Chapter 344: A Gentleman Is Not a Vessel
Asking Jiang Yu to keep Consort Zhang company was fine, but in truth, she didn’t have much to say.
She wasn’t the type of person who was good at initiating conversations.
Nor was she the type who knew how to coax or comfort others.
However, having Jiang Yu keep the few children company was just right.
Perhaps because their intellectual levels were on par, it was easy to establish effective communication.
Although it was said that the Princess was here to keep Consort Zhang company, in reality, Jiang Yu spent the entire day with the children.
Mainly because Consort Zhang looked truly stern, unlike the kind and approachable lady she had seen last time.
Jiang Yu braced herself, but she still didn’t know what to say.
In the village, an old woman who had lost her child was the most pitiful.
Mother had once said, never show others eyes filled with sympathy or pity.
This was not good; the other party did not need your sympathy or pity at that moment.
Without true empathy, this kind of sympathy was actually a form of condescending pity.
She really didn’t know what to say.
She never expected that she, a mere young woman, would one day have the honor of being ordered to keep someone company.
Consort Zhang’s expression was truly too stern; sitting before her, Jiang Yu felt her scalp tighten.
To distract herself, she went to play with the children.
As expected, in such a serious setting, talking to the children made her relax immediately, and she was no longer so constrained; it was a huge relief.
The children were wonderful; they were like a ball of cotton—hitting them resulted in a soft landing, and the rebound didn’t hurt.
It was much more comfortable talking to them.
Consort Zhang actually felt it was quite good.
If she really had to keep her company and talk, she didn’t have the mood for it, nor did she want to speak.
In that case, it wouldn’t be clear if the Princess was keeping her company, or if she was keeping the Princess company.
But the fact that the Princess could keep the children company and soothe them actually made her heave a sigh of relief.
Watching the Princess play with the children and talk to them seriously, without any perfunctoriness, and not trying to cozy up to her, Consort Zhang was deeply moved.
She felt that Princess Caiyi was truly a good person, very sincere.
Others also came to see her and brought precious gifts, but they didn’t pay much attention to the little ones, probably thinking that since their father was gone, they were of no use, so they ignored them.
The world has always favored the high and trampled on the low.
Yet Princess Caiyi didn’t care about such things; her playing with the children was the best comfort for her.
When it was dark and time to leave the palace, the children were somewhat reluctant to part with Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu hadn’t actually said much; she just talked about things from her childhood in her hometown, like going to the mountains to dig for mushrooms, pick wild vegetables, fish, pull weeds, pick fruits, and make various snacks, things the children seemed quite interested in.
Jiang Yu had always looked after her younger sister when she was small, so she was quite careful and experienced with taking care of children.
Sigh, she had made it through the day and returned home.
She felt quite guilty; she was supposed to be there to keep Consort Zhang company, but she hadn’t done so at all, having only focused on playing with the children.
Yet, it turned out like this.
The palace had actually bestowed a pile of gifts upon her again.
Really…
Jiang Yu herself was confused.
These rewards were a bit too easy to get; she felt guilty accepting them.
The next day, she was asked to go and keep Consort Zhang company again.
On the third day, she was asked to go again.
She was on “triple duty.”
On the first day, Jiang Yu chatted with the children.
On the second day, she simply took them to dig for wild vegetables; Consort Zhang’s courtyard was large enough, with a private garden.
On the third day, she brought them to make food and tinker in the kitchen.
On the fourth day… there was no fourth day.
The case of the Fifth Prince had come to an end; it was considered solved, and the funeral was to be held.
The residence had been tidied up, and the children had to go observe mourning for their father.
There were many etiquettes for nobles, which Jiang Yu couldn’t grasp, so she couldn’t teach much. She only privately gave them some loquat candies.
“Put them in your bag. If you are hungry, you can secretly suck on one. If your throat hurts from crying, you can also suck on one. Do not eat anything else given to you by others,” Jiang Yu said earnestly.
Aunt Yin:… You are also an “other.”
However, seeing her silly and cute self eating one, and the little masters putting them away, she let it go.
Only she would dare to give people food during such a sensitive time and have the nerve to tell them not to eat anything from others.
“I am not an ‘other.’ I am their sister, family.”
…
The Fifth Prince’s funeral.
The Jiang Family, being relatives, had to attend.
Some officials attended.
It actually depended on how favored the prince was.
If it were a prince favored by the Emperor, it would be held like a national funeral.
The Fifth Prince’s Mother was a Noble Consort; although not the Emperor’s favorite, she was still well-regarded and not disliked, so quite a few officials came.
But because it was a sudden death, the funeral did not last long.
For a sudden death, the Ministry of Rites needed to select a special date for the burial.
Then monks were brought in to chant sutras for deliverance.
Mianmian even went to attend.
In winter, attending a funeral was truly cold.
No matter how thick one dressed, it was very cold.
Following the crowd.
She was also among the group of children; regardless of the era, losing a father was an eternal loss on the path of life.
Mianmian felt very sad; her eyes, whether from the wind or something else, were constantly red. Everyone around her was crying, and it was easy to join in; the crying was filled with genuine grievance and panic.
Generally, elders do not attend the funerals of the young.
On this day, neither Consort Zhang nor the Emperor left the palace.
Meanwhile, in prison, the Sixth Prince learned that his Fifth Brother was being buried today; he knew he was finished.
He had no chance to overturn the case.
What he never expected was that besides the testimony of the Fifth Prince’s side consort, there was actually testimony from one of his own advisors.
Even an advisor could betray him; perhaps they were someone planted by others at his side. The Fifth Prince’s side consort might also have betrayed him long ago and been someone else’s pawn, yet he had been smug about it.
He regretted it; he regretted doing such things and allowing others the opportunity to exploit him.
He regretted it; he regretted that he should have feigned madness and stupidity from the start, should not have studied, and should not have had ambition.
He had studied, but not enough.
He had ambition, but he wasn’t ruthless enough.
Contending for the throne was inherently a matter of life and death; he had actually expected to be favored by the Emperor because he performed well—he was too naive.
But now, everything was too late; far too late.
This prison cell had once held his Crown Prince brother.
Perhaps this was also the closest he had ever been to the Crown Prince.
Thinking of the future, he would either die suddenly and inexplicably like the Crown Prince brother, or be imprisoned like his eldest brother, locked up like pigs and dogs.
The Sixth Prince shivered at the thought of that future.
He gave up.
On the day of the Fifth Prince’s funeral, the Sixth Prince committed suicide in prison.
And he left a suicide note.
The suicide note was passed to the Emperor through the Attendant of the Yellow Gate.
Everyone wanted to avoid bad luck.
Jiang Changtian took the suicide note and handed it to the Emperor.
The Emperor closed his eyes and said, “Second Young Master Jiang, read it to me; tell me what that unfilial son wrote.”
In the afternoon.
The Imperial Palace.
There was sunlight.
It wasn’t warm, but it was bright.
Second Young Master Jiang sat there, as if he had assumed the soul of the Sixth Prince who held a fan.
“Father, your son is unfilial.
I did not kill the Fifth Prince; I never did. When we were young, the Fifth Prince was always giving me things—grass, sticks, stones. On my desk, in my bag, in my bedroom, I could always find traces of the Fifth Prince. I knew the Fifth Prince liked me, which is why he filled every aspect of my surroundings with his things, wanting to prove he was there.
Once when I was small, I said I was afraid of the dark when sleeping. That very day, the Fifth Prince stuffed a note into my pocket. He said it was a note written by Father; if I put it in my pocket, I wouldn’t be afraid when sleeping. It was his, but since he was the elder brother, he gave it to me.
The Fifth Prince was sincere, and I also regret that I had strange thoughts that were exploited by others.
The side consort, Cui, was originally a woman I saved. I thought she was my person, but through a twist of fate, she became the Fifth Prince’s side consort. Afterward, I never ordered her to poison anyone. I can swear to Heaven, but I know no one will believe me, so I can only prove it with my death.
I used to think that as long as I studied hard and exercised well, I would eventually be favored by Father. I dared not have the slightest flaw in my conduct, considering myself a gentleman. But I was wrong. From the moment I wanted to become the Crown Prince, I was gravely mistaken. A gentleman cannot be the Crown Prince, so I have paid the price with my life. It is just a pity for my Fifth Brother; he knew from the start not to contend for the Crown Prince position, yet he was implicated.
Your son is unfilial and can no longer serve by Father’s side. The weather is cold, Father, please keep warm. When it is hot, Father, please be careful not to indulge in the cold. Father’s health is poor and cannot withstand cold or heat. From now on, your son cannot keep you company; you must take care of yourself.
Because I am a gentleman, and a gentleman who suffers an unjust charge can only die to clear it. I am a gentleman; I cannot live on in disgrace.
Your son is unfilial, but I have also been filial, for the courtesy name you gave me, Chu Buqi, I have lived up to.
Death is not to be feared; what I fear is a long, hopeless life.
Father, your son is leaving; I am going to find the Fifth Brother.”
Jiang Changtian sat in the chair. At that moment, a gust of wind swept in. He sat upright, like a gentleman’s orchid.
The Emperor seemed to see the Sixth Prince waving his fan.
“Father, your son is leaving; I am going to find the Fifth Brother.”
The Sixth Prince wore a smile, his fan fanning the breeze.
The wind was cool.
It blew until the Emperor’s face was covered in tears.
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