The “Crown Prince” had just escaped an assassination attempt, so Zhao Yān had to keep up appearances for outsiders by feigning illness and resting in bed for two days.
Early the next morning, a message arrived from Kunning Palace.
“This servant pays respects to His Highness the Crown Prince,” Lady He said, bowing outside the hall. “The Empress has been attending to His Majesty these past two days and truly cannot escape. Hearing that His Highness faced danger, she specially entrusted this servant to visit Your Highness.”
Zhao Yān reclined on her couch wearing a loose robe, suspecting Lady He had a message to deliver, so she raised her hand to dismiss everyone else.
“What instructions does Mother Empress have?” she asked.
Only then did Lady He enter the hall with her hands clasped, softly reporting from behind the screen: “In reply to Your Highness, the Imperial Guards just reported the casualties from the Zhaixing Observatory collapse—one supervisor and three laborers dead, nineteen injured.”
This was only because the collapse happened during the midday meal break, when most craftsmen and laborers were gathered in their shacks, resting. Otherwise, the casualties would have been many times higher.
Zhao Yān loosely gathered her collar and asked, “How are Censor He and the others?”
…
…
“Censor He impeached the evil Daoist priest for disrupting society and colluding with court officials, firmly requesting His Majesty to punish them severely. But Priest Shen Guang died at this critical moment. This morning during court at Taiji Hall, His Majesty was furious and stripped Commander Gao of the Imperial Guards of his rank and administered forty strokes of the cane, along with…”
The lady-in-waiting paused before continuing, “Along with Censor He who was also caned.”
“Beating an imperial censor? Why?” Zhao Yān sat up straighter.
Priest Shen Guang had died under the Imperial Guards’ arrows, so punishing Commander Gao who oversaw the Imperial Guards was understandable, but what reason was there to cane Censor He?
Lady He shook her head: “Her Majesty dares not presume to guess His Majesty’s intentions. She only knows His Majesty had Prince Su personally oversee the punishment with all officials watching, showing he was truly serious.”
“Is Censor He alright?”
“Her Majesty sent someone to inquire. The old man’s wounds look frightening, but no tendons or bones were damaged.”
That meant Wenren Lin had ordered the punishment to be carried out with restraint.
Zhao Yān’s mind was clear. After pondering a moment, she asked: “What did Father Emperor say before ordering the caning?”
“His Majesty said that just as the Zhaixing Tower collapsed, Censor He’s memorial was presented to him. He asked if the censor had the supernatural ability to predict this disaster. He said this showed premeditation and sinister intentions.”
“Did none of the officials try to dissuade him?”
“They did. A crowd knelt outside the throne hall this morning. His Majesty only said one thing…”
Lady He glanced around before stepping forward to repeat: “His Majesty said, ‘Do you mean to force me to issue an edict acknowledging my guilt?'”
This sentence clearly showed her father’s attitude: if he were to destroy the Shenguang Religion that he had personally established, it would be like admitting his mistake to the world, and an emperor’s dignity would never allow him to bow down and concede to his ministers.
Therefore, he would only direct his thunderous imperial might toward people outside the Shenguang Religion, silencing the court officials.
No wonder Wenren Lin had told her before leaving Hegui Pavilion last night: “Stay away from court affairs for now.”
The Empress had specially sent Lady He to relay the developments at Taiji Hall, surely to also let her assess the situation and avoid being dragged into the turbulent conflict between the emperor and his ministers.
“I understand Mother Empress’s meaning,” said Zhao Yān.
Zhao Yān had no grand ambitions; from the beginning, she had only wanted to light a solitary lamp to seek the truth for Zhao Yǎn.
Priest Shen Guang was dead, but she still had to continue on her path.
Zhao Yān hugged her knees and drifted into thought, unconsciously recalling the scene at Changqing Gate last year—Wenren Lin in his red robe and dark cloak, casually wiping fresh blood from his fingers.
Even then, he had said that public executions were meant to intimidate the court.
This time, he had spared Censor He’s life. Could it be because of her?
Amid these successive upheavals, what was his attitude? An observer, or… the mastermind?
This thought had barely surfaced before Zhao Yān dismissed it from her mind.
Liu Ying entered the hall just then, interrupting Zhao Yān’s thoughts: “Your Highness, Commander Gu visited the Ministry of Justice. There are leads on yesterday’s assassins.”
Zhao Yān focused her attention and quickly asked: “Have they confessed?”
“Two were captured alive. One died from serious injuries during interrogation, and the other didn’t reveal much. It’s all here.”
With that, Liu Ying pulled a confession document from her sleeve and spread it before Zhao Yān.
Zhao Yān scanned it briefly, then lowered her eyes with a slight smile: “They’re all jianghu assassins who claim not to know their employer? Who are they trying to fool? From the moment I seized half the ledger at Tongtian Tower until ‘Crown Prince’ Li Fu was assassinated, less than an hour passed. How could they have time to hire jianghu assassins?”
“Your Highness means that the mastermind must be a court official who attended the banquet.”
“It must be someone mentioned in the ledger who acted out of desperation.”
Liu Ying immediately understood: “This servant will inform Commander Gu to pressure the Ministry of Justice to intensify the interrogation.”
“No need. He’s a dead soldier; further interrogation won’t yield anything.”
Giving him to Wenren Lin might pry open his mouth, but Zhao Yān didn’t want to trouble him with such a small matter. She wasn’t the type to depend on others; what she could solve herself, she would.
She rested her chin on her hand, thought for a moment, and quickly came up with a plan: “Have Gu Xing spread the news that the surviving assassin is imprisoned at the Ministry of Justice jail, and that he has revealed some clues about his employer.”
Liu Ying asked doubtfully: “The mastermind holds a high position and power. If they learn of a survivor in the Ministry of Justice prison, wouldn’t they eliminate the witness as they did with Priest Shen Guang?”
“It would be good if they tried to silence him.”
Zhao Yān rose from her couch, stretching her slim waist that had grown sore from lying down. “Only when they infiltrate the Ministry of Justice can we follow the trail back to them.”
Liu Ying suddenly understood: “This servant comprehends and will arrange it immediately.”
“Wait.”
Zhao Yān pondered, “Censor He has been caned, and the palace physicians certainly wouldn’t dare defy His Majesty’s order to treat him. The old man isn’t having an easy time, and he was repaying a favor to me. Go take him some wound medicine and blood ginseng. Make sure he recovers well.”
Liu Ying bowed: “This servant understands. Li Fu has already been instructed to arrange it.”
…
As night fell, a half moon hung low over the mountainside.
A hawk soared past the eaves as Zhang Cang ascended the stairs with a bow, bringing the latest news.
“Your Highness, since the Emperor punished several censors, some eunuchs have been spreading the idea that the Zhaixing Observatory collapse was heaven’s punishment for Great Xuan’s insincerity in worshipping the gods. The Emperor tacitly approves of this view and not only plans to hold an extremely grand ceremony to please the gods, but also suggests recruiting young girls of suitable age to serve the deities…”
Zhang Cang clicked his tongue and sighed, “The national treasury is depleted, and the disaster relief funds for Luozhou haven’t been fully raised. The officials at the Ministry of Revenue are so worried they’re almost hanging themselves. Where is the money for the ceremonies? A crowd of remonstrating officials knelt outside Taiji Hall, and even Left Minister Li Kexing came. I fear there will be another uproar.”
Wenren Lin wore a dark blue robe, his features inscrutable in the lamplight, showing neither joy nor anger.
Everything was proceeding as he had predicted. The collapse of Zhaixing Observatory was like a fuse that would inevitably ignite a prairie fire. He understood all too well the man who sat on the dragon throne.
However, this was still far from enough.
Wenren Lin gently stroked the jade pendant at his waist, his tone calm to the point of indifference: “Find an opportunity to spread word of the Emperor’s plans to Luozhou.”
Luozhou was the area most severely affected by the recent floods, with tens of thousands of acres of good farmland and countless houses washed away, all waiting for disaster relief from the government. If they learned that their life-saving money and grain were being diverted by the court for ceremonies and to feed Daoist priests…
Zhang Cang shuddered, not daring to think further.
“Oh, and Your Highness, Cai Tian mentioned one more thing.”
Zhang Cang continued, “The Crown Prince has released news that the assassin is detained in the Ministry of Justice prison. She seems to have some plan.”
Wenren Lin laughed softly.
The little princess was always able to apply the knowledge he taught her, quickly putting the strategy of luring the enemy to practical use—except, of course, in romantic matters.
“Protect her secretly, but do not interfere.”
Wenren Lin gazed toward the distant, brightly lit imperial palace, his gaze fixed on the Eastern Palace’s Jiafu Tower with its high-hanging lanterns, and asked calmly, “What day is today?”
Zhang Cang looked up at the sky, stroking his iron-gray chin thoughtfully, then said: “The seventh day of the seventh month—today is the Qiqiao Festival. The empresses and ladies-in-waiting in the palace are all climbing towers to worship the moon, which is why the palace is more brightly lit than usual.”
Wenren Lin narrowed his eyes slightly, remembering that slender figure under the moon, her fair and delicate face covered in moonlight’s gentle glow, unbelievably beautiful.
Two days without seeing her, and he was quite missing her.
Zhang Cang noticed his master occasionally stroking the white jade pendant at his waist. Looking closely, he disingenuously praised: “Your Highness, this jade is carved so beautifully! The dog with its two ears and four short legs is quite lifelike—the one who gifted this jade must be sincere and skilled!”
Wenren Lin turned to look at him, his gaze quiet: “Well said.”
Zhang Cang placed his hand on his neck, chuckling, “I, your subordinate, just love speaking the truth…”
“Deduct half a month’s salary and go get your eyes checked.”
With that, Wenren Lin turned and descended the stairs.
Zhang Cang remained standing foolishly on the platform, scratching the back of his head in confusion: “What’s wrong? Isn’t that an ugly dog carved on the jade?”
On the Jiafu Tower of the Eastern Palace, Zhao Yān personally lit the palace lantern and hung it from the beam with a long hook.
Looking into the distance, the night was as thick as ink. The capital’s lights spread like a sea, but she couldn’t see any response from Jingjiang Tower at Mingde Hall.
“Crown Prince Brother, isn’t the Qiqiao Festival for worshipping the moon? Why hang lanterns?”
Huo Zhenzhen carried a box of qiaoguo pastry ingredients—glutinous rice skins and red bean filling—and looked up at the two characters written on the palace lantern, reading: “Fu…Deng? What does that mean?”
Zhao Yān turned to look at Huo Zhenzhen, who followed her like a little tail, and said helplessly, “Tonight is the Qiqiao Festival. Why isn’t the Princess staying in the palace with your aunt and the imperial consorts, instead of coming to see me?”
“I missed Crown Prince Brother, so I came to visit!”
Saying this, Huo Zhenzhen offered her various qiaoguo pastries. “Zhao Yan and that Liu fox aren’t here, so no one’s bringing you qiaoguo. Here, come make them with me.”
The last time Zhao Yān made qiaoguo was at Huayang Palace.
Interested, she washed her hands and sat with Huo Zhenzhen at the table, flattening the glutinous rice balls, filling them with stuffing, and sealing them.
Huo Zhenzhen pressed a qiaoguo ball into the mold with the heel of her palm and asked: “Eh? Crown Prince Brother usually likes sweet things, doesn’t he? Why are you making crab roe filling?”
Zhao Yān’s fingertips paused slightly, finding an excuse: “I’m making them for my sister.”
The “Crown Prince’s” sister was naturally Princess Changfeng, far away in Huayang.
Huo Zhenzhen was a bit unhappy, pouting: “I knew it! You only have eyes and a heart for your sister! If only my parents had given me such a gentle and kind brother who always thinks of me and protects me, that would be wonderful!”
Zhao Yān couldn’t help but laugh.
She envied me, but how could she know how much I envy her?
“Uncle and Aunt treat the Princess as their precious pearl. Isn’t their love enough?”
“What’s enough about it? When my parents are in private, they don’t even let me approach! Sometimes they close their doors all day, only coming out when servants bring water for washing, and I don’t know what they’re doing in there… I can only follow my wet nurse, without even having someone my age to talk to.”
With that, Huo Zhenzhen handed her finished qiaoguo to Liu Ying, who placed it on a small stove to bake.
Zhao Yān frowned at her crooked qiaoguo with filling spilling out. After hesitating, she also placed it on the stove, wondering what it would look like after baking.
“In ten more days, it will be Crown Prince Brother’s birthday. How do you plan to celebrate?”
Huo Zhenzhen changed the subject, excitedly propping her chin on her hands. “How about inviting an acrobatic troupe for some excitement?”
Birthday?
Yes, a year had passed already.
Zhao Yān lowered her eyes. Since that heavy rain at Huayang Palace last year, every birthday she celebrated had lost its meaning.
Rather than these false celebrations, she would prefer to leave the palace to visit Zhao Yǎn’s… unmarked grave.
Seeing her long silence, Huo Zhenzhen grew puzzled and was about to ask when Li Fu came upstairs: “Princess, Princess Imperial has come to escort you home.”
“I know, I know.”
Huo Zhenzhen waved her hand, momentarily forgetting what she wanted to ask. She leaned forward and said, “Well, Crown Prince Brother, I’ll head back first! Remember to eat the qiaoguo when they’re done!”
Zhao Yān nodded gently, imitating Zhao Yǎn’s manner, and stood up: “Very well. Safe journey, Princess.”
“No need to see me out, I’ll go down myself.” With that, Huo Zhenzhen lifted her skirt and quickly descended the stairs to the clear tinkling of gold bells.
Zhao Yān stood on the Jiafu Tower, leaning on the railing to look out. She saw Huo Zhenzhen in her light gold skirt, like a carefree young bird, flying happily into her father Huo Feng’s embrace.
Huo Feng opened his arms wide, steadily catching his spoiled daughter. Princess Shoukang lovingly smiled, smoothing the stray hairs at her daughter’s temples.
As she watched intently, a tall shadow approached from behind.
Zhao Yān suddenly turned and looked up, nearly bumping into Wenren Lin’s chin.
Wenren Lin placed his hand against Zhao Yān’s forehead to prevent the collision and chuckled: “What are you looking at so intently?”
He followed Zhao Yān’s gaze to where Huo Feng was spinning his daughter in a circle before setting her down steadily, then escorting his wife and daughter into their carriage.
Wenren Lin understood, raising his arm slightly and opening his chest, gesturing to Zhao Yān: “Come here.”
Zhao Yān felt the embarrassment of having her secret discovered and stepped back: “What for?”
Wenren Lin didn’t speak, only reaching out to grab Zhao Yān’s wrist with a tug, pulling her into his embrace.
The night breeze passed by, stars and moon silent as Zhao Yān’s cheek pressed tightly against Wenren Lin’s cool garment, feeling the steady, powerful heartbeat within his chest.
A silent, steady embrace.
Zhao Yān stared in shock, as if Wenren Lin had suddenly given her something she couldn’t have in childhood, leaving her surprised and slightly awkward.
But Wenren Lin gave her no chance to break free, one arm around her waist, the other gently rubbing the top of her head.
“The Grand Tutor’s embrace is occasionally available for you to be spoiled, Your Highness.”
His smiling voice seemed to rumble in his chest, making Zhao Yān’s cheeks burn hot.