Xin’an shook her head, “On the day Yuwen Huaji rebelled, I happened to be touring outside the city and was fortunate to escape disaster. After learning that Father Emperor was killed and Jiangdu had fallen, I traveled all the way to Chang’an. I don’t know how much suffering I endured or hardship I faced along the way. I thought I’d never have the chance to see Your Majesty again in this lifetime. Fortunately, Heaven took pity on me.”
Yang You felt heartbroken hearing this and said, “It truly was hard on Fourth Aunt. Now that you’re here, everything is fine. From now on, you can live peacefully in this Daxing Palace, and I will take good care of Fourth Aunt.”
Xin’an said gratefully, “Thank you, Your Majesty.” After a pause, she said, “By the way, I heard that Jinyang is also in Chang’an City. Where is she? Since parting at Jiangdu, we sisters haven’t seen each other, and I’ve been thinking of her constantly.” She truly wanted to see Jinyang—she couldn’t wait to see Jinyang’s expression when she saw her standing here. It would definitely be spectacular.
Yang You didn’t suspect anything and said, “Seventh Aunt lives in the Tang Prince’s mansion. If Fourth Aunt wants to see her, I’ll send someone to summon her immediately.”
Xin’an nodded, “When you go, don’t tell Jinyang that I’m in the palace. I want to give her a surprise.”
“Alright.” Yang You smiled. After ordering a eunuch to summon Yunyi, he accompanied Xin’an as they walked out of Daxing Hall toward the rear palace gardens. “I remember Fourth Aunt used to live in Shuangyue Hall, right?”
“Your Majesty has a good memory.” Xin’an smiled and looked around, “After being apart for so many years, I never thought I’d step into this Daxing Palace again today. Unfortunately, everything has changed, and even Father Emperor is gone.”
Mentioning this matter, Yang You’s expression darkened as he said gravely, “Imperial Grandfather always treated the Yuwen clan kindly, as well as Pei Qiantong and the others. Who would have thought they would join forces to harm him in the end? These people are truly detestable!” With that, he said, “Fourth Aunt, rest assured. In a few days, the Tang Prince will send the Duke of Qin with troops to Luoyang to exterminate Yuwen Huaji and the others, to avenge their murder of Imperial Grandfather!”
“At least the Tang Prince still has some sense of loyalty and righteousness.” At this point, Xin’an looked at Yang You and said, “Your Majesty is young and valiant. With Your Majesty here, the Great Sui will surely be able to quell the rebellion and restore its former prosperity sooner or later.”
Faced with her words, Yang You smiled bitterly, “I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint Fourth Aunt.”
Xin’an stopped and said in surprise, “Why does Your Majesty say such a thing?”
Yang You looked back at the eunuchs following closely behind them, lowered his voice, and said, “Although I am the emperor, all court affairs large and small are controlled by Li Yuan. Even in this palace, they are all his people. My every word and action is monitored by him. Fourth Aunt must also be careful while in this palace in the future, lest someone seize upon your words and report them to Li Yuan.”
“I see. It’s truly difficult for Your Majesty.” Saying this, she continued, “Speaking of which, why doesn’t Jinyang live in the palace but goes to live at the Tang Prince’s mansion instead?”
Yang You said casually, “I asked Seventh Aunt about this too. Ever since Li Shimin rescued her from Jiangdu, she’s been living with the Li family and has grown accustomed to it. Since it’s not an important matter, I let her be. Besides, even if she doesn’t live in the palace, she can still enter frequently, so there’s no impediment.”
“That’s not how you should put it.” Xin’an frowned tightly and said worriedly, “The Qin Prince’s mansion has men and women mixed together, and Jinyang is an unmarried maiden. Mingling together like this easily gives people something to gossip about. In fact, since entering Chang’an City, I’ve heard quite a few rumors saying… saying…”
Yang You didn’t see her continue for a long time and urged, “Saying what? Fourth Aunt, please tell me quickly.”
Xin’an sighed, “They’re all about her and the Li family’s Second Young Master. In short, all kinds of unpleasant words are being said. If this continues, it will truly damage the imperial family’s dignity. In Aunt’s opinion, it would be better to have Jinyang return to live in the palace.”
“But Seventh Aunt she…” Before Yang You could finish, Xin’an had already said, “Your Majesty, think about it—is Jinyang’s personal opinion more important, or is the imperial family’s reputation more important?”
Yang You thought about it and agreed, so he said, “Then when Seventh Aunt enters the palace, I’ll talk to her about it.”
“Good.” During this conversation, they had already arrived at Shuangyue Hall. This palace wasn’t large, but it had a small pond. Whenever the bright moon rose, it would be reflected in the pond—hence the name “Double Moon.”
Although it had been uninhabited for a long time, palace servants still cleaned it regularly, so aside from the furnishings being somewhat more aged compared to before, there weren’t any major changes.
Yang You said to Xin’an, who was picking a plum blossom branch and sniffing it lightly under her nose, “Fourth Aunt will live here from now on. If there’s anything you need, just tell the palace servants.”
Xin’an laughed softly, “I don’t know what I might lack yet, but there is indeed something I have too much of.”
Yang You asked curiously, “Too much? What do you have too much of?”
Xin’an threw the plum blossom branch in her hand to the ground and said, “Look, it’s these plum blossoms. I don’t like them one bit. It’s just that Father Emperor once said Empress Mother liked plum blossoms, so every place in the palace had to plant plum trees. That’s why I reluctantly planted a few branches. Now that Father Emperor is gone and Empress Mother has been captured by Yuwen Huaji, these plum blossoms naturally have no need to exist anymore. Don’t you think so, Your Majesty?”
She liked flowers like peonies and roses. She had once wanted Father Emperor to build a glazed greenhouse in Shuangyue Hall and have gardeners cultivate peonies and roses inside, so there would be peonies to admire in all four seasons—how wonderful that would be! But Father Emperor, to please Xiao Shi, not only refused her request but also ordered gardeners to plant plum blossoms she didn’t like at all in Shuangyue Hall, just to… please Xiao Shi, so that no matter where she went, she could see plum blossoms. She deeply detested this but was helpless, so she could only vent her anger on Jinyang, finding various ways to trouble her.
Although Yang You was somewhat surprised by her words, since Xin’an’s attitude was so resolute, he agreed, “Alright, I’ll order people to transplant these plum trees elsewhere immediately. As for what flowers and trees Aunt would like to plant in Shuangyue Hall, just tell the gardeners.”
Xin’an said with satisfaction, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
While the two were drinking tea and chatting leisurely, Yunyi arrived at Shuangyue Hall, her eyes full of confusion. Strange—previously when His Majesty summoned her, it was always in the sleeping quarters or imperial study. Why did he suddenly change to Shuangyue Hall this time? In her memory, this place was formerly where Xin’an resided. After they moved to Luoyang with Yang Guang, this place had remained vacant until now.
“Princess, please.” The palace servant’s voice interrupted Yunyi’s thoughts. She followed them inside, and after stepping into the main hall, Yunyi’s eyelids jumped violently. Xin’an? Hadn’t they ordered someone to send her to Taiyuan? How could she… appear here?
Yang You didn’t know Yunyi’s thoughts. Seeing her standing there stunned, he thought it was from being too overjoyed and said with a smile, “It seems Seventh Aunt is just like I was when I first found out—so happy you don’t know what to say.”
“Yes.” Xin’an stood up and walked to Yunyi, whose eyes were full of shock, saying with a smile, “Since parting at Jiangdu, I’ve worried about my sister constantly, fearing that sister might fall victim to Yuwen Huaji’s evil hands. But it turns out sister also came to Chang’an and arrived before me. This heart that has been hanging in suspense for many days can finally be put at ease.”