Chapter 46: Chapter Forty-Six

Bo Mengshang had seen Ah Zhi during the Shangsi Festival.

In late spring, with spring clothes freshly made, it was the perfect season for going out to admire flowers and attend feasts. By the banks of the Yongshui River, Bo Mengshang encountered Ah Zhi carrying a bundle of satin wrapped in cloth, walking past.

She stepped forward to greet her. Ah Zhi nodded and smiled. Seeing the fabric in her hands, Bo Mengshang felt a sudden stir in her heart and thought: Was she preparing it for her wedding garments?

Over the past year, Bo Mengshang had met Ah Zhi three times. Each time the other woman came, besides bringing some news, she would also inquire how Her Majesty was doing. If Her Majesty was well, she smiled; if told Her Majesty wasn’t resting or eating properly, she would look distressed.

Bo Mengshang suspected Ah Zhi harbored feelings for Her Majesty, but recalling Her Majesty’s youthful appearance, felt it probably wasn’t so.

Without realizing it, she kept returning to this thought. Eventually, she belatedly understood that she had already placed this woman within her heart.

Coincidentally, her parents were constantly urging her to marry. She told them she fancied Miss Sun. Her mother went to investigate but returned somewhat unwilling. First, she disdained the fact that the girl had been a palace servant; second, she felt that although adopted, the adopting family wasn’t a major clan but merely a merchant household.

Among common folk, receiving a Dikun released from the palace was naturally cause for joy, but Bo Mengshang was young and talented, perfectly able to match with a young lady from a great family. Why select someone of such obscure origin?

But seeing Bo Mengshang’s determination, her anxious mother went to inquire anyway. Upon returning, however, she simply said that Miss Sun was already betrothed.

Bo Mengshang felt some disappointment, but it was vague and indistinct—until encountering her by the Yongshui River, when a faint ache in her heart brought regret.

“Is Miss Sun preparing new clothes?” she couldn’t help but ask.

Ah Zhi nodded, smiling: “Exactly. I will be leaving my home soon, so I’m making some clothes.”

Bo Mengshang said, “…Then I offer my early congratulations.”

Leaving home to go elsewhere—wasn’t that just a way of saying she was marrying and moving to someone else’s household? It truly seemed the happy occasion was near.

Ah Zhi lifted her face to look at her. The light shimmered in her eyes, as stirring as the spring water itself. Her smile was bright: “Yes. Please continue to guide me in the future.”

Bo Mengshang left in a daze. Only after arriving home did she realize that Ah Zhi’s last sentence had been somewhat strange. She quickly concluded it was probably just a polite pleasantry; after all, if Ah Zhi married, she could no longer easily come to deliver news or discuss political matters.

Besides, now that Her Majesty had gained some freedom, they no longer needed to be so excessively cautious anyway.

In the south, there is a tall tree; one cannot rest beneath it. By the Han River, there is a wandering maiden; one cannot seek her hand.

Such a beautiful woman, and she had ultimately missed her chance.

In truth, even this very morning, Bo Mengshang had still been sighing with regret before leaving the house. Thus, seeing Ah Zhi now left her completely dazed.

Dressed in the robes of a palace attendant, Ah Zhi looked somewhat different from before. At first, Bo Mengshang thought she might be hallucinating, but then their eyes met, and the other woman smiled at her.

It really was Ah Zhi!

Wasn’t Ah Zhi a Dikun? How could she serve as a palace official?

Bo Mengshang’s mind was a chaotic mess. Just then, someone asked her, “…What does Grand Tutor Bo think?”

“Grand Tutor Bo?” Prime Minister Fang Zicong looked at her.

Bo Mengshang snapped back to reality and looked around to see everyone staring at her. She could only say awkwardly, “This official… seeing today’s splendid occasion, though I haven’t drunk any wine, seems somewhat intoxicated already. I didn’t quite catch what you were saying.”

Fang Zicong looked displeased, but Her Majesty smiled instead: “Exactly. Today is a leisure banquet. Let us not speak of serious matters for now. The spring scenery is so fine; why not enjoy the view and music? We heard the Music Bureau composed new pieces specifically for today—when will they be performed?”

The newly appointed Head of the Imperial Clan, Fu Zheng, said, “If Your Majesty wishes to listen, they can begin right away.”

So saying, he clapped his hands and summoned a servant, giving a few instructions.

The servant jogged away, and soon the sound of drums rose, seeming to come from all directions, drawing everyone’s attention. Soon, the rhythmic drumming faded, and the melodious strains of qin and se flowed like water through the waterside pavilion.

People chatted and ate snacks. When the auspicious hour arrived, the music paused, and the banquet officially commenced. The Minister of Ceremonies first read an official address. Afterward, the crowd shouted “Long live Her Majesty!” Then, Her Majesty bestowed wine, and all drank together in a toast. After being seated, the feast dishes were served.

Fu Ping’an did not drink alcohol. Although the wine here was collectively scorned by the danmaku—who deemed that liquor below even ten proof could barely get anyone drunk—the danmaku still forbade her from drinking as a minor. They even threatened that underage drinking could get the livestream shut down.

But in truth, Fu Ping’an didn’t like alcohol anyway. She found it bitter and pungent, not pleasant at all. She much preferred honey water or brown sugar water; only sweet fermented rice wine was somewhat acceptable.

As the Emperor, and still young, naturally no one urged her to drink. Yet drinking honey water at such an occasion would seem far too childish. So instead, she drank tea flavored with tangerine peel and red dates.

She took a sip and glanced at Fu Lingxian, noticing the latter had only taken a shallow sip. With concern, she asked, “Royal Aunt, is the wine not to your liking?”

Fu Lingxian’s hand paused; suddenly she didn’t know whether to set the cup down or not. She could only say, “Naturally, it’s a fine vintage. But later I’ll have to listen to the scholars debate classics and compose poetry; it wouldn’t do to become drunk and lose composure.”

Fu Ping’an said, “Royal Aunt still worries about such things? We heard Aunt can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk.”

[Sleepless Days: With this low-alcohol stuff, I wouldn’t get drunk either.]

[Chang’an Flower: But you’d die from the sheer volume.]

Fu Lingxian replied, “The soldiers merely exaggerated.”

Fu Ping’an urged warmly, “Aunt, do try the bear paw. They say it’s very nourishing.”

[White Sugar: Bears are so cute. Why eat bears?]

[Sword and Thought: Ancient bears probably weren’t cute, not like Bramble and Briar.]

Fu Ping’an pressed her lips together. After a moment, as if making a resolution, she leaned in and lowered her voice: “Royal Aunt, We know there have been some rumors circulating both inside and outside the court regarding Mother’s affairs. But surely you must know that such rumors are completely unreliable.”

Fu Lingxian could naturally only feign ignorance: “This official has not heard any such rumors.”

Fu Ping’an fixed her gaze on Fu Lingxian, her eyes carrying a touch of grievance, as if saying—Why pretend with me?

Fu Lingxian was not adept at this sort of thing.

Before coming, Yan Yu had warned her that no matter what Her Majesty said, she must not believe it. But being stared at by Her Majesty like this, it was truly difficult to remain unmoved.

Fu Ping’an watched her for a bit, then nodded as if understanding, and sighed again: “We know everything. The many rumors circulating—those related to Royal Aunt—We refuse to believe a single one. Even if it’s Tian…”

She suddenly fell silent, casting a glance at Tian Fen, her eyes seeming to hold wariness. Then, turning back to Fu Lingxian with a smile, she said: “We are very much at ease entrusting military and state affairs to Royal Aunt. As We are still unfamiliar with governance, it is precisely the time We need Royal Aunt…”

Her next words were even lower: “Although We now use the Tian clan, it is truly only to suppress the Bo family. Aunt, speaking of which… that poison in the ceremonial wine on the day of Our ascension—was it really because of the Heir of Prince of Jin?”

Her Majesty looked at her with a sorrowful expression, like a fragile fawn: “We heard… it was actually Mother…”

Fu Lingxian’s heart jolted, and the words escaped her lips: “How did Your Majesty find out?” Her tone wasn’t so much surprise as confirmation.

Fu Ping’an’s heart also gave a start, but she didn’t show it. Still looking mournful, she said, “Someone told Us, of course. That’s why We… sigh… Why would Mother do such a thing to Us? And that is why We wish to posthumously honor Our birth mother…”

These words had been entirely rehearsed with the danmaku beforehand. Fu Ping’an had decided yesterday that today she would bring up the poisoned wine again and shift all blame onto the Empress Dowager.

Thus, if Fu Lingxian had been the one behind the poison, this would put her off guard.

Of course, regardless of who actually did it, Fu Lingxian would certainly be relieved right now to be able to pin it on someone else. And if Fu Lingxian herself also indicated the poison was the Empress Dowager’s doing, then dealing with the Bo family would be even more justified.

But things progressed further than she expected. Fu Lingxian seemed to already know full well that the poison was the Empress Dowager’s doing.

Was this an act? Or had the sudden revelation caught her off guard?

The danmaku mostly leaned towards the latter.

[Taro Boba Milk Tea: The Prince Regent has held high office for so long; she doesn’t seem like someone who acts well.]

[Wanwan Wants to See the Moon: From my perspective, she knows the truth and was just caught off guard.]

[One Heart Billion Intentions: Again, the Empress Dowager! Why is it always the Empress Dowager behind every evil deed!]

[Sleepless Days: And what makes the Prince Regent any good? Back then, she was willing to keep the Empress Dowager’s secret. Could it be they reached some kind of agreement?]

Fu Ping’an also worried about this point. She feigned casualness: “Did Royal Aunt know of this before?”

The Prince Regent inwardly felt awkward. Though not without some experience, she managed to keep her expression neutral, only saying, “No, I was just surprised. I never imagined the Empress Dowager would go to such lengths. Could it be a mistake? Should Your Majesty investigate further?”

Fu Ping’an put on a fake smile: “We are not without doubt, of course. After all, at the time, even Royal Aunt could not uncover the truth.”

Fu Lingxian didn’t know how to respond and took an awkward sip of wine.

She heard Her Majesty continue: “But really, thinking carefully, who else could it have been but Mother?”

Fu Lingxian said, “It is my incompetence. If the Empress Dowager was truly the one who ordered the poisoning, then… I cannot escape blame.”

She caught Her Majesty’s unspoken implication—aside from the Empress Dowager, the only other possibility was herself.

She sighed inwardly.

That poison… it was eighty to ninety percent likely the Empress Dowager.

She had investigated the matter back then, and though the trail had gone cold midway, the conclusion was more or less the same.

But back then, the Empress Dowager’s power was at its peak. Even if she had uncovered the truth, what could she have done? The Empress Dowager could simply have declared that the Emperor did not conform to Heaven’s will and selected someone she liked better.

She had confronted the Empress Dowager, but her heart hadn’t been in it; she was merely a paper tiger. The most she could do was threaten: If it happened again, it would absolutely not be resolved so easily.

The Empress Dowager, at the time, seemed to truly have a change of heart and stated plainly: “The Emperor will not be poisoned again.”

Now, in the present, the matter was even more complex. If Her Majesty truly pursued it, no one would emerge unscathed.

She lowered her eyes, gazing at the wine in her cup, and in a daze, recalled her youth—killing enemies on the battlefield, dust swirling, blades falling.

She had liked that clean, decisive feeling. The sharp repartee of the court truly wearied her.

So weary she wished to end it all.

A throbbing pain pulsed at her temple. She drained the cup in one gulp and heard Her Majesty say: “So let’s forget it.”

Fu Lingxian: “…What?”

She raised her eyes to look at Her Majesty.

Her Majesty’s small, delicate face was like a kitten not yet fully grown, with large, round eyes set like jewels. Her gaze was undoubtedly intelligent, yet seemed to lack any trace of malice.

Even during the most dangerous times in the palace, when the other looked at her, her gaze had still been clear, holding only a trace of admiring attachment.

Today, that gaze was still the same.

“So let’s just forget it. We don’t wish to pursue this matter any further. But Mother has truly broken Our heart. Yet We know Royal Aunt would never do such a thing. Wasn’t it Royal Aunt who originally protected Us from Mother?”

Having said this, she raised her cup and said softly, “We toast Royal Aunt once more.”

The Prince Regent held her wine cup, her emotions complex.

Everything Her Majesty had just expressed and implied seemed to say: I am now controlled by the Tian clan, but I still trust you more.

Her Majesty must be lying, right? Putting on an act?

Yet deep in her heart, she still wished it were true.

Just as Yan Yu had said: Once such wishful thinking takes root in the heart, one can no longer act with full resolve.

She drank the wine and blurted out: “Now that Your Majesty is already capable of handling state affairs, it is time for me to resign from this post of Prince Regent…”

The moment the words fell, both sides fell silent.

Then their eyes met, and both smiled a little.

“We still need Royal Aunt to escort and protect Us.”

“Then I can only continue to serve with all my heart…”

If she lost her power, examples abounded—there was the Empress Dowager right before her eyes as a living lesson.

The undercurrent of tension was interrupted by a burst of drumming. Now that everyone had somewhat lined their stomachs and gained some festive spirit, the Minister of Ceremonies announced the next event: the elegant poetry game.

The Minister of Ceremonies asked if Fu Ping’an would serve as the game master and issue the first theme. Fu Ping’an nodded; this had all been planned out in advance. Naturally, the theme was decided long ago.

Fu Ping’an took the silk cloth and wrote two characters upon it: “Spring Sorrow.”