"Empress Dowager, Eunuch Duoshou from Chongzheng Hall has arrived."
Mammy Chen entered the Warm Chamber quietly, followed by an elderly eunuch past his fifties.
The Empress Dowager promptly said, "Let him come in and speak—"
As her words fell, Mammy Chen brought Duoshou into the room. Duoshou respectfully paid his respects to the Empress Dowager before rising. He had served in Chongzheng Hall for many years, initially favored for his auspicious name and later valued for his steady, diligent, and discreet nature. After serving the late Emperor, he now attended to the current Emperor. Though not as highly positioned as Yuan Qing, he was a respected figure in both the Household Affairs Department and Chongzheng Hall. Yet, he was exceptionally adept at interpersonal relations, never bullying others based on seniority, gradually earning a good reputation. Despite his advancing age, he remained in the inner court, overseeing the Emperor's daily life and miscellaneous affairs in Chongzheng Hall.
"You must already know what I wish to ask? Speak freely, it's nothing serious. Over the years, I've watched the Emperor step by step reach where he is today, finally fulfilling the late Emperor's trust and giving Great Zhou a worthy ruler. But last night, when I asked the Emperor to accompany me for a game of chess, I noticed he already has white hairs. All these years, I've been too assured of him, to the point of neglecting my care for him. Tell me casually about the Emperor's matters..."
Having served in the inner court for so long, Duoshou naturally understood that within the palace, husband and wife were not merely husband and wife, and father and son were first ruler and subject. Yet he was well aware of the Empress Dowager's deep affection for the Emperor. Initially hesitant, his reservations vanished after hearing her words.
"Mammy Chen mentioned that the Emperor lost to you in chess yesterday. In truth, since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has not touched the chess Path again."
The Empress Dowager was momentarily surprised—this she truly had not known.
"When the late Emperor passed away from illness, the Emperor ascended the throne before his injuries had fully healed. Just after his accession, the remnants of Prince Gong's faction had not been completely purged. To the west, Rong enemies harassed the borders; the north was unsettled; the south suffered from floods; and coastal areas were troubled by pirates. This humble servant still remembers the first two years of the Emperor's reign—each night he reviewed memorials until dawn. It took a full two years for His Majesty to stabilize the court. During those two years, let alone playing chess, he seldom thought of the consorts in the rear palace."
As she listened, countless memories surged into the Empress Dowager's mind.
She did remember: Yan Han's failed rebellion had shaken the entire court and country. When Yan Huai was rescued, he was nearly lifeless. First, she saw Yan Huai's brutally injured body, then heard of the countless charred corpses on Wind Thunder Ridge, making it impossible to identify which was Yan Han. The shock left her bedridden with illness.
In the first half of her life, she had endured the struggles of the rear palace. Not only had she secured her position as Empress, but she had also borne the late Emperor two legitimate sons. Their eldest, steady in temperament, virtuous and wise, was the undisputed choice for Heir Apparent. She never imagined her own two sons would clash in deadly conflict. When she fell ill, Yan Huai had not yet regained consciousness. All the imperial physicians guarded the palace day and night, until ultimately, Princess Consort Yi intervened and saved the Emperor.Upon learning that Yan Huai's life had been temporarily spared, her heart ached for the deceased Yan Han. Both were her own flesh and blood, and regardless of Yan Han's wrongdoings, death was irreversible. In her heart, she began to downplay those mistakes—she had wanted to protect Yan Li and his mother, and she had also wished for Yan Han's cenotaph to be placed in the imperial mausoleum. Initially, Yan Huai was unaware of this matter, but his faction in the court strongly opposed it. Eventually, the issue inevitably reached Yan Huai. By the time his injuries had healed enough for him to receive visitors, he had already grown distant from her. At the time, she hadn't considered how Yan Huai would react upon learning of these matters; she was immersed in her own grief and, upon hearing that Yan Huai could succeed to the throne, completely lost her will to contend.
It wasn't until after Yan Huai ascended the throne that she realized the bond between mother and son had weakened.
By then, Yan Huai's temperament had drastically changed. Faced with numerous obstacles in the court, he not only refrained from seeking help from her, his mother, but also adopted more decisive and severe measures. Even members of his own faction were imprisoned and interrogated for the slightest offense. Those years could hardly be described as anything less than harsh and strict governance.
It was only then that she began to feel remorse toward Yan Huai. However, Yan Huai seemed like a different person. Under his iron-fisted rule, the court became orderly and peaceful, and the new dynasty shone as brightly as the sun. He no longer needed to rely on her, his mother. Not only that, but he became deeply engrossed in state affairs, growing distant even from Feng Lingsu and others. The Empress Dowager watched with mixed feelings of pride and sorrow. It wasn't until the fourth year of Yan Huai's reign that their mother-son relationship began to thaw.
"Later, the court affairs were pacified by the Emperor, but he did not indulge himself. The past interests were abandoned and never revisited. Later, subordinates searched for many chessboards and manuals, but the Emperor wouldn't even glance at them." Duo Shou sighed. "It is a blessing for the people of Great Zhou to have such a good emperor, but His Majesty has indeed toiled hard over the years. Not only does the Empress Dowager feel heartache, but even we servants admire him deeply... After the court stabilized, I recall it was the Empress Dowager who remarked that the Emperor had too few consorts. Later, new consorts were selected and entered the palace. Only after that did the Emperor begin to visit the rear palace more frequently..."
The Empress Dowager nodded. Yes, in the fourth year of Yan Huai's reign, she observed that the rear palace housed only the Emperor, Feng Lingsu, and two former attendants from Prince Luo's residence. Yan Huai spent his days in Chongzheng Hall, visiting the rear palace only on rare occasions. It was then that she conceived the idea of selecting new consorts. Later, as a few gentle and understanding flowers joined the rear palace, several incidents arose, and Yan Huai began to pay more attention to the rear palace...
"And what about these past few years? Last year, I was gravely ill and hardly inquired about matters in Chongzheng Hall. Does the Emperor frequently visit the rear palace now?"
Duo Shou hurriedly replied, "The Emperor does go now, though not often. He visits the Noble Consort and Wan Fei slightly more..."
The Empress Dowager frowned slightly. "Does he not visit the Empress?"
This was a secret of Chongzheng Hall, but since the question came from the Emperor's mother, Duo Shou dared not conceal the truth. "Almost... almost never."The Empress Dowager's heart immediately sank. It had been Yan Huai's own decision to marry Zhao Shuhua as his principal consort. That was just like Yan Huai—dignified and steady in temperament, yet neither rigid nor rash. Even though Feng Lingsu, who later became his secondary consort, won more of Yan Huai's affection, that fondness merely satisfied a man's desire for amusement. On matters of principle, the Yan Huai of those years highly valued Zhao Shuhua's opinions and deeply respected her as his principal consort...
"Hardly ever visits? When did it become like this!"
Naturally, Zhao Shuhua couldn't compare to Feng Lingsu in winning affection through charm. Her temperament was too strong-willed, somewhat resembling her younger self. Such a disposition certainly couldn't make her the emperor's favorite. Yet the distinction between an empress and imperial consorts lies in this: the mistress of the six palaces and motherly model for the realm—this honor isn't obtained merely by pleasing the emperor. Because of this, although the Empress Dowager disapproved of the empress extending her influence to the imperial court, she greatly admired the empress's wisdom and decisiveness in her heart. Conversely, though Feng Lingsu enjoyed the emperor's favor, the Empress Dowager somewhat looked down on her. And Yan Huai was a man who excelled at maintaining overall stability. Though he doted on Feng Lingsu, he never granted her additional power. Instead, he respected Zhao Shuhua as his lawful wife, ensuring she received all due honors—even showing her more respect than others. But when did the relationship between emperor and empress deteriorate so severely?
Duoshou was stumped by this question. "It should be... about a year after the Fifth Princess was born. Actually, one can't blame His Majesty. It was Her Majesty the Empress... who suddenly changed temperament. Several times she offended His Majesty. His Majesty felt that Her Majesty the Empress... this humble servant shouldn't say, but after that, His Majesty visited less frequently. And Her Majesty the Empress maintained her dignity, never coming to Chongzheng Hall either. Gradually, it just became more and more..."
As a mere servant, Duoshou naturally couldn't judge right or wrong, yet these words made the Empress Dowager understand.
For a woman, childbirth is like passing through the gates of hell. After giving birth to Yan Han, because the births of the two brothers were too close together, she fell ill and remained in low spirits for a long time afterward. If not for the dignity of the empress and her family's honor requiring her to remain steady, she might have lost the will to secure favor too. But how could the empress have let herself fall into such circumstances?
In her memory, during those years after Yan Zhen's birth, the emperor had doted on the child excessively. Whenever she saw the empress, she always noticed a gentle smile on her face. She had thought that with an additional daughter, the emperor and empress could be described as a harmonious couple. Never did she imagine their relationship had deteriorated so severely in private!
The Empress Dowager felt quite perplexed. The empress's wisdom was rare among women. Even if broad-minded and no longer obsessed with securing favor, she should still have considered her family and Yan Che carefully. Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager sighed. This time, Yan Huai had placed the empress under house arrest without a word of explanation—from this alone, she should have realized.
"Tell me more. What does His Majesty enjoy eating nowadays? Besides reviewing memorials, what other activities does he usually engage in?"
Hearing this, Duoshou recounted the emperor's daily routines one by one. As the Empress Dowager listened, she sighed repeatedly in her heart. Though they all lived in the imperial palace, she knew too little about the emperor's daily habits and preferences—especially since she had been ill throughout the previous year.After questioning Duoshou for nearly an hour, the Empress Dowager finally let her return. Once Duoshou left, the Empress Dowager leaned back on her couch and sighed, "The Emperor has had such a difficult time these years. I just never expected the Empress and the Emperor... Did you know about these matters?"
Mammy Chen hesitated slightly. Had the Empress Dowager been younger, it would have been different. But since her health had declined with age, Mammy Chen had grown accustomed to deliberately withholding such matters from her, and over time, this had become a habit.
"These matters... this servant has heard some rumors."
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager immediately sat upright. "What have you heard? Tell me everything!"
Mammy Chen dismissed the maids guarding the entrance before lowering her voice. "They all say the Emperor favors Consort Feng excessively, creating a rift with the Empress. As you know, Her Majesty the Empress has a strong-willed nature. If Consort Feng performs poorly before the Emperor and gets reprimanded, she would humble herself to win back his favor. But the Empress is different. I've heard from people in Kunning Palace that while the Empress manages the Inner Palace diligently, she has long entrusted the Emperor's affairs to Consort Feng."
The Empress Dowager widened her eyes. What did she mean by "entrusting the Emperor's affairs to Consort Feng"?!
"Both the Empress and the Emperor appear to prioritize the greater good publicly, showing no signs of discord. But privately, the Emperor rarely visits the Empress even once a month, and never stays overnight when he does. The Emperor's seasonal clothing and daily meals are all closely supervised by Consort Feng. The Empress doesn't mind this and often rewards Consort Feng for taking good care of the Emperor. Seeing the Empress being so magnanimous, other consorts try to emulate Consort Feng in currying favor with the Emperor. Consort Feng isn't particularly pleased with this, but as a result, the harem remains relatively peaceful..." Mammy Chen smiled wryly. "In all my years serving in the palace, I've never seen anything like this."
In the harem, having a high rank alone isn't enough. Whether for the Emperor's favor or for honor, every woman must find ways to secure their position. Even the Empress Dowager herself couldn't avoid this when she was Empress. But the current Empress is truly different from all other harem consorts.
She seems indifferent to the Emperor's personal affection toward her. She genuinely sacrifices personal interests for the greater good. Over the years, while strictly maintaining order in the Inner Palace, she has never competed for the Emperor's favor or secretly harmed other consorts' children. Because of this, the current Inner Palace maintains an unusually eerie calm. And because of this calm, the Empress Dowager hasn't probed too deeply into the relationship between the Empress and the Emperor.
The Empress Dowager was stunned for a moment before smiling bitterly. "This Empress... what does she mean by this? She's doing quite well as Empress, but..."
But every woman has selfish desires, especially in a place like the harem full of overt and covert struggles. How can she be sure she'll remain Empress forever?!
Moreover, she has two children and an elderly father who holds military power.
The Empress Dowager felt deeply helpless. "If this is her Path to being Empress, I don't believe it. Unless she doesn't love the Emperor at all."As the Empress Dowager spoke these words, she couldn't help but recall her own past. When she first entered the palace, she and the Emperor had been strangers too. Yet for a woman, once married to a man, her heart naturally belongs to him. She couldn't bear to see him dote on others and wished his heart would remain hers forever—unless the man proved utterly worthless, failing to spark any affection even after years together. But her Yan Huai had been elegant and handsome in his youth, a rare young hero indeed!
Mammy Chen chuckled, "I'm afraid that wasn't the case. I recall back when we were still in the royal residence, after the prince took Consort Feng as his secondary consort, the Empress threw quite a tantrum. If not for the Emperor's skillful coaxing back then, it might not have blown over so easily."
The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes slightly, her thoughts drifting back decades in an instant.
Zhao Shuhua grew up in a military family, much like herself. Because of this, when the former Consort Zhao wanted Yan Huai to take Zhao Shuhua as a consort, she hadn't objected. Compared to Feng Lingsu's delicate and soft demeanor, the Empress's straight-backed posture whenever she walked was particularly admirable. Half a year after the Empress married Yan Huai as his principal consort, the Duke of Zhongguo intended to marry his daughter to Yan Huai, employing many schemes in the process. Yan Huai, already aware of the late Emperor's favor toward him, had long made plans. While the principal consort came from a military family, Feng Lingsu represented one of the capital's prominent clans. Although the Duke of Zhongguo's household hadn't produced any outstanding figures in recent generations, they still had a century of legacy behind them. Thus, Yan Huai agreed.
Who would have thought that upon learning of this, Zhao Shuhua caused a huge scene and immediately moved back to the Grand General's residence.
Yan Huai and Zhao Shuhua had met when they were very young and had maintained contact over the years. After their marriage, they were deeply in love, like honey blended with oil. If not for future considerations, Yan Huai wouldn't have taken another consort so soon. At that time, Yan Huai went to the Grand General's residence and pleaded extensively before finally bringing Zhao Shuhua back. Zhao Shuhua likely came to understand later and ceased making things difficult for Yan Huai. As time passed, she grew increasingly dignified and magnanimous...
"Has something happened that I don't know about?"
The Empress Dowager and Mammy Chen had been master and servant for many years, and now Mammy Chen was her only confidante. They could speak openly and honestly about many matters.
Mammy Chen shook her head, "This I do not know. The people of Kunning Palace, to put it bluntly, are wary of us. The Empress manages her subordinates very strictly, so even if something did happen, it wouldn't be casually discussed."
The Empress Dowager nodded. This was true, and it was another reason she greatly admired Zhao Shuhua.
If Feng Lingsu were to become Empress, she could hardly imagine how chaotic the rear palace would become!
Pulling her thoughts away from the past, the Empress Dowager sighed, "The Empress has been under house arrest for too long. Yesterday, I asked the Emperor about it, but he said he has no plans to release her for now. The people in the palace must all think the Empress has completely fallen out of favor."
Such was the nature of the palace—even the servants were adept at flattering those in power and abandoning those in disgrace, always quick to adapt to the prevailing winds.
After a moment's contemplation, the Empress Dowager said, "Starting today, all meals for the Empress will be delivered from the Longevity and Health Palace."
Upon hearing this, Mammy Chen understood—the Empress Dowager intended to protect the Empress for a while.
...
...
When Yan Zhen arrived at the Eastern Palace, she saw Qin Chaoyu standing dazed under the corridor eaves.Her royal sister-in-law wore a face etched with unmistakable loneliness and melancholy, nothing like a newlywed who had married the one she loved.
Yan Zhen observed Qin Chaoyu for a moment before stepping briskly inside. The sound of her footsteps startled Qin Chaoyu, but when she saw it was Yan Zhen, a warm smile immediately spread across her face. "Princess, you've come—"
Qin Chaoyu hurried over and affectionately took Yan Zhen's hand.
Yan Zhen smiled faintly in return. "Sister-in-law, just call me Zhen'er. No need for 'Princess'—it sounds too distant."
Naturally pleased, Qin Chaoyu readily agreed, "Alright, then Zhen'er it is. What brings you here today?"
Yan Zhen gave a slight smile. "I came to see you and Brother the Crown Prince. Where is he?"
Qin Chaoyu quickly replied, "He's handling affairs in the side hall. Are you in a hurry? Shall I take you to him?"
Yan Zhen waved her hand dismissively. "No need, let him focus on his work. I'd rather chat with you for a while."
Yan Zhen's familiarity greatly pleased Qin Chaoyu, who promptly invited her into the room. "Then let's talk first. I'll have someone wait nearby, and when the Crown Prince is done, he can come see you..."
As she responded, Yan Zhen glanced around the room. This was her first visit to the Eastern Palace since Yan Che's marriage. After a quick survey, she remarked, "Sister-in-law, why are there only your belongings in this room? I don't see any of Brother's things."
Qin Chaoyu's expression stiffened briefly before she quickly smiled again. "Because His Highness now lives and rests in the side hall due to his busy schedule. He often stays there after finishing his work."
Yan Zhen understood all too well—no matter how busy one was, the distance was short enough to return.
She didn't press further, instead asking, "What has Brother been occupied with these days?"
Qin Chaoyu said, "Just matters from the former court..."
"Is it about Zhang Qide?"
Yan Zhen's quick response surprised Qin Chaoyu, who handed her a cup of tea. Since her marriage had been decided, Yan Zhen had been at odds with the Empress. As the wedding date drew nearer, she grew increasingly silent and eventually stopped leaving her quarters altogether. Yet she still knew about Zhang Qide.
Reading Qin Chaoyu's expression, Yan Zhen added, "I know everything. Brother must be having a hard time right now."
Qin Chaoyu sighed. The bond of blood was a true blessing—in this palace, only the Empress and Yan Zhen genuinely cared for Yan Che, along with the Empress Dowager.
"It's alright, things will get better. Don't worry. This matter has nothing to do with your brother; he's just been implicated."
Yan Zhen held the teacup. "What can I do?"
Qin Chaoyu had intended only to comfort her, but upon hearing this, she hesitated. After a moment, she said, "The key to this matter actually lies with the Emperor."
Yan Zhen listened, her eyes thoughtful, and after a pause, she nodded. "I understand."
Qin Chaoyu smiled. "Lately, the Household Affairs Department has been preparing for your wedding, and I've been keeping an eye on things. Since Her Majesty is no longer managing affairs at Kunning Palace, if there's anything you're unsatisfied with, just let me know..."
At the mention of the wedding, the smile faded from Yan Zhen's face.
Qin Chaoyu inwardly cursed her misstep, but then Yan Zhen set down her teacup and looked directly at her. "Sister-in-law, are you happy marrying my brother?"
"Ah?" Qin Chaoyu was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
Yan Zhen studied her carefully. "Because I sense that you're not happy."
Qin Chaoyu forced a laugh. "No... I...""When I entered earlier, you were standing there lost in thought, and I sensed a deep loneliness in you," Yan Zhen continued speaking to herself. Seeing no one else in the room, she asked directly, "Are you unhappy about marrying into the Eastern Palace?"
Her blunt question made her reflect on her own impending departure to Northern Wei.
Qin Chaoyu was momentarily taken aback before realizing Yan Zhen had misunderstood. She shook her head, "That's not the case at all. I very much wanted to marry into this family."
Yan Zhen blinked, having momentarily assumed Qin Chaoyu was being forced into the marriage just like her.
Qin Chaoyu smiled, "I've wanted to marry your elder brother for a long time." She then made a soft "shh" sound with a finger to her lips, "This is a secret I'm only sharing with you. Please don't tell anyone else."
Yan Zhen nodded instinctively, prompting Qin Chaoyu to continue, "If I appeared lonely to you, it's probably because your brother... well, doesn't seem particularly fond of me. This troubles me greatly. Perhaps if I could care less, I might live more happily."
Qin Chaoyu then turned her gaze to Yan Zhen, "Are you fond of the Crown Prince of Northern Wei?"
Yan Zhen thought of Tuoba Hong, but only had a vague impression of him. She shook her head.
Qin Chaoyu smiled faintly, "Then you're luckier than I am."
Yan Zhen hesitated, her expression both surprised and enlightened. After a long pause, she said, "I remember Mother Empress liked you from the start. She said you were different from others."
Hearing this, Qin Chaoyu could only offer a bitter smile. After a moment, she said, "In the entire imperial palace, Mother Empress is the most intelligent and perceptive person."
Although Qin Guan was the first to say such things, it was the Empress who truly saw through her. The Empress recognized her feelings for the Crown Prince, which was why she had favored her from the beginning. With her noble background, temperament, character, and appearance that surpassed all noble daughters, she was more than qualified to be a Crown Princess, even an Empress. But more importantly, she liked the Crown Prince more than anyone else.
She restrained herself with the qualities of a noble lady, then devoted all her affection to Yan Che. Whether she could become Empress in the future or not, her deeper affection for Yan Che would make her care less about family glory and children's honor.
This was the Empress's intention.
Everyone knew the Empress liked and praised her, but she was merely choosing the most suitable person for Yan Che.
Those praises and affections felt cruel to her.
Because the Empress clearly knew that a Crown Princess who entered the Eastern Palace full of love would face nothing but disappointment and pain in the long years to come.
Though she understood everything now, Qin Chaoyu felt no resentment toward the Empress. This Path was her own choice, and she would walk it even through tears. On the contrary, the Empress's sharpness and wisdom surpassed all other consorts, which made her wonder why the Empress had allowed Feng Lingsu to remain favored for so many years.
Yan Zhen took Qin Chaoyu's hand and whispered, "My brother is actually very gentle at heart, he just never shows it. Mother Empress taught him since childhood how to be an emperor. Sister-in-law, my brother will understand someday!"
Though her heart ached, Qin Chaoyu felt somewhat comforted. "I know. Don't tell anyone these words."
Seeing Yan Zhen nod, Qin Chaoyu continued, "Do you really not want to marry into Northern Wei?"
Qin Chaoyu's heartfelt confession had made Yan Zhen lower her guard somewhat. She lowered her eyes and nodded, "I don't want to go."
Qin Chaoyu sighed. Yan Zhen looked up at her and said, "Mother Empress is truly detestable."
Qin Chaoyu was slightly taken aback. Seeing Yan Zhen express her dislike for the Empress so freely, she felt both amused and inexplicably envious. If the Empress hadn't cherished her all these years, how would she dare to be so rebellious?
"Zhen'er, do you... do you think Her Majesty loves you?"
Yan Zhen pouted, "She used to, but now she only wants me to help Crown Prince Brother consolidate his power. To her, I'm just a pawn."
Yan Zhen's marriage to Northern Wei would indeed bring some benefits to Yan Che, but Northern Wei was weaker than Great Zhou. It would be difficult for Northern Wei to interfere in Great Zhou's internal affairs later. Based on Qin Chaoyu's own analysis, someone as wise as the Empress couldn't possibly fail to see this. Yet she still wanted Yan Zhen to marry far away—there must be another reason.If the goal was to consolidate Yan Che's position through Yan Zhen, they could have arranged a marriage alliance with several major ducal households. That would have secured the support of at least half the aristocratic families in the capital for the Crown Prince. Yet Yan Zhen now bore the title of Northern Wei's Crown Princess—even if she were to become Empress someday, her influence would be too distant to be effective. So why did the Empress send her so far away?
Observing Yan Zhen's delicate and charming features, Qin Chaoyu felt a sudden chill run down her spine.
Qin Chaoyu could only grasp the first layer of reasoning: that the Northern Wei Crown Prince was a reliable match, someone the Empress admired and trusted. At the very least, Yan Zhen wouldn't suffer greatly from a husband with poor character or incompetence. As for the second layer...
Qin Chaoyu refused to believe the Empress viewed Yan Zhen as a pawn. She firmly believed the Empress only wanted to protect Yan Zhen more effectively.
Having sheltered Yan Zhen in her palm for over a decade, would she truly send her to Northern Wei now to endure the harshness of exile far from home?
No, the Empress would surely cherish this youngest daughter her entire life...
If so, what threat in the capital could compel the Empress to send even her daughter away?
Qin Chaoyu's expression shifted slightly. "Zhen'er, could you find a way to see Her Majesty?"
Yan Zhen froze, her expression hesitant and awkward. "I... I don't want to see Mother..."
Qin Chaoyu sighed. "Zhen'er, things might not be as you think. I know you still have unresolved feelings, but right now it's me who wishes to see Her Majesty. I can't manage it alone, and His Highness the Crown Prince isn't in a position to plead with His Majesty either. You're our only hope, Zhen'er."
Yan Zhen frowned deeply. "I... Father might not grant my request..."
Qin Chaoyu smiled gently and encouraged, "It's alright, just try. If it doesn't work, we'll drop it."
Yan Zhen looked at Qin Chaoyu in confusion. "Is this about Brother's situation? Is it serious?"
After a moment's thought, Qin Chaoyu nodded. "Yes, somewhat serious."
Hearing this, Yan Zhen clenched her jaw and nodded. "Then I'll try..."
These words brought Qin Chaoyu great comfort. She believed that if Yan Zhen made the request, the Emperor wouldn't refuse. Though the Emperor had many sons, he had only one princess. While he might not appear overly indulgent normally, Qin Chaoyu was certain he would grant any request from this daughter under current circumstances.
As they finished speaking, Moyun announced from outside, "Your Highness, His Highness is approaching!"
Qin Chaoyu nodded and whispered, "Don't mention this to His Highness yet."
Though puzzled, Yan Zhen felt Qin Chaoyu's trust in her and could only nod in agreement.
Soon, Yan Che entered the Warm Chamber. Qin Chaoyu quickly stood and curtseyed. "Your Highness—"
Yan Che acknowledged with a hum, his gaze immediately settling on Yan Zhen. "What brings you here?"
Yan Zhen glanced between Yan Che and the demure Qin Chaoyu, seeming to understand Qin Chaoyu's earlier words more clearly. A complex emotion stirred in her heart as she stepped forward. "Brother hasn't visited me for two days, so I came to see you."
A rare smile touched Yan Che's features as he brushed his hand over Yan Zhen's hair. "It's good that you're willing to move about. Is there anything you'd like to eat? Stay for dinner."
Yan Zhen glanced at Qin Chaoyu and blinked. "I'd like hot pot..."As the weather grew increasingly colder, Yan Zhen's desire for hot pot was quite natural. Outside, the wintry wind howled, yet inside the room, warmth enveloped them like spring. The family gathered around a table, where a bronze pot bubbled with rich, simmering broth. Fresh ingredients were added one by one, then fished out piping hot. With each bite, the entire winter felt warmed. Yan Che readily instructed the attendants outside before asking, "I heard you've been here for quite some time. What were you discussing earlier?"
Yan Che took his seat, and Qin Chaoyu hurriedly served him tea. Yan Zhen watched Qin Chaoyu, feeling rather unsettled. At this moment, Qin Chaoyu seemed as if shackled, her earlier vivacity during conversation entirely gone. Yan Zhen then said, "We were talking about Crown Prince brother-in-law with sister-in-law."
Both Yan Che and Qin Chaoyu turned their gaze to Yan Zhen, who blinked and added, "Sister-in-law mentioned that Crown Prince brother-in-law has been exceptionally busy lately and asked me to visit more often to keep brother company."
Qin Chaoyu hadn't actually said this, though she had discussed other more important matters. She looked at Yan Zhen, understanding that this was Yan Zhen's way of helping her.
Yan Che glanced at Qin Chaoyu and could only reply, "I have been somewhat busy, but it's nothing serious. Rather, it's you who should visit more often."
Yan Zhen raised an eyebrow, "But Crown Prince brother-in-law has no time to accompany me."
Yan Che looked at Qin Chaoyu, "Wouldn't it be nice for your sister-in-law to chat with you?"
Yan Zhen smiled, "Actually, Crown Prince brother-in-law wants me to come keep sister-in-law company, doesn't he?"
Her teasing tone was strong, leaving Yan Che momentarily speechless, while Qin Chaoyu felt her face grow warm with embarrassment.
Yan Che shook his head, "Don't be so frivolous. I just thought you seemed bored stiff in Jingning Palace."
A flicker of disappointment passed through Qin Chaoyu's eyes. Yan Zhen also realized that Yan Che not only lacked romantic sensibility but disliked hearing such topics. Thus, she could only change the subject with Yan Che. The three of them stayed together, with Yan Che and Yan Zhen doing most of the talking while Qin Chaoyu sat quietly listening, not daring to look at Yan Che too often. By evening, the three shared hot pot together, and Qin Chaoyu's quarters finally gained some liveliness. She began to feel grateful to Yan Zhen—without her visit, sharing a meal with Yan Che would have been nearly impossible.
After seeing Yan Zhen off, Yan Che sighed as he looked at Qin Chaoyu, who had been waiting by his side. "I'll stay here tonight."
Qin Chaoyu was momentarily stunned, her heart nearly overflowing with wild joy.
...
...
When Qin Guan arrived at the Shen residence the next day, the pond at Sun Muqing's estate had been completely constructed, complete with artificial rockeries and landscapes—only waiting to be filled with water. Sun Muqing had been awaiting Qin Guan's news, and seeing her arrive knew everything was arranged.
"That's the situation. Let me know which day works for you."
Sun Muqing responded, "Originally, tomorrow or the day after would be fine, but the Crown Prince suddenly requested I stay at Prince Yi's royal residence. He mentioned Prince Yi has been unwell these past few days and asked me to help regulate his health..."
Prince Yi?! Qin Guan expressed surprise, "What's wrong with the prince?"
Sun Muqing hesitated briefly before saying, "I don't know the details yet, but I suspect it might be related to His Highness's alchemical practices."
Prince Yi had an affinity for cultivating the Path and had been engaged in alchemy recently—something Qin Guan was aware of.She couldn't help but frown. Among those who cultivated the Path, many practiced alchemy. Some had strayed from the right path, believing the elixirs they refined could truly grant longevity and immortality. Others merely pursued it as a hobby. Qin Guan had initially assumed Prince Yi fell into the latter category, but could it be that he too believed in such nonsense?
Back in Jinzhou, Qin An had met a tragic end from a similar poison. Though ordinary people might not show immediate effects from consuming such pills, toxins would gradually accumulate in their bodies. Since Yan Ze had asked Sun Muqing to help with recuperation, could it be that Prince Yi's health had already been severely compromised by poisoning?
Not daring to take this lightly, Qin Guan promptly said, "Very well, this matter isn't urgent. Focus on your duties at the royal residence for now. We can discuss it after these next couple of days' affairs are settled."
Sun Muqing felt relieved. "Good. The heir apparent only mentioned this to me this morning. I haven't seen the prince yet - perhaps tomorrow. These past few days, Prince Yi's residence seems quite busy with comings and goings, but I didn't inquire further."
Qin Guan raised an eyebrow. "What's happening at Prince Yi's residence?"
Sun Muqing shook his head. "I don't know exactly. It seems they're preparing some death anniversary for Princess Consort Yi."
Understanding dawned on Qin Guan. She didn't know when Princess Consort Yi had passed away, but given how many years had passed and considering the affection Yan Ze and his son held for her, preparing a death anniversary seemed perfectly normal. Qin Guan asked no further questions. Gazing at the familiar yet unfamiliar courtyard, she didn't linger long at the Shen residence and soon took her leave.
Upon exiting the Shen residence, Qin Guan boarded her carriage and headed directly for the Loyal Marquis Manor. Recently, Hu Shi had become increasingly preoccupied with Qin Guan's marriage arrangements. The manor had already been refurbished for Qin Chaoyu's wedding, and now, not even four months later, they were repainting and renovating again. Qin Guan found this excessively extravagant, but despite mentioning it twice to Hu Shi without being heeded, she had no choice but to drop the matter.
The Crown Prince's situation remained unresolved for the time being, though both Qin Chaoyu and the Crown Prince clearly recognized the problem. Having already spoken plainly with Qin Yan, Qin Guan could do nothing but let events unfold naturally at this point.
As she pondered these matters, the carriage arrived at the entrance of Loyal Marquis Manor, where she unexpectedly spotted Zhan Yang waiting at the manor gates.
Seeing Qin Guan's carriage return, Zhan Yang immediately rode forward. Qin Guan quickly asked, "What brings Constable Zhan here?"
Zhan Yang glanced around as if he had something important to say. "My lady, Magistrate Li came to the yamen yesterday."
Qin Guan's heart skipped a beat. First, she wondered why Zhan Yang would come to inform her about Li Muyun's activities... Meeting Zhan Yang's gaze, she saw no suspicion or probing in his eyes. Still, she didn't dare take this lightly and merely pressed her lips together without speaking. Zhan Yang continued, "He also retrieved the case files for Ning Buyi's investigation to review. Moreover, he asked whether you had inquired about this matter again..."
Qin Guan's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
Zhan Yang went on, "I didn't mention your previous visit, but remembering that you'd asked about Magistrate Li before, I thought you might want to know this news."
Qin Guan stared intently at Zhan Yang, ensuring his visit contained no element of testing her. Only then did she turn her thoughts to Li Muyun. Why would Li Muyun suddenly review Ning Buyi's case files again? Because he discovered she had visited that residence?
Or because of their conversation that day?!Li Muyun had inquired about her, clearly having grown suspicious of her!
Qin Guan's heart raced wildly. It took her a long moment before she managed to ask, "Did Lord Li say anything else?"
Zhan Yang shook his head, "Not really. With the year-end approaching, the Court of Judicial Review is quite busy. I heard Lord Li has been occupied these days with compiling and reviewing major cases from this year. It was precisely because of this that I found it strange when Lord Li suddenly came to the prefectural office."
Indeed, it was strange. Qin Guan narrowed her eyes—it seemed her decision to follow Li Muyun had been right!
Seeing Qin Guan lost in thought, Zhan Yang suddenly recalled something and added, "Oh, there's one more thing. Lord Li also sent his attendant to ask about something."
Qin Guan immediately looked up at Zhan Yang, who continued, "He asked who had purchased the former Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Shen Yi's old residence."
Qin Guan's pupils trembled, and a thought flashed through her mind like lightning.
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