“Swear it.” Xunqi sobbed, her small face red from crying, her eyes fixed intently on Yan Zhi’an. “Swear it. If you break your oath, may Madam die a horrible death.”
Yan Zhi’an: “…”
“Don’t say such things.” She pressed her lips together, dry from thirst, and used her thumb to wipe the tears from Xunqi’s small face. She felt helpless and heartbroken at once.
Helpless because she didn’t know how to discipline her. Heartbroken because Xunqi was so dependent on her. When the lie was finally revealed in the future, how would she face her?
“Alright, stop crying.” Yan Zhi’an coaxed her gently. “Be good.”
Having vented, Xunqi sensibly wiped her own tears and took a piece of pastry from her pouch, handing it to her. “Eat.”
Her tone was fierce. Yan Zhi’an looked at the pastry wrapped in a handkerchief, puzzled. “Where did this come from?”
“It’s delicious. I stole it from your plate last night.” Xunqi explained with a red face, feeling embarrassed, not daring to look up at her mother.
Yan Zhi’an smiled wryly. She took the pastry and bit off a small piece, then handed it back to Xunqi: “I won’t eat any more. The more I eat, the thirstier I get.”
Xunqi didn’t insist. She took the remaining large piece and shoved it into her mouth, brushing the crumbs off her hands. “Let’s go back.”
The three words were still thick with a nasal tone, prompting Yan Zhi’an to reach out and pinch her nose. “Don’t be rude next time.”
“I know.”
The two continued on their way back. Yan Zhi’an wanted to walk on her own, but she found that Xunqi carrying her was faster than she could walk herself.
They hadn’t been on the official road long when the sound of hooves came from behind. Yan Zhi’an instinctively raised her sleeve to cover her face.
After a burst of galloping, the rider stopped. “Left Prime Minister.”
Recognizing the voice as Shangguan Li’s, Xunqi set her mother down and smiled at the other woman. “Right Prime Minister!”
At yesterday’s banquet, Shangguan Li had worn everyday clothing—a blue-green dress that made her skin look snow-white, her sleeves fluttering, her whole presence radiant. Her gaze was neither pressing nor oppressive, arriving gently, like a spring breeze.
She returned Xunqi’s smile. “You’re quite something, leading us all on a chase all night. You jumped off the carriage early, didn’t you?”
They had searched all night around the tree the carriage crashed into. They hadn’t found a single person, not even a ghost. She sensed something was wrong, turned her horse around, and only then caught up with the two on the official road.
Yan Zhi’an straightened herself, supporting her weight. Her expression was cool and aloof, but at this moment, she exuded an inexplicable fragility. She thanked Shangguan Li, but Shangguan Li shook her head, her eyes curving into a smile. “If something had happened to you yesterday, I alone would have been no match for Prince Ji.”
The two of them were both members of the Emperor’s Faction.
“Mount up.” Shangguan Li was not one to dwell on small favors. She beckoned to her subordinate and gave one of the fast horses to Yan Zhi’an, then said to Xunqi: “You ride with the Left Prime Minister.”
“Me?” Xunqi’s eyes were flustered. She looked at Yan Zhi’an: “I don’t know how to ride.”
Yan Zhi’an calmly received her signal of distress. She took the reins, mounted the horse with practiced ease, then reached out to the girl. “Come up.”
Xunqi was surprised, but she smiled and placed her hand in her mother’s, scrambling up onto the horse’s back.
The two rode together. Xunqi wrapped her arms around her mother’s waist, causing Yan Zhi’an to frown. But the person behind her was oblivious, instead pressing her cheek against Yan Zhi’an’s back.
Yan Zhi’an pulled on the reins, an unnatural flush appearing on her cheeks. She stiffened for a moment. Shangguan Li leaned in. “Left Prime Minister?”
“It’s nothing. Let’s go.” Yan Zhi’an quickly suppressed her embarrassment and spurred the horse forward.
The horse galloped swiftly. In less than half an hour, they passed through the city gate. Yan Zhi’an didn’t stop but went straight back to the residence.
Shangguan Li escorted them to the gate of the residence and said to the Left Prime Minister: “I’ll return to the palace to report. Your injuries are serious. There’s no need to rush to court. Her Majesty will surely understand.”
“Very well. I’ll come to thank you in person another day.” Yan Zhi’an stood at the gate and bowed in gratitude.
Shangguan Li nodded in return, then spurred her horse and rode away.
Xunqi tilted her head, watching the retreating figure, lost in thought. “I think she’s a bit like the madwoman.”
Yan Zhi’an’s heart skipped a beat. “How so?”
“I can’t quite say.” Xunqi shook her head. “Just… the facial features?” In her mind, she pictured the madwoman’s wild, crazed appearance, then looked at the Right Prime Minister’s retreating back. One was mad and erratic, the other gentle and refined. How could they be similar?
She couldn’t explain it, just that at a glance, there was a sense of familiarity. She looked at her mother, who was also deep in thought. “I’ll investigate the Shangguan family. Let’s return to the residence first.”
Xunqi thought that made sense. She helped her mother back into the residence.
As soon as they entered, Chen Qingrong came running over. One look at the two disheveled figures and she was shocked. “What happened? You two didn’t come back last night, and I was so scared I didn’t sleep a wink.”
She walked over, supporting her daughter, and looked at Xunqi: “Go wash up quickly. I’ll have the female physician take a look at you.”
“I’m fine.” Xunqi looked at Madam’s eyes and pointed at her mother: “She’s seriously injured. Let me tell you, last night she—”
“Shut up!” Yan Zhi’an lightly scolded. “Who gave you permission to tattle to your elders?”
Xunqi swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue. Her small face was indignant, unwilling to let it go. She blurted it all out anyway: “Madam, last night she risked her life to expose the fake princess’s identity. The fake princess took her hostage out of the city. She nearly died!”
She was scared, so she said it anyway. After saying it, she felt much better. She exchanged a look with her mother, then turned and ran off.
“This child…” Chen Qingrong sighed. Xunqi lifted her skirt and ran off, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Chen Qingrong laughed. “She’s adorable. Much more adorable than you were at her age. You were always cold and aloof. How did you give birth to someone so lovely? I’m increasingly convinced she’s not your daughter.”
She knew her daughter’s temperament best, and Xunqi’s appearance didn’t resemble her daughter at all.
At this moment, Yan Zhi’an showed an exhausted expression. She gripped her mother’s hand, her voice trembling: “Don’t say any more, Mother. My whole body hurts.”
Chen Qingrong’s expression changed drastically.
Shangguan Li returned to the palace to report. Not long after, the Female Emperor personally visited the Prime Minister’s Residence.
The female physician was taking the Left Prime Minister’s pulse. From behind the folding screen, the Female Emperor stopped, surveyed the room, and sat down helplessly.
After the medicine was applied, the female physician withdrew. The Female Emperor then turned and entered behind the screen.
The Left Prime Minister was leaning against a soft pillow, her face pale, her long hair loose, making her cheeks look gaunt. Her neck was wrapped in layers of white gauze, showing the severity of her injuries.
A maidservant brought a stool. The Female Emperor sat down. “Why didn’t you inform me of your actions last night?”
Yan Zhi’an said: “I acted on a whim last night.”
“Why?” The Female Emperor didn’t understand. “What was wrong last night?”
Yan Zhi’an was exhausted, her lips pale. In her ears echoed the Crown Prince’s rebuke of the fake princess: [Imperial Elder Sister, not only are you late, but you even forgot to bow to Mother?]
That sentence was like scolding Xunqi.
She couldn’t bear it.
“Last night, the Crown Prince scolded the fake princess. Why did Your Majesty say nothing?” Yan Zhi’an asked the Female Emperor calmly and evenly.
The Female Emperor was momentarily stunned. The Left Prime Minister before her was submissive and gentle, but she could feel the deep dissatisfaction. “Knowing she was fake, why waste words?”
She was fake. How could the fake become real? Since she knew it was fake, why waste words?
Yan Zhi’an’s gaze was stubborn. “But in the eyes of the world, the Crown Prince was scolding Princess Zhaohui.”
“Yan Zhi’an, you overturned the table last night over a single sentence?” The Female Emperor was incredulous. She had to re-examine the Left Prime Minister before her. “Your actions last night were far too impulsive.”
“But it exposed her and removed a great worry from Your Majesty’s heart.” Yan Zhi’an sneered, her brow cold and stern, her words devoid of any warmth. “I don’t like anyone defiling Princess Zhaohui’s reputation. Once people form a first impression, Xunqi’s path ahead will become extremely difficult.”
The Female Emperor’s gaze sharpened. Thinking of Xunqi, she unconsciously glanced toward the door. “Where’s Xunqi?”
“She went to change clothes.” Yan Zhi’an replied lazily.
The Female Emperor was displeased. “Her audacity is too great. She should be punished.”
Yan Zhi’an was indifferent. “Punish her for what? She rendered meritorious service last night.”
“The way she is—fearless, charging in headfirst—even I am frightened.” The Female Emperor reflected on herself, beginning to regret whether letting Xunqi follow Yan Zhi’an had been the right decision. She said: “The way she is, it’s not appropriate.”
Yan Zhi’an caught the implication. A flicker of confusion appeared in her eyes. She raised an eyebrow: “She came back crying and wailing. What reason does Your Majesty want me to punish her under?”
Xunqi’s temperament was a bit wild, but one had to admit she was bold yet careful. Why punish her?
The Female Emperor was still hesitating. Yan Zhi’an suddenly understood. “Your Majesty, are you jealous?”
“I… how could I be jealous?” The Female Emperor’s face flushed slightly. She explained: “I just think her temperament needs to be tempered.”
As the words fell, Yan Zhi’an retrieved something from a small box on the inner side of the bed and handed it to the Female Emperor. “This is the New Year’s gift Xunqi gave me.”
It was a wooden beauty figurine, carved with care, lifelike. One glance and you could tell it was Yan Zhi’an.
The Female Emperor’s jealousy jar was completely overturned. She glanced at it but didn’t take it. “You treat her well, so of course she respects you.”
“Yes.” Yan Zhi’an responded with a sarcastic tone. “Is Your Majesty envious?”
She stabbed right into the other’s heart. The Female Emperor was so angry she turned to leave. After two steps, she still turned back: “Discipline her properly.”
“This subject obeys Your Majesty’s decree.” Yan Zhi’an responded loudly, then smiled slowly. “I will punish her by making her kneel and reflect.”
The Female Emperor left without looking back.
As she exited the room and descended the steps, she suddenly saw a child bustling toward her. She paused slightly, and the other came to an abrupt halt.
“Your subject’s daughter Xunqi kowtows to Your Majesty.” Xunqi knelt and kowtowed deeply, wondering to herself why the Female Emperor had come to her house.
While she was grumbling inwardly, the Female Emperor crouched down, examining Xunqi with interest. Xunqi kowtowed, her forehead touching the back of her hand. Her kneeling posture was graceful, clearly well-trained.
The girl kept her head lowered, her long hair falling to her chest. A fair hand brushed aside the stray hairs behind her ear, revealing a red mole behind it—a birthmark.
Seeing the birthmark with her own eyes, a satisfied smile appeared in the Female Emperor’s eyes. Then she lifted Xunqi’s chin to look at her directly. “I really like the wooden figurine you carved. Look at me carefully, memorize my features, and carve one for me too.”
Xunqi was terrified and embarrassed, her whole body uncomfortable. But she didn’t dare move, afraid of angering the Female Emperor.
“What, you don’t want to carve it?” The Female Emperor sensed the girl’s thoughts. Her thumb brushed over the girl’s chin, then she withdrew her hand in disappointment, her eyes fixed on the girl’s delicate features, soft as water.
“I… I… your subject’s daughter promised Mother that I won’t carve for others in the future.” Xunqi stammered out the truth.
The Female Emperor glanced back at the bedroom, her expression unreadable. Then she rose and walked away without another word.
Xunqi pouted. She didn’t know what was going on with Her Majesty—coming and going. But should she get up?
Oh no, Her Majesty didn’t tell her to rise! Xunqi felt like she was facing a great enemy. She wanted to get up but didn’t dare. She turned to look at the door. Her Majesty had walked far away. She quietly started to get up, lifting one leg, when a voice came from behind the door: “Did Her Majesty tell you to get up?”
