“Your Majesty Empress Dowager, Eunuch Duo Shou from Chong Zheng Palace has arrived,” Elder Chen said, treading lightly into the warm chamber with an elderly eunuch in his fifties following behind.
The Empress Dowager quickly responded, “Let him come in to speak—”
As her words fell, Elder Chen led Duo Shou into the room. Duo Shou respectfully bowed to the Empress Dowager before standing up. He had served in Chong Zheng Palace for many years, initially chosen for his auspicious name, but later retained for his steady and diligent nature of doing more and speaking less. After serving the late Emperor, he now attended to the current Emperor. Though his position wasn’t as high as Yuan Qing’s, he was still a prominent figure in the Inner Court and Chong Zheng Palace. He was particularly skilled at managing relationships, never using his seniority to bully others, and gradually built a good reputation. Even as he aged, he remained in the Imperial Attendant Office, overseeing the Emperor’s daily life and various affairs at Chong Zheng Palace.
“You must know what I wish to ask about. Speak freely, I have no other intention. All these years, I’ve watched the Emperor progress to where he is today, finally fulfilling the late Emperor’s expectations by becoming a good ruler for Great Zhou. But last night, when I asked the Emperor to accompany me in chess, I noticed he has white hair now. These years, I’ve been too at ease about him, to the point where I’ve shown too little concern. Just tell me casually about the Emperor’s affairs…”
Having served in the Imperial Attendants Office for so many years, Duo Shou naturally understood that palace marriages weren’t true marriages, and palace father-son relationships were primarily sovereign-subject relationships. However, he clearly understood the Empress Dowager’s love for the Emperor. Initially hesitant, after hearing the Empress Dowager’s words, his concerns dissipated.
“Elder Chen mentioned that the Emperor lost to you in chess yesterday. Actually, since his ascension to the throne, he hasn’t touched chess at all.”
The Empress Dowager was momentarily surprised; this was something she truly hadn’t known.
“When the late Emperor passed away from illness, His Majesty hadn’t fully recovered from his injuries when he ascended the throne. Upon his ascension, the evil forces of Prince Gong’s faction hadn’t been eliminated. In the west, foreign enemies harassed the borders; the north was unstable; the south suffered from floods; and pirates wreaked havoc along the coast. This servant remembers that in the first two years after ascending the throne, His Majesty read memorials until dawn every night. It took two full years before the court situation stabilized. During those two years, forget about chess – he barely even saw the imperial concubines.”
The Empress Dowager listened, feeling a flood of memories rushing back to her mind.
She remembered it all clearly. When Yan Han’s rebellion failed, it shook both the court and the common people. When Yan Huai was rescued, he was nearly dead. She first saw Yan Huai covered in bloody wounds, then heard about the numerous charred bodies at Feng Lei Ridge, making it impossible to identify which one was Yan Han. The shock had made her fall gravely ill.
She had experienced palace struggles in the first half of her life. Not only had she secured her position as Empress, but she had also given birth to two princes for the late Emperor. Moreover, their eldest son was steady, virtuous, and wise, making him the undisputed choice for crown prince. She had never imagined that the two sons she bore would meet in armed conflict, resulting in a life-or-death situation. When she fell ill, Yan Huai hadn’t yet regained consciousness. All the imperial physicians kept watch day and night in the palace, and ultimately it was Prince Yi’s wife who saved the Emperor.
Learning that Yan Huai’s life was temporarily saved, she began to grieve for the deceased Yan Han. They were both her flesh and blood and regardless of Yan Han’s wrongs, death could not be undone. In her heart, she viewed those mistakes more lightly. She wanted to protect Yan Li and his mother, and she wanted Yan Han’s cenotaph to be placed in the imperial tomb. Initially, Yan Huai didn’t know about this, but Yan Huai’s faction at court strongly opposed it. Later, when the matter naturally reached Yan Huai’s attention, by the time his injuries had healed enough to see people, he had already grown distant from her. At that time, she hadn’t considered how Yan Huai would react after learning about these matters. She was immersed in her grief, and after learning that Yan Huai could succeed to the throne, she completely lost her will to compete.
By the time she realized that the mother-son bond between her and Yan Huai had grown thin, it was already after Yan Huai’s ascension to the throne.
At that time, Yan Huai’s personality had changed dramatically. Facing numerous obstacles at court, he not only refused to seek help from her as the Empress Dowager but also became more decisive and swift in his actions. Even people from his faction, if they committed any wrongdoing, would be imprisoned and investigated by him. Those years could be described as a time of strict laws and severe punishments.
It was then that she began to feel sorry for Yan Huai, but he seemed to have become a different person. Under his thunderous methods, the court became peaceful and prosperous, the new dynasty shining like the bright sun. He completely didn’t need to rely on her as Empress Dowager. Moreover, being absorbed in state affairs, he grew distant even from Feng Ling Su and others. The Empress Dowager observed this with both pride and sadness. It wasn’t until the fourth year of Yan Huai’s reign that their mother-son relationship began to improve.
“Later, after His Majesty settled the court affairs, he still didn’t indulge himself. Those former interests, once lost, stayed lost. Later, when subordinates searched for many chess boards and manuals, His Majesty wouldn’t even look at them,” Duo Shou sighed. “Having a good emperor is a blessing for Great Zhou’s people, but His Majesty has indeed been working hard these years. Not only does the Empress Dowager feel heartache, but even we servants watch with great admiration… After the court stabilized, I remember it was the Empress Dowager who said His Majesty had too few consorts, so new consorts were selected to enter the palace. After that, His Majesty began visiting the rear palace more frequently…”
The Empress Dowager nodded. Yes, in the fourth year of Yan Huai’s reign, she saw that the rear palace only had the Emperor and Feng Ling Su, along with two former servants from Prince Luo’s mansion. With Yan Huai spending all day in Chong Zheng Palace and rarely visiting the rear palace, she then had the idea to select new consorts. Later, when several gentle and articulate beauties were added to the rear palace, creating several incidents, Yan Huai finally began paying more attention to the rear palace…
“What about these recent years? Last year when I was seriously ill, I hardly inquired about affairs at Chong Zheng Palace. Does the Emperor frequently visit the rear palace now?”
Duo Shou quickly replied, “His Majesty still goes, though not often. He visits Noble Consort and Consort Wan slightly more frequently…”
The Empress Dowager frowned slightly, “Doesn’t he visit the Empress?”
This was a secret of Chong Zheng Palace, but since the questioner was the Emperor’s mother, Duo Shou naturally dared not conceal anything and said, “Almost… rarely.”
The Empress Dowager’s heart suddenly sank. Initially, marrying Zhao Shu Hua as primary consort was Yan Huai’s own decision. Yan Huai was like this – dignified and steady in temperament, yet not rigid or rash. Even though the later secondary consort Feng Ling Su gained more of Yan Huai’s favor, such favor merely satisfied a man’s romantic inclinations. On major matters, the Yan Huai of those days highly valued Zhao Shu Hua’s opinions and greatly respected her as the primary consort…
“Rarely? When did it become like this!”
Zhao Shu Hua naturally couldn’t compare with Feng Ling Su in winning affection. Her personality was too strong, somewhat like her own former self. Such a personality certainly couldn’t become the emperor’s favorite, but the difference between an empress and consorts lay in being the mistress of the six palaces and mother figure to the nation.
This dignity wasn’t something that could be gained just by pleasing the emperor. Because of this, although the Empress Dowager didn’t approve of the Empress extending her reach to the front court, she greatly admired the Empress’s wisdom and decisiveness. Conversely, although Feng Ling Su had the Emperor’s favor, she somewhat looked down on her.
Yan Huai was very good at maintaining overall stability. Although he doted on Feng Ling Su, he would never give her more power. Instead, he respected Zhao Shu Hua as his primary wife, not denying her any due honor and showing even more respect than to others. But when had the relationship between Emperor and Empress become so poor?
Duo Shou was stumped by this question. “It should be… about a year after the Fifth Princess was born. It wasn’t His Majesty’s fault. The Empress… suddenly changed in temperament, offending His Majesty several times. His Majesty felt that the Empress… this servant shouldn’t say, but after that, His Majesty visited less frequently, and the Empress also maintained her dignity, never coming to Chong Zheng Palace. And so, gradually it became more and more…”
As a servant, Duo Shou naturally couldn’t say who was right or wrong, but these few words still made Empress Dowager understand.
For a woman, giving birth was like walking through death’s door. After she gave birth to Yan Han, because the births of the two brothers were too close together, she developed an illness and remained in poor spirits for a long time afterward. If not for the dignity of being Empress and the glory of her family requiring her to stay stable, she might have lost the will to maintain the Emperor’s favor. But how could the Empress have let herself fall into such a situation?
In her memory, those years after Yan Zhen’s birth, the Emperor showed great affection for her, and every time she saw the Empress, she always felt her smile was warm and gentle. She had thought that with a daughter, the Emperor and Empress could be described as living in harmony, but she hadn’t expected their private relationship to deteriorate so badly!
The Empress Dowager was quite puzzled. The Empress’s wisdom was rare among women. Even if she was magnanimous, even if she had lost the desire to maintain the Emperor’s favor, she should still consider her family and Yan Che more carefully. Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager sighed. This time, when Yan Huai confined the Empress without a second word, she should have realized it from this point.
“Tell me about other things. What does the Emperor like to eat now, and besides reading memorials, what other things does he do daily?”
Hearing this, Duo Shou began recounting the Emperor’s usual activities one by one. As the Empress Dowager listened, she kept sighing inwardly. Although they lived in the same palace, she knew too little about the Emperor’s daily life and preferences, especially after being ill for the past year.
After questioning Duo Shou for nearly half an hour, the Empress Dowager finally dismissed him. Once Duo Shou left, the Empress Dowager leaned back on her couch and sighed, “The Emperor has had such difficult years. I just never expected the Empress and Emperor… did you know about these things?”
Elder Chen showed some hesitation. If the Empress Dowager were younger, it would be different, but since the Empress Dowager’s health had declined and her age had advanced, Elder Chen would deliberately avoid telling her such matters. Over time, it had become a habit.
“These matters… this servant has heard some rumors.”
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager immediately sat up straight, “Tell me what you’ve heard!”
Elder Chen dismissed the palace maids standing at the door, then spoke in a low voice, “They say it’s because the Emperor shows too much favor to Noble Consort Feng, creating discord with the Empress. You know the Empress’s strong personality.
When Noble Consort Feng does something displeasing and gets scolded by the Emperor, she humbles herself and does anything to win back the Emperor’s heart. But the Empress is different. This servant heard from people in Kun Ning Palace that while the Empress manages the inner palace diligently, she has long entrusted the Emperor’s matters to Noble Consort Feng.”
The Empress Dowager widened her eyes – what did it mean to entrust the Emperor’s matters to Noble Consort Feng?!
“The Empress and Emperor both prioritize the bigger picture in public, so nothing seems amiss. But privately, the Emperor barely visits the Empress once a month, and never stays overnight. The Emperor’s seasonal clothing and daily meals are all closely overseen by Noble Consort Feng. The Empress doesn’t mind this and often rewards Noble Consort Feng for taking good care of the Emperor. Seeing the Empress’s magnanimity, other consorts all compete to emulate Noble Consort Feng in serving the Emperor. Noble Consort Feng is somewhat displeased, but this has kept the rear palace peaceful…” Elder Chen smiled bitterly, “In all my years serving in the palace, I’ve never seen anything like this.”
In the rear palace, rank alone wasn’t enough. Whether for the Emperor’s favor or dignity, every woman had to find ways to maintain favor. Even when the Empress Dowager was Empress, she couldn’t avoid this. But the Empress was truly different from all other consorts.
She seemed unconcerned with the Emperor’s favor towards her, truly sacrificing her interests for the greater good. For all these years in managing the inner palace, though her rules were strict, she never showed jealousy over the Emperor’s attention and never secretly harmed any consorts or their children. Because of this, the inner palace had an unusually strange peace, and because of this peace, the Empress Dowager hadn’t inquired much about matters between the Empress and Emperor.
The Empress Dowager was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly, “This Empress, what is she thinking? She performs her duties as Empress well, but…”
But women all have private desires, especially in the rear palace where open and hidden struggles abound. How could she be certain she could remain Empress for life?!
Moreover, she had a son and daughter, and a father who commanded military power.
The Empress Dowager felt helpless, “If this is her way of being Empress, I don’t believe it unless she doesn’t love the Emperor at all.”
Speaking this, the Empress Dowager thought of her past. When she first entered the palace, she and the Emperor were strangers too, but for a young woman, once married to someone, her heart belongs to that person. She couldn’t bear seeing that person favor others and wanted that person’s heart to stay with her forever, unless that person was truly terrible, even after years together no feelings developed. But her Yan Huai was elegant and handsome in his youth, a rare young talent!
Elder Chen smiled, “That might not be the case. This servant remembers when still in the prince’s mansion, when His Highness took Noble Consort Feng as secondary consort, the Empress threw a tantrum. If the Prince hadn’t appeased her well then, it might not have been so easily resolved.”
The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes, her thoughts returning to decades ago.
Zhao Shu Hua grew up in a military family, very similar to herself. Because of this, when the former Imperial Consort Zhao wanted to make Zhao Shu Hua Yan Huai’s consort, she didn’t oppose it. Compared to Feng Ling Su’s delicate and gentle manner, the Empress’s straight posture when walking was particularly admirable.
Half a year after the Empress married Yan Huai as the primary consort, Duke Zhong intended to marry his daughter Yan Huai, using many tactics. Yan Huai knew early on that the late Emperor favored him, so he had made calculations early – the primary consort was from a military family, while Feng Ling Su represented one of the capital’s clan families. Though Duke Zhong’s family hadn’t produced any outstanding figures in two generations, they still had centuries of ancestral worship, so Yan Huai agreed.
Unexpectedly, when Zhao Shu Hua learned of this, she caused a huge scene and moved back to the Assistant National General’s mansion.
Yan Huai and Zhao Shu Hua had met when very young and had considerable interaction afterward. After their wedding, they were as sweet as honey. If not for plans, Yan Huai probably wouldn’t have taken another consort so quickly. At that time, Yan Huai had to plead at the Assistant National General’s mansion for quite a while before bringing Zhao Shu Hua back. Zhao Shu Hua probably came to understand later and stopped making things difficult for Yan Huai. After that, Zhao Shu Hua became increasingly gracious and magnanimous…
“Did something happen that I don’t know about?”
The Empress Dowager and Elder Chen had been mistress and servant for many years, and now Elder Chen was her only confidante. She could be completely honest with Elder Chen about many things.
Elder Chen shook her head, “This servant doesn’t know about that. The people in Kun Ning Palace are wary of us, and the Empress manages her subordinates very strictly. Even if something did happen, they wouldn’t speak of it casually.”
The Empress Dowager nodded, that was true, and this was another aspect of Zhao Shu Hua that she admired.
If Feng Ling Su were made Empress, she couldn’t imagine how chaotic the rear palace would become!
The Empress Dowager pulled her thoughts away from the past and sighed, “The Empress has been confined for too long. Yesterday I asked the Emperor, but he said he has no plans to release her yet. The palace people must all think the Empress has completely fallen from favor.”
This was how the palace worked – even servants would curry favor with the powerful and step on the weak.
The Empress Dowager pondered for a moment, “From today on, have Shou Kang Palace send food to the Empress’s quarters.”
Hearing this, Elder Chen understood – the Empress Dowager was trying to protect the Empress.
……
……
When Yan Zhen arrived at the Eastern Palace, she saw Qin Zhao Yu standing lost in thought under the corridor eaves.
Her sister-in-law’s face showed obvious loneliness and desolation, not at all like a new bride married to her beloved.
Yan Zhen watched Qin Zhao Yu for a moment before walking quickly inside. The footsteps startled Qin Zhao Yu, and when she saw it was Yan Zhen, her face immediately showed a kind smile, “The Princess has come—”
Qin Zhao Yu came forward and warmly took Yan Zhen’s hand.
Yan Zhen smiled faintly, “Sister-in-law, just call me Zhen’er, don’t call me Princess anymore, it sounds too formal.”
Qin Zhao Yu was naturally pleased and immediately said, “Alright, then I’ll call you Zhen’er. Why did you come today?”
Yan Zhen smiled slightly, “I came to see you and Crown Prince Brother. Where is Brother?”
Qin Zhao Yu quickly said, “He’s handling affairs in the side hall. Are you in a hurry? Should I take you to find him?”
Yan Zhen quickly waved her hand, “Then never mind, let him work first. I’ll chat with Sister-in-law.”
Qin Zhao Yu was very pleased by Yan Zhen’s friendliness. She quickly invited Yan Zhen inside, “Then let’s chat first. I’ll send someone to wait there, and when His Highness is done, he’ll come see you…”
While responding, Yan Zhen looked around the room. This was her first visit to the Eastern Palace since Yan Che’s marriage. After looking around, Yan Zhen said, “Sister-in-law, why are there only your things in this room, with none of Brother’s?”
Qin Zhao Yu’s expression froze slightly, but she quickly smiled, “Because His Highness usually stays in the side hall. He’s too busy, and when he finishes his work, he just rests there.”
How could Yan Zhen not understand? The distance wasn’t far – no matter how busy, he could still return.
She didn’t ask further, only said, “What has Crown Prince Brother been busy with these days?”
Qin Zhao Yu said, “Just court matters…”
“Is it about Zhang Kai De?”
Yan Zhen responded quickly. Qin Zhao Yu was surprised as she handed her a cup of tea. Since Yan Zhen’s marriage was arranged, she had been at odds with the Empress. As the wedding date drew closer, Yan Zhen became more and more quiet, and later wouldn’t even leave her room. Yet she knew about Zhang Kai De’s matter.
Seeing Qin Zhao Yu’s expression, Yan Zhen said, “I know everything. Brother must be having a very difficult time now.”
Qin Zhao Yu sighed. This was the good thing about blood relatives – in this palace, only the Empress and Yan Zhen truly cared for Yan Che, followed by the Empress Dowager.
“It’s alright, things will get better. You don’t need to worry. This incident has nothing to do with your brother, he was just implicated.”
Yan Zhen held her teacup, “What can I do?”
Qin Zhao Yu had only meant to comfort Yan Zhen, but hearing this question made her hesitate. After a moment she said, “The key to this matter still lies with the Emperor.”
Yan Zhen listened, her eyes thoughtful, and after a moment nodded, “I understand.”
Qin Zhao Yu smiled, “These days the Inner Court has been preparing for your wedding. I’ve been overseeing it. Now that the Empress is confined in Kun Ning Palace, if there’s anything you’re not satisfied with, just tell me…”
At the mention of marriage, the smile faded from Yan Zhen’s face.
Qin Zhao Yu internally cursed her mistake, but then saw Yan Zhen put down her teacup and look at her, “Sister-in-law, are you happy being married to my brother?”
“Ah?” Qin Zhao Yu was startled, “What do you mean?”
Yan Zhen examined Qin Zhao Yu carefully, “Because I feel you’re not happy.”
Qin Zhao Yu laughed wryly, “No… I…”
“When I came in earlier, you were standing there lost in thought. I felt you seemed very lonely.” Yan Zhen continued speaking, and seeing no one else in the room, she asked, “Do you not want to marry into the Eastern Palace?”
Her question was direct, as she thought about her future days in Northern Wei.
Qin Zhao Yu was stunned for a moment before realizing Yan Zhen had misunderstood. She shook her head, “It’s not like that. I very much wanted to marry here.”
Yan Zhen blinked, having thought for a moment that Qin Zhao Yu was forced like herself.
Qin Zhao Yu smiled, “I’ve wanted to marry your brother for a long time.” She made a gentle shushing gesture, “I’m only telling you this, don’t tell anyone else.”
Yan Zhen nodded instinctively, and Qin Zhao Yu continued, “If you see me looking lonely, it’s probably because your brother… well, doesn’t care much for me, which troubles me deeply. If my feelings were lighter, perhaps I could live more happily.”
Qin Zhao Yu looked at Yan Zhen, “Do you like the Crown Prince of Northern Wei?”
Yan Zhen thought of Tuoba Hong and only had a strange impression. She shook her head.
Qin Zhao Yu smiled slightly, “Then you’re luckier than me.”
Yan Zhen seemed to want to speak but hesitated, her gaze both surprised and enlightened. After a while, she said, “I remember Mother liked you before, she said you were different from others.”
Hearing this, Qin Zhao Yu could only smile bitterly. After a while, she said, “In the entire palace, the Empress is the most perceptive person.”
Though Princess Qin was the first to speak such words, it was the Empress who truly saw through her. The Empress recognized her feelings for the Crown Prince, so she favored her from the start. Her noble birth, character, and appearance were all first-rate among noble ladies. These qualities were enough to make her a good Crown Princess, even an Empress, but more importantly, she loved the Crown Prince more than others.
She used her noble upbringing to control herself, dedicating all her feelings to Yan Che. Regardless of whether she could become Empress in the future, loving Yan Che more meant she could take family glory and children’s honor more lightly.
This was the Empress’s intention.
Everyone knew the Empress liked and admired her, but she was merely choosing the most suitable person for Yan Che.
That admiration and favor were cruel to her.
Because the Empress knew that a Crown Princess who entered the Eastern Palace with such deep feelings would face a lifetime of disappointment and pain.
Though she understood everything, Qin Zhao Yu surprisingly felt no hatred toward the Empress. This path was her own choice, so she would walk it even in tears. Moreover, the Empress’s insight and wisdom surpassed all other consorts. Therefore, she couldn’t understand why the Empress had allowed Feng Ling Su to remain favored for so many years.
Yan Zhen took Qin Zhao Yu’s hand and said softly, “My brother is very gentle inside, he just never expresses it. Since childhood, Mother taught him how to be an emperor. Sister-in-law, my brother will understand one day!”
Qin Zhao Yu felt bitter inside but also found some comfort, “I know. Don’t tell anyone else about this.”
Seeing Yan Zhen nod, Qin Zhao Yu asked again, “Do you not want to marry into Northern Wei?”
Qin Zhao Yu’s earlier openness had lowered some of Yan Zhen’s defenses. She lowered her eyes and nodded, “I don’t want to go.”
Qin Zhao Yu sighed, and Yan Zhen looked up at her, “Mother is hateful.”
Qin Zhao Yu was slightly startled, seeing Yan Zhen express such unreserved dislike for the Empress. She felt both amused and somehow envious – if the Empress hadn’t cherished her in her palm for years, how could she dare to be so unfilial?
“Zhen’er, do you… think the Empress loves you?”
Yan Zhen pouted, “It was fine before, but now, she just wants me to help Crown Prince Brother secure his position. To her, I’m just a chess piece.”
Yan Zhen’s marriage to Northern Wei would indeed help Yan Che somewhat, but Northern Wei was weaker than Great Zhou, making it extremely difficult for them to interfere in Great Zhou’s internal affairs in the future. According to Qin Zhao Yu’s analysis, someone as wise as the Empress couldn’t have missed this point, yet she still wanted Yan Zhen to marry far away. There must be another reason.
If the goal was to strengthen Yan Che’s position, they could have arranged marriages with several Duke’s families, ensuring at least half the capital’s noble families would support the Crown Prince. But with Yan Zhen bearing the title of Northern Wei’s Crown Princess, even if she became Empress someday, her influence would be too distant to matter. So why did the Empress want her to marry so far away?
Looking at Yan Zhen’s delicate and pretty face, Qin Zhao Yu suddenly felt a chill down her spine.
Qin Zhao Yu could only think of the first reason – that the Northern Wei Crown Prince was a reliable husband candidate. The Empress liked and valued him, so when Yan Zhen married him, at least she wouldn’t suffer from a husband of poor character or poverty. As for the second reason…
Qin Zhao Yu didn’t believe the Empress saw Yan Zhen as a chess piece; she only believed the Empress wanted to better protect Yan Zhen.
After cherishing Yan Zhen in her palm for over a decade, would she send her to suffer the harsh cold of a foreign land now?
No, the Empress would surely cherish this daughter for life…
If so, what in the capital made the Empress so wary that she would marry her daughter so far away?
Qin Zhao Yu’s expression changed slightly, “Zhen’er, can you find a way to see Mother?”
Yan Zhen was startled, her expression hesitant, “I… I don’t want to see Mother…”
Qin Zhao Yu sighed, “Zhen’er, things might not be as you think. I know you still have misgivings, but right now I want to see Mother once, and I can’t do it on my own. The Crown Prince also can’t plead with the Emperor right now. Only you can help, Zhen’er.”
Yan Zhen frowned, “I… Father might not grant my request…”
Qin Zhao Yu smiled warmly and encouraged her, “It’s alright, just try. If it doesn’t work, we’ll let it be.”
Yan Zhen looked at Qin Zhao Yu puzzled, “Is it because of Crown Prince Brother’s matter? Is it very serious?”
Qin Zhao Yu pondered briefly, then nodded, “Yes, it’s quite serious.”
Hearing this, Yan Zhen finally nodded through gritted teeth, “Then I’ll try…”
Qin Zhao Yu was greatly comforted by these words. She believed that if Yan Zhen asked, the Emperor would agree. The Emperor had many sons but only one princess. Though he didn’t show excessive doting on this daughter normally, at this time, Qin Zhao Yu believed he would grant any request from this daughter.
When they finished talking, Mo Yun called from outside, “My Lady, His Highness is coming this way!”
Qin Zhao Yu nodded and said softly, “Don’t tell the Crown Prince about this matter yet.”
Yan Zhen was confused, but since Qin Zhao Yu seemed to trust her so much, she could only nod.
Soon, Yan Che entered the warm chamber. Qin Zhao Yu quickly stood up and curtsied, “Your Highness—”
Yan Che made a sound of acknowledgment and looked directly at Yan Zhen, “Why did you come here?”
Yan Zhen looked at Yan Che, then at the submissive Qin Zhao Yu, and seemed to better understand what Qin Zhao Yu had said earlier. She felt somewhat uncomfortable and stepped forward, “Brother hasn’t visited me for two days, so I came to see you.”
A rare smile appeared on Yan Che’s face as he patted Yan Zhen’s head, “It’s good that you’re willing to come out and move around. Is there anything you’d like to eat? Stay for dinner.”
Yan Zhen glanced at Qin Zhao Yu and blinked, “I want to eat hot pot…”
With the weather getting colder, it was natural for Yan Zhen to want a hot pot. While the cold wind howled outside in the evening, inside the room was as warm as spring. A family gathered around one table, with a copper pot bubbling with rich broth, fresh ingredients being added one by one and scooped out piping hot – when eaten, it made the entire winter feel warm. Yan Che happily instructed the attendants outside, then said, “I heard you’ve been here for a while. What were you talking about?”
Yan Che sat down, and Qin Zhao Yu hurriedly served him tea. Yan Zhen watched Qin Zhao Yu and felt very uncomfortable – Qin Zhao Yu now seemed like someone wearing shackles, having lost all the vitality she had shown while talking earlier. Yan Zhen said, “I was talking with Sister-in-law about Crown Prince Brother.”
Both Yan Che and Qin Zhao Yu looked at Yan Zhen. She blinked and said, “Sister-in-law said you’ve been especially busy these days, and told me to come more often to keep you company.”
Though Qin Zhao Yu hadn’t said these exact words, she had discussed other more important matters. She looked at Yan Zhen, knowing she was helping her.
Yan Che glanced at Qin Zhao Yu and had to say, “I am somewhat busy, but it’s not a big deal. As for you, do come by more often.”
Yan Zhen raised her eyebrows, “But Brother has no time to keep me company.”
Yan Che looked at Qin Zhao Yu, “Isn’t it nice to have your Sister-in-law keep you company?”
Yan Zhen smiled, “Actually, Brother wants me to come keep Sister-in-law company, right?”
Her teasing tone was strong, and Yan Che was momentarily at a loss for words, while Qin Zhao Yu felt her face grow hot.
Yan Che shook his head, “Don’t be silly. I just see that you’ve been cooped up in Jing Ning Palace.”
Disappointment flashed in Qin Zhao Yu’s eyes. Yan Zhen also saw that Yan Che not only failed to understand the romantic implications but didn’t like hearing such talk. So she had to change the subject. The three stayed together, mostly with Yan Che and Yan Zhen talking while Qin Zhao Yu sat quietly listening, hardly daring to look at Yan Che. When evening came, the three had a hot pot together, finally bringing some life to Qin Zhao Yu’s chambers. She began to thank Yan Zhen – without her visit, having a meal together with Yan Che would have been nearly impossible.
After seeing Yan Zhen off, Yan Che looked at Qin Zhao Yu, who had been standing guard nearby, and sighed, “I’ll rest here tonight.”
Qin Zhao Yu was stunned, with joy almost overflowing in her heart.
……
……
When Princess Qin returned to Shen’s residence the next day, the pond in Sun Mu Qing’s mansion had been completely built, with artificial mountains and scenery all set up – only waiting to be filled with water. Sun Mu Qing had been waiting for Princess Qin’s news, and seeing her arrival, knew everything had been arranged.
“That’s the situation. See which day is convenient for you.”
Hearing this, Sun Mu Qing said, “Originally tomorrow or the day after would work, but suddenly Young Lord asked me to stay at Prince Yi’s mansion, saying Prince Yi has been unwell these days and wants me to treat him…”
Prince Yi?! Princess Qin asked with slight surprise, “What happened to His Highness?”
Sun Mu Qing hesitated for a moment before saying, “I don’t know the details yet, but I suspect it might be related to His Highness’s alchemy.”
Princess Qin knew that Prince Yi was fond of Taoism and had been practicing alchemy these days.
She frowned – many Taoists practiced alchemy, and among them, some had gone astray, believing their elixirs could truly extend life and grant immortality. But others merely pursued it as a hobby. Princess Qin had thought Prince Yi was like the latter, but could it be that Prince Yi had also believed those ghost stories?
Back in Jin Zhou, Qin An’s final tragic death was due to a similar poison. Though most people showed no immediate effects from taking elixirs, the poison had already accumulated in their bodies. Since Yan Ze asked for Sun Mu Qing’s help with treatment, could it be that Prince Yi was already deeply poisoned?
Princess Qin dared not take this lightly and quickly said, “That’s fine, this matter isn’t urgent. Just take care of the mansion’s affairs first, and we can discuss this after these days are over.”
Sun Mu Qing felt relieved, “Alright, the Young Lord just told me about this this morning. I haven’t seen His Highness yet. Let’s wait until tomorrow. These days Prince Yi’s mansion seems to have many affairs too – I’ve seen people coming and going but haven’t asked much.”
Princess Qin raised her eyebrows, “What affairs does Prince Yi’s mansion have?”
Sun Mu Qing shook his head, “This I don’t know, but it seems to be preparing something for Princess Yi’s death anniversary.”
Princess Qin suddenly understood. She didn’t know when Princess Yi had passed away, but after so many years, given Father and Son’s feelings for Princess Yi, preparing for a death anniversary was quite normal. Princess Qin didn’t ask further. Looking at this familiar yet strange courtyard, she didn’t stay long at Shen’s residence and soon bid farewell. Leaving Shen’s residence, Princess Qin took a carriage directly to the Marquis’s mansion. These days Madam Hu was increasingly concerned about her marriage. The mansion had been renovated for Qin Zhao Yu’s marriage, and now, not even four months later, they were repainting and renovating again. Princess Qin felt it was too much trouble, but after bringing it up twice with Madam Hu to no avail, she had to let it be.
The Crown Prince’s matter couldn’t be resolved quickly, but clearly, both Qin Zhao Yu and the Crown Prince had realized where the problem lay. She had already spoken very clearly with Qin Yan before, and by now, she could only let things develop naturally – there was nothing else she could do.
As Princess Qin was thinking this, when her carriage arrived at the gate of Loyal and Brave Marquis’s mansion, she unexpectedly saw Zhan Yang waiting at the mansion gate.
Seeing Princess Qin’s carriage return, Zhan Yang immediately rode forward. Princess Qin quickly asked, “Why has Captain Zhan come?”
Zhan Yang looked around, seeming to have something urgent to say, “Princess, Lord Li visited the prefecture office yesterday.”
Princess Qin’s heart skipped a beat, first wondering why Zhan Yang would come to tell her about Li Mu Yun’s matters… Meeting Zhan Yang’s eyes, she saw no suspicion or doubt in them, but she still dared not be careless and just pressed her lips together without speaking. Zhan Yang continued, “He also pulled out the case files of Ning Bu Yi to examine, and he asked if the Princess had inquired about this matter again…”
Princess Qin raised her eyebrows in surprise.
Zhan Yang continued, “I didn’t mention that the Princess had visited. I just remembered that the Princess had asked Lord Li before, so I thought the Princess might want to know this news.”
Princess Qin stared unblinkingly at Zhan Yang, and only after ensuring there was no testing component to his visit did she turn her thoughts to Li Mu Yun. Why would Li Mu Yun suddenly go to review Ning Bu Yi’s case files? Was it because she had discovered him going to that residence?
Or was it because of their conversation that day?!
Li Mu Yun even asked about her, clearly showing he had grown suspicious of her!
Princess Qin’s heart pounded wildly. After a long while, she asked, “Did Lord Li say anything else?”
Zhan Yang shook his head, “No, he didn’t. Now that it’s the end of the year, the Court of Judicial Review is also very busy. I heard these days Lord Li is busy reviewing this year’s major cases, which is precisely why I found it strange when Lord Li suddenly came to the prefecture office.”
Indeed strange. Princess Qin narrowed her eyes – it seemed her following Li Mu Yun had been the right move!
Seeing Princess Qin deep in thought, Zhan Yang suddenly seemed to remember something and said, “Oh right, there’s one more thing. Lord Li also had his servant ask about something.”
Princess Qin immediately looked up at Zhan Yang. He said, “He asked who had bought the old residence of former Chief Minister Shen Yi of the Court of Judicial Review.”
Princess Qin’s pupils trembled as a thought flashed through her mind like lightning.