“Did An Jixiang bring back any new information from delivering the edict to Xuzhou?”

Qingyang was also formally elevated to Noble Consort today. As one of the Four Consorts, a Noble Consort’s status ranked above the other three consorts. But today’s grand ceremony was held for establishing the Empress, and the other three consorts (Refined Consort, Virtuous Consort, and Worthy Consort) were newly married women. Having barely endured until the celebrations concerning her concluded, she returned to Changxin Palace in an irritable mood.

Changxin Palace was one of the first buildings in the palace compound to be completely renovated. Besides the main hall, side halls, and left and right duty courtyards, it totaled sixty to seventy rooms. Currently over forty people including Palace Commissioners, attending female officials, palace maids, and menial workers awaited her orders.

Though still far from the time of most abundant personnel, at this moment it demonstrated Qingyang’s status higher than other consorts.

However, Qingyang’s heart held not a bit of satisfaction. Returning to Changxin Palace, she immediately had someone summon Yun Puzi, the Palace Commissioner of Chongfu Temple outside Changxin Palace’s gates, to the palace for questioning.

Although Emperor Tianyou didn’t venerate Buddhism or Daoism, after founding the state in Jinling he still retained a Chongfu Daoist Temple with over two hundred years of history within the Imperial Palace outside Changxin Palace’s gates. The Daoist priests inside were all castrated, making it convenient for the rear palace consorts to worship Buddha and venerate the Dao without leaving the Imperial Palace.

After Yang Yuanpu learned of Yun Puzi’s identity and the details of how Lu Qingxia and Li Pu had forced his retirement, he appointed him as Chongfu Temple Palace Commissioner to oversee temple affairs.

As long as Princess Qingyang summoned him, Yun Puzi could enter and exit the Imperial Palace without too much restriction.

Qingyang naturally didn’t hope that An Jixiang, who stuck to Yang Yuanpu like a lapdog, would pass her any messages. But An Jixiang’s delivery of the edict to Xuzhou was Emperor Yanyou enfeoffing Han Qian as Marquis of Qianyang to reward his merit—quite ceremonious. Besides several eunuch officials An Jixiang selected from the palace, officials from the Ministry of Rites also accompanied him.

Without going through An Jixiang, she believed Han Qian’s various circumstances after returning to Xuzhou would soon spread throughout many corners of Jinling.

Moreover, if Han Qian honestly accepted the enfeoffment, the previous tense atmosphere should dissipate. Two months had passed since the Jinling campaign ended. Qingyang even wondered whether merchants from Xuzhou or Qianzhong were already appearing on Jinling’s streets again.

In her irritable mood, summoning Yun Puzi to Changxin Palace, Qingyang wanted to immediately know Xuzhou’s recent situation—honestly, even after learning about Xuzhou’s recent situation, she wasn’t clear in her heart what use it would be.

Previously Qingyang had been confident she could gain Yang Yuanpu’s favor and trust. Also, to avoid people using her kidnapping incident against her, she had tried her utmost to help Yang Yuanpu scheme against Han Qian. But who could have expected she would bungle things by being too clever regarding the marriage contract?

Although Yang Yuanpu appeared unperturbed on the surface, Qingyang’s heart knew he most likely suspected her of secretly working for Han Qian. After all, no matter how one analyzed it, the marriage contract matter had perfectly provided Han Qian with an excellent excuse to return to Xuzhou early.

If not for Yun Puzi’s guidance when she visited Maoshan before accompanying her brother into Jinling the first time, she would suspect Yun Puzi coming to Chizhou to seek her patronage was all arranged by Han Qian.

Thinking it over repeatedly, she could only say Han Qian’s grasp of human nature was marvelously superb.

Perhaps the moment he brought Wang Jun into Fanchang, he had already anticipated that as long as someone guessed Yang Yuanpu had thoughts of keeping him, they would most likely use his marriage contract with Wang Jun as leverage.

Even if not her, someone else would mention this matter to Yang Yuanpu. Or perhaps Yang Yuanpu himself had long thought of using this method to gradually force Han Qian to submit.

She no longer had time to thoroughly investigate how Han Qian had schemed in this entire affair. At this moment she worried and fretted more about her own predicament.

Now within the Imperial Palace, besides Empress Dowager Wang Chan’er and Empress Li Yao, there were three more noble ladies—Refined Consort, Virtuous Consort, and Worthy Consort—all of extraordinary birth.

Not to mention Han Daoming’s daughter serving as decoration, both Zheng Hui and Huang Hua were people Yang Yuanpu energetically courted.

Zheng Hui’s younger sister Zheng Zhao was elevated to Refined Consort upon entering the palace this time, while Huang Hua’s daughter Huang E was elevated to Virtuous Consort. The favor and attention they received probably wouldn’t be less than hers.

Not to mention that according to the old system, nine Imperial Concubines and twenty-seven Consorts would subsequently be selected into the palace.

Speaking of it, after Han Qian infiltrated Jinling, he seemed like an extremely inconspicuous idle chess piece left cold, but in the blink of an eye caused heaven and earth to spin, reversing the situation.

The changes came too urgently and quickly—so fast that the moment before she was still fully focused on thinking that suppressing Li Yao, who Yang Yuanpu himself didn’t like, would let her stand firm. The next moment she was already within Great Chu’s Imperial Palace, surrounded on all sides by powerful enemies.

The situation’s changes were so vast and rapid that even now she still hadn’t adapted to the enormous transformations of this brief year.

Although her brother had captured the last Wuliao tribal stronghold in the Banan region and opened the Qian River waterway, managing to establish a foothold in Yuzhou, no matter how great her brother’s power and influence, he was merely a foreign state’s Marquis of Changxiang. In the eyes of Yang Yuanpu, who had now ascended Great Chu’s imperial throne, he was somewhat insufficient.

Huang Hua, as a representative figure of Jiangdong aristocratic clans, was definitely more important in Yang Yuanpu’s eyes than her brother.

Not to mention that Zheng Hui was not only a representative figure of Jingxiang aristocratic clans and had established brilliant military achievements loyally and devotedly by Yang Yuanpu’s side these years, but was also a key bargaining chip within the Zheng clan for counterbalancing Zheng Yu, Zheng Chang, Zheng Xingxuan and others. His importance was even above Huang Hua’s.

Moreover, as a foreign state’s princess, Yang Yuanpu originally shouldn’t favor her too much.

Although these days she’d had some symptoms like morning sickness, and that women’s matter hadn’t come for nearly two months, she didn’t feel much happiness in her heart.

After all, as a foreign state’s princess, even if she bore children, even if she bore the eldest son, the possibility of inheriting the imperial throne would rank far behind children born to other consorts—unless Yang Yuanpu only had the eldest son she bore and no other heirs. But was that possible?

Or perhaps according to the original plan, she should honestly become a chess piece for Shu to maintain contact with Great Chu.

But was she truly willing to accept this?

“This old Daoist hasn’t yet been able to contact people returning from Xuzhou, but when the fleet entered the water gate, this old Daoist with leisure time took two disciples to climb Qiyun Mountain and saw four newly built large fast sail warships directly received outside the city by naval personnel. This type of large warship with apparent capacity exceeding four thousand dan can currently only be built in Xuzhou, presumably brought directly back from Xuzhou by the edict-bearing official,” Yun Puzi said. “Seeing those four ships riding very deep in the water, they were presumably already loaded with cargo when leaving Xuzhou for Jinling…”

For the Five Fang Army navy to restore its vitality and expand into left and right divisions, they needed far more than just four large warships. Not to mention that Jinling required almost complete reconstruction-level repairs, with massive numbers of disaster victims inside and outside the city needing relief—the grain and material supplies invested were a terrifying figure.

However, that the edict-bearing official could bring back warships and over ten thousand dan of urgently needed supplies from Xuzhou—even if later returned to Xuzhou in the form of rewards for this tribute—to some degree demonstrated Han Qian’s gentle and humble attitude…

Qingyang thought to herself that if the tense relationship between Yang Yuanpu and Han Qian eased, then the suspicion she faced over the marriage contract matter might diminish, and she might be able to make some slight defense for herself. From another perspective, as long as Han Qian could behave peacefully after returning to Xuzhou, it was always better than master and disciple making everything bloody!

Qingyang silently pondered whether Yang Yuanpu’s mentality might undergo some subtle transformation because of this.

“Today’s enfeoffment celebration—the Noble Consort’s mood doesn’t seem very good?” Yun Puzi asked tentatively.

“What celebration or happiness? Just because I received the Noble Consort title, should I be happy?” Qingyang said faintly. “These past days I’ve been reading the previous dynasty’s national history. Among those with names who received Noble Consort titles, the previous dynasty had thirty-five total. Only eighteen ultimately met good ends. Daoist Master Yun, do you think that as a princess married far from home to Great Chu without support or backing, even receiving the Noble Consort title should make me very happy?”

As a lonely surviving official of the previous dynasty and a eunuch official born within the palace prohibitions, Yun Puzi was most familiar with the previous dynasty’s palace affairs.

Not just Noble Consorts—nearly half of the imperial consorts who entered the core of power struggles didn’t meet good ends. The main reasons they were deposed or killed weren’t aging and losing beauty, nor lacking children, but mainly depended on victory or defeat in court struggles.

Whether for personal or family interests, whether actively or passively drawn into court disputes, the successful enjoyed glory and wealth, while the defeated either resided in cold palaces, shaved their heads to become nuns, or lost their lives and property. Even among the considerable number of imperial consorts who didn’t participate in court affairs, many innocently became sacrifices of court struggles.

Even as Empresses, the previous dynasty had twenty-nine total. Among them, six died at political enemies’ hands, two died from competing for favor, one disappeared, one committed suicide, one was executed for crimes, and two were deposed and confined until death. The proportion not meeting good ends exceeded forty percent.

Princess Qingyang’s current anxiety and daily trepidation moved Yun Puzi considerably. He said: “His Majesty has been spending nights at the former princely residence during this period. This old Daoist heard that Empress Li also frequently goes there to attend his bed.”

“Li Yao married His Majesty at age twelve. After five or six years through wind and rain, deep affection is normal. Besides, a twelve-year-old girl doesn’t understand romance, but now at seventeen or eighteen, wouldn’t she know how to please a man? Moreover, she’s not bad-looking—definitely better than the three crooked melons and split dates brought into the palace today.” Qingyang said somewhat dejectedly.

Yun Puzi said: “Speaking of strange things, this old Daoist heard that initially Marquis Xinchang Li Pu wasn’t favored by His Majesty, implicating Empress Li in also not receiving much favor. Has Your Ladyship not considered carefully how His Majesty’s and Empress Li’s affection suddenly became so deep?”

“…” Qingyang looked at Yun Puzi and asked, “Have there been some subtle changes at court?”

After entering Jinling and moving into the Imperial Palace, she had even less freedom than in Yueyang.

Although several attending female officials at Changxin Palace were trusted veterans brought from the Shu capital, the rules were now stricter. Not to mention leaving the Imperial Palace—they couldn’t even freely enter and exit the palace compound.

Besides the seven or eight palace maids she was accustomed to using in Yueyang, the other forty-plus newly added palace maids and menial workers at Changxin Palace were all assigned by the Palace Attendant Bureau for service.

Everyone was being cautious, all fearing saying something taboo. Qingyang hadn’t seen much of Yang Yuanpu’s face during this period. Besides Yun Puzi as an information source, she naturally wasn’t very clear about what new changes were occurring at court.

“The Marquis naturally hasn’t done anything to displease His Majesty. Now he could be said to occupy the highest ministerial position. Two sons, one son-in-law, one adopted son, two nephews—either central pillars in the military or rising stars in the military. His daughter is now the reigning Empress. As long as she bears a male heir, ninety-nine percent he’ll be the Crown Prince candidate. If he has no other ambitions, he should be completely satisfied,” Yun Puzi said. “I heard that when deciding Shen Yang’s fate, even with Wang Lin’s posthumous letter, the Empress Dowager, Prince and several lords including Zheng Yu and Zheng Chang all hesitated. The Marquis of Liyang even directly suggested having Shen Yang remain in Guangde for two more years, waiting until the two to three hundred thousand women and children in Guangde were settled before transferring Shen Yang back to the central administration as premier. In the end, it was Marquis Xinchang who supported His Majesty in immediately transferring Shen Yang to Jinling to control the chancellery.”

Qingyang didn’t know this matter, but she was clear about the many details of how the Marquis Xinchang’s residence and Wanhong Tower had supported Yang Yuanpu in earlier years.

Whether Li Pu followed his brother Li Yu campaigning north and south in earlier years, or after the Jinling incident when he was schemed against by Prince Xin causing heavy losses to Taowu Ji soldier-farmers and then having military authority seized by Han Qian without any ability to resist—all this showed Li Pu had deficiencies in commanding troops and military governance, which also limited Li Pu’s personal prestige.

Lower ability had its advantages—Yang Yuanpu didn’t need to be too wary of his father-in-law Li Pu having excessive ambitions.

Additionally, Li Pu had some self-awareness.

When organizing the Right Guangde Army, Li Pu yielded the Commander position to Gu Zhilong, willingly taking second place as Vice Commissioner of the Guangde Army while concurrently serving as Governor of Xuanzhou, willing to serve as deputy to Han Qian and others, responsible for coordinating grain and financial affairs in Xuan, Rao, and She prefectures.

This greatly eased the tense relationship between Yang Yuanpu and Li Pu caused by early conflicts.

On the Shen Yang matter, Li Pu stood out supporting Yang Yuanpu. In reality, he chose Yang Yuanpu between Yang Yuanpu and the Empress Dowager. No wonder Yang Yuanpu and Li Yao’s “deep affection” during this period.

But understanding this point made Qingyang even more dejected. Looking at Yun Puzi rather pitifully, she asked: “Does Daoist Master Yun have any guidance for me?”

“During the first two or three years after His Majesty left the palace to establish his residence, Han Qian attended by his side, teaching him schemes and strategies. His Majesty having Wang Lin ‘commit suicide leaving a letter,’ then organizing Jinyun Bureau to initiate prison tribunals—clearly His Majesty thoroughly learned Han Qian’s methods in this regard. This is perhaps also where His Majesty most fears Han Qian,” Yun Puzi said. “These days I’ve repeatedly reflected—Princess attending His Majesty’s side, if using schemes and strategies to assist him, success won’t necessarily bring merit, while failure will invite taboo. His Majesty had great ambitions from youth and isn’t one to indulge in beauty. Thinking it over, His Majesty’s practical statecraft learning has some deficiencies. If the Noble Consort could spend more painstaking effort in this area, perhaps it would have some effect.”

“Practical statecraft?” Qingyang snorted coldly, saying dejectedly, “These four characters are easy to say, but among the full court of civil and military officials, how many can truly embody these four characters? Daoist Master Yun, aren’t your expectations of me too high? Unless Daoist Master Yun can frequently enter the palace to transmit practical statecraft learning to me, enabling me to elevate my vision and knowledge?”

“Today I visited General Li Zhigao’s residence and obtained a book. Your Ladyship can read it when at leisure.” Yun Puzi extracted the supplementary volume of the *Book of Heavenly Craftsmanship* from his wide sleeve and placed it on the table.

“This truly came from Li Zhigao?” Qingyang glanced at the book over two inches thick, examining Yun Puzi skeptically.

“This old Daoist dares not deceive Your Ladyship,” Yun Puzi said.

“Marquis Xinchang and His Majesty have both let bygones be bygones. Li Zhigao and Marquis Xinchang are adoptive father and son—what obstacle can’t they overcome?” Knowing the details of those years, Qingyang wasn’t so easily fooled. At this moment she stared at Yun Puzi’s face, continuing to press.

The conflict between Marquis Xinchang Li Pu and Yang Yuanpu in earlier years mainly involved attempts to comprehensively control Yang Yuanpu as a puppet. Zhang Ping, Chai Jian, Li Chong, Yao Xishui and others were all directly drawn into this under Lu Qingxia’s and Li Pu’s command.

At that time, Han Qian allied with Li Zhigao and, catching Chai Jian, Li Chong and others unprepared, forcibly disbanded the Guard Battalion whose basic military officers were all Marquis Xinchang’s residence private troops and Wanhong Tower disciples, separately selecting good family sons from Taowu Ji soldier-farmers to newly organize a Guard Battalion loyal to Yang Yuanpu personally under Shen Yang’s supervision.

This was also the root of Li Zhigao and the Marquis Xinchang’s residence parting ways from then on.

However, Yang Yuanpu and Marquis Xinchang Li Pu had let bygones be bygones, no longer pursuing old matters. Zhang Ping was also employed within the Imperial Palace to control the Palace Attendant Bureau. Even if Li Zhigao and Marquis Xinchang didn’t mention nurturing gratitude, what knot couldn’t be untied that would make him think of using Yun Puzi to get to know her?

Qingyang was sometimes somewhat obstinate, but that didn’t mean she was stupid.

“General Li and the Marquis now have no insurmountable obstacles,” Yun Puzi said calmly facing Qingyang’s aggressive sharp gaze. “But the problem is, if General Li runs to the door now to kowtow twice acknowledging his error and renewing father-son affection with the Marquis, it wouldn’t benefit General Li at all. Noble Consort, think about it—no matter how much His Majesty trusts the Marquis, among the Southern Bureau Imperial Guards and Martial Virtue Bureau Imperial Bodyguard’s fourteen armies and fourteen Commanders, besides the Marquis serving as Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, three are direct Marquis Xinchang residence lineage. The influence in the military is somewhat too great. Not to mention generals like Li Xiu, Zhou Shu, Gao Long, Miao Yong, Deng Tai, Zhou Yuan, Wen Ruilin, Li Chi and others—even though the Marquis Xinchang’s residence parted ways with the Empress Dowager and Wanhong Tower, they would all stand on the Marquis’s side as direct lineage… I believe from His Majesty’s perspective, he mostly wouldn’t want to see General Li and the Marquis let bygones be bygones. If General Li truly ran to the Marquis to kowtow acknowledging error, His Majesty could only transfer General Li to another important position. From the Marquis’s standpoint, with two sons Li Chong and Li Chi before him both having ability, he probably hopes more that his two biological sons become more accomplished?”

“…” Qingyang silently looked at the lotus flowers in the courtyard without speaking.

Yun Puzi continued: “General Li and the Marquis renewing father-son affection seems a natural development, but Noble Consort, standing in General Li’s position, should this father-son affection be renewed or not?”

“This generous gift, I’ll accept it,” Qingyang finally picked up the supplementary volume of the *Book of Heavenly Craftsmanship* from the table, casually flipping through over ten pages before asking, “If His Majesty asks about this matter, how should I respond? After all, the contents here mainly originated from Xuzhou, right?”

“Whether His Majesty notices, or Your Ladyship directly presents it to His Majesty, there’s no problem. The *Book of Heavenly Craftsmanship* original edition came from Xuzhou, but the supplementary volume was written by General Li and his subordinate clerks and advisors who, after studying the Book of Heavenly Craftsmanship with some enlightenment, searched through previous Directorate of Construction books and supplemented it,” Yun Puzi said.

Qingyang thought that even if Yang Yuanpu let bygones be bygones with Li Pu, he should hope more to see Li Zhigao completely separate from the Marquis Xinchang’s residence and establish his own house. Li Zhigao should also hope to present this supplementary volume of the *Book of Heavenly Craftsmanship* through her to demonstrate this point, right?

However, once bitten by a snake, one fears well ropes for ten years. She stared at Yun Puzi, asking skeptically: “What benefit did General Li promise Daoist Master Yun?”

“This old Daoist’s value of existence is probably just getting to know a few more noble people.” Yun Puzi didn’t deny it, but also didn’t say what benefit he’d actually received, only smiling vaguely…