Chapter 312: Siblings at Odds
When the prince entered the palace for court sessions, he was always accompanied by a young servant.
Xie Shi'an, dressed in servant's attire, followed Gong Xi Prince into the imperial palace. He waited outside the Hall of Golden Chimes until the court session concluded. When Gong Xi Prince and the Crown Prince emerged together from the hall, he trailed behind Gong Xi Prince and followed them into the Eastern Palace.
"I recently acquired some new tea yesterday. Second Brother, you must try it," said the Crown Prince.
He ordered tea to be served and began chatting with Gong Xi Prince over the beverage.
Xie Shi'an stood outside the door, excused himself to use the restroom, and quietly slipped away to the rear.
He changed into a young eunuch's uniform in the lavatory before emerging.
Before coming, Gong Xi Prince had informed him of Consort Wu's residence. Keeping his head lowered, he initially took a wrong turn but quickly found the correct path.
Arriving at the palace entrance, he bowed his head and said, "I found this earring by the lakeside earlier. It must belong to Consort Wu. Could you please deliver it to her, sister?"
The palace maid guarding the door accepted the earring and brought it to the side hall where Xie Ping resided.
Xie Ping was changing her bandages. The arm that had been torn by biting was regrowing flesh, causing daily itching that filled her with irritability whenever it occurred. Her face was dark with frustration.
At that moment, a young palace maid approached, holding up an earring with both hands: "A young eunuch just brought this, saying he found Consort's lost earring. Please take a look, Consort."
Xie Ping frowned.
She hadn't lost any earring.
Just as she was about to speak,
her peripheral vision caught the earring, and she froze abruptly.
She shot upright, fingers trembling as she picked up the earring, struggling to form words: "That—that young eunuch, is he still here?"
The palace maid replied, "When this servant entered, he hadn't left yet. Probably waiting for a reward."
Xie Ping swallowed air and collapsed back into her seat: "Bring him in."
The earring she clutched desperately was a token of love her father had given to her mother over a decade ago. It was an earring her mother had worn daily, and Xie Ping recognized it instantly.
After their mother's death, the three siblings had divided their mother's belongings among themselves.
If she remembered correctly, this pair of earrings had ended up with An Ge'er.
Before long, a young eunuch entered with his head bowed deeply, making his face completely invisible.
Xie Ping said sternly, "Look up."
That face gradually appeared within Xie Ping's view.
Just as the rumors she'd heard described, Xie Shi'an had lost one eye. The remaining eye appeared sharper and more profound than before.
Xie Shi'an also saw Xie Ping's face.
It looked completely different from half a year ago—her cheeks were thinner and sharply defined, making her eyes appear larger, with a previously unseen melancholy gathered between her brows.
No wonder this Consort Wu had remained unrecognized despite being in the palace for so long.
"An—An Ge'er!" Xie Ping took a deep breath, "Why are you here? How did you know?"
Xie Shi'an pressed his lips together and said, "I encountered Mother yesterday—that is, the current Princess Consort of the Pacifying West. She told me."
Xie Ping's fingers tightened.
Mother had promised to keep her secret, yet immediately told Xie Shi'an.
Although Xie Shi'an was her biological brother, their positions now differed. She was afraid...
"Mother said I should come seek refuge with the Crown Prince," Xie Shi'an enunciated each word clearly, "What do you think?"
Xie Ping's fingers relaxed.
She suddenly understood her mother's intention.
As someone without any backing, she struggled to gain footing in the Eastern Palace. If Xie Shi'an pledged allegiance to the Crown Prince, she would effectively gain an ally.Mother wasn't exposing her secret, but rather finding her a capable assistant.
Indeed, though Mother spoke cold words, she still cared for her as before.
Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Xie Ping's face: "I am now the Crown Prince's savior. If I ask him to arrange a position for you, he definitely won't refuse..."
Before she could finish, Xie Shi'an interrupted: "I won't work for the Crown Prince."
Xie Ping's face darkened: "Then why have you come to the Eastern Palace?"
"The Crown Prince will never ascend to that position," Xie Shi'an stated. "Elder sister, I'm taking this great risk to come to the Eastern Palace for your sake."
"The Crown Prince is the legitimate son born of the Empress, the heir appointed by the Emperor himself. How could he possibly not take that position?" Xie Ping said coldly. "From your tone, it seems you want to help Gong Xi Prince ascend the throne?"
Xie Shi'an didn't avoid the subject: "Elder sister, I came today specifically to ask you to serve as Gongxi Royal Mansion's informant, providing Gong Xi Prince with information from the Eastern Palace."
"What did you say? Have you gone mad?" Xie Ping exclaimed, then lowered her voice. "Only a madwoman would betray the Crown Prince to join Gong Xi Prince. I've worked too hard to reach this point - I absolutely won't ruin my own prospects! Xie Shi'an, if you pledge allegiance to the Crown Prince, I can offer you a path. But if you insist on remaining deluded, our sibling relationship ends here!"
"Elder sister, perhaps you don't understand the current situation," Xie Shi'an curled his lips. "I'm not discussing this with you - I'm informing you."
Xie Ping narrowed her eyes: "I am the Crown Prince's low-ranking imperial concubine, while you are nothing. What right do you have to speak to me like this?"
"You're not just the Crown Prince's low-ranking imperial concubine - you're also Princess Anjing," Xie Shi'an revealed a strange smile. "What would happen if the Crown Prince found out? What if the Empress found out? What if the Emperor found out?"
"You... you!"
Xie Ping was incredulous.
If the Crown Prince knew, he would never favor her again.
If the Empress knew, she would face certain death.
If the Emperor knew, her fate would be even more miserable...
"An Ge'er, you're my own younger brother!" Xie Ping's voice trembled. "You can't tell anyone about this!"
Xie Shi'an continued smiling: "In this world, we have few relatives left. Of course I won't reveal elder sister's secret, but please consider my situation too. Making a living under Gong Xi Prince is truly difficult. I need you as my informant, elder sister. I beg you, please help me, alright?"
Though his words pleaded, his face showed no trace of supplication.
Xie Ping felt a deep chill.
She pressed her lips together: "Fine, I agree."
Did she have any other choice besides agreeing?
She could only stabilize Xie Shi'an for now and plan slowly.
Perhaps she could tell the Crown Prince that she was being threatened by Xie Shi'an, and let the Crown Prince deal with him?
She needed to carefully consider how to scheme this.
Xie Ping casually gave Xie Shi'an some pieces of silver. Xie Shi'an expressed gratitude, then departed.
When Gong Xi Prince saw Xie Shi'an return, he stood up to take his leave, bringing Xie Shi'an out of the Eastern Palace.
"Your Highness, I have confirmed that the Crown Prince's Consort Wu is indeed my biological elder sister, who was formerly Princess Anjing.""Marvelous, truly marvelous." Prince Gong Xi clapped his hands and laughed heartily. "Xie Shi'an, if not for you, how would I have learned of such an amusing affair? Now we're in for quite a spectacle."
Xie Shi'an kept his head lowered as he replied, "I have already persuaded her to gather information for Your Highness within the Eastern Palace."
Prince Gong Xi furrowed his brow. "The Crown Prince is a fool. There's little worth learning from the Eastern Palace. Instead, we should use this matter to gain leverage over the Empress."
Xie Shi'an's heart sank.
If the Empress were to discover this affair, Xie Ping would have no choice but to take her own life.
No matter what, Xie Ping was his own elder sister—he couldn't bear to see her meet such an end...
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