The Empress Dowager's Visit

The day after the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Although news of the strange phenomenon that had appeared from the heavens and the sudden explosion at the moat the previous night had been suppressed, it had still spread privately throughout the royal city.

After all, the commotion had been so great that it had already caused quite a stir the night before. With soldiers and officials dispatched as well, there was no keeping the news down. The common people simply dared not discuss it openly.

"I heard a huge amount of bloody water came pouring out of the moat last night. It was a terrifying, perilous sight, and the stench of blood hit you right in the face. Even the stele that suppresses the river was seeping blood! There must be a tremendous grievance for it to have stirred the ghosts and gods to come and deliver justice."

"The Du clan? There are plenty of Du clans in the royal city. Who could it be talking about? Heaven has sent down such a warning. I'm afraid the Du clan that committed those evil deeds is due for retribution!"

"That's right. The commotion last night was enormous. There was a sudden, deafening boom from the river, as if heaven and earth were splitting apart. That's a sign Heaven is angry!"

Unable to contain their fear, everyone speculated in secret.

The households surnamed Du in the royal city were like ants being scorched by fire. Every one of them lived in fear and wished they could question every member of their household about whether they had done anything wicked enough to offend heaven and reason.

In the study of the Du Family, home of the minister of punishments.

"My lord, the deputy chief of the Court of Judicial Review and the people from the Censorate are still gathered around the moat. Our people can't get in to see the strange phenomenon."

A man in brown robes raised his hands in salute as he reported.

Du Chengji, seated before his desk, furrowed his brow. "What about the Wei Family?"

"The Wei Family is surrounded and protected by the Imperial Guard sent by His Majesty. Grand Preceptor Gao and Grand General Zhu are already at the Wei residence too, but we don't know the details."

Hearing this, Du Chengji clenched his right hand, rubbing his knuckles together as suspicion flickered in his eyes. The Du clan, the attack on the Wei Family, a blood debt repaid in blood...

Something flashed through his mind in an instant, and his eyes darkened.

"I'm afraid this is aimed at our Du Family."

The man in brown looked startled. "Then does 'the Du clan' mean us? My lord, could it really be that ghosts and gods have manifested to punish us?"

He was the trusted aide who had followed Du Chengji the longest, so he naturally knew what methods Du Chengji used.

"If ghosts and gods truly manifested themselves, how could there be so many unjust, false and wrongful cases in this world? What would officials be needed for? We could just wait for Heaven to deliver retribution."

Du Chengji's face was taut as he gave a quiet scoff. "I think someone is merely pretending to be a ghost to play tricks, using this to smear our Du Family."

The events at the moat were far too bizarre and mysterious. If the effects hadn't truly been like heaven and earth splitting apart, how could so many of the common people have been injured? Yet the way these events came together was too much of a coincidence, leaving Du Chengji no choice but to be on guard.

"I can't leave the residence now. Take a letter into the palace for Her Majesty the Empress Dowager later. If she asks why, tell her this is the best way to preserve the Du Family. Once the crisis has passed, it won't be too late for us to return to the royal city."

As he spoke, Du Chengji picked up his brush and began writing the letter.

"Yes."

The imperial palace.

Yaohua Hall.

"Rumble!!"

"It's raining."

Lying in bed, Di Qingyu heard the tremendous thunder and rain outside the window. The bright white flashes of lightning nearly shone through the lattice.

Chunzhi came forward when she heard the sound and, seeing that Di Qingyu wanted to get up, hurried to help her.

"Yes, it's raining. It seems Heaven is helping you too, Mistress." With the rain, the traces and clues around the moat would be washed away even more thoroughly.

Di Qingyu's expression stilled at that, and then she gave a derisive smile. "Is it helping me...?"

If it was helping her, it had made her cannon fodder in her previous life and denied her reincarnation even after death. If it wasn't, then what was this life?

After lying down for so long, Di Qingyu got up and moved around. After lunch, she amused herself while recuperating.

"Mistress, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is here." Chunzhi quickly entered the main hall to announce her arrival.

Di Qingyu, who was playing chess against herself, paused. Then she tossed the smooth, warm chess piece she had been holding back into the jar, her lips curving slightly. She had finally come.

"Tidy up and invite the empress dowager in."

"Yes."

Xialin tidied the chessboard beside her, while Chunzhi turned and went out to receive the visitor.

Before long, an elegant, richly dressed elderly woman walked in with a momo supporting her. Her temples had gone slightly gray, but she carried herself with the same grace as ever. A kindly smile rested on her somewhat wrinkled face, and as soon as she entered and saw Di Qingyu, she spoke affectionately.

"Qingyu, are you feeling any better? I brought some tonics to see you."

"Thank you for thinking of me, Imperial Grandmother. I slept until noon today and woke up feeling groggy. Even sitting up is uncomfortable, and I have no strength. Please forgive me for being unable to rise and pay my respects."

When the empress dowager came forward, Di Qingyu did not move an inch from where she sat on the cushioned couch, merely offering a soft explanation.

"Never mind. Your health has always been poor. I understand."

The smile on the empress dowager's face faltered for a moment before returning to normal. She stepped forward and sat down opposite Di Qingyu.

"Come, have a look. These are rare medicinal herbs I had people search for. This hundred-year-old ginseng root in particular is a rare find."

As she spoke, the palace maids came forward carrying lacquered trays. When they lifted the red cloths, they revealed all manner of medicinal herbs rarely seen in ordinary times.

Di Qingyu glanced at them and declined. "These things are precious. I can't accept them, Imperial Grandmother. Imperial Father has already bestowed a great deal on me, so you should keep these for yourself."

"Oh, no matter how good these things are, they're useless if they aren't put to the right use. I'm still in fairly robust health, but you've been weak all year, and with what happened this time, you've truly had a hard time."

The empress dowager sighed, took her hand and patted it. "Qingyu, I know all about it. It was that child Yutao who injured you. For him to do such an outrageous thing to you is truly unforgivable."

Di Qingyu pressed her lips together and made no effort to spare her feelings. She said directly, "It is indeed unforgivable. After all, I am a princess and represent the imperial family. His violent attack that day showed disrespect and contempt for the imperial family, which is why Imperial Father had him thrown into prison."

The empress dowager was left speechless by her blunt words. This was also why she had always disliked Di Qingyu: she was infuriating.

"Imperial Grandmother, you are a member of the imperial family too, and he is your maternal relative. By committing such an offensive, wicked act, he truly cast aside the love and high hopes you had for him. I hope you won't worry about someone like him. Taking care of your health is what matters. Imperial Father will make his own decision about everything. He won't let me suffer a grievance or allow the imperial family to be humiliated."

These words turned Du Yutao's violent assault on her into an affront and challenge to the imperial family, placing the empress dowager on the opposite side from him as well. They also subtly suggested that the empress dowager should draw a clear line between herself and someone like him, and should not intervene with the emperor.

Having spent many years navigating the rear palace, the empress dowager naturally caught the implication. She looked at Di Qingyu, whose clear, innocent gaze met hers, as though there had been no hidden meaning in what she had just said.

"I know you are filial. Don't worry, I won't trouble myself too much over Du Yutao. Though I love him, I care for you even more. To dare offend you is to set himself against the imperial family. Such a traitor deserves death. Not only will I refrain from pleading for him, I'll go to the emperor later and have him order his execution directly. A princess's dignity and the imperial family's heavenly majesty brook no challenge."

With those casually spoken words, the empress dowager had made it clear that she had abandoned Du Yutao—or rather, that the Du Family had abandoned him.

After all, the empress dowager had made no move until now. Her patience plainly meant that the Du Family had not yet asked her to intercede, intending to use her as their final trump card. That card was supposed to be played only after the investigation was complete and the emperor had decided Du Yutao's fate.

But now Du Yutao was still in prison, and the emperor was still at his wit's end over the moat, yet the empress dowager had come calling.

That meant the empress dowager had not come to plead for him, but to cut their losses in time, stepping forward to help the Du Family sever an arm to save its life.

Letting one son die and using the empress dowager's intercession to extinguish the emperor's fury was the best choice.

Di Qingyu pressed her lips together and nodded. "Yes. I'll leave everything to you and Imperial Father to decide."

"Very well. You look a little paler again. Go and lie down for a good rest. I won't stay and distract or tire you." The empress dowager released Di Qingyu's hand and rose.

"Yes, my head does ache a little. Then I'll see you off, Imperial Grandmother." Di Qingyu made no show of politeness either.

"Mm. When you're better, you must come and chat with me. In this rear palace, you know best how to speak and make me happy."

"Yes, Imperial Grandmother."