Chapter 3, The Cunning Wife and the Wicked Slave

"Your Highness, Huang Er was not imprisoned for taking bribes," Mama Bian timidly interjected. "Last night, Huang Er accidentally knocked over an oil lamp in the study of the late Emperor. Unfortunately, the oil from that lamp spilled and stained the imperial edict, even causing some damage to it... Therefore, the late Emperor has imprisoned Huang Er in the woodshed, and he will soon be sent to Shuntian Prefecture for punishment..."

Burning the edict of the late emperor? The Princess Jianing gasped in shock, and after a long pause, she slowly said: "Nanny, it is not that I am unwilling to help you, but this act of destroying the edict is a grave act of disrespect, a crime that cannot be pardoned. According to the laws of the Great Qing, it is punishable by death. Not only can I not protect your son, but even my mother, the Empress Dowager, would be unable to shield you from this."

"Pah!" Hong Shao blushed and secretly spat in her heart, thinking to herself, "You wish! If it weren't for the princess and the empress dowager, I wouldn't care about your son's life at all." It turned out that the steward, Huang Er, during his time as the steward of the Wu residence, could bully the maids and servants in the outer quarters at will, but he did not dare to touch the maids in the inner quarters, especially the four young ladies beside Princess Jian Ning: Hong Shao, Xiang Xi, Ling He, and Yun Xiu, each as beautiful as a flower, charming and lovely. Huang Er was particularly covetous and had long wanted to get his hands on the most beautiful among them, Hong Shao. Therefore, Hong Shao coughed and said, "Aunt Bian, let’s not talk about Huang Er marrying me. I only ask you to manage Huang Er well and ensure that he does not bother me anymore in the future."

He is so bold. Before Old Madam Bian could finish speaking, Princess Jianning had already snorted, "Last night, he howled like a ghost in the middle of the night, disturbing my sleep. I haven't even settled that score with him yet, and he dares to target the son of my wet nurse. Has he eaten the heart of a bear and the courage of a leopard?" As she spoke, Princess Jianning suddenly remembered something and asked, "Hong Shao, what time is it now? Why hasn't my father come to bow and pay his respects yet?"

"Your Highness, I implore you, please!" Madam Bian began to wail like a slaughtered pig, "I have only one son; if anything were to happen to him, how would I live? Your Highness, I beg you, I beg you!" As she cried out, Madam Bian repeatedly kowtowed to Princess Jianning, until her forehead bled. The pitiful sight was strikingly similar to that of Wu Yingxiong being beaten by Princess Jianning in the past.

The destruction of a royal decree is indeed a capital offense, but if the person accused of the crime is said to have done so unintentionally, and that person holds merit, rank, or title, then they may escape with their life. For example..." At this point, a cunning smile spread across the beautiful little face of Hong Shao, as she chuckled and said, "For instance, if our princess's Wu Efu were willing to take on this accusation for Huang Er, and the princess could vouch for him that it was an unintentional act, then the court would at most issue a decree to reprimand him a few times and impose a fine of one or two years' salary as a penalty.

This... this is, yes, yes! I will definitely take good care of him. " Granny Bian was furious in her heart, secretly vowing that once she rescued Huang Er, she would definitely ask Princess Jianning to reward her son with Hong Shao. At that time, she would slowly deal with this ungrateful little girl. But now, Granny Bian needed something from others, so she had no choice but to temporarily suppress her arrogant demeanor cultivated around Princess Jianning and earnestly pleaded, " Miss Hong Shao, Granny Hong Shao, I beg you to quickly tell me how to save Huang Er, or it will be too late."

On the way to seek help, Granny Bian accidentally knocked over the pomegranate tree that Princess Jian Ning had personally planted, overturned the pot of seasonal auspicious bonsai that was the princess's favorite, and collided head-on with Xiangqi, one of the four closest personal maids to Princess Jian Ning. Coincidentally, Xiangqi was holding a basin full of hot wash water, which splashed everywhere, leaving both Granny Bian and Xiangqi drenched like drowned rats. Furious, Xiangqi stamped her feet and complained, "Granny Bian, is the house on fire or is the sky falling? How can you walk like this? Look, you have spilled the princess's wash water."

If we force that coward to take the blame, he might write to Wu Fan, and Wu Fan would seize the opportunity to create a disturbance, which would certainly lead to another uproar. Princess Jianing also possessed some political acumen and secretly calculated: Therefore, we must use some means to trick that coward into taking responsibility. This way, we can both silence Wu Fan and provide my imperial nephew with an additional bargaining chip when Wu Fan sends someone to the capital to demand payment on the fifteenth day of the first month.

"How audacious!" Princess Jian Ning slammed the dressing table in anger and shouted, "I have only been in the palace accompanying the Empress Dowager for three days, and that Wu Yingxiong dares to forget the daily ritual of kneeling twice and bowing six times? Truly, three days without punishment leads to the roof being lifted!" In her fury, Princess Jian Ning even scolded herself, "Go, summon that Han dog to me; I will personally enforce the family law today! Also, release Huang Er from the woodshed. It's just a matter of taking a little money. His father, Wu Sangui, takes so much military pay from our Aisin Gioro family every year; it is only right for him to have a little!" Go, summon that Han dog to me; I will personally enforce the family law today! Also, release Huang Er from the woodshed. It's just a matter of taking a little money. His father, Wu Sangui, takes so much military pay from our Aisin Gioro family every year; it is only right for him to have a little! Just say that I have pardoned Huang Er's crime!"

Your Highness, the situation is as follows: last night at the third watch, the heir suddenly summoned my son to his study. " Granny Bian sobbed as she recounted the details she had painstakingly gathered: "It is said that my son, while serving as the steward, took some petty cash, and now they intend to dismiss him from his position and hand it over to the heir's former old servant, Wu Fu.

The cries of Old Madam Bian were piercing, causing the eardrums of the four young women, including Hong Shao and Xiang Qi, to buzz. However, Princess Jian Ning seemed oblivious to it all. It was not that she was unwilling to use Wu Yingxiong to atone for her brother; after all, what feelings could a woman have for her husband after fifteen years of marriage without sharing a bed? Rather, it was that the Princess He Shuo Ke Chun of the Qing Dynasty considered the matter more deeply. Although Wu Yingxiong was easy to bully, the Wu Sangui behind him was not someone to be trifled with.

In fact, to put it simply, my method is quite straightforward. Hong Shao is very perceptive; upon noticing the displeased expression of Princess Jianning in the dressing mirror, she dared not tease her and the maid Bian any longer. She quickly said, "We just need to find someone, someone who can bear the heavy charge of this great disrespect, to take on the blame for the crime of damaging the late Emperor's decree."

"Your Highness, my son... my unfortunate son, he has fallen into the hands of the officials and has already been locked in the woodshed, he is on the verge of death!" The high-pitched voice of Old Madam Bian echoed in the back courtyard of the Wu residence, shaking the rooftops and causing the accumulated snow on the trees to tumble down, resulting in the surrounding residences experiencing their third noise attack in one night. This infuriated the local residents, who began to curse loudly, "A dog traitor gives birth to a little traitor, is there a ghost in the house? Are we not allowed to sleep?" Of course, in the harsh political environment of the early Qing dynasty, such words were generally not dared to be spoken publicly by ordinary people.

"Your Highness, the Princess, please save me!" cried Granny Bian, as she stumbled into the back courtyard of the Wu residence where Princess Jianning lived, stepping on the uncleaned snow of the early morning. Her speed was akin to that of a courier racing eight hundred miles with urgent news. If it were not witnessed firsthand, no one would believe that this nearly fifty-year-old Granny Bian could run at such a pace, and yet she was able to shout in such a high-pitched and piercing voice while sprinting, a feat that no courier could accomplish. "Your Highness, please save my poor child!" If it were not witnessed firsthand, no one would believe that this nearly fifty-year-old Granny Bian could run at such a pace, and yet she was able to shout in such a high-pitched and piercing voice while sprinting, a feat that no courier could accomplish. "Your Highness, please save my poor child!"

"What method? Speak quickly," Princess Jianing asked with great joy. Granny Bian also turned her attention from the one she was bowing to towards Hong Shao, "Miss Hong Shao, if you can rescue Huang Er, you will be like a reborn parent to me. I will definitely ensure that Huang Er formally marries you and brings you into our family as the legitimate wife. Our entire family will be grateful to you."

Princess Jianing's plans were meticulously crafted, yet she was unaware that her nominal husband, Wu Yingxiong—now known as Wu Yuanming—had not slept well the previous night. After delegating matters to Wu Fu, he had returned to bed to feign sleep. Wu Yuanming, the eldest son of the Wu family, who was not accustomed to sleeping alone, was secretly contemplating, "If only a beautiful woman could hold me while I sleep."

Achoo! As Wu Yuanming sneezed, a large blob of mucus flew onto the drawing he had just completed, infuriating him to the point of throwing down his pen and cursing, "Someone must be plotting against me from behind. If I find out who it is, I will send the man to prison for execution, and the woman will be raped and then killed"

At this moment, the most beautiful maid beside Princess Jian Ning, Hong Shao, spoke up. This young girl was not only charming in appearance but also exceptionally clever. Usually, she served as Princess Jian Ning's strategist, coming up with numerous ill-conceived ideas to torment Wu Yingxiong. Hong Shao blinked her big eyes and said: "Your Highness, I have a plan that might save Huang Er and spare him from the grave sin of disrespect."

Find someone who can take the blame for the crime of damaging the late emperor's edict? That old woman over there is an expert at stirring up trouble, but when it comes to scheming and playing tricks, she is not even worthy to carry Hong Shao's shoes. She wondered, "How can I find such a person? Damaging the edict is a capital offense; who would be foolish enough to take the blame for my son?"

The matter of collecting military funds that Princess Jianing is contemplating is precisely the historically renowned tribute of the vassals. The three vassal kings stationed in the south—Wu Sangui, Geng Jingzhong, and Shang Kexi—each year manage to extract substantial military funds from the Qing court, with one year seeing the amount they demanded exceeding the total fiscal revenue of the Qing court for that year, imposing a significant financial burden on the imperial treasury. This year, the time for Wu Sangui to extort military funds is approaching again, and the entire court is filled with worry over this matter. Not only are Emperor Kangxi and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang troubled, but even Kangxi's current adversary, Aobai, is also greatly concerned. If Princess Jianing can trick the foolish and inept Wu Yingxiong into bearing this grave act of disrespect, Kangxi could leverage this situation to make a significant case before the military tribute delegation, compelling Wu Sangui to lower the amount he demands for military funds.

"Hong Shao, please go and invite the esteemed guest here." After the discussion was settled, Princess Jianning immediately sent her most beautiful maid to summon Wu Yingxiong. Moreover, to ensure that Wu Yingxiong would comply willingly, Princess Jianning added instructions: "Be a bit more courteous to the esteemed guest, avoid the usual coercive methods, and coax him to come."

... ...

The bedroom door swung open, and Old Madam Bian rushed in, tears and snot streaming down her face. The room was warm as spring due to the heated kang, and Princess Jianning sat at her dressing table wearing only a light blue outfit, attended by her three personal maids, Hong Shao, Ling He, and Yun Xiu, who were helping her with her makeup. Not turning her head, Princess Jianning yawned and asked, "Madam, has your son done something to offend my father? How is he doing now?"

"Indeed, indeed, Miss Hong Shao has a brilliant plan." Finally, a hint of a smile appeared on the tear-stained face of Old Madam Bian, whose eyes were red and swollen from crying. Although this idea of Hong Shao's would push her nominal master, Wu Yingxiong, into the fire, who among the people around Princess Jianning would regard Wu Yingxiong highly? Therefore, without a second thought, Old Madam Bian moved her legs and immediately changed the object of her kowtow back to Princess Jianning, bowing and saying: "Your Highness, the plan proposed by Miss Hong Shao is indeed a good one. Your Highness, I have only one son, I beg you to save him. If he were to perish just like that, I would have no one to wear mourning clothes for me in a hundred years. So, Your Highness!"

But this is a grave offense, how can I save myself? Princess Jian Ning looked at the elderly nurse who had raised her with a troubled expression, completely at a loss. Although Princess Jian Ning usually acted arrogantly and held a strong disdain for the Han people, she was more concerned than anyone else about the stability of the Qing dynasty. If the royal family disregarded the law and went unpunished for their offenses, it would set a precedent for others to follow, which would inevitably affect whether the Qing dynasty could maintain its stability for generations to come. Although Princess Jian Ning usually acted arrogantly and held a strong disdain for the Han people, she was more concerned than anyone else about the stability of the Qing dynasty. If the royal family disregarded the law and went unpunished for their offenses, it would set a precedent for others to follow, which would inevitably affect whether the Qing dynasty could maintain its stability for generations to come.

Having gotten used to it, I will pay attention in the future. Wu Yuanming felt somewhat awkward; after the merging of his consciousness with that of Wu Yingxiong from his previous life, he had only inherited Wu Yingxiong's memories but not a trace of his upbringing, which is why he habitually mentioned phrases from his past life. However, Wu Yuanming quickly found a way to change the subject. He wiped the snot off the drawing, completed it with a few strokes, and handed it to Wu Fu, instructing, "Wu Fu, you and Wu Shou take along ten thousand taels in silver notes and personally go to the carriage shop in the east of the city. Make sure they build the carriage I want according to the drawing before noon on the eighth day of the first month. I want to give Lord Murima a big surprise."

"Your Highness, it is now the second quarter of the Chen hour." Hong Shao replied softly. Hong Shao was one of the four personal maids awarded to Princess Jian Ning by Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang three years ago. She was a Han army banner woman, only sixteen years old this year, and was the closest to Princess Jian Ning. At the same time, she was also the most beautiful and charming among the maids of the Wu family, with a voice that was exceptionally clear and pleasant.

"Xiangqi girl, Xiangqi girl." Old Madam Bian, completely missing the point, grasped Xiangqi's small hand and cried out incessantly, "Xiangqi girl, has the princess woken up yet? If not, please hurry and wake her up, I implore her to save my son's life!"

"Aunt Bian, what has happened to your son?" The haughty voice of Princess Jianning came from the bedroom, "Xiangxi, bring Aunt Bian in to speak."

"Your Highness, 'I' is merely the language of the common folk. You, being of noble birth, should refrain from such expressions, though this old servant does not know how you came to learn them," Wu Fuxiao, the loyal old servant of Wu Yingxiong, cautiously reminded.