Chapter Fifty-Six: Wang Puzhen’s Fate Hangs in the Balance

Iron-Blooded Ming

Heaven Prison, Cell Number Two, Earth Division.

Wang Pu was curled up in a pile of straw in the corner, sleeping, when a sudden clanging noise jolted him awake. Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he glanced back to see the old prisoner in Cell Number One next door banging his shackles repeatedly against the iron bars, each as thick as an arm. So, it was this old man making that piercing racket.

“What are you doing?” Wang Pu frowned. “That noise could wake the dead—can’t you let a man sleep?”

“Heh, you can still sleep at a time like this?” the old prisoner cried. “Don’t you know you’re about to die?”

“Even if I’m dying, I still need to sleep. Not sleeping won’t keep me alive, will it?”

Wang Pu answered irritably and turned over to sleep again.

“Well, I didn’t expect you to have such courage, kid.” The old prisoner said, “Hey, tell me, what’s your name? What’s your rank? To be locked in Cell Number Two of the Earth Division, if you’re not a regional governor, you must at least be a general. How did you end up in here?”

Wang Pu couldn’t be bothered to reply and turned his back to sleep.

The old man, his face as long as a bitter gourd, pleaded, “Hey, brat, I’ve been locked up here for three years. Three whole years, and not a soul to talk to—not a single companion. You, brat, can’t you just talk to me for a bit? I beg you.”

“Old man, can you be any more annoying?” Wang Pu suddenly sat up, furious. “I want to sleep. I don’t have time to chat with you.”

“Just a little while, just a little while,” the old prisoner begged. “I’m begging you.”

Wang Pu was at his wit’s end. “You stubborn old man, you win. Fine, let’s talk.”

The old prisoner asked, “What’s your name, boy?”

“Wang Pu.”

“Wang Pu?” The old man mused. “The name sounds familiar.”

Wang Pu replied impatiently, “Commander-in-Chief of Datong.”

“Oh, now I remember!” The old prisoner laughed. “You’re that young master Wang Pu who was promoted because of a few Manchu braids. Ha, did you get caught running away from battle?”

“Your grandfather was the one who ran from battle!” Wang Pu shot back angrily. “I led over a thousand men on a thousand-mile campaign, destroyed the Manchu stronghold, and even captured Hong Taiji and two Manchu princes alive! On my way back to the capital, I even wiped out the White Lotus Sect. When have I ever deserted?”

“Go on, keep bragging,” the old prisoner mocked. “Why not say you’ve recovered the Imperial Jade Seal while you’re at it?”

“Heh, you stubborn old man!” Wang Pu retorted. “As a matter of fact, I did recover the Imperial Jade Seal!”

“Give you an inch, and you open a dye house.” The old man sneered. “If you’ve accomplished so much, how did you end up in the Heaven Prison like me? Don’t tell me you also offended those two scoundrels Yang Sichang and Gao Qiqian?”

“Yang Sichang and Gao Qiqian are nothing,” Wang Pu said. “I was sent here because…” Suddenly he stopped, swallowing his words. “Why should I tell you?”

The prisoner grew anxious. “You brat, how can you drop the story at the best part?”

Wang Pu countered, “Why don’t you tell me first—how did you end up in the Heaven Prison?”

The old prisoner shook his head. “I won’t say.”

Wang Pu said, “At least tell me your name?”

The old prisoner kept shaking his head. “I’ve forgotten. Forgotten everything.”

“You stubborn old man, believe it or not, I’ll give you a beating!”

Wang Pu was about to lose his temper with the old prisoner when the jailer entered the prison, opened the iron door to Wang Pu’s cell, and barked, “Criminal official Wang Pu, someone’s here to see you.”

“Who?”

“Cut the nonsense. You’ll see soon enough.”

Without further ado, two guards dragged Wang Pu out of the cell.

The visitor was none other than Minister of War Chen Xinjia. The two guards escorted Wang Pu into the interrogation room and respectfully announced, “Lord Chen, the prisoner has been brought.”

“Thank you, gentlemen.” Chen Xinjia pressed a silver ingot into the guards’ hands, who thanked him joyfully and departed.

“Sit,” Chen Xinjia said coldly, his gaze fixed on Wang Pu. “Grand Commander Wang.”

“Thank you.” Wang Pu sat down carelessly, then gestured, “Lord Chen, please sit as well.”

Chen Xinjia took the seat opposite, his expression sour. He scolded, “Wang Pu, are you truly out of your mind? His Majesty gave you a pardon medallion, and you wasted it to save a few nobodies. Are you seeking death? It’s one thing if you die, but don’t drag me down with you!”

“Lord Chen, I don’t like what you’re saying.” Wang Pu retorted, “When did I drag you down? And who are these nobodies? Do you know that they are my brothers-in-arms, bound by life and death? For me, they’d lay down their lives!”

“Enough. I didn’t risk everything to get into the Heaven Prison just to argue with you.” Chen Xinjia suppressed his anger. “Listen carefully: you’ve thoroughly offended Liu Zongzhou and Li Banghua. They’ve rallied a group of censors and officials, and tomorrow at court they’ll petition for your execution.”

“Zhou Yanru, that old fox, wants no part of this mess either. I went to see him before coming here, but he avoided me. Now, in all the imperial court, I’m the only one willing to speak for you. Wang Pu, do you realize you’re on the brink of death?”

“So be it.” Wang Pu shrugged. “In this life, like grass that grows for only one autumn, who can escape death?”

“You…” Chen Xinjia nearly choked on his anger but forced himself to calm down. “Listen to me, Wang Pu. There’s only one way to save yourself: marry Princess Changping! If you become the imperial son-in-law, not even Liu Zongzhou with all his reasons can bring you down!”

Chen Xinjia was not speaking idly; if Wang Pu truly became Prince Consort, he would be family to the emperor. His prior offenses—defiance of imperial edict and a daring rescue—would be outside the censors’ jurisdiction, handled instead by the Imperial Clan Court, which ultimately answered to the emperor alone.

Wang Pu replied, “Lord Chen, have I ever said I was unwilling to marry Her Highness?”

“You…” Chen Xinjia nearly burst out swearing but swallowed his words. “Wang Pu, I don’t care what vows you made to that courtesan or what your future relationship will be. Right now, you must divorce her and marry the princess. Is that clear?”

Wang Pu answered coldly, “Lord Chen, as I said, I’m willing to marry the princess. But as for divorcing Yuan Yuan—never!”

“You…” Chen Xinjia, unable to contain himself, roared, “Will you not shed tears until you see the coffin?”

Wang Pu smirked. “Even at the coffin, I won’t shed tears.”

Chen Xinjia’s beard quivered with rage. Pointing at Wang Pu, he managed only one sentence: “You will, soon enough!”

With that, Chen Xinjia stormed out. Wang Pu said coolly, “Safe travels, Lord Chen. I won’t see you out.”

■■■

Qianqing Palace, East Warm Chamber.

Wang Cheng’en, stooped low, entered the chamber and reported to the Chongzhen Emperor, who was reviewing memorials: “Your Majesty, Lord Chen Xinjia has just been to the Heaven Prison.”

The emperor did not look up. “What did he go there for?”

“Lord Chen went to persuade Commander Wang to divorce the courtesan he recently married.”

The emperor’s hand, holding the vermilion brush, suddenly paused. He looked up. “And what did Wang Pu say?”

Wang Cheng’en’s voice trembled. “Your servant… Your servant dares not say.”

“Speak!” the emperor thundered.

Wang Cheng’en said, “Wang Pu said he’s willing to marry Her Highness the Princess, but as for divorcing the courtesan, never.”

“Outrageous!” The emperor flew into a rage, hurling the memorial to the ground.

Wang Cheng’en shuddered and fell to his knees, begging for mercy. “Your servant deserves death, Your Majesty, forgive me!”

“What are you doing?” The emperor frowned. “I’m not angry at you. Stand up.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Only then did Wang Cheng’en dare to rise and carefully pick up the fallen memorial.

The emperor said coldly, “So, Wang Pu refuses to divorce the courtesan, yet wants to marry Ru’er. What does that mean? Does he expect my daughter to be his concubine?”

Wang Cheng’en hastened to reply, “Your Majesty, Commander Wang would never dare harbor such thoughts. He probably only intends to keep the courtesan as a concubine.”

“That won’t do either!” the emperor snapped. “Ru’er is the apple of my eye. I will not allow her to suffer the slightest indignity! If Wang Pu wants to be my son-in-law, he must be devoted to Ru’er alone! Since the founding of Ming, when has any Prince Consort ever taken a concubine?”

“Your servant spoke out of turn.” Wang Cheng’en slapped his own mouth. “Your servant spoke out of turn.”

The emperor’s gaze grew cold. “Does Wang Pu truly think I won’t kill him?” A chill flashed through his eyes as he said, “Cheng’en, from this day forth, all talk of marrying Ru’er is forbidden in the palace. Anyone who defies this order will be put to death!”

“Your servant obeys.”

Wang Cheng’en shivered, thinking to himself that Wang Pu was truly in peril this time.

If His Majesty was issuing a gag order in the palace, it clearly meant he was preparing to withdraw his decree and no longer insist on marrying Princess Changping to Wang Pu. If Wang Pu couldn’t become Prince Consort, with his crimes and no pardon medallion, even nine lives would not be enough to save him from the emperor’s wrath.

…