The covered carriage shared by Wei Shufen and Chai Yingluo had a clear window on the side, covered by a semi-transparent curtain. Those inside could vaguely see the scenery outside, while outsiders found it difficult to peer in. When Prime Minister Wei Zheng’s voice sounded outside the window, Wei Shufen—still in the midst of running away from home—trembled in fright, shrinking against the carriage wall by the window, wishing she could curl up like a gecko.
Chai Yingluo also shot her a glance before lifting a corner of the curtain herself, leaning halfway out to respond:
"Greetings, Prime Minister Wei."
Wei Zheng seemed to have ridden around from the southern palace gate to wait here:
"I have received an imperial decree to investigate the case involving Princess Linfen. I must inspect the scene at the Temple of Common Vocation and interrogate those involved. Since the inner quarters of the temple are restricted, it would be inconvenient for me to act alone. I request the High Truth Master’s assistance in accompanying me."
The Temple of Common Vocation housed only women, including noblewomen such as princesses and county princesses. For Prime Minister Wei to summon them for questioning like criminals would be highly inappropriate. Since Chai Yingluo held the title of deputy investigator, it was only natural for her to assist in this matter. But… what about Wei Shufen? Should she go along? If she showed her face, wouldn’t her father drag her home and beat her half to death?
Even if she didn’t appear, Wei Zheng wouldn’t forget to demand his daughter from Chai Yingluo. Sure enough, after the female Taoist agreed to accompany him to the temple, his cold voice outside the carriage asked again:
"I wonder if my daughter is still detained at the Temple of Common Vocation? After a night away, has that spoiled and unfilial girl come to her senses?"
Hearing this, Wei Shufen nearly burst into tears. Without even glancing inside the carriage, Chai Yingluo kept her lovely face raised, smiling brightly:
"Prime Minister Wei, you are too modest. The Empress received your beloved daughter this morning and praised her greatly for her propriety and good sense! Shufen also expressed her wish to observe fasting rites for her mother’s blessings at the Purple Void Monastery and assist me in compiling medical texts. The Empress granted all her requests and has already arranged for her to be escorted back to the monastery."
…Was this considered fabricating an imperial decree and lying outright?
Wei Shufen had indeed requested permission from the Empress in the Hall of Established Governance to study medicine at the Purple Void Monastery, but the Empress’s reaction could hardly be called "approval." In fact, she had only said to Chai Yingluo, "Handle these matters yourself, just don’t cause trouble." The female Taoist had taken this as an imperial command, regardless of whether it made sense or whether Prime Minister Wei would believe it… And she gave him no chance to refute, cutting him off with the Empress’s decree before withdrawing into the carriage. Then she addressed the tall figure of a horseman outside the opposite window:
"Yang Da! The Fourteenth Young Master has returned to the Great Peace Palace with the imperial entourage, so you’re accompanying Prime Minister Wei to investigate the case… Very well. What news have you heard about the young lady proposed to you last time?"
Wei Zheng rode alongside the left side of the carriage, while from the right window came Yang Xinzhi’s puzzled voice:
"Which young lady?"
The figure outside the window shifted as the tall man seemed to lean down from his horse, bringing his face closer to the window. Chai Yingluo lifted the curtain on this side and replied:
"The one in the carriage that day. What do you think of her? Your fifth aunt and uncle haven’t said anything."
Facing outward, she flicked her eyes and gestured subtly, signaling to Yang Xinzhi that someone was inside the carriage. Yang Xinzhi let out an "Oh," his face bobbing a few times outside the window as he likely caught sight of the interior. After a pause, he answered, "I don’t have any particular thoughts. It’s all the same to me."This pair of cousins shared such a tacit understanding that through their conversation, they had already clearly conveyed Wei Shufen's awkward situation stuck against the carriage wall—yet Wei Zheng on the other side remained completely unaware. For the rest of the journey, Chai Yingluo kept chatting with Yang Xinzhi, never giving Wei Zheng another chance to interject until they arrived outside the Temple of Common Vocation.
As soon as the oxcart stopped, Yang Xinzhi hurried to open the door while Chai Yingluo swiftly jumped down to greet the dismounting Wei Zheng:
"Lord Wei, please follow me to see Yi Niang's former residence first? It's also where her body was last found... Her remains might still be resting there..."
Wei Zheng acknowledged with a "Much obliged," his footsteps gradually fading. Wei Shufen exhaled in relief and quietly slipped out of the carriage, only to find Yang Xinzhi still standing beside it, his tall and sturdy frame perfectly shielding her from view.
Glancing around, she saw the oxcart had stopped outside the temple gates. Where could she hide temporarily to escape her father's notice?
"Yang Dalang!"
Her father's voice echoed from within the temple gates, startling Wei Shufen into another shiver. Her legs weakened, and she instinctively grabbed the decorative end of Yang Xinzhi's belt.
The call was summoning Yang Xinzhi to join them inside. Yang Xinzhi responded and slowly began walking into the Temple of Common Vocation. Panicked and unsure what to do, Wei Shufen hid behind him, following step by step into the temple.
Had Yang Xinzhi not been three or four times her size, this human shield tactic wouldn't have worked nearly as well.
Chai Yingluo led Wei Zheng at a brisk pace straight toward the eastern wing, calling out to Yang Xinzhi as they walked: "Xinzhi, go to the main hall and have someone prepare an interrogation room—set up a screen to divide the space. Then send for Zheng Niangzi and Lady Yang to bring some of the older girls for questioning..."
Her voice grew increasingly distant. Yang Xinzhi kept responding while maintaining his orientation toward the eastern wing, crab-walking sideways to shield Wei Shufen behind him as they both entered the main hall.
This five-bay, nine-rafter double-eaved hip-and-gable roofed building had originally been the main hall of Prince Qi's former residence, now converted into the temple's main sanctuary. A towering Maitreya Buddha sat cross-legged against the northern wall, while the altar and its surroundings were piled high with betrothal gifts from the Chai family and dowry items bestowed by the imperial court for Princess Linfen—fabrics, screens, silk cords, brocade curtains, cushions, food and wine, lacquered tables, vanity cases, and gold and silverware.
Chai Yingluo had ordered a partitioned space prepared in the main hall for interrogations. Though the area was large, the sheer volume of items made setup cumbersome. Yang Xinzhi summoned several servants, and Wei Shufen helped direct the rearrangement of screens, portable partitions, seating platforms, and heaters. Before they could finish, she heard her father and Chai Yingluo approaching the hall entrance while conversing.
So soon?
Wei Shufen had planned to slip away to some secluded corner after helping, waiting until Chai Yingluo parted ways with her father to take her back to Purple Void Monastery. Now she was trapped in the main hall again. Looking around frantically for hiding spots, she found none suitable—until Yang Xinzhi noticed a set of portable screens leaning against the western wall. He lifted one of the screen cloths and gestured for her to hide inside.
For all his imposing size, this Yang Dalang was quite adept at hide-and-seek... Wei Shufen ducked behind the screen cloth and stood still, looking up to meet Yang Xinzhi's concerned gaze. A sudden warmth blossomed in her chest.Her escape from the forced marriage was indeed a tale of misfortune and misery, yet she had encountered Chai Yingluo, Li Yuangui, Yang Xinzhi, and even Empress Zhangsun, all of whom had openly or covertly shielded her, even at the risk of offending Wei Zheng, the foremost chancellor of the court. In this regard, she could be considered quite fortunate.
She had privately wondered before. If Chai Yingluo was willing to help her out of empathy for her own tragic history of a marriage manipulated by parents and elders, what were the reasons for Li Yuangui and Yang Xinzhi, these two men?
On the way from the Hall of Established Governance to the Temple of Common Vocation, after hearing Chai Yingluo recount the life stories of this young master and servant pair, she vaguely realized that these two likely harbored an even deeper resentment toward the "manipulation by parents and elders." Earlier outside Yi Niang's chamber, Yang Xinzhi had inadvertently let slip the remark, "Most parents in this world are like that," which must have stemmed from profound personal experience.
Wei Shufen looked up at Yang Xinzhi, observing his tall and robust frame, the gentle smile on his handsome face, and thought of his origins—the legitimate eldest son of a noble family from the prestigious Hongnong Yangshi, blessed with outstanding appearance and eloquence, destined for a bright future. Yet by a twist of fate, he had become the illegitimate son of a princess's household, forced to survive under the thumb of a high-born stepmother—no wonder he had cultivated such understanding and diplomatic skills at a young age. The meals granted by a stepmother were not so easily earned.
Yang Xinzhi smiled at Wei Shufen and let go of the curtain, which fell to conceal her slender figure. The gaps between the fabric strips were wide, and through them, Wei Shufen watched as Yang Xinzhi stepped out from behind the already positioned large screen and went to greet those outside the hall.
The voices outside grew slightly noisy, footsteps and conversations drawing nearer. To her surprise, Wei Shufen heard the voice of Wu Wang Li Yuangui again:
"...The Supreme Emperor is still asleep, and His Majesty and Third Brother-in-law are waiting at the Great Peace Palace. I excused myself to come here first—assisting Chancellor Wei with the investigation takes precedence..."
The Great Peace Palace was at the westernmost edge of the forbidden garden, and since horses could gallop freely within the garden, he must have arrived swiftly. As he spoke, several men stepped behind the large screen, leaving only Chai Yingluo on the western side, who lifted her skirt and sat on the bench in front of the screen.
The interrogation setup in the hall was as follows:
Inside the southern gate, the large screen was placed along the east-west axis. To the west of the screen, two benches were placed under the window—seats for Chai Yingluo and the person being questioned—with Wei Shufen concealed behind a portable screen nearby. Women entering the hall would pass a side screen upon entry, stepping into this space, and after questioning, exit the same way.
To the east of the screen, Wei Zheng, Li Yuangui, and Yang Xinzhi sat listening and could also pose questions, but they would never see the faces of the women answering—let alone Wei Shufen. Once seated, Wei Zheng began the questioning, addressing Chai Yingluo first:
"May I ask High Truth Master, who recently proposed and finalized the timing and location for this wedding?"
Chai Yingluo replied:
"It was the Empress—during the reunion banquet after the grand archery ceremony on last year's Double Ninth Festival, the Empress mentioned to the Supreme Emperor that there were still eleven of His Majesty's granddaughters at the Temple of Common Vocation, most of whom had long been betrothed and were now of marriageable age. It was time to discuss their weddings, with Yi Niang naturally being the first. Yi Niang is already nineteen this year and should have married Zhewei and joined our household long ago. Since the relevant authorities are preparing the grand ceremony for the Crown Prince's consort, it would be convenient to arrange this series of weddings in succession..."Chai Yingluo spoke with the same clarity and efficiency as she handled affairs, her words well-organized and articulate. After explaining the origins of the wedding, she recounted how the Empress had tasked her with organizing and tidying the Temple of Common Vocation, planning the wedding procedures, preparing the dowry chests, and managing the comings and goings of congratulatory guests. She then described how, the previous night, the groom had arrived for the ceremonial fetching of the bride, and how she had directed the temple’s maids and servants to playfully obstruct the groom with challenges—blocking the door, lighting fires, and even setting up ambushes to deal with troublemakers like Yang Xinzhi who tried scaling the walls… She continued until she mentioned hearing screams from the eastern wing, rushing over, and discovering Yi Niang hanging from the beam.
Throughout her account, she remained largely emotionless, only faltering slightly when she spoke of her younger brother Zhewei seeing his bride for the first time—only to find her already dead. Her voice thickened with a hint of nasal tone, and she paused to take a deep breath before detailing to Wei Zheng the four suspicious points they had noticed upon discovering Yi Niang’s body, as well as their debate the previous night over whether it was suicide or murder. Wei Zheng listened in silence.
Next, they invited into the main hall the nominal head of the Temple of Common Vocation—Zheng Shi, the widow of the late Crown Prince, the Prince of Xiyin.
Wei Shufen had heard from her mother that Zheng Shi’s childhood name was Guanyin, and that she hailed from the prestigious Zheng family of Xingyang. After the Supreme Emperor and his son entered Chang’an, she was taken as a concubine by the former Crown Prince and later gave birth to his eldest son, Chengzong, becoming the Crown Princess. This woman, once destined to be the future Empress and mother of the realm, though not as famously beautiful as Consort Yang, Princess of Hailing, before marriage, was dignified, graceful, and gentle, sharing a harmonious and respectful relationship with the former Crown Prince.
Now, after nine years of secluded confinement in the temple, she stepped quietly into the daylight and the gaze of those present. Wei Shufen could think of only one way to describe her:
Her body like withered wood, her heart like dead ashes.
She had married and been enfeoffed as a consort only after the Tang dynasty was established, so she should not have been old, yet most of her hair had turned gray. Her eyes were icy and lifeless. Facing the greetings and explanations from the group, she merely bowed slightly in return and sat down without a word, as if prepared to answer any question and face any absurdity the world might throw at her.
As for Yi Niang’s wedding with the Chai family, she had only been informed by the relevant authorities the previous autumn. Naturally, this was due to the Emperor’s benevolence and the Chai family’s sense of duty. She herself lacked virtue and talent, incapable of handling such a grand affair, and was grateful that the Empress had appointed the High Truth Master to assist. Over the past few months, everything had relied on Chai Yingluo’s daily hard work.
When the Empress visited the previous afternoon, palace officials had arrived in the morning to deliver the order. She and Consort Yang, Princess of Hailing, had prepared with their daughters to receive the imperial carriage, but due to poor planning and improper attire, they had committed grave offenses. It was only when the Empress kindly reminded them upon departure that they hastily changed into their pheasant robes, leaving them deeply ashamed.
After the Empress’s carriage departed, what had she done? No, she had not returned to her quarters in the western courtyard to change. Instead, she had remained in the temple hall, kneeling before the Buddha to recite scriptures—atonement for the sins of her late husband and herself, and prayers for Yi Niang’s blessings. The floral headdress and pheasant robe had been brought to her by a serving girl, who had also helped her dress in the hall. It was only when the groom’s party arrived outside the main gate to urge the bride’s preparations that she finally finished dressing, stepped out of the hall, and sent the HeBa wet nurse to the eastern wing to check on Yi Niang’s progress…
Wei Shufen recalled that the previous night, she had indeed seen a serving girl emerge from the direction of the Buddha hall, holding a lantern as she hurried toward the eastern wing—shortly before Yi Niang’s body was discovered hanging from the beam. So that had been Yi Niang’s wet nurse, HeBa, sent by Consort Zheng.
This was likely the extent of the maternal responsibility Consort Zheng had fulfilled. Beyond this, she had neither seen nor heard anything unusual. Nothing apart from the incense burner and scriptures before the Buddha had drawn her attention.Was there any unfamiliar face in the courtyard last night? With the wedding and the influx of guests, naturally there were strangers, but everything was arranged properly without any unusual occurrences.
What was Yi Niang’s usual temperament and recent behavior? Did she ever mention suicide or writing a will? The child was quiet, obedient, and as the eldest sister, she often helped take care of her younger sisters—very sensible, nothing out of the ordinary. Her daily routines were managed by her nurse; I didn’t involve myself much and can’t say more. No, I never heard anything about suicide or such things.
And so it went. Through this lengthy interrogation, Zheng Guanyin didn’t so much as twitch an eyebrow. Her pale, nearly translucent face remained smooth, her voice light and indifferent, utterly unruffled. The woman, clad in plain clothes with wooden hairpins, knelt by the southern window, bathed in the midday sun. Though her features were clear and her cheekbones sharp, she still seemed as elusive as a ghost.
Only when answering Wei Zheng’s final question did she finally show a trace of life. Wei Shufen sensed her father’s hesitation outside the screen, his voice halting:
“Forgive my impertinence—Princess Linfen was born in the second year of WuDe, the same year as the late Prince of Taiyuan. So… she is not your biological daughter?”
Zheng Guanyin lifted her face slightly, her expression shifting at last, though her tone remained cool:
“That is correct.”
“May I ask if the princess served her stepmother with filial devotion?”
“As if she were her own.” The former Crown Princess paused. “Lord Wei, you served in the Crown Prince’s Palace during WuDe. Did you ever hear rumors of my cruelty toward any child not my own? If that was so even then, after entering the Temple of Common Vocation, where mother and daughter share the same fate, of course we grew even closer.”
No one could refute her logic—clear and persuasive, befitting a woman once poised to become Empress. If, back in the Crown Prince’s Palace, there had been rivalry among consorts and children for favor and position, now she was a widow confined—or rather, detained—in this desolate courtyard with her orphaned daughters. What reason remained for infighting?
Or perhaps not… Wei Shufen suddenly recalled the striking young man from the Chai family she had seen last night. Could he be considered Li Yiniang’s most valuable possession?
The Chai and Li Jian-cheng families seemed to have a tradition of renewing marriage alliances. Chai Yingluo’s three betrothals to Li men had ended in death, each time followed by a new engagement. Now that Chai Zhewei’s fiancée had died, would he too renew the engagement, marrying another of Yi Niang’s sisters?
Zheng Guanyin and her daughters were all confined in the sunless Temple of Common Vocation. It was unlikely they would ever find a better match than Chai Zhewei. Since Yi Niang wasn’t Zheng Guanyin’s biological daughter, perhaps she wasn’t truly cherished. If Yi Niang were removed, might one of her own daughters have a chance?
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