If Prince Xi’s troops were garrisoned there, then should there be any movement, simply getting out of Ice Cave would take half a day—which would give Yanjing plenty of time to react.
He Chang’an thought it over and nodded. “Not a bad idea. This humble official will go negotiate with them.”
“Also, does this imperial palace have any secret tunnels or the like?” Hua Chun asked the question on a whim.
To her surprise, He Chang’an nodded quite matter-of-factly. “There is one. Beneath Zichen Hall there’s a tunnel that leads straight to Zanglong Mountain.”
There really was one? Hua Chun clicked her tongue, thinking it over. “Then, Second Brother, quietly send some people to guard Zanglong Mountain. Worst case scenario, if something really does happen in the palace, we’d still have a way out.”
“It shouldn’t come to needing to use the tunnel.” He Chang’an chuckled. “His Majesty isn’t so incompetent.”
“Just in case, that’s all.” Hua Chun said. “Everything needs to be thought through carefully. Preparing for the worst first is never a bad thing.”
That made sense too. He Chang’an nodded. “This humble official will arrange it when leaving the palace.”
“Mm.” Rubbing her belly, Hua Chun felt reassured too—even if the Emperor lost his head, at least they’d be able to save their lives somehow.
“You…” He Chang’an began, the corners of his mouth curling in a smile. “Have you been well lately?”
Hua Chun paused, thought it over carefully. “Not particularly good, not particularly bad.”
“I’ve heard the Empress Dowager has been giving you trouble again.” He Chang’an sighed softly. “With your free-spirited nature, how are you supposed to survive in the harem?”
“Not afraid!” Lifting her chin, Hua Chun said. “The Empress Dowager can’t do anything to me.”
Mention of the Empress Dowager made He Chang’an lower his eyes; he hesitated for a long while before finally saying, “If you have free time to leave the palace, you might go take a look at North Mountain.”
“North Mountain?” Hua Chun raised an eyebrow. “According to Yanjing’s map, North Mountain is a burial ground—what’s there to see…”
Before she’d finished speaking, she suddenly understood, the smile draining completely from her face, and she stared, stunned, at Marquis Gongyu. “Is it there?”
He Chang’an nodded. “Chose a spot with excellent feng shui. Planted trees beside it to keep her company.”
Her eyes reddened slightly, and Hua Chun tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Thank you, Second Brother.”
He Chang’an still didn’t know the Emperor had lied to her, telling her that Madam Wan had left the capital. She herself seemed to have nearly forgotten that Madam Wan had truly died from a beating ordered by the Empress Dowager. An ostrich was truly an ostrich—only when someone dragged its head back out did it remember what had actually happened.
If Madam Wan’s spirit could see, she’d probably be furious enough to die all over again—still involved with the son of her enemy, utterly unable to let go. If she could send a dream, she would surely stick her neck out and scream at her.
Forcing out a couple of dry laughs, Hua Chun’s heart was full of conflict. As long as she didn’t remember, it was fine—but the moment she did, she felt as guilty as if she’d stolen something.
“Right, this is for you.” Seeing her expression wasn’t good, He Chang’an reached out and produced a talisman. “Sought from Jing’an Temple. A talisman for safety.”
Hua Chun started, took it and looked it over, laughing softly. “A distinguished Marquis, and you believe in this sort of thing too?”
Jing’an Temple was right on the outskirts of Yanjing; its talismans were said to be especially effective, but also notoriously hard to obtain—whether imperial relatives or commoners, anyone wanting a safety talisman had to burn incense devoutly for an entire day.
“I don’t believe in it.” He shook his head, his gaze full of tenderness. “But what if it helps?”
Her body stiffened slightly, and Hua Chun looked up, studying him seriously. “Second Brother… you’re too devoted to me.”
“Is that bad?” He Chang’an’s lips curved. “I have no other siblings—just you as my one and only younger sister. Being good to you is only natural.”
If it truly were simply an older brother’s affection for a younger sister, there would be nothing to it. Hua Chun awkwardly clutched the talisman, only worried he might be too stubborn and have other thoughts.
“Second Brother, is there still no woman you’d like to marry?” she asked.
His eyes dimmed slightly. “The right fate hasn’t come yet.”
“Fate has to be sought out yourself.” Hua Chun said. “If you just wait, you’ll be waiting a very long time.”
He turned his head away, the smile on his face fading considerably. “If it doesn’t come, then so be it. Being alone isn’t so bad either.”
Hua Chun shook her head like a rattle-drum. “How can that be alright? The ancients… I mean, don’t the people here place great importance on carrying on the family line? Won’t people gossip about you like this?”
“Your Highness.” He stood up. “It’s getting late. This humble official will take leave of the palace for today, and come see you again tomorrow.”
“…Take care, Second Brother.” Hua Chun stood, watching him turn and walk out, forcing a stiff smile.
Qing Niao stood nearby and shook her head. “Your Highness, you’re being foolish. It’s obvious the Marquis has feelings for you—what mind does he have left to go looking for ‘the right fate’?”
Sitting back down, Hua Chun sighed. “It’s precisely because I’ve noticed that I said what I did. Wasting someone’s time like that would be truly shameful. Especially since my Second Brother is so handsome and outstanding, unmatched in the whole world—so many young ladies would fight to have him. Isn’t it a waste for him to spend his energy on a married woman like me?”
“That’s what you say.” Qing Niao sighed. “But it’s already pitiable enough to love without being loved in return. And you won’t even let him love you—that’s cruel enough as it is.”
Hua Chun: “…”
She thought He Chang’an’s feelings for her had probably shifted from sibling affection, to kindred-spirit friendship, to something harder to define. As for whether it was love—it probably wasn’t that deep. Likely just something he hadn’t been able to work through, since they’d once been so close, only to have missed their chance entirely—anyone would feel a pang of regret over that.
Shaking her head, Hua Chun leaned on Qing Niao’s arm as they walked out, saying in a low voice, “Let’s just fake being sick tomorrow and not see him.”
Qing Niao started, then said, “Then you’ll have to act convincingly.”
Faking illness was practically a required skill in the harem—what was there she couldn’t fake? Hua Chun confidently puffed out her chest; she could lie down casually and it would look completely real.
As it turned out, she was slapped in the face the very next day.
He Chang’an came into the palace carrying a motherwort-woven statue of Guanyin, intending to give Hua Chun a surprise, only to hear from Qing Niao that she was sick and couldn’t come to the imperial garden.
“What illness does she have?” He frowned.
Qing Niao said solemnly, “A cold—some headache and fever, so she’s resting in bed, hasn’t come out.”
“Is it fine to have a cold while pregnant?” He Chang’an stood up and headed straight outside.
“Ah, Marquis?” Qing Niao said. “You can’t just wander into the harem so casually.”
He stopped in his tracks, then immediately turned and headed to Zichen Hall, asking the Emperor for permission to enter the harem.
“She’s sick?” Yuwen Jie started, looking up at him.
He Chang’an frowned slightly, displeased. “Your Majesty didn’t know?”
Qing Niao stood by without a word—her mistress’s illness had come on so suddenly, with not a hint of warning; of course His Majesty wouldn’t know, that would be a miracle.
The Emperor rose. “I’ll go with you.”
Cold sweat broke out on Qing Niao’s brow, and she hurriedly said, “Mistress isn’t seriously ill, Your Majesty needn’t go to such trouble…”
“For someone carrying a child, even the smallest illness must be taken seriously.” He Chang’an said. “Just lead the way, no need to say more.”
Qing Niao: “…”
Well, now things had really gotten out of hand.
Hua Chun was lying in bed resting when she suddenly heard an announcement outside—”His Majesty has arrived”—and was scared half to death. She hurriedly shut her eyes tight and squeezed out an expression of pained suffering.
Yuwen Jie strode in, swept a glance around the room, and asked in a low voice, “Where’s the imperial physician?”
Qing Niao hurriedly said, “Someone’s already gone to fetch him, should be on the way.”
“Too slow.” The Emperor said. “Eunuch Qin, have Physician Feng come as well.”
“Yes.” Eunuch Qin acknowledged.
The corner of her mouth twitching, Qing Niao gave the person lying in bed a sympathetic glance.
With even Physician Feng coming, this wasn’t something that could be bluffed through anymore.
Hua Chun’s heart was in her throat too—she’d only wanted an excuse not to see Marquis Gongyu. How had even the Emperor ended up coming? If the physician exposed her lack of illness later, would that count as deceiving the sovereign? She was innocent!
Eyes shut tight, she thought it over, then, with impressive acting skill, let out a couple of pained groans before slowly opening her eyes.
“Your Majesty, Second Brother, why have you both come?”
He Chang’an’s eyes were full of concern as he stood behind the Emperor, watching her. “I heard you were sick, so I came to see.”
“It’s nothing serious.” She said weakly. “Your Majesty has state affairs to attend to, and Second Brother has important matters as well—no need to trouble yourselves specially. I’ll be fine after a sleep.”
“That won’t do.” He Chang’an frowned. “Your Highness falling ill is a serious matter. We must find out exactly what illness it is, what caused it, and whether someone secretly harmed you.”
“…” Hua Chun choked on a cough. “Second Brother is overthinking. It’s not that complicated—I just didn’t cover myself properly with the blanket last night…”
The Emperor frowned. “You’re not even well-behaved in your sleep?”
“Once I’m asleep I have no awareness—this concubine can’t control that either.” Hua Chun laughed sheepishly. “Anyway, it’s nothing serious. Your Majesty and Second Brother should go attend to important matters.”
“We’ll wait until the imperial physician has taken your pulse before leaving.” He Chang’an said. “And while we’re at it, please accept the Guanyin statue this humble official brought for Your Highness.”
Huh? Guanyin? Hua Chun turned her head to look, and sure enough, there was a Guanyin statue made of dried herbs beside her, lifelike in its craftsmanship, and pleasant-smelling too—clearly made from medicinal herbs.
“Did you make this yourself?” the Emperor asked flatly.
“That’s not important.” He Chang’an didn’t answer directly, only said, “In any case, it’s something beneficial for Your Highness.”
Frowning slightly, Yuwen Jie glanced at him. “The palace has such things too. You needn’t have gone to the trouble of bringing it yourself.”
“How could the palace possibly have one.” He Chang’an raised an eyebrow, laughing softly. “Motherwort is hard enough to find in Yanjing to begin with, and drying and sculpting it is quite difficult too. Besides, when it comes to clay sculpture, could anyone in the palace possibly have better skill than this humble official?”
So he really had made it himself. Yuwen Jie felt a wave of irritation. “You leave so many official documents unread to make things like this?”
“In Your Majesty’s heart, could Her Highness possibly rank below official documents?”
“That’s not what I meant, but you’re overstepping somewhat, Chang’an.”
Truly… this damned business of being sworn siblings! The Emperor, annoyed, pulled He Chang’an out to the outer hall. “I’ve always thought you were a man who knew his boundaries. Don’t disappoint me.”
“Your Majesty is being overly sensitive.” He Chang’an said helplessly. “This humble official only wants Her Highness to feel a little better.”
“What you’re actually thinking, only you yourself know clearly.” The Emperor lifted his chin slightly, eyes half-lidded as he looked at him. “Sometimes what you think is good for her might, in fact, harm her instead.”
How could it possibly harm her? He Chang’an laughed softly, about to say something, when a palace attendant outside announced, “Physician Feng has arrived.”