Wаnwan listenеd, еасh wоrd clear аnd distinсt. Yin Ge had nоt exресtеd hеr tо comе to the Western Sea, sо thе cоnversаtiоn bеtwеen hеr аnd hеr sеrvаnt girl likelу held no deсеptiоn.
So that was it—sеnding his own cоncubine tо sеduсе thе еmрeror, рlаying thе rоlе of оne whо еndures humiliatiоn fоr a grеater cаuse, sacrifiсing а bit оf faсe in exсhаngе for thе bеnеfits оf mаrrуing a рrinсess. Whаt a сlever sсhemе indееd!
She hаd оriginаllу believed him, sеeing him endure the cоld in the wind and snow, thinking hе was sincеre tоwаrd her. Whо would have guessed that after all this, the truth turned out to be like this?
Her hand resting on the low table clenched tightly into a fist, trembling uncontrollably with anger. Tong Huan, fearing she would harm herself in distress, watched her with deep concern. At this moment, any words of comfort seemed feeble—her pain was visceral, and no one could bear it for her.
Wanwan felt heartbroken. Looking back now, all her inner turmoil seemed laughable. She had long been someone else’s prey, yet she had still felt pity for him and made excuses on his behalf.
She stood up, and Tong Huan moved to support her, but she pushed her away. Straightening her skirt, she walked directly into the rear hall. With a wave of her hand, the curtains on the dragon-and-phoenix floor screen billowed high. The person behind the curtains turned and saw her, startled so severely that her face instantly turned deathly pale.
Wanwan’s gaze shifted downward, settling on the woman’s slightly swollen abdomen. “And you even aspire to make him crown prince? How lofty your ambitions are!”
Yin Ge fell to her knees with a thud, clutching the floor as she kowtowed repeatedly. “This servant… this servant spoke recklessly. Your Highness must not take it seriously. This servant did not know… did not know Your Highness had arrived and failed to greet you. Please forgive this servant’s offense…”
Wanwan’s heart had turned cold, and her words naturally carried a chill. She let out a scornful laugh. “In our dynasty, it is forbidden to discuss the succession rashly. Even the imperial harem dares not entertain such presumptuous thoughts, let alone someone like you! If the words you just spoke were brought to light, I fear even The Emperor would not be able to protect you.”
Yin Ge was terrified out of her wits. She had always known that this young mistress, though quiet and unassuming, understood everything perfectly. Just recalling the words Wanwan had spoken to The Emperor in the Imperial Garden last time—even The Emperor later spoke of her with a hint of trepidation—Yin Ge knew that falling into her hands now would bring nothing but trouble.
Dizzy and confused, she tried to recall what exactly she had said earlier. As she pondered, a cold sweat broke out on her back. She might not care who became empress or crown prince, but could she be so magnanimous about matters closely tied to her own marriage? Yin Ge glanced at the servant girl beside her, who was already kneeling and trembling uncontrollably. There was no hope of her seeking help from The Emperor now. In such a situation, if the Princess Royal wished to deal with her, she, a woman without status or title, would be entirely at her mercy!
She kowtowed repeatedly. “I beg Your Highness… I beg Your Highness, for the sake of the child in my womb, spare me this once. No matter how wrong I am, the child is innocent…”
Wanwan looked down at her with contempt, her voice icy. “You need not use the child to curry favor. There are over ten legitimate princes in the palace—I am in no shortage of nephews. Listen well: I may spare your life, but you had better tell the truth. Were the words you just spoke true? Was your relationship with The Emperor truly arranged by the Prince of Nanyuan?”Yin Ge’s head felt as heavy as a boulder; this matter seemed to have reached a dead end, and any answer carried risks. If she exposed the Prince of Nanyuan, she had no idea how he would deal with her in the future. If she tried to deceive the Princess Royal now, not only might the princess do something ruthless in her anger, but just the thought of Xiao Duo backing her up was enough to send shivers down Yin Ge’s spine.
She prostrated herself on the ground, weeping uncontrollably. “Your Highness, I am but a worthless person, shallow in judgment and careless with my words. In a moment of pride, I spoke without thinking, merely to elevate my own status. Why must Your Highness take such idle talk seriously? Now that you ask me to explain, I cannot provide a clear account—it is all my own one-sided words. How can I give you a proper explanation?”
“That is nothing but evasion,” Wanwan replied. “Now that you have achieved your goal, you should be flattering the powerful and trampling on the weak. The Prince of Nanyuan is your former master, and a former master is no match for a new one. Yet you did not look down on him; instead, you praised his cunning. What is the logic in that?” As Wanwan asked these questions, her reasoning was clear, but deep down, she already had an inkling of the truth. Still, she was unwilling to accept it, unable to believe she had fallen into someone else’s trap. The world was too complex—people’s faces could be known, but their hearts could not. If someone said he was skilled in maneuvering, she could believe it, but to go so far as to offer up his own concubine? Not only had he deceived her, but he had also manipulated the emperor as if playing with a puppet in his palm. How utterly audacious!
Yin Ge was an insignificant pawn, and Wanwan knew it. It was hard to say who was using whom; at most, they were accomplices in a wicked scheme. If the Prince of Nanyuan was truly so formidable, even if she were given the courage, she would not dare to expose him outright. So, Wanwan changed her approach, probing indirectly: “If you are unwilling to speak, I will not force you. I will only ask you one question: Whose idea was it for you to come to the capital for the Mid-Autumn Festival?”
This was already showing leniency. Yin Ge understood that if she continued to stubbornly resist, she might not survive until tomorrow. After weighing her options, she had no choice but to relent, trembling as she replied, “Your Highness, it was… the Prince of Nanyuan’s idea.”
Yes, that made sense. Wanwan and Yin Lou had never been close, so why would Yin Lou go out of her way to send Yin Ge here, only to be met with cold indifference? Since it was the Prince of Nanyuan who wanted her to accompany him, everything fell into place.
Wanwan stood with her sleeves hanging down, as if she had just fought a fierce battle. The inner garment on her back was soaked with sweat. Her situation had become extremely awkward. The imperial decree of betrothal had already been announced to the world, and breaking off the engagement would only make her a laughingstock. Even if Yin Ge was bait set by the Prince of Nanyuan to marry a princess, the emperor had taken the bait, and Yin Ge was now pregnant—these were facts that could not be changed. Therefore, she could only move forward, not backward, because the emperor would never allow it under any circumstances.
She left the Hall of Supreme Simplicity and looked up, letting snowflakes fall on her face without feeling the cold. Tong Huan held an umbrella for her and cautiously asked, “What does Your Highness plan to do next?”
Wanwan looked north, where she could vaguely make out the upturned eaves of the Northern Pond. She tightened her cloak and said, “Head north to see the emperor.”
The emperor’s meditation took a long time. She waited there for a full two hours, neither forcing her way in to request an audience nor showing any significant emotional turmoil. Tong Huan remained deeply worried, fearing that Wanwan might lose control at this moment and escalate the situation beyond repair. Yet, it seemed as if Wanwan had matured in an instant, having already cultivated the composure befitting a member of the imperial family. She no longer needed any reminders.
With her hands tucked into her sleeves, Wanwan stood in the corridor, gazing at the sky. “How many days has it been snowing?”Tong Huan said, "Today is already the fourth day."
She sighed, "The rain and snow are too heavy today, I fear more disaster reports will reach the capital." After a pause, she asked, "How many days until the New Year?"
Tong Huan forced a smile, "Xiao You is already preparing the Laba porridge. Today is the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, so there are still over twenty days until the New Year."
She uttered an "oh," nodding slowly. Time passed so quickly, year after year, all wasted.
Finally, the Emperor's voice came from behind her. She turned to look—he was wearing a cloud-patterned brocade robe, barefoot, with his hair loose. If he had a sword at his waist, he would somewhat resemble Lü Dongbin. He stood at the door, beckoning, "Come, come, isn't it cold outside? You'll catch another illness."
Wanwan entered the place where he meditated. The sandalwood incense was too strong, mixed with the hearth fire atmosphere of the candles, bringing tears to her eyes.
The Emperor rolled up his sleeves to wipe her tears. At that moment, he didn't seem like the Son of Heaven at all, but rather like when they were siblings depending on each other in their childhood. Yet, no matter how much he wiped, her tears wouldn't stop. Only then did he realize she was truly crying, and he felt immensely guilty, yet had nothing to say.
Wanwan wiped her nose and lowered her head, saying, "I lost my composure. It's just that I can't bear to part with Brother. The day of my marriage is getting closer, and I'm afraid there won't be many chances to stand face-to-face with Brother like this in the future."
The Emperor looked downcast, "That's the downside of being a girl—sooner or later, you have to leave home and marry someone else. But don't be afraid. You'll have a place to stay in the capital. I'll have the Eunuch Official prepare the Princess's Residence beautifully, so it's ready for you when you return for visits."
Today was originally meant to discuss matters of the Princess's Residence. Before coming, she had decided it didn't need to be so troublesome—simplicity was best. But after what had just happened, she had to reconsider her own future.
"The residence in Jinling must also be prepared under Brother's orders. Etiquette cannot be neglected, lest the Remonstrance Officials criticize."
The Emperor nodded repeatedly, "Don't worry about that. I've already ordered the Princely Administration to ensure it's done splendidly." As he spoke, he guided her to sit down. "I made you wait so long today—it was my miscalculation. I misjudged the timing..."
She suddenly grasped his sleeve, "I have a few heartfelt words to say to Brother."
The Emperor's heart skipped a beat, and he replied awkwardly, "As long as it's not about calling off the marriage, anything can be discussed."
Wanwan couldn't help but smile bitterly. She had guessed correctly—he would not revoke his decree, and she had long given up that hope. Now, all she could do was try to turn the tide within her power. Since the Prince of Nanyuan could assign Yin Ge to lurk by the Emperor's side, what else was impossible?
She took a breath and spoke calmly, "Brother and I were born of the same mother. I still remember when Brother carried me on his back to catch dragonflies and was scolded by Father. So many years have passed, but I've always kept it in my heart, never forgetting. Brother wants me to marry the Prince of Nanyuan—I dare not disobey Brother's wishes. It's just that as time goes on, I'll miss Brother. You must take good care of yourself in the capital. Father once said, 'Erlang is simple yet refined, gentle yet principled, possessing the demeanor of a gentleman.' So I beg Brother to draw close to loyal ministers and distance yourself from treacherous sycophants. You must also be vigilant against those around you."
The Emperor gave her a somber look, "I know. In your heart, I am ultimately a dissolute and unworthy emperor."She said it was not, "You are my brother, you have true talent and learning. If these abilities were applied to governing the world, why worry that our Great Ye would not prosper! But Brother, the world is not at peace now—within, there are violent uprisings by the Mo'erkan rebels; without, the Tatars are gathering to harass our borders. To secure the outside, we must first pacify within. This saying we have heard Father repeat since childhood, and now I too must advise The Emperor: the central palace stands empty, establishing an empress is urgent. As for the Secondary Consort of the Prince of Nanyuan, not only should she not be enfeoffed as empress, she should not even be allowed to enter the palace gates. Brother, you are a model for all the people, with countless eyes across the land watching you. To say something I perhaps should not—no matter how she is dealt with, it is better than parading her about and giving others cause for criticism."
Her impassioned speech far exceeded the insight expected of a fifteen-year-old. The Emperor gazed at her, feeling a momentary strangeness. Yes, this matter had grown large enough, having cost the life of a Princess Royal. Fortunately, she was now grown; letting her understand the cruelty of politics was a necessary trial for all members of the royal family.
He squeezed her hand firmly. "Wanwan, what you have said to your brother today, your brother has taken to heart. I promise you, the Secondary Consort of the Prince of Nanyuan will never enter the palace gates—you can rest assured on that point. As for betrothing you to the Prince of Nanyuan, I too have given it deep thought. After all, you are my only sister. I often wonder whether this decision is right or wrong. You have told me that The Late Emperor repeatedly warned you not to form a marriage alliance with the Yuwen Clan, but I do not share that view. Nanyuan now stands alone in power, its wealth nearly rivaling the Capital—this is not a good thing. Since such an opportunity has now arisen, why should I not seize it and make a proper arrangement?" His eyes burned as he looked at her. "I trust no one now, only you. That is why I am arranging your marriage to Nanyuan, so that you can keep a close watch on him for your brother, allowing me to rest easy in the capital. The empire passed down by our father and brother must not be lost in my generation. So even if I bear some criticism, I accept it. Originally, these matters should not have been made known to you, but since you have broached the subject, I will not conceal them. Both you and I are descendants of the Murong Clan. Safeguarding this Eternal Foundation is not only the responsibility of me, Murong Gaogong, but also yours, Murong Jun."
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