When Qin Wan left Shoukang Palace, Yue Ning was still smiling beside her, saying, “I think the Ninth Prince has quite a talent for this. He enjoys it himself, so we should find a good master to come specifically to teach him.”
Yue Ning supported Yan Ze’s arm as they walked beside Qin Wan, looking like a perfect pair. However, the smile in Qin Wan’s eyes was somewhat faint. “That would be good. His personality is too reserved. Learning martial arts can strengthen both body and will, as long as he’s not afraid of hardship.”
Learning martial arts was naturally difficult, and Qin Wan only worried whether Yan Sui could persevere.
Yue Ning said, “He can do it. The Ninth Prince isn’t particularly lively, he suppresses himself too harshly. It’s heartbreaking to see at such a young age, but such a personality can endure hardship. It’s much better than those pampered nobles who only know how to enjoy luxury.”
Yue Ning’s words made sense. Qin Wan smiled slightly. Yue Ning continued, “The wedding is just a few days away. Is everything prepared properly? Grandmother still wants to visit the Marquis’s mansion personally. If you need any help, just let us know…”
Recently, the Marquis’s mansion had closed its doors to visitors, so the Grand Princess actually couldn’t visit conveniently. Qin Wan said, “Everything is prepared. Please tell her not to worry. I’ll go to the residence tomorrow to pay my respects to her…”
Yue Ning was relieved. “That’s good. Grandmother has been quite worried.”
With Qin Shu claiming illness and Qin Yi and Qin Yan also confined to the Marquis’s mansion, the Loyal and Brave Marquis’s household seemed to be nearing its end. Anyone would be concerned. Qin Wan reassured her, “It’s nothing. It won’t affect my wedding. Uncle and Aunt are still very attentive to my wedding arrangements.”
Yue Ning didn’t ask further. Yan Ze smiled gently beside them but didn’t interject.
As the group left the palace and reached the gate, they encountered a group of imperial guards heading out. There were about thirty or forty men in two columns, all on horseback, armed with weapons and presenting an impressive sight. Qin Wan’s group stopped to let them pass, but the person at the front suddenly halted, causing the entire contingent to stop.
Qin Wan looked up and was shocked to see that the person leading these imperial guards was Yan Chi!
And beside Yan Chi were Yan Qi and the Imperial Guard Deputy Commander Zhao Yu, both also on horseback.
Zhao Yu had been responsible for guarding Kunning Palace but had allowed the Empress to escape. By rights, he should have been punished. However, as this was a crucial time for finding the missing people, the Emperor didn’t punish him severely. Instead, he had given half the search responsibilities to Zhao Yu, allowing him to atone for his crime through merit. But why was Yan Chi with them?
“Oh, why is it, Yan Chi!” Yue Ning was somewhat surprised and glanced at Qin Wan, who hadn’t expected this either.
Yan Chi had stopped because he saw Qin Wan. He rode over to her and reined in his horse. Qin Wan looked at Yan Chi and noticed his expression was somewhat heavy.
Yue Ning spoke first, “What are you doing?”
Before Yan Chi could answer, Yan Qi also rode forward slowly, smiling, “Father has just entrusted Yan Chi with an important task, to join us in inspecting the capital.”
This so-called inspection of the capital was naturally about finding the whereabouts of the Empress and Crown Prince!
Qin Wan’s heart trembled slightly, not expecting the Emperor to have Yan Chi search for the Empress and Crown Prince…
Everyone bowed to the Prince of Cheng. Yan Qi sat on his horse not far away, smiling at Qin Wan’s group, while Zhao Yu waved his hand, ordering the imperial guards to proceed out of the palace first.
Their eyes met, and there was reassurance in Yan Chi’s gaze. “Have you seen Imperial Grandmother?”
Qin Wan nodded, “She still needs medicine for now, but there’s no danger. Don’t worry.”
Yan Chi nodded. With so many people present, it wasn’t appropriate to say more, so he said, “Then I’ll go first.”
Qin Wan nodded. Yan Chi turned his horse around to leave. Yan Qi smiled and said something to Yan Chi, then rode beside him out of the palace gates.
Qin Wan watched their retreating figures and fell into deep thought. Yan Chi had been arranged in the Ministry of Justice by the Emperor, so why was he suddenly assigned to search for people? Among the imperial guards, Lin Zhang and Zhao Yu were both experts leading this matter, and with Yan Qi watching closely from the side, how did it suddenly fall to Yan Chi?
Yue Ning also wondered aloud, “What does this mean? Yan Chi is good at commanding troops, but is the Emperor planning to put the imperial guards under Yan Chi’s command?”
That was impossible!
Qin Wan shook her head, “I don’t know either. Perhaps he’s just helping temporarily.”
Yue Ning was puzzled but didn’t say more. The group left the palace gates and returned to their respective residences.
When Qin Wan returned to the Marquis’s mansion, she found that the embroiderer from Jinxiu Workshop hadn’t left yet. She had been gone for several hours – was there another problem with the wedding dress?
By now it was late, and there were no lights in the main courtyard, though the upper rooms where Qin Shu and his wife stayed were lit. Not wanting to disturb them, Qin Wan went directly to Songfeng Court. Fuling was waiting at the courtyard gate and hurried forward when she saw Qin Wan return. Qin Wan asked, “Why did the embroiderer from Jinxiu Workshop come again?”
Fuling quickly replied, “I’m not sure why. The wedding dress had been fitted properly, but in the afternoon, Madam suddenly came and had it taken away, saying it needed more jewels embedded. Your servant sent the dress over, but it probably won’t be returned for a day or two.”
There was still time, so Qin Wan naturally wasn’t worried about this matter, though she found it somewhat strange.
Earlier in the day when trying on the dress, Madam Hu hadn’t said anything was wrong, and the embroiderer from Jinxiu Workshop who was present hadn’t mentioned any problems either. How did the wedding dress suddenly have issues in the afternoon? As Qin Wan entered while pondering this, she suddenly stopped – could it be…
This thought flashed through her mind, but after considering it, she still didn’t go to the front courtyard. Qin Shu and Madam Hu were clever people; they didn’t need her reminder.
After a night of light sleep, Qin Wan rose early the next morning to prepare for her palace visit.
After Zhan Yang’s visit, she had planned to inform Yan Chi about this matter, but unexpectedly the Emperor sent Yan Chi with the Imperial Guards to search for the Empress and Crown Prince. Thus, Qin Wan had lost the opportunity to discuss it with Yan Chi. If her guess was correct, what did Yan Ze intend to do?
Yan Ze frequently visited Shoukang Palace with Yue Ning – could he be planning something against the Empress Dowager?
Qin Wan felt uneasy and hurriedly took her carriage to the palace. Upon arriving at Shoukang Palace, she again saw Yan Sui practicing with his sword. The short sword wasn’t sharpened, so Nurse Su and the others were at ease. Though his movements lacked proper form, he had worked himself into a sweat. When he saw Qin Wan arrive, his eyes brightened.
Nurse Su and the others came forward to bow. Qin Wan smiled as she wiped Yan Sui’s sweat, “If Your Highness enjoys it, keep practicing, but don’t practice for too long. Rest when you’re tired. Your Highness is still growing, so you mustn’t strain your wrists, understand?”
Yan Sui nodded, then suddenly glanced toward the main hall, “Imperial Grandmother seems unhappy.”
Qin Wan started, “What’s wrong with the Empress Dowager?”
Yan Sui continued, “Father came to see Imperial Grandmother this morning.”
Qin Wan was stunned for a moment before heading to the main hall. At the entrance, she met Nurse Chen, whose face indeed showed distress.
Qin Wan asked, “Nurse, what’s wrong with the Empress Dowager?”
Nurse Chen already considered Qin Wan half her person and hurriedly said, “Even if you didn’t ask, I would have told you. I don’t know what the Empress Dowager and His Majesty discussed this morning, but after His Majesty left, she’s been melancholy. I asked her twice, but she wouldn’t say anything. I’m really worried her illness will worsen because of this.”
Pressing her lips together with a frown, Qin Wan said, “For recovery, one needs to maintain a good mood. Did the Empress Dowager argue with His Majesty?”
Nurse Chen shook her head, “No, no, the Empress Dowager didn’t mention the Empress and Crown Prince’s matter. Last time… because of the Crown Prince’s dethronement, the Empress Dowager and His Majesty had an unpleasant exchange. The Empress Dowager herself felt somewhat uncomfortable about it. She’s elderly now and increasingly doesn’t want to distance herself from His Majesty. These past few days, His Majesty hasn’t come to see the Empress Dowager. She knows His Majesty was annoyed by last time’s incident, so this time she didn’t mention it. When I was serving inside this morning, the Empress Dowager was talking about the Ninth Prince’s martial arts practice and mentioned His Majesty’s childhood. Everything seemed fine when I left, but I didn’t expect…”
As Qin Wan listened to Nurse Chen’s worried words, something suddenly struck her heart.
Yan Sui practicing martial arts, Yan Ze talking about past events with the Empress Dowager yesterday – it was natural for the Empress Dowager to discuss past events with the Emperor today…
Her pupils trembled as Qin Wan suddenly understood what Yan Ze intended to do!
Qin Wan hurried to the warm chamber. Inside, the Empress Dowager was gazing out the window with a bewildered expression. Hearing movement, she turned her head and instinctively smiled upon seeing Qin Wan. Qin Wan quickly came forward to bow, “Empress Dowager, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
The Empress Dowager smiled kindly, then suddenly said, “Wan’er, I can’t remember past events clearly now, it’s strange.”
Qin Wan’s concern grew, “What can’t you remember?”
The Empress Dowager’s smile faded, replaced by a puzzled expression, “I… I clearly remember His Majesty loved practicing sword when he was young, but today he couldn’t recall his master’s name. His master had even given him a sword before, but he seemed to have forgotten this… Wan’er, His Majesty doesn’t appear ill, but why does he seem to have trouble remembering things too? Wan’er, could you examine His Majesty?”
Qin Wan’s heart jolted violently, but she could only smile bitterly, “His Majesty is busy with state affairs, it’s normal to forget things. You needn’t worry.”
The Empress Dowager nodded, turning to look out the window again, seeming trapped in some impasse from which she couldn’t recover for a long while.
“Wan’er, perhaps I am too ill, I feel that His Majesty…” She didn’t finish her sentence, but continued in a faint voice, “Why would the Empress choose such a path when everything was fine? Che’er isn’t the type to rebel…”
Qin Wan’s lips moved slightly, but she couldn’t speak. After a while, the Empress Dowager smiled gently, “Wan’er, I’m tired. Help me rest. I don’t know how long I’ll sleep, so you go play with Sui’er for a while and return home early. Don’t worry about me; I feel much better after taking your medicine.”
Qin Wan nodded and helped the Empress Dowager to bed. The Empress Dowager closed her eyes and said nothing more.
Qin Wan left the warm chamber, no longer in the mood to play with Yan Sui. At this point, she was almost certain that besides the Empress, Yan Ze also knew the Emperor’s secret.
Thinking back to the Princess Consort of Prince Yi’s death, Qin Wan felt chills running down her spine.
The Exorcism Ritual Ground could defy heaven and change fate. By killing seven people, one could change heaven and earth. What Yan Ze wanted to do was far more ambitious than they had imagined.
Qin Wan stayed with Yan Sui for a while before leaving the palace. After leaving the gates, she first went to Prince An Yang’s mansion.
Having not visited for many days, the Grand Princess was naturally very happy to see Qin Wan. Lady Jiang had already prepared her dowry items and took her to see them. Although taking her as an adopted daughter was largely because she had saved the Grand Princess, the An Yang Prince’s household had never been lacking in care for her. Thinking of Yue Ning’s upcoming marriage to Yan Ze, Qin Wan’s heart felt as if it were being clawed at by hundreds of talons.
After spending the afternoon with the Grand Princess, before leaving, Qin Wan spoke privately with Yue Ning in the flower hall.
“Did the Grand Princess say anything about arranging your betrothal to the Young Master?”
Hearing this, Yue Ning sighed, “We have to wait for Father to return. After your wedding in a few days, we probably won’t discuss this matter concretely until the twelfth month. The wedding date will be next year. Third Brother still can’t see, and I’m worried – why isn’t his condition improving?”
Qin Wan hesitated, “Has the Young Master shown any unusual physical symptoms lately?”
Yue Ning said in surprise, “No, Third Brother’s health is very good…”
Seeing Qin Wan’s unusual expression, Yue Ning quickly asked, “What’s wrong? What are you worried about?”
Faced with Yue Ning’s clear eyes, Qin Wan couldn’t say anything, only mumbling, “If the Young Master’s eyes remain blind…”
Yue Ning smiled bitterly, “I thought you were worried about something else. What does it matter if he can’t see? His blindness was because of me in the first place. Even if he remains blind for life, I can take care of him for life. I’ve long since made up my mind about this.”
Yue Ning clearly didn’t understand what Qin Wan was trying to say. Since Qin Wan had brought up Yan Ze’s eye condition, she said, “Since you’re here, why don’t we go see him now? I haven’t visited him today!”
Since Yue Ning suggested it, Qin Wan naturally accompanied her. Prince Yi’s mansion was nearby, and the two took a carriage, arriving at the mansion gates in less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick.
The doorkeeper was accustomed to Qin Wan’s visits and escorted them to the flower hall.
Upon reaching the flower hall, they found Yan Ze wasn’t there. The servant in charge respectfully said, “Please wait a moment, Princesses. The Young Master is in the west wing courtyard.”
Upon hearing this from the flower hall servant, Yue Ning raised an eyebrow, “What’s he doing in the west wing courtyard?”
The servant smiled and explained, “Our Prince is planning to cast a golden Buddha statue for Fahua Temple, as was arranged earlier. Today, the craftsmen who will cast the golden Buddha have come to discuss with the Prince when to welcome the Buddha statue into Fahua Temple. An abbot from Fahua Temple has also come.”
Qin Wan looked at Yue Ning, who smiled and said, “I know about this matter. That’s fine, we’ll wait.”
The servant served tea, and Yue Ning explained, “Uncle mentioned this during the death anniversary of the Princess Consort. He found several craftsmen and a workshop in the south of the city. These days they’ve been busy casting the golden Buddha. The Princess Consort was a Buddhist believer in life and all these years Fahua Temple has been maintaining a Buddhist shrine for her spiritual deliverance. Now that Uncle and Third Brother have returned, they probably want to make more charitable donations. After much consideration, they decided to simply cast a golden Buddha statue to give to Fahua Temple.”
It was indeed common for official families to spend large sums of money on casting golden Buddhas to seek Buddha’s protection. Qin Wan nodded in understanding, though a few doubts rose in her heart. She said directly, “Where is the west wing courtyard? I would also like to meet the abbot of Fahua Temple—”