Li Weiyang’s gaze fell on an inconspicuous spot at the banquet, her expression unreadable. Madam Guo had been listening with a smile to Li Weiyang and Princess Ali’s conversation, and only now did she say softly, “Jia’er, I notice you seem to pay constant attention to Ying Chu.”
Li Weiyang withdrew her gaze, turned to look at Madam Guo and smiled, saying, “I pay attention to him because he’s someone well worth noting. A mere household slave who could climb to his current position—I see that although everyone in the palace holds him in contempt, they’re also quite wary of him. This surely isn’t just relying on Empress Pei’s prestige. I imagine he himself must have outstanding qualities!”
Madam Guo sighed softly: “That’s naturally the case. In the past, when the daughter of the Marquis of Xiangnan fell gravely ill, on the brink of death, this Ying Chu presented a folk remedy and cured her. For a time his fame soared and he was called a divine person. Later he entered the palace, and according to legend, one sweltering summer day Empress Pei felt extremely hot and longed for snow to fall. Within half an hour, Ying Chu presented a handful of snow, saying he’d retrieved it from behind Yinshan. Everyone found it most extraordinary.”
Princess Ali, listening beside them, widened her eyes: “Snow even in midsummer—that’s truly remarkable!”
Madam Guo smiled faintly but continued: “The remarkable things are probably yet to come! In the fourth month, Empress Pei suddenly wanted to eat watermelon. This Ying Chu asked her for a hundred coins and left. Before long, he truly presented a watermelon, mysteriously telling everyone he’d stolen it from an old farmer’s orchard in He County. Later, someone specifically went to find that old farmer to verify the situation. The old farmer replied that a watermelon he’d stored in his cellar had disappeared, but he’d discovered a hundred coins in the earth. Because of this series of strange events, everyone felt it was incredible and became even more in awe of him.”
Hearing this, Li Weiyang’s gaze unconsciously swept over Ying Chu’s face again. She said in a low voice, “I wonder why this Lord Ying always wears a half-mask?”
Madam Guo frowned gently: “As for that, I’ve heard that for a period Empress Pei suffered from constant nightmares and was in great distress. It was precisely because Ying Chu cast spells and recited incantations that he helped her overcome the nightmares’ torment. Then one day he suddenly told people that he’d been injured by the shackles in the nightmares and his appearance was ruined. From that day on, he’s always worn that mask.”
Li Weiyang looked thoughtful: “It seems this Lord Ying becoming Empress Pei’s trusted confidant and favorite is not without reason!”
Princess Ali deeply agreed. Getting ice blocks in summer wasn’t difficult, but snowflakes were completely different. It appeared this Lord Ying truly had some supernatural powers!
After the incident at the banquet, having witnessed Censor Zhang’s blood splattered on the spot, everyone’s faces were somewhat stiff, their smiles hanging on their faces like masks of unease. Although beautiful performers still sang and danced, strings and bamboo still filled the ears, and everyone still drank heartily and laughed boisterously as if quite at ease, everything seemed so unnatural. Especially His Highness the Crown Prince—after that incident, his expression was indifferent. From beginning to end he’d barely spoken a few words. A cup of wine sat before him, and except when someone came to toast him and he drank a little, he never touched it again. A full hall of laughter, yet one person’s loneliness.
That His Highness the Crown Prince showed such loss of composure—clearly he was dwelling on what had just happened. Just a small setback was enough to make an arrogant, proud person become silent and taciturn. Li Weiyang smiled coldly. Evidently the Crown Prince had indeed become deeply suspicious and extremely repressed these days. She sighed inwardly. Since Ying Chu entered the palace, the Crown Prince’s expression always carried a hint of discomfort. It seemed everyone was right—Empress Pei overly favored Ying Chu, which greatly displeased the Crown Prince.
The feast continued, the singing and dancing remained lively. It wasn’t until nearly dawn that the wine was exhausted, the songs ceased, the banquet ended, and people dispersed. The carriages before the palace departed one by one.
After boarding her carriage, Li Weiyang leaned gently against the cushions and closed her eyes to rest. Beside her, Madam Guo and Princess Ali were conversing in low voices. Ali still harbored some worry about that heart-stopping banquet. Madam Guo glanced at Li Weiyang and lowered her voice further, clearly hoping she could rest a while longer.
In the Empress’s palace, a palace maid brought tea. Empress Pei smiled slightly: “Pour a cup for Lord Ying as well.”
Ying Chu lowered his eyes: “This humble minister is rude. I thank Her Majesty the Empress.” He bowed slightly, then sat back down, his gaze fixed straight on the chess board before him. The Empress raised her teacup, made a move and said, “What are your thoughts on today’s game?”
Ying Chu looked up and smiled, his expression showing no abnormality: “Each time I think I’m about to succeed, Your Majesty always manages to block my moves. Clearly Your Majesty’s skills are superior!”
Empress Pei sighed: “It seems your chess skills haven’t improved over all these years. Before I was married, I often had you accompany me in chess. Even then you always lost to me.”
Ying Chu smiled: “So many years have already passed, yet Your Majesty still remembers.”
A strange light flashed in his eyes, almost impossible to conceal—the intense emotions in his gaze seemed about to break through all restraints. Empress Pei paid no attention to his expression, only gazing blandly at the chess game before her: “So you still love to flatter me!”
Ying Chu quickly said, “This humble minister isn’t flattering—Your Majesty’s chess skills are truly superior. This humble minister absolutely cannot match them.”
Empress Pei gently placed a piece: “Why wasn’t anyone found when Duke Qi’s mansion was searched today?”
Ying Chu’s expression grew grave as he said, “This… this humble minister also cannot fathom it for the moment. Perhaps that Li Weiyang already sensed something wrong and deliberately hid Consort Lian.”
Empress Pei slowly placed a black piece into an empty space: “This time we let her show her face before everyone, yet forced Censor Zhang to commit suicide at court. We truly lost our investment and the profit too!” Her expression at this moment was casual. Ying Chu, however, perked up and placed a white piece: “Yes, Your Majesty. I handled this matter somewhat improperly and instead allowed someone to scheme against us.”
Empress Pei smiled and placed a piece: “This piece lying here—every move I make is obstructed by it. How annoying.”
Ying Chu froze. The white piece in his hand took a long time before he gently placed it down: “Actually… I sent people to watch Duke Qi’s mansion and constantly monitor their movements, but I never expected Li Weiyang could pull off such a substitution right under our noses.”
Empress Pei sighed softly: “Yes, this girl is truly remarkable. At such a young age, her scheming runs so deep.” In fact, Ying Chu had sent people to watch Duke Qi’s mansion twelve hours a day. But each time he received secret reports, it was always that Li Weiyang had left the mansion with a white-veiled woman, then returned together—without exception. Each outing lasted only an hour or two, and the places visited were just tearooms, wine houses, at most jewelry shops and book stores. But he never imagined that even so, the other party could quietly hide the person away.
Empress Pei said, “Your turn.” Ying Chu unconsciously stroked the black piece Empress Pei had just placed. For a long while, he couldn’t think of which move to make. Empress Pei didn’t speak either, just waited quietly. She casually picked up her teacup, took a sip of tea, then said, “What do you plan to do next?”
Hearing Empress Pei say this, Ying Chu picked up a white piece and gently placed it on the board: “I’ve already ordered people to watch all the city gates. We absolutely won’t let that woman leave, so she must still be in the capital. Before, we captured that child to threaten her—a mother’s heart is connected to her child’s. She absolutely cannot abandon him, so she will definitely appear again. We still have a chance.”
Empress Pei’s brow lifted slightly: “You’re still counting on this plan?”
Ying Chu frowned: “Your Majesty, this humble minister still has moves to make. If we stop here, this play won’t be so exciting.”
Empress Pei picked up a black piece and tapped the board lightly: “Don’t be so confident. Li Weiyang also has counter-moves waiting for you. Don’t let your guard down.”
Ying Chu smiled slightly and placed down a white piece: “Your Majesty underestimates me too much. Over these years, of all the people I’ve eliminated for Your Majesty, which one was easy to deal with? In the end, didn’t they all obediently submit to execution? You must know Your Majesty was born with a phoenix destiny, fated to rule the world. Why fear a mere Li Weiyang!”
Empress Pei lowered her eyes and hummed in acknowledgment, but suddenly asked, “You once said that Li Weiyang’s fate was strange, that she was born to oppose me. Is this true?”
Ying Chu smiled bitterly: “So-called physiognomy shouldn’t be entirely believed, but shouldn’t be entirely disbelieved either. Since I said it, Your Majesty can just pretend you never heard it.”
The black piece Empress Pei held between her fingers remained unplaced for a long time as she contemplated. Finally she said slowly, “So it is true!”
Ying Chu’s eyebrows rose. He took the tea, gently brushed away the white foam on the surface, and after a long pause said, “Your Majesty, I will always find a way to cut off her path.”
Just then, a palace maid entered and reported softly, “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince requests an audience.”
Empress Pei frowned slightly. This frown made the palace maid’s heart skip a beat. Empress Pei tossed the black piece back into the chess basket and laughed coldly: “Good. I wanted to see him too. Admit him!”
Ying Chu stood up and bowed: “This humble minister takes his leave.”
Empress Pei said flatly, “It doesn’t matter. It’s just a moment. Sit down. We can finish the game later.”
The Crown Prince walked in step by step, his face showing a trace of displeasure. He walked before the Empress, bowed respectfully and said, “Mother Empress!”
Empress Pei looked him over carefully, then suddenly said, “The banquet has ended. Why haven’t you left the palace? If you miss the gate-closing time, your father will again find excuses to reprimand you.”
Ying Chu wasn’t an ordinary man, so he could come and go freely in the palace, personally serving the Empress. That he was still here at this hour—the Crown Prince trembled slightly, then said, “Mother Empress, your son has something to say.”
Empress Pei looked at his face, which faintly carried anger, and smiled blandly: “What do you want to say now?”
The Crown Prince said coldly, “Mother Empress, did you see at court today that the Wang and Guo families have already formed an alliance? It seems Lord Ying’s stratagem didn’t work. In your son’s view, from today on Lord Ying should no longer manage affairs concerning the Guo and Wang families. Please entrust this matter to your son, Mother Empress. Your son will certainly give you a satisfactory answer.”
Empress Pei looked at him contemptuously: “Entrust it to you? You’ve made moves before. What were the results?”
The Crown Prince gritted his teeth: “Mother Empress, that was just a momentary slip.”
Empress Pei said coldly, “That Wang Zijin—beautiful as the moon, with an embroidered heart, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, medicine, divination, and astrology—she’s already exceptionally outstanding. But there’s also Li Weiyang. Though her literary and martial abilities are ordinary, she excels at scheming and plotting. She’s cruel by nature, ruthless in methods, several times more vicious than ordinary men. These two have now joined forces against you. What methods do you have to contend with them?”
A trace of displeasure crossed the Crown Prince’s face: “They’re just two young women. Can I really not deal with them?”
Empress Pei glanced at him, picked up another chess piece, and said with a smile, “Look at you, constantly making wild boasts. You truly don’t know your own limitations!”
Hearing these words, the Crown Prince felt as if thunder had struck from the sky—extremely shocking. He hadn’t expected her to look down on him to such a degree. He couldn’t help but say through gritted teeth, “Mother Empress looks down on me too much!”
Empress Pei was already disappointed in the Crown Prince. If he weren’t her only son, she’d really want to slap him away. At this moment she could only suppress her anger, blandly placing down a piece: “I’ve already given you countless chances, but you didn’t cherish them. Now I’ve entrusted this matter to Ying Chu to handle, yet you continue to make difficulties for him everywhere. What do you expect me to do? Must I watch your father strip you of your Crown Prince position before you’re happy?”
The Crown Prince never imagined he’d be so coldly mocked by his own birth mother. He closed his eyes in despair, feeling his entire person falling into a bottomless abyss. For a long while he couldn’t speak a word, his whole body ice cold. Until Empress Pei’s voice sounded again: “Fine. From now on you need not interfere in any matters, nor say anything. Just like at court today—I never planned to tell you beforehand, and I didn’t need your support at court either. Don’t be too clever!”
Regarding Duke Qi’s mansion today, Empress Pei hadn’t disclosed anything to the Crown Prince beforehand, fearing he might inadvertently ruin things. But the Crown Prince wasn’t stupid either. At the banquet he’d discerned Empress Pei’s intent and wanted to help her, yet now he was being blamed for it. The Crown Prince felt utterly disappointed. Even his intention to reveal that Leng Lian was at his mansion—he swallowed it all down. He withdrew wordlessly. Only before closing the palace doors, his hate-filled gaze still fell on Ying Chu.
After the Crown Prince left, Empress Pei chatted and laughed while decimating Ying Chu’s white pieces. Ying Chu said nothing, silently watching the board. After a good while, he came back to himself and said, “Your Majesty, perhaps you were somewhat too harsh with His Highness. This humble minister sees he’s just…”
Before he could finish, Empress Pei lowered her eyes and said coldly, “I’m doing this for his own good. Before, he only cared about maintaining the Crown Prince’s perfect image and dignity without knowing what should or shouldn’t be done. Now he doesn’t even know when to play deaf and dumb, constantly making difficulties for you everywhere. What’s the logic in this? Undermining his own position! I truly find it hard to believe such a fool is my biological son!” Saying this, she suddenly laughed coldly, seeming to carry twelve hundred thousand parts mockery.
Ying Chu lowered his head, not daring to speak when Empress Pei was displeased. When Empress Pei noticed Ying Chu’s expression, she merely smiled faintly, her gaze sweeping past Ying Chu as if looking toward some unknowable distance. After quite a while she said leisurely, “Of these three children, Lin’an is too domineering and dissolute—I’ve never had patience to discipline him. Anguo was disabled from childhood, so I indulged her somewhat. Who knew this would cause her to die in a foreign land, unable to even return her soul to her homeland. As for this last son, I’ve treated him as well as possible, wholeheartedly supporting him to ascend the throne. As long as he properly maintains his position as Crown Prince and focuses on state affairs without meddling in all this mess, Li Weiyang can do nothing to him no matter what. What I’m doing now is just to keep him away from filth and corruption, to protect him.”
Ying Chu’s lips involuntarily stiffened. He smiled bitterly: “Your Majesty’s intentions I naturally understand. The less the Crown Prince knows, the less anything that happens can implicate him.”
Ying Chu clearly knew he’d always known all of Empress Pei’s affairs. On one hand, this showed Empress Pei greatly valued him, but on the other hand it also showed this stunningly beautiful woman had always used him as a target, having him eliminate forces opposing her. But he was originally a household slave of the Pei family who’d followed Empress Pei for many years. Apart from the person before him, he had no other object of loyalty. He didn’t even regard all the gods and buddhas. Even knowing Empress Pei only used him as a blade to eliminate rebels, he had to sharpen himself to the utmost!
Empress Pei smiled faintly: “Unfortunately he doesn’t understand my intentions and insists on meddling in these affairs!”
Ying Chu’s heart trembled. After a moment he said, “Your Majesty, this is this humble minister’s fault. The Crown Prince has always disliked this humble minister. Before, he had no intention of interfering excessively. But precisely when this humble minister began handling this matter, he became especially aggressive.”
Empress Pei naturally knew this. She withdrew her gaze, already appearing quite cold: “Send more people to watch him these days. Don’t let him do foolish things and interfere with your plans.” Finishing, she stood up, seeming somewhat weary: “Fine. The game is finished. You may withdraw!”
Ying Chu quickly bowed: “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Empress Pei watched Ying Chu’s departing back, then turned to look at the chess board. She saw the white pieces clearly had great potential yet had obviously ceded her half the territory. Her expression moved past the board as if recalling the past. When she’d first met Ying Chu, he’d been just a small household slave, yet he’d knelt before her and vowed to serve her loyally for life.
At the time, she’d thought it nothing but a joke, a promise not to be taken seriously. But looking back now, Ying Chu was the only person who’d accompanied her the longest. Unfortunately, even a blade used too long would rust and dull. In her view, Ying Chu had killed too many people. This blade was already covered in blood, blunt and useless. Perhaps after eliminating Li Weiyang, Ying Chu would no longer be convenient to keep by her side.
Just then, a drop of candle wax slowly dripped down the candle body. Suddenly a gust of wind blew, extinguishing the candle. In that darkness, only Empress Pei’s face could be seen, sharp-featured like a stone statue, yet extraordinarily beautiful.
Because she’d slept so late, Li Weiyang couldn’t sleep. She’d already risen quite early. Maids attended her as she dressed and groomed, putting on layers of winter clothing. Looking in the mirror, Li Weiyang nodded slightly. Then she walked out of her room and saw Li Minzhi already waiting outside. Seeing her approach, he quickly said happily, “Sister!”
Li Weiyang smiled slightly and took his hand, but suddenly noticed faint dark circles under the child’s eyes. She couldn’t help saying, “What’s this? Didn’t little brother sleep well yesterday?”
Li Minzhi stammered somewhat: “No, no.”
Li Weiyang’s beautiful eyes swept over. The wet nurse behind Minzhi quickly lowered her head. She knew Li Weiyang was difficult to fool. Fortunately Li Weiyang never punished anyone in front of Li Minzhi, but lying to her face was extremely difficult. With just one glance from those eyes, she’d know whether you were lying. The wet nurse found it difficult to speak, yet couldn’t tell the truth either.
At this moment, seeing the wet nurse’s difficulty, Li Minzhi tugged at Li Weiyang’s hem: “Sister, don’t blame the wet nurse. It’s my fault. Yesterday I was practicing calligraphy and got carried away, so I slept late.”
Li Weiyang froze, then crouched down to meet Li Minzhi’s gaze at eye level: “Practicing calligraphy—when did Minzhi start liking this?”
Li Minzhi scratched his head, his face showing some hesitation. The wet nurse immediately felt somewhat panicked. Then Li Weiyang gently asked Li Minzhi, “Is there something you can’t tell your sister?”
Li Minzhi’s mouth drooped, his big black eyes seeming somewhat aggrieved. Finally he said, “Yesterday a Madam Qiao brought her children to visit the mansion. I was playing at the time and didn’t avoid them, so I overheard her ask Mother if I was that dull-witted adopted son. Hearing this, Mother became angry and drove Madam Qiao from the mansion. Sister, am I a very dull child who’s brought shame on you all?”
Hearing this, Li Weiyang’s expression changed slightly. Li Minzhi’s appearance had actually been quite abrupt. In the eyes of those with ulterior motives, Duke Qi’s mansion had inexplicably taken in an adopted son, and at first this child had seemed somewhat wooden. Though Minzhi had now recovered his innocent liveliness, everyone’s natural talents differed. Having suffered trauma from childhood, Li Minzhi was always a beat slower than children his age. Madam Guo and Li Weiyang had already discussed not overly constraining this child or making him feel bad, so they’d only hired tutors to teach at home without sending him to study outside. All along Minzhi had no comparison and didn’t feel anything amiss, but there would inevitably be meddling people coming to the mansion to look—to see exactly what kind of child Duke Qi’s mansion had taken in. Madam Guo always declined, which only made them more curious. They’d use various means to find reasons to take a look. Over time, Li Minzhi’s reputation for dullness spread.
Madam Guo was quite angry and simply closed the doors to guests, rarely receiving visitors. But this Madam Qiao’s father was an old friend of the Guo family who’d frequently visited in the past, so it was difficult to refuse too much. Thus Madam Guo received her, never expecting this person would be like all the others—a gossip.
Li Weiyang smiled slightly, stroking Minzhi’s small head, saying gently, “Minzhi, what does it matter if you’re clever or dull? Even if you’re a very clever child—so-called ‘there’s always someone better’—there are hundreds and thousands in the world more outstanding than you. Should we stop loving you just because you’re not clever enough, not outstanding enough? Who in this world dares claim they’re number one!”
Minzhi tilted his head, not quite understanding what his sister was saying. Li Weiyang just gently embraced his soft body, saying softly, “No matter what Minzhi is like, you’re the best child in Sister’s and Mother’s hearts!”
Minzhi looked at his sister and nodded: “Mother said the same thing, but Minzhi doesn’t want to bring shame on you.”
Li Weiyang smiled: “So Minzhi wanted to practice calligraphy, is that right?”
Li Minzhi nodded. Li Weiyang held his hand: “Like this—Sister will practice with you, all right?”
Li Minzhi quickly nodded like a pecking chicken. Li Weiyang brought him into her room, then walked to the desk and spread out paper. Li Minzhi truly picked up the brush and wrote earnestly, stroke by stroke—the characters he wrote were “Weiyang.”
Li Weiyang laughed: “Who taught you these characters?”
Li Minzhi looked up, smiling to show two little fangs: “Yuan Lie taught me!” Such a small child speaking in such an old-fashioned way, directly using the name—it sounded quite funny yet intimate.
Li Weiyang’s smile grew even warmer. Everyone in this household loved Minzhi dearly. Guo Dun always pulled him along to learn martial arts, Guo Dao always played with him, and Yuan Lie constantly taught him all sorts of strange things. Moreover, whenever he saw toys in the marketplace, he’d buy them all for Minzhi to play with, whether duplicates or not.
Li Weiyang personally held Minzhi’s hand, teaching him to write stroke by stroke. Actually thinking about it carefully, she herself had been quite old when she’d started learning characters. Her writing at first had also been extremely clumsy. Even she’d almost lost patience. But to avoid being mocked by others, she’d forced herself to practice desperately, sometimes writing non-stop for over ten days, forgetting food and sleep—showing how important others’ opinions were to her.
Looking back now, it seemed rather laughable. Why care so much about others’ views? Just because they thought you incompetent meant you truly were? She didn’t know what talents Minzhi possessed, but she didn’t feel this child had to be skilled in both civil and military arts. Like so many people in this world—skilled in both civil and military arts, of noble birth—yet they weren’t necessarily happy.
Thinking of this, Li Weiyang said earnestly to Minzhi, “Writing is good, but don’t neglect rest because of it. If you don’t rest well, you won’t grow tall in the future!”
Li Minzhi froze, then stood up straight: “I absolutely won’t!”
Li Weiyang pinched Minzhi’s soft face and smiled: “You’re not a small child anymore. Sister can’t control you. Just have your own sense of proportion.”
Li Minzhi smiled embarrassedly and lowered his head. Though young, he still understood right from wrong. Because the children had all grown up, Madam Guo was especially delighted by Li Minzhi’s arrival and somewhat overindulged him. This fostered in the child a somewhat pampered temperament. Even when he made mistakes, she’d just change the subject and it would pass—those who attended him were the ones punished. But with Li Weiyang, no matter what wrong he did, this sister would punish him without fail. She’d even personally struck his palm. So each time before Li Weiyang, Minzhi always felt somewhat guilty. Once he made a mistake, he’d firmly remember it and never repeat it.
Seeing Minzhi somewhat uneasy, Li Weiyang stroked his head: “All right. Sister has to go out today. You must stay home and study obediently with your teacher. Understand?”
Li Minzhi nodded vigorously, then watched Li Weiyang walk out before earnestly lowering his head to write stroke by stroke again.
Duke Qi’s mansion’s carriage traveled all the way to a temple with rather flourishing incense in the eastern part of the capital. Li Weiyang descended from the carriage, passed through the Buddha hall, and came before a meditation chamber in the side hall. She gently pushed the door and walked in.
Inside, a white-clothed woman had already risen, revealing an otherworldly beautiful face. Li Weiyang smiled gently: “It seems you’ve been doing quite well these days. Even your cheeks have filled out somewhat.”
Leng Lian touched her own face, showing a somewhat embarrassed smile: “I must thank you for helping me. Without you, I’d have had no way to reach his side as I wished.”
Li Weiyang’s smile contained three parts scrutiny: “You needn’t thank me. We’re just each taking what we need.”
Complex emotions flashed through Leng Lian’s eyes. Forcibly suppressing her inner trepidation, she proactively poured Li Weiyang a cup of tea: “Now that I’m already at his villa, surely one day I can enter the Crown Prince’s mansion—as long as my identity isn’t exposed.”
Li Weiyang smiled: “After this banquet, the Crown Prince already knows your identity, yet he’s remained silent and even hidden you away. He must be deeply in love with you. What do you have to worry about?”
The Crown Prince had indeed kept silent, but his attitude toward her had obviously changed subtly. This time when leaving, he’d even sent people to follow her. If Li Weiyang hadn’t already made arrangements, Leng Lian would have had no way to escape. Thinking of this, Leng Lian seemed somewhat worried: “But I always feel uneasy. If someone with ulterior motives exposes everything, I fear I’ll lose my investment and the profit too. So I still hope you’ll look after me, Jia’er. Please don’t let anyone expose me, otherwise…”
Her words trailed off, but her beautiful eyes fell lightly on Li Weiyang’s face. Li Weiyang raised her teacup with a half-smile: “Otherwise, what?”
Was she truly unable to understand or deliberately putting on this act! Leng Lian’s brow furrowed slightly: “Otherwise, perhaps I’ll reveal that you cleverly arranged to send me to the Crown Prince’s side.”
Li Weiyang laughed: “It seems I’ve truly found myself a hot potato that I can’t shake off!”
Leng Lian quickly smiled: “I’m just joking. We’re friends. No matter what, I won’t betray you.”
Li Weiyang looked into her eyes but saw only false enthusiasm. She smiled faintly. She’d already seen through Leng Lian’s character. Back in the palace they’d had an agreement—everything was to be done according to Li Weiyang’s instructions. But to avenge a private grudge, Leng Lian had suddenly changed the plan, causing the entire game to fall apart. Though Li Weiyang hadn’t blamed her afterward, that was only because she was useful. Later Leng Lian even sided with Tuoba Zhen… The two had never been friends to begin with—merely allies!
Thinking of this, she gently set down her teacup and sighed softly: “I’ve said before—you can hide for a time but not forever! The Crown Prince’s current silence doesn’t mean he truly knows nothing. He’s simply waiting for you to speak. As long as you find the right opportunity to lay everything before the Crown Prince—of course, when the Crown Prince is already controlled in your palm—the timing can’t be too early or too late. Everything must be in your grasp. As long as the Crown Prince forgives you, no one else can harm you no matter what!”
Hearing this, Leng Lian stared at Li Weiyang, her expression quite moved. She said softly, “Thank you for the reminder. I’ll find my own way with this. Jia’er, last time you asked me to take the opportunity to sow discord between the Crown Prince and Empress Pei—I’ve already begun working on that. But they’re mother and son after all. You must give me some time.”
Li Weiyang smiled: “I naturally trust you.”
Leng Lian smiled gently, put her veil back on, stood up and said, “I’ll wait for you here mid-month each month.” With that, she smiled charmingly and gracefully departed.
Zhao Yue watched her retreating figure and frowned: “Miss, she clearly wants to escape your control!”
Li Weiyang toyed with the teacup in her hands: “Yes, people’s hearts are never satisfied—a snake trying to swallow an elephant. That’s the kind of person she is. ‘Breaking one’s word’—that describes her perfectly.”
Zhao Yue grew more puzzled: “If she plays tricks, Miss must be extra careful!”
Li Weiyang’s expression shifted. She turned to glance at the closed door, her tone quite bland: “In half a month, find a way to let Ying Chu’s spies know this beauty is hidden at the Crown Prince’s villa.”
Zhao Yue was shocked: “Miss, what are you doing? Right now the Crown Prince doesn’t move against Leng Lian because he’s bewitched by her, and also because you haven’t seized the opportunity to attack, so the Crown Prince thinks you didn’t conspire with Leng Lian beforehand. But it’s also possible he’s looking for a chance to catch us all in one net. Now if you let Ying Chu discover Leng Lian, wouldn’t that…”
Li Weiyang smiled serenely: “Leng Lian dares to negotiate with me in such a tone—this shows she’s already confident she’s gained the Crown Prince’s favor and trust. In half a month she should be able to have the Crown Prince wrapped around her finger. If Ying Chu forces the Crown Prince to hand over this woman, the two will inevitably clash. Don’t you think that would be quite interesting?”
Zhao Yue froze, then a smile crossed her face: “Miss indeed has methods!”
Li Weiyang laughed coldly, thinking inwardly: This is just the first move. There’s still plenty of excitement to come!
Half a month passed in a flash. Li Weiyang spent her time leisurely at the Guo mansion accompanying Li Minzhi in reading and writing, occasionally playing the zither when free, going on outings to the countryside with Yuan Lie—a picture of complete leisure that made her attitude increasingly unfathomable.
Half a month later, she came as agreed to this temple. Upon entering she saw Leng Lian rushing up to meet her. The confident smile from half a month ago had now completely vanished, replaced by extreme panic. She grabbed Li Weiyang’s hand: “Jia’er, this time you must save me!”
Li Weiyang smiled. Last time so self-assured, now completely panicked—what a quick change! She sighed gently: “Whatever it is, we can sit down and discuss slowly.”
Leng Lian couldn’t hide the anxiety in her beautiful eyes: “There’s no time! Just now when I came out, two groups of people were watching me. If not for your arranged people diverting their attention and losing them, I’d probably have been captured by now! Also, though the Crown Prince hasn’t blamed me or handed me over, he hasn’t completely relaxed his vigilance toward me either. I’m so worried!”
Li Weiyang smiled faintly: “Now you should know who’s truly worth relying on!”
Hearing Li Weiyang say this, Leng Lian’s expression changed. She immediately realized Li Weiyang was pressuring her. Being such a clever person, she made an instant decision: “Jia’er, we’re friends. Why use this to threaten me! If I fall, what benefit is there for you? Conversely, if I’m by the Crown Prince’s side, I can help you! Jia’er, this time you must help me. That Ying Chu has already been sowing discord between me and the Crown Prince. Though the Crown Prince hasn’t agreed yet, one day he’ll escape my control and believe I’m a spy you sent! “
Though the Crown Prince was full of suspicion toward Leng Lian, he’d never been willing to hand her over. On one hand this was certainly because Li Weiyang hadn’t seized the opportunity to strike back, but on the other hand it was because of Leng Lian’s outstanding beauty and special charm that made the Crown Prince reluctant to part with her. To make a man disregard her past and identity—such charm wasn’t something every woman possessed. It was an exceptional gift. Li Weiyang smiled: “Since you’ve already appeased the Crown Prince, what’s there to worry about?”
A trace of panic crossed Leng Lian’s face: “I’ve appeased the Crown Prince, but that’s only temporary. Ying Chu keeps watching me closely. He’s sent people to put drugs in my food and drink—clearly he’s changed his mind and wants to kill me. I’ve dodged it several times! After a while, I’ll be exposed! Jia’er, you don’t want to see that happen either, do you? You went to such trouble to send me to the Crown Prince’s side. I’m certain I’m of great use to you, right?”
Li Weiyang’s gaze fell on Leng Lian’s beautiful face. Her smile grew increasingly gentle: “Naturally. Right now you’re more important to me than anyone.”
Leng Lian’s heart jumped. She didn’t know why, but Li Weiyang’s smile made her hair stand on end. She vaguely felt she’d stepped into a trap leading to an abyss. But there was no help for it—she’d already come this far. She could only steel herself: “Jia’er, whatever plan you have, just say it quickly. I’ll definitely be grateful and serve you wholeheartedly!”
Li Weiyang put away her smile, ignoring Leng Lian’s panicked face. She slowly drank a cup of tea. Only when the tea had gone cold did she finally speak: “The matter is difficult if you say it’s difficult, not difficult if you say it’s not. The Crown Prince and Ying Chu already have a grudge between them. This is the most important reason why the Crown Prince refuses to believe Ying Chu’s words and expel you from his mansion.”
Leng Lian naturally knew this. She’d used every means to make the Crown Prince believe Ying Chu was deliberately making difficulties for her. But the Crown Prince was also a clever man. He’d already grown suspicious of her. If Ying Chu found any evidence, wouldn’t she be doomed? That’s why she’d risked being discovered to rush here to find Li Weiyang, hoping she could help.
She heard Li Weiyang sigh gently: “If the conflict between the Crown Prince and Ying Chu constantly expands—or to put it this way, if you turn Ying Chu into a conflict between the Crown Prince and Empress Pei—wouldn’t things be easily resolved?”
Leng Lian froze: “But the Crown Prince is extremely afraid of Empress Pei. He doesn’t dare truly oppose Ying Chu.”
Li Weiyang smiled, a hint of barely perceptible cunning flashing through her eyes: “These past days you must have seen through the Crown Prince’s character. He’s someone who extremely pursues perfection, pays great attention to dignity and rules, doesn’t allow himself to live with the slightest deviation. This isn’t because he’s strong enough to control his own heart—quite the opposite. He’s afraid that if he doesn’t do this, he’ll violate taboos and completely lose everything. So on one hand he desperately flaunts his own value, while on the other he extremely represses his personality and restrains his desires. Such a person who’s been repressed for over twenty years—once you can make him release his repressed emotions and apply some techniques, you can completely control him, manipulate him, make him dare to do anything for you, dare to resist anything! Leng Lian, if you’re clever enough, you should know how to incite his emotions, make him unhesitatingly challenge and hate the deity in his heart!”
Leng Lian looked at Li Weiyang in shock, the fear in her heart spreading boundlessly. When she spoke, even her teeth chattered: “Don’t treat me like a fool. What benefit is this to me?”
Li Weiyang’s gaze rested on her, a trace of mockery flashing through her eyes: “If you don’t do this, you’ll die.”
When she said “you’ll die,” there was no emotion, yet a cold smile played at her lips. Leng Lian deeply regretted her momentary greed in thinking she could escape this person’s control. She bit her lip: “But… what should I do?”
Li Weiyang smiled: “Think carefully. The most important reason the Crown Prince opposes Ying Chu is losing favor before Her Majesty the Empress. If you can make him believe Ying Chu is his greatest obstacle—that as long as he eliminates him, he can return to the center of power—what will he think? What to say, how to say it to achieve your goal—I think you should already know!”
Leng Lian looked at Li Weiyang, feeling as if ice water had been poured from head to toe. So, so the other party wanted to make the Crown Prince and Ying Chu attack each other, mutually destroy each other! What a vicious heart!