It was from this point that Shen Xihe became increasingly certain that he overlapped with the person she had long suspected.
Though eighty percent convinced that Xiao Huayong was that person, Shen Xihe still clung to a sliver of hope. Mo Yuan had been thoroughly investigating the events of eleven years ago for some time, and after Shen Xihe reiterated her instructions with grave seriousness, he pursued the matter with even greater intensity.
One night, Mo Yuan brought a person to her—a woman draped in a hooded cloak, her face concealed by the hood, revealing only a slender figure. When she pushed back the hood to unveil a delicate and elegant countenance, Shen Xihe was quite taken aback. "Zexiang, why have you come?"
"Your Ladyship." Gu Zexiang bowed in greeting.
Shen Xihe helped her rise. "How did you leave the palace?"
Gu Zexiang, as the descendant of a disgraced official in the Side Court Palace, was forbidden from leaving the palace. Discovery would mean a death sentence.
"Your Ladyship, thanks to your grace, I was fortunate to enter the Bureau of Garments and become a senior seamstress. Today, I had the honor of accompanying Senior Seamstress Cui on an errand outside the palace and came specifically to express my gratitude." Gu Zexiang stepped back and performed a formal, deep bow.
"Your entry into the Bureau of Garments is also due to your skill in garment-making," Shen Xihe said, holding her arm. "At least you have shed your convict status."
"The palace is filled with talented individuals. The Side Court Palace houses the families of officials—who among them lacks some skill? Entering the Six Bureaus and Twenty-Four Offices isn't solely about having a craft. Without you, Your Ladyship, I would have had no path forward."
Gu Zexiang spoke with heartfelt sincerity. "Today, I have only the time it takes for one incense stick to burn. Your Ladyship wishes to know about the events of eleven years ago, and I know a little."
"Speak," Shen Xihe said, finally understanding Gu Zexiang's purpose for coming.
It turned out that not long after Gu Zexiang entered the Side Court Palace, she had encountered someone who knew a few details about what had happened in the Hall of Bright Governance back then.
The Crown Prince, then eight years old, was exceptionally intelligent and overshadowed all the other princes. His prodigious talents were likely still remembered by many today, but at the time, he was unrivaled. The Emperor cherished him as a treasure, and the Empress Dowager doted on him excessively.
On that day, the Crown Prince entered the Hall of Bright Governance. The Emperor was in discussions with his ministers, so the Crown Prince waited alone in the side hall, as was customary. Often, the Emperor would test the Crown Prince afterward. While in the Hall of Bright Governance, the Crown Prince ate a bowl of Cheese Cherry and suddenly vomited blood, his face turning purple.
"Was it poison?" Shen Xihe asked, startled.
"Yes. His Highness the Crown Prince did not suffer from a strange illness—he was poisoned. The Imperial Hospital was at a loss, and it was the Empress Dowager who summoned a Daoist priest in time to barely save the Crown Prince's life. As a result, the Crown Prince was bedridden for nearly a year. When he reappeared before the palace staff, he was emaciated, reduced to little more than a skeleton."
Gu Zexiang recounted the story exactly as she had heard it. "Later, physicians from the Imperial Hospital noticed that the Crown Prince's pulse did not resemble that of a living person. He frequently bled from his ears and nose, and fainting spells became commonplace. The Daoist priest had no antidote but suggested that the Crown Prince accompany him to a Daoist temple, where he could provide constant care, hoping to help him survive until his second zodiac cycle."
So, this was the origin of the rumor that Xiao Huayong would not live past two zodiac cycles.
"And the Cheese Cherry..."
"This is even more bizarre," Gu Zexiang said, her tone cautious. "Upon investigation, it was found that the Emperor had not ordered anyone to prepare Cheese Cherry that day. When the Crown Prince arrived at the Hall of Bright Governance, he saw the Cheese Cherry set out and untouched. Such a delicacy could only have been intended for the Emperor, so he ate it without suspicion..."
Before the Emperor could order an investigation, the two senior officials and two deputy officials of the Bureau of Provisions all committed suicide by poison, cutting off all leads. The remaining two deputy officials, along with the supervisors and managers, were first sent to the Side Court Palace and then died one by one under mysterious circumstances.The palace had sealed off the news, and since His Majesty did not carry out a large-scale purge all at once, it did not arouse much suspicion.
Even the court officials merely assumed that the Crown Prince had suddenly contracted a strange illness.
"So, that mysteriously appearing bowl of Cheese Cherry was likely targeting His Majesty," Shen Xihe did not immediately suspect the Youning Emperor.
If the Youning Emperor had intended to deal with the Crown Prince, he would not have waited until the child was eight years old. Had he resolved to depose the Crown Prince early on, it would have been easier to arrange for an infant's "untimely death."
Moreover, the Crown Prince's extraordinary talents were not only evident at eight; they were noticeable by four or five and conclusive by six or seven.
Most crucially, the Youning Emperor would not have chosen to strike in the Hall of Bright Governance. As an emperor, the entire Imperial Harem was under his control. If he wished to harm a young child, he could easily have arranged a scapegoat in the Eastern Palace or elsewhere.
This much she could deduce, and Xiao Huayong must have realized it too. His estrangement from the Youning Emperor could not have stemmed from this.
"His Majesty has been on the throne for eight years. There are rumors that the Cheese Cherry incident was orchestrated by old retainers left behind by a noble consort from the previous emperor's palace." Gu Zexiang did not know whether this was credible, but since she had heard it, she relayed it to Shen Xihe, leaving the judgment of its truth to her.
"Princess, Zexiang must take her leave. If you have any matters in the future, you may seek me out in the palace." Having said this, Gu Zexiang was eager to depart.
Shen Xihe knew her time was limited and instructed Biyu to hand her a bulging pouch filled with gold.
"Princess, Zexiang cannot accept this," Gu Zexiang declined.
"Take it. The Imperial Wardrobe Bureau has many people, and who wouldn't want a chance to leave the palace for some fresh air? The fact that the Director pointed you out must mean the arrangements were properly made." How could Shen Xihe be unaware of such social niceties? "Only if you accept will I seek you out for information in the future."
With Shen Xihe putting it this way, Gu Zexiang could no longer refuse. After accepting it, she bowed gracefully and left.
The Director of the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau was waiting for her not far from the Princess Manor. The matters had long been settled, and the two entered the palace together. Returning to the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau, they arrived at Director Cui's chambers. Gu Zexiang ventured to ask, "Director Cui, why did His Highness want me to relay these words to the Princess?"
Director Cui, over forty years old with her black hair tied high and not a wrinkle at the corners of her calm eyes, replied, "His Highness has his reasons."
"Director, the Princess has shown me kindness. I absolutely cannot harm her," Gu Zexiang said through gritted teeth.
"His Highness cares more about the Princess than you do," Director Cui responded. "The words you relayed are all true, without a single falsehood. If the Princess wishes to know about this matter, aside from His Highness, only His Majesty in the palace is aware of the details—even Her Majesty the Empress Dowager does not know the intricacies."
"Your grievance has been avenged by His Highness. From now on, serve diligently in the palace. His Highness has commanded that you need not pledge loyalty to him—only to the Princess. Today's words are your repayment for His Highness freeing you from Slave Status."
Hearing this, Gu Zexiang felt at ease.
Seeing this, Director Cui smiled. "You are fortunate to have encountered the Princess."
To receive the Princess's favor was to gain His Highness's regard. In this palace—no, in this imperial city—to have His Highness's regard ensured a future of blessings.
Back at the Princess Manor, Shen Xihe digested the news brought by Gu Zexiang and chuckled softly. "What a Crown Prince he is."
Gu Zexiang had changed. The last time Shen Xihe saw her, her eyes were shadowed with unresolved gloom, but this time they had cleared, indicating that the hatred in her heart had been released.As the daughter of a disgraced official, how could she possibly seek revenge in such a short time? And how could she transition from Convict Status to Slave Status?
Clearly, someone had helped her.
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