"Why did you insist on me coming out, Eighth Sister, when you told me to stay close by the Empress Dowager's side?" Stepping out of Morning Dew Hall, Qin Guan couldn't help but voice her confusion. She glanced back at the hall's entrance, a strange feeling still lingering in her heart.
First, she had been forbidden from entering the palace, then the order was changed. She was explicitly instructed to remain by the Empress Dowager's side, yet now she was pulled away. Earlier, Feng Lingsu had deliberately mentioned "seeking plum blossoms in the snow," which made the Empress Dowager relent. As expected, Feng Lingsu then maneuvered to send her out. Qin Guan instinctively felt it was improper to leave, yet neither the Empress nor Qin Chaoyu had objected.
Qin Chaoyu only knew what the Empress had told her—that Feng Lingsu and Yan Qi intended to harm the Empress Dowager's health—but beyond that, she was in the dark. She had no clear plan for how to proceed today and simply followed Zhao Shuhua's instructions, though she too found it puzzling. Still, Qin Chaoyu replied, "What are you worried about? The Empress is inside. When the opera begins, if the Empress moves farther away, you can return to the Empress Dowager's side then."
Qin Chaoyu reasoned that the Empress likely wanted to give Feng Lingsu and Yan Qi an opportunity to act, only to catch them in the act. Though this put the Empress Dowager at great risk, Qin Chaoyu felt no attachment to her.
As someone destined to become the Crown Princess, her loyalty lay entirely with Yan Che.
While Qin Chaoyu's explanation made some sense, Qin Guan remained uneasy. She only wanted to quickly gather some plum blossoms and return to Morning Dew Hall.
Seeing Qin Guan walk briskly, Qin Chaoyu cautioned, "Slow down. There are many guests today—mind your demeanor and don't compromise your status..."
Qin Guan paid no heed and continued forward. Watching her, Qin Chaoyu suddenly asked, "How do you know the plum grove is that way?"
Qin Guan paused mid-step, her heart tightening. In her haste, she had forgotten: this should be Ninth Miss's first visit to Morning Dew Hall; she shouldn't be so familiar with its surroundings. Qin Guan took a subtle breath. "Can't you smell the fragrance?"
She glanced briefly at Qin Chaoyu, who then remembered: Qin Guan practiced medicine. Those familiar with herbs would naturally be sensitive to floral scents. Though the air around Morning Dew Hall carried a faint, dispersed plum blossom aroma, Qin Chaoyu herself couldn't detect it. She offered no further comment and stepped ahead to lead the way.
They hadn't gone far when Qin Chaoyu halted abruptly. The plum grove was now in sight, but it had suddenly grown crowded. Lifting her gaze, she spotted Yan Che and Qin Yan, along with five or six other young men, standing in an octagonal pavilion beside the grove. At a glance, Qin Guan also recognized Chen Zhaowen, heir apparent to the Marquis of Wu'an, and Zhao Jing.
Today's palace banquet centered on selecting formal consorts for Yan Che and Yan Qi. Qin Guan, believing this had nothing to do with her, paid no attention to Yan Che and the others. As Qin Chaoyu stood frozen, Qin Guan moved aside to gather plum blossoms alone, while Qin Chaoyu only followed after a moment's delay.
With Yan Che and his companions in the pavilion, the grove had drawn many young noblewomen admiring the blossoms. The arrival of Qin Chaoyu and Qin Guan attracted numerous glances. Qin Chaoyu lifted her chin slightly, avoiding direct looks toward the pavilion as if to emphasize her status. Yet she picked blossoms slowly, as if meticulously selecting each one.Qin Guan quickly gathered five flower branches. Seeing that Mo Yi beside Qin Chaoyu held only one branch in hand, she lost patience waiting and stepped forward, saying, "Eighth Sister, I'll go find where Ninth Miss is first and return on my own later."
Empress Dowager had instructed Qin Guan to find Yan Sui, which Qin Chaoyu overheard. Having no immediate reason to stop her, Qin Chaoyu nodded. Seeing this, Qin Guan walked out of the plum grove without looking back.
Meanwhile, Yan Che watched helplessly as Qin Guan disappeared beyond the plum grove.
Though he showed little outward reaction, he had noticed Qin Chaoyu and Qin Guan's arrival immediately. What struck him most clearly was how Qin Guan never once glanced in their direction throughout her stay. Even knowing they were present, she showed no desire to linger. He understood now—her words that day were sincere. She harbored not the slightest interest in entering the Eastern Palace!
Yan Che's expression darkened slightly. He paid no attention to the others chatting and laughing nearby. Zhao Jing, noticing his unease, approached and asked, "What troubles Your Highness? The Qin family's Eighth Miss is still over there. Shall I invite her to speak?"
Zhao Jing knew his sister intended for the Qin family's Eighth Miss to become Crown Princess. He welcomed this prospect, but having recently returned to the capital, remained unaware of Yan Che's stance on the matter.
Yan Che shook his head without looking toward Qin Chaoyu. As he withdrew his gaze, Qin Guan's image lingered persistently in his mind. Despite his esteemed position as Crown Prince, and though most noble maidens lingering nearby came hoping to catch his attention, Qin Guan stood apart from them all. The more unattainable she seemed, the more precious she became in his eyes. Yan Che couldn't quite decipher his current feelings, but one thing was certain: since the incident at the Marquis residence, Qin Guan had managed to disturb his usually composed thoughts.
As he pondered, He Yin suddenly strode in with a grave expression.
"Your Highness, an unexpected development has occurred—"
Yan Che's eyebrows shot up. With no major events scheduled today, what could this "development" possibly entail?
Taking two steps forward, Yan Che listened as He Yin whispered in his ear.
A single sentence caused Yan Che's face to pale dramatically. "Is this true?!"
He Yin nodded, lowering his voice further. "Indeed. The register has been sent to the Imperial Observatory. Ninth Miss's name appears on it... Prince Cheng actually placed her in the principal consort position..."
Yan Che drew a sharp breath, his fists clenching tightly within his sleeves.
Noticing the tension, Zhao Jing approached again. "Your Highness, what happened?"
Yan Che shook his head, his eyes flickering rapidly. He Yin suggested, "Should we inform Empress Zhao Shuhua?"
He Yin proposed discussing the matter with Zhao Shuhua, but Yan Che declined. "No. Her Majesty is currently accompanying Grand Empress Dowager, with Imperial Consort present. If we speak now, the Imperial Consort will surely realize we intend to interfere."
Unbeknownst to Yan Che, this situation was precisely what Yan Qi wanted him to discover... Moreover, his instinctive reluctance to involve Zhao Shuhua stemmed from guessing she likely wouldn't intervene immediately even if informed. Zhao Shuhua had long planned to use Qin Guan as bait, caring little for her safety. Should Prince Cheng truly seek to marry Qin Guan, Zhao Shuhua would rather destroy Qin Guan than let him succeed—an outcome Yan Che wished to avoid.Though Qin Guan's actions angered him, it would be unjustifiable to let her be ruined for no reason.
Thinking this, Yan Che suddenly asked, "Has our register been submitted as well?"
He Yin nodded, "Yes, it has been sent. We must wait for the Imperial Observatory's calculations and results before presenting them to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor together—"
Yan Che quickly followed up, "Has the divination begun?"
He Yin shook his head, "Not yet—"
Yan Che narrowed his eyes and quietly gave He Yin an order. Upon hearing it, He Yin's face paled dramatically. "Your Highness? This is highly improper! The Empress would never agree!"
Yan Che pressed his lips tightly together. "But there's no other way now. If he intends to use the position of principal consort as leverage, I have no choice but to do this."
He Yin glanced helplessly at Qin Chaoyu in the distance. "But Your Highness, if we proceed like this, I fear the Marquis' household will be displeased. Moreover, the Emperor and Empress Dowager would likely disapprove."
Yan Che raised an eyebrow. "I'm not seeking their approval. I only aim to thwart Prince Cheng's plans!"
"However... this might also stir the Emperor's dissatisfaction with you..."
Frowning, Yan Che's expression darkened. He stared at He Yin for a moment, and He Yin immediately fell silent. Though he knew Zhao Shuhua would oppose this course of action, his loyalty lay with Yan Che—the future ruler of Great Zhou. The choice was clear. He Yin clasped his fists. "I will arrange it at once. Rest assured, Your Highness."
After He Yin left, Zhao Jing looked even more puzzled. As Yan Che's maternal uncle by seniority, he was naturally more concerned about matters troubling the Crown Prince. He hurriedly asked, "Your Highness, what exactly has happened?"
Yan Che took a shallow breath and whispered, "Prince Cheng seeks to take the Ninth Miss of the Qin Manor as his principal consort."
Zhao Jing's eyes widened. "What?! You mean Prince Che—"
Being a military man, Zhao Jing's exclamation immediately drew the attention of Qin Yan and others. Realizing his slip, he abruptly cut himself off, but Qin Yan and the rest quickly gathered around.
"Your Highness, what is the matter?"
Looking at Qin Yan, Zhao Jing hesitated to speak, but Yan Che feigned nonchalance. "It's nothing. The Empress wishes to arrange a marriage for the young general, but he is unwilling. He merely became agitated."
At this, everyone laughed and began teasing Zhao Jing. Forcing a bitter smile, Zhao Jing shot an anxious glance at Yan Che. Although he had only met Qin Guan three times, firstly, the Marquis' household and the Crown Prince were already allies—he considered Qin Guan one of their own. Secondly, he deeply admired her and felt an indescribable fondness for her. No other young lady had ever evoked such feelings in him before. How could he stand by and watch Prince Cheng claim Qin Guan?
After the brief jesting, Yan Che turned and walked toward the plum grove. Zhao Jing followed closest and quietly said to him, "Do not worry, I have made arrangements..."
Zhao Jing grew anxious. "What arrangements, Your Highness? For Prince Cheng to offer the principal consort position this time, he seems confident. Unless someone else also seeks to marry Ninth Miss, otherwise..."
"I understand what you mean." Yan Che's tone was calm. After a pause, he added, "That is why I ordered Ninth Miss's name to be added to the Eastern Palace's register."
Zhao Jing halted in his steps, staring at Yan Che in disbelief.
...
...Leaving the plum grove, Qin Guan followed the small path west of Morning Dew Hall. She remembered there was a side garden to the left of the hall—if Yan Sui wanted to play in the snow, that would be the perfect spot. Earlier, when Mammy Su led him out, they had also headed west. With this in mind, Qin Guan hurried westward, but upon arrival, found no sign of Yan Sui.
Qin Guan frowned slightly. Baiying said, "Miss, could it be that Ninth Miss has already returned?"
That was indeed a possibility. Qin Guan nodded. "Let’s go back and check."
As Qin Guan turned back toward Morning Dew Hall, halfway there, she spotted Mammy Chen and Mammy Su approaching with anxious expressions. Qin Guan’s brow furrowed, sensing something amiss. When she reached them, Mammy Su urgently asked, "Ninth Miss, have you seen Ninth Miss?"
Qin Guan’s heart sank. She shook her head. "No, I haven’t. Wasn’t Ninth Miss with you, Momma?"
Mammy Su let out a long sigh. "This servant is at fault. I was with Ninth Miss just now, playing in the snow in the side garden over there. But shortly after, two ladies approached wanting to speak with Ninth Miss. Ninth Miss paid them no mind, so I exchanged a few words with them. In that brief moment, when I turned around, Ninth Miss had vanished."
Qin Guan looked back. "You mean the side garden over there?"
Mammy Su quickly nodded. "Yes, exactly that side garden…"
Mammy Chen added with a bitter smile, "Mammy Su and I have already searched the area once. We don’t know if Ninth Miss ran off elsewhere, but we feared she might return on her own, so we came back to check. Yet there’s still no sign of her."
Mammy Chen’s thoughts mirrored Qin Guan’s own from earlier. Hearing this, Qin Guan promptly handed the plum blossoms she had been carrying to Mammy Chen. "Momma, please take these back first. I’ll take Baiying and go with Mammy Su to search for Ninth Miss. You return and reassure the Empress Dowager…"
Mammy Chen accepted the flowers and nodded. "Very well. Thank you, Ninth Miss."
Without another word, Qin Guan followed Mammy Su westward. "Momma, where were you playing earlier?"
"Right here. I had my back to Ninth Miss while speaking with the two ladies. When I turned around, Ninth Miss was gone. The ladies’ view was blocked by the corridor pillars, so they didn’t see which way Ninth Miss went either."
Qin Guan scanned the area and spotted a corridor leading west. Though there were small paths on either side, they all led into the courtyard, which was covered in deep snow. If Yan Sui had left through the snow, it seemed unlikely he could have disappeared so quickly. Qin Guan followed the corridor forward and soon came upon three branching paths.
Mammy Su hurriedly explained, "This one leads deeper into the Inner Palace, that one goes to the Imperial Garden, and the other heads to the Heavenly Sound Stage where operas are performed. I’ve already searched toward the Imperial Garden. Ninth Miss often enjoys playing there, but I found no trace of her just now."
Listening to Mammy Su, Qin Guan frowned thoughtfully. "Let’s split up now. With so many people around today, Ninth Miss might have found some new amusement. Momma, you head toward the Inner Palace. I’m thinking Ninth Miss might have run off to where she used to live. I’ll check the Heavenly Sound Stage area..."After Qin Guan made these arrangements, Momma Su's eyes also lit up slightly. Regardless of anything else, Yan Sui was indeed highly likely to go to the place where Consort Jin used to live. Thinking of this, Momma Su dared not delay and hurried away.
Qin Guan then stepped onto the corridor leading to the Heavenly Sound Stage.
The Heavenly Sound Stage was a place specifically for the masters of the Inner Palace to listen to opera on ordinary days. Qin Guan had been there once before. However, just as she turned a corner along the corridor, she keenly spotted two black chess pieces on the ground.
Baiying’s eyes brightened even more. "Miss, these are the ones the Ninth Prince was holding in his hand!"
As she spoke, Baiying picked up the chess pieces and handed them to Qin Guan. Qin Guan took the pieces and examined them—they were indeed the chess pieces from the Longevity and Health Palace. Just as she felt she had found Yan Sui’s trail, she soon noticed something amiss. On the black chess pieces that had been in Yan Sui’s palm, there was a faint but lingering, delicate fragrance.
This fragrance was not something Qin Guan had smelled in the Longevity and Health Palace, nor had she detected it on Yan Sui or Momma Su. Yet, it was unmistakably present on the chess pieces. Qin Guan brought the pieces to her nose and sniffed lightly a few times. A flash of insight struck her mind—she suddenly remembered!
It was the scent of lotus seeds, the unique, fresh fragrance of lotus seeds.
In an instant, Qin Guan instinctively took a step back.
The fact that the chess pieces carried the fragrance of lotus seeds indicated that the person who had handled them had recently touched lotus seeds. At this time of year, there were no fresh lotus seeds available. Unless someone was specifically preparing a dish, it was highly unlikely for anyone to casually come into contact with lotus seeds. And earlier, in the Morning Dew Hall, Feng Lingsu had mentioned that she was late because she was making lotus seed soup for the emperor.
A chill ran down her spine. Qin Guan increasingly felt that the events of the day were far too bizarre. She glanced toward the end of the corridor—the Heavenly Sound Stage was not far ahead. The Heavenly Sound Stage was an independent palace. If Yan Sui had truly run there on his own, how had these chess pieces been left behind? And how had they become imbued with the scent of lotus seeds?
Feng Lingsu was making lotus seed soup for the emperor, so naturally, someone would have been tasked with picking and cleaning the lotus seeds for her. That person must have been someone close to her. Aside from her, which palace servant would easily come into contact with lotus seeds? The ladies and young misses of the palace certainly would not.
Qin Guan took another step back, then another. Baiying noticed the abnormality and quickly, alertly scanned their surroundings. As she did, she indeed caught sight of a figure flitting behind the perforated floral wall not far away.
"Miss, there’s someone behind the floral wall to the northwest…"
Qin Guan clenched the black chess pieces tightly in her palm, her brows furrowing deeply.
Something was wrong—terribly wrong. According to what Qin Chaoyu had said, it shouldn’t have been like this at all.
Feng Lingsu and Yan Qi’s target was the Empress Dowager, not Qin Guan herself. What could they possibly gain from this?
It couldn’t be that they were trying to frame her for losing Yan Sui…
She took another look ahead, her brows knitting even tighter.
She was searching for Yan Sui, and these chess pieces had conveniently appeared. They were clearly guide stones, meant to lead her to the Heavenly Sound Stage.
Without saying much, Qin Guan pretended to carefully examine the black chess pieces, then strode toward the Heavenly Sound Stage. As she walked, she whispered softly, "Keep an eye on that person—"
Baiying, already on high alert knowing that the situation had changed, responded in a low voice.
Qin Guan walked forward with some urgency, peering ahead as she went and calling out softly, "Ninth Prince?"After calling out twice with no response, Qin Guan continued forward. Soon, she turned another corner and abruptly halted. Baiying turned to look and quickly said, "Miss, that person has left."
As her words fell, she saw an icy chill flash in Qin Guan's eyes.
Qin Guan's thoughts rapidly turned, quickly arriving at one possibility: Feng Lingsu never intended to target the Empress Dowager's illness—Feng Lingsu's true target was her all along. And the Heavenly Sound Stage ahead was nothing but a trap waiting for her.
If this were the case, it wouldn't surprise her. But if so, what roles did the Empress and Qin Chaoyu play in this? The Empress had also wanted her to come out, as had Qin Chaoyu. She had felt something was amiss from the start, and now it seemed the Empress and Qin Chaoyu were almost pleased to see Feng Lingsu set a trap to harm her.
At this realization, Qin Guan's hand holding the chess piece tightened slightly.
Qin Chaoyu had said the Empress still hoped to catch Feng Lingsu targeting the Empress Dowager. But now she understood—the Empress didn't want to catch Feng Lingsu targeting the Empress Dowager; she wanted to catch Feng Lingsu targeting her.
Feng Lingsu wouldn't be foolish enough to move against the Empress Dowager, but she would come for her. Regardless of the method, it would ultimately anger the Empress Dowager. What the Empress needed to do was add fuel to the fire, then expose Feng Lingsu after she thought she had succeeded. This way, she would be caught red-handed, and Qin Guan, the victim, would become the Empress's best accuser.
Qin Guan wasn't certain if this possibility was true, but having thought of it, she absolutely could not fall into Feng Lingsu and Yan Qi's trap. Scanning her surroundings, a sharp glint flashed swiftly in her eyes. She turned and whispered two sentences to Baiying. Baiying's eyes showed slight surprise, but when she met Qin Guan's gaze, she saw an unusual cold severity in her mistress's typically calm eyes. Baiying's expression turned solemn, and she immediately nodded in acknowledgment.
Qin Guan gave a slight nod and continued forward with Baiying. But before they had taken more than a few steps, Qin Guan slipped into an inconspicuous narrow alley. Meanwhile, a maidservant hurried into the Morning Dew Hall and whispered a few words into Feng Lingsu's ear.
Upon hearing this, Feng Lingsu showed a satisfied expression.
Zhao Shuhua noticed this scene. She glanced toward the hall entrance but still saw no sign of Qin Guan. A flicker of understanding passed through her eyes—Feng Lingsu's plan had likely already succeeded. So she picked up her teacup and began drinking.
After waiting a moment longer, Feng Lingsu said leisurely, "The timing is about right, sister. Should we depart for the Heavenly Sound Stage with Her Majesty the Empress Dowager—"
Zhao Shuhua checked the sky and smiled, "It is time to go. His Majesty should be arriving soon."
The Empress Dowager frowned, "Ninth girl hasn't returned yet, and Little Nine still hasn't been found."
Zhao Shuhua smiled reassuringly, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. We might run into them on our way."
The Empress Dowager frowned worriedly but didn't respond. Just then, Yuan Qing's voice announced, "His Majesty arrives—"
Before the words fully faded, Yan Huai entered the hall with a hearty laugh, "Why are you all still here? I thought the performance would have started by now."
Without waiting for the Empress Dowager to respond, Zhao Shuhua said, "We were just about to leave. Now that Your Majesty is here, we can accompany Her Majesty the Empress Dowager to the Heavenly Sound Stage. The stage preparations are likely complete there."All present in the hall performed a grand salute. In high spirits, Yan Huai waved his hand and said, "Give the order for everyone to proceed to the Heavenly Sound Stage." He then walked up to the Empress Dowager and said, "Mother, allow your son to escort you there—"
The Empress Dowager was helped to her feet, hesitating as she spoke, "The children haven't arrived yet."
Yan Huai chuckled, "How dare they keep you waiting one after another? Let's go ahead first. If they don't come, we'll simply start the performance regardless..." He glanced at Yuan Qing as he spoke, and Yuan Qing promptly responded, "This old servant will send someone to notify all the princes immediately."
Zhao Shuhua then said, "Have Little Ninth and Ninth Miss searched for as well."
Yuan Qing hastily acknowledged the order. Only then did the Empress Dowager breathe a sigh of relief, leaning on Yan Huai's arm as she slowly made her way out of the hall.
Feng LingSu followed behind Yan Huai, her smile profound and self-satisfied.
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