Wish You All the Best - Chapter 56

Chapter 56

The palace attendant holding the wine pot was as pale as a sheet, trembling as she knelt to the side, nearly collapsing to the floor in a heap.

When Zhang Fengtong heard from this trusted servant what she had said and done in public tonight, her head felt as if it were buzzing. Everything went black before her eyes, and a stream of blood gushed instantly from her nostrils. It dripped and splattered onto the front of her ceremonial court robe, which was embroidered with a golden phoenix; the yellow of the silk and the red of the blood intermingled, creating a spreading, horrific stain.

She widened her eyes until they seemed ready to burst from their sockets. With a wave of her hand, she delivered a brutal slap to the servant’s face—just as she herself had been struck earlier—sending the attendant sprawling to the ground.

This was far from enough to quench the hatred in her heart. She hated so intensely that she could have eaten human flesh. She ripped a hairpin from her head and slashed wildly and viciously at the servant, her mouth emitting frantic, angry, guttural sounds.

"You bitch! You couldn't even handle such a simple task! You’ve ruined me!"

"Pfft, pfft, pfft." Several bloody holes quickly appeared on the servant’s neck and face. The attendant curled into a ball, shielding her face with her hands while screaming in agony, "Your Highness, have mercy! This servant would never dare to harm you! I remember clearly—the wine in Your Highness's cup was clean—"

"Still arguing! I'll beat you to death! Who else could have known besides you? Were you trying to harm me on purpose?"

Zhang Fengtong had not actually drunk the medicated wine, but her face was ghastly pale, her eyes were bloodshot, her hair was disheveled, and her nose and mouth were stained with blood. She looked exactly like a madwoman. She threw herself at the servant, continuing to stab wildly at her arms. The servant let out miserable, piercing shrieks that sounded particularly chilling in the night air.

"You slut! You haven't ruined me enough—are you trying to bring Li Yuangui’s people here?"

Xiao Yintang was burning with rage. He lunged forward and kicked Zhang Fengtong squarely in the shoulder. There was a faint crack, and Zhang Fengtong was sent flying several feet backward to the ground. The blood-stained hairpin slipped from her hand and skittered away.

The sharp pain from her shoulder seemed to snap her sanity back for a moment. After struggling, she actually scrambled to her feet and crawled swiftly to Xiao Yintang’s side. She grabbed the hem of his robe and sobbed, "Your Highness, I truly didn't mean to. How could I have known that this bitch would mess up something as simple as pouring wine? I originally only wanted to—"

She stopped abruptly, her teeth chattering so violently that they made a distinct "chattering" sound.

Xiao Yintang backhanded her with another slap. He crouched down, grabbed her by the hair, and gritted his teeth, saying, "You intended to make the Zhen woman drink that wine and lose face in public? Is that it? You venomous, snake-hearted woman! I worked hard to go there today to bring glory to your Zhang family, and yet you—this bitch—behind my back, not only laid a hand on someone who belongs to me, Xiao Yintang, but you even caused this catastrophe!"

He rose abruptly, grabbed a long sword resting on the table, drew it, and pointed it at Zhang Fengtong,逼 pressing her backward.

Zhang Fengtong was colorless. Under the point of the sword, she inched backward until she was pressed against the wall, with nowhere left to go.

"Your Highness, you cannot kill me like this. If you kill me, wouldn't that just confirm everything I said..."

Zhang Fengtong wept mournfully.

Xiao Yintang stopped in his tracks. The tip of the sword did not move forward, yet it did not retreat, remaining frozen in mid-air.

His originally handsome face was now slightly distorted as he stared fixedly at Zhang Fengtong against the wall, his gaze flickering. After a moment, he slowly sheathed his sword and said coldly, "Bitch! My men are guarding the palace gates at this moment, and the Emperor doesn't know about this yet. I am going to your father right now to plead guilty before the Emperor. If your mind is clear, you don't need me to teach you what to say when we reach the Emperor, do you?"

Zhang Fengtong hung against the wall as if limp, not moving a muscle.

Xiao Yintang did not glance at her again and turned to leave.

"Your Highness!"

Just before he reached the door, Zhang Fengtong called out. Leaning against the wall, she stood up slowly. Her eyes, wide as copper coins, reflected the nearby candlelight, glowing with a ghastly, eerie light.

"In this situation, there is only one way to perhaps find some leeway before the Emperor. I will go and beg the Empress."

She explained her plan, her voice trembling incessantly.

"The matter with the Zhen woman is one thing, but you killed Lady Cao. If this is confirmed, even if the Cao family dares not pursue it, the censors certainly will not let it pass. Even if the Emperor wishes to cover it up, there must be a pretext to explain it away..."

Xiao Yintang narrowed his eyes. "Are you threatening me?"

Zhang Fengtong endured the pain in her shoulder and knelt down. "Your Highness, this matter truly started because of me. My fate is irrelevant; even if the Emperor sentences me to death, I deserve it. But you and I are now grasshoppers on the same rope. Clearing my name is the only way to clear yours. You should understand this better than I do, Your Highness."

Xiao Yintang cast a look of loathing at her face, which was as green and white as a malicious spirit, and said coldly, "Are you still not going?"

Zhang Fengtong answered in the affirmative. Xiao Yintang walked forward, took a step, then stopped and turned back. "Vile woman, if we manage to survive this hurdle, remember this: if you dare to touch the Zhen woman again, even if she loses a single hair, I will never show you mercy!"

Zhang Fengtong’s complexion turned a mottled shade of blue and white as she collapsed to the floor. Xiao Yintang had already departed with long strides. Only then did her trusted palace attendants timidly enter. They glanced at Zhang Fengtong, who looked like a drenched, malicious spirit, and then cast fearful looks at the servant who was still struggling and moaning on the ground.

"Are you all dead? Why haven't you helped me up?"

Zhang Fengtong snapped harshly. As she exerted herself to stand, she felt a sharp pain in her shoulder and arm, realizing then that he must have broken her bone with that kick. Forcing herself to endure the pain, her face twisted, she allowed herself to be slowly helped up and ordered them to quickly comb her hair and change her clothes. As she passed by the servant on the ground, she signaled to a eunuch.

The eunuch understood. He went over, covered the servant’s mouth, and dragged her into a dark corner like a dead dog. At first, there were intermittent, muffled, struggling sounds, but soon, they faded away, finally falling into silence.

...

Since Xiao Lie’s ascension, he had been diligent, never setting aside his scrolls and handling every matter personally. Yesterday, due to a report on a regional drought requiring emergency relief funds, he had summoned officials from the Ministry of Revenue to deliberate throughout the night and had not slept. Today, he had held court continuously. After finally meeting with Pei You’an, He Gongpu, and Zhang Shiyong from the Ministry of Personnel in the evening to review and sign off on several critical memorials, he felt bone-weary and had slept in the side hall. Just as he entered a dream, he was awakened by Li Yuangui and learned that at the birthday banquet for her mother tonight, the Crown Princess had, in front of everyone, become drunk, gone mad, and acted with a total lack of decorum. He was startled, then frowned and said, "How could this happen? Very well, tell her to abstain from wine from now on!"

Li Yuangui said, "Your Majesty, if it were only this, how would I dare disturb Your Majesty? The truth is that the Crown Princess said some things that might stir up a massive scandal. The Crown Prince and Elder Zhang, fearing Your Majesty’s wrath, are both outside the hall now, kneeling and begging for forgiveness."

"What did she say?"

Li Yuangui carefully repeated the words.

Xiao Lie froze. He suddenly threw the belt that Cui Yinshui had just handed him onto the floor, roaring in anger, "Preposterous! How could such a thing happen!" It was unclear whether he was angrier at the Crown Princess’s reckless words or at the facts she had revealed.

Li Yuangui hurriedly picked up the belt, seeing that a precious jade embedded in it had shattered. He signaled to Cui Yinshui to bring another one while bowing and saying, "Yes, yes. I assume it was just the Crown Princess rambling in her drunkenness. It’s just that there were too many people there at the time, and it could not be hidden, so the Crown Prince and Elder Zhang have both come to plead guilty to Your Majesty."

Xiao Lie raged, "She has already said it! What use is it to come and plead guilty to me now?"

Li Yuangui hesitated. "Then should I pass the word for them to withdraw?"

Xiao Lie was silent at first, then suddenly said, "Call the Crown Prince in. Send Elder Zhang home."

Li Yuangui acknowledged and hurried out to pass the word. A moment later, Xiao Yintang walked in quickly, his expression fearful. He knelt and kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Father, the Crown Princess lost all decorum after drinking and spoke nothing but nonsense. I have been dragged into this, and besides feeling indignant, I am deeply ashamed to have failed your daily teachings. I beg for Your Majesty’s punishment!"

Xiao Lie stared at him. "Your wife says you strangled Lady Cao. Is this true?"

"It was drunken babble—how could it be true? Lady Cao had been with me for many years, and we shared a deep affection. She had no faults in her daily life; why would I kill her? Even if I had lost my conscience, I would never take her life! Royal Physician Wang was there at the time and personally diagnosed her condition. If Father does not believe me, you can summon Physician Wang to inquire!"

Xiao Lie hummed coldly. "It is easy for me to believe you, but can you make the court officials and censors believe you?"

"Father! Even if those people outside do not believe me, if even you do not believe your son, I would be wronged to death!"

"Hold your tongue!"

Xiao Lie was furious. He picked up a memorial from his desk and hurled it at him.

"If you have nothing to hide, how could she conjure such words out of thin air to slander you, even if she were dead drunk?"

"Father! I am indeed guilty. Since things have reached this point, I am not afraid to tell the truth. I was once saved by the Zhen woman and did indeed have feelings for her. I admit this. But later, when you personally arranged for the Zhen woman to marry You'an, I have always looked upon him as an elder brother, so I extinguished those thoughts and have not had any improper ideas since. It is this Zhang woman—she appears broad-minded, but she is the most small-minded person. She was already dissatisfied that I neglected her. Seeing that I was on good terms with Lady Cao and knowing that I had once been interested in the Zhen woman, she became filled with jealousy and hatred. Naturally, she wouldn't show it normally, but tonight, drunk and losing control to her inner demons, she must have hated that I could not be ruined, which is why she acted out and spouted such nonsense. I beg Father to investigate! You can even call her in and ask her!"

After Xiao Yintang finished speaking, he kowtowed incessantly.

Xiao Lie watched him with cold eyes.

At that moment, Li Yuangui’s voice came from outside: "Her Majesty the Empress is here! The Crown Princess is here!"

Xiao Lie looked up to see the Zhou woman entering in a hurry, followed by a haggard-looking Zhang Fengtong. As they entered, Zhang Fengtong knelt beside Xiao Yintang. The Zhou woman, however, spoke with excitement, "Your Majesty! It is a disaster! The inner palace is about to be turned upside down! There is something I must report! Before the Crown Prince’s wedding, I received a secret report that Lady Cao, out of jealousy toward the Crown Princess, had sought out a sorcerer outside the palace to secretly cast a witchcraft curse on the Crown Princess, capable of causing one to lose their mind and behave in a bizarre manner. It is all my fault for being negligent. I didn't believe it at the time, thinking that Lady Cao usually looked so honest, how could she do such a thing? I thought she must have offended someone and was being falsely accused before me, so I had that person beaten and driven away. I never imagined that the Crown Princess would have such an incident tonight. Only then did I realize the truth! I just sent someone to the Crown Princess's residence in the Eastern Palace, and indeed, I found the cursed objects under her bed! It is truly shocking!"

She called out, and Nanny Lin bowed and entered, kneeling at the palace entrance with a tray held high in both hands. Li Yuangui went over and took the tray, which held a small paper doll. The Crown Princess’s birth date was written on its face, and silver needles were pierced through its chest and heart.

The Zhou woman also knelt down, weeping, "Your Majesty, this is all my fault! I blame myself for being too soft-hearted. If I had been vigilant when I first received the news and had the Cao woman seized and investigated to the end, it would not have led to today's disaster! The Crown Princess was cursed by evil witchcraft, which is why she lost her composure and rambled in public tonight. How could the words she spoke be taken seriously? It was surely the evil spirit of Lady Cao at work! I beg Your Majesty to investigate!"

Zhang Fengtong bowed deeply and followed with quiet sobbing.

The atmosphere in the hall was stifling; no one spoke.

"Reporting to Your Majesty! Elder Zhang learned that Your Majesty would not see him, and just now, he struck his forehead against the pillars, saying he wanted to die to apologize for his crimes! He is now covered in blood and unconscious..."

Li Yuangui hurried in again to report.

Zhang Fengtong’s sobs grew louder, then were forcibly held back.

The hall was deathly silent, with only Zhang Fengtong’s low weeping echoing in the dark corners untouched by candlelight.

Xiao Lie’s complexion was terrible. His gaze swept over the three people kneeling before him. He suddenly gave a cold laugh and said as if to himself, "Good. It’s all complete now."

He stood up, walked to the window, and opened it. He stood silently facing the night sky for a moment before saying coldly, "The Empress and the Crown Princess may withdraw. The Crown Prince stays."

The Zhou woman and Zhang Fengtong rose from the floor and retreated. In the vast hall, only the father and son remained.

The candles flickered. Xiao Lie’s expression gradually calmed. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Yintang, here, you and I are not Emperor and subject, but father and son. If a son is not taught, the father also has blame. Tell me the truth: was Lady Cao killed by you? The Crown Princess is usually so steady; why was she so exceptionally deranged tonight?"

Xiao Yintang hung his head and said, "Reporting to Father, Lady Cao did indeed die of a sudden illness, and I was also deeply grieved, but there was nothing I could do. As for why the Crown Princess was suddenly like that, I dare not speak recklessly. Since Mother found the witchcraft curse under her bed, perhaps that is the reason. Father has always been wise; you can send someone to investigate."

Having finished, he kowtowed to the ground once more.

Xiao Lie looked at the figure prostrate on the ground, his eyes gradually showing a look of desolate disappointment.

"Enough, you may go." A moment later, he said.

Xiao Yintang thanked him for his grace, rose from the floor, and backed away respectfully. Just as he was about to exit the hall, he was stopped by Xiao Lie.

"Kneel!"

Xiao Yintang’s heart hammered, and he hurriedly knelt down again.

"Listen well: I can make you the Crown Prince, and I can also abolish your position as Crown Prince! Let this be the last time. If there is another occurrence of such moral failure, there will be no need for the censors to impeach you; I will never show you mercy!"

The Emperor’s voice was not loud, but every word was like a cold, sharp sword piercing the heart.

...

The next day, the news spread.

The reason for the Crown Princess’s public delirium last night had been found: it was that same Lady Cao who had died of a sudden illness. Because she was jealous and hateful, she had cast a witchcraft curse on the Crown Princess while she was alive, which led to last night's scene. Human and material evidence were both present, and the matter had been thoroughly investigated.

Since the Crown Princess had been subjected to witchcraft, the nonsense she spouted last night was naturally the rambling of someone who had lost their mind. If anyone were to privately discuss it further, they would be punished for the crime of spreading confusion and inciting disorder.

The Emperor sent people to the Duke of Zhu residence to comfort the old madam who had been gripped by the throat until she nearly passed out last night. The entire Cao family walked on eggshells, all trembling with fear. Lady Cao’s father knelt outside the imperial palace, weeping bitterly, banging his head until it bled, and finally fainting. The Emperor had imperial physicians attend to him and said that, considering the Cao family were old ministers from Wuding with distinguished service, and the Cao family had no knowledge of this matter, he would only strip Lady Cao of her posthumous titles, move her coffin out of the imperial mausoleum, and order the Cao family to bury her themselves; otherwise, they would not be held accountable. The Cao family was grateful for his kindness and followed his decree.

From then on, the Crown Princess did not appear again. It was said that due to the harm caused by the witchcraft, she had fallen into a severe illness and was currently recuperating, waiting to recover before reassuming her duties as Crown Princess.

At home, Jiafu heard these reports one after another, and it turned out that Pei You’an had predicted all of it.