DCPRT Chapter 57

You Fengyun heard this and set down the memorial and brush in his hands, then gently raised his eyes and said, “What has he come for? Is it not the day his book pavilion opens?”

Just then, the small eunuch outside announced again. “Minister of Justice Li, the young master of the Li family Li Yuan, and Her Highness the Grand Princess all request an audience.”

“Uncle and younger sister have also come?” You Fengyun suddenly had a vaguely ominous feeling.

After You Yuyi had brought people into the palace, Li Yuan, unable to make up his mind, went to consult his elder uncle and Her Highness the Grand Princess. Upon hearing of this matter, the two of them immediately saw through it — someone had set a trap for You Yuyi, and You Yuyi had already walked right into it. Not pressing their advantage now would be to squander this opportunity entirely.

And so, Minister of Justice Li and the Grand Princess both made the decision almost simultaneously to enter the palace, bringing Li Yuan along with various pieces of evidence to confront You Yuyi over the events of years past.

You Fengyun felt a slight headache coming on — he still did not know what was waiting for him.

And yet these three people: one was his own son, one was his own dear uncle, and one was his own dear sister. He could not very well refuse to see a single one of them.

In the end, You Fengyun let out a sigh and said, “Let them in.”

As his words fell, Minister of Justice Li and the Grand Princess entered Xuande Hall with Li Yuan in tow, while Prince Yan followed close behind.

Xuande Hall was still thick with the fragrance of sandalwood; wisps of pale smoke drifted continuously from the hill-shaped incense burner, and the furnishings throughout the hall carried an air of ancient solemnity — grand and imposing, the kind that made one afraid to breathe too loudly.

Li Yuan, having just stepped inside, felt his legs go slightly weak. It was only after managing with great effort to bow alongside his elder uncle that he heard the emperor seated above speak in a slow, unhurried tone. “What brings Uncle to find Zhen today?”

Beneath that flat and distant tone, Li Yuan did not dare breathe a word. Minister of Justice Li, however, went straight down onto his knees on the floor of the hall with a heavy thud, then wailed tearfully. “This old subject begs Your Majesty to uphold justice for this old subject!”

You Fengyun felt a twinge of inward irritation at those words, for hearing that phrase almost invariably meant he was about to deal with a pile of tedious matters.

“Someone, offer Imperial Uncle a seat.” You Fengyun’s brow furrowed only the faintest degree before he gave the instruction to the attendants at his side.

At his words, a small eunuch immediately moved an embroidered low stool beside Minister of Justice Li — yet the Minister did not spare it so much as a glance, weeping straight away. “His Highness Prince Yan has gone too far! He pawned my granddaughter’s dowry to build his book pavilion. The Li family has never suffered such humiliation. This old subject begs Your Majesty to uphold justice for the Li family — for my poor grandniece!”

By the time he finished, Minister of Justice Li’s face was streaked with tears, the very picture of an old man who had been wronged to the depths of his soul.

The Grand Princess at his side hurried to comfort him. “Uncle, Imperial Brother will surely uphold justice for you.”

Up above, You Fengyun had fallen silent. So that was where You Yuyi had gotten the money to buy such a large shop — he had pawned his own consort’s dowry.

Pawned it was one thing. But to have been caught by the very person it belonged to — for a moment, You Fengyun did not know what to say about You Yuyi.

And judging by the way things looked, the whole affair must have been argued about until half the world knew before they ever came here.

“What do you have to say for yourself?” You Fengyun looked toward his eldest son.

By rights, the eldest prince’s birth mother had come from a humble family, and his maternal grandfather, Prime Minister Su, was none other than the foremost leader of those of common birth — a minister of great importance to the realm. And yet somehow he had grown up with a mind that was utterly senseless, reckless and impulsive in all his actions. Had such a background been given to the Crown Prince instead, he would never have brought about a three-way standoff.

You Yuyi had entered the palace because his Menke had persuaded him, saying that once he came, You Fengyun would surely protect him — yet now, as he faced You Fengyun’s gaze, he found he no longer knew what to say.

You Fengyun felt a headache coming on. If only You Yuyi had even a trace of Prime Minister Su in him. A pity that his mind took entirely after the Imperial Noble Consort.

“Did you truly pawn your consort’s dowry?” You Fengyun asked.

“This son had no knowledge of it whatsoever,” You Yuyi said, kneeling on the ground.

Li Yuan at the side broke in angrily. “You had no knowledge of it? Is Prince Yan’s residence a sieve, that any stray cat or dog can come and go as they please?”

“What was pawned was an entire chest of my cousin’s dowry! It would have taken a great red lacquered box to hold it all — so many things being carried out of Prince Yan’s residence in full view of everyone, and yet you say you knew nothing. I don’t believe it.”

The Grand Princess also joined in with a sharp rebuke. “Not long ago you caused your consort to miscarry, and now today you have pawned away her dowry. Have you any sense of propriety or shame left? Do you have any regard for the maternal clan of the Empress Dowager?”

On the other side, Minister of Justice Li also began to weep, saying, “The Li family may not be a great aristocratic house, but the daughters of the Li family were raised with care and devotion — and yet she must endure such torment, to have the very dowry that sustains her stripped from her to buy another’s reputation!”

As his words fell, You Fengyun’s expression had already grown cold. Eunuch An Hai at his side spoke up to caution. “Imperial Uncle, mind your words!”

Minister of Justice Li immediately fell silent, then quietly watched You Fengyun’s expression.

On the other side, You Yuyi seemed to come to his senses. He spoke up. “The money used to purchase that book pavilion was given to me by Xiyue. I had no knowledge of where these funds came from. This son begs Father Emperor to see this clearly!”

At these words, the Grand Princess inwardly laughed a cold laugh. After she had brought Li Xiyue before You Fengyun to accuse You Yuyi of favouring his concubine and mistreating his wife — and failed — Li Xiyue’s fate had already become predictable. Especially after word spread from Prince Yan’s residence that the consort was too ill to receive anyone, the Grand Princess had already been able to confirm that the consort of Prince Yan’s residence was as good as dead.

Li Yuan, however, said furiously, “Since His Highness Prince Yan says himself that this money was given to him by my cousin, then let His Highness have my cousin brought here to explain herself.”

Yes — have the consort brought out. Let her say whether she had personally ordered her own dowry to be pawned, and whether she had handed the money to You Yuyi with her own hands.

You Yuyi knew well enough that he and Li Xiyue were through, any bond between them entirely severed. He steeled himself and said, “My wife is gravely ill and cannot receive visitors.”

The Grand Princess laughed coldly. “If she is too ill to take care of herself, then how did the consort manage to pawn all these things?”

“What His Highness Prince Yan says is deeply contradictory.” With that, the Grand Princess gave a light, contemptuous sound, her eyes full of nothing but disdain for You Yuyi.

At that moment, You Yuyi could not help but clench his fists.

“In that case, let the consort be brought here,” You Fengyun suddenly said, and then quietly looked at You Yuyi.

He had already given him the opportunity. Now it was up to You Yuyi to decide what to do.

“I will have someone fetch her into the palace at once,” You Yuyi said.

But before he finished, the Grand Princess spoke up. “Why not let this Princess go along as well?”

You Yuyi’s heart filled with silent resentment at those words — he still remembered the score from the last time the Grand Princess had brought Li Xiyue along and nearly saddled him with the charge of favouring his concubine and mistreating his wife.

“That may not be appropriate,” You Yuyi said, looking at the Grand Princess.

The Grand Princess smiled and replied, “What is inappropriate about it? I am not an outsider, and besides — the consort would call me Cousin Aunt.”

Faced with the Grand Princess’s request, You Yuyi drew a deep breath and said, “My wife is still in the middle of her illness; I fear she may pass her sickness on to you. If you are truly uneasy, I can go fetch her myself.”

The Grand Princess, upon hearing this, could hardly allow You Yuyi to go fetch Li Xiyue himself. That Li girl had no sense — what if she was talked around by You Yuyi along the way and turned against them?

Just as the two sides had reached a stalemate, You Fengyun said, “Send Zhen’s own people to bring Princess Yan into the palace.”

He then looked toward An Hai and said, “Make this trip yourself.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” At his words, Eunuch An Hai set off with junior palace maids and eunuchs to fetch the consort.

You Yuyi’s expression was not a pleasant one. The place where Li Xiyue was living was hardly anywhere decent.

When Eunuch An Hai led his people to the quarters of Princess Yan within Prince Yan’s residence, he too was given a fright, and could not help but click his tongue inwardly in astonishment at how ruthless Prince Yan truly was.

“Your Highness Princess Yan, this servant is Eunuch An Hai who serves at His Majesty’s side. His Majesty has certain matters on which he wishes to see you — when the time comes, you need only answer as best you can.” Eunuch An Hai said with a gentle smile.

“His Majesty?” Li Xiyue’s mind began to turn, slowly. She had just been pulled to her feet by the old woman in the courtyard, barely managed to put on a presentable set of clothes and have her hair dressed, and now, upon seeing the personal eunuch who served at the emperor’s side, her mind had not quite caught up.

“It concerns the matter of your dowry,” Eunuch An Hai said, intentionally giving her a hint. “Your grandfather and Her Highness the Grand Princess are both waiting for you in Xuande Hall.”

Hearing those words, Li Xiyue knew that the matter of You Yuyi secretly pawning her dowry had come to light. She had not expected retribution to arrive so swiftly.

Yet before Li Xiyue had time to feel any satisfaction, her mind began to turn rapidly. She had to make her choice before reaching Xuande Hall — a choice that would have to be one that could keep her alive.

The Li family had already severed all ties with her. The Grand Princess was there this time; it was quite possible this whole affair was yet another scheme of theirs to use her against You Yuyi. And You Yuyi — he had caused her miscarriage, left her unable to bear children ever again, and had even fed her slow-acting poison.

These people were all equally terrifying. If she had the choice, she would rather flee Chang’an this very instant — but she had to choose.

“Your Highness Princess Yan, the palanquin is ready. Please.” Eunuch An Hai said once Li Xiyue had finished readying herself.

The reflection in the mirror showed Li Xiyue still pale and laden with the weight of illness; even the rouge she had applied could not conceal the dying air that clung to her.

“Then let us go.” Li Xiyue rose to her feet, supported on either side by her two maids.

Her body moved softly forward. I must survive, she thought. Only then would she be able to take revenge on those who had hurt her.

The Li family — absolutely not. They did not care at all whether she lived or died. And You Yuyi…

Li Xiyue bit her lip. She was gambling — gambling with her own life. If she won, she would survive, and then she would send You Yuyi straight into hell.

Soon, a small palanquin was lifted from the gates of Prince Yan’s residence and carried away toward the imperial palace.

You Yusui, standing at the highest point of the palace, watched a small palanquin come in through the palace gates and said, “What do you think — how will she choose?”

Huo Xiling glanced over and said quietly, “How she chooses no longer matters. What matters is that my purpose has already been achieved.”

“What purpose?”

“To divert the flood east.”

TL/N:

The phrase 禍水東引 literally means “divert the disaster waters eastward.” 

It is an idiom referring to shifting trouble, misfortune, or a destructive influence onto someone or somewhere else, rather than literally causing a flood. 

In historical or literary contexts, “禍水” often metaphorically refers to a dangerous or troublesome woman, but it can also represent general calamity.