Qin Yining knew that Princess Tana’s temperament was somewhat similar to Khan A’na Ri’s—neither was stupid, but both were straightforward speakers. This was the same as many people she had befriended in Tatar territory. Such frank personalities found it nearly impossible to hide their thoughts.
Princess Tana’s smugness today was different from previous times when Li Qitian had summoned her for his favor. There seemed to be an element of gloating mixed in.
Qin Yining couldn’t help but become alert. She pretended not to understand any of Princess Tana’s provocative remarks, only smiled and listened without taking the bait.
Even Bingtang and Ji Yun noticed Qin Yining’s unusual behavior.
After lunch, Princess Tana rested in her bedchamber, and Qin Yining also had some leisure time to speak with Bingtang and Ji Yun in the side hall.
“Today the Princess Consort seems to be acting with particular caution,” Ji Yun asked in a low voice. “Has something happened?”
Qin Yining held a soft ink-filled pillow and leaned against the warm platform by the window, saying wearily, “It’s nothing really, just that today Consort Shun looks different, as if she’s accomplished something and is feeling smug about it. So I’m being more cautious. After all, some words can be said once, but if repeated too many times, not only do they lose their effect, they can easily be used against you.”
Ji Yun nodded, “The Princess Consort speaks truly.”
Bingtang also said, “These days I’ve been carefully watching the Princess Consort’s food and drink. Though the palace has an imperial kitchen, favored consorts all have their own small kitchens. I see Consort Shun often has her small kitchen prepare Tatar snacks for her. The Princess Consort should be careful about anything you consume while with Consort Shun.”
Qin Yining considered for a moment and said, “Poisoning me to death wouldn’t be a wise move. To put it bluntly, if I were poisoned to death, both my father and His Highness would have coroners investigate thoroughly. If anything were discovered, Consort Shun herself wouldn’t benefit.”
“Bah bah bah! Spit that out quickly! How can the Princess Consort say such things? Aren’t you afraid of bringing bad luck!” Bingtang was so anxious she nearly slapped Qin Yining.
Seeing her reaction, Qin Yining laughed, “Alright, I was just making an analogy. I’m not foolish enough to let someone poison me.”
Ji Yun’s expression also wasn’t good, “The Princess Consort is being far too carefree. We servants are all anxious here, yet you act like it’s nothing serious all day long. This servant wants to remind you—please don’t dismiss this from your mind.
“Princess Consort, you are clever and know what you should and shouldn’t do daily, but not everyone knows what they should do. What if you encounter someone whose brain can’t think straight and they really do poison you? There are more fools than wise people in this world, and more impulsive people than rational ones. The Princess Consort must consider everything carefully.”
“Exactly, the Princess Consort must be more careful.”
As Ji Yun and Bingtang spoke one after another, Qin Yining sat up straight and said seriously, “I understand.”
She indeed hadn’t considered this layer—she had made the error of judging others by her own standards.
Qin Yining spent the day cautiously with Ji Yun and Bingtang.
What was reassuring was that nothing unusual happened that day.
That night, Li Qitian again chose Princess Tana’s tablet.
Qin Yining took the opportunity to sleep well again.
In the deep of night, with Li Qitian holding a beauty in his arms and drowsily falling asleep, a pair of smooth lotus-like arms wrapped around him again, and soft little hands brazenly began to make mischief below.
Li Qitian let out a low laugh from his throat, turned over to pin Princess Tana down, his fingers pinching her sensitive peak as he said, “What’s this? Why are you so passionate tonight?”
Princess Tana gasped several times, pressed against Li Qitian and turned over, instead mounting him.
After waves of passion and clouds of rain subsided, Li Qitian was exhausted from his indulgence, his large hands still lingering on Princess Tana’s skin that was like congealed fat.
Princess Tana’s voice was hoarse and lazy as she spoke in unpracticed Great Zhou language at an extremely slow pace: “Initially, when this subject was ordered to come for the marriage alliance, this subject hated the Khan to death.”
“Is that so? Understandable.” Li Qitian said with his eyes closed.
Princess Tana continued, “But now, this subject doesn’t hate him at all.”
“Why?” Li Qitian asked cooperatively.
“Because if this subject hadn’t been chosen for the marriage alliance back then, this subject would never have met Your Majesty. This subject never imagined that the person Lady Qin described as so despicable would be such a brave and heroic true man.”
Hearing this, Li Qitian’s eyes suddenly opened, though his hand movements remained the same and his voice stayed lazy, “Is that so? Hmm, what did you just say—who said who was despicable?”
Princess Tana was startled, covering her mouth and gasping, “Ah, this subject, this subject said nothing. This subject just feels that being able to meet Your Majesty is truly wonderful.”
Li Qitian narrowed his eyes, turned to grab Princess Tana’s shoulders and asked, “What have you heard about me before?”
“Nothing, nothing much.” Princess Tana seemed frightened, her bright watery eyes misting with vapor, her voice trembling slightly, “Your Majesty, just now you…”
“Don’t tell me I misheard.” Li Qitian sat up and reached for his bright yellow inner robe to put on.
Princess Tana, wrapped in blankets, also hesitantly sat up, holding the covers with her round shoulders and beautiful collarbones exposed outside the blanket. Her healthy skin glowed with youthful vitality and fragrance that made it hard to look away once seen.
Li Qitian’s movements of putting on clothes paused.
Princess Tana lowered her head and said, “It’s nothing really, just that these days Lady Qin has been in this subject’s palace teaching this subject Great Zhou language and proper conduct. This subject’s Great Zhou language isn’t very good now—there are many things this subject understands but can’t express.
“Lady Qin probably thought this subject couldn’t understand. When she was captured and taken to Tatar territory, she said many unfavorable things about Your Majesty to save her life. Now her words are even more cutting, saying this subject is foolish and thus matched with a foolish ruler.
“This subject also heard her say that…”
“Say what?” Li Qitian asked with a smile.
Princess Tana lowered her head even further, “Your Majesty, if you won’t blame this subject, this subject will tell you.”
“I won’t blame you. It’s too late for me to cherish you—how could I blame you?”
Princess Tana smiled timidly before saying, “She said that the emperor of this realm shouldn’t rightfully be you, but should be her husband. She also said that if not for her husband not wanting to be emperor, it wouldn’t be your turn now…”
She ultimately didn’t have the courage to finish the rest.
Because Princess Tana had now become like a keen little leopard sensing danger, instinctively closing her mouth.
Li Qitian’s gaze was too terrifying, as if he could strangle her at any moment.
Only then did Princess Tana calm down somewhat. Her determination to avenge Khan A’na Ri was involuntarily set aside under Li Qitian’s cold stare, like a venomous snake ready to strike.
She had always thought herself a bird free to soar. But before Li Qitian, she discovered this bird might not even have the courage to flap its wings.
Li Qitian remained silent. Even without speaking, his powerful aura made Princess Tana involuntarily shrink back.
On ordinary days, Li Qitian might not have believed Princess Tana’s words.
But just today at court, someone had impeached Pang Xiao.
Though he had given Pang Xiao a secret decree to eliminate Yuchi Yan, this matter had been properly discussed in small court sessions with several trusted ministers.
Now so much time had passed, and Pang Xiao still held military power in the old capital. Could a hundred thousand Pingnan Army troops not eliminate one Yuchi Yan?
It had only taken Ji Zeyu a few months to resist the Tatar invasion, yet there was still no response from Pang Xiao’s side.
Li Qitian was already troubled by this matter, and today ministers had thought along the same lines as him. Now hearing Princess Tana’s words made it even harder for Li Qitian not to overthink.
No matter how capable, clever, and talented Qin Yining was, she was still just a woman.
Where would a woman get the confidence to say such things? If she hadn’t been influenced by daily exposure, could she blurt out such words?
Li Qitian looked at Princess Tana again.
This woman was so frightened just from cleverly making accusations before him. Combined with his observations of her these days, such lies weren’t something she could fabricate.
It wasn’t that Tana couldn’t create lies to harm Qin Yining.
Rather, Tana herself didn’t have the brains to hit exactly the right spot with her lies, striking at what he cared most about. Eighty percent of what Tana said today was taught by someone else.
Actually, after the palace coup, though Li Qitian still firmly believed in Tianji Zi’s calculations, he had been somewhat moved by the support of Pang Xiao and the Qin family.
However, that touched heart ultimately wasn’t as important as his imperial throne.
Sometimes when Li Qitian recalled the past, thinking of those days fighting together on battlefields and remembering Pang Xiao’s character, if someone said Pang Xiao would rebel—without considering those calculations—Li Qitian actually didn’t fully believe it.
If Pang Xiao had treasonous intentions, there had indeed been many opportunities for him to succeed before. Not to mention anything else, when trapped in the underground palace, he could have directly killed him.
But wasn’t he still alive and well now?
However, Tianji Zi’s words and the ministers’ reminders made it impossible for Li Qitian not to overthink.
Should he trust Pang Xiao or not?
If he eliminated Pang Xiao, he would be completely safe.
But if he really eliminated Pang Xiao, would people gossip behind his back, saying he couldn’t tolerate meritorious officials and had harmed nobles right after ascending the throne, showing no magnanimity?
Thinking this way, Li Qitian’s brows knitted together, creating a deep vertical line between them.
At the very least, he should verify that Pang Xiao indeed had treasonous intentions before killing him would be justified, right?
Princess Tana’s heart beat like drums as she tremblingly approached Li Qitian, using her little finger to tug at his sleeve: “Your Majesty, did this subject say something wrong?”
Li Qitian looked at Princess Tana, smiled gently, traced her nose bridge with his finger, and embraced her as they lay down: “It’s getting late. Let’s rest.”
“Your Majesty, this subject still needs to return to the palace.”
“I permit you to sleep here tonight.” Li Qitian smiled, holding the soft beauty and closing his eyes to doze.
Princess Tana pillowed her head on Li Qitian’s shoulder, burying her face against him and secretly breathing a sigh of relief.
In her heart, she cursed that court lady thoroughly.
She had done as that court lady instructed, but the Great Zhou Emperor had such an ominous demeanor, as if he wanted to kill her. For a moment she really thought she might be killed.
She didn’t understand—with the Emperor acting this way now, did he believe her or not?