"Three or four years ago, people started suggesting to me that we should consider finding a consort for Chengqian. Having an heir in the Crown Prince's Palace early would be a great blessing for both the family and the state. But His Majesty was busy, I was busy too, and I always felt Chengqian was still too young... Probably all mothers in the world forever think their sons are still children who don't understand the ways of the world."
Empress Zhangsun wore a sad smile at the corner of her lips:
"When I had time, I asked Chengqian himself, but he always made excuses. At times he said he was ill and couldn't endure the ceremonial procedures; at others, he claimed his tutor assigned too much reading, leaving him no time or mood for such matters; and sometimes he argued that his daily martial training left him exhausted, falling asleep as soon as he touched the bed... Since His Majesty and I were often away from the capital, the matter was postponed year after year. Later, I began to suspect something was amiss and questioned the people in the Crown Prince's Palace—had the boy fallen for someone? If so, why wouldn't he tell me openly?"
Crown Princess Su Lingyu looked nervously at her mother-in-law, as if everything that happened in the Crown Prince's Palace was her responsibility. The Empress merely smiled at her daughter-in-law:
"In the Crown Prince's Palace, everyone was evasive and unclear, only urging me to settle on a consort and hold the grand ceremony soon. The more I asked, the more I suspected Chengqian had someone in his heart—but someone who couldn't be openly acknowledged, not even suitable for a title, which was why he feared letting his parents know... Ah, I should have investigated this properly back then and dealt with it decisively. Then today's calamity wouldn't have happened."
Su Lingyu lowered her head. Empress Zhangsun leaned forward and gently patted her cheek:
"A-Su is a good child. Back in the Female Academy, I took a liking to you at first sight. I'm just an ordinary woman, after all, and I’ve always been soft-hearted toward my own son... I thought if we selected a beautiful, intelligent, and well-bred girl to be formally welcomed into the Crown Prince's Palace, she could accompany Chengqian and gradually help him settle his mind. It wouldn’t be hard to steer him back onto the right path. Once you had children of your own and understood the depth of parental love, he would mature and calm down, ready to inherit his father’s great legacy and uphold the Tang Dynasty's Destiny... Ah."
A long sigh followed. Chai Yingluo couldn't think of any words to comfort her aunt and silently listened as the Empress continued, her tone bitter:
"I won’t hide it from either of you... When I first suspected Chengqian might have committed that disgraceful act with his cousin, my first thought was to protect my son—just like any mother would... I thought, since Yi Niang couldn’t be brought back to life, further investigation would only tarnish her reputation and do her no good, possibly even implicating her mother and sister. If her family held a proper funeral with full honors, bringing peace to both the living and the dead, that would be the end of it. As for Chengqian, I would reprimand him severely in private and ensure he reformed. As for the case itself, I would take the blame for being an unkind and unfit aunt who drove her niece to death—a punishment I deserved for failing to... properly discipline my son..."
Her voice choked on the last words. The Empress took a breath, pausing to steady herself. Su Lingyu picked up a warm, damp towel from the incense burner and quietly handed it to her mother-in-law. The Empress took it but didn’t wipe her face, offering only a sorrowful smile."Even in privately disciplining my own son, I've failed... Chengqian insists that the jade thumb ring was lost in the Crown Prince's Palace years ago, that he didn't intentionally give it to anyone, and that he's certainly not involved in any illicit affair. No matter how I counsel or coax him, he still won't tell me the truth. Does he really think I can't see through his lies?... The timing couldn't have been worse. Just as we were in the midst of our quarrel, his father returned. Seeing my distress, he flew into a rage at our son without even asking what had happened... That night, Chengqian stormed out in a fury I'd never seen before. Fearing for his safety, I sent people after him to escort him back to the Crown Prince's Palace... My handling of the situation only made things worse. Not long after, he deceived his seventeenth aunt into joining his reckless schemes. Ah."
When the Empress mentioned the incident involving the seventeenth princess, Su Lingyu knelt to apologize. Empress Zhangsun pulled her up by the hand:
"That wasn't your doing. When your husband gave the order directly, how could you have disobeyed?... As Yingniang just said, you risked your own life to protect the young girl. Even Fourteenth Brother doesn't blame you, let alone me. Do you think I'm some unreasonable mother-in-law who blindly favors her son without regard for right or wrong?"
Su Lingyu's eyes reddened, tears nearly falling. The Empress sighed:
"Chengqian bullying his fourteenth uncle and seventeenth aunt pains me more than Yi Niang's death. A young man's curiosity and boldness leading to romantic entanglements—that I can tolerate. Didn't his grandfather and father also... Ah. But this cruelty toward motherless children who have no one to rely on—his father has never done such things in his entire life, nor would he ever!"
Her gentle voice suddenly took on an unyielding firmness. The phrase "motherless children who have no one to rely on" immediately brought memories flooding back to Chai Yingluo—of how this great Tang Empress, orphaned at eight, had been driven from her home by her half-brother along with her mother and young brother, forced to live with her uncle... Empress Zhangsun stared at the jade thumb ring in her hand and spoke each word deliberately:
"The Supreme Emperor, His Majesty, even the deceased former Crown Prince Xi—the men of the Li family were renowned throughout Sui for their chivalry, upholding justice, and defending the weak against the strong. Whether people knew them personally or not, all respected them. That's why when the Taiyuan uprising began, the empire rallied to their cause. The founding of Tang owes much to this virtue. Throughout His Majesty's campaigns—whether resisting the tyrannical Sui, suppressing bandits, conquering foreign lands, or enduring the later WuDe Era struggles with his father and brothers—he has only ever confronted the strong in deadly combat. When has he ever used his power to intimidate the weak and helpless? Ah!"
The Empress struck her seat with a fist—not forcefully, but the sound resonated deeply. The two young women remained silent, listening intently.
"When His Majesty passes on after ten thousand autumns, and Chengqian ascends the throne, he will become the foremost man in the empire. The people, having suffered through the Sui turmoil with barely one in ten surviving, cry out for relief. They desperately need a Sage Ruler to bestow kindness and implement benevolent governance. If he shows no compassion even toward his own flesh and blood—killing or selling them at will—how can we expect him to treat the common people well?""Everyone says Chengqian takes after his father, and they all reassure me not to worry too much—that he'll naturally improve as he grows older and matures. True, his father was also willful and hot-tempered, quick to threaten violence, but His Majesty listens to advice! At court, there are outspoken ministers like Wei Zheng and Wang Gui who offer counsel on every matter, and in the inner palace... after so many years of marital bonds, my words still carry weight with him. He confides in me and speaks openly. But Chengqian? Whose advice does he heed? Which virtuous officials or gentlemen does he trust? Aside from a crowd of guards and eunuchs who only encourage mischief, who does he rely on? Even his own parents, who raised him, can't get a word of honesty from him. This child..."
The Empress suddenly clutched her chest, wincing in pain, startling Chai Yingluo, who rushed to support and embrace her while calling for ginger soup and checking her pulse. Su Lingyu assisted in moving the Empress from the heated bed to the sleeping quarters behind, where they removed her outer garments, laid her down, administered medicine, and applied acupuncture. Finally, the Empress regained her breath, color returning to her cheeks. Gripping Chai Yingluo's hand by the pillow, she whispered her instructions:
"Yingniang, go investigate... investigate Yi Niang's case. Find out how she truly died... I need to know what Chengqian has done... I foolishly tried to shield him, but he shows no gratitude... Ha... Raising such a son, my sins must be nearly full... Before I die, I want to be a ghost who knows the truth..."
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