Chapter 34: Liu Ju and Liu Wei

The Ministry of Justice mansion, in the dungeon.

A minor official, bending at the waist, ushered the Son of Heaven inside, a fawning smile still plastered across his face: "Your Majesty, this way, please."

Ajiao gave a slight nod, ignoring the dungeon's gloomy surroundings, her expression betraying no emotion as she silently followed the minor official to the cell where Lady Yin was imprisoned.

As he unlocked the cell door, the minor official said, "Minister of Justice Zhao interrogated her personally, and it wasn't long before she confessed."

As his words fell, the cell door creaked open. Ajiao steadied her gaze and saw Lady Yin—beaten until she was covered in blood, lying weak and powerless on the dry straw.

Hearing movement at the door, Lady Yin turned her head and, following the light, saw the person she most wished to see. For a brief instant, it was as if strength flooded her entire body: "Your Majesty!"

She struggled to push herself up, but the pain across her body was too great; she could only lie helplessly on the ground, finally reaching out a hand toward Ajiao. Her slender arms were covered in wounds—a frightening sight.

Looking at Lady Yin, who had been subjected to torture, Ajiao couldn't help but inhale sharply, her heart tightening for no reason. She had always known that the Ministry of Justice's methods for interrogating prisoners were ruthless, but she never imagined they would beat Lady Yin to such a state.

With guards and the minor official still nearby, Ajiao cleared her throat and said, "All of you, withdraw. I have some questions to ask Lady Yin alone."

The guards and the minor official: "Yes." They then left the dungeon together.

Once there was no one else around the dungeon, Ajiao finally approached Lady Yin. She half-crouched and lifted Lady Yin—who by now had been tortured until she was barely clinging to life—into her arms.

"Your Majesty, you've finally come to see me." Lady Yin not only had wounds on her body, but also marks of whipping on her face, and traces of blood at the corners of her lips.

"Lady Yin, I..." It was as if something was stuck in her throat; Ajiao's voice grew slightly choked. She felt a measure of empathy for the suffering Lady Yin had endured this time.

Lady Yin opened her eyes and looked at the Son of Heaven before her. In that pair of pitch-black, fathomless eyes, she saw tenderness and pity. In that moment, she suddenly felt that all the suffering she had previously endured was worth it.

"Your Majesty, I did not push Lady Wei. You must believe me." Her voice was broken now, entirely devoid of its former liveliness.

Ajiao gripped her hand with aching tenderness and nodded solemnly, saying, "I believe you. You did not push Wei Zifu. I know that."

A Li had already used that so-called God's-eye view to examine the situation between Wei Zifu and Lady Yin in the room. Lady Yin had indeed not harmed Wei Zifu.

Ajiao and Liu Li could not understand why Wei Zifu would use the child in her womb to deal with a mere Lady. Trading a fetus that might be a prince for the life of a lowly Lady—was she not afraid that something might truly go wrong in the end?

Hearing the Son of Heaven say she believed her, Lady Yin could no longer contain the emotions within her. Tears streamed down from the corners of her eyes, one or two drops falling onto the back of Ajiao's hand, searingly hot.

She curved her lips in extreme weakness: "With Your Majesty's trust, I can die without regrets." Her gaze looked upon the emperor, so close at hand, with utter devotion.

In truth, after entering Weiyang Palace, she had received the imperial favor for only a dozen days or so before His Majesty forgot her entirely. All these years, she could only catch a glimpse of the Son of Heaven during festivals. She knew very well in her heart that the handsome, divine, and martial Son of Heaven had never belonged to her.

She had only sought a corner in the Permanent Alley, where she could eat and sleep, and that would be enough. But she never expected that one night, His Majesty would personally come to the Permanent Alley to see her and listen to her sing.

That night, His Majesty's brows and eyes were full of loneliness, like a child who had lost her way and could not find a direction forward—it was heartbreaking to see. She hummed the song her mother had used to soothe her as a child, and His Majesty's brows relaxed for her sake.

In that moment, she heard the sound of her own heartbeat.

On the night of New Year's Eve, His Majesty even bestowed a bedchamber upon her. She moved into a bedchamber that belonged to her alone, so overjoyed that she stayed awake the entire night.

She thought that His Majesty must have her in his heart. Even if he didn't, among all those Ladies, she was a special presence.

But she never expected that the Empress would ultimately be unable to tolerate her and would actually drive all the Ladies in the Permanent Alley out of the palace. She wanted to stay, to live in this beautiful bedchamber, to remain at His Majesty's side.

Even if she could still only see His Majesty during festivals hereafter, she wouldn't mind.

"Don't say such things." Ajiao spoke, interrupting the flood of memories racing through Lady Yin's mind. With aching tenderness, she lifted a hand and brushed away the strands of hair that had fallen across the wound on her face: "You won't die. I will get you out of here."

Hearing the Son of Heaven's words, a faint smile appeared at the corners of Lady Yin's lips. She said weakly, "Thank—cough—thank you, Your Majesty."

Ajiao asked her in a low voice: "Let me ask you, did you have any past grudge with Wei Zifu? Why would she frame you?"

Lady Yin shook her head, equally bewildered: "I don't know. I have never offended Lady Wei..."

"Then why would she..." Why would she, at the cost of harming the child in her womb, frame Lady Yin? Ajiao frowned tightly. The Wei Zifu in her memory was absolutely not someone who failed to grasp the gravity of things.

To make such a decision in so short a time, there must be something more important to her than the child in her womb.

The Lady Yin in her arms grew ever weaker. She tilted her head helplessly against Ajiao's chest, and the light before her eyes gradually turned hazy and grey.

"Lady Yin?" Ajiao sensed something wrong and reached out to gently shake her.

Lady Yin's eyes were vacant, teardrops still clinging to the corners of her eyes: "Your Majesty, before I go, I wish to hear you call my name one last time... may I?"

Ajiao froze for a moment, then gathered the woman firmly into her arms: "I'll take you to find the imperial physician. You'll be all right."

Lady Yin shook her head gently, then suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, staining her collar red. She said softly, "It's too late, Your Majesty... that A-A Xiu could wait until you came is already... cough, cough..."

She stared blankly at Ajiao, the light in her eyes growing ever brighter, like the final flash before death, as though waiting for something.

Ajiao held her tightly and called out softly: "A-A Xiu, Yin A-A Xiu, Yin Xiuxiu."

In this moment, Yin A Xiu was no longer Lady Yin of Weiyang Palace, but A-A Xiu spoken from the lips of her beloved lord. The corners of her lips lifted slightly, and at last the light in her eyes grew dimmer and dimmer, and then she closed her eyes in Ajiao's arms.

Ajiao stood frozen in place. She called Yin A Xiu's name a few more times, but the woman in her arms gave no response.

She was gone.

After returning from the Ministry of Justice mansion, Ajiao went directly to the Xuanshi Hall Hall and did not return to the Jiaofang Palace Hall.

Su Wen detected what seemed to be the scent of blood on the Son of Heaven's person, and caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar color on the Son of Heaven's sleeve. He tactfully asked, "Your Majesty, would you like to bathe and change clothes?"

Ajiao shook her head and said, "Go to the Jiaofang Palace Hall and bring Princess Jianling here. Do not alert the Empress."

Su Wen: "Yes." His Majesty currently favored Princess Jianling, so summoning Princess Jianling to the Xuanshi Hall Hall was a common occurrence. Those of them who served as attendants had already grown accustomed to it.

After sending Su Wen away, Ajiao walked along the corridor along the outer perimeter of the Xuanshi Hall Hall, all the way to the tallest pavilion-tower of the Xuanshi Hall Hall. She stood in the biting cold wind, gazing out over the entirety of Weiyang Palace.

Only this kind of cold wind could calm her down.

By the time Liu Li was brought to the Xuanshi Hall Hall, Ajiao had already bathed and changed clothes there, putting on a clean set of garments.

"Father?" Liu Li peeked her head in and saw Ajiao leaning against the soft couch, wearing only a white undergarment. She turned to Su Wen, who was following behind her, and said, "You all wait in the outer room."

She stepped over the threshold, then turned back to close the door. She had wanted to drop the door bar as well, but because she wasn't tall enough, even jumping up she couldn't reach it.

Seeing her actions, Ajiao couldn't help but laugh: "Never mind the door bar. Come here."

Liu Li gave up her struggle with the door bar, gathered her skirt, and ran to Ajiao, then leaned over the edge of the soft couch: "You went to see Lady Yin? What did she say?"

Ajiao had gone to see Lady Yin precisely to ask clearly what conflict existed between her and Wei Zifu that would make Wei Zifu risk harming the child in her womb to frame her.

"Mm, I saw her." Ajiao reined in her smile and nodded somewhat heavily.

Liu Li took off her shoes and clambered onto the soft couch as well, sitting cross-legged beside Ajiao and asking: "What conflict did they have?"

"She died

." Ajiao's voice was somewhat heavy: "She died in my arms."

"Ah," Liu Li whispered lightly.

Even a robust Han man might not survive the tortures of the Court Marshal's Office, let alone a delicate woman like Yin A Xiu.

Ajiao said softly, "I've arranged for her to be given a proper burial."

Liu Li was momentarily at a loss for words, then heard Ajiao say, "Ali, it seems I was the one who harmed her." If she hadn't gone to Yongxiang that day, nor granted Yin A Xiu a palace chamber on the anniversary, perhaps Yin A Xiu wouldn't have sought Wei Zifu, and the later events would never have occurred.

"Don't think that way," Liu Li shifted closer to Ajiao, comforting, "After all, you never expected Wei Zifu to frame Yin Meiren."

Liu Li thought that without her godlike perspective, no one could have imagined what transpired in Pixiang Hall that day. Yin Meiren was indeed innocent, yet why Wei Zifu would frame her remained a mystery.

Liu Li racked her brain but couldn't fathom why Wei Zifu would use the child in her womb to trap a beauty who posed no threat to her at all.

Though she couldn't understand, Liu Li felt that the historically praised virtuous Empress Wei Zifu could not have been a kind soul. No wonder she served as empress for thirty‑eight years.

"I want to restore justice for her, but I have no evidence of her innocence," Ajiao sighed, "It feels like a lump in my heart, very uncomfortable."

The matter is indeed hard to prove; Yin Meiren can only suffer in silence. To uncover the truth, they must start with Wei Zifu.

Wei Zifu must conceal a secret more important than the child in her womb; for that secret she would sacrifice Yin Meiren with the unborn child.

Then what is that secret? I really want to know!

Yin Meiren, out of jealousy and rivalry, even went so far as to harm Wei Zifu, which further solidified Liu Che's resolve to send away all the beauties of Yongxiang.

After all, he was now over four months pregnant, so it was best to be cautious; thus he decided to send everyone away once and for all.

Since half of the palace beauties were sent by Princess Pingyang and were from the Marquis of Pingyang's Residence, sending them away meant returning them to the Marquis's Residence.

Princess Pingyang was naturally displeased.

These beauties were carefully chosen by her to give to her younger brother; not only did Chen Ajiao send them all back, but her Pingyang Marquis Residence would have to continue supporting them.

If her husband were to take one or two more, Princess Pingyang would be furious; to prevent these beauties from being sent back, she decided to have a serious talk with Chen Ajiao.

As the emperor's elder sister, since her brother Liu Che ascended the throne, her status rose, changing from princess to Grand Princess.

She was over a decade older than her brother; after his birth, when their mother could not tend to him, Princess Pingyang cared for the younger sibling, so Liu Che held the deepest affection for his elder sister.

When Liu Che first ascended but could not yet govern, he often pretended to be his brother‑in‑law, the Marquis of Pingyang, roaming outside Weiyang Palace. When trouble arose, Princess Pingyang always cleaned up his mess.

Hence, after Liu Che began ruling personally, he was especially kind to that sister.

At the start of the year there were few events; the beauties of Yongxiang had mostly been dismissed, and having recently welcomed a son, Liu Che was in good spirits, contemplating naming his eldest son.

He was in the library, leafing through ancient texts, planning a name for his eldest son.

Seeing Liu Li free, he invited her to help as a reference.

For Liu Li, already aware of history, the name of the imperial eldest son born to Wei Zifu had already been set; she simply chose not to say, watching Liu Che scour the texts and pick several characters as name candidates.

Liu Li deliberately teased, leaning opposite Liu Che, "Father Emperor, don't just think of one name; the baby in your womb will need a name after birth—why not consider together?"

After Liu Li's reminder, Liu Che agreed, "You're right, we should think it over carefully."

So within a short time, Liu Che had selected over ten alternative names

— names, each inscribed on bamboo slips.

Liu Li casually picked up a few bamboo slips, glanced, and pursed her lips, "Why are they all boy names? What if the baby in Father Emperor's womb is a girl?"

Hearing Liu Li, Liu Che slightly raised his eyebrows, lowered his head to caress his abdomen, and a rare tenderness appeared in his eyes, "If it's a girl, let's name her A Qiong."

Liu Li pursed her lips, "The girl's name was decided so quickly, yet the boy's is so deliberated—Father Emperor, you're truly biased."

Liu Che raised his hand and tapped Liu Li's head, "Actually, the name A Qiong was originally meant to be yours."

"Huh?" Liu Li was startled, "My name?"

At that time, when Liu Che and Ajiao were still a loving couple, they had imagined what to name their future child. Ajiao said she liked daughters, so together they thought of the name A Qiong.

"Qiong" metaphorically denotes beauty, referring to fine jade.

Their daughter would be the most beautiful jade.

Unfortunately, later Ajiao suffered years of infertility, and the couple quarreled often, long forgetting that happiness. When Ajiao was reborn and bore a daughter, the Grand Empress Dowager personally bestowed a name.

The name A Qiong was never mentioned again.

Now that they have a second child, if it's a daughter, Liu Che thought, A Qiong would be perfect.

"Tsk."

Liu Li sighed inwardly, steering the conversation back to naming the prince; she examined several characters and found they all matched names of Emperor Wu of Han's sons.

Of course some didn't match, but that was a minor issue.

Liu Che picked up two bamboo slips, thought briefly, and said, "How about naming Prince Wei as Liu Wei, implying grandeur, strength, and outstanding talent."

Liu Li's mouth twitched, before she could voice an opinion, Liu Che added, "The child in my womb, if a boy, shall be named Liu Ju."

Liu Li: "???"

She exclaimed incredulously, "Why name him Liu Ju?"

Liu Che replied, "Ju signifies stability and peace; I hope the crown prince's birth will bring tranquility to the Han realm."

Liu Li swallowed slightly; judging by the name alone, Liu Che placed great expectations on the child in his womb. At least now he no longer saw it as Ajiao's son threatening his throne, even before birth acknowledging the child's crown prince status.

However, based on historical outcomes, Liu Li did not wish her half‑brother, sharing the same mother, to be named Liu Ju.

So, with sincere conscience, she suggested, "Father Emperor, since Ju carries such meaning, perhaps give it to Prince Wei. When the younger brother is born, we can consider his name later."

Liu Che thought and agreed, "Alright, the crown prince's name requires extra caution; then Prince Wei shall be named Liu Ju."

Liu Li lifted her teacup, sipping sweet tea, and heard Liu Che say, "If later we can't think of a better name, the crown prince shall be Liu Wei."

"Pfft." Liu Li spewed out a mouthful of tea, splashing Liu Che's face directly.

Liu Che: "??"

Liu Li coughed, suppressing laughter, and apologized to Liu Che, "I'm sorry, Father Emperor, I didn't mean it."

Liu Che wiped the water off his face, scowling, "Is it that funny?"

Liu Li bit her lip hard, holding back laughter.

Just looking at the name Liu Wei isn't funny at all, but she didn't know why she thought of Zhang Wei, and that was the punchline.

And how could Chen Ajiao and Emperor Wu's son be given such an ordinary, plain name as Liu Wei?!

Fuqiu, who was guarding outside the library, received a eunuch's notice and hurried in to inform the Empress: "Your Majesty, Princess Pingyang has arrived and is already inside the hall."

Liu Che's expression froze for a moment, then he recalled why Princess Pingyang had come. He wiped the saliva from his face, then feigned a stern rebuke to Liu Li: "Study diligently in the library; I'm going to see your aunt, and will return to examine the results of your learning."

Liu Li: "……"

After Liu Che left, Liu Li reached for a bamboo slip bearing the characters Liu Ju, twirled it in her hand, and couldn't help recalling how Wei Zifu used Liu Ju to frame Yin Beauty.

What exactly is this secret? Liu Li decided to recall it carefully once more; the interactions between Yin Beauty and Wei Zifu in the Perfume Hall might reveal a useful clue.

"Why didn't you give me a heads‑up before coming, big sister? I could have had the palace staff prepare tea and snacks for you." Liu Che entered from outside the hall with a smile on his face.

Princess Pingyang sat upright in the hall; upon seeing Liu Che, this "Empress," she made no move to bow: "How dare I trouble the Empress for hospitality?" Her words were laced with sarcasm.

Liu Che merely raised an eyebrow, feeling a slight displeasure, but since she was his respected elder sister, he let it pass. After being helped to his feet by Fuqiu, he spoke: "Big sister, what brings you to my Jiaofang Palace?"

Princess Pingyang's tone carried a hint of arrogance: "Don't you know why I'm here? The beauties I sent to my brother—on what authority do you send them all back?"

Liu Che's expression grew cold: "On what grounds do you send them back? Big sister, you seem to have forgotten my status."

Princess Pingyang sneered: "Chen Ajiao, you may now be Empress, but so what? I am still A Che's sister."

Princess Pingyang snorted and said, "Chen Ajiao, it's true you are now the empress, but what of it? I am still Emperor Wu's older sister."

So what? Princess Pingyang's treatment of A Jiao, the Empress, is overly disrespectful. He had always heard Princess Pingyang say A Jiao was spoiled and never gave her face, and he never doubted her words.

Because back then A Jiao truly was spoiled, even denying him, the Son of Heaven, any respect.

But now, seeing Big sister's attitude toward A Jiao, it doesn't seem she was as aggrieved as she claimed.

Princess Pingyang's words were laced with mockery: "A Jiao, I warned you long ago—if you continue this arrogant, willful streak, A Che will eventually depose you."

Liu Che squinted, let out a low laugh that carried a hint of cold darkness, and said: "Big sister, what do you mean? The beauties in Weiyang Palace are being expelled by His Majesty, not by my will."

"A Che's intention?" Princess Pingyang doubted, scoffing: "Impossible. I know my brother best; how could he let those beauties leave? It must be you meddling with A Che again."

"Why not?" Liu Che raised his eyebrows, placed a hand on his abdomen: "His Majesty has me and a child in his heart; to prevent another premature birth of Lady Wei, he dispersed the palace beauties for me. Big sister, any objections?"

Princess Pingyang, hearing A Jiao's so‑naïve words, couldn't help laughing: "Hahaha, A Jiao, A Jiao, are you truly naive or just foolish? You can't really think A Che loves you, can you?"

Liu Che, with a cold face, retorted: "Why wouldn't he love her?" He had always believed he loved A Jiao; otherwise he wouldn't have endured her arrogant temperament for so many years, allowing her to be less respectful before him.

Princess Pingyang, hearing A Jiao's matter‑of‑fact reply, found it amusing. This little cousin had been so naive since childhood; she couldn't believe she was now nearly thirty and still unchanged.

"A Jiao, do you still remember Li Ji?" Princess Pingyang asked gently: "Back then, Guantao Aunt wanted to betroth you to Crown Prince Li as Crown Princess, but Li Ji, having fallen out with Guantao Aunt and disliking the Hall of Tangyi Marquis, refused to let you become Crown Princess…"

These past events needed no reminder from Princess Pingyang; Liu Che remembered them as well. Indeed, because of Li Ji's self‑destruction, he had the chance to be chosen by his father to become Crown Prince, with Guantao Gongzhu's assistance.

"Li Ji never became Empress, and her son lost the Crown Prince position, because she was overly spoiled and even offended Guantao Aunt, leading to this fate," Princess Pingyang squinted slightly: "Do you think the current situation mirrors those days?"

Li Ji never became empress, and her son also lost the crown prince position; it was precisely because she was overly arrogant and even offended Guantao Aunt that she ended up like this. Princess Pingyang narrowed her eyes slightly and said, "You say the present situation is quite similar to that of back then, isn't it?"

"Guantao Aunt was the Son of Heaven's sister back then; I am also the Son of Heaven's sister now. Li Ji offended Guantao Aunt and thus missed the throne. You have offended me—are you not afraid you'll also lose this Empress position?"

Princess Pingyang's present deeds are all in studying her aunt

Princess Pingyang's present conduct is all about learning from her aunt.

Guantao Gongzhu once gathered beauties from across the realm to give to her brother, Emperor Jing, so she also collected talented, singing and dancing beauties for her own brother.

Guantao Gongzhu, relying on being the Son of Heaven's sister, ruled tyrannically in Weiyang Palace, disregarding the then‑Empress Mother. She now likewise disregards Empress Chen Ajiao.

Guantao Gongzhu had her daughter marry the Crown Prince, becoming Empress. She likewise wishes to marry her daughter to a future Crown Prince, to become a future Empress.

As for who the Crown Prince is, Princess Pingyang thought, it certainly would not be the child in Chen Ajiao's womb.

However, Princess Pingyang's desire to replicate Dou Taizhu's power and status is likely impossible.

After all, Dou Taizhu was the sole daughter of Empress Dowager Dou and the only sister of Emperor Jing. Emperor Jing is not the current Emperor Wu; he valued filial piety and kinship, and his relationship with Dou Taizhu was not particularly close.

Thus Guantao Gongzhu Liu Piao could rise from Princess to Grand Princess, and then to today's Great Grand Princess.

Not every princess can become a Great Grand Princess.

Hearing his own sister utter such words, Liu Che's anger flared; he slammed a hand on the table and shouted: "Princess Pingyang, are you threatening me?"

The tea set on the table rattled and jumped, and Princess Pingyang stared blankly at the aura of authority emanating from A Jiao, feeling a strangely familiar sensation.

The tea set on the table was shaken so hard it jumped up; Princess Pingyang stared blankly at the majestic aura emanating from Chen Ajiao's person, and actually felt a sense of déjà vu.

Liu Che gave her no chance to speak, his face cold: "I never expected you, big sister, to constantly look up to my mother as a model. Li Ji was denied the throne back then, but I am now Empress. I carry an heir in my womb; even His Majesty cannot easily depose me!"

Emperor Wu didn't give her a chance to speak, his face cold as he said, "I never expected that you, my elder sister, have always taken my mother as your model. Back then, Lady Li had no destiny to become empress, but now I am already the empress. I carry the imperial heir in my womb; even His Majesty cannot easily depose me!"

Liu Che stroked his abdomen, his voice still cold: "Back then, Emperor Gao favored Consort Qi, even contemplating stripping the Crown Prince of his rightful position and passing it to Consort Qi's son. You should know what fate befell Consort Qi."

Princess Pingyang, hearing A Jiao cite Emperor Gao's case, was stunned speechless, finally trembling: "Chen Ajiao, you… you… you actually want to emulate Empress Lü?!"

Liu Che raised a cold eyebrow at her: "I am merely restating a fact to you, big sister, hoping you see clearly who the Empress of the Great Han is now; do not waste resources on trivialities and incur losses."

Princess Pingyang was momentarily speechless—was this still the Chen Ajiao she knew? Why did she seem to see her own brother's reflection in her?

Just as Princess Pingyang was privately bewildered, A Jiao entered from outside the hall, smiling: "I heard big sister arrived at the Jiaofang Palace, so I came to see."

Seeing her own brother, Princess Pingyang sprang to her feet, intending to file a complaint against Chen Ajiao, but she didn't expect Liu Che beside her to stand first, his voice suddenly softening: "Your Majesty, I was just angered by Princess Pingyang and now feel unwell everywhere."

Seeing her own younger brother, Princess Pingyang suddenly stood up, intending to sue Chen Ajiao. But she didn't expect that Emperor Wu beside her would stand up first, his voice suddenly turning soft and gentle: "Your Majesty, I was just angered by Princess Pingyang, elder sister, and now I feel uncomfortable all over."

Princess Pingyang: "??"