So after taking a deep breath, Hua Chun still said: “His Majesty wishes to appear strong. At such a weak moment, naturally he cannot be seen this way by the consorts, so only this humble official may attend him.”

That explanation made sense. Hua Xunyue’s expression eased somewhat.

Huo Xianrou pressed her lips together and said: “Lately the prime minister truly seems to understand His Majesty’s heart even better than Eunuch Qin.”

This was hardly a compliment—it was clearly sarcasm! Yet Hua Jinghua acted as though she hadn’t understood at all, nodding to them before entering the inner hall.

Huo Xianrou gritted her teeth, glaring at his retreating back for a moment, then turned to Hua Xunyue: “Sister, look at him—not only has he not held back, he’s gotten even more brazen. If this continues, His Majesty will surely go astray sooner or later.”

Wasn’t the whole point of being a palace consort to receive a bit of the emperor’s favor? Now the emperor rarely visited the harem, always keeping the prime minister by his side, even frequently having the prime minister stay overnight in Zichen Hall. Hadn’t Hua Jinghua already earned the title of the most favored person in the entire harem?

Hua Xunyue said nothing.

She could see clearly enough what Consort Huo was trying to do—did she want to team up against Hua Jinghua? She had no wish to be used as someone else’s weapon, and besides, she understood well enough the saying about how turning your elbow outward only breaks your own arm. So even though she was genuinely displeased in her heart, she merely smiled and said: “His Majesty is a wise ruler who can tell right from wrong. Younger sister needn’t worry.”

Stamping her foot, Huo Xianrou glared at her with frustration, then turned and headed toward Youyang Palace.

Hua Xunyue could restrain herself, but Hua Liuying was someone who couldn’t endure much—Huo Xianrou only needed to provoke her with a few words, saying Hua Xunyue was using the prime minister to secure her position, and Hua Liuying grew angry.

“I have a very big bargaining chip.” She said, looking at Huo Xianrou. “But using it would hurt me as much as it hurts others. I need to secure my own way out first before I hand it over.”

Consort Huo’s eyes brightened slightly, and she nodded: “This servant could help Sister find a buyer. Sister may wait a while.”

The days in the cold palace were dark, with no sight of the sky, and the number of women in the palace kept growing. Hua Liuying’s earlier confidence had been worn down considerably; she’d begun considering other paths, and the only thing she had to rely on now was this one thing in her hands.

Yuwen Jie leaned against the bedside, looking at the medicine bowl in Hua Chun’s hands: “Feed me.”

Hua Chun: “…”

This was the first time she’d ever met someone who wanted to take medicine despite not being sick.

“Medicine is three parts poison.” She said flatly. “Your Majesty needn’t drink it—you can just pour it into the flowerpot later.”

“This is a tonic.” The emperor said. “It’s fine to drink.”

“Very well then.” Hua Chun nodded, directly shoving the bowl into his hands. “Enjoy, Your Majesty.”

Was she still angry, it seemed? The emperor looked down at the bowl in his hands, pressed his lips together, and simply set it aside.

“Has Chang’an gone to the Empress Dowager’s palace?”

“Mn.” Hua Chun lowered her eyes, looking at her own fingertips. “Before long, we should be drinking Second Brother’s wedding wine.”

“You’re not happy?”

Where could he possibly see that she wasn’t happy? Hua Chun frowned, raising her eyes to look at the man before her: “Second Brother is getting married. As his younger brother, I’m naturally extremely happy for him.”

The emperor’s gaze carried a probing quality, scanning over her like radar: “Really?”

“More genuine than real gold.”

“Then why, when I bring a woman back, are you so unhappy?”

Was that even comparable? Hua Chun gritted her teeth: “Second Brother’s marriage is a matter of personal happiness. Your Majesty bringing women back, however, runs counter to the interests of the state—why should I be happy about that?”

“Oh?” Yuwen Jie pressed his lips together. “Does it really run counter to it?”

Hua Chun fell silent.

Well, actually, it hadn’t. This scheming man in front of her had clearly exploited Western Xia’s eagerness to curry favor, turning the tables and using it against them like capturing an opponent’s chess piece with a counter-move—she really ought to praise him for it.

However, dragging her into the scheme along with him, gambling with his own life, making her worry like a fool—that part still couldn’t be forgiven!

So Hua Chun continued with a cold, indifferent expression: “Your Majesty is wise and brilliant. This official was merely foolish.”

The person before him now was like a hedgehog covered entirely in thorns, prickly to the touch from any angle. The emperor watched her quietly for a moment, then said: “It would be nice if you could be a bit softer, like a woman, sometimes.”

Pursing her lips, Hua Chun said: “Wouldn’t that make me effeminate?”

The emperor: “…”

Truly, cause and effect come full circle—his own words had come back to strike him like a stone thrown at his own foot. If he’d been told from the start that she was a woman, he wouldn’t have thought her effeminate at all—if anything, he might have found her rather heroic instead.

Sighing almost imperceptibly, the emperor reached out and handed her a book: “Sit here and read, and consider it keeping watch over me.”

“Yes.” Hua Chun took it expressionlessly, glanced at the cover—

Shaolin Martial Arts Manual

Her mouth twitched slightly. She looked up at the emperor: “Is this what you usually read?”

“It’ll do you good. Read plenty of it.” He said.

Swallowing, Hua Chun resigned herself to flipping through it.

During the seven days the emperor lay “ill,” Prime Minister Hua remained by his side in Zichen Hall the entire time. Palace attendants who came to gather news went back and reported to their respective masters: “His Majesty’s condition is still very serious.”

“How can you tell?”

“Prime Minister Hua’s face hasn’t shown a smile once—blacker than the bottom of a pot. His Majesty definitely isn’t doing well.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, and the Western Xia delegation was frightened enough that they hadn’t slept properly in days.

Fortunately, today the King of Western Xia’s message finally arrived by carrier pigeon. Yang Yuanchen scrambled into Zichen Hall, practically crawling, and knelt before Hua Chun: “Our king has agreed—he will cede ten gold mines to Great Liang’s emperor, and begs His Majesty’s forgiveness.”

Hua Chun nodded, her face still showing no expression, and looked at him: “Western Xia shows such genuine repentance—our emperor is not a petty man either. In a couple of days, Great Liang will send envoys to accompany you back to demarcate the land, and I also hope you will convey our emperor’s goodwill to the King of Western Xia.”

Finally, he could leave Great Liang safely! Yang Yuanchen wiped away tears of emotion, kowtowing repeatedly, and withdrew under the prime minister’s rather intimidating gaze.

“That’s truly wonderful!” he whispered to a nearby envoy. “This trip really wasn’t easy. Everyone, go rest well—let’s prepare to set off back to Western Xia.”

The others all nodded, and were just about to leave when they heard palace attendants walking nearby say: “Our prime minister is truly formidable—look how thoroughly he’s dealt with the Western Xia people. Not only are they handing over gold mines, they’re even thanking our prime minister for his great mercy.”

Yang Yuanchen froze and turned to look.

Two eunuchs, backs turned, were walking off into the distance, chatting as they went, seemingly not noticing them at all.

Wasn’t that a bit too harsh to hear? Several nearby envoys grew displeased: “Have we been played by that Prime Minister Hua?”

“It’s too late to react to that now—the outcome is already settled.” Yang Yuanchen frowned. “Still, that Prime Minister Hua really is unlikeable.”

Someone had approached him for cooperation before, and he hadn’t agreed—now, thinking back on it, he felt a bit of regret.

Thinking it over, Yang Yuanchen said: “I’m going to go find someone to talk to. The rest of you go back first.”

“Yes.” The others agreed, and Yang Yuanchen watched them walk ahead before turning and heading toward Boyang Palace.

He Chang’an, having not entered the palace for seven days since that day at Minghui Hall, finally had time today, and arrived at Zichen Hall.

Hua Chun smiled at the sight of him: “Second Brother.”

He Chang’an didn’t dare meet his gaze, merely acknowledging him, before going to greet the emperor.

“I hear your marriage has been settled?” Yuwen Jie looked at him. “The Qu family’s second daughter suits your taste?”

“Mn.” His face looked somewhat haggard, his features noticeably thinner: “A young lady introduced by the Empress Dowager surely wouldn’t be lacking—gentle and virtuous, very suitable for this humble official.”

Hua Chun leaned in curiously: “What does she look like?”

“Ordinary looking.” He Chang’an said. “Not even a tenth as lovely as the beauties of the harem.”

“That’s still fine.” Hua Chun said with an air of worldly wisdom. “Looks aren’t the most important thing—as long as she can be considerate toward Second Brother and take care of him, that’s already a good marriage.”

A good marriage? He Chang’an smiled faintly, sitting down beside them: “The wedding is next month. If Worthy Brother has time, you must come drink the wedding wine.”

“Absolutely, absolutely!” Hua Chun said, touching the mandarin duck pendant she always kept hanging at her waist. “Second Brother gave me such a beautiful gift—I finally have a chance to return the favor.”

Pausing slightly, He Chang’an’s gaze fell on the pendant, somewhat surprised: “That’s a matched pair. Does Worthy Brother really wear both pieces alone?”

Hua Chun paused. She knew this was meant as a couple’s set, but wouldn’t it be a bit awkward for her and Qing Niao to wear matching pendants?

“Mandarin ducks look best in pairs.” She said with a smile. “Separated, they don’t look as good. To make up for it, I gave Qing Niao something else instead.”

Actually, wasn’t it more that she just wanted to keep this one for herself alone? The emperor let out a soft snort and looked away.

Every time these two were together, the scene always looked as if there was no room for a third person—if the two of them had truly met as man and woman, they’d probably have run off together already, leaving him behind entirely!