While the consorts of the imperial harem continued scheming against one another, the outer court was hardly idle. If Consort Shu Meng being condemned without any real opportunity to defend herself and thrown into the Cold Palace had already been unbelievable enough to leave everyone stunned, then seeing responsibility extended to implicate her family caused an even greater uproar throughout the court.
Naturally, the Gurun Prince Consort was unwilling to accept his daughter’s sudden punishment. Relying upon his status as imperial kin and his position as an important minister, he complained bitterly with all the indignation of an imperial father-in-law. The more he thought about the precious daughter he had never been willing to lay a finger on since childhood being sent into the palace only to suffer other people’s contempt and humiliation, the angrier he became. And in his eyes, the source of everything was none other than Marquis Dingbei, who had apparently had nothing better to do than thrust himself into the situation and suddenly recognize a son out of nowhere. Then, not long after that recognition, this dubious assassination affair had appeared. The Gurun Prince Consort would sooner die than believe Marquis Dingbei knew nothing about it.
A man who had risen through merit into the ranks of imperial kin was now clashing head-on with another great imperial in-law; perhaps only people of such comparable standing could afford to fight so openly without restraint. The Gurun Prince Consort was no ordinary opponent when it came to verbal combat, either. He brought the full arsenal of a civil official into play—barbed insinuations, cutting remarks, and insults delivered without ever resorting to vulgar language. Yet because the dispute concerned what was, in essence, the emperor’s private family affairs, even civil officials aligned with the Gurun Prince Consort and military officers aligned with Marquis Dingbei could only remain neutral and silent, at most exchanging hostile glances across the court.
A father pleading for his daughter was perfectly natural, but the situation was nowhere near as simple as it appeared. The Gurun Prince Consort knew only that his daughter had been condemned because an assassin who attacked Virtuous Noble Lord had been discovered inside her palace. He did not know that what had truly cemented Feng Xuanyi’s decision was the waist token from the Gurun Prince Consort’s own household found on the assassin. So he stood in morning court before the assembled civil and military officials, speaking recklessly and demanding an explanation from the emperor. Feng Xuanyi did not interrupt him. He simply listened, allowing him to say as much as he pleased. Marquis Dingbei did not become angry either, letting every overt and covert barb pass unanswered. Only when the Gurun Prince Consort had finally spoken himself tired and paused to catch his breath did disaster truly descend.
“The Gurun Prince Consort failed to instruct his daughter properly. In consideration of past ties, I imposed a comparatively light punishment and did not implicate her family. Yet rather than showing gratitude and restraint, you have grown even more presumptuous. You defy your sovereign and superiors, harbor questionable intentions, violate decorum before the throne, speak recklessly, behave without propriety, openly insult an important minister of the court, and show no remorse for your conduct. I can tolerate it no longer. Your rank and titles are hereby stripped, and you are sentenced to death. In consideration of the fact that although you have committed wrongs, you have nevertheless rendered considerable service to the court over the course of your life, I will permit you to choose the manner of your death.”
The Son of Heaven had spoken, and the entire court was stunned. Civil and military officials alike had expected that after the emperor punished Consort Shu Meng, the Gurun Prince Consort’s position would, if not collapse completely, at least decline sharply from its former glory. No one had imagined Feng Xuanyi would actually decide to kill him. “Even the Son of Heaven is subject to the same law as the common people” was ultimately little more than a saying. There had indeed been an assassination and an offense against imperial authority, but the intended victim had not been the emperor, so the foundation of the state itself had never been threatened. Punishment was certainly justified, yet sentencing to death a member of the imperial family by marriage—one who had also been among the meritorious ministers who helped Feng Xuanyi gain the upper hand during the coup—was enough to reveal just how far the emperor intended to take this.
The two words “sentenced to death” instantly drained the strength from the Gurun Prince Consort’s legs. The man who had been waging a one-sided war of words only moments before collapsed to the floor. He had spent his entire life pursuing office and achievement, living in glory and pride, never imagining that this would be how it ended. Though only somewhat past forty, he seemed to age many years in an instant. Defeated and ashen-faced, his pale lips opened and closed without producing a single word. The civil officials who had been close to him were now equally terrified, silent as cicadas in winter. Forget speaking up to protest his injustice—they barely had enough time to worry about protecting themselves.
Feng Xuanyi showed not the slightest emotion or hesitation toward the man whom, in an ordinary family, he would have addressed as an uncle by marriage. He looked down at the figure collapsed on the floor, the dark-red hem of his official robe spread messily around him. Just as he had with Consort Shu Meng, Feng Xuanyi offered no opportunity for explanation or defense. With a flick of his sleeve, his thin lips parted. “Court is dismissed.”
The ceremonial palace attendant immediately repeated loudly, “Court is dismissed.”
The order that would destroy the household of the Gurun Prince Consort finally alarmed the Empress Dowager, former wife of Emperor Huawen and once Empress Ming, who had withdrawn to her own palace after Feng Xuanyi ascended the throne and had since remained aloof from worldly affairs, intending to spend her later years in peace.
She hurried to the imperial study, only to find Feng Xuanyi apparently expecting her. No court officials were present discussing state affairs, nor was he surrounded by the usual mountain of documents that never seemed to end. It was almost as though he had deliberately cleared his schedule and was simply drinking tea while waiting for her.
“He is your own uncle by marriage and one of the pillars who helped you ascend the throne. How can you kill him?! If you slaughter your own kin like this, later generations will condemn and revile you!” The Empress Dowager came straight to the point, offering neither greeting nor ceremony. Her eyes were red with anger as she confronted him.
Feng Xuanyi merely replied in a lukewarm tone, “There is no need for Imperial Mother to concern herself with my realm. If Imperial Mother has so much free time that you can exhaust yourself worrying over insignificant people, you would be better served thinking about Eldest Brother and praying for his safety. Remain peacefully here in the inner palace as Empress Dowager, and I will certainly fulfill my filial duty toward you. I will also do as you wish and ensure Eldest Brother remains safe and unharmed for the rest of his life. As for what later generations may say about me, I will not be there to hear it, nor do I wish to.”
The answer immediately left the Empress Dowager speechless. She breathed heavily for a long while before finally sighing with sorrow. “Emperor, why have you become like this? Why…?”
“There is likewise no need for Imperial Mother to trouble yourself over my affairs. You need only devote yourself to Eldest Brother’s interests.” Feng Xuanyi remained perfectly calm, never once even lifting his eyes. “Imperial Mother suffers from an old illness, and moving about is inconvenient. If there is nothing else, please return to your palace. Have a servant summon an imperial physician afterward and take care not to catch a chill.”
Neither spoke for a long while. Finally, the Empress Dowager looked at him with an expression containing helplessness, pity, and a pain she seemed unable to put into words. “Emperor, I know that nothing I say now will have any use, and you will not listen. But remember this: do not allow hatred to blind your eyes. It will only drag you deeper and deeper until you miss even your final chance at salvation…”
“This son thanks Imperial Mother for her instruction. If there is nothing else, please return. I still have memorials to review.”
The Empress Dowager said no more and turned toward her palace. The dowry maid who had accompanied her through most of her life and would likely remain beside her until its end hurried forward to support her. “Your Majesty, please do not grieve. His Majesty is simply too busy. He understands Your Majesty’s intentions.”
“I am the one who wronged him. It was my fault…” The Empress Dowager stopped herself before saying more and waved a hand. “Return to the palace.”
The Cold Palace, which by rights should have been deserted and ignored, had the rare honor of receiving two imperial consorts enjoying the emperor’s favor within a single day—except that one had only just become a thing of the past, while the other now stood at the very height of favor.
A long scream erupted from inside the Cold Palace, hoarse, piercing, and utterly desperate.
“Get out! All of you, get out! I don’t believe it! I don’t believe His Majesty would treat me this way—or treat my father this way! You’re lying to me! Yes, you must have planned this, didn’t you?!” With one sweep of her arm, Meng Zhen sent every cup and container on the table crashing to the floor. Upon learning that the entire household of the Gurun Prince Consort had been sentenced to death, she seemed to lose what remained of her reason and lunged toward Nalan Xuan, trying to seize him by the collar. Xiao Dezi, quick-eyed and seemingly able to predict the attack before it happened, immediately blocked her. Meng Zhen continued screaming without giving up. “You hated that His Majesty favored me! You hated that I overshadowed you, so you designed this whole trap to frame us! Virtuous Noble Lord, you are despicable! You are utterly heartless!”