“A man’s mouth is a lying ghost,” A’jiao muttered, both embarrassed and annoyed, as she rained several heavy blows upon Liu Che’s chest.
“Heh, you’re the one who’s a ghost,” Liu Che countered, dissatisfied.
He pulled the jade hairpin and gold ornaments from her hair, letting the tresses fall in a heap atop her head. Every time they were intimate, her hair would end up tangled around them both, which he found quite bothersome. On a sudden whim, he piled it all up and, catching sight of the result, couldn't help but burst into laughter.
“What are you laughing at!” A’jiao snapped. She reached up to feel her hair and realized she must look ridiculous. “Liu Che, hurry up. Stop dilly-dallying.”
“As you command,” Liu Che chuckled, leaning down.
***
“After we pass Xiangyang, Yicheng, and Dangyang, we’ll reach Jiangling. I’ve endured being cooped up in this carriage to accompany you this far, but once we abandon the carriage for a boat at Xunyang, I won’t be able to stay by your side!” A’jiao grumbled, clutching her hair, which Liu Che had ruffled into something resembling a stack of straw.
She tried to run a comb through it, but it wouldn't budge. She had to untangle it strand by strand, smoothing it out before using a fine-toothed comb. After a few strokes, her patience wore thin. She haphazardly tied it back with a ribbon and turned to Liu Che.
Seeing her look of utter frustration, Liu Che asked in surprise, “Why? You don’t want to accompany me anymore?”
“I don’t have a shadow. A ship’s cabin isn't like a carriage; it’s not as if it can be just the two of us. What if someone discovers me? It’s not good.”
“Hmm... as for that, it doesn't matter. You can just stay inside the cabin; it’s the same thing.”
“And if I’m discovered? People will say the Emperor has had his soul bewitched by a female ghost.”
“Is that not the case?” Liu Che rose with a smile and called for his attendants.
A’jiao yanked him back, huffing indignantly. “I’m telling you, don’t blame me if something goes wrong. Besides, lately, I’ve spent all my time either in this carriage or in bed. I haven't seen a single soul. Where are Mianfu and Nanke? What about my new identity?”
“That... I haven't decided yet. Why are you so restless, always wanting to change identities?” Liu Che had no choice but to sit back down, letting A’jiao pull the bed curtains closed.
“I find it troublesome too. No, wait—weren't you the one who insisted I stay? You should be the one finding it troublesome. As long as I’m not entangled with you, I don’t care what my identity is. I don’t even need one.”
“Fine, fine, it’s my fault. Then, my Lady, tell me—what identity do you desire?”
“Emperor.”
“In your dreams. Be serious.”
A’jiao tossed her head haughtily and snorted. “Anything you can give me now, I wouldn't care for anyway.”
The Emperor fell silent. What he could give her—any title short of Empress—she truly did not value. Finding it hard to respond, he turned back and planted a few more bites on her skin.
A’jiao’s mind, however, was drifting toward the matter of Lord Yunhe. Lin Gao had mentioned that "in history," Liu Che’s sixth son, Liu Fuling, ascended the throne at eight and died in his twenties.
Liu Che was only fifty now and likely had twenty years left to live. That meant by the time Liu Che passed away, Lord Yunhe would be twenty. Would he also have only a few years of life left?
She felt conflicted. Moreover, the thought of the series of events involving Liu Che deposing the Crown Prince and the Empress made her head ache.
“What are you thinking about now?” Seeing her distraction, Liu Che gave her a firm kiss on the lips to bring her back to the present.
A’jiao turned to look at him, cupping his face with both hands. “Ah Che, what would you think about... changing the Crown Prince?”
“Jiao Jiao, discussing such state affairs while we’re half-dressed like this seems inappropriate, don’t you think?” Liu Che turned his head away, feeling a slight headache coming on.
The Crown Prince—it wasn't that he was particularly bad, but one couldn't exactly say he was particularly good either. Liu Che used himself as the standard and often felt frustrated that his sons were mostly mediocre. His youngest son was clever, but he was too young to challenge Liu Ju’s position.
The eldest son had been the Crown Prince for many years. A couple of years ago, Liu Che had even built the Bowang Garden for him to recruit retainers, yet he always felt a sense of dissatisfaction regarding this son.
A’jiao wrapped the quilt around Liu Che. “There, isn't this better?”
Liu Che: “...”
He sighed. “Do you realize the gravity of what you’re saying? Only you would dare speak of it so casually. Do you know that I could punish you for this right now?”
A’jiao’s actions and words stirred other thoughts in his mind. Since A’jiao was a Ghost Emissary, why would she linger in the mortal realm for no reason and place such importance on an unborn child?
From the moment she appeared, it seemed to coincide with Yan Zheng’s pregnancy. She had even faked a miscarriage... was it all to draw attention to the child in Yan Zheng’s womb?
An unborn child—an extraordinary child, born into the Imperial family.
Unaware that Liu Che’s thoughts had wandered so far, A’jiao simply stated, “I know. But I feel... this would be better for everyone, including Liu Ju.” Rather than dragging his entire family down with him, if he weren't the Crown Prince, he could at least be enfeoffed as a King.
“Your Majesty, the hot water is ready.” The gentle voice of a palace attendant interrupted A’jiao’s musings.
Liu Che turned and commanded, “Understood. You may all withdraw.”
Only after the sound of footsteps had faded into silence did the two walk hand-in-hand toward the bath chamber.
A’jiao stepped barefoot onto the soft carpet. After a moment of thought, she said, “Ah Che, do you know what people say? They say that being your son is truly a miserable fate.”
“What’s so miserable about it? Don’t say such things again. At the very least, Wei Qing is still the Grand Marshal and is still alive.”
“Oh? Has no news come from Chang’an? Wei Qing is ill.”
As they stepped into the bath together, Liu Che asked, “What happened?”
“It’s about that business with Luan Da. He gave Liu Qing a pill, and Liu Qing gave it to Wei Qing, remember? That pill was no good. Now, Wei Qing’s health is slowly failing again.”
“I see.” Liu Che fell silent.
He felt as though he were facing a monumental choice, yet no one was there to give him a hint. He could only search for the right path through the scattered clues.
Closing his eyes as the warm water enveloped him, he slowly envisioned the possibilities: If he deposed Liu Ju and named Yan Zheng’s child as the Crown Prince, then the Wei clan and their relatives could no longer be entrusted with great power. He would need to promote the Yan family and A’jiao’s people...
Who were the Yans again? The matriarch of that house was a former female official who served A’jiao! There was a string of four of them, plus Song Zhen of the Imperial Physicians, Wang Cheng the Vice Commandant of the Guard, and Yi Duan the Vice Minister of Justice. These four families were closely knit, essentially branches of the same tree.
Supporting the Yan family would be easy enough. A’jiao’s side was even simpler—just providing for Chen Xuan and the lineage of the late Chen Xu would suffice.
But the prerequisite was that these people had to be capable. If they were useless as mud, his attempt to pull them up would only leave him covered in filth.
He snapped his eyes open, realizing he had already thought so far ahead.
Seeing A’jiao focused only on washing her hair and bathing, he thought to himself: *I’ll give my unborn sixth son a few years. Perhaps five or six. By then, the child’s natural talent will be apparent, and I can make a comparison.*
Having settled his mind, he felt like teasing A’jiao again, but she only wanted to return to Long Gate Palace and ignored him. After a hurried wash, she vanished.
Liu Che sighed softly and resignedly stood up.
The news of Wei Qing falling ill in Chang’an had not reached him, which displeased him. After a moment’s reflection, he summoned an Embroidered Uniform Messenger.
“Jiang Chong, send men back to the capital. Investigate the Crown Prince’s recent conduct and record every detail faithfully.”
***
Though the Emperor was away on his southern tour, imperial edicts continued to flow back to Chang’an one after another.
First was the restoration of Empress Chen’s status, followed by the announcement of Lady Chen’s death and funeral arrangements, and then the order to clear land for planting something called "cotton." Liu Ju didn't get to enjoy the thrill of power for long; instead, he was kept busy from dawn till dusk.
Fortunately, the Emperor had already selected the personnel for the land reclamation and cotton planting; Sang Hongyang only had to handle the final details.
The Marquis of Changping’s estate also saw its share of trouble. For instance, Princess Yangxin moved back to her own manor, and the Elder Lady Wei was sent by Wei Qing to a separate villa to recover from illness.
Yet before these matters could settle, trouble arose within the inner palace.
Xing Ronghua had gone into premature labor.
The Imperial Physicians had originally predicted a birth in late February. Who could have known that while she was paying her respects to the Empress at the Pepper Herb Hall, she would suddenly cry out in pain?
Empress Wei acted decisively, ordering her to give birth in the side hall of the Pepper Herb Hall.
After a period of frantic activity, as night fell, Xing Ronghua—having cried in pain for hours—gave birth to a princess.
The Grand Attendant of the Palace hurriedly sent word to the Emperor in Nan Commandery.
Liu Che was holding A’jiao while playing chess when he received the letter. He couldn't help but show a look of joy; even if it wasn't a prince, it was still a happy occasion.
As for the premature labor... it would only take a word for someone to investigate.
The princess was granted the name Yang, and Lady Xing was promoted to the rank of Xing’e.
A’jiao glanced at the news and thought to herself that it was just as expected. She recalled the incident where Chen Yang had charged the palace gates and spoke up, “Wait a moment.”
“Hmm? What is it?” The Emperor turned his head, and the Assistant Secretary standing below also couldn't help but look up toward A’jiao.
A’jiao lowered her voice and leaned into Liu Che’s ear. “Do you remember when Chen Yang charged the palace gates? Back when Concubine Yin drugged you, someone forged an edict saying I was dead. You should look into Lady Xing.”
Liu Che nodded in surprise. He already harbored a grudge against the harem, and this only fueled his anger. With the Embroidered Uniform Messengers in Chang’an, it would be easy to investigate.
A’jiao clicked her tongue. “I’ve noticed your management of the harem is quite lax.”
Liu Che snorted coldly in defense. “Managing the harem is the Empress’s duty. Am I supposed to stare at that tiny patch of land every day while I’m busy with state affairs?”
He was angry. He didn't hold those women in high regard, but that didn't mean they could do as they pleased, especially when it came to interfering in court matters.
Furthermore, that incident had involved the Ministry of the Imperial Clan. If Lady Xing was the one behind it, he felt the harem needed a thorough purging.
By his count, there weren't many people left in the harem anyway.
“Then we shall halt the promotion for now.”
A’jiao finally nodded with a smile. She was not the type to let someone plot against her and then act as if nothing had happened. Lady Xing had been ruthless back then, nearly costing Chen Yang her life; A’jiao, naturally, would show no mercy.
“It’s better not to promote her. Ah Che, you have quite a few people in your harem. Why don't you release a group of them when we return?” According to the rules, a group of palace women was released every few years, usually those over the age of thirty-five.
“Those you’ve nearly forgotten—it’s better to let them go. They’re just taking up space in the palace, don't you think?”
“Agreed.”
Liu Che nodded.
***
