Chapter 184: Lies
In Prince Cheng's residence these days, the servants all performed their duties with extreme caution, afraid of accidentally provoking their easily angered master.
The main hall was already filled with many officials from the Yanjing court, likely discussing matters of great importance. Prince Cheng sat at the head position, with Li Zhongnan seated closest to his left side.
"Gentlemen," Prince Cheng said, "I'm afraid we must advance our timeline."
These days, whether the Hongxiao Emperor had learned of his plans or not, he was targeting him at every turn. Prince Cheng was furious. He had already resolved to act sooner, and the matter of Princess Yongning had poured oil onto the fire, leaving him with pent-up rage with nowhere to vent. He wished he could storm the imperial palace immediately, drag the Hongxiao Emperor from his throne, and trample him underfoot.
After all, during this period, because of Princess Yongning, he had endured endless ridicule and gossip. Though no one dared say anything to his face, behind his back they were practically stabbing him in the spine. Prince Cheng had always valued his reputation, hoping that when he eventually ascended the throne, he would do so with a clean slate, leaving no room for criticism. Now it seemed that was impossible, so he might as well cast aside all reservations and gamble everything.
Prince Cheng turned to Li Zhongnan beside him and asked, "What does the Right Prime Minister think?"
Li Zhongnan smiled and said, "I defer entirely to Your Highness's decision."
Prince Cheng felt somewhat displeased. Li Zhongnan was clearly being evasive. He knew that Li Zhongnan still held a grudge over the incident with Princess Yongning and remained dissatisfied. Although Prince Cheng had already apologized, he didn't take it seriously—after all, he was the ruler, and Li Zhongnan was merely a subject. Currently, he was the one showing Li Zhongnan respect and courtesy. But if Li Zhongnan failed to appreciate this, he wouldn't hesitate to teach him a lesson.
Of course, not now—but when he sat on the throne, holding great power.
While Li Zhongnan smiled on the surface, he was also seething inside. Li Xian's habit of keeping young boys in his residence had utterly ruined the Li family's reputation and dignity. Of his two sons, he could accept that his younger son Li Lian was useless, but his elder son—aside from this particular preference—had originally had a good reputation. He was supposed to succeed him and become the pillar of the Li family under Prince Cheng. Yet because of Princess Yongning's scandal, Li Xian had become a stain on the Li family. Now, when members of the Li family attended court, they had to be extremely careful, ensuring their carriages couldn't be identified as belonging to the Li family to avoid being pointed at and whispered about behind their backs. Li Xian had even lost his official position—his promising career was completely ruined.
If this were solely Princess Yongning's doing, Li Zhongnan would at most blame Prince Cheng for failing to control his sister properly. What infuriated Li Zhongnan the most was that Princess Yongning, pregnant with Shen Yurong's bastard child, had been married into the Li family. Prince Cheng claimed he hadn't known about Princess Yongning's pregnancy—how was that possible? Clearly, he intended for the Li family to be the unlucky ones, raising another man's son for no reason. The mere thought of this made Li Zhongnan's blood boil. What did Prince Cheng take the Li family for? Fools?Admittedly, Prince Cheng was now their master, and they were his subjects, unable to take direct action against him. Yet, this grievance was like a fishbone stuck in their throats, impossible to swallow. Li Zhongnan had resolved that while the Li family, reliant on Prince Cheng, would not openly obstruct his uprising, they could still maneuver behind the scenes. He intended to make Prince Cheng understand that his position was far from secure—without the Li family, his throne might be even less stable than that of the Hongxiao Emperor.
They must ensure Prince Cheng dared not lay a hand on the Li family and instead treated them with utmost respect!
Prince Cheng turned to consult other ministers, discussing crucial matters of the uprising together, deliberately or not sidelining Li Zhongnan as if issuing him a warning.
Li Zhongnan paid it no mind, sneering inwardly. A warning? He would soon return the favor to Prince Cheng.
…
In the imperial palace of Yanjing City, spring blossoms had burst forth in abundance.
The plants and trees that had withered in winter now eagerly sprouted and competed to grow in this season. The palace always seemed the first to come alive: flowers in the gardens bloomed earlier than elsewhere, lush and joyous, while newly entered beauties strolled among them, admiring the blossoms—intentionally or not—adorning themselves more exquisitely than the flowers, hoping the emperor might pass by and catch an accidental glimpse of their vibrant, fragrant allure.
The palace welcomed new beauties year after year, and though everyone longed for the emperor’s favor, it never lasted. Just as the gardens never lacked bright, delicate flowers, the picker would not pluck every one. Those picked could be tenderly arranged in vases, gracing the summer, while those left unadmired in the beds would inevitably wither together by autumn.
Time slipped away like a dream; beauty faded as easily as blossoms—both flowers and people were alike.
The Hongxiao Emperor was in the Cining Palace, accompanying the Empress Dowager in chanting scriptures.
While the Empress Dowager chanted devoutly, the emperor sat to the side, flipping through the sutra. Compared to her piety, he appeared far less sincere. But the Empress Dowager, eyes closed in concentration, did not notice, wholly absorbed in her recitation as if nothing in the world mattered more. This had been her daily routine, repeating year after year, seemingly unchanged since the Hongxiao Emperor ascended the throne.
She did not interfere in court affairs, nor was she overbearing in the palace like Consort Liu, almost making people forget her existence as Empress Dowager. It was said she had been the same in her youth—gentle, virtuous, never vying for favor in the rear palace, instead raising another’s child as her own and watching him become emperor. Without the Empress Dowager, the young Hongxiao Emperor might have been utterly devoured by the ambitious Consort Liu and her son.
Yet, to say the Hongxiao Emperor and the Empress Dowager shared a deep bond would be an overstatement; theirs was merely a surface peace.
After accompanying the Empress Dowager in chanting for a while, the Hongxiao Emperor left the Cining Palace. Instead of returning to the imperial study, where he had reviewed memorials all night and attended morning court with barely a few hours of sleep, he headed to his bedchamber to rest. As he reached the entrance, Eunuch Su approached and said, "Your Majesty, Li Pin has arrived."Li Pin emerged from behind the door, standing out as the most unhurried among the palace's many beauties. Even as new young, vibrant, bud-like maidens entered the palace that spring, adorning the imperial grounds with exceptional splendor, the established beauties grew anxious and redoubled their efforts to embellish themselves. Yet for Li Pin, it seemed to make no difference. She felt no threat, nor feared the emperor's affections turning to others. She simply carried on with her gentle duties, as she did now, standing at the doorway and smiling at Hongxiao Emperor: "Your servant has prepared some pastries using this year's fresh locust honey. Would Your Majesty care to try some?"
No one could refuse such a tender request. Hongxiao Emperor chuckled softly, "Very well."
The tension in his face eased at that moment.
Beaming, Li Pin guided Hongxiao Emperor to the table where delicate pastries and hot tea were arranged. Her fingertips seemed to retain the sweet fragrance of honey. She differed from the other beauties—while they claimed their offerings were self-made, their hands remained pristine, their manicures vibrant and intact, arousing suspicion that they had merely supervised servants. But Li Pin's pastries were truly her own handiwork. It was said no one could replicate their unique flavor.
She was a woman of thoughtful dedication.
Hongxiao Emperor smiled, picking up a pastry to taste, while Li Pin promptly offered a cup of hot tea. After finishing the treat and taking a sip, he sighed appreciatively, "You alone are so considerate."
"Your Majesty is burdened with state affairs. This is the least I can do," Li Pin replied with a smile.
Hongxiao Emperor also smiled. "Speaking of which, I heard from the Empress Dowager yesterday that among this year's new palace entrants is your cousin. Why did you not inform me? So I might show her some favor?"
Li Pin's smile stiffened. Though the emperor's expression remained amiable, her heart churned with unease.
Childless, her Ji family had once fervently prayed and fed her bizarre concoctions, desperate for an heir to secure her position. But as time passed without conception, their hopes waned, and they turned their ambitions elsewhere.
The Ji family never abandoned their scheme to send another beauty into the palace to win imperial favor. Li Pin understood their intent—to demand her assistance in shielding and strategizing for this young rival, only to be discarded as a sacrificial pawn once her usefulness ended.
Why should she? Li Pin absolutely refused. She had struggled to attain her current standing—why surrender everything to another? Especially one who, merely by virtue of youth and beauty, could effortlessly claim all. It was utterly unjust!
Thus, Li Pin did nothing. She feigned ignorance of her cousin's arrival and even refused meetings with the Ji family. Her anger toward them festered into resentment. So much so that when Jiang Youyao met misfortune, Li Pin felt no urge to intervene or plead on the Ji family's behalf. She knew well their nature—they would never seek justice for Jiang Youyao.
Though turmoil raged within, Li Pin summoned a sorrowful smile, bowed her head, and suddenly knelt. "Your servant admits her fault."Her delicate brows were knitted in sorrow, her voice filled with anguish, and her pitiable appearance stirred compassion in anyone who saw her. The Hongxiao Emperor was momentarily taken aback before taking her hand and seating her beside him, chuckling, "Are you afraid I'll favor someone else? You're jealous."
"Your Majesty may have many beauties by your side, and I am but an insignificant one among them. When Your Majesty favors other beauties, there is nothing I can do. The only thing I can do is hope to retain Your Majesty's favor a little longer. I know this is presumptuous, and I beg Your Majesty to punish me."
Her words were mournful and pitiful, all stemming from love. What man could remain unmoved when faced with such a beauty pouring out her heart to him?
"I will not abandon you," the Hongxiao Emperor laughed heartily. "As long as you do not betray me, I will never cast you aside."
Li Pin's heart skipped a beat, vaguely sensing some deeper meaning in the emperor's words. But the man beside her held her in such a warm embrace, his tone so doting, that her suspicions gradually melted away.
It couldn't be. The Hongxiao Emperor couldn't know. She had been very discreet; no one could possibly find out.
At the same time, she sneered inwardly. She did not crave the fleeting favor of an emperor. Without a child, an emperor's affection was only temporary. One day, she would inevitably be replaced by younger, more captivating beauties. She would become one of those faded women in the rear palace, like withered flowers, turning into a handful of fresh, vibrant mud in the spring.
She would make it to the end, no matter the cost, and no matter who had to be sacrificed.
A flicker of ruthlessness passed through Li Pin's eyes.
(End of Chapter)
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