Since the Lantern Festival, Zhu Yan has been unable to contact Shen Du. Her attempts to gather information from the Local Constables yielded only fragmentary and inconclusive results. Due to Clan Zhou’s interference, Zhu Yan, the former wife of the Grand Counselor, was demoted from her official position and returned to her original ninth-rank post as a Scribe. Having anticipated this, Zhu Yan accepted it calmly, with only one thought in her mind: Shen Du was in a difficult situation.
In the past, Clan Zhou had been wary of Grand Counselor Shen Du. Now they casually took action against Zhu Yan, yet for some unknown reason, they didn’t eliminate her or the Zhu family. This was likely due to the Empress’s favor towards her.
Adrift like duckweed, Zhu Yan became surprisingly at ease. She carefully guarded the evidence of Lai Party’s crimes that she had collected during her trip to Yingzhou, without revealing anything.
Taking advantage of her position in the Ministry of Justice to handle cases, she made several visits to Ximing Temple and Foguang Temple, searching for unusual aspects of Madam Tang’s past. She also voluntarily applied for an assignment to the area where Chen Huoe had once rebelled, gathering evidence of Chen Huoe’s crimes. Her goal was to prove that Madam Tang and Chen Huoe were both the same person and not the same person.
At the same time, she sent letters to the Western Regions, seeking Pan Chi and the current Holy Maiden Su Guang, asking them to come to Chang’an as soon as possible for a meeting.
It seemed as if she had done nothing, yet she had done everything.
On another full moon night, she sat by the window, thinking that Shen Du must also be finding ways to escape his predicament. A glimmer of hope rose in her heart.
—
Time flew by, but it wasn’t good news for Lai Luozhi and his group. Their original plans had encountered unexpected changes. Three days after the court assembly, Lai Luozhi bid farewell to Chaoyang and went alone to the rear hall to see the Empress. Before he could present his memorial, Zhang Baohuan interrupted him, discussing other matters with the Empress. When the Empress finally remembered him, she didn’t ask about the memorial, but instead inquired about Lai Luozhi’s recent progress in cultivation.
They chatted about various topics, and halfway through, the Empress instructed him to continue his cultivation and show her the results next time. Then, claiming fatigue, she was escorted to the inner hall by Zhang Baohuan.
One can imagine how frustrated Lai Luozhi felt at being blocked. The more he thought about it after returning, the more he felt something was amiss. He secretly met with Yong’an to discuss, and they both agreed that the Empress’s thoughts were hard to fathom. She must have discovered something. The Empress had entered the palace at fourteen and spent her entire life in struggles. She must be guarding against Lai Luozhi.
Now the Empress appeared to be very ill, and the insider Lai Luozhi had arranged also report the same. But even so, Lai Luozhi dared not be overconfident.
After careful consideration, the two changed their plans and decided to act that very night to avoid unforeseen circumstances.
Lai Luozhi was an outside official and couldn’t enter the inner palace without a summons, but Yong’an could. That night, Yong’an entered the Peppercorn Palace under the pretext of attending to the Empress’s illness.
As the night deepened, word came that Lai Luozhi had urgent matters to report. The Empress was tired and not in good spirits, so she told Zhang Baohuan to have Lai Luozhi find Princess Chaoyang, who was acting as regent.
“Eunuch Zhang, this matter is of utmost importance, concerning treason and usurpation. The Empress must make a decision.”
Zhang Baohuan rarely saw Lai Luozhi as righteous. He observed Lai Luozhi coldly for a while before telling him to wait while he went to inform the Empress.
As soon as Zhang Baohuan left, Lai Luozhi clenched his fists. When had he ever been blocked like this when seeking an audience with the Empress? She must be on guard, most likely to support Chaoyang’s ascension to the throne to avoid complications.
When Lai Luozhi was allowed to enter, Yong’an looked unwell. The Empress was holding a painting, covering the papers on her desk. Purple edges were visible, clearly an imperial edict being written.
Yong’an’s gaze briefly met Lai Luozhi’s before quickly looking away. Her hands were behind her back, writing something in her palm. Lai Luozhi quickly discerned it was the character for “Chao.” Could it be that the edict truly named Princess Chaoyang as the heir?
The Empress supported her forehead with one hand, her voice tired: “Minister Lai comes at such a late hour. What urgent matter brings you here?”
As the Empress raised her head, her outer robe slipped. Zhang Baohuan carefully adjusted it. The Empress patted his hand and gestured to Lai Luozhi: “Why does Minister Lai remain silent?”
Lai Luozhi snapped to attention and hurriedly raised the memorial above his head with both hands, handing it to Zhang Baohuan to present to the Empress. He shouted:
“Your Majesty, after days of gathering evidence, I’ve discovered that Princess Chaoyang, in collusion with the Zhou clan, intends to rebel. Here is the evidence. I implore Your Majesty to review it and not be deceived by traitors.”
Zhang Baohuan spread the memorial before the Empress. She quickly scanned it, a fleeting shadow of gloom passing over her well-preserved face. Before Lai Luozhi could say more, she instructed Zhang Baohuan:
“Summon Chaoyang.”
Lai Luozhi’s heart pounded erratically. Soon, Chaoyang entered with Zhang Baohuan. Lai Luozhi’s eyes darted about, unsure where his plan had gone wrong.
The Empress pointed at Lai Luozhi and said to Chaoyang, “Minister Lai accuses you of treason. Do you have anything to say?”
Chaoyang’s expression remained calm: “Chaoyang has no such intention.”
Yong’an also quickly knelt to plead for Chaoyang: “Imperial Mother, Sister surely has no such intention.” Then, turning to Lai Luozhi with burning eyes, she said kindly,
“Lord Lai must have been deceived by traitors. He is loyal to Imperial Mother and surely acts with her best interests in mind.”
This was an attempt to exonerate Lai Luozhi. Lai Luozhi immediately responded, but his answer was: “Princess Chaoyang, I apologize, but the evidence I’ve painstakingly gathered is here. You can’t deny it. It’s best to confess now. The Empress is your blood relative and will surely forgive you.”
Only then did Chaoyang show emotion, furious: “Lai Luozhi, stop slandering me. Why would I need to rebel? The throne would be as easy as turning my hand for me.” Realizing her mistake, Chaoyang knelt. “Imperial Mother, forgive me. Chaoyang has overstepped.”
Before the Empress could react, Lai Luozhi crawled on his knees to the imperial desk, pleading earnestly: “Your Majesty, you must believe your humble servant. If we don’t act quickly, I fear…”
The Empress had always trusted Lai Luozhi. Seeing this, her expression softened slightly. She raised her phoenix eyes to observe Chaoyang and Yong’an as if verifying the truth of his words.
Yong’an’s eyes flickered. Seeing Chaoyang kneeling with her head bowed in silence, she suddenly stood up, pointing at Chaoyang and shouting angrily:
“Chaoyang, are you guilty? Don’t you know that Imperial Mother originally intended to pass the throne to you? Why are you so impatient?”
Chaoyang’s expression changed dramatically. Her hands at her sides clenched tightly. Being scolded like this by Yong’an, how could she bear it? She stood up and argued back:
“Stop talking nonsense. You know Imperial Mother intends to pass the throne to me, so why would I do such unnecessary things? Do you have a brain? You’re just like your brainless mother.”
At this point, the facade of harmony between the two was completely shattered, and they began hurling insults back and forth.
The Empress could bear it no longer. She slammed the table and stood up: “Silence, all of you!”
“I’m not dead yet, and you’re all so impatient.”
After speaking just a few words, she began to cough. Chaoyang grew anxious and defended herself: “Imperial Mother, your daughter truly has not rebelled. I’m currently serving as regent, why would I need to rebel?”
Imprisoning the Crown Prince and supporting Chaoyang’s rise to regency, everyone could guess what the next step would be. Indeed, there was no reason to rebel.
The Empress sneered: “Is that so?” She glanced outside. “Brother, won’t you come in?”