In Yuhe Garden, Jiang Si was teaching Ahuan to speak in the sunlit courtyard.
Ahuan, who had just turned one year old, could already say two words: “niang” (mom) and “niu” (cow). Oddly enough, she still couldn’t say “die” (dad).
Because of this, her father had given Erniu trouble countless times.
Feeling sympathetic, Jiang Si took it upon herself to teach Ahuan to say “die” whenever she had a chance.
“Ahuan, die—” Jiang Si pointed to her mouth, demonstrating the pronunciation.
Little Ahuan tilted her head and looked at her mother, confusion filling her innocent mind: This is Niang, not die.
Feeling that something was amiss, the little girl naturally couldn’t say it. Instead, she turned to the large dog resting in the shade by the wall and called out in her babyish voice, “Niu—”
Hearing this, Erniu wagged his tail and trotted over.
Yu Jin arrived just in time to witness this scene. His face immediately darkened as he walked forward, discreetly nudging Erniu aside.
Ahuan looked at her father, her lips quivering before bursting into loud cries.
Jiang Si helplessly glanced at Yu Jin, chiding, “Can’t you act like a proper father? You’re even jealous of Erniu.”
Yu Jin’s face grew even darker.
How could he not be upset? His daughter still couldn’t say “die,” but she could say “Niu.”
Ignoring a certain someone’s mood, Jiang Si soothed Ahuan and handed her to Erniu before walking towards the stone table under the tree.
Yu Jin sat down on a stone stool and poured himself a cup of tea. “Asi, would you like to go boating on the lake?”
“Boating on the lake?” Jiang Si glanced at the dappled sunlight filtering through the dense branches. “Isn’t it a bit hot for that?”
“It’s cooler on the water.”
Jiang Si looked at Yu Jin, somewhat puzzled. “Why the sudden interest in boating?”
She had no fondness for lake outings.
In her previous life, Ji Chongyi and Qiaoniu had met by Moyu Lake, where Qiaoniu’s accidental drowning had led to her life’s tragedy. Her brother had also drowned in the Jinshui River after being pushed in while drunk.
Thinking of these events, she couldn’t muster any enthusiasm for boating.
“The auspicious date for the Crown Prince’s investiture has been set. I thought we might go out for some fun before moving into the Eastern Palace, as it won’t be as convenient then,” Yu Jin explained with a smile.
Hearing this, Jiang Si asked casually, “Which day has been chosen?”
“The twenty-sixth day of the sixth month.”
“The twenty-sixth of the sixth month? That’s soon—” Jiang Si started nonchalantly, but suddenly her voice trailed off, and her expression changed.
The twenty-sixth of the sixth month?
In her previous life, she had returned to the capital from the south in the twenty-second year of Jingming’s reign, which would be next year.
She had a vivid memory of the twenty-sixth day of the sixth month in the twenty-first year of Jingming’s reign.
It was the day of her grand wedding to Ajin in the south in her previous life, and also the day when a solar eclipse occurred in Da Zhou.
She remembered the solar eclipse clearly because it had happened on her wedding day, and people with ill intentions had mentioned it after her return to the capital.
Noticing Jiang Si’s unusual expression, Yu Jin quickly asked, “Asi, what’s wrong?”
Jiang Si looked at Yu Jin, her tone peculiar. “The twenty-sixth of the sixth month is an auspicious day? Who decided this?”
“Naturally, it was determined by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. Aren’t they responsible for observing celestial phenomena and divining auspicious and inauspicious times?”
Jiang Si closed her eyes briefly, inwardly sneering: What a fine auspicious day indeed! This is meant to plunge Ajin into an inescapable abyss!
Although Ajin was registered under the Empress’s name, he still lacked solid support. There was considerable controversy among the officials behind the scenes, though they couldn’t openly oppose it due to the imperial edict.
However, if a solar eclipse were to occur on the day of the formal investiture of the Crown Prince, the only fate awaiting Ajin would be abandonment.
A solar eclipse on the day of the Crown Prince’s investiture would be seen as an ominous sign, indicating that the Emperor had chosen the wrong heir. Heaven would be perceived as sending down punishment as a warning. If the Emperor were to persist, it would be seen as endangering the kingdom and social order of Da Zhou.
With such a weighty accusation, who could withstand it?
Even if Father Emperor wanted to, he would have to compromise and choose to reinstate a new Crown Prince.
She didn’t believe that declaring a highly inauspicious day as auspicious was merely a mistake by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
Jiang Si opened her eyes and looked steadily at Yu Jin. “Ajin, do you believe in my dreams?”
Yu Jin smiled. “Of course, I believe. Didn’t your dream about the earthquake in Jinli Town come true?”
He might not believe in such things, but he believed in Asi.
“In my dream, something bad will happen on the twenty-sixth day of the sixth month. It’s not an auspicious day,” Jiang Si said.
Yu Jin’s eyes narrowed, a cold light flashing through them.
Jiang Si reached out and held his hand, the coolness of her palm conveying her current heavy mood. “If it appears in my dream, it must not be a small matter. Ajin, you cannot accept the investiture on that day!”
Seeing her anxiety, Yu Jin smiled reassuringly. “Don’t be afraid. Now that we know that day is inauspicious, we’ll just avoid it.”
“Mm.”
Yu Jin gripped Jiang Si’s hand tightly, his tone calm. “An auspicious day turning into an inauspicious one, this can’t be a coincidence, right? Who do you think is plotting against us?”
Fourth Brother could barely take care of himself, Fifth Brother was foolish, and Sixth Brother shouldn’t have such courage. As for someone who could manipulate the Imperial Astronomical Bureau… a name slowly surfaced in his mind.
“Could it be the one in Cining Palace?” Jiang Si pondered for a moment before guessing.
Yu Jin blinked. “You think it’s that old witch too?”
Jiang Si smiled. “There’s been much trouble lately, centered around Cining Palace. With something like this happening now, it’s hard not to make such connections.”
Yu Jin’s tone was more certain than Jiang Si’s. “Apart from that old witch, I doubt anyone else has such capability. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau is unique; the officials selected for it are chosen with utmost caution. It’s not easy to bribe them, requiring long-term planning. Moreover, once that day arrives, the entire Imperial Astronomical Bureau would face dire consequences. Who would risk losing their head for some small favors? It must be a long-planted chess piece. And who else but the Empress Dowager could accomplish this?”
Jiang Si lowered her gaze, thinking for a moment before asking, “Ajin, why do you think the Empress Dowager is doing all this? She’s already the most noble woman in Da Zhou, and she has the Father Emperor’s sincere filial piety. What more could she want?”
Yu Jin snorted. “Who knows? Human desires are insatiable. Who can fathom what that old witch is thinking?”
Jiang Si’s eyes flickered slightly, and she suddenly said, “Grandmother might know something.”
Yu Jin was taken aback, looking at her.
“I have a feeling we might gain some insights from Grandmother. Perhaps she could unravel these mysteries. After the twenty-sixth of the sixth month passes, I want to visit Yining Marquis Mansion again.”
“Why wait until after the twenty-sixth of the sixth month?” Yu Jin couldn’t help but ask.
Jiang Si smiled wryly. “To let Grandmother see how we navigate through these dangerous situations, treading on thin ice. Perhaps if she feels sorry for me, she might reveal something.”
Soon, the ceremonial robes for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess were ready, and the day of the Crown Prince’s investiture drew near. Both inside and outside the palace, an atmosphere of excitement and tension began to build.
The investiture of a new Crown Prince was a momentous occasion.
However, at this crucial time, Yu Jin suddenly fell ill with diarrhea.
When this news reached Emperor Jingming’s ears, he began to feel a headache coming on.
With the investiture ceremony approaching, how could another problem arise?
After pacing back and forth in his chamber for a few rounds, Emperor Jingming issued an order with a grim face: “Have the Imperial Medical Bureau conduct a joint consultation for the Crown Prince. They must cure his diarrhea at all costs.”