Chapter 114: Just A Princess
Yue Tang has already returned to Prince Duan’s Mansion. The murderer who killed him back then has also been caught. The whereabouts of the Spirit Spring Sword were actually not hard to trace. What was rare was that Yan Bei quietly retrieved it for her without a word.
She put away the sword. Lan Qin also returned, followed by three eunuchs—two large and one small.
It turned out that someone from the Palace had come again to deliver an imperial decree, regarding Yue Tang entering the Palace tomorrow for an audience. The Emperor had specially arranged a palace banquet, at which Empress Dowager Shen would attend. In addition, Yan Bei, Mu Chang, and Shen Yi would also bring their families to the banquet.
The eunuchs had come to deliver the itinerary list for tomorrow’s ceremonies.
Yue Tang rewarded them.
She had just sent them away when another group of eunuchs arrived from outside. This time, they were actually people from Yongfu Palace.
“The Empress Dowager heard that the Princess is safe and was both happy and sad. These past few days, she has felt endless pity for the Princess. Upon hearing that the Princess has returned, she specially issued a decree this afternoon to bestow gifts and dispatched us to deliver it.”
The eunuch smiled obsequiously and presented the large and small boxes they had brought one by one with both hands.
Yue Tang received the decree and looked at him with a half-smile: “Is the Empress Dowager’s health well?”
“The Princess need not worry. Her Ladyship is still in fairly good health, but the headaches from when she was in the confinement period back then have not been fully cured to this day.”
Empress Dowager Shen had given birth to the Fourth Prince at the age of twenty-four, when she was in the prime of her youth and strength. She was only thirty this year. Having this “headache condition” was just right—it provided an excuse to beg off when matters arose, without being so severe as to make people worry about the Shen Family’s power.
Yue Tang took a sip of tea and gave Lan Qin a look.
Lan Qin then smilingly took out double the reward money: “Thank you for your hard work on this trip, sirs. A little tea money.”
The eunuch declined twice but finally accepted it. He ingratiatingly cupped his hands to Yue Tang in thanks. “This one is surnamed Yang, called Yang Jun. In the future, if the Princess has any matters in the Palace, feel free to dispatch this one.”
After speaking, he bowed and retreated outside the door before leading his people away.
Lan Qin said: “Empress Dowager Shen’s side has certainly put on a low posture. But it is only today that the Shen Family faction has come to make contact with the Princess.”
Yue Tang frowned: “In the past, the Shen Family and the Chu Family fought each other, entangled for a long time without resolution. Both families must have had some means to suppress the other.
“But the Chu Family suddenly collapsed. The Shen Family’s previous arrangements no longer worked, so they naturally needed to readjust.
“Now the Imperial City Department is led by Dou Yun, and Dou Yun is my man. Prince Duan’s Mansion is not entirely isolated and without aid.
“Not to mention, they already know that I have some friendship with Prince Jingyang.
“If the Shen Family was involved in that year’s conspiracy, then Empress Dowager Shen needs to probe whether I have traced it back to them.
“If they were not involved, then what reason do they have at this time to leave me unused?”
Lan Qin said: “Then what is the Princess’s intention?”
Yue Tang picked up that imperial edict: “Of course, to go with the flow. In the eyes of the world right now, I must be that Princess who is grateful to heaven and earth just for picking up her life and surviving safely. Likewise, I have no reason to refuse the Empress Dowager’s favor that has come right to my door.”
“This servant understands.” Lan Qin nodded. “When we encounter Shen Family members later, this servant will certainly instruct everyone to respond properly.”
……
The Emperor was diligent. Even with a palace banquet, he did not delay the morning court.
Therefore, Yue Tang entered the Palace at the chen hour.
The full set of imperial guard was deployed. From the moment they left the mansion gate, they were watched by the city’s commoners all along the way.
It seemed that her death and resurrection had already become a legend, and it had even overshadowed the calamity she had borne for sixteen years before.
But how could Yue Tang herself forget?
The last time she entered the Palace was for the Former Emperor’s last birthday.
That was after the Mid-Autumn Festival of the first year, just after the start of autumn. Yue Tang was still carrying A Li in her belly. She had returned to the capital early from Bie Ye. From early morning to evening, she had accompanied the frail him due to illness through a peaceful day.
In the blink of an eye, four years had passed in between.
It could no longer be called “things remain but people change.” It was simply earth-shattering.
When Prince Duan’s Mansion’s imperial guard arrived under the palace gate, the Mu Family’s carriages and horses from behind were also about to arrive.
Mu Chang stood at one end of the Jade Belt Bridge over the moat and raised his hand to halt the procession.
Mu Shuyun in the sedan lifted the curtain and looked. She turned her head to her mother and said: “It is that Princess from Prince Duan’s Mansion.”
Madam Mu had originally been sitting quietly. Hearing this, she also cast her gaze through the gap in the window curtain.
“She is only a Princess. Even though she shares the same year, month, and day of birth with the Emperor, there is still a layer of separation in the end. Why has Father specially stopped?”
Mu Shuyun gazed at the person who stepped down from the sedan not far away. Even though she could only see the back, that tall figure and straight spine still made one feel that it was a proud person.
The Emperor’s decree had specified that each family bring only wives and family. It was clearly a palace banquet to show closeness.
But Mu Shuyun had long wanted to enter the Palace once. With this opportunity, she had mentioned it to her father.
Thus, when Mu Chang entered the Palace to submit a memorial, he conveniently mentioned it to the Emperor as well, and the Emperor of course had no reason to refuse.
Mu Shuyun had grown up with the Emperor since childhood. The two were childhood sweethearts, with a bond deeper than anyone else’s.
After accompanying the Old Madam back to her hometown to visit relatives and being away from the capital for several months, she had come today for the Emperor. She had not expected to encounter Yue Tang first.
“Perhaps it is because of the Emperor.” Madam Mu withdrew her gaze. “The Princess was innocently harmed. The Emperor, as her relative, should naturally uphold justice for her, both emotionally and rationally.
“Today’s palace banquet is also prepared for her. We are the Emperor’s closest people, so we naturally must uphold his intentions.”
Mu Shuyun let her hand fall from the carriage curtain. “Mother, what do you think the Emperor’s feelings toward me are now?”
Madam Mu raised her lips at these words: “Naturally, he tosses and turns, thinking of me day and night.”
“If that is really the case, then why, after I have been back so many days, has he neither come to see me nor summoned me into the Palace?”
The light in the carriage was dim. In the girl’s eyes, the bright parts were like morning stars, and the dark parts were deep as abyssal pools.
For an unmarried woman to discuss another man, there was no shyness on her face. Instead, it was as natural as dressing or eating.
“The Emperor is busy.” Madam Mu said. “Have you not seen, because of this Princess, that disturbances in the court come one after another?
“You are the Mu Family’s Miss, and you have a special bond with the Emperor. You should relieve his worries and solve his difficulties all the more.”
At this point in Madam Mu’s words, her gentle expression gradually became stern.
While Mu Shuyun was silent, someone outside the sedan spoke up.
“This one is here by the Emperor’s order to seek an audience with the Eldest Young Lady.”
Mu Shuyun’s expression suddenly stirred.
Madam Mu glanced at her and lifted the curtain: “What is it?”
The eunuch below hurriedly presented a food box: “Empress Dowager Shen and the Shen Family will both attend today’s palace banquet. The Emperor worried that Miss Yun would feel uncomfortable at the banquet, so he specially dispatched this one to send ahead several pastries from the Imperial Kitchen that you usually like.”
Madam Mu instantly looked at Mu Shuyun: “What did I just say?”
Mu Shuyun’s brows and eyes were already radiant as she received the box.
Inside lay four kinds of pastries, each emitting a fragrant aroma, exquisitely tempting—indeed the few she usually liked.
There was also a small folded paper in the corner of the box.
On the paper, one corner had a drawing of clouds veiling the moon, and the opposite corner had several waves.
“Lan” was the Emperor’s name.
His name was Yue Lan.
Mu Shuyun smiled. The blush on her face, together with the clouds, moon, and waves on the paper, formed a complete picture.
