Your Majesty is Poisonous – Chapter 16

The Empress Dowager is Terrifying

In his Study Room, Zhu Xiangchang sat with his grandson, who was not yet two years old, nestled in his arms. Stroke by stroke, he wrote characters on a piece of paper, teaching the child to read.

“Repeat after your grandfather. Tian—” Zhu Xiangchang took his little grandson’s hand, guiding the boy’s tiny finger to trace the inky lines on the paper.

            

The little child’s pronunciation was unclear, and he always pronounced “tian” as “dian.”​¹

“Dian—” the toddler read earnestly in his milky voice. When he finished, he tilted his head up to look at his grandfather, wearing an adorable expression that begged for praise.

Zhu Xiangchang laughed heartily and stroked his grandson’s head. “Just like your old man. A little simpleton.”

            

Back in the day, Zhu Xiangchang had been a proper Jinshi,​² and though he hadn’t placed in the First Rank,​³ the Late Emperor had once publicly praised his outstanding talent and learning. For some reason, neither his son nor his daughter had inherited his aptitude for scholarly pursuits, and it was even worse with the grandchildren.

He could still say his little grandson in his arms was too young to tell. But his other grandson, the Second Prince of Daxing, Feng Xin, was an unenlightened blockhead. Forget reading and writing—the boy couldn’t even grasp reason. He had a thuggish air about him, without the slightest hint of imperial bearing.

Just as Zhu Xiangchang was pondering where things had gone wrong to prevent his descendants from inheriting his intelligence, a servant came to the door to report.

            

“Master. A maiden from the palace wishes to see you.”

“Is it a maiden from the Empress’s palace?” Zhu Xiangchang guessed his daughter needed money to grease some palms in the palace again and had sent someone to fetch it. The Empress’s expenses in the palace were enormous; the monthly stipend for the rear palaces wasn’t even enough for Her Ladyship to buy a box of rouge. Not to mention food, clothing, and other necessities. If you wanted people in the palace to serve you diligently, how could you manage without silver? Fortunately, while that sum would be a fortune to an ordinary wealthy family, it was nothing to the Zhu family.

The servant replied, “She is a maiden from the Empress Dowager’s palace. She is currently seated in the Front Hall.”

            

Someone from Ning’an Palace? Zhu Xiangchang couldn’t help but feel a little suspicious. He had never had any dealings with Empress Dowager Wan. Night had already fallen, so why would she suddenly send someone over?

“Have her served well. I will be there shortly.” Cradling his grandson, Zhu Xiangchang left the Study Room and handed the child to a servant. “Take the young master back to the Second Master’s Courtyard. Shield him from the wind. If he catches a cold, I’ll hold you responsible.”

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Yuanqian had long heard that in terms of wealth, the Empress’s maternal family was one of the foremost in the entire Capital City. When she first arrived at the Zhu Residence, she hadn’t noticed anything special upon entering. The courtyard of the Lord State Uncle’s home was not particularly large, the buildings were constructed from common wood, and the furnishings in the courtyard were extremely ordinary. Given the Lord State Uncle’s status, it even seemed a bit shabby—hardly the home of an immensely wealthy family.

            

It was only upon entering the Main Courtyard that Yuanqian realized the Zhu Residence held a whole new world within. The small courtyard she had seen after entering the main gate was merely the Gate Courtyard, a place for guests to leave their sedan chairs, and the few rooms there were for the chair bearers to rest. The Main Courtyard was a long walk further inside and was several times larger than the Gate Courtyard. It was an imposing and magnificent sight, with carved beams and painted rafters.​⁴

She had initially thought the Lord State Uncle was hiding his wealth, but now it seemed she had been overthinking it. The exquisite luxury of the Zhu Residence was in no way inferior to the imperial palace—it may have even surpassed it.

After entering the main hall, a maidservant served Yuanqian tea. The tea was slightly sweet with a fragrant aroma; it was of the highest quality.

            

Zhu Xiangchang took his time changing his clothes before slowly making his way out. He was in no hurry. No matter that she was from Ning’an Palace, she was still just a high-status servant. Zhu Xiangchang didn’t give Yuanqian a second thought. He was the State Uncle. In terms of seniority, he was on the same level as Empress Dowager Wan of Ning’an Palace; even the Empress Dowager would have to address him as qingjiagong.​⁵

“Does the Empress Dowager have some decree?” Zhu Xiangchang sat in the seat of honor, taking a sip of his tea without looking at Yuanqian.

Yuanqian remained seated, not rising to pay respects to the Lord State Uncle. She had come on behalf of the Empress Dowager and was not required to bow. As for the Lord State Uncle’s arrogant attitude, it was a carbon copy of the Empress’s.

            

“The Empress Dowager would like to buy something from you, Lord State Uncle,” Yuanqian said with a smile.

“Oh?” Zhu Xiangchang was even more confused. Was there something he possessed that Empress Dowager Wan did not? That was impossible. No matter how fine his possessions were, they couldn’t compare to the tribute sent to the palace. Any treasure that was one-of-a-kind in the world was surely in the palace. “If the Empress Dowager has truly taken a liking to something in my residence, I should offer it to her proactively. The entire world belongs to the Emperor; how could I dare speak of buying and selling with Her Ladyship? Maiden, please speak freely.”

“Her Ladyship has taken a fancy to your dock in Zai County. She wishes to build a fishing platform there to go fishing and relieve her boredom, taking advantage of the fine spring weather.” Yuanqian took another sip of tea and praised, “The tea at the Lord State Uncle’s residence is truly excellent.”

            

Zhu Xiangchang’s expression changed.

Fishing at the dock? The palace had countless ponds and lakes. Even if she wanted to fish in a river for amusement, there were innumerable stretches along the riverbanks for the Empress Dowager to choose from. Yet Wan Bi specifically wanted his dock…

That dock was the sole channel he provided for northern and southern merchants to enter and exit the Capital Environs. He had bought up all the land in the area. Cargo ships would stop at the dock and enter the Capital Environs from there, allowing them to evade many taxes. He only charged half of what the imperial court collected.

            

Wan Bi was trying to cut off his revenue stream! The Empress Dowager did want to go fishing, it was just that he was the big fish. Few people knew about that route into the capital from the dock. He only allowed passage for the goods of a few major merchants with whom he had close dealings. How did Wan Bi find out?

“What a fine mood the Empress Dowager is in, to have such a refined interest in angling.” Zhu Xiangchang’s face darkened. “Speaking of building a fishing platform, I happen to have a riverside estate with excellent scenery. The nearby river has clear water and fat fish…”

“Why must you feign ignorance, Lord State Uncle? The Empress Dowager wants your land in Zai County,” Yuanqian said with a smile. “I’m sure you are aware of Her Ladyship’s temperament. She has not yet told the Emperor about the matter of the Zai County dock…”

            

Zhu Xiangchang wanted to know how the news had leaked. Already breaking out in a cold sweat, he took out a handkerchief and wiped his brow before asking, “How could the Empress Dowager possibly know about the dock?”

“Is there any wall in the world that doesn’t leak wind?” Yuanqian pulled a prepared document from her sleeve and handed it to Zhu Xiangchang. “Either you sign this, Lord State Uncle, and sell the dock to Her Ladyship at land value. Or, you can produce three million taels,​⁶ and the Emperor will never know about the dock.”

“Three million taels?” Zhu Xiangchang jumped to his feet in anger. He understood now. He was being blackmailed—and by the reigning Empress Dowager, no less. He had watched with his own eyes as the Late Emperor brought that monster Wan Bi into the palace. He was naturally well aware of the lawless deeds she had committed over the years. “How do I know that the Empress Dowager won’t take my silver with one hand and then run to complain to the Emperor with the other?”

            

Zhu Xiangchang had no choice. The matter of the dock was tantamount to stealing from the National Treasury. If the Emperor found out, not even his daughter the Empress could protect him.

“You worry too much, Lord State Uncle. The Empress Dowager will have many more occasions to trouble you in the future. How could she possibly complain to the Emperor?” Yuanqian put the document away and rose to her feet. “Once you have prepared the items, Lord State Uncle, send word to Ning’an Palace, and Her Ladyship will send a carriage to collect them. But please don’t take too long. Her Ladyship has very little patience.”

“Fine. Please inform the Empress Dowager that the three million taels will arrive at Ning’an Palace the day after tomorrow,” Zhu Xiangchang said, rising to see her out with a forced smile on his face.

            

“No. Tomorrow,” Yuanqian said with a smile and bid her farewell. “Please stay, Lord State Uncle. There is no need to see me out.”

After Yuanqian left, Zhu Xiangchang was so furious he smashed everything in the Front Hall. The Empress Dowager had him cornered and was going to suck him dry!

Hearing the commotion, the Minister’s Wife rushed in and grabbed Zhu Xiangchang as he was about to smash a chair. “Master, be careful not to hurt yourself! What happened to make you so angry?”

            

“What happened? A robber came into our home!” Zhu Xiangchang said hatefully.

“A robber?” The Minister’s Wife was terrified. Looking out into the hall, she said, “Quickly, have someone go and catch them! Those criminals must have a death wish, to dare to rob even our residence!”

Zhu Xiangchang pulled his frightened wife into his arms and said softly, “That robber can place herself above the law. She can’t be caught.” To deal with an unreasonable person like Wan Bi, one had to be even more unreasonable.

            

Three million taels was just the beginning. Now that Wan Bi had leverage on him, she would surely use it to blackmail him endlessly. He would give up the dock. For now, he would placate Wan Bi. Tomorrow, he would immediately order his men to seal off that secret route in Zai County and clean up every last trace of evidence. When that was done, what could Wan Bi do if she went to the Emperor? Without proof, the Emperor couldn’t do anything to him.

She wanted him to hand over three million taels of snowflake silver​⁷ for nothing? She could dream on!

Zhu Xiangchang felt that even tomorrow was too late. It was best to resolve the matter of the dock tonight.

            

“Prepare the carriage! We’re going to the Zai County Yamen!”

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Yao Xi had a very difficult day. When she was finally able to get off duty after nightfall, she didn’t even have the courage to go to the dining hall for dinner.

Once inside her room, Yao Xi carefully bolted the door and latched the windows shut. Still not feeling safe, she placed a chipped vase on the windowsill and propped a chair at an angle against the door. This way, no matter which way someone came in, she would hear the noise.

            

At this moment, Yao Xi even felt a sense of nostalgia for Jingling Palace. As terrifying as the ghost-maidens were, they only tried to scare her with their spectral act; they wouldn’t harm her life. But the look in Liao Bing’s eyes today clearly said he wanted to cut her into ten thousand pieces.

The people in the Bureau of Imperial Gardens were afraid of Zheng Dayun, so they only dared to play tricks on her, not to actually harm her. But Liao Bing was different. He already had a reckless, domineering personality to begin with. He had a broken leg because of her, and if he lost his mind and decided to risk it all to fight her to the death, she would be in serious trouble.

Thankfully, she had a room to herself. If she had a roommate, she wouldn’t have dared to stay in the Bureau of Imperial Gardens tonight at all.

            

Yao Xi decided she would go find Maiden Hanqiu tomorrow and ask if, aside from assignments from the Directorate of Palace Attendants, Beauty Xu might be able to request her transfer from the Bureau of Imperial Gardens.

She hadn’t gotten up until after noon that day, and the top of her bruised foot still ached, so she was having trouble sleeping. She was reading a storybook by the light of an oil lamp when she suddenly heard the chair propped against the door let out a creak. Yao Xi threw down her book and stared nervously at the entrance.

Creeaak—

            

The chair moved again. It sounded like someone was using a key to open the door.

Oh my god!!!!!!

The aftereffects of her night in Jingling Palace had not yet faded. Her reaction time was especially slow, and only now did it hit her: Liao Bing had keys to all the rooms in the Bureau of Imperial Gardens!

            

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