Thus, Xun Yisu was not worried that Yuan Man would marry the Second Imperial Prince. But she had never imagined the Borderlands would come seeking marriage, and that she would be the most suitable candidate—inescapable, unavoidable. She could only obey the imperial decree.
She had wanted to see Yuan Man one more time, but lately she found Yuan Man avoiding her. Thus, it seemed Yuan Man had already submitted to imperial authority. A fruitless matter, one she sought in vain—her heart had sunk into the depths these past days. She quietly watched the rain outside, her thoughts drifting far away, a layer of desolate and sorrowful fog rising faintly in her heart.
A few days earlier, she had gone to Containment Origin Hall to beg His Majesty. She remembered her words: “As a royal daughter, Your Subject should share Your Majesty’s burdens. Now sent far away in marriage, I fear I shall never return. Your Subject and Yuan Man are handkerchief friends; may she escort Your Subject to the Borderlands?”
This was reasonable, and both being women, how could the emperor refuse? He immediately decreed Yuan Man as the envoy to escort the bride.
A dream of Handan was no match for downing a bottle of Huaxu wine for true relief.
Changle Palace.
The Empress had been rebuked, known throughout the palace, and she had lost face. Though furious at heart, she had nowhere to vent and could only take it out on the palace servants. Hearing that Wei Lingci had taken Xun Changqing as a disciple and kept it from her, she harbored resentment toward the Pingnan Prince’s Consort. She usually appeared meek and respectful, but deep down was so presumptuous.
What angered her more was her own son, bewitched, fixated on Wei Lingci and neglecting state affairs. She gazed at the Second Imperial Prince’s memorial blocked on her desk, her heart burning with rage. It actually requested His Majesty to grant marriage and fulfill his union with Wei Lingci.
Enraged and hateful, she tore the memorial to shreds and threw it on the ground, stomping on it several times. Her phoenix crown trembled at her temples, her face extremely unsightly, like a shrew from the streets. She reached up to steady the phoenix crown, sat on the phoenix seat, quietly drank a cup of tea, and only then did her dark expression lighten slightly.
Just then, Xun Yiran came to pay respects, and her anger flared again. But given the prince’s status, she had to save some face and dismissed the palace servants on both sides. Gazing at her son standing in the hall, she did not invite him to sit and said coldly, “It seems Your Highness has Wei Lingci and has forgotten about this palace and His Majesty.”
These words were like a stone striking the water’s surface, stirring ripples that soon calmed. Xun Yiran knew why the Empress spoke thus and followed her words: “Mother Empress is mistaken. Since Yuan Man cannot be married, what harm in marrying Wei Lingci? Ning’an County Princess and Father Emperor can be considered childhood sweethearts; perhaps in the future, Father Emperor will look upon Your Son more favorably.”
In the past, the Previous Emperor had once decreed Ning’an County Princess Wei Xiao as empress, but Wei Xiao refused, saying she was several years older than the emperor and it went against convention, so she went to Jiangnan. This was no secret; most knew it. Some said her empress position was yielded by Wei Xiao, and if Wei Xiao had agreed, she might not have such glory as mother to the world.
Xun Yiran’s words clearly struck her sore spot, making her unable to remain composed. She scolded him, “Bewitched by that vixen, what qualification does she have to be your principal wife? Not even worthy of side consort. In any case, you are forbidden from marrying her. Right now, your father emperor’s health is declining day by day; you should be thinking of how to gain his trust.”
The Empress had said these words many times before. Hearing the beginning, he frowned, but as she was his mother, thinking only of him, he endured and spoke of other matters to distract her, saying loudly: “Mother Empress, Your Son has instructed his subordinates to submit a memorial requesting Father Emperor to reduce the fiefs. The Borderlands have no more wars, yet Gu Liang Gan still holds hundreds of thousands of troops in hand, which is unreasonable.”
Gu Liang Gan was the Third Prince’s maternal uncle; as long as he held military power, it was a nightmare for him.
With words spoken thus, the Empress indeed smiled and said, “The key is that your father emperor is especially lenient toward the Gu Liang Clan; I wonder if he will agree.”
The Gu Liang Clan was the Grand Empress Dowager’s maternal clan, and the emperor’s father Gu Liang Xin was Gu Liang Gan’s uncle. With such layered blood ties, the emperor naturally valued the Gu Liang Clan, showing them more favor than others.
Xun Yiran shook his head confidently: “If he disagrees, unite the ministers to remonstrate; Father Emperor will consider it. At the right time, add some rumors, and Father Emperor will think of reducing fiefs. If Gu Liang Gan resists, send Xun Yi to collect them—a case of killing two birds with one stone, sitting back and watching tigers fight. Wouldn’t that be ideal?”
He had increasingly realized that the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion’s power was soaring; even foreign states knew only of Great Qi’s Pingnan Prince and not His Majesty. If this continued, this lineage’s claim to the throne would be endangered. Moreover, Xun Yi’s mother Xun Qihuan was the Eldest Princess by direct primogeniture, more qualified than the Previous Emperor to inherit. Xun Qihuan had no such thoughts, but who could guarantee Xun Yi did not?
The Empress tugged at her lips and smiled: “Very well, then go arrange it. Consult with your maternal uncle and proceed carefully.”
After Xun Yiran nodded in agreement, he withdrew.
During their conversation just now, Xun Yiran had listened respectfully, showing no dissent to the Empress’s words. But the more so, the more it showed his determination to marry Wei Lingci remained unshaken. Knowing persuasion was futile, the Empress immediately ordered someone to fetch Wang Qi.
Wang Qi was from the Shao Family but had followed her for over twenty years since her marriage, handling unsavory tasks.
This time was no different.
The task was even simpler than usual: kill someone—a woman!
Wang Qi wore eunuch attire, a scar across his brows adding to his ugly appearance. When not smiling, he looked ordinary; now, smiling as he accepted the task, his face appeared even more ferocious.
Author’s note: Master’s first suitor…
Notice how their relationship has advanced further? They’re leaving the Imperial Capital, heading to Lingyun Pleasure House.
Good night, muah!
