Chapter 40: Stirred to Anger

Wei Liangqing was still burning with indignation, but he hadn't lost his wits. The three of them gathered around the table and opened the two bundles.

Inside were a vase and a jade ruyi scepter.

At the sight, Wei Liangqing let out a derisive snort and said, "Just some antiques. I can have as many of these as I want. Commoners are commoners—they can't get on the big stage."

Wei Liangqing had always served in the Embroidered Uniform Guard and had never entered court, but Zhou Yingqiu and Ni Wenhuan were different—one a former Vice Minister, the other a sitting Censor. They were regulars in the Golden Carriage Hall. At first the two objects looked familiar, then they recalled where they'd seen them, and their faces went white in an instant.

The two exchanged a glance, their mouths dry, unable to speak.

Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined that the noble benefactor would turn out to be Her Majesty the Empress!

"Come, to my residence!"

Zhou Yingqiu hastily wrapped the bundle back up, picked it up, and said.

"Right, right, right."

Ni Wenhuan hastily agreed, wrapped up his own items, and followed behind Zhou Yingqiu carrying them.

Wei Liangqing frowned deeply, utterly baffled as to why the two were so beside themselves, but he followed them out nonetheless.

At the Zhou residence, after Zhou Yingqiu, suppressing his excitement, finished explaining what the two objects were, Wei Liangqing was left dumbstruck as well.

"You're saying that noble benefactor is Her Majesty the Empress?"

Zhou Yingqiu at this moment was not merely shocked—his eyes gleamed with excitement. In all the Great Ming, besides the Emperor, who was more worthy of relying upon than Her Majesty the Empress? And Her Majesty was already pregnant with the Dragon Son—this would be the Great Ming's eldest legitimate son, the future Emperor!

A strange look also appeared on Ni Wenhuan's face. Hadn't he originally curried favor with Wei Zhongxian just to get promoted? Now with the Empress's support, wouldn't everything come easily?

Wei Liangqing watched the expressions on the two men's faces, and his own shock slowly settled, his gaze growing fervent.

All three fell silent. After a long while, Ni Wenhuan suddenly looked at Zhou Yingqiu and said, "Brother Zhou, I plan to pay a visit to the Earl of Taikang in a few days. What do you think?"

The Earl of Taikang was none other than Empress Zhang's birth father, Zhang Guoji.

Zhou Yingqiu pondered briefly, then shook his head. "Brother Ni is still too hasty. Since Her Majesty doesn't wish to show herself, doing so would expose our tracks. That wouldn't be good."

Ni Wenhuan nodded repeatedly at this, looking rather shaken as he said, "Brother Zhou is right. I nearly ruined things."

Zhou Yingqiu heard him call himself 'your little brother' and gave a faint, imperceptible smile at the corner of his mouth. He was now the leader of those outside serving Her Majesty the Empress.

"Then, what should we do for Her Majesty?" Wei Liangqing suddenly spoke up. He too was suppressing his excitement now. Before, he'd relied on his uncle and aunt; now he finally had a more secure patron—Her Majesty the Empress herself!

Zhou Yingqiu also wore a contemplative expression. In his view, the Empress clearly needed outside support to consolidate her position—after all, Madam Ke and Wei Zhongxian had previously harbored delusions of deposing her. But what tribute would make Her Majesty the Empress happy?

Her Majesty the Empress was supremely noble—what in this world could she possibly yearn for?

All three sank into thought. What did the Empress lack? No one could say for certain, and they couldn't act blindly.

"How about I go ask that Manager Zhou tomorrow?" At this moment, Wei Liangqing suddenly interjected again.

Zhou Yingqiu's eyes lit up, and he turned to look at him. "Brother Wei's idea is a good one. That Manager Zhou has served Her Majesty for quite some time—he might know some things about her."

Ni Wenhuan nodded along as well. "But Manager Zhou is also right—this matter must be handled in secret."

All three were excited, as if they'd reached an agreement. They huddled together and discussed in low voices.

They were excited, but Zhu Xu sat restlessly in his study, unable to settle. Being followed today, and Madam Ke suddenly appearing, gave him a very bad premonition. With his small arms and legs as they were now, if he were truly exposed, there would be absolutely no good outcome.

"Your Highness." Cao Wenzhao hurried in.

Zhu Xu shot to his feet and asked urgently, "Did you find out? Which palace did she enter?"

Cao Wenzhao's expression hesitated slightly, then he said, "Your Highness, I couldn't make out which palace it was. With people coming and going in the palace, I could only watch the figure from afar. But that direction—it seemed only Prince Xin's palace lies that way."

"Prince Xin's palace?" Zhu Xu's expression shifted slightly, then he secretly breathed a sigh of relief and sat down in his chair. "Then it should be fine. I suspect my frequent departures from the palace have roused Fifth Brother's suspicions."

Even as Zhu Xu said this, he knew it was most likely the meeting between his maternal uncle Fu Changzong and Bi Maokang that had aroused suspicion. Fortunately, they'd lain low recently, and he always acted with the utmost secrecy. Besides, Prince Xin had no real power in court or among the people—it should only be that courtyard that was exposed.

Cao Wenzhao thought for a moment, then said, "Should we notify the old master and the mountain?"

"No need," Zhu Xu waved his hand, his expression grave. "For now, aside from keeping the courtyard's production running normally, everything else is suspended. In a moment I'll write something—have Cao Huachun's men carry it to Zhou Jianyu when they leave the palace."

"Yes. Your Highness should also rest easy—we always act with caution. Prince Xin is probably just curious." Cao Wenzhao looked at Zhu Xu's expression and said consolingly.

Zhu Xu nodded slightly. He could relax about Prince Xin, but he couldn't relax in the slightest about that old witch. If she truly fixed her eyes on him, he would be no match for her in the open.

Before long, Cao Huachun arrived in a hurry, panting. "Your Highness, I've learned—the Directorate of Ceremonial says Madam Ke has just returned to the capital from Henan. She's tidying up in the palace now, and is expected to move out in three days, relocating to Cloud Mist Mountain."

After hearing this, Zhu Xu's face showed a thoughtful expression as he muttered to himself, "Three days? She was hidden away so well—why suddenly surface? What scheme is my Imperial Brother plotting?"

Cao Huachun and Cao Wenzhao both stood before the table, looking at him, also deep in thought. Ever since the pure-stream faction joined forces to force Wei Zhongxian out, the palace had felt strange in every way, keeping them on edge from time to time.

Unable to find the reason in his heart, Zhu Xu looked up at the two men and said, "Has anything unusual happened at court recently?"

Cao Huachun and Cao Wenzhao exchanged a glance. Cao Wenzhao spoke up: "Nothing particularly unusual at court. It's just that 【Censor】 Xing is fiercely opposed to the marriage alliance with Gu Bingqian. I hear he not only snubbed Her Majesty the Empress's face, but also said some rather unpleasant things to His Majesty."

Zhu Xu sighed inwardly. 【Censor】 Xing was one of the pillars of the Donglin Faction, and a mountain of the pure-stream party. His character was unyielding and upright, with a lifetime of clean reputation. For him, a marriage alliance with someone as notorious as Gu Bingqian was worse than death.

He'd probably said more than just unpleasant things to his Imperial Brother—he'd likely made veiled accusations against him as well.

Zhu Xu vaguely felt that this might indeed be related to the matter, and couldn't help muttering to himself, "If his plan falls through, what does he intend to do next?"

Cao Wenzhao suddenly glanced at Cao Huachun and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, regardless of the circumstances, that matter can wait no longer."

Zhu Xu's heart gave a sudden jolt, and his face immediately ached again—as if Madam Ke were pinching his cheeks once more, very hard.