As soon as the twelfth lunar month arrived, the weather became particularly severe. The snow from several days ago hadn’t melted when new heavy snow began to fall.

Despite the cold weather, Pine Breeze Court was filled with joy. In less than ten days, Qin Wan would be married.

For Qin Wan’s marriage, there would naturally be many dowry servants. Banxia and the others were maids specially prepared by Madam Hu for Qin Wan, and they were originally supposed to follow her to Prince Rui’s mansion. However, at the last moment, Qin Wan changed her mind and arranged marriages between the maids and servants of the Marquis’s mansion, letting them stay.

Banxia and the others were somewhat anxious, but Qin Wan couldn’t concern herself with too much. For this marriage, she was taking very few servants with her, using Prince Rui’s recent mourning and uncertainty about Yan Chi’s future residence in the capital as reasons to keep things simple. Everyone knew Yan Chi was a young general of the Shuoxi Army, brave and skilled in battle, and it was uncertain whether he would leave the capital for the battlefield. It worked out well that the servants chosen as husbands for Banxia and the others were all capable young men with some status in the mansion, ensuring the maids’ futures were secure.

After settling these minor matters, the dowry and ceremonial details were discussed with the matrons sent by Madam Hu. Qin Wan preferred simplicity and kept everything modest.

Although Qin Shu had been staying behind closed doors these days, they still took Qin Wan’s marriage very seriously. All arrangements were ordered to the very attentive servants. However, Madam Hu rarely appeared, as she had fallen ill from excessive worry.

On this day, a secret message arrived on the Emperor’s desk in Chongzheng Palace – civil unrest had broken out in Cangzhou in the north.

Cangzhou was the first city south of the northern border and the largest northern stronghold. Adjacent to the northern frontier, it served as the main supply base for the northern armies. After the incident with the Empress and Crown Prince, the Emperor’s secret orders went both south and north-south to mobilize the Jinzhou army, and north to stabilize the region.

But just five or six days later, before the Emperor’s envoys could reach the north, civil unrest had erupted in Cangzhou.

Rather than civil unrest, it was more of a military rebellion. The secret message to the Emperor reported that bandits from the northwest had captured Cangzhou city. Now all military and civil authority in Cangzhou had fallen into the bandits’ hands. He Li, the Commander-in-Chief of Cangzhou, had been executed, and all civilians were confined within the city.

He Li had been personally appointed by the Emperor five years ago. He cooperated with the Zhao family’s Northern Garrison Army and represented the Emperor in monitoring and checking them. This was well known to anyone with sense in the court – it was the Emperor’s usual method. Usually, everyone accepted this because no one truly intended rebellion. But now He Li was dead, and Cangzhou’s authority had been seized. To the Emperor, this was a signal – a signal that the Empress had made arrangements long ago and that the Northern Garrison Army harbored treasonous intentions.

Few people saw the secret memorial. The Emperor immediately issued three strict orders: commanding the city gates be closed, implementing stricter searches throughout the capital to find the missing Crown Prince and Empress, and urgently dispatching Minister of War Ge Yang, who had recently returned to the capital, to head north.

With this series of actions, everyone knew major events were about to unfold.

Qin Wan learned the news at Prince Rui’s mansion. Yan Chi had his ways of learning the most secret matters of Chongzheng Palace.

“Cangzhou is the north’s largest stronghold. Though it’s quite far north, it has thirty thousand stationed troops. It not only manages all of Cangzhou but also directly controls surrounding areas like Hezhou. The Northern Garrison Army’s supplies all pass through Cangzhou. In recent years, Cangzhou has practically been the Northern Garrison Army’s rear granary. The officials and generals in Cangzhou were all Northern Garrison Army people. Later, when the Emperor noticed the problem, he sent He Li to take over as Commander-in-Chief, but his command wasn’t smooth – he was practically a figurehead. The deputy commanders under him appeared to follow his orders but were still Northern Garrison Army people. From Cangzhou southwest to Chongzhou, Mengzhou, and Dingzhou, all are Northern Garrison Army people.”

Qin Wan quickly said, “Zhang Kaide was also—”

Yan Chi nodded, “Correct. Zhang Kaide was the old general’s disciple. Later, he left the Northern Garrison Army to take command of the Western Ding military district. Although he was still aligned with the Crown Prince’s faction, his mindset must have changed from before, which is why he became involved in the corruption case.”

Qin Wan narrowed her eyes. She knew the reputation of General Zhao You, the Protector-General. This old general had been stationed in the north even longer than Prince Rui Yan Lin had been in Shuoxi. And Zhao You’s father, the previous Protector-General, had also commanded the Northern Garrison Army. Thus, the Zhao family had controlled the Northern Garrison Army much longer than Prince Rui’s mansion had controlled Shuoxi. However, since the Zhao family lacked royal blood, they didn’t appear too conspicuous. Both generations of Zhao family Protector-Generals had been extremely dutiful and talented commanders. The Zhao family’s current glory had been earned through generations of bloodshed and sacrifice. Now, for the Northern Garrison Army to control Cangzhou was naturally very easy.

The Zhao family wanted to preserve this glory and maintain their position as the head of military families. But this time, the Empress’s decision had essentially placed the Zhao family on the edge of a cliff – on one side was a bottomless abyss, and on the other was overwhelming prosperity. Those who didn’t understand would only think she had gone mad with ambition.

“But after so many days, they still haven’t found any trace of the Empress,” Qin Wan sighed softly. “And after this, what will happen to the Marquis’s mansion?”

At this question, Yan Chi also frowned, “The mansion will inevitably be implicated.”

Qin Wan pressed her lips together tightly, not knowing what to say. Had Qin Chaoyun thought of this when she took this step?

Seeing Qin Wan’s furrowed brow, Yan Chi pulled her into his embrace, “If I’m not mistaken, Qin Chaoyun will send someone to the mansion these days.”

Qin Wan frowned upon hearing this, and Yan Chi continued, “Perhaps this is why the Emperor released Qin Shu and his son back to the mansion.”

Qin Wan’s heart raced to hear this. The Emperor had released Qin Shu and his son back to the mansion to use them as bait?!

“So… the mansion will be under surveillance these days?”

Yan Chi nodded, “Very likely. The Empress and Crown Prince are well hidden, but in comparison, Qin Chaoyun is more likely to contact the mansion.”

Qin Wan took a deep breath, “Then I…”

Yan Chi looked steadily at Qin Wan, “So you needn’t worry about them. Qin Chaoyun is the Crown Princess, and the Empress has a hundred thousand Northern Garrison troops. The Empress and Crown Prince aren’t yet in dire straits. Since Qin Chaoyun took this step, she must have considered the mansion’s situation.”

Though Qin Wan didn’t completely consider herself part of the Qin family, it would be untrue to say she wasn’t worried at all.

Qin Wan nodded, and Yan Chi held her hand, saying, “Be at ease. Just remember we’re about to have our wedding. I’ll handle everything else.”

Seeing Yan Chi naturally made Qin Wan feel secure, but thinking of palace matters, she couldn’t help but worry, “Noble Consort Feng seems to know about His Majesty’s matter. Her illness is very strange. The people in Changxin Palace and Prince Cheng even think she’s possessed and seek ritualists from the Imperial Observatory to perform ceremonies. But she fell ill right after the Fifth Princess’s wedding. That day, the Empress and Crown Prince were allowed out to send off the bride. The Empress must have made arrangements by then, perhaps she said something to Noble Consort Feng.”

Yan Chi’s phoenix eyes darkened, but he shook his head, “The Empress’s move has left variables in the rear palace. As for what happens next, it all depends on Feng Lingsu.”

Qin Wan thought for a moment and said, “Remember Madam Qian said that when Prince Jin met with misfortune, the Empress wanted to save him. This time, is the Empress trying to save Feng Lingsu once? His Majesty won’t possibly let Prince Cheng compete for the throne. The best thing for Prince Cheng now would be to pretend he knows nothing and take a fief somewhere as a leisure prince. He shouldn’t dream of anything else.”

Yan Chi didn’t immediately respond. At this point, the Empress’s move was truly intriguing.

…

…

In Changxin Palace, the ritualists had left, but the smell of burned charm paper still lingered in the air.

Feng Lingsu lay on the bed with a deathly pale face, raising her trembling hand to point at Baodie, “Who… who told you to call the ritualists? You… go call Prince Cheng… I want to see Prince Cheng… quickly!”

Baodie was nearly crying, “Your Highness, please don’t speak. The ritualists just performed the ceremony and said your illness needs rest. They said you might have encountered some unlucky thing. It’s not a serious illness, don’t worry. Prince Cheng is in Chongzheng Palace discussing matters with His Majesty, we can’t call him over right now.”

Hearing this, Feng Lingsu’s eyes grew huge, and her throat made hoarse sounds as if she might faint from anger.

Baodie hurriedly rubbed Feng Lingsu’s chest in fright, “Your Highness, you must take care of yourself. The current political situation is very favorable for Prince Cheng. Just trust in His Highness, he will surely seize this opportunity. You don’t know yet, but a memorial came from the north saying the Northern Garrison Army might rebel.”

Baodie lowered her voice, “I don’t know the specifics, but Lu Xiao from Prince Cheng’s side came to say that you should rest assured. His Highness will find ways these days to have His Majesty entrust him with suppressing the rebellion. Once His Highness achieves merit, His Majesty will surely make him Crown Prince.”

Feng Lingsu’s eyes grew wider and wider, her mouth gaping, unable to speak for a long while.

Seeing her like this, Baodie hurriedly said, “Your Highness, don’t be agitated. Things are still far off – we have to wait for the northern situation to break out. But the Crown Prince has made a fatal move this time. Our Prince is the one who can remain calm. You should just rest assured…”

“You… go… call… Prince Cheng…”

Feng Lingsu’s neck was stretched straight, her face ghastly pale with dark circles under her eyes. She looked ten years older than half a month ago. Her appearance was somewhat frightening, and Baodie said helplessly, “Your Highness, didn’t you hear what I said? Prince Cheng can’t come right now. What are you so worried about?”

“Go! Call! Prince Cheng…”

Feng Lingsu suddenly propped herself up on the bed, her voice particularly shrill!

Having served Feng Lingsu for many years, Baodie was naturally loyal. Seeing her mistress so agitated, she knew she had to call Yan Qi. Baodie then said, “Mistress, don’t be anxious, don’t be anxious. Please lie down first. You mustn’t get angry. This servant will go call Prince Cheng right away!”

Though Feng Lingsu hadn’t eaten any rice, she somehow found strength in hearing Baodie’s words. She immediately collapsed back with a “thump.”

Baodie dared not be careless. She quickly ordered two palace maids to watch over Feng Lingsu while she sent someone to find Yan Qi.

The northern matter would come out sooner or later. Though the Emperor hadn’t announced it to all officials after receiving the memorial, he had selected several ministers to discuss it, surprisingly including Yan Qi – something unprecedented. Yan Qi felt his blood boiling with excitement. With the Crown Prince ahead of him, he had been very inconspicuous, but if there was no Crown Prince, the Emperor would only have him as a choice. At this point, he didn’t even care about Prince Jin’s case or any strange occurrences. He only knew that the Crown Prince and Empress had chosen a desperate method to achieve their ambitions. Not only would their names be condemned by court historians, but in the present, he would not give them a chance to recover!

The Northern Garrison Army’s rebellion naturally needed troops to suppress it. Though Jinzhou’s garrison was still en route, who would lead the army was a question. Yan Qi couldn’t compete for the position of commander, but he absolutely wouldn’t give up any opportunity. Leaving Chongzheng Palace, Yan Qi gave Minister of Revenue Yang Han a meaningful look…

Yang Han understood, nodding slightly before walking ahead. Just as Yan Qi was slowing his pace, people from Changxin Palace arrived.

Hearing the palace servant’s words, Yan Qi raised an eyebrow slightly, “How is she still not better?”

How could the palace servant know? Yan Qi sighed impatiently but had to go to Changxin Palace.

Arriving at Changxin Palace, seeing Feng Lingsu’s condition made Yan Qi helpless. He couldn’t help but berate, “What’s going on?! Didn’t I tell you to summon the Imperial Physician?! The ritualists have also been here, how is Mother still showing no improvement!”

Feng Lingsu coughed lightly twice, raising her hand toward Yan Qi. Yan Qi sighed, walking to the window to hold Feng Lingsu’s hand, “Mother, rest easy and focus on recovery. Don’t worry about anything else.”

Feng Lingsu’s eyes were slightly red, looking very frightened, “Last time… what I told you…”

She lacked strength, speaking in broken sentences. These few words seemed to take all her energy, but before she could finish, Yan Qi released her hand and stood up, “Mother, you don’t need to say this anymore. After you told me last time, I thought about it. After thinking, I realized this matter can’t be decided so simply. Everything is fine, so why should I give up this hard-won opportunity? Now that there’s no ‘legitimate’ Crown Prince pressing ahead of me, why can’t I compete?”

Feng Lingsu anxiously tried to sit up, “Qi’er… listen… listen to Mother…”

Yan Qi stepped forward, forcefully pressing Feng Lingsu back onto the bed, then said sternly, “Mother, I’ve grown up. You’re not the Empress, and I’m not the Crown Prince. Let me make my own decisions in this matter. You just continue being Noble Consort – who knows, in a while, you might move to Kunning Palace?”

Throughout Great Zhou’s history, all Empresses lived in Kunning Palace. Yan Qi’s meaning was very clear. In the past, without Yan Qi saying so, Feng Lingsu would have fantasized about it herself. But now everything was different. Hearing Yan Qi’s words, Feng Lingsu felt as if Yan Qi was sinking into a bottomless swamp, and she couldn’t pull him out no matter how hard she tried. She became terrified, tears welling in her eyes, “Qi’er… you…”

Yan Qi suddenly straightened up, “Mother, please rest well. I will send for the Imperial Physician again.”

After saying this, Yan Qi walked out without looking back.