Leaving the Changmen Palace - LTCP 43: Rash

Jiaofang Hall fell into an immediate stillness, and neither of them dared to speak.

It was Chu Fu who finally broke the heavy silence, which seemed to settle like thick mud.

She moved with deliberate, measured steps toward the hall’s entrance to announce herself, “The eldest prince is awake, Your Majesty. Shall I bring him here?”

Though Chen Jiao had entrusted the care of the eldest prince to Chu Fu, her concern for him remained unwavering. She frequently inquired about his daily well-being and dedicated a fixed portion of each day to his company.

She gestured gently, “I will have someone convey the message later.”

Chu Fu cast a sharp, scrutinizing glance toward Wei Zifu, then lowered her gaze and quietly withdrew from the hall, softly closing the door behind her. Instantly, the room was once again shrouded in darkness.

Chen Jiao regarded Wei Zifu with a calculated, probing look, yet the latter refused to meet her gaze. After that fleeting moment of surprise, she instinctively bowed her head, restoring her humble and cautious demeanor.

This facade could no longer deceive anyone.

“Your Majesty,” Wei Zifu finally broke the oppressive silence, lifting her head once more.

Her eyes, once a striking contrast of black and white, now shimmered with a deep crimson, tears welling in their corners.

Chen Jiao’s heart softened at this display; she subtly reminded herself that if Wei Zifu had been unaware of her own beauty in her previous life, it was undoubtedly due to the wise guidance of her mentor in this one.

Wei Zifu’s understanding of Liu Che was as profound as that of her tutor.

With a trembling voice and tearful gaze directed at the empress, she implored sincerely, “Please, Your Majesty, allow this humble servant to leave the palace.”

Her words carried a mournful plea, “I am aware of my modest origins; a firefly’s glow cannot rival the brilliance of the sun and moon. My only desire is to live among the common folk, for although the imperial family is kind, it is not a place for someone like me to remain. I humbly ask, Your Majesty, to grant me this wish.”

Chen Jiao could not help but wear a subtle, dismissive sneer at her words.

“Now, you wish to go out—why did you come in at all? Lady Wei, what prompted your initial decision to enter?” she asked gently.

Wei Zifu cast a subtle glance from beneath her eyelids, her response surprisingly swift and subdued, as though she had already resolved to reveal her vulnerability to the very end.

“I thought about it before I met Your Majesty, but after meeting Your Majesty, I ceased to consider it,” she replied, her words candid yet remarkably astute.

A faint, distant hum echoed within Chen Jiao’s mind—perhaps tinged with disdain, perhaps with quiet satisfaction. She paid it no heed, instead scrutinizing the girl before her.

Few moments in her life had matched the hesitation now evident in Wei Zifu’s demeanor. Her identity was an unexpected twist, nearly upending Chen Jiao’s entire plan. At this juncture, her confusion no longer centered on whether she could succeed, but on whether she truly desired to.

“Should I let her go or not?” she whispered softly, her gaze wandering over Wei Zifu’s face, and she even wanted to reach out and gently touch her cheeks, smooth as egg whites.

“If I let you go, what will happen to the world?”

Wei Zifu’s eyelids trembled, she bit her lower lip, clenched her teeth, and her moist, peach-like lips were forced to disappear, and she looked closely at Chen Jiao.

“I can’t manage worldly affairs,” she said quietly. “I just want my family to be safe and sound and for them to be together for a long time.”

Chen Jiao involuntarily raised her eyebrows. Her companion was the Empress of the Great Han Dynasty. She and her ambitious, intelligent, capable, and powerful family had made great contributions to the development of the Han Dynasty. They routed the Xiongnu in the north and south of the desert, striking them with terror.

In the past, she was the only one in the world, Wei Zifu, beloved by the emperor and the founder of the imperial family. Only Wei Qing and Huo Qubing of the Wei family had ever razed their former relatives to the ground.

How could she not care about worldly affairs?

Chen Jiao said slowly, not hiding her disdain, “If I were you, you would have died long ago. If you don’t care about anything in this world, why should I spare you?”

Wei Zifu suddenly raised her head, her sad expression disappearing, but this delicate little girl didn’t give up at all.

Instead, she boldly faced her with her sharp gaze, and her response came swiftly and sharply, “Your Majesty is of a noble family, and you are the empress of the world, so it is your right to care about worldly affairs. I am only a lowly singer, and although I am fortunate enough to have a position in Yongxiang Hall, I am not in a position to do so. I don’t want to interfere in worldly affairs, nor do I have the status to do so.”

Even the words from the Analects of Confucius have been uttered.

It appears that she was able to successfully ascend to the throne and earn Liu Che’s favor through her own distinctive qualities.

Unlike Chen Jiao, she understood that Liu Che valued Confucianism and Taoism, yet she herself lacked the ability to read them.

Chen Jiao, lost in thought, absentmindedly tapped the sturdy bed beneath her, a flicker of irritation crossing her mind.

The simplest course of action might be to eliminate the entire clan. If she harbored any guilt, she could have released Wei Zifu from the palace and sent her family far away—Jiangdu, Shouchun… Perhaps granting her some land would have prompted her to build a shrine in her honor.

At this moment, her fate truly rested in Chen Jiao’s hands. A mere gesture from Chen Jiao could provide a way out. Everyone would be safe.

She thought to herself, “I am at ease, Wei Zifu is also at ease—no one would suffer harm. If I were to leave her here, I would remain uneasy, and she would feel the same.”

What motive could she have had for keeping Wei Zifu within the palace walls? Could the common people ever compare to her wealth and splendor? Did it truly matter if the Huns threatened Chang’an? Without Wei Qing’s strength, would they not have been bullied for centuries? At worst, the Huns might have broken through Chang’an and taken Liu Che and herself as captives. Even then, Liu Che would have fallen alongside her.

A distant voice sighed, its echo lingering in the vast space, yet the sense of relief it carried was unmistakable.

Perhaps there were fleeting moments when it shared that same sentiment, but shame prevented it from voicing it aloud; it couldn’t even admit to itself how selfish it was being or how little regard it had for the greater good.

Still, Chen Jiao did not blame it. She too was selfish—an echo of Liu Che and her mother. The imperial family thrived on selfishness; those who lacked it could not survive within the palace. She simply could not afford to be that selfish. And because of that, because she could not allow herself to be so utterly selfish, she was bound to act differently.

“You committed countless foolish things in your previous life,” she said softly in her heart. “Let’s see if what I did in this life was foolish or a prophecy of mine.”

“There’s no need to send you out of the palace, but I really didn’t think about killing you,” Chen Jiao smiled faintly, reached out, and gently lifted Wei Zifu’s chin. “You stupid child, have you forgotten? Now your family is all slaves to the Marquess of Tangyi’s palace.”

Her delicate body trembled slightly. This time, her confusion was real and sincere, and there wasn’t the slightest affectation.

Chen Jiao said slowly, “The harem has never been without its favorite daughters. If I can’t bear this, and I can’t bear that, how much more blood will stain my hands? Which of Lady Wang and Lady Li hasn’t received special treatment from A’Che? If you sit in this position and do not get used to the greed and influence of others, you will have a restless sleep for a long time.”

This is a position resilient enough to withstand the fervent hopes of many women, echoing the voice of a bygone era.

She now cradles her eldest prince securely in her grasp, her husband’s boundless love entwined around her, while she also maintains a firm hold on Wei Qing.

If Wei Zifu seeks to challenge her standing as in days past, how could it be so easily achieved?

“It’s actually a fortunate thing that you wish to leave the palace,” Chen Jiao said with a gentle, gracious smile.

Reclining gracefully, she casually pointed to the jade hammer beside her with slender fingers, “Give me a leg massage.”

Wei Zifu, apprehensive yet obedient, hesitantly took up the jade hammer and softly tapped her legs.

“If you wish to leave the palace, it suggests that you prefer a life of peace and quiet, free from troubling thoughts that should not burden your mind,” she half-closed her eyes, nearly savoring Wei Zifu’s service with a subtle pleasure. “In that case, am I someone who cannot tolerate others? Why would I squander the rare talent of your brother? Zifu, for your brother’s sake, you should remain within the palace. Aside from anything else, the food, clothing, shelter, and transportation are far more refined than those outside.”

Wei Zifu’s eyes suddenly sparkled, as if stars had blossomed within them.

She regarded Chen Jiao with a cautious, fox-like suspicion, her gaze both careful and curious.

She truly resembled a delicate little fox—already suspecting but hesitant to act, wary of revealing her full thoughts too hastily.

“This servant, this servant does not understand what Your Majesty is saying…” she said hesitantly.

“Do you not understand? Or do you not want to believe it?” Chen Jiao smiled, looked at jer, and said gently, “Let me make this clear. Tonight, Chu Fu will bring some nourishing wine to Yongxiang Hall. If you drink this, your days at Yongxiang Hall will be much better. You are also welcome to visit Jiaofang Hall from time to time. This will never be your residence, but one day, like Jia Ji, you will be able to have your own palace in Weiyang Palace. Although you do not have any children, you have a younger brother outside the palace who is also under my care… You will not have any trouble.”

Wei Zifu’s beautiful eyes were bright and sparkling, as if she had suddenly become a different person.

Just looking at her, Chen Jiao felt a headache. She knew what she was doing—bargaining with another self in her mind, discussing fiercely…

Chen Jiao suddenly envied her. Her mentor was much smarter than hers, or rather, she didn’t need to change anything at all. As long as she followed the path of her previous life, she could live a stable life. Unlike Chen Jiao, she was almost completely subverted and reshaped. Hypocritical, cruel, selfish, introverted…

She didn’t dare to think about it anymore, and could only show a slightly tired smile, waiting quietly in front of Wei Zifu.

After a long time, she replied in a low voice, so low that it was almost inaudible, “Your Majesty has changed a lot in this life. Very much like Zhang Zifang, and almost every plan has been done to perfection.”//TN: Zhang Liang (張良), styled Zifang (子房)— Renowned strategist and statesman. One of the “Three Heroes of the early Han Dynasty.”//

Chen Jiao was well aware that the request she presented was exceedingly difficult for anyone to refuse, and Wei Zifu could scarcely doubt its necessity.

A woman unable to bear children, unless she herself was like Chen Jiao—who had been named empress even before her marriage—would find it nearly impossible to verify such matters firsthand. Typically, ascending step by step from the lowest ranks to the throne was an arduous journey, and only through extraordinary circumstances could such a rise be achieved.

The eight-character maxim practiced within Weiyang Palace—“the mother is noble because of the son, and the son is noble because of the mother”—embodied an unassailable truth.

After Wei Zifu consumed the potion, her reliance on her brothers became inevitable, and her brothers, in turn, depended on her natal family. With a single bowl of medicine, Chen Jiao held the future of an unparalleled general in her grasp, securing a loyal supporter to curb the influence of other concubines who might wield power or produce heirs.

She regarded her scheme as nothing short of brilliant—except for a single flaw that she had yet to uncover.

“But I’ve never heard of any medicine that can sterilize people silently…” Wei Zifu asked again in a low voice, her eyes sparkling in the darkness like the eyes of a cat from the Western Regions.

Chen Jiao spoke with serene composure, “That is because such medicines often require a sound environment to be effective.”

Her gaze gently settled on her, a subtle smile gradually forming at the corners of her lips.

Then, with a warmth that bespoke intimacy, she softly remarked, “Silly child, you should avoid appearing in public these days—you may as well go to the restroom at any moment.”

Wei Zifu’s cheeks flushed with a delicate blush, and she leaned into Chen Jiao, her entire demeanor softening into one of closeness.

“Your Majesty,” she uttered coquettishly, her enchanting beauty radiating charm, “You’re teasing me for my ignorance.”

Chen Jiao gently placed her arm around Wei Zifu’s slender shoulders, leaning in slightly with a soft, joyful laughter.

As Wei Zifu withdrew, her steps became notably lighter, more assured, exuding a newfound confidence and grace.

Once she had fully exited the Jiaofang Hall, retreating to a distance where not even a ripple could stir or resonate within Chen Jiao’s heart, she took a steadying breath and gently voiced her plea, “Scold me, scold me as you see fit.”

After a long silence, a soft sigh responded, “Go and fetch a bowl of wheat rice to eat.”

Her temper, momentarily disturbed by Liu Che, had caused her to forget her surroundings. Now, with the voice revisiting an old matter, she found herself compelled to summon the kitchen once more.

The young eunuch, still present, received his instructions, then departed from the palace to purchase a modest box of wheat rice from the market—an act undertaken without explicit orders.

“Since Your Majesty previously desired both kinds, I believe it carries significant meaning. I took the liberty of arranging it accordingly,” he explained.

Chen Jiao gazed at the two bowls of coarse, yellow and white food, her heart tinged with a flicker of anticipation. Drawn by curiosity, she took a tentative bite of a market-sold pancake.

Yet, almost immediately, she had to spit it out—the texture was a result of steaming crushed dough with its skin, a combination her delicate palate and tender teeth found almost unbearable. Before she could fully savor it, the roughness nearly caused her injury.

Frustrated but undeterred, she reached for another morsel—this time, a serving of rice brought from the palace.

As she took a bite, surprise blossomed within her.

Though the appearance was rustic, a subtle harmony revealed itself; the noodles, infused with fragrant locust flowers and bits of meat, transformed the coarse dish into a delicacy, its textures enriched with a whisper of vegetable aroma and a refined aftertaste.

In that moment, Chen Jiao truly understood the profound essence behind the words “wealth and glory”—a revelation that tasted as exquisite as it was unexpected.

A voice then resonated, its tone icy and resolute. “Remember,” it intoned solemnly, “loss comes at a cost—your recklessness bears its price.”

It commanded firmly, “Eat it all!”

Its words carried a harshness and severity that starkly contrasted with its usual coquettishness, capriciousness, or melancholy. It exuded the demeanor of an empress, commanding and dictating her will with unwavering authority.

For Chen Jiao, this meal became an indelible memory—an experience both powerful and unforgettable.

…

TN: I can’t find any other information about “Zhang Zifang”.