Ninth Prince’s carriage was parked outside the Emperor’s hall, yet today, the one wishing to see Ninth Prince was not Emperor Qiwen alone.

There was also the Ning Empress Dowager.

“Imperial Mother, if you wished to see your son, why not simply send someone to summon me to Ningxi Palace to pay respects?”

The Ning Empress Dowager had never particularly liked going out. Over all these years, she had spent her days almost entirely within Ningxi Palace.

Though she was the Empress Dowager, she rarely involved herself in the affairs of the rear palace. Once the Empress had taken charge of the phoenix seal, the Ning Empress Dowager retreated into the background, spending her days reciting sutras and chanting Buddhist prayers, seemingly indifferent to everything else.

“This Dowager heard certain rumors and felt unsettled, so I came to speak with His Majesty.”

The Ning Empress Dowager was not the biological mother of the reigning Emperor. Her own son was Ninth Prince. However, since the current Emperor’s birth mother had long since passed away, and among all the consorts from the late Emperor’s generation, the Ning Empress Dowager held the highest standing, the Emperor had bestowed upon her the title of Empress Dowager upon ascending the throne, elevating the former Noble Consort Ning to this position.

Since she was not the Emperor’s birth mother, the Ning Empress Dowager had little desire to meddle in rear palace affairs. She had overseen the phoenix seal for only a few months before relinquishing full control of the rear palace to Empress Rong.

Today, the Ning Empress Dowager had come with an unmistakable look of unease upon her face.

Zhan Qingcheng had always treated his adoptive mother with deep respect. He helped her to a seat and said, “Imperial Mother, whatever you have to say, please speak plainly.”

This was a side hall, not the main audience chamber, and since an elder had come, even Emperor Qiwen sat together with them, the formality between ruler and subject nowhere to be seen.

Upon hearing Zhan Qingcheng’s words, Emperor Qiwen smiled and said, “It is merely those rumors that have been circulating about Imperial Brother and the Empress. Somehow they found their way into the rear palace and even alarmed Imperial Mother.”

“Imperial Mother feared that this Emperor harbored doubts in his heart, and so came personally to speak her mind. In truth, they are nothing more than rumors. Imperial Mother, do not take them to heart.”

He looked at Zhan Qingcheng, his smile warm and composed. “A’Jiu, since you are here, explain things to Imperial Mother yourself. Save her the worry.”

“The Empress did indeed lead her people to pursue and intercept this subject-brother. This subject-brother does not know what she intended.” Zhan Qingcheng’s words made both Emperor Qiwen and the Ning Empress Dowager start simultaneously.

They had expected him to explain that there was nothing whatsoever between him and the Empress. Yet to their surprise, he had openly confirmed the Empress’s actions.

“A’Jiu!” The Ning Empress Dowager’s eyes instantly filled with reproach, terrified he might say something that should not be said in front of the Emperor.

She spoke urgently. “You and the Empress have had no dealings with one another in ordinary times. How could she possibly — A’Jiu, choose your words carefully. Do not speak nonsense about things that never happened.”

After all, that woman was the Emperor’s wife. Even if A’Jiu had always been candid and never concerned himself with anyone’s sensibilities, he could not be so reckless. The dignity of the imperial family was never to be violated or diminished. How could this child be so willful?

Emperor Qiwen said nothing, his gaze resting upon Zhan Qingcheng as well, as though uncertain what to say.

Zhan Qingcheng remained utterly composed, as he always had been. “The Empress did indeed lead her people to pursue and overtake this subject-brother’s procession.”

He met Emperor Qiwen’s eyes, his bearing unhurried and natural. “This subject-brother finds her deeply repugnant. In order not to delay matters of importance, he arranged to separate from the Empress’s party at Black Tiger Mountain, and thereafter proceeded to Phoenix City.”

“This…” The Ning Empress Dowager looked truly helpless. To speak of finding the Empress “deeply repugnant” — under the heavens, there was surely no one other than Ninth Prince who could say such a thing aloud.

Even the Emperor himself would not dare speak those words so plainly.

Yet Zhan Qingcheng looked squarely at Emperor Qiwen, not the faintest trace of jest upon him. “For a nation’s mother to conduct herself in such a brazen and undignified manner — has Imperial Elder Brother not considered deposing her?”

Deposing the Empress! He had actually said it openly, urging the Emperor to depose the Empress!

The Ning Empress Dowager was frightened out of her wits. She leapt to her feet and seized Zhan Qingcheng’s sleeve with both hands. “A’Jiu, you must not say such things!”

Zhan Qingcheng knew full well that these words had alarmed Imperial Mother. Yet he had never been one for empty speech — if he was going to say something, he would say it plainly.

Since Imperial Mother had been alarmed, there was no point in continuing the subject.

He sat in his chair and gently coaxed the Ning Empress Dowager back to her seat, then fell silent.

Emperor Qiwen had likely not expected his ninth imperial brother to say such a thing either. But then again, A’Jiu had always been exactly this sort of person.

It was plain to see that he truly disliked the Empress.

Emperor Qiwen glanced at the Ning Empress Dowager. She looked somewhat at a loss, but matters had reached this point, and certain things could only be agreed to.

Moreover, A’Jiu was no longer young. The proper age for his wedding had long since passed — and on that account, at least, there was nothing wrong.

The Ning Empress Dowager looked at Zhan Qingcheng. Though he was her own son, she had never quite dared to be too close to him.

From childhood, this child had disliked closeness with others. It made no difference whether they were men or women — all the same.

Especially women.

She spoke softly. “A’Jiu, this time, regarding the Empress — rumors are spreading everywhere outside. For the imperial family, this is never a good thing.”

“Though this Dowager knows you care nothing for such gossip, the imperial family does care. A’Jiu, if at this time you were willing to participate in a consort selection…”

“Very well.”

Very well? He — what did he mean?

The Ning Empress Dowager suspected she had misheard. Emperor Qiwen’s expression was equally one of disbelief. Ninth Prince, who had always resisted any mention of marriage and reacted with particular aversion whenever a consort selection was raised, had actually agreed to one?

What was more, the Ning Empress Dowager had spent so long deliberating over exactly what to say to persuade him, yet not a single one of those carefully prepared words had been needed. He had simply agreed?

Agreeing so readily and without hesitation had caught them completely off guard.

Zhan Qingcheng paid no heed to their reactions and said mildly, “This subject-son hopes that the matter of his marriage may be decided by himself…”

“The imperial family has its rules. A consort selection is required.” This was one of the rare occasions when Emperor Qiwen dared to interrupt Ninth Prince mid-sentence.

He said earnestly, “Of course, whomever you choose in the end is entirely your prerogative, A’Jiu. But the consort selection process must take place.”

The Ning Empress Dowager quickly added her own counsel. “A’Jiu, the imperial family has its rules. Imperial Mother knows you have never liked such rules, but for the sake of the imperial family’s dignity, just bear with it this once.”

Zhan Qingcheng said nothing. The Ning Empress Dowager tugged at his sleeve gently, but still he gave no response.

She turned to look at Emperor Qiwen and spoke in a gentle tone. “Your Majesty, A’Jiu has traveled a great distance to return. He must be weary. This Dowager wishes to take him back to Ningxi Palace to rest for a while first…”

“Of course, Imperial Mother, please.” Emperor Qiwen rose and personally saw them out.

The moment they returned to Ningxi Palace, the Ning Empress Dowager immediately dismissed everyone present. She took Zhan Qingcheng by the sleeve, led him to sit beside her, and gazed at the lines of his brow and the features of his face, releasing a quiet, silent sigh.

“Imperial Mother knows you are displeased. But A’Jiu, the Emperor has already shown extraordinary grace and leniency. For this Dowager’s sake — just bear with it this once.”

The affair of the Empress personally going to seek out Ninth Prince had set the entire capital ablaze with gossip. That the Emperor had chosen to let the matter pass without pursuing it was already more than could be asked of any man. After all, what man, let alone the ruler of a nation, could truly endure such humiliation without any response?