Chapter 236: The Passing of My Grandmother
On the surface, the Chen State Duke’s residence had been peaceful these past few days.
Everyone went about their lives as usual.
The Shou’an Court was under lockdown, and most of the servants had no idea what had happened. Huan Qingtang remained behind closed doors, occasionally visiting the Shou’an Court to attend to the sick.
One evening at dinner, Zhou Yuanqi said, “This afternoon, I saw a carriage from Marquis Qingyuan’s residence at the gate.
“The Sun family has sent someone again. I saw them here last time, too. They’ve been coming so frequently. Has something happened to the Sun family, or is there some problem with Grandmother?”
He looked at Cheng Zhao.
Cheng Zhao shook her head. “Although the gatehouse is technically under my authority, Grandmother is the one who actually makes the decisions. I don’t know why Marquis Qingyuan has come, and Grandmother hasn’t ordered the main kitchen to prepare any extra dishes.”
“When something unusual happens, there’s bound to be something sinister behind it,” Zhou Yuanqi said. “I’ll go find out.”
Cheng Zhao asked, “How will you find out?”
“Ask Nanfeng.”
Cheng Zhao: “...”
The Second Madam was amused. “You might as well ask your sister-in-law directly.”
Cheng Zhao waved her hand. “This time, I truly don’t know.”
The Second Madam could not be bothered with it. “That old lady is formidable. She can conjure a thousand hands and a thousand eyes all by herself. You’re all still too inexperienced. How could it possibly be your turn to worry about her?”
She then had a maid bring out a newly made garment for Zhou Yuanqi. “This crane-patterned cloak is excellent. The fur lining inside was given by your sister-in-law. Wear it when your maternal uncle gets married.”
She added, “In another five days, it will be a joyous occasion.”
The days passed quickly.
Cheng Zhao calculated that it had already been more than half a month since the Dowager Madame had vomited blood and fallen ill. It had also been more than ten days since Cheng Zhao had last seen Huan Qingtang.
What exactly was Huan Qingtang plotting with Helian Xuan?
They had been preparing for more than ten days. Surely there would be some movement soon?
While Cheng Zhao’s thoughts ran wild, Zhou Yuanshen went to the Imperial Study.
He asked the Emperor to visit the Chen State Duke’s residence.
“...Grandmother is furious and has refused to see me to this day. Nanny Sun has been rushing in and out, and Marquis Qingyuan has come several times. I’m terribly afraid that something might happen to Grandmother.
“When I went to the entrance of the Shou’an Court, Nanny Sun stopped me and refused to let me in. Your Majesty, Grandmother is already so old. Even if she were angry, she could scold or beat me as she pleased, but she cannot keep it all bottled up inside.
“I would like to ask Your Majesty to make a visit and help resolve the misunderstanding between Grandmother and me. Even if I am punished, I will accept it willingly,” Zhou Yuanshen said.
He had run out of options.
The Emperor frowned.
He felt that the Dowager Madame was not merely quarreling with Zhou Yuanshen. She was angry with him.
The Emperor respected and loved the Dowager Madame and had never forgotten what had happened in the past.
But too much time had passed. The past was like a magnificent brocade robe. The years had worn it down, and it could no longer withstand close inspection or being pulled apart.
When left untouched, it still looked as it had from afar. But once examined closely, its colors were no longer bright.
Now, because of Xian Si, the Dowager Madame was “scolding the mulberry while pointing at the locust tree.” She appeared to be losing her temper with Zhou Yuanshen, but in truth, she was angry with the Emperor.
The Emperor felt somewhat displeased.
His mother-in-law should not treat him this way.
She had always favored him, understood him, cared for him, and trusted him.
Why was she no longer willing to indulge him? Just because he had refused her once, she had thrown such a terrible fit. Had she changed?
“It would not be appropriate for Me to go again. There are no walls without cracks. As an imperial censor, you know that better than anyone. The censors merely turn a blind eye and pretend not to see.
“If I go there twice in such a short time, won’t the censors seize the opportunity to denounce us? Go and take a look. Come back and report to Me,” the Emperor said irritably.
Zhou Yuanshen said, “But Grandmother won’t let me in. What should I do?”
“Me will give you an oral decree. You will enter under imperial authority to inquire after her health,” the Emperor said.
Zhou Yuanshen acknowledged the order.
After leaving the palace, Zhou Yuanshen returned home.
The sun was bright that day. The snow from the last snowfall had melted away, and there was an unusual touch of warmth in the air.
Huan Qingtang paced back and forth inside the Cuiyun Court, deeply unsettled. Her chief maid, He’er, had disappeared.
Two days earlier, Huan Qingtang had sent He’er out to return to the Huan family home and meet with the Prince of Andong.
The medicine the Prince of Andong had given her was supposed to make the Dowager Madame unconscious for ten days to half a month. Afterward, she would awaken with all four limbs paralyzed, barely able to say a few words.
But something was wrong with the Dowager Madame.
Not only had she shown no sign of waking, but her breathing had grown weaker over the past few days. Her complexion had become increasingly gray and pale, and there was even a strong stench of decay.
Nanny Sun was in a panic.
Huan Qingtang was panicking as well.
She had wondered whether the Prince of Andong might have intended to kill the Dowager Madame. But her chief maid had repeatedly urged her to make a decision quickly, even bringing up Cheng Zhao’s past as an example.
Whenever Cheng Zhao was mentioned, Huan Qingtang’s mind boiled over, making it impossible for her to remain calm.
Before Cheng Zhao entered the household, Huan Qingtang’s life had been smooth, and her future had seemed bright. All she had to do was follow the path laid out before her. Chengming Hall would belong to her, and so would the Duke’s residence.
Cheng Zhao had changed everything.
She could not afford to lose again.
This was the one time she had acted impulsively and taken a risk, struggling forward just as Cheng Zhao had.
But now, things had gone wrong.
Huan Qingtang had sent her chief maid back to her mother’s family to find a way to contact the Prince of Andong again. Yet the maid had vanished without a trace.
Huan Qingtang had barely slept the previous night.
“Could she have been bought off by the Prince of Andong and become his spy, deliberately misleading me?” Huan Qingtang wondered.
That did not seem likely.
Her chief maid had served at her side since childhood, always accompanying her and never leaving her line of sight. The Prince of Andong could not possibly have reached so far or bought her maid off.
Then had something happened to her?
Huan Qingtang desperately wanted to return to the Huan family home herself, but she could not find a suitable excuse. She was even more afraid that going back at this time would expose her and make her suspicions impossible to dispel.
All she could do was wait.
When she could bear it no longer, she went to the Shou’an Court again. There, she happened to encounter Zhou Yuanshen at the entrance.
Huan Qingtang wore a cloak trimmed with white fox fur. The cold wind had brought a faint flush to her pale face.
“Duke, Grandmother should have retired for the night,” Huan Qingtang said.
Zhou Yuanshen was not alone at the entrance of the Shou’an Court. Two coarse-serving matrons had stopped him and refused to let him enter.
Nanny Sun was just coming out from the inner room.
These past few days, Nanny Sun had visibly withered. Most of her hair had turned white overnight, leaving her looking terribly old.
“Duke, the Dowager Madame does not wish to see you. Please go back,” she said firmly.
Zhou Yuanshen looked at her quietly. “I bear an oral decree from the Emperor. I have come under imperial orders to inquire after her health. If you refuse to let me enter, you will be executed without exception.”
His voice was not loud, and his speech was unhurried.
Those words fell upon Nanny Sun’s ears like a thunderclap.
Her haggard face took on an even more venomous expression. “How dare you fabricate an imperial decree?”
“I would not dare. I will not risk my life and the entire Zhou family’s for an argument with Grandmother,” Zhou Yuanshen said. “If you refuse to let me in, then so be it. Once Grandmother wakes, she may explain matters to the Emperor herself.”
Nanny Sun said, “Since it is an imperial decree, Duke, please enter.”
“Has Grandmother truly fallen unconscious?” Zhou Yuanshen asked.
Nanny Sun: “...”
He entered, and Huan Qingtang followed him inside.
But when they reached the entrance to the main hall, Huan Qingtang stopped. She did not want to go any farther.
She was afraid for no reason she could explain.
The fear had come without warning, halting her in her tracks.
Zhou Yuanshen entered the inner room and saw the Dowager Madame.
Nanny Sun stood beside the bed, exhausted and worried.
Zhou Yuanshen bent down and reached out to check whether the Dowager Madame was breathing. Nanny Sun immediately shouted, “Duke, what are you doing?”
Zhou Yuanshen ignored her.
He checked the Dowager Madame’s breath, then felt for the pulse in her neck.
After a long silence, he straightened.
“Grandmother has passed away.”
Nanny Sun was enraged. “You’re talking nonsense!”
“Someone come!” Zhou Yuanshen suddenly shouted.
His voice rang throughout the Shou’an Court, inside and out.
A group of deputy generals clad in armor and wielding blades stormed into Shou’an Court. There were dozens of them—she had never seen any of them before.
“Someone murdered the Dowager Madame. Surround Shou’an Court. Every person here is to be interrogated,” Zhou Yuanshen ordered. “I’m going to the palace.”
He turned and left.
Huan Qingtang was stunned.
It was only after Zhou Yuanshen had walked out that she thought to grab him, but by then, she could no longer catch up.