This was completely different from what had been planned—Hua Chun’s brow furrowed, and she was about to argue when He Chang’an, in front, spoke up: “In that case, let’s go back to the palace to get an imperial edict, then come collect them.”
Was he crazy? Hua Chun stared. Not to mention it was already too late to go back now—even if they could, they couldn’t possibly have the Emperor write an imperial edict for this. Wasn’t the point to secretly send people away quietly? How could they possibly put it in writing, sealed with imperial yellow silk, for all the world to see?
He Chang’an turned back, his eyes carrying deep meaning. Hua Chun startled, swallowing back what she’d been about to say, and resigned herself to turning her horse around and following him back the way they’d come.
“Follow me.” He Chang’an said. “Something’s clearly off about the people guarding this gate—if we force our way in, we’ll only give them grounds to talk.”
That made sense too. Hua Chun nodded, her brow relaxing somewhat. She’d let her concern cloud her judgment—fortunately He Chang’an remained level-headed. The two of them took a roundabout path to the back courtyard of the Hua residence, abandoned their horses, and scaled the wall.
He Chang’an’s movements were effortless. Standing atop the wall, he looked inside—there were patrolling soldiers, but not many, since the Hua residence’s grounds weren’t especially large to begin with.
“Younger Brother, let’s go across the rooftops straight over there.”
“All right, Second Brother.” Hua Chun nodded. “Though you might need to give me a hand up first.”
Slightly startled, He Chang’an looked down and saw Hua Jinghua hanging by one arm on the wall, tongue sticking out, clearly out of strength.
Right, he couldn’t do martial arts.
Curving his lips in a low laugh, He Chang’an reached out and wrapped an arm around his waist, hauling him up entirely, then said, “Hold onto me tightly.”
Hua Chun obediently reached out, gripping his neck tightly, and then felt a moment of weightlessness. The two of them leapt down from the courtyard wall, then up onto the rooftops, moving silently and swiftly toward the main courtyard.
The Hua residence, under siege, was already in a state of panic inside. Fortunately, Madam Wan had left early, otherwise having to choose just one person to rescue this time would have troubled Hua Chun greatly—after all, Father Hua had raised Hua Jinghua too, and even if he’d gone too far in his actions, he was still her birth father.
Now it was simple—no need to make any hard choices, just go straight to the main courtyard and pull Father Hua out to flee.
“Hua’er?” Hua Zhengrong’s face was covered in frost, looking as though he’d aged three or four years, staring at her in shock as he asked, “What are you doing here?”
Hua Chun said, “Saving you.”
If Hua Liuying’s private flight meant the Hua family would inevitably suffer for it, the Emperor surely had a plan to save them—so for now, getting this elderly man and Qing Niao out to safety would suffice.
“Good, good!” Hua Zhengrong was deeply moved, following them over the wall without even looking back.
He Chang’an hesitated slightly. “What about the others?”
Hua Chun looked at Father Hua, who waved his hand. “Madam Ren already fled with Liuying early on! Madam Wu has Consort Shu protecting her—if you two have any strength to spare, why not go get the fifth young master out instead?”
Not bothering with the fourth young lady either? Hua Chun frowned, about to say something, when the sound of clashing armor came from the distance.
“Go, quickly!” He Chang’an said in a low voice, immediately hoisting Father Hua onto his own horse, then looked at her anxiously, gesturing for her to go ahead.
Hua Chun gritted her teeth and spurred her horse into a gallop, with He Chang’an following behind, directing from the rear: “Head out through the south gate.”
Ever since Hua Jinghua had been summoned into the palace, he had already received the Emperor’s orders and prepared supplies for the Hua family’s escape. But time had been too tight, so there was only a carriage, travel funds, and bedding—along with Qing Niao, all waiting outside the south gate.
“The driver will take you somewhere safe.” He Chang’an set Hua Zhengrong down and helped him directly onto the carriage. “You don’t need to worry—these are all people His Majesty arranged.”
“Ah!” Hua Zhengrong said gratefully, “Then I’ll be on my way.”
Hua Chun pressed her lips together, watching him board the carriage without a single backward glance, unable to help feeling a pang of sympathy for Hua Xiayu and Hua Jing’an—both his own flesh and blood, yet not given a single thought by Hua Zhengrong either.
“My lord.” Qing Niao frowned. “This concubine doesn’t need to leave—this concubine could still stay by your side as a maid.”
“No.” Hua Chun shook her head. “I’m not even sure I can keep myself alive—what maid would you be playing at?”
I could keep you alive, Qing Niao wanted to say—today was simply an inauspicious day, and once it passed, there shouldn’t be any major problems tomorrow.
But seeing her serious expression, after a moment’s thought, she obediently climbed into the carriage.
The moon sank into the clouds, the driver gave a shout, and the carriage set off down the road.
“Are you really not coming with us?” He Chang’an looked at her, full of concern. “Once dawn breaks and the palace still hasn’t found Consort Hua, if His Majesty can’t suppress it, then the Hua family—including you—won’t be able to escape at all.”
“I know.” Hua Chun nodded. “But it’s not over yet. I should at least try to fight for a chance—what if there’s still some way to turn things around? If I leave now too, then the rest of the Hua family really would be doomed for certain.”
He Chang’an pressed his lips together, his eyes holding many things, making her feel somewhat uncomfortable under his gaze.
“Let’s go, back to the palace.” she said. “Whether we live or die depends on tomorrow.”
He Chang’an nodded, following her back into the palace.
The Emperor’s face was dark as he emerged once more from Huiming Hall.
Someone in the back palace was stirring up trouble—suddenly everyone was in a panic, saying Consort Hua might have been killed. He had repeatedly explained to the Empress Dowager that Consort Hua had simply disappeared following an argument, but the Empress Dowager remained only half-convinced.
The guards were searching the palace grounds thoroughly—such a vast imperial palace would likely only yield results by dawn.
“Where is Prime Minister Hua?”
“Waiting in Zichen Hall with the Marquis of Gongyu.”
Quickening his pace, the Emperor stepped into Zichen Hall, and saw He Chang’an gazing at Hua Jinghua with eyes full of concern, while the latter sat off to the side, unmoving, seemingly lost in thought.
“Have they all been sent away?” he asked.
He Chang’an came back to himself, nodding. “Does Your Majesty have a plan?”
Hua Chun looked up at him as well.
“Prince Xi hasn’t made any moves for now. I thought he’d come out and announce Consort Hua’s flight, but he hasn’t.” Yuwen Jie considered. “So we’ll wait and see how things stand tomorrow.”
He Chang’an nodded, then lifted his robes and knelt before him. “This subject has a request to ask of Your Majesty.”
Slightly startled, Yuwen Jie said with some surprise, “You’re asking me for something?”
“Mm, a rare occasion indeed.” He Chang’an smiled. “But this matter is rather serious—please, Your Majesty, no matter what, spare Jinghua’s life.”
Hua Chun paused, looking at him. “Second Brother……”
“This subject knows Your Majesty has always been upright and just,” He Chang’an said, “but as for Prime Minister Hua, surely Your Majesty’s view of her has already changed. So even though Consort Hua has committed a grave offense this time, this subject still begs Your Majesty to spare Jinghua’s life.”
The Emperor’s expression turned slightly displeased. “If no one makes a big issue of this tomorrow, I would spare her life without your asking. But if someone is determined to stir up trouble, then even as Emperor, there’s only so much I can do.”
Hua Chun knelt down alongside him too, tugging at He Chang’an’s sleeve. “Second Brother, don’t worry too much. His Majesty has become more humane now… no wait, I mean, he’s gained more warmth and compassion. He won’t just watch me die for nothing.”
“That’s true.” Thinking it over, He Chang’an stood up, looking at the person beside him with a smile. “If it can be saved, His Majesty surely wouldn’t fail to save her.”
“To have a Second Brother who cares for me like his own younger sibling—that’s my good fortune.” Hua Chun sighed. “Who knows what blessings I earned in a past life.”
The Emperor scoffed. “Enough idle talk—go rest instead. Who knows what might happen tomorrow.”
“All right.” Hua Chun said. “I’ll just sleep in the side hall of Zichen Hall then.”
He Chang’an nodded along. “I’ll sleep in the same bed as you then—the palace gates are already closed for the night.”
“No!” Hua Chun and Yuwen Jie said in unison, quick and sharp.
He startled, frowning slightly, looking at the two of them again with curious eyes. “Why not?”
Because sharing a bed would give it all away! Hua Chun laughed dryly, glancing at the Emperor, who said matter-of-factly, “There will surely be many things needing your attention tomorrow—sharing a bed with her would mean neither of you sleeps well. You sleep alone in the side hall. The Prime Minister will keep me company reading through memorials tonight instead.”
At a time like this, who could possibly focus on reading? He Chang’an frowned, but before he could object, Hua Jinghua had already taken his arm and was walking him outside.
Fair enough, he thought—if they really did share a bed and something happened, it would be awkward indeed. Shaking his head, He Chang’an resigned himself and went to the side hall.
The door closed, and Hua Chun felt her legs go weak, crawling over to crouch by the Emperor’s feet, her face falling. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
“So do I.”
“Then what do we do?” Hua Chun pouted. “I haven’t even become the greatest Prime Minister in history yet, haven’t even had my name go down in the annals—I can’t just get implicated and die like this.”
“Dying isn’t quite where it’ll go.” the Emperor said. “It depends on how you handle things tomorrow.”
The worst-case scenario would simply be that everyone learned of Consort Hua’s private flight, the Hua family would be implicated, and Hua Chun would be demoted as a result—but with the Empress Dowager and himself protecting her, it shouldn’t come to severe punishment.
And yet, as it turned out, Yuwen Jie had still thought too simply.
At dawn, news spread through the palace—according to a report from the guards at the West Palace Gate, Consort Hua had left the palace along with her personal maid, using a forged identity token, only just discovered now.
The Empress Dowager was furious, initially wanting to suppress it and handle it privately, but the news spread like wildfire, sweeping through the entire court in an instant.
And so, at court, Li Zhongtang directly submitted a memorial impeaching her, demanding the Emperor handle the matter with the utmost severity.
“A consort fleeing the palace privately—this is simply unheard of, unprecedented! It truly brings shame upon the imperial family and puts His Majesty in a difficult position!” General Meng added, “By law, a consort who flees should be captured and executed, and her family should bear collective responsibility as well.”
Hua Chun closed her eyes. She too wanted very much to handle herself well, yet facing the doubts and condemnation of the entire court, all she could do was kneel and kowtow to the Emperor.
“Consort Hua is the Prime Minister’s own younger sister.” Prince Xi stood to the side, saying flatly. “His Majesty has always shown favoritism toward the Prime Minister, and presumably this time will be no exception. But if this humble brother may speak frankly, if Your Majesty goes too lightly on this matter, those in the harem who wish to flee will grow even more brazen, and the dignity of our imperial family will be tarnished again and again.”
The Emperor said, “I know the proper measure to take. Consort Hua is at fault, and the Prime Minister should share in the responsibility. However, the Prime Minister’s accumulated merits and achievements should offset some of the blame.”