At her words, Sang Zhan’s expression changed slightly. Anu immediately realized her impropriety, and before Sang Zhan could scold her, she said anxiously: “Your Majesty, this servant was presumptuous. What status are you, what status am I? I shouldn’t speak out of turn. I just thought of how Young Master loves eating it, and the Old Mistress loves it too. Young Master is always most filial to the Old Mistress…”
Unexpectedly, Hong Xiao glanced at Sang Zhan and said: “This girl is truly loyal to her master. It’s also fate – this palace can teach you.”
“Does that mean Anu can stay here to learn from Your Majesty?” Anu immediately asked.
Sang Zhan’s brow furrowed as he finally spoke to scold: “Anu, that’s enough of your impertinence! How could the Empress have time to teach you such trivial matters!”
Hong Xiao looked at him, her expression gentle: “Your mother also has this preference? Then let her stay a few days to learn the craft. For your sake, it’s not a time-consuming matter.”
“This…” Sang Zhan hesitated slightly upon hearing this, finally showing a trace of gratitude in his eyes: “Then this humble citizen thanks Your Majesty. My mother is Han Chinese – my fondness for this date cake also comes from her. If the technique could be learned and brought back, that would be wonderful.”
He looked at her deeply.
Hong Xiao’s face warmed. Logically, this Sang Zhan had always been cold and distant toward her. If he had accepted her kindness from the start, she would have found it strange. But for his mother’s sake, it seemed fitting with his apparent character.
In the future, they could grow closer. She thought slowly, then was suddenly startled by this thought. She was doing this to test Li Zhaoting – she mustn’t cross boundaries. The person opposite… just felt like the former Li Zhaoting and… that person, but he definitely wasn’t.
She secretly warned herself, watching Sang Zhan bow in thanks and leave.
Leaving Anu behind, Sang Zhan and his group departed the Central Palace and returned to their quarters. Abu exclaimed “Eh!” – there was an unmarked letter lying flat on the table. Aqi had already picked it up and handed it to Sang Zhan.
Sang Zhan’s expression had long returned to cold hardness. He opened it and looked, his eyes slightly narrowing. In moments, he wrote a letter and whispered something in Aqi’s ear. Both men’s expressions tightened, then they left.
The two circled the palace, appearing extremely excited as newcomers. When imperial guards patrolled by, they occasionally glanced over but didn’t question them. Finally, they reached near the Laundry Bureau, stopped cautiously, buried a letter they’d carried close to their bodies under a tree, then immediately departed.
At evening, a palace-dressed servant passed by, looked around, went to the tree to dig up the letter, then also hurried away.
Soon, half a month passed. After major events, tranquility often follows. During this time, like wind over a mirror lake or water falling from eaves, all was extremely calm. But actually, Wei Wujun’s funeral had taken place, the Wonderful Minister had visited, Li Zhaoting had completed the plan agreed upon with Sang Zhan regarding preventing Chu’s intention to wage war, Sang Zhan had also “by order” left the palace for many days to plan mining operations for his clan’s mineral resources, troops hadn’t advanced in large numbers, and Quan and Wei had become increasingly opposed in court affairs…
Many things progressed along their trajectories.
During these days, the Empress Dowager frequently visited the Imperial Hall but emerged in anger, though the palace didn’t know why. Some guessed it was because, except for the Central Palace and Consorts Miao and Wei who still received imperial favor, other palaces received no imperial grace – unequal distribution causing unrest.
But the Emperor had previously been attacked and was still recuperating, not even resuming morning court, mostly handling government affairs in the Imperial Hall without visiting other palaces, which seemed reasonable. Moreover, he still doted greatly on the Empress and favored consorts, so the theory of unequal favor seemed untenable.
Speaking of consorts, one matter caused endless speculation – the whereabouts of Noble Consort Shu, who had returned to the palace recently only to suddenly disappear, remained mysterious. Palace rumors mostly said that due to her disfigured appearance, the Emperor had initially brought her back out of old affection, but later found her increasingly repulsive. Finally, one day when imperial favor ended, he expelled her from the palace. Others said she had previously often contradicted the Emperor, and having offended him again, was sent to the Cold Palace where she later died of illness.
The only thing people could see clearly was that the Emperor had recently acquired a new interest. He had somehow obtained a baby girl, keeping her in the Imperial Hall, treating her both sternly and lovingly. Sometimes he stared at her harshly with obvious anger, but when she cried and made trouble, he would condescend to feed her personally, caring for her himself, sleeping and rising together.
The palace was extremely curious about the baby’s origins, with endless speculation about the Emperor’s private life.
Beyond speculation, palace women and renowned ladies outside all envied the Empress. The Empress was already beloved by the Emperor, and the dragon heir in her womb, whether male or female, would surely be extremely noble in the future. If a son, he would certainly be the crown prince candidate.
Xiao Sishan never spoke a word about palace rumors, mostly smiling without comment when female officials and palace servants inquired. Following the Empress, she was among the very few who knew the truth, understanding clearly what was real and false.
For instance, Noble Consort Shu who seemed to have vanished into thin air.
On the day Feng Suzhen was severely injured, when imperial physicians arrived, they said she probably wouldn’t survive, that treatment would only prolong life a few days… Later, Li Zhaoting ordered the Cold Palace consorts removed… A few days later, the Empress received secret notification from Liang Song and accompanied her to secretly observe. Si Lanfeng directed palace servants to wrap up a mat and carry it out of the Cold Palace to the palace burial ground. Li Zhaoting held that bastard child, watching coldly from the side with a gloomy expression.
Some things couldn’t be spoken of, but regarding speculation about the dragon heir, those rumors were correct – the Empress’s child would definitely inherit the throne in the future.
The Empress had said she’d already spoken with the Empress Dowager, who hadn’t objected. Once the Emperor recovered, she would recommend her for the position of Palace Superintendent.
“Aunt…”
Today she was resting, eating fruit in her room while quietly calculating these matters, when a palace maid rushed in urgently and whispered something.
She was startled, then said: “Please invite them in quickly.”
Soon, the palace maid brought in a eunuch. At a glance, he was somewhat unfamiliar. She was puzzled when the eunuch approached and said in her ear: “Aunt, this servant doesn’t usually walk and serve in the Central Palace, precisely to avoid attention while handling affairs for Her Majesty. This is a letter from Her Majesty to you – you’ll understand after reading it.”
He handed over a letter. Xiao Sishan opened it to see Hong Xiao’s handwriting and seal. The Empress instructed her to handle two matters, telling her not to visit the Central Palace these few days to avoid arousing suspicion.
She frowned tightly – both matters were no small concern, quite troublesome—
The eunuch, being Hong Xiao’s man and extremely clever, almost immediately saw through her thoughts, lowering his voice: “Aunt, the Feng woman is dead and can no longer influence the Emperor, but those two places… must be completely eliminated. Rest assured, Her Majesty has already bribed someone in the Imperial Kitchen to be the scapegoat – it definitely won’t implicate you or her. Even if discovered, even if Her Majesty is found out, would the Emperor abandon Her Majesty and the Prince? He won’t. As long as Her Majesty remains, can your Palace Superintendent position escape? Aunt can be at ease.”
“Good, this servant understands. Please tell Her Majesty that this servant will certainly assist with all my strength.” She bit her teeth and nodded in agreement.
The eunuch bowed and quickly left.
She put away the letter, then summoned several trusted subordinates in the department…
In palace rumors, the Empress Dowager had been in poor spirits recently. At this time, Princess Jin indeed sat in her hall with a stern expression.
Feng Suzhen’s death had greatly affected Li Zhaoting, but she believed that one day he would finally recover – his attitude toward the Empress proved this. But this son’s attitude toward Feng Suzhen’s bastard child left her completely puzzled and furious.
He seemed determined to keep this menace! Even though this was only a baby girl, unlike her and her son years ago – the Murong family remnants had no banner to rally for restoration – she was still a major concern!
She was thinking when head maid Xiaochun entered, saying someone requested audience. Hearing who sought the meeting, she was greatly surprised: “Oh, why would this person come to me?”
Xiaochun said slowly: “They say they can remove Your Majesty’s heart’s worry.”
Apart from the Cold Palace, this was the darkest place in the palace. Night descended, and cold moon and frost made it even more sinister and threatening.
This was the palace prison.
The palace’s place of punishment.
Often also where the palace’s deepest secrets were buried. Many times, even slightly lower-ranking guards didn’t know the identities of the imprisoned.
Now, several men and women imprisoned in the deepest darkness were daily beaten until covered in wounds, the stench of rotting flesh filling the rooms, but all were said to be of great importance.
Besides occasional conversation, they mostly remained silent, having seemingly placed life and death beyond consideration.
That night, though palace servants had long delivered evening meals, even with the palace’s strict security, countless imperial guards, two head jailers with over a hundred subordinate guards whose martial arts matched the imperial guards – the two still personally checked each cell before daring to return to the surface courtyard to eat. Other guards only dared eat after seeing the head jailers pick up their bowls and chopsticks.
Midway through the meal, a guard suddenly held his chopsticks to his forehead, then “clap clap” – bowls and chopsticks fell, and his body heavily collapsed.
In the Imperial Hall, Li Zhaoting lazily leaned on the soft couch in the front room, his sharp eyes reviewing memorials, with Miaoyin beside him massaging his shoulders. Suddenly, crying came from the dragon bed. Li Zhaoting was startled, threw down his documents. Miaoyin felt complex emotions, saying quietly: “This consort will bring her over.”
Li Zhaoting nodded. At this time, Liang Song outside reported: “Your Majesty, Minister Wei requests audience.”
Li Zhaoting’s brow half-furrowed, but he quickly said: “Admit him.”
Wei Chenghui entered with Wei Wuya. Li Zhaoting looked: “Minister Wei, urgent business with me?”
Both Wei Chenghui and Wei Wuya looked up, showing surprise.
“Your Majesty, didn’t you summon father and son to the palace?”
Just as he finished speaking, the hall door was suddenly pushed open heavily. Li Zhaoting was startled: “Lanfeng, you’re becoming increasingly ill-mannered!”
It was indeed Si and Liang who entered. Si Lanfeng’s face was full of alarm. Seeing the Son of Heaven’s angry question, he said trembling: “Your Majesty, something terrible has happened – the Empress Dowager has been taken hostage and is currently trapped in her hall!”
Li Zhaoting’s whole body shook. The two Weis, hearing this news, were also greatly shocked. At this moment, baby cries came, and Miaoyin emerged holding the child. She was also extremely shocked – if not for Li Zhaoting’s timely stern glance, she almost dropped the child from fright… She quickly held the baby properly, only hearing Li Zhaoting sternly ask: “Do you know who the assassin is?”
Si Lanfeng smiled bitterly and shook his head: “This subordinate deserves death. This assassin… has locked himself and Her Majesty in her palace. We dare not rashly break in for fear of harming Her Majesty. The other party demands to see Your Majesty.”
Li Zhaoting was furious, his muscles suddenly tensing: “Good, I’ll go immediately. I want to see what person dares to be so bold! Today I will have them torn apart by horses.”
“Your Majesty, this consort will accompany you.” Miaoyin said urgently, handing the child to a wet nurse in the hall.
The two Weis naturally dared not delay, immediately following. The former cast a sinister glance at the child – he already had a way to eliminate this child, just a matter of days.
Seeing everyone hurrying out, Si Lanfeng remembered something and called loudly: “Your Majesty, wait – this assassin has another condition.”
“Speak!” Li Zhaoting’s eyes seemed ready to spew fire.
“He wants you to bring the Empress and her too…” Si Lanfeng took a breath, trembling as he pointed at the wet nurse’s arms, not daring to look at Li Zhaoting’s expression, then quickly added: “And also… also… Noble Consort Shu’s remains.”