EWRN - Chapter 5
Chapter 5: The Emperor Wants to Ruin the Nation (IV)
The Prime Minister's Residence.
The young eunuch finished reading the imperial edict granting the marriage and handed it to Prime Minister Bai. The prime minister waved his hand, and a servant standing nearby passed a few taels of silver to the young eunuch. The eunuch accepted the silver, tucked it into his sleeve with satisfaction, offered a few more auspicious words, and then leisurely returned to the palace.
The moment the young eunuch left, the Prime Minister's Residence erupted into chaos. "My lord! My lord! What are we to do?" the prime minister's wife cried out, anxiously tugging at his sleeve.
"Father! I won't marry him! I'm already engaged to Brother Yuwen! I won't marry him, I won't!" Bai Qing, the legitimate daughter of the Bai family, had just risen from the floor and was already wailing her refusal, giving Prime Minister Bai a splitting headache.
"Father! Your position is so high! That Huo Jinyu wouldn't dare refuse you face! Father, go talk to him! Tell him not to marry me! I'm begging you, Father!" Bai Qing pleaded. Tears streamed down her face like pearls from a broken string. Combined with her stunning features, she looked exceptionally pitiful and lovely.
"Enough! Stop your clamor!" The crying of the two women made the prime minister's head ring. He recalled Huo Jinyu's predatory eyes in the throne hall, and a shiver ran down his spine. "Qing'er, do not be impertinent. That is the Emperor! If anyone were to overhear you, it would cost you your head!" The old man's heart ached for his daughter, about to be sent into the tiger's den, but it ached even more for the marriage alliance with the General's Residence, which was now void. The general's support was indispensable if the Second Prince was to have any hope of seizing the throne! That damned Huo Jinyu! She's ruined this old man's grand plans!
On one side, his daughter was weeping a river of tears; on the other, his wife fretted that her daughter's life would be in peril in the depths of the palace. The prime minister felt a sharp, angry pain in his chest, but with a new monarch on the throne, how could he dare to object directly? He had originally thought the former Crown Prince was gentle as jade, learned and reasonable, and would be quite easy to manipulate after ascending the throne. As a senior prime minister of the Great Yuan Kingdom, he had expected a measure of respect, perhaps even that his counsel would be heeded without question. Who would have thought that on the very first day of her reign, she would seem like a completely different person—ostentatious and tyrannical, with a terrifying presence. The next day, she became indolent, frittering away her time on trivial amusements. And now, another flaw was added to the list: infatuation with beautiful women! This was not the emperor he had hoped for. It seemed the plan would have to change.
This time, he had been thoroughly outmaneuvered by that emperor brat. He had lost his beloved daughter and ruined the connection with the General's Residence. He would have to make new long-term plans regarding the general. And he would have to intensify his communications with the Second Prince.
The Ministry of Rites selected an auspicious day, seven days hence. The entire Prime Minister's Residence bustled with activity. Seamstresses worked around the clock to finish the wedding garments, and the estate was festooned with lanterns and colorful streamers.
The Imperial Palace was also a hive of activity. The Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Revenue were running in circles. Even Bai Qing, the bride-to-be, was busy—squeezing in clandestine meetings with her lover. The only one with nothing to do was the Emperor herself, the other protagonist of this wedding. Huo Jinyu idled away her days, playing with rare treasures. During court sessions, she showed no interest in state affairs, constantly shifting her posture in a display of extreme indolence. The moment the ministers finished their reports, she would wave a hand to dismiss them, as if she couldn't stand to remain in the Hall of Imperial Governance a second longer.
A few of the more cunning minor officials went to great lengths to present her with rare flowers, birds, and other trinkets, and in doing so earned the Emperor's "appreciation." Their official posts were adjusted accordingly.
Seven days passed in a flash.
Today was the wedding day of Miss Bai Qing, the legitimate daughter of the Bai family. The Bai Residence was determined to make the wedding as grand as possible. A dowry procession in red stretched for ten li through the imperial city, and the streets were carpeted with fresh flowers—they had clearly spared no expense. In contrast, although Huo Jinyu had withdrawn funds from the national treasury, she had used very little of it beyond the betrothal gifts. She was secretly pleased with Prime Minister Bai's "sensibleness" and gleefully deposited the remaining silver into her private coffers.
Inside the Bai Residence.
The prime minister's wife was giving her soon-to-be-wed daughter detailed instructions. She had come to accept the situation; after all, Qing'er's aunt was also in the palace, and they could look out for each other. "Qing'er, once you enter the palace, you belong to the Emperor. Forget everything from the outside world. Don't meet with Young Master Yuwen again, lest you arouse the Emperor's suspicion. You must be cautious in your every word and deed. You are entering the palace early, while the imperial harem is still empty. Strive to bear the Emperor a son as soon as possible!" she advised with painstaking earnestness.
"Alright, alright, I know. Mother, say no more," Bai Qing said impatiently. She had no desire to marry into the palace and wondered if she would ever be able to see her lover again.
"Qing'er, you are the first person in the Emperor's harem, and the one he personally requested in court. As long as you try your best, the position of Empress will almost certainly be yours. Monarchs are fickle; you must capture the Emperor's heart!" Seeing that her daughter wasn't listening, the madam anxiously continued, speaking a torrent of words as if trying to physically stuff them into her daughter's ears.
Before long, the auspicious hour arrived. A handmaid placed a red veil over Bai Qing's head and helped her into the wedding carriage. Outside, gongs and drums sounded and firecrackers popped. A large contingent of guards followed the carriage as the procession moved slowly toward the Imperial Palace. The main thoroughfare was packed with curious commoners. They pointed and whispered as a rumor, started by an unknown source, began to spread. "Did you hear? The late Emperor passed away only two months ago, and the new Emperor is already this eager to take a consort." "I heard from my neighbor Old Wang's son, who serves in the palace guard, that this daughter of the Bai family deliberately seduced the Emperor. Who knows, maybe she's a fox spirit sent to ruin the country!" "That's right! It hasn't even been three years since the late Emperor's passing. For the Bai daughter to insist on marrying now, she's forcing the Emperor to be unfilial!" "I heard the Bai daughter is incredibly promiscuous and has already lost her virtue." "Then doesn't that mean the Bai family failed to raise her properly?" "Well, the Bai family are no saints themselves. I heard they've embezzled a fortune. Just look at this ten-li dowry procession for one daughter. That's our tax money, that is…"
The topic had unknowingly veered off course. The people hidden in the crowd who had started the rumors saw that their work was done. With a slight curl of their lips, they accomplished their mission and quietly slipped away.
The Bai family remained oblivious to these little interludes. The procession arrived at the gates of the Imperial Palace, where Huo Jinyu, dressed in red robes, was waiting astride a tall horse. The palace gates stood wide open. With a wave of her hand, the procession followed her inside.
As evening fell, Bai Qing sat alone on the large bed in her new bedchamber. She had sent all the palace maids away. Before leaving, a few of the older matrons had left a small booklet on the table. She was a mix of anger and nervousness, her thoughts torn between her lover and the Emperor she had yet to meet. Her fists were clenched so tightly that her knuckles were white. If she were at home, she would have already smashed everything in sight. But this was the Imperial Palace; she had to be cautious. She could only bottle up her rage, waiting for the consummation night to be over so this bedchamber would become her domain, a place where she could do as she pleased.
Huo Jinyu entered the new consort's bedchamber carrying her beloved glazed cup. The first thing she saw was the bride sitting rigidly on the edge of the bed, her hands clenched into white-knuckled fists. Huo Jinyu let out a soft laugh, and the figure on the bed shuddered as if startled.
Huo Jinyu used a ceremonial rod to lift the veil, revealing Bai Qing's pale face. Suppressing her annoyance, Huo Jinyu walked to the table, poured two cups of nuptial wine, and offered one to Bai Qing. The bride appeared very shy, and a hint of color finally returned to her cheeks, making her seem all the more delicate and fragile.
Bai Qing accepted the cup with a slightly trembling hand, her fingers accidentally brushing against Huo Jinyu's. At the touch, Bai Qing's face grew even more bashful. Huo Jinyu grew even more irritated.
They both tilted their heads back and drank the wine. Bai Qing felt the alcohol rush to her head instantly. Her vision blurred, and a ringing filled her ears. The last thing she saw was a figure drawing nearer before her world went black and she fainted.
Huo Jinyu watched the legitimate daughter of the Bai family collapse, her mood improving considerably. She leaned over, undid Bai Qing's robes, and tossed them to the floor. After mussing up the bedding to create a scene of disarray, she sat back down on a couch and quietly played with her glazed cup. She remained there until the sky began to lighten with the dawn.
Comments
Post a Comment