The two of them had found a new topic to talk about and were delighted, since they could connect on a shared wavelength. Conversation flowed much more pleasantly.
Moreover, with the same background and experiences, there were many things they understood without needing explanation. Perhaps this was what it felt like to be kindred spirits at first sight.
Si Yunqin was talkative and insisted on pulling Xi Fengyu into asking about the subsequent plot. Xi Fengyu was unwilling to spoil it for her—and of course, without an outline, she was writing as inspiration struck, so she couldn’t give anything away anyway.
Before they knew it, they had chatted deep into the night. Hearing the night watchman’s calls outside, Si Yunqin belatedly realized it was already the third watch. She gathered the books she had brought, tucked them into her arms, and said, “It’s late. I’ll head back for now. If you have time tomorrow, you can come find me at Eternal Peace Palace.”
Meeting her smile, Xi Fengyu couldn’t help but smile too. “Alright, go back now. Sleep early. Good night.”
“Bye-bye.”
Watching her vault over the wall, Xi Fengyu’s lips curled slightly. Since coming to this world, no one had ever said “bye-bye” to her in farewell like that.
After all, the cultures were different; even if she said it, people wouldn’t understand. There was simply no background for such a word to exist.
Si Yunqin moved silently and nimbly along the palace walls. As she neared Eternal Peace Palace, she suddenly spotted a black shadow flash past—a figure clad entirely in black, moving at incredible speed.
It was heading toward Respectful Peace Palace. Si Yunqin thought for a moment and decided to follow.
The person was wearing night raider clothing, so she couldn’t tell if it was male or female. The figure wasn’t particularly petite, and their movements were exceptionally agile. With the face covered, there was no way to distinguish gender.
Si Yunqin followed cautiously behind. The other person raced along without seeming to notice her.
It was indeed headed for Respectful Peace Palace, but instead of climbing over the wall upon arrival, the figure pulled a waist token from their robe and showed it to the guard. The guard let them enter directly.
Si Yunqin stopped on the rooftop. Since it was one of Shen Yanxin’s own people, there was no danger—at least it wasn’t an assassin.
She had wondered how any assassin could get so easily into the Imperial Palace.
With the matter settled, Si Yunqin turned back. On the way, she noticed that Respectful Peace Palace was still brightly lit. For a moment, she felt that Shen Yanxin truly had it hard—busy with work during the day and having to work overtime at night. Indeed, when Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it first must vex their spirit and strain their sinews and bones.
Once back in her own bedchamber, Si Yunqin placed her books on the desk, changed her clothes quietly, and then collapsed onto the bed to sleep.
Meanwhile, in Respectful Peace Palace, Shen Yanxin was looking over the memorial the Shadow Guard had handed her. It was a letter of goodwill from Zhao Sixie, the family head of the Zhao Clan in Luzhou.
Si Yunqin had reminded her that day, and Shen Yanxin had indeed taken the Zhao Clan as her breakthrough point. The Zhao Clan was the first to offer to donate supplies, and the other families had followed suit, donating varying amounts because of their lead.
Of course, it was merely a gesture of goodwill. Compared to the other families, they had shown a bit more friendliness toward the royal family, but it didn’t mean the Zhao Clan was willing to abandon their current status and influence.
The internal strife among the five great clans was a weapon Shen Yanxin could exploit.
She had considered it before, but had been too busy with other matters to act on it. Si Yunqin’s words had awakened her: the royal family might be constrained by the aristocratic clans, but she could turn that against them.
“After entering the palace, Your Servant felt someone following me all the way to outside Respectful Peace Palace, but that person left as soon as Your Servant entered the palace gates. I don’t know what they intended.”
“Did you send someone to chase them?” Shen Yanxin put away the memorial and asked in a cold voice.
“I already sent Thirteen to pursue. Thirteen’s Lightness Skill is the best; they shouldn’t lose the trail.” The person kneeling on the ground was a sturdy woman, taller than average females—it was the black-clad figure Si Yunqin had been following earlier.
Now she had removed her face covering, revealing an ugly scar above her brow bone, adding a chilling air of killing intent.
“Mm. What’s the actual situation in Jiangnan? Is it consistent with what the ministers reported?” Although Shen Yanxin had sent officials for disaster relief, she still feared the classic deception of those above. After all, during the Late Emperor’s reign, there had been many officials who outwardly complied while secretly opposing. Now that she had only been in power for less than six months, some would surely go even further.
“In reply to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, the officials sent for disaster relief are indeed doing their utmost. Only a small portion of the donated supplies has been embezzled—a negligible amount that won’t affect the relief efforts.”
“Mm.”
Shen Yanxin asked about a few other matters. These Shadow Guard weren’t the Late Emperor’s legacy but were bodyguards trained by the Shen Family since childhood. They had originally been meant to protect the family’s offspring. However, ever since the Late Emperor fell gravely ill, Shen Yanxin had deliberately cultivated a force loyal only to her.
Her elder sister had died in the struggle for imperial power. Shen Yanxin would never allow herself and Yuwen Luo to fall into such a situation again. To protect themselves, they had to strengthen their own power.
Now, this force had become a sharp blade to stabilize her position and the court.
After a while, another woman entered from the door: “Your Majesty, the person has been identified.”
“Who?” Shen Yanxin frowned and asked coldly.
“The Empress.”
“Her?” Shen Yanxin was somewhat surprised. How could it be Si Yunqin?
“Your subordinate saw with her own eyes—it was indeed the Empress. However, the Empress didn’t carry any weapons. She only took out a few books from her robes after returning to the palace.”
“What books?” Shen Yanxin asked next.
“It was hard to see clearly. The book covers had no titles written on them. She casually placed them on the desk and didn’t do anything special with them.” The woman named Thirteen answered truthfully.
Shen Yanxin thought it over and ordered them to investigate where Si Yunqin had gone tonight.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After everyone left, Shen Yanxin put down her red brush and rose to return to her bedchamber.
Before sleeping, she remembered that she hadn’t tested Yuwen Luo on his studies for a long time. She would have to check tomorrow whether he had been slacking off.
After all, the Grand Tutor was merely a subject. Once Yuwen Luo realized the prestige of his position, how could a subject control a Son of Heaven?
The next day, Si Yunqin woke up comfortably. As usual, she went for her morning exercise first. But to her surprise, while she was training, the Young Emperor came over bright and early.
When Si Yunqin was swinging her sword on the training ground, the little emperor suddenly clapped beside her, exclaiming, “So amazing!”
She sheathed her sword and saw the Young Emperor. Si Yunqin was a bit surprised. “Why has Your Majesty come?”
“The Grand Tutor said Empress Sister was right—we should rest two days for every seven days of work. So today, I have a day off.”
Si Yunqin rubbed her forehead. She had only casually mentioned it when she saw the Young Emperor coming to her every day for tutoring, never expecting the little emperor to actually tell the old man Grand Tutor.
And that old man actually listened! Back then, she had told him countless times that working five days and resting two was excellent, but he never paid her any attention. The moment the Young Emperor said it, he agreed right away.
Si Yunqin knew he just didn’t want to teach anymore. Getting old, wanting to slack off.
“If you have a day off, why didn’t you sleep in? Why come running over here so early in the morning?” Si Yunqin crouched in front of her and asked softly. It was clear she had come running—her head was drenched in sweat.
“The Grand Tutor and Mother Empress both said a gentleman must not be greedy for sleep. I am a gentleman, so I cannot be greedy for sleep,” he said with a serious expression, despite his young age.
His babyish voice was oddly cute. Si Yunqin finally understood: she didn’t dislike children; she just disliked rowdy ones.
The only time Yuwen Luo had thrown a tantrum in front of her was once. One time after napping, she told him to practice calligraphy. He had some post-nap crankiness and threw an imperial fit, saying he was the emperor and could do whatever he wanted.
Si Yunqin wasn’t about to listen to a little brat. He hadn’t even grown tall yet, but he was already developing an imperial air. Annoyed, she grabbed him by the collar and tossed him out of Eternal Peace Palace.
Later, after the little brat had cried and fussed enough, and seeing that Si Yunqin still ignored him, he came back the next day to apologize.
That’s how it was—kids needed discipline. You couldn’t spoil them too much.
“Empress, can you teach me? I want to practice swordplay too.” The Young Emperor tugged at Si Yunqin’s fingers, bending slightly as he begged adorably.
Faced with such a delicate, refined little creature acting cute like that, Si Yunqin couldn’t refuse. Who could resist a pretty face?
“Go get your own wooden sword,” Si Yunqin said with a smile.
“Okay~”
With that, he ran into the room. Si Yunqin watched his tiny figure dash away quickly.
When Shen Yanxin learned that Yuwen Luo had been given the day off by the Grand Tutor, she originally wanted Lan Xi to bring him over for breakfast together. It had been several days since she had spent proper time with him.
But the palace maid returned to inform her that Yuwen Luo had gone to Eternal Peace Palace.
“Gone to Eternal Peace Palace again? As his Mother Empress, I’m not even as close to him as the Empress.” Shen Yanxin sighed.
“Your Majesty once said that the Emperor is ultimately the Son of Heaven and must not be overly emotional,” Lan Xi said beside her.
“But I am still his foster mother, his birth aunt. My elder sister is no longer here. In this palace, he is my only family.” Shen Yanxin sighed.
She put down the book in her hand, then composed herself. “Change my clothes. We’re going to Eternal Peace Palace.”
As she sat in the imperial carriage, Shen Yanxin suddenly asked Lan Xi a question: “Do you think the Empress is so close to Luo’er without any ulterior motives?”
Lan Xi hesitated, but finally shook her head. “Your servant does not know.”
“Have you learned their tricks too?” Lan Xi had grown up with her and was one of the very few people in the palace Shen Yanxin could fully trust. Now even Lan Xi was acting like this, and Shen Yanxin couldn’t help but feel a little emotional.
Hearing this, Lan Xi pressed her lips together, then finally spoke honestly: “Your servant believes the Empress probably has no other intentions. Besides, the Sikong is your person. The Empress would hardly go against her own family. From what Your servant knows, the Empress highly values familial bonds.”
“Yes.” Shen Yanxin let out a scornful laugh. “If she didn’t care, she wouldn’t be in the palace today.”
When they reached Eternal Peace Palace, Shen Yanxin still didn’t have anyone announce her arrival. She simply had the palace maids lead the way to the side hall.
From a distance, she saw Si Yunqin making Yuwen Luo run laps. His face was flushed red, his forehead covered in sweat. The little emperor, who should have been delicate and spoiled, didn’t complain.
Meanwhile, Si Yunqin sat to the side, leisurely eating fruit.
Her days were as carefree as ever—so carefree that Shen Yanxin felt a twinge of envy.
Such a life: delicious food to satisfy the five organs, beauties to please the eye, storybooks to pass the time, palace maids to handle the palace affairs. If she slept too much during the day, she could go out and climb the palace walls for exercise at night. Who wouldn’t envy that?
