Top Scholar

Chapter 416 Shocking giant melon!

As was customary, after arriving in the capital, members of the imperial clan would first go to the Imperial Clan Court to verify their identities and check the number of their servants. They would then obtain credentials for attending court, and officials from the Imperial Clan Court would arrange their accommodations.

Members of the imperial clan were not allowed to stay wherever they pleased when they came to the capital; they had to reside in the mansions on the Ten Princes' Mansion Street and were not permitted to leave unless absolutely necessary. If they needed to purchase items, they had to do so through officials of the Imperial Clan Court, and were prohibited from having private contact with officials and commoners in the capital.

The convoy stopped in front of a mansion on Shiwangfu Street, where Jinyiwei guards stood watch, of course, also to monitor the situation.

A newly hung gilded plaque bearing the inscription "Yibin Princess's Residence" hangs above the vermilion gate. This was the result of a Song Dynasty eunuch arriving in the capital several days in advance to prepare the necessary arrangements; it was removed after the young princess left the capital.

After the eunuchs set up the brocade screen, the palace maids arranged the brocade stools before opening the carriage door and inviting His Highness to alight.

Princess Yibin, supported by her maid, slowly leaned forward. She wore a snow-white mink coat with gold trim on the collar and cuffs, which made her skin appear even whiter and her demeanor more elegant and noble.

However, the weariness from the long journey was evident in her brows, which added a touch of drowsiness to her originally bright eyes, but she still kept her back straight and did not lose her manners.

The headmistress of the Imperial Clan Court, wearing a soft-winged black gauze hat and a round collared dress for female officials, was already waiting at the gate of the mansion. After bowing, she led Princess Yibin inside.

In the hall, underfloor heating was also turned on, but it was far less warm than the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs; it was only warm enough to keep your nose and ears from freezing.

A palace maid removed the princess's coat, and the princess stood gracefully with her robes drawn up. Her gaze swept over the furnishings in the hall, where she saw only a white porcelain vase and a gilded incense burner on a rosewood table, and plain-colored cloud-patterned silk curtains.

The other furnishings were also quite simple and plain... by her standards, of course.

The headmistress solemnly replied, "Your Highness, the layout, furnishings, items, and number of servants in the mansion have all been verified. Please do not make any additions or subtractions without authorization."

The young princess nodded slightly and replied softly, "Understood."

The headmistress then took out a copy of "Regulations for Members of the Imperial Clan Entering the Capital" and read it aloud, clause by clause:

“Every day at Shenshi (3-5 PM), a special person must be sent to the Imperial Clan Court to report that everything is alright; without a document from the Imperial Clan Court, one must not step out of the gate, and it is strictly forbidden to meet with officials in the capital or associate with merchants.”

She paused, then said firmly, "The food in the manor is supplied by the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. If there is any need for purchases, please submit a list to the Imperial Clan Court, and I will handle it on your behalf. It is strictly forbidden to send palace servants out on your own."

The princess lowered her eyes and nodded, her eyelashes trembling slightly: "I will remember."

"Before the birthday celebration, the Imperial Clan Court will have someone teach you etiquette. The princess must attend the lessons on time and must not slack off." After saying this, the instructor gave a few more instructions on daily life before bowing and taking her leave.

Princess Yibin sighed softly and said with a wry smile to her personal maid, "There are so many rules in the capital."

"Yes, I was so scared I didn't dare breathe." The palace maid patted her chest.

~~
After the princess had washed and dressed, she summoned Eunuch Zhou to ask her questions.

"Have you found out anything about the progress of Young Master Su's case during your stay in the capital?"

"I was just about to report to the Princess when Eunuch Liu ordered the arrest of Vice Minister Liu, Inspector Xiao, and Provincial Judge Liu," said Eunuch Zhou.
"When we entered Shiwangfu Street, wasn't a section of the road blocked off? That's because the Embroidered Uniform Guard went to the Huitongguan to arrest Liu, the Provincial Judge."

"Is Liu the Provincial Examiner for Young Master Su's provincial examination?" the young princess asked.

“That’s right.” Eunuch Song nodded.

"How come even he and the Grand Chancellor have been arrested? Has Young Master Su's case become such a big deal?" The young princess frowned slightly.

"The princess has been on her way and doesn't know," Eunuch Song said with a wry smile. "The top scholar is currently enjoying immense prestige! He's been traveling through prefectures and counties, drawing huge crowds. From the prefects to the common people, he's received a grand welcome and seen off for miles. It's truly a sensation throughout the country!"

"As expected of Young Master Su, he's so popular wherever he goes!" Upon hearing this, the young princess's weariness vanished, and she excitedly clasped her hands to her heart, saying, "See? My judgment was good, wasn't it? I always said he would be famous throughout the land and loved by everyone!"

"The princess has a keen eye for people," Eunuch Song sighed softly. "But at this critical juncture, Su Jieyuan's rise to fame may not be a good thing. Didn't that enrage Eunuch Liu, leading to the arrest of all three officials?"

"Why arrest them?" the young princess asked, puzzled.

"They probably believe that someone is behind Su Jieyuan, orchestrating everything," Eunuch Song said in a low voice. "That's why they're interrogating those who are connected to him."

"Really? But Young Master Su's father and brothers were completely unaware of this," the young princess said in surprise.

“It’s possible that even Su Jieyuan himself didn’t know,” Eunuch Song said softly. “This world is very dark; they never consult with someone before they’re set up.”

"..." The young princess remained silent for a long time after hearing this before saying, "Never mind all that. Fortunately, once we send the birthday gift to the Empress Dowager, everything will be resolved."

"I'm afraid it's not as simple as we thought," Eunuch Song sighed.

"What?" The young princess was taken aback.

"The case of Zheng Wang's seditious words has resurfaced." Eunuch Song's voice lowered even further.

"Huh? They're making a scene again?" The little princess's pupils contracted, and she covered her slightly open mouth.

This case was so famous that even though she was far away in Chengdu, she had still heard about this major scandal involving the imperial family. Of course, it was her brother who told her about it—saying that in the fourth year of the Hongzhi reign… well, the year Su Gongzi was born… Emperor Xiaozong’s eldest son, Zhu Houzhao, was also born.

The official account states that the eldest son was born to the empress.

However, some argue that the eldest son of the emperor was not born of the legitimate wife.

With the entire nation eagerly awaiting an imperial heir, and the palace and its inhabitants collectively urging the emperor to give birth, even a high-ranking official like the Grand Secretary secretly sending the emperor erotic novels to enhance the occasion, the empress's pregnancy became the focus of everyone's attention.

However, from beginning to end, there was no news of the Empress's pregnancy in the palace, and then suddenly a prince was born. It was so sudden! So much so that rumors circulated that Zhu Houzhao was born to a palace maid whom Emperor Xiaozong had slept with.

They even dug up the palace maid's name, saying it was Zheng Jinlian.

This was overheard by Yu Ding, a military household member named Zheng Wang from Tongzhou. He slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Isn't that my daughter? I'm going to become royalty!"

It turns out that Zheng Wang was a poor scoundrel. He had a daughter named Jinlian when he was young. He raised her to the age of twelve and then sold her to the Earl of Dongning as a slave. She was then resold several times and then disappeared without a trace.

Over the years, Zheng Wang had never thought of looking for his daughter, but when he heard that she had entered the palace and given birth to the eldest prince, his paternal love was awakened.

So Zheng Wang persevered and inquired all the way, eventually finding a eunuch in the Qianqing Palace named Liu Shan.

Liu Shan helped the father and daughter reunite remotely, and even gave Zheng Wang the palace items, saying they were gifts from his daughter.

Zheng Wang was overjoyed and spread the word that he was the "father-in-law of the emperor." The villagers believed him and sent him gifts.

Zheng Wang was also a grateful man, and he meticulously recorded every gift, regardless of its value, accumulating six or seven hundred entries. He planned to repay the kindness after being brought into the palace by the emperor and becoming wealthy and powerful.

After waiting for several years, the grand sedan chair that came to fetch him never arrived, and the villagers gradually stopped believing that he was the emperor's father-in-law.

In the seventeenth year of the Hongzhi reign, after numerous unsuccessful attempts to contact her, Zheng Wang, in a fit of anxiety, stormed into Princess Renhe's residence on his daughter's birthday, demanding that the princess and her husband pass on a message to his daughter.

As a result, the matter escalated. After the Embroidered Uniform Guard reported the incident to the Emperor, Emperor Xiaozong realized the seriousness of the rumors and immediately ordered a thorough investigation.

The Imperial Guards then arrested Zheng Wang, Liu Shan, and a group of people who helped spread the message on charges of "impersonating imperial relatives" and "spreading rumors."

Such cases should ideally be handed over to the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review for impartial trial to set the record straight. Alternatively, they could be handled secretly by the Embroidered Uniform Guard to minimize the impact.

However, Emperor Xiaozong broke with convention and personally conducted the investigation, the final result of which was both laughable and absurd—

It was said that Zheng Jinlian was not Zheng Wang's daughter at all, but rather a lie fabricated by Liu Shan to swindle money from Zheng Wang. Zheng Wang believed it and spread the false rumors.

Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the money Liu Shan had swindled consisted of several bags of rice and flour from Zheng Wang, as well as food that Zheng Wang had later sent to his daughter, all of which he had pocketed.

The palace items that Zheng Jinlian gave to Zheng Wang were all forgeries by Liu Shan...

Anyway, whether you believe Liu Shan is that stupid or not, the case was settled. The final verdict was that Liu Shan would be executed by slow slicing, the messenger would be put to death, and Zheng Jinlian would be sent to the laundry department.

As for Zheng Wang, the instigator, he was sentenced to death by the Ministry of Justice, but Emperor Xiaozong personally decreed that the sentence be temporarily suspended and that he be placed under surveillance.

It is said that when Liu Shan was being executed by slow slicing, he shouted: "I am, after all, a eunuch who eats the emperor's rice. Would I risk my life to fabricate such a lie just to trick an old farmer into giving me some rice and flour?"

At the time, everyone in the court and the public felt that there was more to the case than met the eye, because Zheng Wang's crime was too great! The eldest son of the emperor, Zhu Houzhao, was the crown prince and the only prince. Questioning his birth mother was tantamount to shaking the foundation of the country. It would have been more than enough to execute Zheng's entire clan!
But the emperor spared Zheng Wang's life, wasn't that leaving a hidden danger? Unless...

However, the shocking news that everyone was expecting did not come true, because a few months later Emperor Xiaozong fell seriously ill and passed away.

~~
Princess Xiaozong never expected that she would be able to hear this gossip again two and a half years after Emperor Xiaozong's death!
She asked, puzzled, "Isn't Zheng Wang in jail? How come he's been caught again?"

"Your Highness, you may not know this. Well, I only heard about it after arriving in the capital—when the new emperor ascended the throne and granted a general amnesty, the Ministry of Justice released Zheng Wang." Eunuch Song said, "At the time, some people even asked, shouldn't such a criminal be imprisoned until death? The Minister of Justice said there was no imperial edict saying he couldn't be released..."

“Alright…” the young princess nodded and said, “That makes sense.”

"However, when the villagers of Zheng Village saw this, they exclaimed, 'Good heavens! Zheng Wang has been released! It seems what he said must be true! It's just that the Emperor has been kept in the dark for some reason.'" Eunuch Song said softly.
"Just last month, Zheng Wang's fellow villager, Wang Xi, sneaked into Dong'an Gate, claiming he wanted to report to the Emperor the secret that his birth mother was being imprisoned. As a result, Zheng Wang was arrested for the second time, and both he and Wang Xi were thrown into prison. After several trials, both pleaded not guilty. There's still no conclusion yet..."

Having said that, he spoke to the young princess in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Does Your Highness think the Empress Dowager will be able to enjoy her birthday celebration?"

"Definitely not." The young princess shook her head. What mother wouldn't be angry when her only son was said to not be her own?

"Isn't it a bit inappropriate to present the 'Difficulty of Beauty' to the Empress Dowager at this time?" Eunuch Song whispered a reminder. "That's an article mourning the deceased mother..."

"Hiss..." The young princess gasped and fell into deep thought.

P.S.: The next chapter will be available tomorrow morning. Please vote with your monthly tickets!!!

(End of this chapter)