Both men fell silent. The Emperor watched Physician Feng enter and gestured for him to take her pulse. Physician Feng entered the inner chamber with a solemn expression, glanced once at Consort De’s face, and paused slightly, startled.
Hua Chun laughed awkwardly and, guilty at heart, offered up her wrist.
Physician Feng began taking her pulse, with the Emperor and Marquis Gongyu watching from the side.
After a while of pulse-taking, Physician Feng glanced at Consort De several times, and each time she wore an ingratiating expression.
“How is it?” the Emperor asked.
Physician Feng hesitated a moment, then said quietly, “Her Highness may simply be overtired. Rest well and she’ll be fine—the pregnancy hasn’t been affected.”
Hadn’t she said it was a cold? The Emperor frowned, and He Chang’an looked somewhat puzzled too.
Qing Niao said quietly, “Perhaps she’s already recovered, and it’s just the fatigue left over.”
Hua Chun covered her face—this explanation was worse than no explanation at all.
Physician Feng packed up his things and took his leave with a bow. The Emperor looked at Hua Chun for a long moment, seeming to understand her intentions, and his expression softened. “Rest well, then.”
“Yes.” Quickly pulling the blanket up and burying herself in the pillow, Hua Chun silently chanted “nothing happened, nothing happened” a hundred times over to dispel the awkwardness.
He Chang’an followed the Emperor out.
“You can see for yourself what she wants, can’t you.” Walking along the palace path, Yuwen Jie said quietly. “Don’t let your feelings become a burden to her. Even if it’s brotherly affection, the same applies.”
Slightly stunned, He Chang’an lowered his eyes, his pale robe fluttering gently in the cold wind.
“This official understands.”
If even she wanted to avoid him, then surely he was the one in the wrong.
Because of the competition over consort rank, Madam Tang and Consort Xu were locked in an enjoyable little tussle with each other, which meant Hua Chun now had ample energy to prepare for Prince Xi’s arrival. First, arranging his residence within the palace; then, secretly arranging where his troops would garrison.
Prince Xi persistently begged the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager in turn tried every means to pressure the Emperor into agreeing to let his troops garrison near the capital. The Emperor, fed up with it, simply shut his doors and refused to see anyone. Having no other recourse, the Empress Dowager sought out Hua Chun.
“Prince Xi has already entered the capital, but so many of his attendants are stuck outside the capital’s outskirts, unable to come in. This palace wants you to think of a solution.”
Hua Chun found this rather amusing—why should she? Just because you’re older, you get to act however you please?
“Empress Dowager.” She said. “Within a hundred people, we can call those men Prince Xi’s attendants. But beyond a hundred—especially thousands upon thousands—that’s not called attendants, that’s called an army. The Great Liang has clear regulations: when a prince brings troops into the capital, it cannot exceed five thousand. Prince Xi brought fifty thousand, so naturally he can only remain outside the capital’s outskirts. This concubine has no way around that either.”
The Empress Dowager frowned. “Rules are fixed, but people are flexible. So many princes have come to the capital this time—shouldn’t the Emperor be given some measure of protection?”
“As long as Prince Xi doesn’t bring troops into the capital, His Majesty is perfectly well protected.” Hua Chun smiled. “The Empress Dowager isn’t someone who fails to understand the situation—you’re simply blinded by familial affection. Honestly speaking, of all the princes, only Prince Xi could pose a threat to His Majesty. Why do you insist on indulging him?”
Startled slightly, the Empress Dowager’s expression turned displeased. “You simply don’t want to help this palace.”
“The Empress Dowager is wise.” Hua Chun nodded. Helping her—what a mad idea that would be.
“Quite the Consort De.” The Empress Dowager sneered. “Who knows what you’re really scheming behind all this.”
“A loyal heart devoted to the sovereign.” Hua Chun answered without hesitation. “This concubine’s eyes hold only His Majesty, and everything is done with His Majesty’s interests foremost. And the Empress Dowager?”
Her heart sinking, the Empress Dowager looked away, not answering the question.
“As the saying goes, even a tiger, vicious as it is, does not devour its own cub.” Hua Chun said quietly. “But we humans, sometimes, can be more vicious than tigers. When there are two children, favoritism toward one is inevitable, and however unfair it is to the other—that’s never taken into consideration.”
“Are you mocking this palace?” The Empress Dowager’s eyes turned sharp, fixed on her. “Who gave you the nerve?”
“Calm yourself, Empress Dowager.” Hua Chun said. “Mockery only angers someone when it hits the mark. The Empress Dowager surely treats His Majesty and Prince Xi with equal fairness, so you certainly wouldn’t be the one this concubine was describing, and there’s no need to be angry.”
“You…”
Hua Chun rose and bowed to the Empress Dowager. “Prince Xi will be entering the palace tonight. The Empress Dowager should go enjoy some family happiness. This concubine takes her leave.”
Glaring at her retreating figure, the Empress Dowager took a good while to catch her breath, then pulled Yuejian close. “Do you see that? In her eyes, this palace means nothing at all!”
Yuejian sighed, opened her mouth to say something, then swallowed it back, only saying, “Empress Dowager, you yourself said she shouldn’t get involved in state affairs anymore—how could it be right to have her go persuade His Majesty again? This whole matter was improper to begin with. You should have refused Prince Xi outright.”
The Empress Dowager frowned, studying Yuejian for a moment. “Why does this palace feel like you’ve been taking Consort De’s side more and more lately?”
“This servant isn’t taking Consort De’s side—I’m taking yours.” Yuejian said helplessly. “Whenever it involves Prince Xi, you tend to lose your composure. This servant doesn’t want to see you make a mistake.”
Was that so? The Empress Dowager lowered her eyes.
Xi’er hadn’t even really begged her for much—she just always guessed what he wanted.
And what he wanted, she couldn’t help wanting to give him.
Hua Chun went back to Yangxin Hall to tidy things up, and by evening heard the news that Prince Xi had entered the palace.
“Nothing good ever comes from him showing up.” Frowning slightly, Hua Chun said, “We won’t go to the Empress Dowager’s side tonight. His Majesty will go. We’ll avoid it wherever we can.”
“Alright.” Qing Niao nodded.
While Hua Chun’s side was resolved to avoid trouble, the other side had never planned on letting her off the hook. Prince Xi paid his respects to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, then looked up and asked, “I hear Consort De is carrying the imperial heir—why haven’t I seen her? This official wanted to offer his congratulations.”
The Emperor said flatly, “She’s resting to care for her health.”
“I see.” Prince Xi nodded. “On my journey to the capital, I heard no shortage of rumors—including some claiming Consort De is actually Chancellor Hua. Such an absurd tale, spreading through the streets and alleys—that could hardly be proper.”
Yuwen Jie frowned.
Everyone in the palace had already tacitly accepted this matter, since he and the Empress Dowager together suppressed it, and no one dared say much. But how had it spread outside the palace?
“Imperial Brother needn’t be nervous either.” Yuwen Xi said with a smile. “Those rumors must just be nonsense being spread around. If it were true, the court would already be in an uproar. Deceiving the sovereign like that, hiding it from heaven itself—that couldn’t be lightly forgiven.”
The whole hall fell silent together. The Empress Dowager’s lips moved, wanting to say something but saying nothing, only offering, “You’ve had a hard journey. Come dine with this palace and your imperial brother first.”
“Alright.” Yuwen Xi agreed with a smile, sweeping a glance at the Emperor before rising to follow the Empress Dowager to the dining hall.
“Where is she?” the Emperor asked in a low voice.
Eunuch Qin bowed. “Resting at Yangxin Hall. She said she wasn’t feeling well and wouldn’t be coming.”
Better that she not come, the Emperor nodded to himself—this hurdle with Prince Xi, he’d have to help her bluff through it himself.
“Your Highness.” Rui’er came in to report. “The Marquis says everything’s been arranged properly, and you should just rest well.”
Relieved, Hua Chun nodded. Her body had been sore and weak these past two days, unable to bear much more strain—she could only help the Emperor this much. The rest, given Yuwen Jie’s level of cunning, he should be able to handle.
Just as she’d lain down, Madam Tang actually came by, saying softly, “Your Highness, Consort Xu is probably going to lose another five points.”
“How so?” Hua Chun asked weakly, eyes closed.
Madam Tang said, “The moment Prince Xi returned, there’s been a lot of activity in her palace. She even had someone send a letter out—no telling what it said.”
She’d even managed to find that out? Hua Chun opened her eyes, looking at her in surprise. “You’re sure?”
“Sure. This concubine happened to be passing by and saw her maid sneaking off toward Boyang Palace with a letter.”
Happened to be passing by, sure—clearly she’d had someone watching. Hua Chun truly admired them; over a matter of rank, they’d dug up every last secret about each other from all directions.
“This palace will look into it. If there’s indeed collusion between a consort and a prince, forget about her rank—her very life could be at stake.” Hua Chun said. “You’ve worked hard.”
Madam Tang smiled, bowed, and withdrew.
Qing Niao muttered, “This really is like getting two free surveillance devices. Whatever those two are up to, you find out immediately.”
“How wonderful.” Hua Chun smiled, then turned serious again. There were no shortage of insiders working against the harem—though Consort Shu, Noble Consort Wu, and Attendant Duan and others had been dealt with, no one could guarantee none of the remaining consorts were Prince Xi’s people.
Planting people in the harem, really, aside from gathering intelligence on the Emperor’s preferences, schedule, and the palace guard rotation, served little other purpose—after all, with so many women, not one of them could bewitch the Emperor into losing his head. But if Prince Xi truly harbored rebellious intentions, gathering that much information would be more than enough—it could become a decisive advantage when both sides were evenly matched.
Would Consort Xu really be foolish enough to throw in her lot with Prince Xi?
Thinking it over, she yawned, and drowsily hugged her blanket and fell asleep.
The Emperor hadn’t come to Yangxin Hall in a long while now; likely he wouldn’t come tonight either.
The banquet at Huiming Hall was underway. Prince Xi opened with, “The beauty I sent Imperial Brother last time—I heard she didn’t catch your eye?”
The Emperor said nothing, quietly eating.
Sighing, Prince Xi said, “This official truly wanted to make Imperial Brother happy. Didn’t choose well last time, but this time I’ve prepared carefully—please, take a look, Imperial Brother.”
The Empress Dowager helped smooth things over. “Bring her up, let’s take a look.”
Prince Xi smiled, turned and signaled to someone nearby, and a palace attendant immediately brought forward a beauty, carrying wine as well.
“This servant, Madam Lü, pays respects to Your Majesty.”
Glancing at her once, the Emperor asked, “Any relation to the Minister of Justice, Lü Sanbian?”
Madam Lü started, her eyes full of innocence. “This servant is from Huaiyang. I don’t know Lord Justice.”
That was fine then, the Emperor nodded, his curiosity about the beauty extending no further than that.
The Empress Dowager studied the young woman for a moment—truly dignified in appearance, refined in bearing too, clearly from a scholarly family—far superior to those from the pleasure quarters or merchant families.
“This palace thinks she’s quite fine. What does Your Majesty think?”