Fang shaojian had vanished.
After leaving Ganlu Palace, he made straight for the palace gates and disappeared into the crowd, soon swallowed up by the bustling capital.
When Xue guifei heard he was missing, she cursed furiously: “That dog surnamed Fang dares toy with bengong? Courting death! Since he’s so eager to die, bengong will grant his wish. Pass down bengong’s decree, search the city, capture Fang shaojian!”
But Xue guifei was not the only one who wanted him dead, Chen Dachang did as well.
Ever since Empress Ruizhen Cui had passed away, Fang shaojian had been stripped of power. Everyone assumed he would never stir up trouble again. Who would have thought that, with a moment’s carelessness, he would seize the chance to launch a grand purge within the palace?
No one knew how many would be implicated this time. Once again, the palace was being reshuffled.
Chen Dachang hated Fang shaojian to the bone and wished to see him destroyed. Yet somehow, that dog surnamed Fang slipped away faster than anyone, vanishing from the palace without a trace.
But how could one possibly find him in a city as vast as the capital, home to over a million people?
When Chen Dachang learned that Xue guifei had ordered a citywide manhunt, he was overjoyed and gave his full cooperation.
The matter eventually landed on the desk of the capital’s Prefect Office, with the Xiuyiwei, the Embroidered Guards, to assist.
When Gu daren returned from the wang fu, he went to find Xie shi to ask about Gu Jiu’s meeting with the wangfei.
Xie shi, face expressionless, replied, “This matter, qieshen knows nothing about. When wangfei niangniang spoke with er yatou, qieshen was not present. Why doesn’t laoye ask er yatou herself?”
Gu daren frowned. Since their quarrel the other day, this was the first time they had faced each other. “You’re the di mother, yet you know nothing of what happened when er yatou met the wangfei?”
Xie shi sneered, “Though I am the di mother, I cannot control wangfei niangniang. The wangfei finds us distasteful and only spoke with er yatou. Surely laoye doesn’t mean to fault me for that?”
Gu daren’s brow furrowed tightly. “What kind of attitude is that?”
Xie shi lowered her head with a faint smile. “If qieshen has done anything improper, I ask laoye to correct me.”
Gu daren gave a cold snort, irritation flashing across his face. “Since you know nothing, then forget it.”
He flung his sleeve and left.
Xie shi’s expression twisted, her face darkening. She gave a silent smile, her heart seething with hatred.
Gu daren then had Gu Jiu summoned to the study.
By now it was dark, and Gu Jiu entered wearily. A candle burned within the study.
Gu daren, still sour from Xie shi’s attitude, sat with a stony face and gestured for her to sit. “Today, when you met the wangfei, what did she say to you?”
Gu Jiu replied softly, “Reporting to Father, wangfei niangniang asked about my studies and my embroidery skills.”
“Nothing else?”
Gu Jiu nodded lightly.
Gu daren exhaled in relief. “So, the wangfei is satisfied with you?”
Gu Jiu curved her lips into a small smile. “Perhaps… I cannot say for sure.”
Of course, she could not tell him the truth. If she admitted the wangfei disliked, even despised, her, Gu daren would surely fly into a panic, maybe even drag her to the wang fu to beg forgiveness.
Gu daren frowned. “You couldn’t tell whether she liked you or not?”
Gu Jiu answered, “Wangfei niangniang keeps her feelings well-hidden. Nü’er is too dull to see clearly.”
Gu daren sighed. “Forget it. Whether she likes you or not, you will still marry into the imperial clan. Until the wedding, best not visit the wang fu again.”
“Nü’er will follow Father’s words.”
Gu Jiu was more than happy with that decision. One visit had nearly cost her half her life.
Just then, Gu Yu entered from outside. “Reporting to laoye, someone from the palace is at the prefecture yamen, waiting.”
Gu daren’s heart gave a jolt. Whenever the palace sent someone, it was never good news. “Did you ask why they came so late?”
Gu Yu shook his head. “I don’t know. But I suggest that laoye hurry. The one from the palace doesn’t seem easy to dismiss.”
Gu daren nodded grimly. “I will go at once.”
He hurried away, leaving Gu Jiu to whisper to Gu Yu, “Gu si ge, has something happened in the palace?”
Gu Yu nodded. “I heard a concubine was sent to the Cold Palace, and many are implicated.”
Gu Jiu frowned. During her visit to the wang fu earlier, the princesses and consorts had all looked calm, betraying no sign of upheaval. Had they hidden it too well, or was the matter not yet so serious?
Gu Yu soon left for the prefecture, while Gu Jiu instructed her maid Qing Mei: “Tell Li Chuan to keep an eye on Father’s movements. And tell Erzhuang to gather news, the more detailed, the better.”
“Yes, guniang.”
At the prefecture yamen, Gu daren finally met the palace envoy.
When he learned that Mei pin had been banished to the Cold Palace, and the order was to arrest Fang shaojian throughout the city, Gu daren’s heart sank.
This was palace intrigue, deadly palace intrigue. One wrong move and he could be ruined.
Gu daren silently cried out in despair. How had such ill fortune landed on his head?
“Does Gu daren have objections to the palace’s command?”
Gu daren shook his head rapidly. “Benguan only wishes to know, does His Majesty know of this?”
The envoy snorted. “And since when are His Majesty’s affairs for you to question?”
Oh.
Gu daren gave the man a long, meaningful look. Clearly, His Majesty had no knowledge of this matter. It seemed someone was using the chance to eliminate rivals.
“Gu daren, this was niangniang’s decision. Surely you do not mean to defy even niangniang’s word?”
“Benguan would never dare disobey niangniang. But to place the entire city under search for Fang shaojian, there must be a writ from the proper authorities. Without it, benguan cannot act.”
“Hmph. Gu daren is cautious indeed. Take this, an order from the Directorate of Palace Servants. Surely you can proceed now.”
Gu daren accepted the document and examined it carefully. It was genuine: stamped with the Directorate’s great seal, and bearing Supervisor Chen’s own hand.
Only then did Gu daren relax. “Xiaguan obeys.”
That night, countless people would find no rest.
Gu daren himself did not return home but remained at the yamen, personally overseeing the mobilisation. Through the night, he dispatched men to work with the Xiuyiwei, combing the city for Fang shaojian.
By dawn, it was as though Fang shaojian had vanished from the earth. Not a soul had seen him.
Shili Alley, south of the city.
At daybreak, Erzhuang unbarred the doors of Jumeizhai and opened for business.
Next door, the cloth shop also raised its shutters. Word was that the proprietor had just returned from a buying trip.
“Morning!”
Erzhuang greeted Shopkeeper Hu warmly.
Shopkeeper Hu was a kindly-faced old man; he gave a small nod and returned the greeting.
Just then, an assistant came over to him. “Shopkeeper, the master’s awake. Says he’s not feeling well, asks you to fetch medicine. The prescription is with him.”
Shopkeeper Hu dropped what he was doing and hurried back to the inner courtyard.
Erzhuang, curious, asked the assistant, “Your master just got back, and already he’s sick?”
The lad nodded. “He’s simply worn out, running himself ragged all over the land.”
“Doesn’t your shop have steady suppliers? Why must the master himself run about?”
The assistant said as if it were obvious: “Cloth trade is hard these days. The master wants to find a new line of business. But either the capital required is too large, or the profit too small. Nothing’s easy.
“This last trip, though, the master took a loss. Perhaps he’ll stay in the capital and not travel again.”
Erzhuang nodded repeatedly. “Times are tough, true. But as long as there’s still a profit, that counts as good business.”
Head Constable Zhang arrived with his men to search Shili Alley.
Seeing them, Erzhuang hurried forward. “Head Zhang, what brings you so early today?”
Head Zhang’s face was stern. “Daren gave orders; we’re here to arrest a criminal. Have you seen this man?”
One of the guards produced a painted likeness for Erzhuang to examine.
He looked closely, then shook his head. No, he had never seen him.
Head Zhang said, “I know you’d never harbour a criminal. But rules are rules. My men must at least look inside. Please grant us this convenience.”
“Of course, of course.”
Erzhuang stepped aside readily and let them in, at the same time slipping a fat red packet into Head Zhang’s hand.
Weighing it discreetly, Head Zhang nodded to himself. Chen Erzhuang always knew how to behave.
The constables gave Jumeizhai only a cursory search before moving on to the cloth shop.
The assistant there grew nervous, staring at the likeness and shaking his head again and again, insisting he had never seen such a man.
Head Zhang pressed to search inside. The assistant was panicking when Shopkeeper Hu emerged.
Shopkeeper Hu greeted them with smiles, bowed and scraped, and pressed a hefty red packet into Head Zhang’s hand.
Head Zhang himself refrained from entering, but allowed his men to go in and take a look.
After a fruitless search, they moved on.
Watching them depart, Shopkeeper Hu let out a quiet breath of relief and signalled to his assistant. The lad at once scurried back into the rear courtyard, not daring to show himself again.
Erzhuang said to Shopkeeper Hu, “I wonder what crime this fellow committed, that the yamen has stirred up such a storm.”
Shopkeeper Hu nodded. “Indeed. Heaven grant peace, no more trouble.”
That same morning, Xie Mao went early to the East Palace’s Bowang Garden to request an audience with the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince sat composed at his desk, before him a scripture and the four treasures of the study.
Seeing this, Xie Mao’s brow furrowed.
At such a time, His Highness still had leisure to copy sutras?
“Your Highness, the Embroidered Guards and the Capital’s Prefect are searching the whole city for Fang shaojian. You must act, and quickly!”
Xie Mao’s tone was grave, anxious to the point of desperation.
Since the death of Empress Ruizhen Cui several days ago, Xie Mao had been recalled to the Eastern Palace, promoted as well. Now he was a Court Guest of the Crown Prince, his rank a degree higher than before.
The Crown Prince himself had grown gaunt, shedding the plumpness of earlier days.
Perhaps because of the thinness, there was now a sharpness to his features; gone was the rounded softness of the past.
But his gaze was the same as ever, only tinged with more weariness. Looking at Xie Mao, he asked, “What decision do you want gu to make?”
Xie Mao lowered his head and said firmly, “Fang shaojian knows too much. Once he’s captured and tortured, the consequences will be disastrous. As the saying goes, if one hesitates when decisive action is needed, chaos will surely follow. In weichen’s opinion, Your Highness must give him up. We must find him first and silence him.”
The implication of “silence” was clear; it meant killing Fang shaojian.
The Crown Prince frowned slightly. “You want me to abandon Fang shaojian?”
Xie Mao nodded heavily. “I beg Your Highness to decide quickly.”
The Crown Prince’s face hardened. “Since the passing of my mother, Fang shaojian has exhausted himself for gu, working tirelessly day and night.
“Now that he is in trouble, you tell gu to abandon him? Xie aiqing, are you trying to cast gu as ungrateful and unjust?
“If word spread, how would the world judge gu? If, one day, you were in danger and someone advised gu to abandon you, would you accept it?”
Xie Mao replied resolutely, “If one day weichen were in danger, and at any time weichen might threaten Your Highness’s safety, then I would beg Your Highness to abandon weichen without hesitation.”
The Crown Prince’s expression shifted.
Xie Mao pressed on: “Weichen implores Your Highness to put the greater good above all else. The late Empress would never wish to see Your Highness risk the Eastern Palace for the sake of one man. Please, make your decision. The lives of thousands in the Eastern Palace hang on your word.”
“Impudence!” The Crown Prince shouted in anger.
But Xie Mao remained unmoved. “Weichen begs Your Highness to decide.”
With that, he knelt down.
The Crown Prince trembled. “Xie aiqing, are you forcing gu?”
“Weichen would not dare. But for the sake of the greater good, weichen cannot stand by while someone endangers the Eastern Palace and do nothing.”
The Crown Prince closed his eyes, his face twisted in pain. “You are not the first to urge gu so.”
“I know,” Xie Mao replied, bowing.
The Crown Prince said again, “None of them succeeded. Why should you think I will heed your advice?”
Xie Mao answered solemnly, “Because weichen is right. Your Highness, think of your sons. Can you truly bear to watch them die?”
The Crown Prince let out a bitter laugh. “It hasn’t come to that yet.”
“Once Fang shaojian is captured and interrogated, that moment will not be far.”
The Crown Prince’s hand trembled; his face turned pale. “Xie aiqing, you would force gu into betrayal and injustice!”
“Weichen knows. Once the matter of Fang shaojian is resolved, weichen will resign of my own accord, to show gratitude for Your Highness’s grace.”
The Crown Prince laughed coldly. “So, you will not rest until you get your way. Fine then, Fang shaojian will be yours to handle.”
Xie Mao bowed deeply. “Your Highness may rest assured. Weichen will resolve this matter with all my strength, and leave no danger behind.”
He kowtowed and withdrew.
The Crown Prince sat alone, his face ashen.
Then Crown Princess, Sun shi, entered and came to his side. “Your Highness truly means to give up Fang shaojian?”
The Crown Prince gave a bitter smile. “Does gu have any other choice?”
Sun shi said, “If Your Highness insists on protecting him, chenqie believes even Xue guifei must give you some face.”
The Crown Prince looked at her. “Do you really think gu alone can protect Fang shaojian?”
She countered, “Why not? The arrest order did indeed come from the Office of the Eunuch Supervisor. But this was not from Xingqing Palace; it is entirely the scheme of Xue guifei and Chief Eunuch Chen.
“Their reasoning may sound righteous, but if Your Highness speaks up with strength, chenqie doesn’t believe the Eunuch Supervisor would dare storm the Eastern Palace to seize him.”
The Crown Prince hesitated. “But if this was at fuhuang’s command, and gu protects Fang shaojian, won’t I bring disaster to the Eastern Palace?”
Sun shi reassured him, “Chenqie has already inquired. His Majesty knows nothing of this. This recent business with Mei pin dragged in too many; even Chief Eunuch Chen could not escape His Majesty’s scolding.
“Since it all began with Fang shaojian, Chief Eunuch Chen now hates him and wants him dead. Conveniently, Xue guifei shares the same wish. So the two of them conspired together to launch the citywide search.”
The Crown Prince’s expression grew conflicted, struggling, torn and hesitant.
“Your Highness, decide quickly. There is still time to recall Xie aiqing.”
The Crown Prince shook his head. “Let gu think again.”
The Crown Princess grew anxious. “If you protect Fang shaojian now, you will gain his absolute loyalty. His abilities are unquestionable; one man alone can throw the harem into chaos, or set the concubines against each other.
“At this time, the Eastern Palace needs him. You must not give him up. With him, not just three years, but even five years can be secured.”
Still, the Crown Prince wavered.
The Crown Princess stamped her foot in frustration. “Has Your Highness never considered why the late Empress left Fang shaojian to the Eastern Palace? It is precisely because he is a palace veteran, with connections throughout the court. He alone is worth ten, even twenty palace officials. As for Xie Mao, he isn’t even worthy to carry Fang shaojian’s shoes.”
The Crown Prince waved a hand. “Let me think again.”
Sun shi clenched her teeth, fury rising in her heart, and turned to leave.
Once she left Bowang Garden, she summoned her trusted eunuch. “Keep an eye on Xie Mao. The moment you discover Fang shaojian’s whereabouts, rescue him at once. Do not let him fall into Xie Mao’s hands.”
The eunuch asked, “And if Xie daren is determined to kill Fang shaojian?”
Sun shi’s eyes turned ruthless. “If necessary, kill Xie Mao. Compared to Fang shaojian, Xie Mao is nothing.”
Since the Crown Prince refused to heed her, she would take matters into her own hands.
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