak, tanned to eliminate any lingering odor. Her slender, pale fingers, slightly flushed from the cold wind, lifted from a fur-wrapped hand warmer. She accepted the medicine bowl and, shielding it with her wide sleeve, drank the brew sip by sip.
When she returned the empty bowl, her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, as though the medicine were exceedingly bitter.
It was then that the ministers of Southern Chen noticed a faint sickly pallor on Wen Yu’s jade-like complexion. Yet, her demeanor was so aloof that the signs of illness were subdued, barely noticeable at first glance, only adding to her aura of detachment.
The officials felt a sense of unease. If it were a common ailment, there would be no need to take medicine amid such a tense standoff. Yet if Wen Yu were seriously ill, she ought to conceal it.
Chancellor Jiang exchanged a glance with his attendant, who promptly understood and withdrew.
Wen Yu’s medicine had been brewed by her personal guards on a stove in her carriage. Since she made no effort to conceal it and seemed to be hinting at something, the Jiang family—who had informants among the Chen army escorting her back to the royal court—could easily uncover the nature of the brew.
Wen Yu appeared oblivious to the subtle reactions across from her. After finishing the medicine, she took a few sips of light tea to suppress the bitterness before speaking unhurriedly, "Chancellor Jiang, will you not interrogate these spies?"
Chancellor Jiang bowed slightly to Wen Yu. "Since they are spies who conspired against my son, it is for Your Highness to decide. Send them to the imperial prison and conduct a rigorous, impartial investigation. This old official... shall recuse himself to avoid any appearance of bias."
Wen Yu lifted her faint, cool gaze, her words crisp and icy. "Chancellor Jiang, have you forgotten? This palace has stated it will no longer interfere in the affairs of your Chen state."
Chancellor Jiang believed he had already conceded, yet the other party showed no intention of meeting him halfway. This indicated that what she wanted far exceeded his initial concessions.
In that instant, Chancellor Jiang grasped Wen Yu’s intent.
She wanted the officials and people of Chen to "invite" her back to assume governance.
Previously, under pressing circumstances, the ministers had supported her as regent princess, but behind the scenes, each had their own agenda. What Wen Yu had gained was largely a nominal title for external purposes.
Now, upon her return, she intended to be the regent princess with actual authority, one who could command the ministers of the royal court.
If she were "invited" back to power with great ceremony by the officials, then under any future circumstances, the courtiers would have no grounds to pressure Wen Yu into relinquishing her authority.
Suddenly, Chancellor Jiang felt a bone-chilling cold seep through the rain and snow.
Commotion arose once more from within the city gates. Guards dispersed the crowded onlookers, and a group of court officials led by Qi Simiao, dressed in formal court attire, hurried over.
The neutral ministers who had come to welcome Wen Yu’s carriage seemed to find their anchor at last and promptly cupped their hands in salute to Qi Simiao. "Lord Qi."
Qi Simiao, having likely learned of the situation on his way, nodded to the officials. His gaze swept past Chancellor Jiang before he bowed to Wen Yu. "This old official heard of Your Highness’s arrival at the royal court and has come specially to welcome you."Wen Yu remained silent, while Tong Que standing beside her said, "Lord Qi, you've arrived too late to witness your Chen officials leading the commoners in demanding our princess relinquish power. It seems there are many subjects in the royal court who do not wish for our princess's return. When you came to Liang to propose the marriage, it was your Southern Chen who competed to welcome our princess from Northern Wei—not our princess insisting on coming to your Southern Chen. Now that our princess has been in Chen for less than a year, she has consistently acted with your Chen people's welfare in mind. Despite repeated discourtesies from your court, today you even attempt to pin the death of the Swift Cavalry General on our princess. She cannot bear such an unjust reputation for ruthlessly slaughtering loyal subjects."
The Jiang faction's disciple, still kneeling on the ground, felt catastrophe looming. Ignoring the mud staining his forehead and the broken, swollen skin from repeated kowtows in the rain, he desperately knocked his head again and declared, "This guilty official deserves death! All blame rests solely on me!"
Qi Simiao recognized him as a disciple of Chancellor Jiang and understood immediately. Without Chancellor Jiang's approval, this man would never have dared utter such treasonous words earlier.
Wen Yu's refusal to enter the royal court was clearly a demand: those who had forced her to relinquish power must now beg her to resume governance.
After a moment's silence, Qi Simiao bowed again to Wen Yu and said, "This old minister has never seen or heard of officials slandering their ruler so falsely. Such treacherous ministers must be severely punished. This old minister humbly requests the princess return to the royal court and resume governance."
Though other officials showed varied expressions, following Qi Simiao's lead, they quickly bowed and echoed, "We humbly request the princess return to the royal court and resume governance."
The watching crowd murmured about "spies" and "corvée taxes," until scattered voices eventually rose, saying, "We request the princess return to the royal court and resume governance."
At the city gate, only the Jiang faction officials remained uncommitted.
Standing awkwardly in the drizzle, they glanced repeatedly at Chancellor Jiang, awaiting his signal.
When Chancellor Jiang's previously dismissed attendant returned and whispered to him, the chancellor suddenly looked up at Wen Yu.
Seated calmly in an armchair, with rainwater dripping slowly from the oil-paper umbrella ribs, Wen Yu met his gaze steadily, without flinching.
After apparent deliberation, Chancellor Jiang finally bowed to Wen Yu and said, "This old minister... humbly requests the princess return to the royal court and resume governance."
The Jiang faction officials, still stiff in the drizzle, seemed to exhale in relief and hurriedly bowed, declaring, "We humbly request the princess return to the royal court and resume governance."
Wen Yu slightly raised her eyelashes. "Remember well, today it was you who 'requested' this princess to return and govern."
The officials maintained their bows, not daring to utter a word.
Wen Yu rose, leaning on Zhao Bai's arm, while Tong Que held the umbrella over them, escorting her into the carriage.
The escort team stationed outside the city reentered.
Commoners packed the streets along the route, watching. Young women wept heartbrokenly at the sight of the dark coffin on the cart.
The paths to the royal palace and the Jiang Family diverged. As the carriage passed the fork, Wen Yu lifted the curtain to glance at the coffin adorned with white silk and funeral flowers, being taken away by the Jiang Family.
Outside, slanting drizzle soaked the funeral paper scattered on the ground, which was then trampled by the crowded masses into pulp.
As Wen Yu lowered the carriage curtain, she closed her eyes, concealing all complexity within them.
-The carriage passed through the palace gates and had just arrived at Zhaohua Palace when another palanquin approached from the opposite side of the path. Seated beneath the ornate canopy was none other than Empress Dowager Jiang.
All her emotions were concealed behind that stern yet dignified face, though the fine lines at the corners of her eyes appeared more pronounced than before.
Wen Yu, resting her hand on Zhao Bai’s arm, stood quietly in place. Only after Empress Dowager Jiang’s palanquin came to a halt did she speak: "Greetings, Your Highness."
Empress Dowager Jiang descended from the palanquin with the support of her elderly maid. Without a word, her gaze fixed directly on Wen Yu’s abdomen, sharp and urgent with unspoken implications.
Yet the winter clothing was thick, and Wen Yu was draped in a heavy cloak—she could discern nothing.
Withdrawing her gaze, Empress Dowager Jiang seemed about to ask something but evidently recognized this was not the place for such discussions. She only said stiffly, "I have questions for you. We’ll speak in your palace."
Having said this, she led the way toward Wen Yu’s Zhaohua Palace.
Zhao Bai appeared dissatisfied with Empress Dowager Jiang’s overbearing demeanor and murmured softly, "Your Highness…"
Wen Yu replied calmly, "Let’s go in."
She understood perfectly well what Empress Dowager Jiang wished to ask. At the city gates, she had intentionally let Chancellor Jiang learn that she was consuming medicine to prevent miscarriage.
Given the prior schemes of the Empress Dowager and the Jiang Family, they could not have missed her implication. During her carriage ride back to the palace, someone from the Jiang Family must have rushed to inform the Empress Dowager, hence her swift arrival to confirm matters.
Upon entering the inner hall, the elderly maid attending Empress Dowager Jiang stood alone outside and gave a slight nod to Wen Yu.
Wen Yu instructed Zhao Bai and Tong Que, "Wait here."
She entered the inner hall alone. The Empress Dowager stood by the window, where a censer on the low table emitted delicate wisps of smoke. She rapidly twisted the coiled string of prayer beads in her hand—a clear sign of her unsettled state.
Hearing Wen Yu’s footsteps, she lifted her gaze. Behind the sternness and sharpness in her eyes lay a hidden sorrow: "Do you truly carry Yu’er’s child?"
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