Chapter 71: A Wife’s Letter

Chapter 71: A Wife’s Letter

Cai Xinghai was not one of the first eunuchs to join the Unfortunates, yet he was among the most well-regarded members. Upon leaving the palace, he did not forget his initial promise—do not forget old friends after obtaining wealth and rank—and maintained had contact with those inside the palace.

On this very afternoon, he received a letter with an envelope inscribed: “To my husband, penned by your wife, Cui.”

Upon hearing that the Emperor and Empress were deposed, Cai Xinghai was filled with righteous indignation. Hearing that a group of ruffian soldiers from the Eight Armies of the Palace Guards intended to cause trouble at the Manor of the Weary Marquis, his anger grew increasingly uncontrollable. Assuming his role as an army supervisor, he gathered a number of well-connected Northern Army officers and soldiers. They entered the city before nightfall, dispersed to various locations, and agreed to assemble after nightfall. If there was no trouble at the Manor of the Weary Marquis, they would leave it be; if there were abnormalities, he intended to lead a second rescue.

His arrival was perfectly timed.

Cai Xinghai had not read that letter, but he could guess the general contents of it from the terms “husband” and “wife.”

In the front courtyard, there remained a single lantern. Han Ruzi approached it, opened the letter, and read it once. He looked up at Yang Feng and Cai Xinghai, then lowered his head to read it again. Afterward, he handed the letter to Yang Feng and nodded at Cai Xinghai, indicating that he could read it.

The letter was brief, containing only a few sentences: “On the evening of the fifth of December, the carriage shall leave the palace. If you are willing, fetch me and take me to your manor. If you are not, then let our bond be severed, and we shall never meet again, even unto death.”

The contents of the letter was more or less as Cai Xinghai had guessed. He lifted his head and said blankly, “Of course she must be received. A single day as husband and wife creates a bond that lasts a lifetime. If we do not fetch her here, where else could she go?”

Yang Feng gave Cai Xinghai a cold glance, returned the letter, and asked, “What does the Marquis plan to do?”

“If she wishes to come... I will fetch her,” Han Ruzi thought it was the only proper course of action.

Cai Xinghai was overjoyed, but Yang Feng shook his head slightly. “Your Majesty abdicated on the third day of the month, and on the fifth, you plan to go to the palace to snatch someone? This seems...”

Cai Xinghai hurriedly interjected, “Not the palace, but outside the palace. The Lady is likely to be sent back to the Cui clan...”

“Isn’t that the same? The Empress Dowager and the Cui clan are in a fierce rivalry. Everyone else is keeping their distance. Are you going to let the Marquis charge into the fray?”

Cai Xinghai dared not utter a sound.

Han Ruzi respected Yang Feng and pondered for a moment before saying, “You have read many history books and have seen instances of emperors abdicating. What happened to the empresses at those times?”

Yang Feng replied helplessly, “Generally speaking, they would abdicate along with the emperor. In a previous dynasty, there was an empress who married the next emperor and remained empress.”

“Our Empress would not do that. She said ‘the carriage shall leave the palace’, which certainly doesn’t mean leaving casually but rather... being driven out.” Cai Xinghai had received the Empress’s full support when he was rescuing the Emperor in the palace; thus, he supported her wholeheartedly, even though she was now the former empress.

A thought struck Yang Feng’s mind. Since being expelled from the palace, he had not been involved in any court affairs and could only speculate on many matters. “The carriage leaves the palace at dusk on the fifth. Could it be that the Empress Dowager intends to enthrone a new emperor on that day?”

With a new emperor’s enthronement, the old empress could naturally not be allowed to remain in the palace. Cai Xinghai slapped his thigh, “That must be it! Who will become the new emperor? Prince Donghai? Lord Marquis, you must not leave your wife to him. Who knows, she might leave the palace on the fifth and be taken back on the sixth.”

Han Ruzi hesitated no more, “I must fetch her. We are husband and wife. Even the Empress Dowager and the Cui clan cannot separate us.”

Cai Xinghai bowed, while Yang Feng remained silent.

Han Ruzi did not seek help from Yang Feng; instead, he asked Cai Xinghai, “I need your help. How many people do you have?”

“More than thirty. Give me some time, and I can gather more. Some of them are old friends from before I entered the palace, and some I met after becoming a commander. They are all willing to help me, no problem.”

“We have fifteen eunuchs in the manor... that should be enough. We need to find out when and from which gate the Lady will leave the palace, wait for her halfway, and then charge in...”

Yang Feng could no longer bear it and interrupted the Weary Marquis, “You two are being reckless. Hundred Prince Street is remote and sparsely populated. It’s one thing for the Yulin Guards and the Tiger Guards to come and cause a commotion, but the route from the palace to the Cui manor is bustling. Where do you plan to lie in wait with such a large group?”

Yang Feng looked dissatisfiedly at Cai Xinghai and said to the Weary Marquis, “We have not even resolved our own troubles. Do you really want to bring your wife to the manor?”

Yang Feng apparently recognized the voice and immediately opened the door. As soon as it opened a crack, a figure jumped in, but his footsteps were unsteady, and after a few steps, he fell down the steps, landing right at Han Ruzi’s feet, exclaiming in pain.

Cai Xinghai pulled Han Ruzi back a few steps, shielding him.

The hearty voice outside said again, “This guy was in charge of the command outside, and those guards were all gathered by him.”

“Thank you, Brother Hu San,”[1] Yang Feng said.

“Heh, let’s wait until I repay the favor before we call each other brothers.”

The voice disappeared, and Yang Feng closed the door.

Han Ruzi finally understood that Yang Feng had arrangements outside the mansion. Even if Cai Xinghai hadn’t brought his men, Yang Feng would still have repelled the troublemakers from the Yulin and Tiger Guards.

Han Ruzi bent down to look at the man lying on the ground, but the man stubbornly refused to raise his head.

Cai Xinghai stepped forward and kicked him, shouting, “You audacious troublemaker! You dare come to the Weary Marquis’ Mansion and cause trouble? You must be seeking death! Raise your head!”

Cai Xinghai kicked him twice more, and the man finally lifted his head, his face full of resentment.

“Zhang Yanghao!” Han Ruzi was taken aback. He recognized this man. He was the grandson of the Marquis Piyuan, and had once served as an attendant in the palace. “How... why?”

Han Ruzi was puzzled. He did not remember offending Zhang Yanghao. There was only one incident where, in order to catch Zuo Ji at the Heavenly Music Pavilion, he had taken Zhang Yanghao and others along without telling them his true purpose beforehand.

“It’s me.” Zhang Yanghao stood up and glanced at Cai Xinghai holding a blade, not daring to approach.

“Why... Marquis Piyuan has been released, hasn’t he?” Han Ruzi suddenly remembered something. The Grand Consort had tricked him into writing several edicts, one of which was used to deceive the Empress Dowager. The person framed was Marquis Piyuan, Zhang Yin.

“Of course, he was released. The Empress Dowager knows that our family are loyal subjects; he was released a few months ago.” Zhang Yanghao clenched his fists but still did not dare approach. The Weary Marquis was younger and smaller in stature than him, yet he had a blade-wielding eunuch protecting him.

“I did not frame your grandfather...” Han Ruzi glanced at Yang Feng and switched to a cold tone, “Zhang Yanghao, go home. Go seek your grandfather and ask him what he thinks.”

“How did you know...” Zhang Yanghao stared in surprise, his eyes wide.

At this point, Han Ruzi truly understood, “That’s right, I know. You did this behind your grandfather’s back. I don’t blame you, but you must go home, admit your mistake to your grandfather, and listen to his advice. Otherwise, I will...”

Han Ruzi did not know what else to say. Yang Feng, who was standing nearby, added, “Otherwise, we will report the matter to the Captain of the Guard at the palace barracks and let him handle it. Privately mobilizing the Yulin and Tiger Guards without authority is a serious crime. Marquis Piyuan would not be able to explain it.”

Zhang Yanghao’s face changed, “You... you’re really letting me go?”

Han Ruzi nodded.

“Alright, I’ll go back and speak to my grandfather...” Zhang Yanghao dashed to the gate, only to find a heavy bolt across it. Unable to move it on his own, he discovered the door was locked and could not be pushed open. Puzzled, he turned around.

“You are a noble whose family holds a marquisate. How could you not follow proper etiquette?” Cai Xinghai brandished the blade in his hand.

Zhang Yanghao’s gaze flickered, and he slowly knelt down, “Thank... thank you, Lord Marquis, for your magnanimity. I’ll definitely talk to my grandfather when I go back...”

Han Ruzi waved his hand, and only then did Yang Feng leisurely unlock the gate, letting Zhang Yanghao out. After locking the door again, he turned and said, “I have an idea as to how to safely fetch the Lady to the manor.”

[1] Hu San is Ironhead Hu San’er, the other guy whom Yang Feng subdued with the Dus. So we see all three of them making an appearance here helping to protect Han Ruzi.

Advertisement