Chapter 27

After returning to the palace, Xi Fengyu ate a meal together at the Eternal Peace Palace, then went back to her own bedchamber.

While Si Yunqin hummed a ditty and soaked in a bath, Shen Yanxin was still hard at work.

Then Yan Ke entered and reported on Si Yunqin’s activities for the day—just the itinerary, of course, nothing too detailed.

Shen Yanxin nodded. “Protect the Empress and Consort Yu well.”

“Understood.” Yan Ke knelt on the ground and accepted the order.

Shen Yanxin looked at Yan Ke kneeling before her and inexplicably said, “The Empress doesn’t like people kneeling. In the future, don’t kneel in front of her.”

Yan Ke was taken aback, but still respectfully agreed.

“Tomorrow, there’s no need to report her itinerary either. Just protect her.” Shen Yanxin said indifferently.

To be honest, she didn’t have that much energy to keep track of where Si Yunqin went every day.

The next day, Si Yunqin and Xi Fengyu left the palace early as usual. This time, they didn’t head straight to the Sikong Mansion but went to the Examination Hall to find the Grand Tutor.

Si Yunqin pulled the Grand Tutor aside and talked for a whole morning, her lips almost chapped by the time she finished.

The Grand Tutor was quite willing to help her. After they finished talking, he offered to treat them to a meal. Si Yunqin declined, saying she wanted to go to the biggest restaurant in the city to eat her fill.

But then that shameless Grand Tutor insisted on tagging along. Since he was going, he naturally had to bring Zhu Jing’an along as well.

She hadn’t eaten out in a long time, and the food outside tasted pretty good.

At the dinner table, the Grand Tutor didn’t forget to lecture Si Yunqin. Si Yunqin, focused entirely on eating, just gave him vague replies, not really taking it to heart.

There was a storyteller in the restaurant. Si Yunqin found the story quite interesting. The storyteller was recounting how the Founding Emperor had pacified the Central Plains back in the day.

The tale was full of twists and turns. It also said that the Founding Emperor was a devoted lover, that he had been deeply in love with King Gan of Fengwu in the past. But with their different stances, the Founding Emperor destroyed Fengwu and wanted to make King Gan his Empress. Unfortunately, King Gan would rather die than submit—she burned herself to death in the King Gan’s Mansion.

After that, the Founding Emperor never elevated anyone to Empress for the rest of his life.

Thus, the world praised the Founding Emperor for his devotion—an emperor with grand ambitions and great talent, yet he loved only one person. Such a story was naturally passed down through the ages.

But after hearing it, Xi Fengyu and Si Yunqin only found it amusing.

Calling the Founding Emperor a great strategist and ruler was fine, but saying he was devoted was an overstatement. Perhaps there was some affection, but not much.

However, Si Yunqin would certainly not comment on this publicly. She understood the Founding Emperor’s position. Back then, the Central Plains was divided among feudal lords, each declaring themselves kings. The Northern Barbarians were also eyeing them covetously, having already swallowed many Han cities.

To end such chaos, unifying the world was necessary, and that meant destroying Fengwu.

King Gan, as the ruler of Fengwu, had already surrendered the city for the sake of her people. To make her the queen of a conquered nation—her pride would never allow it.

Si Yunqin had read about this King Gan of Fengwu in history books. She was the last ruler of Fengwu and its only female monarch. She had the ability to govern the country and a heart that loved the people as if they were her own children. The Zhao Kingdom’s historical records held her in high regard.

But Fengwu was too weak; its destruction was inevitable. One could only say that she was born at the wrong time—a great pity.

Anyway, based on what the history books recorded, Si Yunqin rather admired this King Gan.

After listening to the story, the two prepared to head back. Not to the Imperial Palace, but to the Sikong Mansion.

From then on, they frequently left the palace and often visited Si Xiaoyu’s mansion. But this kind of thing wouldn’t produce results in a day or two.

Si Yunqin wasn’t in a hurry either. After all, it wasn’t particularly difficult to complete the task. What she had given was just a preliminary plan; the execution was definitely up to Shen Yanxin to decide.

So, having nothing better to do, Si Yunqin started taking Xi Fengyu to the Fragrant Pavilion. Xi Fengyu teased her for trying to be cultured.

Si Yunqin waved her hand at her. “Not at all. Being cultured or not doesn’t matter. The main thing is that the pretty sisters dance beautifully.”

“Are you coming or not?” Si Yunqin turned around to ask her.

Xi Fengyu smiled, twirling the folding fan in her hand. “I’m coming. Why wouldn’t I?”

The Fragrant Pavilion was the largest pleasure house in Heavenly Light City. Who, having read classical novels, wouldn’t want to see it?

Of course, she had to go. Before, she couldn’t find peace in the Imperial Harem, but now that she could get out, she wanted to enjoy her freedom and take in the liveliness of the world.

As Si Yunqin put it, staying in the harem all the time would dry up her inspiration.

That made sense. You couldn’t build a carriage behind closed doors.

But the two had to return before the palace gates closed at night, so Si Yunqin dragged Xi Fengyu to the Fragrant Pavilion right when it opened in the afternoon.

As soon as they arrived, the welcoming girls looked over. Some had youthful faces, others had alluring figures.

Seeing them approach, they came to greet them. Si Yunqin took out two pieces of silver from her bosom and quietly gave them to the girls. In this trade, most tips had to be handed over to the establishment. Si Yunqin was a regular, so she knew the rules here.

“Ladies, please come in. Would you like tea and music, or to watch a dance?” Having received a separate tip, the greeter felt more favorably toward them.

Si Yunqin took out a jade pendant. “I’m looking for Sister Yiyi.”

“A regular of Yiyi’s?” The woman took the pendant and looked at it. It was indeed a token that Yiyi’s regular customers carried.

“Yiyi doesn’t have many regulars, and even fewer young ladies. This is the first time I’ve seen you, miss.”

Si Yunqin smiled at her. “Thank you for your trouble, sister.”

“Please go upstairs.”

Xi Fengyu smiled at Si Yunqin. “I didn’t expect you to have a close friend among the Fragrant Pavilion’s ladies.”

Si Yunqin covered her mouth with her fan. “Don’t talk nonsense about that. I’ll tell you later. We’re here to have fun.”

After entering the room, a servant came in to serve tea. Si Yunqin didn’t hold back and ordered a dance.

Only after one dance finished did Yiyi finally arrive. Xi Fengyu rested her chin on her hand, watching the girls dance seriously. Their movements were seductive and light, completely different from the dignified and graceful dance of the imperial dancers.

But it did leave an impression on her mind, giving her some inspiration.

“You’re quite bold, daring to come here?” A soft female voice came. Xi Fengyu turned to look. This woman was seductive but not vulgar. Her clothing wasn’t particularly provocative, yet every smile and frown seemed capable of captivating one’s soul.

Her face wasn’t of peerless beauty—perhaps even slightly less refined than Si Yunqin’s—but that vixen-like aura was truly irreplaceable.

Si Yunqin curled her lips into a smile at her. “How did Sister Yiyi know it was me?”

“I’d recognize you even if you turned to ashes.” Yiyi said with exasperation.

Si Yunqin poured her a cup of tea. “I haven’t been here for a few months now. What did I do to upset you, sister?”

Hearing her innocent tone made Yiyi angry. “Did she go to the battlefield?”

Si Yunqin nodded obediently. “I only found out later. I didn’t know until three days after Sister Shang Qian left.”

“Shang Qian? General Shang’s eldest son?”

“Eldest daughter,” Si Yunqin explained quietly.

Xi Fengyu blinked in confusion. Si Yunqin coughed lightly. “Raised as a son despite being a daughter.”

Xi Fengyu vaguely understood. It seemed that this Shang Qian and the top courtesan had some story. She was quite curious.

“Forget it. What happened between her and me has nothing to do with you anyway. What do you want today?” Yiyi asked with a smile.

Si Yunqin lazily poured herself a cup of wine. “Nothing really. Just bringing my friend to listen to some music and watch some dances. We’ll head back when it gets dark.”

“How can you even get out? Did you sneak out?” Yiyi asked worriedly. “How can you do that?”

Si Yunqin took a sip of wine. “No, I didn’t. I came out with permission, openly and honestly.”

Having spent time in places like this, Yiyi knew what to ask and what not to ask.

Since the Empress had left the palace, it certainly wasn’t just for fun. Yiyi didn’t press further.

She just walked over to the pipa, picked it up, and asked the two what they wanted to hear.

After a while, dancing girls came in and performed two dances. By the time the pot of wine was finished, the sky outside was nearly dark.

Yan Ke knocked on the door from outside. “It’s time for the two ladies to return.”

Si Yunqin stood up and said to Yiyi, “I’ll come again tomorrow.”

“Go on, get out of here.” Yiyi couldn’t be more eager to get rid of her.

On the way back to the palace, the swaying of the carriage made Si Yunqin drowsy. But Xi Fengyu was curious and insisted on dragging her to tell the story of Yiyi and Shang Qian.

There wasn’t much to tell. Shang Qian had been raised as a boy since childhood and was now in the military. However, Shang Qian and Si Yunqin had been close friends since they were young, both from military officer families. Naturally, they often fought and played together.

Later, when they got older, they started frequenting the Fragrant Pavilion together.

Shang Qian and Yiyi had met there, and feelings grew over time.

“You also know that last year General Shang went missing on an expedition. Shang Qian, carrying the burden of the eldest child in the family, couldn’t just ignore it. Plus, her family wanted to arrange a marriage for her. Shang Qian got scared and ran off first. Of course, there might have been other issues between her and Yiyi. I wouldn’t know about that—I don’t live under their bed.” Si Yunqin yawned, genuinely sleepy.

After hearing this, Xi Fengyu felt that it wouldn’t be easy for those two to achieve a happy ending.

Upon entering the palace gates, two carriages were waiting inside—one for the Eternal Peace Palace and one for the Bright Palace. The two weren’t going the same way, so they parted there and returned to their respective palaces.

Si Yunqin sat in the carriage, looking half asleep.

The carriage suddenly stopped. Thinking they had arrived, Si Yunqin lifted the curtain to get out. “Are we here?”

But she unexpectedly met Shen Yanxin’s gaze.

Si Yunqin froze, the alcohol in her system sobering up by a third.

Then she heard Shen Yanxin say, “The Empress seems quite at ease, even having the leisure to drink some wine.”

Si Yunqin inexplicably felt a chill run down her back.

What was this person doing wandering around the palace so late at night?

Si Yunqin quickly got out of the carriage and bowed. “Your subject greets the Empress Dowager.”

Shen Yanxin looked at her outfit and the mask on her face. What a spirited young woman.

“Rise.” Shen Yanxin said indifferently.

Si Yunqin stood up, not daring to look in Shen Yanxin’s direction.

But then Shen Yanxin walked toward her. Si Yunqin instinctively wanted to step back, but felt that might not be appropriate, so she could only stand still.

Shen Yanxin extended a fair hand, her fingertips landing on Si Yunqin’s mask. “This mask is quite nice.”

Si Yunqin smiled awkwardly. “Your subject bought it at a temple fair stall before entering the palace.”

Shen Yanxin sniffed slightly, catching a strong smell of rouge and powder.

She withdrew her hand and said flatly, “The Empress seems to have quite a few close female friends.”

Si Yunqin: …

What exactly was she trying to say?