Chapter 30: Provocation
The morning light was bright, but for Princess Jinyu’s Residence, it was the quietest time.
After a night of banqueting, with over a dozen talented young men reciting poems and painting, Princess Jinyu had only just fallen asleep at dawn.
The palace maid, Ah Ju, sat on the white jade steps, a basket of fresh flowers on her lap, looking around.
Whenever a bird flew near, the maids standing around like wooden stakes would wave the colored poles in their hands to chase them away.
After so many years, the birds had learned not to fly here at this time.
Ah Ju casually tore apart the flowers one by one, scattering the petals into the basket.
Princess Jinyu liked to step on fresh petals when she woke up. It was said that she had developed this habit as a child, the treasured daughter of the former Emperor.
Now that her younger brother was the Emperor, Princess Jinyu had become the Eldest Princess, and many of her childhood habits had returned.
The Princess’s temper was growing, and more and more people were coming to her door.
Ah Ju thought of the beautiful young men she had seen last night. Although their poems and paintings were not particularly stunning, the way they looked at the Princess was truly blushing-inducing.
However, Ah Ju shook her head slightly. These men were beautiful, but they couldn’t compare to Shangguan Yue.
If only Shangguan Yue were the Princess’s son, the Princess, who loved beauty, would surely be proud of him and dote on him endlessly.
Unlike now, where he could only hide in the shadows, unable to see the light of day.
The sudden sound of footsteps interrupted Ah Ju’s thoughts. She straightened up involuntarily and pointed towards the direction of the sound.
In addition to the maids chasing birds, there were also strong servants in the courtyard tasked with driving away intruders.
They held thick staffs in their hands, a single b*ow from which could beat a person half to death.
Anyone who dared to disturb the Princess’s rest deserved to die.
But there was one exception.
“Princess—the Imperial Consort’s Husband seeks an audience—”
As the shout rang out, the thick staff in the strong servant’s hand stopped in mid-air, his gaze shifting towards the Princess’s chamber.
Layers upon layers of curtains hung within the Princess’s chamber, blocking out the sunlight as if it were the middle of the night.
A palace lantern in the corner was lit, emitting a soft glow that illuminated the Princess lying on the large bed.
Princess Jinyu was in her forties, her body slightly plump. Even in her sleep, her brows were furrowed, a testament to her temper.
Ah Ju knelt by the bed, playfully scattering flower petals on the Princess’s body like a mischievous child. Unfortunately, there weren’t many petals, and the Princess swept them away with a single wave of her hand.
“Annoying,” Princess Jinyu said irritably, her eyes still closed. “What’s wrong with him now?”
Ah Ju whispered, “Princess, it’s good news. That Young Master Shangguan has run into trouble.”
Princess Jinyu’s eyes flew open. “He’s been beaten to death?” she asked, clapping her hands and laughing. “Which family is so bold? Go and beat them to death to avenge the Imperial Consort’s Husband!”
Ah Ju hurriedly said, “No, no. It’s the tenth Young Master of Grand General Li’s family who had an accident on his pleasure boat.”
Princess Jinyu’s joy instantly vanished, her brows and the corners of her mouth drooping heavily.
“Princess,” Ah Ju quickly said, “Grand General Li wants to arrest Young Master Shangguan, but the Imperial Consort’s Husband is trying to stop him. They’re making a scene.”
Princess Jinyu turned over and lay still, facing inwards.
The Princess disliked Shangguan Yue the most, and since the Imperial Consort’s Husband was protecting that illegitimate son, she must have grown disgusted with him too.
The Princess probably already loathed the Imperial Consort’s Husband. After all, he was no longer young and handsome.
Her advisors had repeatedly suggested that the Princess use the excuse of taking religious vows to divorce the Imperial Consort’s Husband and live a carefree life.
In the past, the Princess would scold them for saying such things, but in recent years, she only smiled in response.
In a few more years, when the Imperial Consort’s Husband was old and decrepit, the Princess would probably heed their advice.
Ah Ju remained silent for a moment. Normally, she wouldn’t say anything more at this point, but thinking of the young man who always smiled at her and called her name whenever he saw her, she whispered, “This is a good opportunity. That Young Master has offended Grand General Li. The Li family is in high favor, powerful and influential. If they want to deal with him, the Imperial Consort’s Husband can’t stop them. Why not take this chance to end his life—”
Princess Jinyu abruptly sat up again, scolding her as a s*upid s*ave.
“Li Chengyuan is powerful and influential?” she shouted angrily. “Am I powerless? Go and summon the Imperial Physician. I’m ill. Have the Imperial Consort’s Husband return to attend to me—”
Ah Ju bowed deeply and replied, “Yes.”
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Hearing the servant report that people from Princess Jinyu’s Residence had taken Shangguan Yue away, Li Chengyuan’s face turned ashen as he sat in the Grand General’s Residence.
“That useless Shangguan Xue has only his face to rely on in this lifetime,” he said with a sneer, reaching up to touch his own face. His fingers brushed against wrinkled skin. “Good. I’ll wait and see what becomes of them, father and son, when he loses that face.”
“Father, are we just going to let this go?” shouted Li’s second son. “Doesn’t Princess Jinyu detest that illegitimate son the most? Father, just have a good talk with her. This could be considered as removing a thorn from her side.”
Li Chengyuan snorted coldly. “What Princess Jinyu hates the most is being looked down upon. She lived like a dog in front of Empress Jiang for all those years. Now that she’s regained her status as a princess, she hates it most when people disobey her. Don’t bother with that madwoman.”
With that madwoman around, that Shangguan boy wouldn’t have a good ending anyway.
“Grand General, Grand General,” another servant hurried in. It was the one who had been sent to apprehend the young man from the W*ng family.
Seeing them return empty-handed, Li’s second son roared angrily, “What? Did he also curry favor with the Princess?”
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The servant hurriedly said, “No, the W*ng family was willing to hand him over. They said we could take him, even opened their doors, but…”
He glanced at Li Chengyuan.
“W*ng Tong wasn’t home.”
This was the name of the W*ng family’s young master who had won against Li Shilang on the pleasure boat.
Li Chengyuan looked at the servant and asked, “Where did he go? Did he sprout wings and fly away?” He sneered. “Even if he sprouted wings and flew away, he wouldn’t be able to fly out of Great Zhou.”
The servant lowered his head and said, “No, he didn’t fly away. He’s, he’s still in the capital, at the Temple of the Holy Ancestor.”
The Temple of the Holy Ancestor.
Li Chengyuan’s face stiffened.
Emperor Gaozong of Great Zhou was a descendant of Laozi, the founder of Taoism, and was posthumously titled Grand Holy Ancestor Xuanyuan Emperor. The Temple of the Holy Ancestor was built in the capital to honor him.
The Temple of the Holy Ancestor was also an imperial forbidden ground, guarding the fortune of Great Zhou. The head priest was bestowed the title of National Teacher by the Emperor. Even imperial relatives and nobles couldn’t easily set foot in the Temple of the Holy Ancestor.
“W*ng Tong was chosen to tend to the incense and candles at the Temple of the Holy Ancestor this time…” The servant’s voice grew softer and softer. “The W*ng family told us to go to the Temple of the Holy Ancestor to get him. Grand General, should we go, or not?”
Silence fell over the hall. After a while, Li Chengyuan gritted his teeth and said, “Go!”
Even if they couldn’t get him, they couldn’t lose face!
But in reality, they didn’t really win in terms of face either.
The Temple of the Holy Ancestor stood tall in the western suburbs of the capital. Its massive gate was only opened after being knocked on for a long time. A young Taoist priest with narrow eyes looked up at Li’s second son from below.
“Injured someone?” he asked in a shrill voice. “Injured who? A prince or a princess?”
Li’s second son looked at the young Taoist priest, who wasn’t even as tall as his shoulder, but he couldn’t help but be respectful. He presented Li Chengyuan’s invitation. “Please inform Master Changyuan that Grand General Li Chengyuan—”
Before he could finish speaking, the young Taoist priest slammed the gate shut, leaving only his shrill voice echoing from within.
“The Crown Prince died before, and we didn’t open the gate. Who does Li Chengyuan think he is!”
Li’s second son stood outside the temple, staring at the closed gate, his face turning green with anger.
But he also knew that the young Taoist priest wasn’t being arrogant. When the Crown Prince was besieged by Empress Jiang’s troops and burned to death, he had also sought refuge at the Temple of the Holy Ancestor. The Temple, which claimed to protect Great Zhou, hadn’t even opened its doors, turning a blind eye to the tragic death of a descendant of Great Zhou.
Compared to the Emperor’s son, the Crown Prince, Li Chengyuan really wasn’t anything.
Li’s second son gritted his teeth, glaring at the temple, and cursed under his breath in frustration. “These arrogant b*stards! My poor nephew—” He flicked his sleeves and stormed off in anger.
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…….
The Temple of the Holy Ancestor had numerous halls and chambers. Li’s second son’s voice couldn’t reach inside, but W*ng Tong, who had been hiding behind the gate, heard it. He crossed several halls and arrived in front of a particular chamber.
Its doors and windows were tall and tightly closed, shutting out both light and shadow. Inside, a statue of the Holy Ancestor stood tall, and a pill furnace almost as tall as the statue sat before it. A white-haired old Taoist sat in front of the furnace, looking as small as a child, as if he were asleep.
“Ancestor, Ancestor,” W*ng Tong knelt outside the door and called softly. “Li Chengyuan’s son is outside cursing you.”
The old Taoist flicked the horsetail whisk in his hand without opening his eyes. “Get out.”
W*ng Tong, still kneeling outside the door, said cheerfully, “I’ve already made him get out.” He then quickly added, “Ancestor, that Li Shilang fell into the water. I saw it with my own eyes. He must have been dragged down by a water ghost. Ancestor, there are monsters and ghosts in the capital. Should we step in to eliminate them and uphold justice?”
The old Taoist turned his head, his long white eyebrows, as long as his beard, flying upwards. “I told you to get out.”
W*ng Tong was stunned for a moment, then he lunged forward. “Ancestor, you can’t chase me away! I vowed from a young age to dedicate myself to the Tao. My grandfather donated a lot of money to you—”
Before he could finish speaking, a middle-aged Taoist priest who had come out from inside grabbed him and dragged him outwards.
W*ng Tong cried out in despair until the Taoist priest chuckled and said, “The Ancestor just told you not to disturb his peace, not to chase you away.”
W*ng Tong immediately wiped the despair from his face and patted his chest. “That scared me.”
The middle-aged Taoist priest laughed. “Don’t worry. The Ancestor is extremely protective of his own. Even if he really wanted to chase you away, he wouldn’t do it now. Wouldn’t that make the Li family look down on us?”
W*ng Tong nodded repeatedly. “That’s right. In the Ancestor’s eyes, Li Chengyuan is nothing.” He then said excitedly, “But is there really a female ghost in the Jinshui River? Should we step in to eliminate the demon and punish the evil—”
“Under the Holy Ancestor’s protection, there are no monsters or ghosts,” the middle-aged Taoist priest said dismissively. He then chuckled. “Even if there really was a female ghost, it’s none of our business. Not to mention a female ghost, even when the Crown Prince died and the princes were almost all slaughtered by Empress Jiang, the Ancestor closed his eyes and did nothing.”
W*ng Tong had heard about the chaos more than a decade ago. He couldn’t help but ask, “Then, what does the Ancestor care about?”
The middle-aged Taoist priest smiled and looked towards the capital bathed in the morning light. “The fortune of Great Zhou.”
When Empress Jiang slaughtered the princes, the Ancestor didn’t intervene because the former Emperor was still alive. It was just a power struggle between the ruler, his ministers, and his sons. But when Empress Jiang attempted to rule from behind the curtain, that was encroaching on the fortune of Great Zhou. The Ancestor, with a single strike of the bell, shattered the former Emperor’s illusion, disrupted the minds of Empress Jiang’s followers, and crushed her soul. That’s how Prince Changyang was able to march straight into the imperial palace and restore order to the Great Zhou court.
The death of one Li Shilang was just a trivial matter, a speck of dust. And they even dared to come to the Temple of the Holy Ancestor to demand his return.
The middle-aged Taoist priest flicked his horsetail whisk and looked at W*ng Tong, who was standing beside him. “Hurry up and go tend to the incense and candles! If they go out, that would be a major issue!”
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…….
For the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence, the death of Li Shilang was no small matter, but it had nothing to do with them.
Failing to invite the best Imperial Physician from the Imperial Medical Academy was a loss of face for the Madam. This was a major issue. The Marchioness of Dongyang immediately had Mama Huang invite Zhang Shilin, the most renowned civilian physician in the capital.
