Chapter 165: Awkward Amnesty
Xue Sui had not yet spoken when Xue Yuechen shook her head, negating this guess.
“His Highness acts with discretion and would not be so foolish. Moreover, if he truly had intentions, he would not be avoiding seeing her…”
Xue Sui’s smile remained unchanged, “It’s good that Elder Sister thinks so. Regardless of the County Princess Ruihe’s intentions, she is not someone His Highness values at the moment…”
Affection and loyalty are as thin as a piece of paper.
In the power struggle between Li Huan and Li Zhao, Ruihe, an orphan with no backing whose parents had both passed away, had only the Empress Dowager and His Majesty’s pity to rely on.
But if she became entangled with Li Huan, all of that would be lost…
“What His Highness wants has never been romantic love. Elder Sister only needs to manage the affairs of the Prince’s Mansion well and steadily control it to fulfill her duty… This romantic love is like sand flowing through one’s fingers; the tighter you grip, the faster it slips away… Elder Sister should be more open-minded, and you won’t cause yourself trouble…”
Xue Yuechen looked at her earnestly, held her hand, and a hint of gratitude appeared on her face.
“Sixth Sister, with you by my side, Elder Sister feels at ease. Thinking back now, it’s fortunate I found you that day; otherwise, I wouldn’t know how to handle this situation…”
The fine rain outside the window tapped on the banana leaves, making a pattering sound.
Xue Sui smiled slightly, looking at Xue Yuechen’s trusting eyes, “It is Xue Liu’s fortune to be able to share Elder Sister’s worries. However…”
Her gaze shifted downwards, looking at Xue Yuechen’s abdomen.
“Still no news?”
Xue Yuechen’s brows furrowed slightly, revealing a hint of helplessness.
“His Highness is busy with official duties, and he has stayed in Mu Yue Residence for so long, yet we’ve only been intimate once, and that was after he returned drunk that night…”
She seemed a little embarrassed and lowered her head to look at her flat stomach, “Perhaps fate hasn’t arrived yet; it cannot be forced.”
Xue Sui laughed, “It’s good that Elder Sister can think this way. As long as His Highness is willing to come to Mu Yue Residence, Elder Sister will be the biggest winner in this mansion.”
As Xue Yuechen pondered this, her thoughts seemed to be stirred, and she suddenly looked up directly at Xue Sui, “We are sisters. If Elder Sister has something to say, just say it directly. If it’s presumptuous, Sister, don’t mind.”
After speaking, she pursed her lips, her gaze flickering slightly.
“His Highness came to Tan Qiu Courtyard frequently those few days; did he have anything with Sister…”
“No,” Xue Sui quickly replied, “I regard His Highness as my brother-in-law, and His Highness treats me… he questioned and tested me, like interrogating a criminal, asking about the Old Mausoleum Swamp, and what he said was also related to official duties… there was no personal affection.”
She then smiled lightly, “Perhaps it was to use Sister as a shield, to silence the gossiping mouths in the mansion. His Highness might have deliberately shown me some consideration outside…”
Xue Yuechen let out a long sigh of relief.
“Good sister, if you hadn’t been candid, Elder Sister would have almost believed you…”
After chatting for a while, before Xue Sui left, Xue Yuechen said gently again, “Autumn is approaching. I’ve asked the Sewing Room to rush a batch of autumn clothes. They will come to each courtyard in the next two days to take measurements. Feel free to tell the Embroidery Woman what colors and fabrics you like.”
Xue Sui bowed respectfully, “Thank you, Elder Sister, for your favor.”
Xue Yuechen took an umbrella and escorted her to the door. Xue Sui bowed with a smile and bid farewell, then turned and walked into the small path, returning to Tan Qiu Courtyard along the lake before slowly suppressing her smile.
She hesitated for a long time, undressed, and lay down, but ultimately tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She got up again, picked up a brush, and wrote a paper slip, then brought Ling Yu over.
“Go.”
The night was as deep as water.
The Eastern Palace, after the new rain, was as tranquil as if it had been dyed with ink.
When Ling Yu fluttered its wings and tapped on Li Zhao’s window, Li Zhao was feeding another pigeon under the lamp…
Hearing Ling Yu’s cooing sound, Li Zhao opened the window.
Ling Yu leaped and landed on his desk.
Li Zhao casually took down the letter tube, and after a moment of silence, he opened the plain paper sent by Xue Sui.
On it was drawn a sparrow with its wings entangled by silk threads, and next to it was a line of delicate and neat small script.
“The wind and rain are dark, yet the cock crows without ceasing.”
When Lai Fu entered with the medicine bowl, he saw the Crown Prince tightly clenching the letter paper in his hand, his brows cold, and he remained motionless.
In the candlelight, the cloud patterns on his light robe flickered, and the coldness at the corner of his lips was more biting than the nearly withered pure white orchid on his desk.
“Your Highness, you should rest after taking your medicine…”
Li Zhao did not turn around, gently stroking the pigeon’s feathers.
“There is a grand court assembly tomorrow, and I need to prepare my memorials. You may withdraw first…”
Lai Fu responded with a lowered head and slowly retreated, but his mind repeatedly pondered the calligraphy and paintings he had just seen—
The wind and rain are dark, yet the cock crows without ceasing?
Is Madam Ping’an trying to tell Your Highness that she, a weak woman, was waiting alone for her lover on a stormy night? Or is she trying to say that she is in a difficult situation and asking Your Highness to hold onto faith and wait for the cock’s crow, for dawn, and for the sun to break through the clouds?
The Crown Prince’s expression was so unpleasant…
Clearly, it was the latter, not the former.
–
The next day.
As soon as dawn broke, Xue Sui got up, washed, and went to Mu Yue Residence with a radiant complexion, inviting Xue Yuechen to go to the garden to admire flowers and relax.
The two walked slowly along the winding path, talking softly, their conversation quite engaging, when Gui Xi’s wife came to deliver a message, saying that Princess Wen Jia’s maid requested an audience.
Xue Sui was slightly taken aback, exchanged a look with Xue Yuechen, and had them called in.
In front of Xue Yuechen, Dong Xu tearfully knelt at Xue Sui’s feet.
“Princess Consort, Madam Ping’an, please… help the Princess.”
Before Xue Sui could speak, Xue Yuechen asked with concern.
“Quickly, what happened to Wen Jia?”
Dong Xu glanced at Xue Sui and said with tearful eyes, “Last night, Princess Ping Le suddenly led people into the Imperial Palace, accusing our Princess of being unchaste, and of seducing her Imperial Son-in-law while being a widow, causing the Imperial Son-in-law to become estranged from her and breaking up her happy marriage. She wants the Empress Dowager to preside over the matter and marry the Princess to the harsh and cold Northern Territory…”
She paused, Dong Xu sobbing and choking.
“She also snatched the Medicine King Sutra embroidered scroll that Princess Wen Jia had prepared for the Empress Dowager’s birthday…”
Xue Yuechen was furious, “What an unreasonable and overbearing person.”
The curse trailed off into a low tone as she fell into an awkward dilemma.
“When His Highness returns, I will definitely ask him to come forward to preside over justice and support Princess Wen Jia…”
Dong Xu repeatedly shook her head and cried, “Princess Consort, you are kind, but our Princess truly cannot bear it, nor can she afford to offend Princess Ping Le… Now, we can only hope for peace. Let her take the Medicine King Sutra. However, the Princess and Imperial Son-in-law Lu are innocent. If her reputation is ruined because of this and she is married off to the Northern Territory, how will she live in the future…”
Ping Le was trying to ruin Wen Jia.
Accusing her of adultery was not enough; she also wanted to ruin her reputation.
“Please get up,” Xue Sui helped Dong Xu up, “Go back and tell Princess Wen Jia not to take the rumors and malicious words to heart. Instead of getting entangled with Princess Ping Le, it’s better to wait for the Empress Dowager to make a decision…”
Dong Xu nodded, thanked her repeatedly, and left with tears in her eyes.
Under the righteous indignation, Xue Yuechen poured out her grievances to Xue Sui, recounting many past incidents of Ping Le’s bullying and arrogance, and felt wronged for Wen Jia. However, she also cautioned Xue Sui not to provoke her easily, lest she bring trouble upon herself…
When the sunlight pierced through the clouds, Xue Sui finally sent Xue Yuechen back. She found an excuse, took Xiao Zhao out of the mansion, and went to meet Wen Jia.
As the carriage passed East Victory Street, they happened to encounter Jingzhao Prefecture officers posting a notice at the notice board—
“The Empress Dowager Cheng Qing’s 70th birthday grand ceremony, imperial decree bestows grace upon the four seas.”
“All crimes of theft, disputes, and evasion of service shall be pardoned.”
“The arrears of silver for corvée labor owed by canal boatmen and salt house workers shall be exempted.”
“Those with cases pending in prefectures and counties for over three years shall have their sentences reduced by one grade…”
“…”
In front of the notice board, an old scholar squinted as he read the proclamation.
People around leaned in to listen, and several children ran and laughed among the crowd, excitedly shouting, “There will be a general amnesty for the realm!”
Street vendors also stopped soliciting business, crowding over to crane their necks and look. In front of the tea stall, several elders fanned themselves, shaking their heads and sighing at the impermanence of worldly affairs.
The entire street was instantly filled with excitement and noise.
“What general amnesty? The biggest beneficiaries are Ping Le and the Xiao family…” Xiao Zhao, leaning on the carriage window, watched the commotion outside, angrily lowered the curtain, and cursed in Xue Sui’s ear.
“Miss, could it be that the dog emperor issued the general amnesty decree for Ping Le and the Xiao clan?”
This curse of “dog emperor” made Xue Sui’s lips curl up, and she couldn’t help but smile.
“Don’t speak carelessly; walls have ears.”
Xiao Zhao’s guess was true, and not entirely true.
A ruler values profit. Emperor Chong Zhao was not a foolish monarch who would disregard the imperial court system for personal feelings.
He had his own considerations.
He could use the Crown Prince to suppress the Xiao family’s influence as maternal relatives, making them obediently prostrate themselves, but he would absolutely not watch Li Zhao exterminate the Xiao clan, which would chill the hearts of the old ministers of the court.
The Crown Prince was a knife.
The Xiao family was also a knife.
This balance of power was precisely the emperor’s art of control.
Compared to the restless Xiao family’s influence, allowing the Crown Prince’s faction to become too powerful would make the emperor even more uneasy—below the emperor is the Crown Prince; one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers.
Emperor Chong Zhao played this game more shrewdly than anyone else…
Xiao Zhao sighed softly again, “What a pity about Princess Wen Jia’s Medicine King Sutra. Princess Wen Jia and Consort Wan put so much effort into embroidering it… Is it really over like this?”
Xue Sui smiled faintly, adjusted the green jade hairpin at her temple, and did not answer Xiao Zhao’s question. Instead, she lifted the curtain and looked at the crowd on the street.
Among the crowd, a familiar figure had reined in his horse and stopped under the banner of a tavern. The brocade python robe made his frame appear even straighter, exuding an imposing aura.
The moment their gazes met, there was no ripple in his eyes. His brows were as cold and hard as iron, and his tightly pursed lips seemed to be quenched with frost.
Xue Sui unconsciously tightened her grip on the carriage curtain, squinting at him.
So indifferent, he truly looked like someone coming to collect a debt…
Li Zhao: Heh, let’s see if I acknowledge you.
Xue Sui: If you don’t acknowledge me, then thank you very much…
Li Zhao: …
