Thinking that only Hu Shi remained in the Marquis' residence, Qin Guan did not linger long at Prince Rui's royal residence. By the time she returned to the Marquis' residence, Qin Shu and his two sons had not yet come back.
Hu Shi was on the verge of collapse. Upon hearing that Qin Guan had returned, she immediately sent someone to summon her.
When Qin Guan arrived at the Warm Chamber, Hu Shi grabbed her hand and asked, "Guan'er, how did it go?"
Qin Guan guided Hu Shi to sit down. Seeing her pale complexion, she felt a pang of sympathy. After a brief hesitation, Qin Guan said, "The situation is quite serious. I will tell you, Aunt, but you must remain calm." After speaking, she glanced at the maids standing guard at the door.
Hearing that the situation was serious, Hu Shi's heart skipped a beat. Noticing Qin Guan's meaningful look, she understood her intention.
Hu Shi immediately said, "All of you, step back…"
Seeing this, Granny Yu personally dismissed the servants, closed the door, and stood guard outside.
Qin Guan composed herself and said, "Last night… Kunning Palace and the Eastern Palace caught fire one after the other…"
Hu Shi's eyelids twitched. "What?! Is Chao Yu alright?!"
Qin Guan smiled bitterly. "Aunt, the fire is not the main issue. The key point is… after the fire, the Empress, His Highness the Crown Prince, and Eighth Sister all went missing."
Hu Shi's eyes widened. "Missing?"
Qin Guan nodded. "Yes, which means they have left the palace."
Hu Shi's eyes grew wider and wider, clearly not expecting things to unfold this way. After all, she came from a noble family and quickly understood why Qin Shu and his two sons had been taken to the palace and why the entire city was under lockdown. Hu Shi sat upright, unable to speak for a long while. At one point, her eyelids fluttered, and she collapsed backward.
Qin Guan's expression changed. She hurriedly supported Hu Shi and pinched the philtrum below her nose. "Aunt?!"
Hu Shi trembled and caught her breath, slowly opening her eyes. Tears and fear welled in her eyes. "Why… why would the Empress and the Crown Prince leave the palace?"
Qin Guan pressed her lips together, refraining from voicing the unspoken suspicion they both shared. Seeing this, the last glimmer of hope in Hu Shi's eyes vanished, and she closed her eyes in agony. "My Chao Yu… my Chao Yu…"
Hu Shi murmured while beating her chest, overwhelmed with grief. Qin Guan sighed inwardly and could only say, "Aunt, not many people know about this. Since Uncle was not involved, he should be safe for now. You must stay strong."
Hu Shi felt as if her last ounce of strength had been drained.
The Empress and the Crown Prince's actions hinted at rebellion. Since Qin Chaoyu had left with the Crown Prince, the Marquis' residence could not avoid being implicated.
When the Marquis' residence would face punishment was merely a matter of the Emperor's mood. If Qin Chaoyu, the Empress, and the others were captured by the Emperor, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Hu Shi couldn't hold back a sob. The Empress and the Crown Prince had taken an irreversible step—no matter what, there would be no good outcome.
"Where… where are the Empress and the others now?" Hu Shi asked, her voice trembling.
Qin Guan shook her head. "No one knows at the moment."
Hu Shi wiped the corner of her eye. "What… what are we to do? How did the Empress and the Crown Prince come to this? Although there were rumors in the court about deposing the Crown Prince, the Emperor had not yet made a statement. There was still room for redemption. Why did the Empress have to go this far?!"Anyone with eyes could see this was undoubtedly the Empress's scheme—the Crown Prince lacked the nerve for such boldness.
Hu Shi didn't know whether to feel fear or resentment. "Even if the Crown Prince were truly deposed, what of it? That would still be better than reaching this point. Fleeing the palace privately is one thing, but if the Empress truly intends to... then what chance is left for redemption..."
Had it not been for that secret, the Empress likely wouldn't have resorted to such extremes. Yet Qin Guan couldn't explain this to Hu Shi, so she could only stay by her side, offering soft words of comfort.
Night fell, but there was still no news of Qin Shu and his sons. Granny Yu brought the evening meal, but Hu Shi had no appetite. Qin Guan accompanied her in picking at a few bites before they remained in the Warm Chamber for another half-hour. As the hour grew late and Qin Guan prepared to return to Pine Breeze Courtyard, sudden news arrived from the gatehouse!
"Madam! The Marquis and the others have returned..."
Hu Shi's face lit up with joy as she hastily pulled Qin Guan outside. Soon, Qin Shu arrived with Qin Yan and Qin Ye in tow.
At the sight of Qin Shu, Hu Shi's eyes reddened instantly. "My Lord..."
After being detained in the palace for two days and a night, Qin Shu seemed to have aged ten years. His face was etched with exhaustion and sorrow, and he merely shook his head wordlessly at Hu Shi. Behind him, Qin Ye and Qin Yan both bore dark circles under their eyes. Having endured such prolonged anxiety, Hu Shi was at least relieved to see the three men return safely. She immediately instructed Granny Yu to prepare hot water for their ablutions and ordered food to be served. Qin Shu remained largely silent, his bloodshot eyes radiating profound dejection. Even when seated at the dining table, he still hadn't spoken. Seeing him in such a state brought fresh tears to Hu Shi's eyes.
Qin Yan and Qin Ye weren't as visibly affected as Qin Shu, yet they too remained silent. The three men ate sparingly. Only after the servants cleared the dishes and served tea did Qin Shu finally release a long sigh. Hu Shi couldn't help stepping forward. "My Lord, what of the Empress and the Crown Prince..."
Qin Shu closed his eyes. "This time, I fear our Marquisate is doomed."
Hu Shi staggered, and Qin Yan quickly steadied her. Glancing at Qin Guan, who had been keeping vigil nearby, Qin Yan's gaze held gratitude. "We thank Ninth Sister for these past two days."
In truth, Qin Guan hadn't been able to do much—no one could under such circumstances.
Tears welling in her eyes, Hu Shi looked at Qin Shu. "My Lord, what do we do now?"
Qin Shu sighed. "From now on, the Marquisate will close its gates and decline all visitors."
Hu Shi parted her lips, wanting to ask about Qin Chaoyu, but clearly this wasn't the time. Even if she asked, she could guess Qin Shu's answer. She simply nodded. Qin Shu then glanced at Qin Guan. "Guan'er's wedding is approaching. In the coming days, focus on preparing for it properly."
Hu Shi had no heart for other matters now, but since Qin Shu had given the order, she had no choice but to comply.
Qin Shu had no desire to speak further and dismissed them all to rest.
Qin Shu and Hu Shi returned to the main residence together, while Qin Guan and the two brothers headed out.
Qin Yan wore a grave expression and said nothing, but Qin Ye, walking behind, appeared considerably more composed. Qin Guan studied Qin Ye for a moment, whereupon he smiled at her. "Ninth Sister is to be married soon. These days, set your heart at ease and prepare for the wedding."
Qin Guan felt an indescribable unease, for Qin Ye's demeanor was far too calm.Upon returning to Pine Breeze Courtyard, Qin Guan began contemplating the future of the Marquis' household. Though Yan Chi had mentioned waiting until the grand wedding, with over ten days remaining until the ceremony, could they truly wait peacefully until then?
...
...
After performing needle therapy for the Empress Dowager, Qin Guan noticed some relief in her condition. Just past noon the following day, Mammy Chen entered with a grave expression. "Your Highness, something has been reported by the palace staff, and I believe you should be informed."
The Empress Dowager looked at her questioningly. Mammy Chen continued, "The servants say there's been an incident with Consort Feng. Early this morning, Prince Cheng went to the Imperial Observatory to request Taoist priests perform a ritual at Changxin Palace. They claim... Consort Feng seems to have been touched by something unclean."
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager's brow furrowed deeply. "Touched by something unclean?"
In these turbulent times, she hadn't expected Feng Lingsu to cause such trouble at this critical juncture.
Mammy Chen nodded. "Yes, they say Consort Feng has been behaving erratically lately - her speech disordered, unable to sleep at night, plagued by nightmares when she does. It's quite sinister. The Taoist priests from the Imperial Observatory have already gone to Changxin Palace."
"With Imperial Observatory priests constantly guarding the palace, how could there be anything unclean?"
Though many had died within the palace walls, the Empress Dowager detested hearing servants discuss supernatural matters - sightings of former masters, possessions, hauntings, or lingering spirits. Anyone caught spreading such rumors faced execution by beating!
Mammy Chen sighed. "I don't know about that, but since it was reported here, I didn't dare make decisions independently."
Frowning, the Empress Dowager felt both physically unwell and preoccupied with more important matters. How could she spare attention for Feng Lingsu? "Have someone keep watch to prevent major disruptions. I have no time to deal with her now."
Mammy Chen quickly nodded. "Don't worry, I don't wish to trouble you with this either..."
The Empress Dowager sighed suddenly. "What is the Emperor doing?"
Mammy Chen's expression shifted as she stepped closer, lowering her voice. "His Majesty has ordered Commander Lin to conduct city-wide searches."
The Empress Dowager's eyes darkened further. Gazing at the snow outside the window, she suddenly asked, "What do you think of Empress Shu Hua?"
Mammy Chen glanced outside, ensuring the door was guarded before sighing and pulling up a stool beside the Empress Dowager. As she massaged the older woman's legs, she said, "Though Empress Shu Hua was originally chosen by the late Consort Zhao, if I may speak truly, she shares some qualities with you. Both your temperaments are truly most suited for reigning as mother of the nation. Among the palace consorts, too few possess both virtue and talent, with truly resilient spirits and broad minds. Some might excel outside the palace, but once entering, their natures change - either competing for favor or withdrawing from society, often making mistakes. Both you and Empress Shu Hua have exceptional vision, perhaps because you both come from military families."People in high positions usually dislike being compared to others, yet when Mammy Chen spoke these words, the Empress Dowager showed no trace of displeasure. In her heart, she actually agreed wholeheartedly. The Empress Dowager admired Zhao Shuhua and even felt they shared many similarities, but she never expected Zhao Shuhua would take things this far.
"If back then, the late Emperor had not chosen the current Emperor as the Heir Apparent, but had instead selected Yan Lin or Yan Xiang, what do you think I would have done?"
The Empress now faced the predicament of the Crown Prince possibly being deposed. Placing herself in this dilemma, the Empress Dowager posed this question.
Upon hearing this, Mammy Chen replied, "This servant guesses that if Your Highness encountered such a situation, you would likely employ some tactics—either exposing the faults of others or aligning with court factions to influence the Emperor's thoughts. However, this servant believes Your Highness would not resort to secretly fleeing the palace."
The Empress Dowager nodded. "Indeed, whether it were Che'er or Han'er, even if they didn't become Emperor, they would still have their own fiefdoms. And the candidate chosen by the late Emperor wouldn't be much worse than either of them. Even if we ultimately failed in the struggle, as long as we tried our best, I would have no regrets. But I would never go as far as Shuhua did. Her actions have plunged the Crown Prince into irredeemable ruin, and the entire Zhao Clan will follow in the footsteps of the former Fu Clan."
Although the two Zhao generals were stationed in the border regions, many Zhao clansmen remained in the capital. By now, the Zhao Clan had grown formidable, and its honor and disgrace were not solely dependent on the Protector-General's household. Among these collateral branches were court officials and wealthy merchants—all supporting the prestige of the Protector-General's household, ensuring the Zhao Clan's continued prosperity and dignity for generations.
Yet now, the Empress's actions had completely severed the Zhao Clan's honor.
The Empress Dowager shook her head again. "I can't understand it, A'Chen. Do you think she has some hidden hardship?"
Mammy Chen smiled bitterly. "Over the years, although the Empress has been somewhat distant, she has always been deeply devoted to the Crown Prince and had long been making plans. This servant cannot see any hardship she might have... however... the Empress doesn't seem like someone who would disregard the greater good for her own ambitions."
The Empress Dowager frowned slightly. The Empress did have ambition and could even be considered a skilled political operator well-versed in court affairs. Yet she possessed the magnanimity of a mother to the nation. Though she exercised considerable control over Yan Che, the tutors she appointed for him over the years were mostly Confucian masters who emphasized "benevolence and virtue." If she were entirely consumed by the pursuit of fame and gain, she would not have stood by as the Crown Prince gradually lost his edge. The more the Empress Dowager thought about it, the more perplexed she became.
"It's a pity I cannot meet with her. If I could, I would truly like to ask her."
Mammy Chen sighed. "The Empress is still within the capital..."
If the Empress were captured, the Empress Dowager could indeed ask her. Yet the Empress Dowager said, "I actually hope she isn't apprehended. But if she truly resolves to break with the Emperor, then I must blame her. The Great Zhou Dynasty has endured for over two hundred years, and now with powerful enemies surrounding us, we cannot withstand the flames of civil war."
The Northern Garrison Army was the Empress's reliance. Having come from a military family herself, the Empress Dowager could well imagine the Empress's next moves. But she fervently hoped the Empress would not go down that path.The events of twenty years ago remain vivid in her mind. The Empress Dowager had no desire to repeat past mistakes. Back then, it was a struggle between brothers; this time, it was a conflict between father and son.
How could the Empress?! How could she entertain such thoughts?!
Mammy Chen added, "Your Highness, the Crown Princess has also left with them this time..."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes. "Chao Yu... truly cares for Che'er. The Empress favored Chao Yu from the start precisely for this reason."
Mammy Chen showed a hint of surprise. "How did you discern that?"
The Empress Dowager smiled bitterly. "I, too, harbored such feelings in my youth. How could I not recognize them? Back then, why did I agree to let Consort Zhao choose Shuhua? It was because I could see Shuhua had some genuine affection for Huai'er. Mothers are inherently selfish. Even knowing that a woman who enters the inner court with too sincere a heart is bound to suffer, we still hope our children will have a few truly devoted companions by their side. I chose Shuhua for this reason, and Shuhua chose Chao Yu for the same."
As she spoke, an inexplicable sense of unease flickered faintly in the Empress Dowager's heart.
Yes, she remembered now. Back then, Zhao Shuhua greatly admired Prince Luo, Yan Huai. But later, why did the Emperor stop visiting Kunning Palace altogether? And why did Zhao Shuhua grow cold toward the Emperor? Now, the situation had escalated beyond control.
The Empress Dowager's heart raced wildly. She began to suspect that Zhao Shuhua might indeed have some hidden, unbearable reason for her actions.
And that possibly nonexistent reason had already stirred a profound disquiet within her.
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