The Empress Dowager immediately slammed the table. “What nonsense are you spouting!”
The eunuch from the Bureau of Internal Affairs knelt down at once, trembling. “This servant would not dare speak recklessly! The attendance records are perfectly clear—please, Empress Dowager, see for yourself!” As he spoke, he presented the register with both hands.
Her gaze deep, the Empress Dowager stared at the register for a moment before reaching out to take it, examining it carefully.
He Chang’an grew somewhat anxious. Though he didn’t know what this business with the attendance records was about, this child was certainly Yuwen Jie’s—the Emperor was far too shrewd and not the least bit foolish; if it weren’t his child, Hua Chun would have lost her life long ago!
This was a possibility Hua Chun hadn’t even considered, but an honest person needn’t fear a crooked shadow. Since the Empress Dowager had sent everyone else away, there was clearly still room for discussion in this matter—what the attendance records couldn’t prove, the Emperor himself could.
So she looked at the Empress Dowager very calmly.
Having finished reading the record, the Empress Dowager’s eyes were full of sharpness. “Do you have anything to explain?”
Hua Chun nodded. “I do. His Majesty favored this consort on numerous occasions that were not entered into the attendance records.”
“Absurd!” The Empress Dowager threw the register down and said angrily, “Recording attendance is the rule of the palace, and it is the evidence used to determine the purity of imperial lineage. Even His Majesty knows this—how could he possibly favor you without it being recorded?!”
Hua Chun straightened her back. “The Empress Dowager may certainly wait and ask His Majesty himself upon his return. Ever since Consort Hui was demoted, His Majesty worried that this consort’s manner was too forthright and might easily offend others. Combined with the depth of his favor, this consort might be seen as a thorn in others’ eyes, and so he had this consort keep a low profile and live in seclusion, and did not openly favor this consort, in hopes of keeping this consort away from the strife of the harem. Upon learning of this consort’s pregnancy, he concealed even this consort from the matter for over two months. This consort is grateful for His Majesty’s profound kindness, but never imagined that His Majesty’s deep affection would become today’s shackles.”
The Empress Dowager was taken aback, her brow furrowing deeper. She found it hard to believe that her coldhearted son could possess such delicate consideration.
“This official only learned of Her Highness’s pregnancy not long ago as well,” He Chang’an spoke up. “His Majesty indeed went to no small trouble to protect Her Highness’s safety and the wellbeing of the imperial heir. It’s just that no one expected it would fall apart at this very juncture—surely this must be the doing of someone with ulterior motives.”
Turning to look at him, the Empress Dowager said, her gaze deep, “With His Majesty absent, I do not know the true state of affairs. Since the two of you have this account to give, I will not condemn Consort De for now. Consort De, return to the palace and move to Huiming Hall. I guarantee that before His Majesty returns, you will remain safe and unharmed.”
It had indeed come to this. Hua Chun frowned. “Huiming Hall already houses Noble Consort Wu. Does the Empress Dowager think it appropriate to place two pregnant consorts together?”
“When I was playing at scheming, you little girls were still playing in the mud,” the Empress Dowager said with a cold smile. “Whether it’s Noble Consort Wu or you, under my watchful eye, neither of you could possibly get away with any little tricks—so you need not worry.”
He Chang’an frowned. “Before His Majesty departed, he asked this official to look after Her Highness’s safety…”
“I understand—you two are like siblings,” the Empress Dowager said, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. “But, after all, you’re not truly related by blood. Rumors have already begun in the palace, and you, Marquis, ought to think of Consort De and avoid suspicion.”
A slight jolt ran through him, and He Chang’an frowned.
He had never imagined that he would one day become someone who dragged Hua Chun down. A woman’s reputation mattered so much, all the more so in the harem, a place full of gossip where reputation carried such weight. He truly ought to consider this carefully for her sake.
“Since that’s the case, then I ask the Empress Dowager to look after Consort De all the more,” He Chang’an said, cupping his hands. “There is no shortage of people in the palace targeting Her Highness. That can be seen from the incident of the shove last time—they must have already guessed at Her Highness’s pregnancy, yet still resorted to such vicious means. It is only fortunate that Her Highness’s fortune is great, and the child in her womb remains safe.”
Mentioning that incident gave the Empress Dowager a bit of a fright too—what if that truly had been an imperial heir, and it had been lost from that shove?
But for now, her doubts about Consort De’s pregnancy overshadowed the joy of there being an imperial heir. The Empress Dowager could only look at Hua Chun with a complicated expression, then nod.
“Rest assured, Marquis.”
As if he could possibly rest assured. He Chang’an pressed his lips together, stood for a moment, and seeing the Empress Dowager’s intention to see them off, had no choice but to withdraw helplessly.
“Who was it that went and told the Empress Dowager?” he asked the person beside him.
“Reporting to my lord, it was Attendant Tang.”
Tang Shi? He Chang’an frowned. He couldn’t understand how Tang Shi could have known, but more than that—what benefit could she possibly gain from telling the Empress Dowager?
“Ten thousand blessings, Marquis.”
Just as he was pondering this, he came face to face with Tang Guning.
Or rather, this woman had clearly been waiting for him along the palace path.
He Chang’an looked up, regarding the woman before him, dressed in palace attire and appearing especially gentle and refined, and asked coldly, “Does the Attendant have business with me?”
“This concubine merely happened to see the Marquis and thought to pay respects, that’s all,” Tang Shi said, looking up, her smile confident and composed. “The Marquis seems to be in rather poor spirits. Some matters are best let go of sooner rather than later—it would be better for you as well.”
“What do you mean by that?” He Chang’an looked directly at her, the lines of his face going rigid.
Tang Shi said nothing further, and after a bow, walked past him.
He Chang’an frowned, turning his head to watch her retreating figure. “Your Highness would still do well to remember one thing—one who does much evil is bound to bring about their own destruction.”
Her back stiffened, and Tang Shi’s expression darkened, but she did not turn around, only paused briefly before continuing on.
Whatever heavenly cycles of retribution, whatever notion that evildoers bring about their own downfall, whatever idea that good and evil always meet their due reward—she believed none of it. So many bad people in this world lived perfectly well; who had ever been struck down by heaven’s wrath for doing wrong?
Since there was no wrath from heaven to face, then why shouldn’t she do as she pleased?
Look how worried Marquis Gongyu was, his face gone pale—such a handsome man ought to look better being cold and unfeeling toward her as he’d always been. Suddenly caring and concerned for another woman was like an immortal being dragged down into the dust—not the least bit beautiful anymore.
And if he was no longer beautiful, then why should she still like him?
With a snort of derision, Tang Shi walked on, disappearing around the bend of the palace path.
Heavy at heart, He Chang’an went back and wrote a letter to the Emperor, informing him that Hua Chun had been brought into the palace by the Empress Dowager. By the time the letter reached the Emperor’s hands, three days had already passed.
The battle at Qiu Mountain had been a great victory—the Emperor had captured thirty thousand troops and turned them to his own use, and was just preparing to march toward Prince Xi’s fief when he received the letter from Marquis Gongyu.
His brow furrowed deeply, Yuwen Jie fell silent in thought for the time it takes a stick of incense to burn, then finally said, “I will return to the capital. Divide off twenty thousand troops to accompany me. The rest of the forces will be entrusted to Huo Zichong—let him represent me in meeting with Prince Xi, and return to the capital once the meeting is done.”
Eunuch Qin was startled for a moment, glancing at the letter in his hand—he could guess without asking that something must have gone wrong with Lady Hua.
“This servant obeys.”
The Emperor’s purpose in coming out this time had simply been to eliminate part of Prince Xi’s forces, and now that this had been achieved, and rather smoothly at that, it was only proper to return early. The rest could be handled by others.
Huo Zichong had no objections to the Emperor’s decision either, and accepted the order to continue organizing the troops.
As it turned out, on the night before the Emperor was to depart, a large force of Wokou raiders launched a surprise attack on Qiu Mountain.