The main courtyard had guards stationed outside. Apart from Shen Lingzhen, others could not easily enter, which was why Huo Liuxing had spoken without much concern in the bedroom earlier.
Shen Lingzhen had already heard most of it and generally understood the situation. Seeing that his throat could not produce sound, she took the initiative to recount every detail of her earlier meeting with the Second Prince, so he could rest assured.
Only then did Huo Liuxing’s expression improve somewhat.
“But when you just scolded the Second Prince, my lord… I don’t understand—what bad things has the Second Prince done to me?” Shen Lingzhen asked in confusion.
Huo Liuxing pointed toward the front courtyard, having Jingmo push him there to deal with the imperial physician. He also gave Kongqing a meaningful look, indicating that since he couldn’t speak, Kongqing should explain to Shen Lingzhen.
Kongqing broke out in a cold sweat and quickly nodded.
Shen Lingzhen watched Huo Liuxing leave, then turned to see Kongqing heave a great sigh of relief. She smiled and comforted him with a few words.
In truth, she also felt that Huo Liuxing seemed somewhat overly anxious today due to his concern. Kongqing and Jingmo’s handling of the matter was entirely appropriate. Just as bad people don’t have the word “bad” written on their faces, even if the Second Prince truly intended her harm, he couldn’t possibly come knocking on the door with a knife.
Kongqing led Shen Lingzhen to the study. After entering, he explained on Huo Liuxing’s behalf: “Young Madam, you don’t know yet—when you were abducted at Peach Blossom Valley last year, it wasn’t actually the so-called Baiying Cult committing a brazen act. The true mastermind behind it was the Second Prince.”
Shen Lingzhen was startled: “When was this discovered?”
“The Second Prince has always presented himself as someone indifferent to worldly struggles. Our lord only confirmed it recently after hearing news from Young Master Meng. Our lord didn’t want you to worry about this matter and had planned to explain everything to you only after all the dust had settled.”
When Shen Lingzhen was initially abducted, she had vaguely suspected that the abductors’ purpose was to sabotage the Huo-Shen marriage alliance. Now hearing this, she found it somewhat difficult to understand where this Second Prince’s motive came from.
What kind of stakes could make him strike so viciously at his cousin, who had no grudge or enmity with him?
Seeing her puzzlement, Kongqing continued: “Young Madam must have noticed that whether it was the Second Prince who abducted you or the Fourth Prince who set an ambush for our lord in Qingyang, both were extremely unwilling to see you marry our lord and unwilling to see the Huo family rise step by step. The reason behind this is actually quite simple—they both have designs on the position of Crown Prince and don’t want the current Crown Prince to grow stronger.”
“So you’re saying that elevating the Huo family was proposed to the Emperor by the Crown Prince?”
Kongqing nodded: “Though our Crown Prince has a weak constitution, he is one of the few clear-headed people in court and has always strongly opposed the Emperor’s excessive policy of favoring civil officials over military ones. Last spring, when Xiqiang cavalry invaded our border passes and suffered a defeat at the hands of a forest our lord had planted years ago, the Crown Prince recognized our lord’s exceptional talent in countering Xiqiang and thus advised the Emperor that to break Xiqiang, the Huo family must be reinstated.”
Shen Lingzhen suddenly understood.
Since reinstating the Huo family was the Crown Prince’s idea, then after the Huo family’s elevation, out of gratitude for this recognition, they would naturally align themselves with the Crown Prince’s side and become the Crown Prince’s supporters.
The Huo family’s abilities were plain for all in court to see. Zhao Xun and Zhao Rui naturally wouldn’t allow the Crown Prince to have such powerful backing, so they planned to eliminate the Huo family early.
Shen Lingzhen asked: “So when the Fourth Prince deliberately embarrassed the Second Prince in front of our lord, was it truly to remind our lord that the Second Prince is not a good person?”
“You could say that.”
Shen Lingzhen frowned. This Zhao Xun’s switching of enemy and ally positions was quite quick, without any hesitation. Clearly he himself wasn’t a good person either—where did he get the nerve to immediately turn around and show goodwill toward the Huo family?
Kongqing’s words happened to answer her current question: “Actually, although the Fourth Prince did many things detrimental to you and our lord in Qingyang, he at least held back somewhat, focusing mainly on testing rather than intending to harm your lives. But the Second Prince is different—the Second Prince’s complete lack of principles frightens even the Fourth Prince.”
Shen Lingzhen nodded. This was indeed true. The reason she had been able to help Huo Liuxing by jumping into the river was precisely because she was certain Zhao Xun wouldn’t dare harm her.
But Zhao Rui was different. When he abducted her, he had almost gone through with killing her.
However, hearing Kongqing’s phrase “complete lack of principles” seemed to carry additional meaning.
She asked: “What other outrageous acts has the Second Prince committed?”
Kongqing sighed: “Young Madam, do you remember the spy that the Dingbian Army captured last year? That was also the Second Prince’s doing.”
Shen Lingzhen was shocked. As a member of the imperial family, to collude with the enemy and betray the country, then frame loyal court officials—that was truly lawless behavior.
“The Second Prince was born to a lowly mother. For him to compete for succession is truly as difficult as ascending to heaven. Perhaps because of this, he chose the lowest methods. When sabotaging your marriage to our lord failed, he hoped to destroy the Huo family’s prestige in the northwest. It just so happened that Xiqiang also intended to exploit our country’s drought and the chaos from displaced people to break through our Daqi’s northwest defenses. The two sides hit it off immediately. Last year’s first battle with Xiqiang dragged on for an entire month—many of the obstacles came from the Second Prince’s collusion with the enemy. Fortunately, you and our lord went to the Dingbian Army beforehand and set up a counter-espionage scheme early on, which helped the master successfully repel the enemy.”
“Is that spy still alive? Can he identify the Second Prince to the court?”
Kongqing shook his head: “The Second Prince is extremely vigilant. Once the counter-espionage scheme was used, he suspected the spy had been turned and, with the attitude of ‘better to wrongly kill a thousand than let one go,’ sent someone to silence him. Now we, including the Fourth Prince, only know that the Second Prince colluded with the enemy, but we have no concrete evidence.”
Shen Lingzhen worried: “What can be done? The Xiqiang envoys will soon arrive in the capital to sign a letter of surrender with our Daqi. If we cannot prove the Second Prince’s crimes before then and allow the two sides to meet again, who knows what complications might arise.”
Kongqing smiled confidently: “Young Madam need not worry. Our lord’s great victory over Xiqiang and recovery of Hexi was completely unexpected by the Second Prince. The Second Prince guessed that our lord has investigated him and is now clearly seeing danger in every shadow and can no longer sit still. Look at this abalone incident—it was originally a coincidence, but it made him suspicious that it might be a scheme by our lord, so he hastily summoned the imperial physician to probe. Next, as long as our lord casts one more piece of bait, he will definitely hook this big fish, the Second Prince.”
“You already have a foolproof plan?”
Kongqing nodded: “Matters have varying degrees of urgency, as do enemies. Although the Fourth Prince once targeted our lord, he at least has his heart toward Daqi. And when choosing between a legitimate elder brother and a brother born to a concubine, he should naturally have his preference. So he absolutely cannot tolerate the Second Prince selling out the imperial family. When the Fourth Prince undermined the Second Prince’s face in our residence, he was showing our lord his position, indicating that in this matter, he is willing to cooperate fully with our lord. Thus, bringing down the Second Prince should be within reach.”
—
Shen Lingzhen soon understood what “within reach” meant.
After Huo Liuxing recuperated at home for a few days, two groups arrived in Bianjing from the northwest in quick succession. One group was the Xiqiang envoys who, after their defeat, came seeking peace and were willing to submit to Daqi and sign a letter of surrender with the court. The other group was the military spy that Huo Shuyi had escorted to the capital on her father’s behalf.
Kongqing had clearly stated that the spy had been silenced. Shen Lingzhen didn’t know where Huo Liuxing had conjured up a new spy like magic, but she guessed this must be the bait prepared for Zhao Rui.
Because the spy matter involved court secrets, it was only reported to the Emperor alone. Therefore, Huo Shuyi could not yet openly stay at the Huo residence and temporarily settled outside the city after escorting the spy to the imperial prison.
On the same day, the still-unrecovered Huo Liuxing received an imperial edict inviting him to bring Shen Lingzhen to attend a banquet at the Great Celebration Hall to receive the Xiqiang envoys.
The Emperor’s meaning was courteous but carried a hint of firmness: You are the greatest hero in intimidating Xiqiang this time. Today’s reception banquet, which needs to display our national prestige, you absolutely must attend. Otherwise, it won’t be conducive to adding clauses when signing the letter of surrender tomorrow! I know you ate abalone and broke out in bumps all over your head and body, but with your looks, it shouldn’t be unsightly enough to cause problems. Just tidy yourself up properly and obediently come despite your illness!
Upon receiving the imperial edict, Shen Lingzhen began worrying over Huo Liuxing’s face.
The Emperor’s praise of her lord’s handsome appearance was merely polite on the surface. The subtext was clearly: Dress up well, cover those rashes, and absolutely don’t embarrass Daqi!
How would Huo Liuxing know about grooming? The Emperor’s instruction for him to bring Shen Lingzhen meant he was subtly expressing: Niece, you’re so beautiful, you must know about applying rouge and powder—you’d better help him with it!
Shouldering this heavy responsibility, Shen Lingzhen looked at the pile of rouge and powder before the vanity mirror, then at Huo Liuxing’s face showing an expression of martyrdom, as if heading to the execution ground. She truly found it difficult to proceed.
The rash was most conspicuous when it was almost but not quite healed. The body was manageable, but the face and neck were truly unsightly and impossible to conceal.
Seeing her hesitating with a box of Jade Maiden Peach Blossom Powder, Huo Liuxing grew somewhat angry: “Is it that ugly?”
If this didn’t count as ugly, what could be sad?
Shen Lingzhen moved the bronze mirror before his eyes, drooping her brows: “No need for me to say—my lord, look for yourself. These spots on your cheeks are almost like pear skin.”
Huo Liuxing’s face darkened. From her disgusted expression, if this face didn’t heal, she might even divorce him.
Though time and his wife had smoothed some of his edges, he was still a person with pride.
Huo Liuxing frowned and took the powder from her hand, intending to apply it himself. But unexpectedly, with a flick of his fingers, half the box of powder landed on his face.
Shen Lingzhen was shocked.
This handiwork truly befitted someone who had once commanded armies and swallowed thousands of miles like a tiger.
“Aiya, my lord, why are you being so reckless!” She hurriedly tried to salvage the situation, carefully spreading the powder evenly on his face, then took a box of slightly darker color and gently dabbed it on the rash marks, finally covering it again with a layer of slightly lighter powder.
Huo Liuxing sneezed repeatedly, shaking his head and crying out that he couldn’t bear it. He couldn’t help trying to wipe it off but was held down on both sides by Jingmo and Kongqing: “Young Madam has excellent skills!”
Shen Lingzhen carefully examined Huo Liuxing’s face by daylight, then turned with a worried expression to ask Jianjia and Bailu: “The rash can’t be seen now, but I feel the powder makes our lord’s complexion somewhat pale. This sickly appearance—it won’t display our national prestige, will it?”
Jianjia nodded: “We still need to apply rouge and lip color—that’s the soul of makeup!”
Hearing this, Huo Liuxing became furious and was about to stand up.
Shen Lingzhen quickly soothed him: “My lord, rest assured, I will select the rouge and lip color most suitable for your complexion.” She turned and began rummaging through the cosmetic box. After a while, her eyes lit up. “This lip color is somewhere between plum and bean paste—quite suitable for the gentle, jade-like temperament my lord projects in public. As for the rouge, just a light layer of deep flesh tone should be sufficient.”
Huo Liuxing lay there like a fish on a chopping board, eyes closed, jaw trembling, letting her do as she pleased.
After a while, he heard thunderous applause from all around. Shen Lingzhen’s delighted voice rang out: “Perfect and flawless! Once my lord enters the palace, he will surely stand out like a crane among chickens, eclipsing all others in beauty!”