Snowflakes fell densely upon Qin Guan's shoulders with the cold wind, while Baiying held an umbrella beside her. The mistress and servant walked very slowly.
The overnight snow had draped the imperial palace in a layer of white silk. Within the deep palace walls where the atmosphere was particularly oppressive and silent, Qin Guan felt somewhat suffocated.
Today, the imperial guards in the palace had noticeably increased. They patrolled back and forth, casting extra glances when they encountered Qin Guan. As she reached the second ceremonial gate, Qin Guan turned her gaze toward the direction of Kunning Palace. The usually brilliant glazed roof ridge now appeared charred black.
Withdrawing her gaze, Qin Guan proceeded toward the Longevity and Health Palace.
Today, the Longevity and Health Palace appeared no different from usual. However, when Qin Guan saw Mammy Chen, the elderly woman seemed to have aged several years overnight. She bowed in greeting and sighed, "You've arrived, County Princess. Please don't enter just yet. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager didn't sleep all night and has just closed her eyes."
Qin Guan paused her steps and nodded, "Momma, your complexion doesn't look well either."
Mammy Chen let out a long exhale, her entire spirit seeming to deflate. Deep worry filled her eyes, making her gaze appear much more desolate.
Qin Guan knew she couldn't ask too many questions, but with such a major incident occurring—especially with Qin Chaoyu also missing—she felt extremely uneasy. Although she wasn't the real Ninth Miss, since coming to the capital and residing in the Marquis' residence, she had genuinely received care from Qin Shu and his wife. By reason and sentiment, she couldn't turn a blind eye.
"Momma, last night... did His Majesty come?" Qin Guan changed the subject at the last moment, inquiring about the Emperor.
Mammy Chen shook her head, "He did not. His Majesty likely cannot attend to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's side at this time."
Seeing the hesitation in Qin Guan's eyes, Mammy Chen understood her concerns and sighed, "County Princess, don't worry. As long as this matter has no direct connection with the Marquis' residence, it won't endanger the household in the short term. However... it still depends on what the Empress and Crown Prince plan to do."
Yes, it depended on the plans of the Empress and Crown Prince. If they merely left the palace, it might remain an unresolved case. No law in Great Zhou forbade the Empress and Crown Prince from leaving the palace—at most, it would be considered defiance of imperial orders. But if they intended to do something else, the outcome would be entirely different.
The lineage of Prince Gong served as the best example.
Thinking of this, an uncontrollable chill rose again in Qin Guan's heart.
She thought of Yan Sui and quickly asked, "What about the Ninth Prince?"
Mammy Chen looked toward where Yan Sui resided, "The Ninth Prince has been very well-behaved today, staying in his own room."
No matter what happened, Yan Sui always remained well-behaved. Qin Guan said, "Then I'll go see the Ninth Prince. If Her Majesty the Empress Dowager wakes, please come fetch me, Momma."
Mammy Chen nodded, and Qin Guan went to find Yan Sui.
Yan Sui was indeed in his room. His small body leaned against the windowsill as he reached out trying to catch the snowflakes outside. The sound of the door opening startled him. Turning around and seeing it was Qin Guan who entered, his face immediately lit up with delight. He climbed down from the windowsill and pattered quickly toward Qin Guan.
"Why have you come? Is it because of Grandmother Empress Dowager's illness?"
Qin Guan's feelings toward Yan Sui were complex. Previously, when she and Yan Chi suspected the Emperor, they couldn't believe the Emperor would kill Consort Jin. In their view, there was no reason for the already supreme Emperor to commit murder.
But after seeing that dagger, Qin Guan suddenly understood.If the Emperor were truly Prince Luo, he indeed wouldn't fear a mere consort.
But if he isn't—if there exists a secret potent enough to topple him from the imperial throne and upheave the entire Great Zhou Dynasty—then he's capable of any atrocity, even against his most favored consort.
The servants of Xuanji Pavilion mentioned that before the incident, Consort Jin frequently borrowed paintings to view, even works depicting the Emperor's princely days before his ascension.
Consort Jin, a talented lady from Jiangnan well-versed in calligraphy and painting, must have uncovered something—perhaps even this dagger—and grew terrified. She likely wished for Yan Sui to leave the palace, yet ultimately, she couldn't escape her fate.
Qin Guan gently patted Yan Sui's head. "Yes, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is unwell, and I'm here to treat her."
Yan Sui gazed at Qin Guan with wide, hopeful eyes. "Grandmother will get better, right?"
Qin Guan forced a faint smile. "Yes, she will. What were you doing earlier? It's cold outside; you should close the window."
As she spoke, Qin Guan stepped forward to shut the window. Turning around, she found Yan Sui standing behind her. "There was a fire last night—a big one."
Though Qin Guan hadn't witnessed the previous night's events, the sight of Kunning Palace's roof told her the commotion had been significant. She took Yan Sui's hand and sat down with him. "Were you frightened?"
Yan Sui shook his head, then looked at Qin Guan intently. "Why?"
The question made Qin Guan's heart skip a beat, as if Yan Sui knew she understood the truth.
Qin Guan gave a bitter smile. "I don't know about that. Don't trouble yourself with such matters. You probably won't need to attend lessons these next few days. When the Empress Dowager wakes, spend more time with her. Otherwise, practice calligraphy in your room, alright?"
Yan Sui murmured an agreement but added, "There are many guards outside."
Sensing Yan Sui's deep unease, Qin Guan leaned in to comfort him. Seeing his innocent face, her heart grew heavy. She didn't know what the Empress was planning, but regarding last year's case, the Emperor was the primary culprit. Though she was determined to seek revenge, facing the reality of the Emperor's guilt left her feeling powerless and fearful. If one day the Emperor stood before her and she held a dagger, could she truly strike?
Yan Sui's clear, trusting eyes, so full of innocence, made her hesitate.
As her thoughts tangled in turmoil, a knock came at the door. It was Momma Su's voice. "Your Highness, My Lady, Prince Gong has arrived."
Qin Guan's spine stiffened instantly. Thinking of Yan Li, she recalled the strange feeling she had that day—no wonder she thought Yan Li and Yan Sui resembled each other. Now that she knew the secret, it all made sense.
When Yan Li entered, Qin Guan's smile felt strained.
Yan Li also looked troubled. Seeing Qin Guan, he said, "Is Grandmother's condition too fragile for shocks? Last night's events... Ah..."
Qin Guan took a shallow breath before asking, "What exactly happened last night?"
Yan Li approached, first patting Yan Sui's head before replying, "Last night... the Empress and Crown Prince left the palace, along with the Crown Princess."
In Yan Li's presence, Qin Guan saw no need to hide the truth and added, "My uncle, as well as my third and fourth brothers, were all brought into the palace."
"Likely to investigate any connection to this matter, but I suspect they're uninvolved. If so, they probably won't be charged for now."Although Yan Li said this, Qin Guan still felt uneasy. "The capital was under lockdown yesterday, so... were they searching for the Empress and the Crown Prince?"
Yan Li nodded, remaining silent for a moment. Qin Guan's heart sank. The Empress must have made arrangements long ago—her departure with the Crown Prince was far from a simple escape from the palace. Over the years, she had always intended for the Crown Prince to ascend the throne, ensuring the legitimate succession of the imperial line. Yet, who could have foreseen that the Emperor's decision to appoint an heir a year ago was merely a strategic move to consolidate power, or perhaps even a test of the Empress's intentions?
Yan Chi had previously remarked on the Emperor's profound cunning—a ruler well-versed in the Imperial Arts. How could the Empress and the Crown Prince possibly contend with such an adversary?
At this thought, Qin Guan suddenly shuddered. But the Empress commanded the Northern Garrison Army!
Though stationed far in the north, a thousand miles from the capital, once the Empress and the Crown Prince reached the territory guarded by the Northern Garrison Army...
Qin Guan dared not dwell on it further. If she continued down this Path, what fate would await the Marquis household?
"Don't worry too much. With Grandmother and Aunt here, you'll be safe. And there's Seventh Brother too," Yan Li reassured her.
Qin Guan could only force a bitter smile. The Emperor had tolerated Yan Li and his mother thus far, but now that the Empress and Crown Prince had fled, he would surely conclude they had uncovered the truth of past events. The Emperor would spare no effort to eliminate them, and she and Yan Chi must not expose themselves under any circumstances.
Realizing the capital was no longer a safe haven, Qin Guan looked at Yan Li with a wry smile. Yan Li likely remained unaware that his own father was still alive. All these years, as the Emperor watched Yan Li and his mother endure such hardship, what thoughts had crossed his mind?
A chill crept up from Qin Guan's feet, and cold sweat beaded layer upon layer in her palms.
She had truly underestimated the Emperor's ruthlessness.
"Are you all right? You seem pale," Yan Li asked.
Qin Guan shook her head. "It's nothing. I'll go check if the Empress Dowager has woken."
With that, Qin Guan stepped out. As she reached the main hall, the Empress Dowager had just awakened. Mammy Chen was about to summon Qin Guan when she saw her arrive and promptly invited her inside. Entering the inner chamber, Qin Guan felt as though the Empress Dowager had aged ten years overnight.
Devoid of her usual vigor, the Empress Dowager sat propped against the headboard, her graying hair slightly disheveled, her entire being resembling withered wood.
Qin Guan's nose tingled with sorrow. "Empress Dowager?"
She spoke softly, yet the Empress Dowager started at the sound. Turning and seeing Qin Guan, her expression softened. "Child, you've come."
Qin Guan approached to pay respects and offered to check her pulse. The Empress Dowager wordlessly extended her hand, her gaze desolately fixed beyond the window. "It's snowing. Winter has truly arrived. Such heavy snow is rare in the capital. In the blink of an eye, another year has passed..."
Her tone was listless. After taking her pulse, Qin Guan inwardly grew alarmed but maintained a calm demeanor. "Yes, it's snowing—the first snowfall. In a few days, the plum blossoms in the Imperial Garden will bloom. Shall I accompany you to see them then?"
Having finished the examination, Qin Guan tugged the Brocade quilt higher, tucking it securely around the Empress Dowager's upper body.
The Empress Dowager smiled faintly at this, then suddenly asked, "Have you prepared your dowry?"Qin Guan nodded, "It's all prepared. The dowry was ready just a few days after Your Majesty sent the betrothal gifts. I went to take a look—it fills several storerooms, even more substantial than Eighth Sister's dowry back then. Everyone in the household says I'm blessed."
The Empress Dowager smiled, "You are blessed indeed. Kind-hearted people always receive blessings."
After chatting with the Empress Dowager for a while, Yan Li and Yan Sui arrived. Qin Guan rose to prepare a prescription. Mammy Chen followed her anxiously to the Warm Chamber to fetch writing materials, fretting along the way, "Your Ladyship, how is she? Last night, Her Majesty vomited blood..."
Qin Guan glanced back to ensure no one was listening before stopping. "The situation isn't good. I need to prescribe a rather potent formula. After taking it, Her Majesty may experience feverish sweating. She must be served warming and heat-clearing meals—absolutely no chill exposure or fasting."
Mammy Chen understood, her eyes reddening. The Empress Dowager's health had always been frail, and last night's episode heightened everyone's concerns.
After Qin Guan finished the prescription, Mammy Chen sent someone to decoct the medicine. Just then, the Grand Princess and Yue Ning arrived, having heard about the previous night's events and coming specifically to check. At the sight of the Empress Dowager, the Grand Princess's eyes welled up. She dismissed the younger generation, remaining alone with the Empress Dowager. Once outside, Yue Ning pulled Qin Guan aside and asked, "Is it true the Empress and Crown Prince have vanished?"
Qin Guan nodded, "With such commotion, it must be so."
Yue Ning frowned, scanning their surroundings before whispering, "This morning, the Emperor issued an order."
Qin Guan looked at her questioningly. Yue Ning lowered her voice, "He sent a secret decree to Jinzhou, commanding my father to march north with the seventy thousand garrison troops stationed there."
Qin Guan's pupils trembled. Yue Ning's expression turned grave. "The Empress's father commands the Northern Garrison Army, and Little General Zhao has long been stationed there. The Fifth Princess is already married and likely reached the border between Great Zhou and Northern Wei by now. The Empress chose this moment to leave the palace—clearly heading north. This morning, the Emperor dispatched numerous secret orders. All northern garrisons are being repositioned. Before today ends, he'll probably send someone to strip General Zhao of his military authority."
After unloading this burden, Yue Ning exhaled deeply as if relieved of a great secret, then added solemnly, "If General Zhao surrenders his command, all may be well. But if he refuses... or worse, follows Prince Gong's example from years past... Great Zhou will descend into chaos. The hundred thousand Northern Garrison Army has defended the border for decades, and General Zhao's faction has countless protégés and allies—their influence rivals even the Northwest Frontier Army. If he rebels, the Emperor will face dire straits..."
Yue Ning, born into a military family and naturally keen on martial affairs, understood these matters acutely. She sighed, "Your wedding is imminent—this timing is disastrous... The Empress's ambition knows no bounds. The court hasn't even resolved the Crown Prince's deposition turmoil, and she makes such a move. If the Northern Garrison Army rebels, the Marquis's estate will be in peril. The crime of treason warrants extermination of nine clans."
Qin Guan's heart quivered. Not only did treason carry extermination of nine clans—the Emperor would also eliminate anyone who knew that secret.
Qin Chaoyu had already taken that step. What about her?Even if she lacked the strength to oppose the emperor, could she truly live a life of cowardice, carrying this secret with her forever?
She could not, and neither could Yan Chi—neither of them were the type to cling to life in disgrace.
Qin Guan looked at Yue Ning and suddenly realized that the day of their next parting might not be far away.
OpenNovel