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At the fourth day, the hour of Snake (around 9-11:00 AM), Chen Feng traveled alone in a carriage to Princess Rong Zhao’s mansion.
Princess Rong Zhao was aware of Chen Feng’s visit with her children that day, and she awaited them with Marquis Chu in the side room.
Since the incident with the birds and the manure splattering starting last year, Princess Rong Zhao’s luck had taken a nosedive. Few people visited her mansion, and she had been sent to the temple by the Empress Dowager for three months of scripture recitation and fasting. Especially towards the end of the previous year, following the northern snow disaster, many ministers blamed her for the calamity and she was also forbidden to leave the mansion. She spent her days in the mansion, either reciting scriptures or clinging to Marquis Chu. In his absence, she would find fault with the servants.
Her daughter, Xue Baoyi, had been promised in marriage by the Empress Dowager. Due to the fear that her granddaughter might bring “misfortune” to her in-laws, Empress Ma instructed Xue Baoyi to enter the palace for personal guidance.
Princess Rong Zhao remained perplexed as to why she had earned the displeasure of the bird deity, leading to bird droppings frequently landing on her. At times, she wondered if the accusations brought by court officials were true, attributing her misfortune to causing the death of her stepson’s former wife, stealing someone else’s husband, driving someone to become a monk, and harming someone’s granddaughter, thus incurring the displeasure of the bird deity.
However, most of the time, she dismissed these thoughts. As a daughter of the Emperor, she had the authority to choose her husband, regardless of his prior marital status. In her view, it wasn’t about seizing someone else’s husband but fulfilling her role.
Since her streak of misfortune, not only had the Emperor and Empress Dowager distanced themselves from her, but even the Second Prince showed less warmth towards her. Especially the beloved Marquis Chu, who seemed more indifferent than before. He often used her scripture recitations as a pretext to leave for extended periods. This behavior would leave her seething with anger, feeling suffocated by his absence.
During one such incident, Princess Rong Zhao vented her frustration, causing a scene and even once prevented Marquis Chu from leaving.
Marquis Chu gave her a cold look and stated, “Princess, please let go.”
Overwhelmed with panic, Princess Rong Zhao was baffled by the disdainful gaze of the man she had admired since she was ten. Tearfully, she exclaimed, “Chu Lang, the reason those wretched censorate officials attacked me is because of my affection for you, and my wish for you to be my husband.”
Marquis Chu replied, “Princess, you’re mistaken. They attacked you because you offended the bird deity, causing the disaster in the northern regions.” With that, he walked away without looking back.
Enraged, Princess Rong Zhao suspected that Marquis Chu’s cold behavior towards her stemmed from an extramarital affair. She had her servants follow him, but they lost track of him soon after. However, on the 20th day of the first lunar month, a clue emerged. The servants reported that the Marquis had entered a courtyard. After inquiring with the neighbors, they learned that a young woman residing in that compound appeared to be the mistress of a high-ranking official.
Upon hearing this, Princess Rong Zhao was furious and dispatched a trusted maid with a group of guards to apprehend the woman. However, upon arrival, the woman had vanished without a trace.
That evening, Marquis Chu returned to the Princess Mansion very late.
Angrily, Princess Rong Zhao demanded, “Where have you hidden that woman?”
“What woman?” Marquis Chu furrowed his brow in confusion.
Screaming, Princess Rong Zhao accused, “My people saw her, and you deny it?” She grabbed a teapot from the table and hurled it at Marquis Chu.
Instantly, blood gushed from Marquis Chu’s forehead, mixing with water and tea leaves as it streamed down.
Terrified, Princess Rong Zhao rushed forward and embraced Marquis Chu, pleading, “Chu Lang, I didn’t mean to.”
Marquis Chu pushed her away, shrugged off the servants attempting to assist him, and covered his forehead with a cloth as he walked away.
In the mansion, the maids and eunuchs were loyal to Princess Rong Zhao, but the guards were not. Marquis Chu left the Princess Mansion without hindrance, staying away for two days and nights.
After her outburst, Princess Rong Zhao vented her frustration on those around her. Her maids lived in constant fear, always dreading becoming the next target of the princess’s anger.
One of the maids, sensing Princess Rong Zhao’s distress, suggested, “Princess, as a distinguished lady, you shouldn’t tolerate this disrespect. We must seek an audience with Concubine Ma, ask her to intervene on your behalf, demand the return of the Marquis, have him apologize to you, and even eliminate the mistress.”
Agreeing to this plan, Princess Rong Zhao decided to visit Concubine Ma in the palace.
Concubine Ma, accompanied by her attendants, went to the Emperor in tears, lamenting the situation. She expressed how Princess Rong Zhao was now being subjected to unfair treatment, even being bullied by her husband, who dared to have an affair.
The Emperor responded to Empress Ma, stating, “I do not believe Marquis Chu would have an affair.”
He then sternly addressed the maids, “If you dare to aid in wrongdoing and drive this Marquis to despair, to the extent that Princess Rong Zhao enters the convent, you will not have a peaceful end either.”
The maids were petrified by the Emperor’s warning and quickly returned to the Princess Mansion.
Observing the Emperor’s stance, Concubine Ma felt a sense of foreboding. Despite the past protection of Princess Rong Zhao by the Emperor, his mention of her becoming a nun revealed a shift in attitude. Seeing the potential consequences, Concubine Ma refrained from further agitation. With Princess Rong Zhao facing internal and external troubles, and others keeping their distance, provoking the Emperor’s displeasure could indeed lead to her being sent to a convent. She remained silent and returned to her own chambers, sending a maid to advise Princess Rong Zhao to behave and avoid further trouble.
Subsequently, another maid sent by the Empress reprimanded Princess Rong Zhao, advising her to be virtuous and gentle, treat her husband well, and mend relations with her in-laws to mitigate any negative impact.
Princess Rong Zhao complied, showing more restraint.
As long as Marquis Chu remained quietly in the Princess Mansion, even if he was aloof and silent, Princess Rong Zhao found some solace.
Receiving a letter from Chen Feng the previous day made Princess Rong Zhao uncomfortable. It had been nearly a year since anyone had spontaneously visited the mansion. Those who did visit were often invited by her. She would invite ten guests, and if one showed up, it was considered a success, although often they weren’t of much consequence to her.
Thinking about Chen Feng’s twin sons, Princess Rong Zhao felt a pang in her heart as she touched her own belly.
When Chen Feng entered, she knelt and bowed, saying, “Your Highness, I pay my respects, and to Marquis Chu.”
Noticing that Chen Feng hadn’t brought her children, Princess Rong Zhao’s expression darkened. She inquired, “Where are the children? Why haven’t they come to bow before me? I had prepared gifts for my grandchildren…”
Marquis Chu interjected, “Please rise, sit and speak.”
Though Princess Rong Zhao opened her mouth, she refrained from saying, “You may not rise.”
Chen Feng expressed, “Thank you, Your Highness, thank you, Marquis,” then took a seat on a nearby chair.