Chapter 77: Xia Jiujiang Is Destined to Be My Woman

What a fine example of “ignorance is no crime.” Emperor Zongkang did not pursue the matter of the Xia family’s guilt, but if Pei Xingzhi, Minister of Justice, were to uncover the connections among Jin Mantang, Marquis Guan Yuan, and the Prime Minister Xia, then the Prime Minister’s position would become precarious indeed.

Should the balance of power shift, the court would become even more tense and fraught with conflict.

Thus, the banquet at Jade Hibiscus Hall ended in haste. As the guests dispersed, Emperor Zongkang met Jun Buyan in the Hall of Yu Long. The emperor regarded Jun Buyan for a moment and remarked, “You have indeed found yourself a remarkable princess. With a single move, she eliminated both Jin Mantang and Marquis Guan Yuan.”

Emperor Zongkang had clearly underestimated Xia Jiujiang. Though she appeared gentle and frail, seemingly insignificant as she stood aside, she possessed an ethereal and striking grace, like an orchid blooming alone in a secluded valley.

Jun Buyan bowed and replied, “These matters have nothing to do with my princess. It was plainly Marquis Guan Yuan and Jin Mantang who deceived Your Majesty. Concubine Yi’s gilded brocade was a grave disrespect to our ancestors. Most importantly, it was Your Majesty’s keen insight that uncovered these plots and brought the truth to light.”

The emperor snorted. “There is no need to flatter me. Do you take me for a doddering old fool? Are you truly saying that what took place in Jade Hibiscus Hall had nothing to do with Princess Jin?”

Jun Buyan denied it. “How could my princess wield such influence? Your Majesty overestimates her.”

The emperor continued, “Indeed, she does not— but you do! Both Jin Mantang and Marquis Guan Yuan placed great importance on that gilded brocade. How could they allow it to be made into clothing and handkerchiefs, then brazenly leave them in He Yi Palace? Do you think I cannot see through this? In the end, everything served to clear Jiang Mantang’s name.”

Some truths are best left unspoken. Borrowing Xia Jiujiang’s scheming, Emperor Zongkang had purged Marquis Guan Yuan’s faction from the court; those involved in their power struggles would surely remain subdued for a few days.

The emperor sighed. “It was time for Xia Jiujiang to have her vengeance. The matter of Jiang Mantang five years ago was riddled with suspicion. Though I wished to act, I was powerless against the flood of memorials from every side. One hundred and four members of Jiang Mantang’s family perished in vain. Now, at last, blood has answered blood.”

Jun Buyan smiled. “Princess Jin is exceptionally intelligent, but she is no match for Your Majesty’s mastery in strategy.”

Jun Buyan’s words of praise left the emperor ill at ease.

Emperor Zongkang regarded him with curiosity. “When the subject is yourself, you are never shy about arguing with me. But at the mere mention of Xia Jiujiang, you become uncharacteristically deferential. Does she truly mean so much to you?”

That Jun Buyan would yield to him for Xia Jiujiang’s sake was something the emperor had not anticipated.

Jun Buyan replied, “I have long said that, thanks to Your Majesty’s gracious marriage decree, Princess Jin and I are truly a match made in heaven.”

After Jun Buyan took his leave, Eunuch An whispered at the emperor’s side, “Your Majesty, Prince Jin seemed unusually agreeable today.”

The emperor replied with a wry smile, “He’s only bowing his head so that I won’t direct my attention toward Xia Jiujiang.”

Eunuch An suggested, “Prince Jin is indeed devoted to his princess. Perhaps Your Majesty could use Xia Jiujiang to draw closer to Prince Jin.”

The emperor’s tone turned cold. “Though Xia Jiujiang is no useless fool, that does not mean I approve of her. If she ever stands in Jun Buyan’s way… I will show no mercy.”

The emperor’s sole wish was for Jun Buyan to inherit the throne, but restoring his status alone would not suffice. He needed to suppress the various factions at court and investigate the matter of Empress Hui poisoning the late emperor…

The destruction of Marquis Guan Yuan and Jin Mantang was only the beginning. Emperor Zongkang considered that perhaps he could use Xia Jiujiang to sweep away other threats within the court.

A glint of calculation flashed in the emperor’s narrowed eyes.

For the Xia family, the Empress Dowager’s banquet had been nothing short of a nightmare. They had hoped to elevate Xia Yue’er to the position of Seventh Prince’s bride, even making arrangements with Noble Consort Chen. Once things proceeded smoothly, Consort Chen would propose that Jun Qianye take Xia Yue’er as his principal wife. But their beautiful dream was shattered.

The triumph with which they had left the Xia residence was matched only by the dejection with which they returned— now keeping a low profile behind closed doors. In the Xia family study, Seventh Prince Jun Qianye was in a towering rage.

Jun Qianye demanded, “Was it you who took it upon yourself to arrange the matter with Wei Qi?”

Xia Wentao, bowing in terror, replied, “Your Highness is mistaken. Wei Qi harbored resentment toward Xia Jiujiang because of Concubine Wei’s affair, so he plotted to frame her.”

Jun Qianye’s expression darkened. “Do you take me for a fool? Concubine Wei was merely Wei Qi’s illegitimate half-sister. Only after marrying you did he have any connection with her. Do you really think a man as callous as he would target Xia Jiujiang over Concubine Wei’s death?”

Xia Wentao felt a growing frustration. With Marquis Guan Yuan and Jin Mantang under investigation, he had barely escaped Jade Hibiscus Hall unscathed, only to find a mountain of problems waiting at home. He needed to erase every trace of his connection to Marquis Guan Yuan, yet the Seventh Prince refused to let the matter rest.

Jun Qianye’s gaze sharpened. “His plea for mercy revealed everything— he was incited by you to move against Xia Jiujiang. You still refuse to admit the truth? Are you waiting for Marquis Guan Yuan to implicate you?”

Xia Wentao fell to his knees in terror. “Your Highness, please save me, have mercy!”

Jun Qianye sneered, “So now you admit it. What else are you hiding from me? What other tricks have you been playing behind my back?”

Xia Wentao, pale-faced, shook his head. “Nothing, Your Highness, nothing at all.”

Jun Qianye slammed the table. “Nothing? You arranged for Xia Yue’er to perform her dance tonight, conspired with my mother, and schemed to have me marry Xia Yue’er. If it weren’t for the events involving Jin Mantang this evening, your plan would have succeeded, wouldn’t it?”

Xia Wentao protested, “Your Highness, Yue’er is my most beloved daughter, and she has long admired you. If she could become your wife, it would only strengthen the bond between our families. How is that scheming?”

Jun Qianye retorted, “Not scheming? That foolish daughter of yours danced tonight, causing disaster for Jin Mantang and Marquis Guan Yuan. My mother only agreed to Xia Yue’er as the Seventh Prince’s consort because of the power and wealth behind the Xia family, Guan Yuan, and Jin Mantang. Now all of that is gone. Even the Prime Minister himself is struggling to survive. Tell me that isn’t scheming?”

Xia Wentao pleaded anxiously, “I only wished to act in Your Highness’s best interest…”

Jun Qianye cut him off. “You only ever act in your own interest, plotting endlessly against Xia Jiujiang. In the end, your scheme brought you nothing but ruin.”

Xia Wentao reached out to grab Jun Qianye’s sleeve, saying, “Xia Jiujiang is a real threat! Tonight’s affair with Jin Mantang must have involved her. Everything suddenly became connected to Jiang Mantang. I have no proof, but I am certain that what happened in Jade Hibiscus Hall cannot be separated from her!”

Jun Qianye shook off his hand with a sweep of his sleeve. “How many times have I warned you not to oppose Xia Jiujiang, yet you refuse to listen. Since you insist on acting without my consent, you can bear the consequences yourselves.”

Xia Wentao was bewildered. “Your Highness, as long as Xia Jiujiang lives, she will be an obstacle to you. Why do you persist in forbidding us from acting against her?”

Jun Qianye’s reply was fierce: “Because Xia Jiujiang is to be my woman. That is why you cannot touch her.”