Chapter Four: The Empress's Invitation

As a transmigrator, it was only natural for Zhao Yu to feel a certain aversion toward eunuchs, yet he could not change the fact that his predecessor had been raised by eunuchs and palace maids. The man who had arrived at his residence early that morning was none other than Feng Quan, the inner palace eunuch who had watched over Zhao Yu’s predecessor since childhood.

After Zhao Yu had sent Feng Quan back to the palace, he now served at the side of Empress Zheng. Whenever the Empress had any affairs to handle, it was Feng Quan who ran errands for her. Given his long association with Zhao Yu, he could come and go from the prince’s residence without so much as an announcement.

Yet, seeing Feng Quan show up at his door so early in the morning, Zhao Yu and his close guards, Duan Feihe among them, couldn’t help but feel a jolt of unease. A single thought flashed through their minds: Had last night’s incident already been discovered?

Without betraying any emotion, Zhao Yu spoke first. “Old Feng, what brings you here so early? Ha! I see, you must be here to mooch a breakfast off me, aren’t you?”

“Your Highness, please don’t jest with this old servant. Her Majesty the Empress has requested your presence in the palace. It seems someone mentioned a marriage proposal for you yesterday. You know how the Empress can’t keep anything to herself. The moment the palace gates opened this morning, she sent me to invite you.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yu immediately felt at ease. He eyed Feng Quan up and down, then suddenly said, “Wait a moment. I know you’re an honest man. Are you hiding something from me?”

Feng Quan’s expression was a little unnatural, and there was a bruise on his forehead as if he’d been struck.

With a wry smile, Feng Quan replied, “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. It’s really nothing. I just had a bit of unpleasantness with that scoundrel Li Yan when I was leaving the palace.”

Zhao Yu’s face darkened at once. Although he’d sent Feng Quan back to the palace, the man was still his retainer. To bully Feng Quan was to insult him as well. That bastard Li Yan must have done it on purpose.

There was another reason for his displeasure. After the previous Chief Eunuch, Yang Jian, died, Li Yan had taken charge of the West City Land Appropriation Office. His actions were even more outrageous than Yang Jian’s, seizing land from the common folk and driving countless families to ruin and exile.

One of Zhao Yu’s own men had been rendered homeless by Li Yan and left to wander the streets. If it weren’t for Li Yan’s power, the poor fellow would have been killed several times over by now.

In that instant, Zhao Yu found himself seized by a desire to rid the people of this scourge.

Duan Feihe, standing nearby, saw the look in Zhao Yu’s eyes and grew even more anxious. He thought, “Is this little master about to set his sights on Li Yan? That man’s power is no less than Gao Qiu’s! Can’t you choose an easier target?”

It was as if Zhao Yu sensed Duan Feihe’s thoughts. He turned, offered him a faint smile, then looked back at Feng Quan and said, “Since my mother has summoned me, we mustn’t keep her waiting. Let us set out at once!”

Feng Quan agreed, but then hesitated. “Your Highness, let this old servant return to your side. I truly dislike staying in the palace.”

Zhao Yu patted Feng Quan’s shoulder and replied evasively, “I heard your elder brother passed away and left behind an only son. I’ve already sent for him to come to the capital. Soon you and your nephew will be reunited.”

Feng Quan was momentarily taken aback. He’d meant to speak of leaving the palace, but Zhao Yu had shifted the topic to his nephew. Just as he was about to say something, a flash of insight struck him at the mention of ‘reunion,’ and an understanding glimmered in his eyes.

Empress Zheng was only in her thirties—still in the prime of a woman’s life—but in Emperor Huizong’s swiftly changing harem, she was considered aging. Yet this woman, whom the other concubines disdainfully called an old matron, had single-handedly become the mother of the nation and ruled the inner palace—a testament to her remarkable ability.

But even the most formidable woman harbors her own troubles. Her husband was incorrigibly unfaithful, and what weighed most heavily on her heart was that the crown prince was not her own child. Because of Zhao Yu, she found the sight of the crown prince ever more disagreeable.

Still, the prince had been established early and had committed no misdeeds. Even Emperor Huizong himself could not easily depose him.

The emperor, notorious for his fickleness and fondness for dalliances outside the palace, left Empress Zheng lonely in her chambers. She yearned all the more to see Zhao Yu ascend, to fulfill a promise to her dearest friend and to secure her own position.

She had suggested several marriage prospects for Zhao Yu before, but he’d always managed to refuse them. This time, however, the candidate was the granddaughter of Minister of the Left, Zhou Shanglong—a match that would bring Zhao Yu considerable influence at court. Empress Zheng did not consult him this time, but agreed on his behalf. Today’s summons was merely to instruct him to prepare for marriage.

Thanks to her careful maintenance, Empress Zheng’s beauty endured; at thirty-something, she looked as youthful as a maiden, her regal grace casting all those young, inexperienced women into the shade.

“Mother, you must uphold justice for your son!”

After the maid announced him, Zhao Yu—ever the consummate performer—knelt down and cried out his grievance the moment he entered.

He had no wish to marry so soon, so his plan was to distract his mother for the day, buying himself a little more time.

Empress Zheng had two daughters, yet tradition made her favor this adopted son above all. At his words, all thoughts of her original purpose faded, and she grew anxious. “What’s wrong, my son? Who has wronged you? Tell me, and I will see you righted.”

Zhao Yu produced the wanted notice and handed it to her. This matter had to be shared with his mother first. With her fiercely protective nature, she would surely support him in challenging the Kaifeng Prefecture.

Empress Zheng looked at the notice, her eyebrows arching and her eyes blazing with anger.

Who could blame her? Not only had the notice sketched Zhao Yu’s likeness, it even bore his childhood nickname.

To call her beloved son a notorious bandit—what mother could endure such slander?

“Do they take me for a fool? Attendants!”

“This old servant is here!”

Feng Quan hurried in.

“Go to Kaifeng Prefecture on my behalf and ask how they conduct their investigations! For a prince to be branded a bandit—what are these officials thinking?”

Feng Quan was about to accept, but Zhao Yu quickly interjected, “Mother, calm yourself. I believe it best if I go in person, to avoid unnecessary trouble.”

Empress Zheng, having spoken in anger, now saw his point. There was an ancient admonition that the inner palace must not interfere in politics. Though this case was not directly about governance, if the Emperor learned of it, he would be displeased.

She gazed at Zhao Yu with relief and nodded, “Let it be as you say. But first, go report to your father. That way, no one will have grounds to accuse you.”

She paused, then added, “You are no longer a child. After your marriage, you must learn more about state affairs, so that you may shoulder some of your father’s burdens.”

Zhao Yu had wished to avoid alerting his father, yet he could not deny his mother’s wisdom. He was just about to agree when suddenly, from outside the hall, a eunuch cried, “His Majesty arrives!”