Chapter 23: Scheme Twenty-Three Part 2

“You may not want it, but others will look down on him. A-Qian, do you want him to live off a woman for the rest of his life?” The Emperor gave a light sneer. Man to man, he understood how men thought—otherwise, why would so many be desperate to cling to Yun Qian and climb straight to the top?

Yun Qian stared hard. A-Xiang didn’t seem to have any such ambition.

“A-Qian, Zhen can grant him a title.”

“No, Your Majesty. Your subject values a sincere heart. I beg Your Majesty to retract the order.” Yun Qian frowned and refused.

The Emperor was astonished. “Yun Qian, you really are different from others. How about a sinecure, then?”

Yun Qian refused still. “He can walk step by step on his own.”

The Emperor shot her a look. “Stubborn as a mule.”

Yun Qian paid no mind to the Emperor’s attitude. The Emperor had his throat in someone else’s grip, and yet he still had leisure to poke into her affairs. Since neither could convince the other, the Emperor lost interest. When a subordinate reported that someone had presented a rare ornamental rock, he eagerly abandoned Yun Qian and hurried off.

One could only say that this Emperor had been born into luxury, the eldest son doted on excessively, spoiled by the Empress Dowager into this idle temperament.

Yun Qian had yet another bellyful of frustration. Fortunately, the Emperor left the imperial carriage for her to take back out of the palace.

When she reached the palace gate, dusk was settling, and there was an extra person in her own carriage. A subordinate lifted the curtain to reveal the Great Grand Princess’s warm, kindly face.

Yun Qian immediately sneered. “Your Highness takes advantage of my absence—are you trying to set my own backyard on fire?” She was in a bad mood, so no one else should be happy either.

The Great Grand Princess was not annoyed; instead she smiled faintly. “Who has upset our Prime Minister Yun? I will vent your anger for you.”

Yun Qian stepped on the stool into the carriage, went straight to the head seat, and sat down. Qin Xiang smiled at her. She ignored Qin Xiang and said to the Great Grand Princess, “Would Your Highness care to visit the Prime Minister’s Residence for a while?”

“No need. I came only to talk with you. My young brother-in-law has acted disgracefully, and the family has punished him. He’s old now—exile would be the death of him.” The Great Grand Princess sighed bitterly. She was an imperial Great Grand Princess, the Emperor’s own aunt, and yet she now had to watch a court official’s mood. At this point, she had no choice but to lower her head and mediate a little.

Yun Qian lowered her eyes and said bluntly, “One must pay with one’s life for murder.”

“She was only a lowly woman. We’ll pay some compensation and give her family their due care.” The Great Grand Princess’s tone was disdainful, and she clenched her hand. “The victim’s family is willing to settle. Why does Prime Minister Yun insist on clinging to this?”

Why not let it go? Yun Qian closed her eyes. She was simply investigating in the order the Little Empress Qin had used to strike, and unexpectedly, the very first person couldn’t withstand scrutiny—bullying the innocent, murdering to silence them. Ask anyone: how could such a person be forgiven?

Suppressing her nausea, Yun Qian’s lowered gaze was deep and dark. “The Son of Heaven is bound by the same law as the common people. He is but a fifth-rank official. Your Highness, if your subject bends the law for personal reasons, how could I face the Empress Dowager’s fostering, and how could I face the people of the realm?”

The Great Grand Princess had assumed that if she came to beg humbly, Yun Qian would at least spare some face—after all, they would cross paths again in the future. She never expected the woman to show no regard for her noble status whatsoever. For a moment, the Great Grand Princess fell silent, radiating cold air. Frightened, Qin Xiang edged closer to her sister.

After all, the Great Grand Princess was an imperial princess, and her dignity was on full display. Qin Xiang had never seen much of the world, so her fright was only natural. Seeing this, Yun Qian reached out and held her wrist. The touch of skin warmed Qin Xiang’s heart, but the Great Grand Princess said, “Can Prime Minister Yun guarantee that she will live spotless her whole life, never stained by filth?”

Qin Xiang suddenly raised her head. The Great Grand Princess was threatening her. Who could guarantee they would never make a mistake in their whole life? Impossible—no one is perfect; no one can live without ever erring.

Yun Qian gave a low laugh. “If that day ever comes, your subject will gladly submit to the judgment of the law.”

Maintaining her imperial dignity, the Great Grand Princess glanced at her. “Since Prime Minister Yun will not grant me even a sliver of face, I will go beg the Empress Dowager.”

“Your Highness is mindful of family bonds, but the crimes of this brother-in-law of yours are not limited to this one. Which one would you plead for?” Yun Qian mocked.

The Great Grand Princess was stunned, as if she hadn’t imagined there could be more. “What else has he done?”

“Buying and selling girls from good families.” Yun Qian parted her red lips lightly.

The carriage suddenly fell into dead silence. Qin Xiang pressed her lips together, disgust flashing in her eyes.

The Great Grand Princess was dazed for a moment. “Do you have evidence?”

“Wait until Your Highness enters the palace to beg the Empress Dowager. Once you use your sister-in-law’s affection to coax her into leniency, the Ministry of Justice will produce its evidence—and by then, you will have lost even the last shred of favor before the Empress Dowager.” Yun Qian spoke openly, her gaze heavy as she looked at the Great Grand Princess. “You should understand the situation better than anyone.”

The Great Grand Princess suddenly lost her voice. She dared not gamble, still less destroy the entire Great Grand Princess’s Residence for the sake of her husband’s younger brother. In an instant, she felt a hand clamped around her throat. Frowning deeply, she thought for a moment, then said, “It’s late. I won’t disturb the Prime Minister and her husband’s affections. I’ll come congratulate you when you hold the wedding.” With that, she flicked her sleeve and descended from the carriage.

Qin Xiang let out a breath of relief, her eyes wide. Yun Qian’s gaze was slightly sharp—she had just bluffed the Great Grand Princess. The Ministry of Justice currently had no evidence of the buying and selling of girls. The Little Empress Qin had convicted this man of trafficking in official posts, which wouldn’t happen until later. Some said the Little Empress Qin had deliberately framed him; opinions differed, but the Ministry of Justice’s evidence could not have been more genuine.

“Sister, she threatened you.” Qin Xiang’s heart was still pounding. Who could guarantee they would never err in a lifetime? Even careless oversights counted.

Yun Qian’s gaze softened, and she smiled slightly. “So what? I’ll outlive her.”

Qin Xiang nodded seriously. “That’s true. She’s already so old.”

The carriage slowly moved off. Qin Xiang lifted the curtain and looked back at the halls that symbolized power, her heart surging.

Qin Xiang stopped asking questions. She let down the curtain and looked at her sister. “Are you angry?”

“No. It’s a common thing—when people are desperate, they say things to save face. Think about it: when you quarrel with someone and you lose, what do you do?”

“I’d go home and call for my mother. My mother is fearsome at quarreling.”

Yun Qian couldn’t help laughing. “Then in the future, if you can’t win a quarrel, come home and call for me. I’ll fight for you—I’m good at it too.”

“No. You’re the Prime Minister—you can’t be defiled by that. I won’t quarrel with anyone anymore. Even if people say things about me, I won’t talk back.” Qin Xiang let out a breath. “Winning a momentary argument is pointless.”

Yun Qian listened seriously, her gaze fixed on the lips that parted and closed as she spoke—in the last life, that mouth had never let anyone off when it had the upper hand. She took a packet of pastries from the secret compartment, opened it on her knee, and handed a piece to Qin Xiang. Sweets could easily dissolve inner fear.

Qin Xiang took a piece and put it in her mouth. It melted on her tongue. A night breeze drifted in, and the carriage cooled considerably. Eating happily, she said casually, “Just now the Great Grand Princess asked when we’re going to have children.”

Yun Qian: “…”

“Ignore her. She has children and grandchildren around her knees, yet she watches everyone else’s belly all day.”

Qin Xiang puffed out her cheeks and looked at Yun Qian’s flat stomach. “Have you ever thought about having children?”

“No time. Too many hardships come from a woman entering court.” Yun Qian shook her head. She was a little afraid of the word “mother” and didn’t want to become one.

Qin Xiang nodded. “Sister, I don’t want to either.”

“Why not?” Yun Qian was surprised.

Qin Xiang curled her lip. “I ruined my body with medicine. I can’t become a mother.”

“What…” Yun Qian was shocked. “Who made you take medicine?”

Qin Xiang looked down at the crumbs in her palm and murmured, “We can still consummate the marriage.”

Yun Qian hesitated a moment, wrapped up the pastries and stuffed them back into the secret compartment, then turned and seized her wrist. “Who drugged you?”

“No one drugged me. I’m a doctor. I ruined myself testing medicines.” Qin Xiang didn’t dare meet her eyes. When the Great Grand Princess had brought it up, she had felt a little upset. But the fact was done and impossible to change.

Yun Qian didn’t believe her. “Go see a doctor and find out. What medicine did you take?”

“Safflower.” Qin Xiang blurted out.

Yun Qian frowned. “You test medicines with safflower?”

Qin Xiang belatedly realized something was wrong and shook her head. “Sister, don’t ask anymore. It can’t be cured, so I can’t marry anyone.”

Anger surged in Yun Qian’s heart. Qin Xiang secretly lifted her head to look at her. “You don’t need to be angry. The two of us together—we won’t have children, so there’s no need to worry about that. Besides, I don’t like men anyway.”

“That’s different. Not wanting to bear children is one thing—but what happened to you is harm.” Yun Qian raised a hand and poked her head. “Who hurt you?”

Qin Xiang shook her head. “Myself. It really was me. I was an adopted daughter of the Qin family…”

Yun Qian’s eyes narrowed. So it was true—she wasn’t a biological daughter.

“I was bought to serve my elder brother. After I drank the medicine, they changed their minds. But don’t be angry—the Qin family has raised me all this time, and that’s already very good.” Qin Xiang boldly met her sister’s burning gaze. “Trust me, don’t be angry.”

Yun Qian’s face was cold. Qin Xiang greeted her with a playful smile. “Let’s go swimming when we get back, okay?”

“No.” Yun Qian refused.

Qin Xiang was stunned. “Then… then let’s go home and consummate the marriage.”

“No.” Yun Qian wanted to be angry.

Qin Xiang racked her brains. “Then… then… let’s go home and eat iced cheese. No, you don’t like that. Then what do you like?”

Yun Qian was so angry her eyes turned red. “I want to bite you.”

Qin Xiang pressed her lips together, rolled up her sleeve, and offered her fair wrist, saying with great righteousness, “Bite, then.”

Yun Qian turned aside and ignored her.

“Sister, you’re amusing when you’re angry.” Qin Xiang tried to raise a smile, and even boldly poked her cheek. “Ah, your face is so soft too.”

Yun Qian impatiently brushed her hand away. Qin Xiang didn’t get upset; she kept smiling and said earnestly, “You’re the Prime Minister. You should keep your joy and anger off your face.”

“Qin Xiang.” Yun Qian struggled to suppress her anger. “Do you hate them?”

“I don’t hate them. I live very well.” Qin Xiang shook her head frantically, then, afraid her sister would transfer her anger to them, hurriedly added, “If they hadn’t bought me, someone else would have. The Qin family is a decent household—they don’t beat or berate people casually. If not for my brother’s illness, they wouldn’t have bought me into the house at all.”

Yun Qian’s frustration finally eased a little. She frowned. “Has he ever touched you?”

“No.”

“Good. I’ll send someone to the Qin residence to retrieve your Deed of Sale.” Yun Qian pressed her forehead; her head ached with anger. Feeling it wasn’t enough, she added, “Find a doctor to examine your body.”

Qin Xiang thought for a moment, then carefully reminded her sister, whose judgment was clouded by anger: “I’m a doctor myself. The medicine was my own doing; it can’t be cured. And besides, why would I want it cured?”