HMAM CH 63 Respective Fates
The case handled by the Court of Judicial Review proceeded smoothly; the eldest Mr. Lin was sentenced to be waist-chopped at the noon gate, while Lady Feng, as an accomplice, was given poison and a white silk dagger, with the option to end her own life.
Upon hearing this, Lin Min fainted in the Chengying Pavilion. Those around her hurried to help her lie down on the bed, calling for the imperial physician while sending someone to report to Jing Ye.
Ye Mao received the reply and tiptoed into the sleeping chamber. He pulled aside the silver-blue soft curtain hung with a copper hook and saw several books laid out on the yellow pear blossom couch below the window. Jing Ye was holding a page in one hand while resting his temple against the other hand, his tired eyes squinted as if he was half-asleep.
Lin Xiaosheng sat on the other side of the couch, also holding a ledger, but his eyes were fixed intently on Jing Ye.
Ye Mao stood there, hesitating whether to step forward to speak, but Jing Ye noticed him and turned to ask, “Who is there?”
Ye Mao entered and replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, someone from Chengying Pavilion has conveyed that the Empress fainted upon hearing that Lady Feng was sentenced to death.”
Jing Ye furrowed his brow and said, “If that's the case, instruct the physician to take her pulse, prescribe some calming herbal medicine, and send her some high-quality ginseng and bird’s nest.”
Ye Mao bowed and said, “This servant understands.” He then exited the hall.
Lin Xiaosheng asked, “With the criminals facing justice and the Empress still in Chengying Pavilion, what are your plans, Your Majesty?”
“She cannot harm you, and she has not committed any major crimes,” Jing Ye shook his head and replied. “Although she is vain and covetous, she is merely an ordinary woman. Given everything that has happened, zhen is concerned about what she might do, so let her remain there for now.”
Lin Xiaosheng said, “What appears to be appropriate now may not be wise long term.”
Jing Ye pressed his finger against the corner of his eye; he was still fatigued and closed his eyes slightly as he said, “Think of a way to send her out of the palace. Zhen can't really marry anyone.” Dealing with you lot is already exhausting enough.
Lin Xiaosheng squinted his eyes, and as he extended his hand holding the ledger, his fingertip brushed against Jing Ye's palm. He whispered, “What about the Noble Consort Xiang?”
The one referred to as “Bright Moon over the Mountain” in Fengyang Palace had already been conferred the title of Noble Consort Xiang by Jing Ye.
Jing Ye released his fingers, allowing him to play with them, and paused for a moment before replying, “The Wuhuan are currently at war... Once Li Tingqiu returns to the capital, we will make a decision.”
Lin Xiaosheng replied, “En.”
The two exchanged a few casual remarks, and Jing Ye sat up lazily, gazing out at the dazzling sunlight streaming in through the window as he adjusted his sleeves, saying, “The weather is getting warm.”
Lin Xiaosheng nudged Jing Ye’s palm with his fingertips, feeling a bit of warmth, and said, “In another month, it will be the beginning of summer. The previous Emperor often visited the Huange Mountain Villa, so let’s have them prepare for Your Majesty to stay there; it would be a good way to escape the heat.”
Otherwise, given his current weak health, the heat alone could cause illness, even without any pre-existing conditions.
Jing Ye smiled and replied, “Gu Hong mentioned this to zhen yesterday. Since you all are saying this, let’s inform Shaochang Temple to make arrangements. After the end of the month, we’ll move there to escape the summer heat.”
Lin Xiaosheng lightly curved the corners of his mouth upwards at the word “we.”
This moment of tranquility was rare, but unfortunately, good times did not last long. Before they could bask in the peaceful atmosphere, they heard an uproar of crying and wailing coming from outside the hall. Just then, a little figure rushed in and leaned against Jing Ye, crying, “Uncle! I don’t want to be a bride!”
Jing Ye looked closely and couldn’t help but laugh. It turned out to be Jing Xiao Yun, wearing a gauzy skirt in the shade of sunlight tied with a red silk ribbon, and with that childlike tender skin it made him look even more delicate and it was hard to tell whether he was a boy or a girl at first glance.
Lu Baizang followed behind, entering with a smug smile and said, “Look, your uncle is laughing, clearly indicating that you look good in a skirt.”
Jing Xiao Yun turned his head to look at him and declared loudly, “I don’t want to wear a skirt! I want to marry a great beauty!”
“Oh!” Lu Baizang, grinning, sat down beside Jing Ye and waved a fan, asking, “There are plenty of beauties in the world. Which ones do you want to marry?”
Jing Xiao Yun tugged at Jing Ye's sleeve and said, “Uncle is good to me; I want to marry Uncle first!”
Lu Baizang was momentarily taken aback and squinted at him, pinching his tender cheeks, saying, “You?”
As someone who practiced martial arts, his hands were calloused, and his pinch caused tears to roll down Jing Xiao Yun's cheeks: “I want to marry Uncle! You big meanie!”
“I’m the big meanie? Then since you’ve eaten so many of my pastries, you’re also a little meanie.”
“You’re so childish!” Jing Ye pulled Lu Baizang’s hand away and noticed that Jing Xiao Yun's delicate, soft face had been pinched red, “You can’t pinch a child's face; if you pinch too much, they’ll grow up unable to close their mouths and will drool.”
Lu Baizang leaned back against the pillow, wrapping his arm around Jing Ye's waist, and scoffed, “Let him drool; if he becomes a fool, who will want him?”
Jing Ye asked, “Which child are you calling a fool?”
Lu Baizang choked, then chuckled, “I’m just joking around.”
Jing Ye had to coax Jing Xiao Yun, saying, “When you grow up, Uncle will personally choose a gentle and virtuous beauty for you to be your Crown Princess, okay?”
Jing Xiao Yun lay on his lap and asked, “A beauty? Prettier than Uncle Gu?”
Jing Ye chuckled, realizing his little darling had high standards. After a moment's thought, he acknowledged that someone like Gu Hong was indeed rare—good-looking and capable in every aspect—and he wondered if Jing Xiao Yun would have the same luck.
He teased him, saying, “If you like Uncle Gu that much, he has several brothers and sisters. When he has nieces and nephews, would it be good if they all came to the palace to keep you company?”
Jing Xiao Yun, confused yet agreeable, clapped his hands, laughing, “Uncle Gu is good-looking; Uncle Gu’s little sisters are pretty too.”
Lu Baizang snorted, “You’re in a red gauzy skirt and you want to marry a little sister? Marrying a big brother is more like it.”
Jing Ye: “...You should say less.”
Lu Baizang glanced at Lin Xiaosheng, who was sitting aside, absorbed in his accounts, indifferent to the commotion. He asked, “What were you two just talking about?”
Jing Ye rubbed Jing Xiao Yun’s head and instructed him to go and change out of the gauzy skirt, saying, “We were discussing going to the mountain villa to escape the heat this summer.”
Lu Baizang perked up; the villa was a great place, situated by mountains and waters, far better than being cooped up in the palace. Moreover, once there, they would be less constrained by rules and he could be with Jing Ye by the pavilions, beside the ponds, and among the woods... cough, cough.
As Lu Baizang thought about this, he became lost in daydreams and began to ponder any fresh ideas that might add some spice and excitement.
Jing Ye, of course, had no idea what schemes Lu Baizang was concocting. After checking the time, he called out, “Ye Mao.”
Ye Gonggong hurriedly entered and said, “Your Majesty.”
Jing Ye said, “Change clothes and go to the imperial study.”
Upon exiting the sleeping chamber, Jing Ye settled into the imperial sedan heading toward the imperial study and asked, “Where is Gu Hong?”
Ye Mao replied quickly, “Gu Gongzi went out to the Gu residence to visit his family. Did Your Majesty forget? He asked for leave the day before.”
Jing Ye recalled this and smiled, saying, “Yes, he mentioned it casually, and zhen forgot about it.”
Meanwhile, Gu Hong was engaged in a game of chess under the pavilion in the small garden of the Gu residence. The opponent was Gu Mei, who had attempted to slip out for a brief escapade but was caught in the act.
Gu Mei was anxious to leave the residence; though she appeared calm, her eyes darted about with a hint of mischief.
The game board was in disarray, and Gu Mei tossed down her piece, exclaiming, “Ai, I lost!”
Seeing her secretly pleased expression, Gu Hong slowly began picking up the pieces, chuckling, “No problem, let’s have another round.”
Gu Mei protested, “Aiya, we agreed that after one game, I’d be allowed to leave!”
Gu Hong laughed and replied, “That doesn’t count; you were careless and deliberately let me win.”
“Either way, I wouldn’t win even if I took it seriously,” Gu Mei muttered, then pleaded, “Fourth Brother, dear Fourth Brother, I’ve made an appointment with that person, and a gentleman’s promise is sacred. As wanderers of jianghu, we adhere to honesty!”
Gu Hong said, “Wanderers of jianghu? Is the jianghu suitable for a little girl like you? I still have things to ask you.”
Feeling chastised, Gu Mei wasn’t pleased and retorted, “Ask, ask.”
Gu Hong took a sip of tea and said, “The Wuhuan envoy will soon be leaving the capital. His Majesty once promised a noble lady for a peace marriage, and the Ministry of Revenue has been selecting candidates these days. I remember you have always been close with the young lady from the Yang family?”
Gu Mei paused, then hurriedly said, “Indeed! Fourth Brother, they’re not choosing Yu Ying, are they? That would be absolutely unacceptable!”
Gu Hong replied, “Whether it’s acceptable or not is not for you to decide.”
Hearing this, Gu Mei understood that the matter was already settled, and even Gu Hong could not intercede.
Thinking about her childhood friend, Yang Yuying, and acknowledging her exceptional beauty and character, Gu Mei felt a sense of injustice, saying, “For marrying a noble man, isn’t it like sending an excellent maiden into a dreadful future? That Wuhuan king could be some old geezer, and just like that, Yu Ying is sent away!”
As she spoke, tears began to brim in her eyes, feeling as if she were the one being forced into marriage.
Gu Hong chuckled, somewhat amused, and replied, “The Wuhuan king is still in his youth. Besides, the Wuhuan tribe has been weak for a long time, but under the new king, they have won several battles and now have our dynasty’s assistance. Thus, this man is certainly not to be underestimated. His Majesty will honor the selected noble lady with the title of princess. If he wishes to gain our dynasty’s support, he will surely treat the princess with respect, and your friend won’t suffer.”
Gu Mei said, “But still, it’s far away.”
Gu Hong replied, “All things and living beings have their fates. Even for you, I can’t say what the future holds, whether it’s near or far.”
Gu Mei was taken aback by the sudden news, and as a flood of thoughts and worries surged in her heart, she fell silent and lowered her head.
Seeing her like this, Gu Hong refrained from teasing her further. After all, the little girl who had been innocent and enjoyed causing mischief had grown up.