The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 2)

Chapter 176 - Victory and Defeat

The spring hunt's incidents left everyone deeply unsettled. Even though the Empress personally sent attendants to visit each household with comforting words, distributed gifts, and had the imperial doctors rushing to and fro, the atmosphere failed to lift. Not only were the frightened noblewomen on edge, but even the men, who usually took the spring hunt very seriously, shut themselves indoors, having lost all interest in horseback riding or hunting. The incident was simply too severe; word had spread that the daughter of the Ministry of Justice's vice minister had broken her leg, and although the imperial doctors had reset it, they admitted it might never fully heal.

With everyone in a state of panic, Emperor Jianzhang also lost his desire to continue the outing. He had the Ministry of Rites choose an auspicious date for the journey back, and they returned to the capital in a grand procession.

When Old Lady Song heard the news, she clasped her hands together and recited a string of "Amitabha" in relief. The suspense that had been pressing on her chest finally settled. When the news of the hunting ground disaster first reached her, she had nearly fainted from fear, especially since the hunting grounds were so far from the capital that news came slowly and unreliably. In the chaotic wait for information, she couldn't learn anything about Song Chuyi, Song Jue, Xiang Mingzi, or the others, except for the troubling report that the daughter of the vice minister had been rushed back to the capital with severe injuries. With no word of her own family members, she had fainted with worry.

Each of her grandchildren was her lifeline, and if anything had happened to them, she wouldn't have had the will to live. Now that she knew they were unharmed, she felt immense relief, and her concerns could finally be set aside. She began to instruct the First Lady, "While it's a blessing that no harm befell anyone, given the current atmosphere in the capital, have a word with your sister-in-law and make sure things are kept simple. Have Fourth girl return for her one-month home visit and combine it with a family meal, but let's keep it strictly to close relatives."

The Third Lady, well aware of the situation, understood that now was not the time to ask for any kind of grand event, so she immediately agreed.

However, even this small gathering was not to be. No sooner had Emperor Jianzhang's entourage re-entered the capital than news of Prince Duan's death spread, along with celebratory reports from Fujian.

Old Lady Song sighed and looked at the tear-stained Third Lady. "Now we won't need to invite any friends or relatives; it would be too easy to offend someone's mourning rites. After what happened at the hunting grounds, bringing people together would only cause more trouble. Unfortunately, Fourth girl will have to make do with a simpler arrangement."

The Third Lady didn't dare express dissatisfaction, nor did she feel any. When Song Chumi married, Old Lady Song had privately gifted her ten thousand taels of silver, a tangible benefit worth more than any number of banquet gatherings. She nodded and wiped her eyes, saying, "Whether simple or grand, I'd be satisfied just knowing Mingzi and Xiaoyi are safe."

The First Lady happened to overhear this as she escorted Xiang Mingzi and Song Chuyi into the room. She cast a glance at the Third Lady—after so many years as sisters-in-law, only recently had she felt that the Third Lady had matured. Fortunately, this improvement was positive; now, with the household pulling together as one, the last thing they needed was a foolish family member. Any rash moves could pull the entire family into disaster. This brought to mind her worries about the second branch. Her younger brother-in-law had been out of office for several years and had seemingly forgotten the perils of officialdom, acting as if he had become increasingly naive.

Old Lady Song's hands shook slightly as she reached out to her granddaughters, holding one in each hand and looking them over carefully. When she noticed a faint pink scar on Song Chuyi's face, her expression darkened. "I've told you time and again not to take unnecessary risks. You're a young woman; if your face is scarred, where will you find a good husband?"

The First Lady and Third Lady exchanged glances, not knowing how to respond. Although facial scars could be treated and faded with old family remedies, finding a good husband would indeed be difficult for Song Chuyi. Her ill-fated destiny, as the monk Yuanhui had warned, was widely known in the capital. His single statement had effectively cut off her chances of finding a favorable match. With her status, Song Chuyi could have aimed for a high-ranking match, even a royal marriage, but with such a fate attached to her name, she would face difficulty marrying even if she lowered her standards.

Fortunately, Old Lady Song didn't dwell on the matter. Since Xiang Mingzi's health was frail, and Song Chuyi was still recovering, she dismissed them to rest after a brief chat, having confirmed they were safe.

It was said that Prince Duan had been so heartbroken over Lady Rui's death and so affected by the emperor's rebuke that he had died from shock. But everyone knew the real reason. The Yangzhou corruption case implicated many of Prince Duan's associates; anyone with any political awareness understood this fact, especially now that the illicit trading routes outside the border had been exposed.

Yet, it was clear that these offenses alone weren't enough to warrant Prince Duan's death. Given Emperor Jianzhang's usual leniency, the prince might have been placed under house arrest for life, living as a wealthy prisoner similar to Prince Zhongsu of the previous dynasty.

What had truly enraged the emperor was the merciless ambush that Prince Duan had unleashed on the Crown Prince's faction at the hunting grounds. It wasn't merely a declaration of war against the Crown Prince but a public affront to the emperor himself. While the emperor publicly attributed the attack to Japanese ronin, he knew he had to respond appropriately. Otherwise, why would anyone remain loyal to the throne, with the constant risk of being killed right under the emperor's nose?

That evening, Song Chengru came in person to Guanju Courtyard to see Song Chuyi. It was his first time home since returning to the capital; he'd been staying at his office the whole time. Now that the dust had settled, he was visibly tired, yet his eyes sparkled with relief. Prince Duan had been a malignant growth, festering and corroding everything, keeping everyone on edge. Now that this dangerous threat was finally eliminated, Song Chengru felt even lighter than he had when Grand Empress Dowager Rongxian and Princess Shijia had fallen from power.

However, Song Chuyi didn't feel particularly happy. Prince Duan's fate had long been sealed. A man as obsessively stubborn as he was would have eventually died, whether by his own resentment or from the plot she and Guo Huaiying had used to expose his collusion with the Japanese pirates.

The outcome had already been decided the moment Prince Duan and Chen Xiang had aimed to harm the women at the hunting grounds. Regardless of casualties, whether anyone had actually died or not, Emperor Jianzhang had no choice but to have him executed to provide a resolution for those affected.