Volume One, Chapter 13: Utter Humiliation

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Seeing that most people had arrived, Lord Pei turned to the guards and said, “Begin.” The guards raised a wooden board high and brought it down with a heavy thud. “Ah!” “Ahhh!!” The faces of the two men twisted in agony, their cries growing more desperate by the second. What broke them even more was the torment of their minds. From time to time, the sounds of gasps filled the air, accompanied by the guards’ cheers and those counting out loud. “Twenty, twenty-one, twenty-one, twenty-one…” Not just once, but repeated twice! These people simply could not bear to see them well! When the final blow fell, both men felt utterly drained. Xia Huaian was oddly relieved it was over; finally, they could leave. Just as the crowd began to disperse, Emperor Yong’an stepped forward. Everyone bowed deeply, but the emperor remained silent, and no one dared rise. “Do you all know why I am punishing them?” His voice was laced with anger. The crowd exchanged glances, wondering what they had done to so enrage the emperor. Emperor Yong’an continued, “Today, my son’s Anjing Princess came with the young princess to visit me. Yet, the illegitimate son of the Marquis of Anjing, out of jealousy, bribed unruly commoners to cause trouble, surrounding the Anjing Princess’s carriage and inciting chaos! The young princess was nearly struck and seriously injured!” “This is a crime of attempting to harm the imperial heir! According to current law, they should be executed on the spot!” Executed on the spot? Xia Ziyi’s eyes widened in horror. He had only wanted the emperor to recognize the true disaster, never intending harm to her. “But out of consideration for my son’s face, I will let you off this time.” “When a son errs, the father is at fault for lack of discipline. The Marquis of Anjing has condoned his illegitimate son’s attacks on the mistress and legitimate heir. Thirty strikes is lenient.” These accusations weighed heavily on Xia Huaian, keeping his head bowed. The onlookers nodded in agreement; they had never seen a legitimate son ignored while the illegitimate was favored. “Today’s public whipping is meant as a lesson for you all!” The crowd bowed once more. “We will surely enforce strict discipline in the household.” “Since you were all present, each of you is to write a ten-thousand-character reflection and submit it for review at tomorrow’s court.” Saying this, the emperor turned and returned inside. Ten thousand characters! Were they asking for their lives?! “Marquis of Anjing! Control your illegitimate son! One man’s crime brings punishment upon a hundred of us—it’s despicable!” “Because of him, we have incurred the emperor’s wrath. I say you two are the real curse! Bah!” “Letting an illegitimate son stand above the legitimate heir and defile him—how absurd and foolish!” Hearing this, Xia Ziyi clenched his fists tightly.

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Again like this… He bore his father’s blood just the same—why could the illegitimate son not stand equal to the legitimate heir? He glared fiercely at Xia Ziheng in the distance. Just wait! At the poetry contest, he would make them all see that an illegitimate son could far surpass the legitimate heir! Xia Huaian was being pointed at and ridiculed. He wanted to flee, but his butt was numb, and he struggled to rise, stuck on the ground. This only inflamed the crowd’s anger further. “He wants to run? Without apologizing first?” “Who gave you permission to run?” Someone kicked him, knocking him back down. Once one struck, others couldn’t help but join in. However, those who acted were officials of higher rank; lower-ranked ones merely cheered from the sidelines. “Ziheng, I want to join in. Are you coming?” Xia Ziheng’s classmate called out but received no reply. “Where is he?” Before the words fell, he spotted a flash of blue cloth in the crowd. He was dumbfounded. He was about to die of filial piety. Suddenly, blue-robed officials, red-robed officials, and teal-robed students mingled in chaos. Watching this uproar, Lord Pei couldn’t help but chuckle. The emperor’s move was truly powerful, having stirred great enmity against the Marquis of Anjing. When the fighting had mostly subsided, Lord Pei finally intervened. The crowd dispersed, leaving behind two bedraggled figures—one old, one young. “Return. Surely the Marquis of Anjing knows what must be done going forward,” Lord Pei said. “Oh, and the emperor also said that Lady Xia, the old matron, has spoken ill of His Majesty. According to the law, she should be publicly whipped to death.” Xia Huaian’s heart jumped again. The emperor was determined to defend Lady Jiang. “But since she is the Anjing Princess’s mother-in-law, we will pardon her this time; however, punishment is inevitable. Moreover, the Anjing Princess will henceforth manage the inner household.” Xia Huaian exhaled weakly, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your mercy.” In the imperial garden, Lady Jiang linked arms with Empress Dezhuang, sipping tea and admiring the blossoms. Had this been before, she would have felt joy; now, her thoughts lingered within the palace. Empress Dezhuang noticed her unease and patted her hand. “Rest assured, your father the emperor is measured; he will not go too far.” Lady Jiang was surprised she could discern her thoughts. The empress sighed, “Since ancient times, women have regarded their husbands as their skies, bound to their fates. Whether wed to a rooster or a dog, even if tormented to near death, they must accept their sorrow and grievance. This world is truly unjust.”

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“Actually, in the past, he treated me well, but…” Lady Jiang clenched her hands. “But now, his heart belongs only to that concubine and those illegitimate sons,” Empress Dezhuang said firmly, gazing at her. “When we agreed to your marriage, we hoped it would bring you lifelong happiness. Yet, who expected him to torment you so.” “If only we could divorce…” Xia Qianqian sighed deeply. Women of ancient times lacked the enlightened thinking of modern women. Divorce would brand them for life, and remarriage was forbidden. Men, however, could turn a failed marriage into a mere romantic tale and remarry at will. Lady Jiang bit her lips pale. “If he truly cannot accept the child, then I will divorce. I accept the scorn, but the child must come with me.” Hearing this, Empress Dezhuang sighed again. “Divorced children always stay with the husband’s family; taking the child away will be no easy matter.” She then turned to the attendant behind her. “Nanny Zhang, take care of Wan Ning for a while. Having just given birth, she needs careful nursing.” “Yes,” replied Nanny Zhang. Lady Jiang was momentarily stunned. Nanny Zhang was a trusted servant of the empress. This was no mere gesture of care but a signal to the Xia household that Lady Jiang was under the empress’s protection. Her eyes stung with tears. Seizing the moment, she said, “Your Majesty, I have one more request.” “Speak. Whatever you ask, I will grant,” Empress Dezhuang replied. “Could you add Ziheng’s name to the poetry contest list?” Lady Jiang said, gripping her hands tightly. Empress Dezhuang paused. “It’s only adding a name—why ask?” Lady Jiang hurriedly thanked her. “No need. You are Jiang’er, the only hope I have left. I cannot let them bully you.” The empress brushed back her hair, her gaze so tender it seemed to drip with warmth, as if seeing another person through her. Wan Ning truly was Jiang’er’s biological daughter, bearing a striking resemblance. Xia Qianqian bit her finger; if these words were spoken today, she’d be labeled insincere. At that moment, a eunuch led a broad-browed, striking man forward. “Your Majesty, a foreign envoy has brought a small gift, said to be for you.” The man bowed slightly, hands clasped to his chest. “Greetings, Your Majesty.” Empress Dezhuang’s interest piqued. “Oh? What kind of gift? Show it to me.” The eunuch complied, revealing a curious cylindrical object covered in intricate symbols. “What is this?” The envoy lifted it and explained in detail, “This little item is called a kaleidoscope. Within this small world, one can see countless dazzling patterns, exquisitely beautiful beyond words.” Kaleidoscope? Xia Qianqian shuddered. Was this not the very object that had once poisoned the empress to death?