It was late into the night by the time they returned to Zhaoguang Hall. Qingwan led a group of palace attendants to assist Yin Zhuli with her bath and grooming. Not long after, Ke Tingfeng arrived as well. Since Yin Zhuli had previously feigned illness, the guards had taken the summons seriously and brought him into the palace. Feeling weary, Yin Zhuli merely ordered the attendants to settle him in the side hall, intending to deal with him the following day.
As Qingwan scrubbed her back, she couldn't help but feel a lingering fear. "Chief, did you really release the Second Master? What if the Emperor catches him again? What will we do then?"
Yin Zhuli replied crossly, "What do you mean, 'what will we do'? Even if he is caught, it will be on a Fei family merchant ship. What does that have to do with me? It would be for the best if Shen Tingjiao, in a fit of rage, seized the Fei family’s assets. Hmph."
Qingwan applied goose-fat soap to her skin. "Chief, didn't you used to dislike the Second Master? Why did you risk..." She made a slicing motion across her throat. "...releasing him this time?"
Yin Zhuli soaked in the hot water for a long time before finally speaking. "Perhaps... it was for the sake of that field of yellow irises on the Penglai Immortal Isle."
With Shen Tianyao missing, Shen Tingjiao could not search for him openly. He could only order his trusted confidants to conduct a secret manhunt. For two days, a small squad of the Imperial Guard searched every corner of Chang'an, and officials from the Water Transport Ministry inspected every Yin family merchant vessel. They found not a single trace of Shen Tianyao.
Shen Tingjiao interrogated her several times, but Yin Zhuli maintained an expression of utter disbelief. "Your Majesty, who are you saying I released? Didn't the late Emperor die long ago amidst the rebel army? Besides, to catch a thief, one needs the loot. If you truly find him in any property belonging to the Yin family, I will have nothing to say even if my entire clan is executed."
After several such encounters, even Fu Chaoying began to see the truth—she had prepared her escape route long ago.
Three days later, Emperor Jiayu formally invested the former Princess of Fulu as Empress Wenxu. The scale and grandeur of the ceremony far exceeded the previous coronation held by Shen Tianyao, though Yin Zhuli showed little appreciation for the gesture.
In contrast, the investiture of Qu Lingyu as Consort Hui was a much more low-key affair. It was not a particularly honorable matter, so everyone kept it quiet.
Yin Zhuli saw Qu Lingyu again on the day of the latter's investiture. According to protocol, after paying respects to the Empress Dowager, a consort was required to go to the Empress’s palace to perform the formal greetings and listen to her instructions.
Inside Zhaohua Hall, Yin Zhuli sat while Qu Lingyu knelt. It was a strange sight for two enemies to meet under such circumstances. As Qu Lingyu offered the ceremonial tea, Yin Zhuli let her hold it for a long time without taking it. Before long, a voice announced loudly from outside, "The Empress Dowager arrives!"
Yin Zhuli knew why Empress Dowager He had come. Now that Qu Lingyu shared a blood feud with Yin Zhuli over her father’s death, she was a natural ally for the Empress Dowager to win over. Empress Dowager He entered the hall, and before she even spoke, she exerted the full weight of her imperial authority.
Yin Zhuli performed her salutations. The Dowager gave a slight nod, then immediately turned to help Qu Lingyu up. "Good child, you may rise as well."
Qu Lingyu stood, keeping her eyes averted from Yin Zhuli. Yin Zhuli had no desire to pay her much mind either. In truth, the two were half-sisters, but they had now become irreconcilable enemies. Small grudges could be settled, but when it came to a blood feud, adding a little more resentment here or there hardly mattered.
Empress Dowager He was terrified they might reconcile, unaware that Yin Zhuli had no intention of doing so.
Despite a dozen people being present, the atmosphere in Zhaohua Hall was frequently punctuated by cold silences. At first, Empress Dowager He lectured on palace regulations and chatted about domestic trifles, but eventually, even she could not keep the conversation going. Only then did Yin Zhuli speak indifferently, "Consort Hui was just invested today. By right, His Majesty should stay at the Phoenix-Resting Palace tonight. You must be tired as well, so you may return to your quarters."
As she finished speaking, she suddenly remembered that the Phoenix-Resting Palace was the traditional residence of the Empress. Well, she couldn't stay in this hall forever, could she? While she was lost in thought, Empress Dowager He rose. "It so happens that I am also weary. Consort Hui, escort me back to my palace."
Qu Lingyu nodded submissively. She never once looked at Yin Zhuli, and despite facing her mortal enemy, she did not provoke her from start to finish. Furthermore, Qu Tianji’s rebellion had surprisingly not implicated her. How could Yin Zhuli not guess the reason behind this?
Never one to be kind, Yin Zhuli immediately spoke up with a mocking tone, "I see that Consort Hui has grown quite thin lately. Perhaps we should summon an imperial physician to check on her?"
Though Qu Lingyu did not look up, her body stiffened for a fleeting second. Yin Zhuli caught this reaction instantly, yet she said nothing more, merely watching with a smile as Qu Lingyu and Empress Dowager He walked out of Zhaohua Hall. Empress Dowager He, however, left her with a sharp rebuke: "Now that you are the Mother of the Nation for Great Ying, you must mind your words and titles. Do not bring the air of the marketplace and merchant caravans into the inner palace, lest you lose the dignity of the Imperial Family."
Yin Zhuli was hardly one to be easily bullied, especially since she held a major secret over the woman. Since she was bound to be bitten whether she was submissive or defiant, why endure such nonsense? She immediately retorted, "Mother Empress is right to admonish me. I was raised in the streets and alleys, so it is inevitable that I carry some common habits. In the future, I shall have to learn more about the Three Obediences and Four Virtues from Mother Empress."
Empress Dowager He’s face turned unsightly on the spot. Shen Tingjiao was an illegitimate son; this was a secret known only to her, Fu Chaoying, Yin Zhuli, and Shen Tingjiao himself. For a woman who had betrayed her master and committed adultery, murdered the legitimate prince, and acted as a rebel, what right did she have to put on airs about imperial dignity?
Having lived in the Cold Palace for a long time, Empress Dowager He was adept at reading people. When she spoke again, her tone was much softer. "You are one who understands the big picture; your manner of handling affairs is much stronger than this girl Lingyu. However, the palace rules are tedious. When you have some leisure another day, I shall have a good talk with you."
This was a significant concession of face. Yin Zhuli naturally knew when to stop. "Yes. This daughter-in-law respectfully sees Mother Empress off."
At that time, Shen Tingjiao was in Zhengde Hall. Zhang Qing, knowing the Emperor cared for Yin Zhuli and fearing the Empress Dowager might give her a hard time, hurriedly sent a eunuch to report. Upon hearing the news, Shen Tingjiao merely chuckled. "It’s a blessing if she doesn't give Mother Empress a hard time. Instead of comforting her, I should go to Jiaoshu Palace to check on Mother Empress."
He set down his scrolls. Before he even entered Jiaoshu Palace, he heard the sound of a commotion. Stepping inside, he saw that Empress Dowager He had indeed smashed a blue-and-white porcelain vase, its shards scattered across the floor. He wore a faint smile. "Why is Mother Empress so upset?"
Empress Dowager He dismissed the attendants. This Yin Zhuli absolutely could not be allowed to live. "My son, I paid a visit to Zhaohua Hall today."
Shen Tingjiao nodded. Empress Dowager He had always been a woman of impeccable grace; it was no easy feat for anyone other than Yin Zhuli to provoke her to such a degree.
The Empress Dowager quickly composed herself and straightened her thoughts. "Today, Yin Zhuli publicly alluded to your parentage."
Shen Tingjiao frowned slightly. With his keen intellect, how could he not understand his mother's hostility toward Yin Zhuli? Yin Zhuli held her by the throat. Thus, even though he knew these words were only half-true, he still feigned concern. "How could such a thing happen?"
Empress Dowager He’s expression turned solemn. "My son, by making her Empress, you have already fulfilled every obligation of kindness. This person... can no longer be kept."
Shen Tingjiao’s fingers curled slightly, but the smile remained on his face. "Mother Empress, she is used to speaking without restraint. In the future, simply visit Zhaohua Hall less often. I guarantee she will not proactively appear to offend your eyes."
Empress Dowager He was somewhat bewildered. "My son, we mother and son have depended on each other for so many years, enduring the Jiaoshu Palace as if it were the Cold Palace and suffering the disdain of everyone in the court. For what? If this person is not removed, you, I, and... we are all hanging by a thread. You are now the sovereign of Great Ying; what kind of woman could you not have? Why do you protect her so?"
Shen Tingjiao smiled subtly. "Mother Empress, there are countless women in the world, but there is only one Yin Zhuli. I favor her naturally because she possesses the capital that no other woman has."
"Do you see that? This is my capital!" Inside the bathtub, Yin Zhuli patted her chest, the surging waves creating a scene of pearly, radiant beauty. Behind her, Qingwan snickered. "Chief, you can still laugh. Right now, the Yin family's caravans and goods are being taxed at forty percent, while the Fei family is only taxed at twenty. Because of this, our costs must rise. They will surely lower their prices to compete with us, essentially making us subsidize their taxes. Steward Hao is likely worried to death!"
Yin Zhuli tapped the rim of the tub with her knuckles in a brisk rhythm, though her brow was furrowed. "Indeed. Is Physician Ke still in the palace? Have him leave tomorrow, and while he's at it, bring a message to Hao Jian..."
Two days later, as expected, the various shops of the Fei family began to lower their prices. they claimed that by the Emperor's immense grace, the sovereign had personally waived twenty percent of their taxes, and they were passing the savings on to the customers. Naturally, people flocked to the cheap goods. However, the good times did not last. Before long, rumors began to circulate about several dozen ship-loads of "foreign refuse" being secretly imported from the West. Rumors spoke of clothes worn by the dead, tea dregs that had been used and redried, and gold and silver jewelry taken from tombs. It was said that unscrupulous merchants bought these at low prices and sold them as new to make a wicked profit!
Rumors always travel the fastest, and their source was impossible to find. Before long, the gossip was spreading like wildfire through the city of Chang'an and even half of Great Ying.
The common people were no fools; they began to ponder in their spare time. "Look," they would say, "the prices at the City of Wealth and Honor are slowly rising. Why would the Fei family suddenly lower theirs for no reason?"
"Could it be... hmm?"
That very day, several of the Fei family's storefronts were smashed and burned by angry mobs. Someone even found a drawing at the Fei family estate of "a woman leaning against a tree trunk"—a veiled orthographic pun for a "wicked merchant"—along with the inscription: "May the dishonest merchant's entire family perish."
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
昭光殿 | Zhaoguang Hall | The hall where Yin Zhuli resides/bathes.
昭华殿 | Zhaohua Hall | The hall where Yin Zhuli receives guests.
文煦 | Wenxu | The imperial title/honorific given to Yin Zhuli as Empress.
惠妃 | Consort Hui | The rank given to Qu Lingyu.
栖凤宫 | Phoenix-Resting Palace | Traditional residence of the Empress (Qifeng Palace).
椒淑宫 | Jiaoshu Palace | Residence of the Empress Dowager (Jiaoshu Palace).
正德殿 | Zhengde Hall | The Emperor's administrative hall.
洋垃圾 | Foreign refuse | Literally "Western trash"; refers to low-quality or second-hand imported goods.
女子倚树干而立 | A woman leaning against a tree trunk | An orthographic pun. The character for "woman" (女) and "trunk/dry" (干) combine to form "wicked/dishonest" (奸).
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