Hearing this, the Empress Dowager’s pupils constricted slightly as she frowned: “What could be inconvenient in my palace? The servant maids have all gone out as well.”
Qin Yining gazed at the Empress Dowager for a moment, then suddenly smiled as if relieved, saying quietly: “Then this subject’s wife can be at ease. Today’s palace visit is to tell the Empress Dowager a secret and to ask for the Empress Dowager’s help.”
The Empress Dowager said: “Whatever you have to say, just say it. We’re not outsiders here.”
Qin Yining then said: “Please wait a moment, Empress Dowager.”
As she spoke, she raised her hands to unfasten her garment.
The Empress Dowager was very surprised. She sat upright in the seat of honor, staring blankly as Qin Yining loosened her clothing and finally opened her white inner garment at the side, taking out a silk handkerchief from the inner layer at her breast, then slowly stepped forward to present it to the Empress Dowager with both hands.
The Empress Dowager squinted suspiciously as she received the handkerchief that still held Qin Yining’s body warmth. The white silk handkerchief showed through with black ink marks—there were obviously words written on it.
The Empress Dowager unfolded the handkerchief, and after just one glance, her eyes suddenly widened.
“This, this is!”
On the handkerchief was a personal letter written by Li Qitian. Though it bore no seal, the Empress Dowager still recognized Li Qitian’s handwriting. Li Qitian had specially prepared this item for Qin Yining to hide close to her body precisely to convince the Empress Dowager to believe Qin Yining.
“Is this real? Is this truly my son’s personal letter! Where is my son now?” The Empress Dowager was so excited her hands trembled, no longer calling herself “I” in the imperial manner or referring to Li Qitian as the Emperor.
As a mother, she was still concerned about her child after all.
Qin Yining sighed lightly and said: “Reporting to the Empress Dowager, His Majesty is currently in the Prince’s mansion.”
“When was he rescued? Why wasn’t I sent any news?”
“Reporting to the Empress Dowager, Marquis Dingbei persisted on the mountain these past days, and finally Heaven did not forsake us—last night he rescued both His Majesty and the Prince. His Majesty suffered quite a bit in the underground palace and lost some weight from hunger, but his health is otherwise unimpaired.”
Hearing that Li Qitian had only grown thin from hunger but was otherwise unharmed, the Empress Dowager joyfully burst into tears, pressing her palms together and bowing repeatedly to the void: “Amitabha, Buddha’s protection, Buddha’s protection!”
Thinking about Qin Yining’s words, she felt something was wrong: “Since he’s safe, why doesn’t he hurry back to the palace? The court still needs him.”
“Empress Dowager, initially His Majesty did indeed plan to return to the palace. But before our group could descend the mountain, we encountered people from the Five Cities Military Commission coming up the mountain to search, saying Tatar spies had infiltrated. His Majesty felt it was strange at the time. He couldn’t trust the Five Cities Military Commission people, so we used a small stratagem and successfully escaped quietly from Mount Chong.”
Before becoming Empress Dowager, she had just been an ordinary woman. Though she was cleverer than most women and had seen much of the world through Li Qitian’s years of campaigning, making her more composed than ordinary women.
But hearing Qin Yining’s simple description, the Empress Dowager was still frightened pale.
“What happened after escaping? Where is my son now?”
“Empress Dowager, please be at ease. His Majesty is temporarily hiding in the Prince’s mansion. His Majesty instructed this subject’s wife to enter the palace to report to the Empress Dowager and ask the Empress Dowager to command Marquis Qingyang to lead the Huben Army to the Prince’s mansion to escort him back to the palace.”
When saying this sentence, Qin Yining carefully observed the Empress Dowager’s expression throughout.
When the Empress Dowager heard mention of Marquis Qingyang and the Huben Army, her eyes shifted. Her complexion also showed several points of panic, and her hands gripped her sleeves tightly, as if she were struggling with something, fearing something.
Qin Yining said: “Empress Dowager? Please issue the edict. His Majesty now only trusts the Huben Army.”
“I understand. I’ll instruct Marquis Qingyang to handle it shortly,” the Empress Dowager said hastily.
Qin Yining raised her eyebrows and nodded slowly: “That’s good then. This way His Majesty can also set his mind at ease. This subject’s wife will return immediately to report back. His Majesty can return to the palace very soon.”
Speaking to this point, Qin Yining deliberately observed the Empress Dowager’s expression again.
This time, the Empress Dowager seemed to sense something and looked directly into Qin Yining’s eyes.
Qin Yining took the opportunity to blink questioningly.
But the Empress Dowager sat rigidly in place, saying with a calm, dignified voice: “You’ve done very well this time. Once His Majesty returns to the palace, I will certainly reward your Prince’s mansion generously. That His Majesty remained safe in the underground palace was undoubtedly also due to Zhixi’s loyal protection. Later I’ll hold a grand banquet, inviting ministers and their families into the palace for everyone to celebrate together.”
“Thank you for the Empress Dowager’s grace.” Qin Yining lowered her eyes and bowed respectfully, then said: “The message has been delivered. This subject’s wife must return to the Prince’s mansion to report back, so I’ll take my leave.”
The Empress Dowager’s hands tightened again, but ultimately she said nothing more, only nodding: “Go then. When you have leisure, come keep me company more often. I’m pleased just looking at you.”
Obviously an insincere pleasantry. Hearing it, Qin Yining only smiled, bowed, then left Ci’an Palace’s main hall with Bingtang and Ji Yun.
The Empress Dowager watched Qin Yining’s figure slowly departing with the support of the two maids. Her mouth opened and closed, but ultimately, due to fear, she didn’t speak the words.
The palace doors closed with a creak.
The Empress Dowager sat in place, then heard footsteps emerging from behind the screen at her back, approaching from far to near.
Prince Li and Marquis Qingyang walked out leisurely from left and right with their hands behind their backs, stopping not far from the Empress Dowager, chatting quietly without any concealment.
“This Prince felt something was wrong last night. Those idiots still couldn’t figure out what was wrong with them and actually let that wretched woman put on an act and take them away. Truly missed by just one move!”
“Indeed.” Marquis Qingyang also said: “Your Highness, what do we do now?”
“What to do? Wait, of course.” Prince Li stood with his hands behind his back, squinting as he smiled at the pale-faced Empress Dowager, asking politely: “Empress Dowager, what do you think?”
The Empress Dowager was instantly frightened pale, her whole body trembling violently, her lips shaking uncontrollably.
Seeing the Empress Dowager like this, Prince Li burst out laughing: “The Empress Dowager is usually so imposing, but today you’ve become so timid—it’s truly surprising to this Prince. Just now we were wondering behind the screen when the Empress Dowager planned to tell that little woman we were behind the screen. Even if you didn’t speak up to tell her, you could have at least given her a hint. But unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager said nothing at all. This is really… haha!”
As Prince Li spoke, he laughed until he swayed back and forth.
Marquis Qingyang also shook his head: “It seems in the Empress Dowager’s eyes, as long as you’re given enough wealth and honor, it doesn’t matter who becomes emperor.”
“I, I didn’t!” The Empress Dowager trembled like chaff: “You cannot do this! His Majesty has treated you well! His Majesty has always been generous to you! Prince Li, you are His Majesty’s own cousin! And Dayong, you are His Majesty’s own maternal uncle, my own brother! How can you do this!”
Prince Li’s expression changed as he mocked: “Don’t put on that wronged face. If you love His Majesty so much, why didn’t you just warn Lady Qin to remind your son! To put it bluntly, you’re just like us! All for the sake of staying alive!”