"Father, I heard you no longer want Ninth Sister to enter the palace to treat the Empress Dowager? What exactly is the reason?"
Qin Yan had learned of Qin Shu's words and actions from Hu Shi the moment he returned to the residence. Feeling puzzled, he went straight to the study to ask Qin Shu what was going on. Qin Shu responded irritably, "What do you mean I'm not letting Wan Yatou treat the Empress Dowager? Treating the Empress Dowager is the most important matter..."
This only confused Qin Yan further. "But Mother said you told Ninth Sister to claim illness and remain in the residence, not only canceling tomorrow's palace visit but also skipping the Lantern Festival Banquet. You said you need Ninth Sister to assist you on the day of the banquet—is this true or not?"
While Qin Shu dared not speak freely in front of Hu Shi and others, with Qin Yan, he held nothing back.
Heaving a long sigh with a slight frown, Qin Shu said, "Of course it's false."
Qin Yan had already felt something was amiss, and hearing Qin Shu's direct admission instantly stirred unease within him. "Father, what exactly has happened?" Qin Shu's sudden arrangements must be related to Qin Guan, and given her current vastly different status, what could have driven Qin Shu to resort to such tactics as hiding in the residence?
Qin Shu looked at Qin Yan, his eyes darkening. "Wan Yatou has been treating the Empress Dowager these days and has gained the favor of both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. On the surface, her standing in the palace isn't low, but you should know she is ultimately just an orphaned daughter of the Qin family. Although the Emperor and Empress Dowager trust her, they won't truly protect her. If someone sets their sights on Wan Yatou, neither you nor I can shield her, and the Empress Dowager and Emperor lack a firm stance to defend her..."
Qin Yan frowned even more deeply. "Father, who has their eyes on Ninth Sister?"
Qin Shu's eyes grew somber. "Consort Su and Prince Cheng."
"What?!" Qin Yan was first shocked, then bewildered. "Consort Su and Prince Cheng? Do they not know the Hou residence's stance?"
Qin Shu sighed. "You're thinking too simply. It's precisely because they know that they're doing this. Wan Yatou is a daughter of the Qin family. If she becomes aligned with Prince Cheng, how could the Crown Prince trust us as he did before?"
Qin Yan took a deep breath. "How did you learn of this, Father?"
Qin Shu lifted his chin slightly. "Your sister will inevitably enter the palace in the future, so I long ago placed people there. Though they aren't of much use ordinarily, they can occasionally discern their masters' intentions. I received word that Consort Su intends to betroth Wan Yatou to Prince Cheng as a consort."
A consort...
Qin Yan sneered coldly. "A mere consort position, and they think they can marry Ninth Sister?"
Qin Shu shook his head. "You're mistaken. Wan Yatou curing the Empress Dowager is indeed a great merit, but it's only the beginning. The Empress Dowager trusts her, and the Emperor favors her, but this will likely make them consider keeping Wan Yatou in the palace. Given her background, unless her medical skills were exceptional, a consort position to a prince would actually be sufficient."Qin Yan was also startled upon hearing this. In their eyes, Qin Guan had saved the Empress Dowager's life, so she was naturally no ordinary noblewoman. However, Qin Guan's background was undeniable, and the other party was Consort Su and Prince Cheng. Even the Marquis's household was powerless against them. Qin Yan's eyes shifted, "Then what should we do? Should we just hide in the residence forever?"
Qin Shu shook his head, "I can't think of any other solution for now. We can only take things one step at a time. The Lantern Festival Banquet is absolutely out of the question, and you know Prince Cheng's temperament—he is capable of anything. Wan Yatou would never agree to this, and neither would we. If Prince Cheng were to ask the Emperor for her hand in marriage, the Emperor might consult Wan Yatou, and the outcome would be uncertain. But would Prince Cheng do that? If he resorts to underhanded tricks, what could we do then?"
Qin Yan felt a chill run down his spine. Qin Shu was absolutely right. Given Yan Qi's temperament, he was truly capable of anything. It wasn't his proper and respectful courtship that they feared, but his underhanded schemes...
"Father, should we seek out the Crown Prince?"
Qin Yan's tone was full of hope, but Qin Shu hesitated, "I'm afraid seeking the Crown Prince would be futile..."
Qin Yan was taken aback, "Why? Ninth Sister helped the Crown Prince before, and this is our family's matter. Prince Cheng's intention is clearly to provoke discord, and the Crown Prince wouldn't want that either."
Qin Shu pursed his lips, "I can't explain it clearly, but I have a feeling that seeking the Crown Prince for this matter is inappropriate."
Qin Yan was stunned, "Then what should we do? Who else can we turn to?"
Qin Shu narrowed his eyes and suddenly said, "We can only place our hopes on two people. The first is the Empress Dowager."
"The Empress Dowager?"
"Exactly. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager seems to be very fond of Wan Yatou. However, I don't know how she truly views Wan Yatou or whether she would prioritize Wan Yatou's wishes and speak up for her at a critical moment."
Qin Yan nodded, "That's true. The Empress Dowager has always been kind to the younger generation, but she might also want to keep Ninth Sister in the palace."
Qin Shu nodded helplessly, "Precisely. Wan Yatou saved the Empress Dowager, so the Empress Dowager must be grateful to her. But how far this gratitude would go is unknown. If this matter truly cannot be resolved by avoidance, then relying solely on the Empress Dowager would be unwise."
"Father, who is the other person?"
Qin Shu's expression turned serious, "Prince Rui's Heir."
Qin Yan was startled, "What? Prince Rui's Heir?"
"Exactly." Qin Shu pondered for a moment and said, "Prince Rui's Heir was entrusted by the Grand Princess to take care of Wan Yatou and escort her to the capital. Afterward, I noticed that he not only sought Wan Yatou's help but also treated her without reservation. I believe he takes the Grand Princess's instructions to heart."
Qin Yan hesitated slightly, "But Father, His Highness has been away from the capital for many years and is now working in the Ministry of Justice. To put it bluntly, although he understands the palace intrigues, he is not Prince Rui and lacks Prince Rui's influence. Do you want him to speak up for Ninth Sister in front of the Empress Dowager? Or... is there some other way?"Qin Shu's lips tightened slightly, a shadow flickering in his eyes. "You underestimate Prince Rui's residence too much. Even though His Highness Chi has been away from the capital for years, most matters in the capital cannot escape his notice. If he's willing to help Wan Yatou, he definitely has ways. Feng Zhang may be arrogant and domineering, but when he encountered His Highness Chi, the Demon King of Shuoxi, didn't he just suffer a beating for nothing? Although Prince Cheng isn't as foolish as Feng Zhang, whether he openly requests marriage from the Emperor or schemes in secret, His Highness Chi has plenty of methods to deal with it. It just depends on whether he wants to help Wan Yatou or not..."
Qin Yan felt a glimmer of hope rising in his heart. "Then... should I go find His Highness Chi?"
Qin Shu shook his head. "No need to seek him out. Just have someone leak a message to His Highness Chi, attributing Wan Yatou's recent seclusion due to illness to Prince Cheng's actions. Then we'll see how he responds."
Qin Yan quickly nodded. "Good, I'll go arrange it immediately..."
......
......
In Changxin Palace, Feng Lingsu listened in surprise to the report from the palace attendant below. "You're saying that Qin family's Ninth Miss didn't enter the palace?"
The attendant nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty. She didn't come. The people from Longevity and Health Palace said that Qin family's Ninth Miss has caught a chill, fearing she might pass the illness to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, so she requested leave today."
"Requested leave?" Feng Lingsu frowned, looking towards Yan Qi beside her. "Why would she suddenly request leave? I originally intended to have her come to Changxin Palace today, but now that's impossible. Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival Banquet - what should we do about this?"
Yan Qi's eyes darkened. "I'm afraid she won't even attend the Lantern Festival Banquet."
Feng Lingsu immediately sat up straight. "Qi'er, how do you know?"
Yan Qi shook his head. "Something doesn't feel right. She's a physician herself, yet she caught a chill? In just one day... I suspect she might have learned something and is trying to avoid entering the palace."
Feng Lingsu raised an eyebrow. "Learned what? That you intend to take her as a concubine, and she wants to avoid it?"
Yan Qi remained expressionless. "Mother, you underestimate Qin Guan. If we were to ask her directly, she would definitely refuse to enter Prince Cheng's residence, especially for just a consort position."
Feng Lingsu laughed mockingly. "No matter how much the Empress Dowager favors her, she's still just an ordinary girl from a common background. Could she possibly be aiming for the principal wife position?"
Yan Qi lifted his chin slightly. "I'm afraid she wouldn't even want the principal wife position."
Feng Lingsu looked at Yan Qi, almost unable to believe what she was hearing. But soon, she understood. "Because of the Crown Prince?"
Yan Qi nodded noncommittally. The stance of Loyal Marquis Manor was one factor, but her own determination was the second - and comparatively, this second point was far more important...
Feng Lingsu narrowed her eyes. "That makes sense. Knowing full well the Crown Prince would disapprove, neither she herself nor Loyal Marquis Manor would stand by and watch her enter Prince Cheng's residence. But precisely because of this, we need to bring her to our side even more. So what if she knows medicine? She's just a young girl. If open methods don't work, there are always other ways."
Yan Qi nodded. "Yes, Mother is right." After a slight pause, he added, "However, since she currently enjoys Grandmother's favor, regardless of what we do privately, we must maintain propriety in public."
Having played the weak and delicate role for many years, Feng Lingsu was most skilled at this. She nodded. "That goes without saying."Yan Qi pondered for a moment. "Mother Consort, add Qin Guan’s name to tomorrow’s list." He paused briefly before continuing, "Place her among the candidates for the principal consort position first..."
Feng Lingsu was startled. "What? The principal consort position?"
Tomorrow was the Lantern Festival Banquet, marking the formal commencement of the selection process for the Crown Prince and Yan Qi’s consorts. On that day, the Empress and Consort Su would each submit a list of candidates’ names. The Household Affairs Department would first verify their backgrounds and conduct, followed by the Imperial Observatory assessing their astrological compatibility. Then, the Empress and Consort Su would personally interview the candidates to evaluate their demeanor and character. Finally, the Emperor and Empress would jointly deliberate to determine the principal and secondary consorts for the Crown Prince and Prince Cheng. Although the process was elaborate, only a handful of candidates were truly eligible for the principal consort position—the rest was merely procedural.
Feng Lingsu had originally shortlisted only two candidates for the principal consort position, with Peng Huajing, the daughter of the Duke of Wei, almost certain to be chosen. But now, Qin Guan had been added to the list. What if the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, fond of Qin Guan, approved her selection?
"Qi’er, what if our plan backfires?"
A faint smile touched Yan Qi’s lips. "It won’t backfire. I suspect Kunning Palace is already aware of our movements. That’s precisely why Qin Guan is avoiding the palace now. But by placing her among the principal consort candidates, I want to see how the Crown Prince will respond. Will he sit idly by, or will he alter his own list?"
...
...
In Kunning Palace, Zhao Shuhua’s brow was furrowed with concern.
Yun Yan beside her said, "Your Majesty, Ninth Miss has requested leave from the Longevity and Health Palace. What should we do?"
Zhao Shuhua frowned. "If Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has no issue with it, what can I say?"
She turned her gaze to Yan Che beside her. "Che’er, did you say something to Qin Shu or his side?"
Yan Che shook his head. "No, I only followed your instructions to deliver gifts to Chao Yu."
Zhao Shuhua nodded in satisfaction, then smiled. "Let her take leave if she wishes. Tomorrow’s banquet is only the beginning—the real drama lies ahead. Someone like Feng Lingsu, once she sets her mind on something, will never give up. Now that Qin Guan is deliberately avoiding this confrontation, she will undoubtedly persist."
Yan Che stood by the window, his eyes fixed motionlessly on the vast expanse of snow outside.
The winters in Lin’an were always long, but this year, to him, felt exceptionally so. As he gazed at the snow-covered palace roofs stretching into the distance, his eyes seemed to take on a frosty chill.
"What does Mother plan to do?"
Yan Che’s question drew a light laugh from Zhao Shuhua. "There’s no need to do much at this point. Now, we simply need to prepare and watch the show. However... Qin Shu has lived a life of mediocrity, and even in this matter, he hasn’t changed a bit. That won’t do. We must give him a push..."
"Give him a push, and then thrust Qin Guan into the spotlight, making her useful to us?"
Yan Che’s voice was calm as he finished the thought. Zhao Shuhua smiled. "Exactly, Che’er. You know well that for years, Prince Cheng and his mother have harbored treacherous ambitions. Merely being cautious is not enough—we must find an opportunity to expose their fatal flaw. Only when they make a grave mistake can we rest easy."Yan Che remained silent for a moment before finally saying, "Mother, what if Qin Guan also requests leave tomorrow?"
Zhao Shuhua first frowned, then her eyes darkened. "Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival Banquet. She personally promised me. If she wishes to be excused, she must come and tell me herself..." Though she said this, her phoenix eyes narrowed. "Send someone to bring Chao Yu into the palace. I haven't seen her for many days and find myself missing her dearly..."
Yan Che slowly turned around. "Mother, perhaps we should let Qin Guan avoid it this once."
Zhao Shuhua's brows knitted together as she looked coldly at Yan Che. "Che'er, have you lost your senses? What good will temporary avoidance do? If you don't harden your heart now, we will miss our best opportunity..."
Yan Che seemed on the verge of speaking but ultimately remained silent. Watching the palace servants prepare to fetch Qin Chaoyu into the palace, Yan Che understood that Zhao Shuhua intended to both bestow favor and demonstrate authority.
......
In the Longevity and Health Palace, the Empress Dowager was vexed by Qin Guan's absence from the palace, while Yan Chi was recounting tales of campaigns in the Western frontiers. Though the Empress Dowager, hailing from a military family, couldn't bear such stories when unwell, she now delighted in hearing Yan Chi speak of them.
After listening to Yan Chi's account, the Empress Dowager tensed. "The Rong enemies were so cunning, and you were simultaneously dealing with several tribes. How did you ultimately win that battle?"
Yan Chi chuckled lightly. "They all overestimated themselves. While fixating on their opponents' weaknesses, they exposed their own vital points... I merely needed to use their strength against them."
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