Chapter 43: The Web of Alliances

After leaving the palace, the trio went directly to the Sikong residence. Si Yunqin hadn’t seen her parents at home for some time and was rather homesick.

Yuwen Qiyue and Xi Fengyu accompanied Yunqin home. Seeing the joyful sight of the Si family, a picture of harmony and happiness, the two of them couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy.

One was unable to return home because it was too far away, while the other had never experienced such warmth and therefore coveted it.

Of course, Yunqin only gave her mother and her Aunt a simple hug.

As for her wastrel of a father, she was far less enthusiastic.

She didn’t reveal who Yuwen Qiyue truly was. Seeing Qiyue, her father, Si Yan, was taken aback for a moment. Yunqin gave a slight shake of her head, and Si Yan didn’t ask any further questions. Whether it was Si Yan or Cheng Wan, they both knew not to pry, and they also trusted that their daughter wouldn’t do anything too reckless.

Yunqin didn’t stay at home for long. After a while, she dragged Xi Fengyu and Yuwen Qiyue off to the largest restaurant in Heavenly Light City, where a storyteller was in the middle of a tale.

Yuwen Qiyue found it fascinating. Having grown up deep within the Imperial Palace, she had never seen such things before, so everything was captivatingly fresh to her.

The two walked beside her, addressing her as “Young Master.” Yuwen Qiyue held a folding fan in her hand, looking every bit the part of a peerless, cultured young master, warm and refined like fine jade. Just so.

The three had unfamiliar faces, but their clothes and accessories spoke of extraordinary wealth and status, which drew curious looks from many of the regular patrons.

However, it didn’t take long for the others to piece it together. They had seen the three alight from the Sikong carriage, and they weren’t trying to hide anything.

They went straight up to the third floor, where, to their surprise, Yan Yusheng was already waiting for them, accompanied by a friend of hers.

“Yan Yusheng? Why is she here?” Xi Fengyu whispered to Yunqin. Yunqin leaned close to her ear and murmured, “I called her here. Yan Yusheng hasn’t been officially appointed to a post yet, but she’s considered a student of my father now. My Elder Sister says she’s already made a name for herself among the literati of Heavenly Light City. It’s easier to get things done with her around.”

Fengyu nodded in understanding. “It is indeed more convenient with him here.”

“You two have arrived,” Yan Yusheng said. She was already quite familiar with them, so there was no stiffness in her greeting.

Yunqin and Fengyu exchanged greetings with her. Yusheng’s gaze fell on Yuwen Qiyue. “And this is…”

“Oh, this is Young Master Qiu, also known as Master Qiu Zhaobai, the fiancé of my Elder Sister, Si Qi.” This was the story they had concocted before leaving the palace.

After dressing up Yuwen Qiyue, Yunqin felt she was simply too handsome. Even disguised as a man, she was bound to attract the attention of the city’s noble ladies. But one couldn’t very well wear a mask all the time when out in public.

Yunqin had seen how the noble ladies of Heavenly Light City behaved. They were nothing like the gentle, courteous, and rule-abiding Grand Princess Yuwen Qiyue.

Especially the daughters of military officers. They were capable of snatching people right off the street. Yunqin had witnessed it several times before.

Many of those military officers’ daughters were exceptionally bold and fierce. Yunqin felt entirely outmatched. In the end, they decided it was best for Fengyu and Qiyue to pretend to be an engaged couple.

At the time, Fengyu had asked, “Why not you?”

Yunqin had cleared her throat. “Wouldn’t that be… inappropriate?”

“What if the Empress Dowager found out? It’s against the rules.” Yunqin had made that up on the spot.

Fengyu didn’t believe her nonsense for a second. What was the Empress Dowager to her, after all? Even if she found out, what of it? A simple explanation would suffice. And what rules were they talking about? Did it make it any more acceptable for her to pretend to be Qiyue’s fiancé?

But Fengyu was too lazy to argue with her. She agreed without much fuss, though Yuwen Qiyue felt a bit embarrassed about the whole thing.

Just like now, after Yunqin finished the introductions, Fengyu reached out and took Qiyue’s hand, addressing Yan Yusheng with a polite bow. “Master Yan, long time no see.”

“Miss Si Qi, long time no see.”

“Please, everyone, take a seat,” said Zhao Shiran, the son of the Prefect of Xingyang Commandery, who was standing behind Yusheng, inviting them to sit with a gentle gesture.

The five of them sat down together. A servant boy came over to serve tea, but Yusheng said they didn’t need help and would handle it themselves.

The reason they chose this place was because of its excellent view. It was also a favorite haunt of the city’s literati.

They had heard that a close friend of the Wen Clan’s eldest son often came to this tea house to listen to songs and watch plays.

Thus, they were here to try their luck. Even if the eldest son of the Wen Clan didn’t show up, it wouldn’t be a total loss; they had at least managed to take Yuwen Qiyue out for some fun.

Besides, the Wen Clan’s eldest son wasn’t just here for a single day. It seemed he planned to stay for quite a while.

Shen Yanxin had even told her that this eldest son of the Wen Clan would likely be seeking the Grand Princess’s hand in marriage on the twelfth of next month.

If that was the case, they had plenty of time—more than enough to find an opportunity to get in contact with him.

They didn’t discuss much else. Yunqin simply asked Yusheng about the matter of official appointments and rewards.

Zhao Shiran wasn’t worried for Yusheng at all. “Brother Yan performed exceptionally well in the Imperial Examination. I expect he’ll receive a very good official post.”

“The official decree will be issued in a few days. There’s no rush. We’ll know soon enough.” Yusheng herself wasn’t anxious about it. Yunqin rather admired her calm and unhurried demeanor.

They chatted casually about other things, and somehow the conversation drifted to the subject of the aristocratic clans.

Yusheng spoke boldly, saying that she felt the power of the aristocratic families was too strong. If they weren’t curbed, they would inevitably erode the Son of Heaven’s authority.

On hearing this, Zhao Shiran quickly lowered his voice. “Don’t say things like that. I heard that the eldest son of the Wen Clan has already arrived in Heavenly Light City today. This trip is to seek betrothal to Her Highness, the Grand Princess.”

“Even the Late Emperor didn’t dare to make a move against the aristocratic clans. And with the Empress Dowager regent, would she dare to oppose them? Remember, when Emperor Taizu founded the dynasty, he received a great deal of help from these families.”

Yunqin was surprised that these two were so daring with their words.

But on second thought, it wasn’t all that strange. Although Zhao Shiran was the son of the Xingyang County Prefect, the Prefect had little connection to the aristocratic clans. He was also a man of common origins. Though not a military officer by birth, he was famous for his unyielding pride.

Having grown up in such an environment, it was possible that Zhao Shiran harbored dissatisfaction with the aristocratic families.

As for Yan Yusheng, she had dared to cross-dress as a man to participate in the official selection process. That alone showed she was no shrinking violet.

Hearing their words, Yuwen Qiyue frowned slightly. “It’s not as if the aristocratic clans would never support the Son of Heaven. If the Emperor grants them favors, naturally their interests become aligned.”

But Yunqin let out a scoff. “Young Master Qiu is mistaken there.”

Lowering her voice again, she continued, “The aristocratic clans are too powerful. If the Son of Heaven acts in a way that displeases them, they would be perfectly happy as long as the imperial surname is still ‘Yuwen.'”

Yuwen Qiyue quickly reached out to cover her mouth. “You can’t just say things like that!”

“But it’s the truth,” Yan Yusheng said softly.

Yuwen Qiyue fell silent, mulling it over.

Yunqin was trying to wake her up. The reason Qiyue was willing to marry the eldest son of the Wen Clan was largely out of consideration for the Yuwen family’s interests. She believed that the Wen Clan could provide support for Yuwen Luo.

But she needed to understand that a three-year-old Emperor could be discarded as a pawn at any time.

History was filled with such examples. Marriage alliances were a very fragile bond.

What people truly wanted were tangible, concrete benefits.

If the eldest son of the Wen Clan and Yuwen Qiyue could share a true meeting of hearts, that would be a different story. But if not, then Qiyue needed the resolve to break off this marriage herself.

This was also part of the task Shen Yanxin had given her. But it wasn’t just about completing the task. It was more about looking out for Yuwen Qiyue. After all, if Shen Yanxin truly came into conflict with the aristocratic families, and the Wen Clan’s eldest son didn’t care for Yuwen Qiyue, then she would only end up as a sacrificial lamb.

“Alright, enough of that. I think the play on stage today is rather good,” Xi Fengyu interjected, deftly changing the subject.

They then shared a meal together. The eldest son of the Wen Clan didn’t come to the tea house, but Yunqin wasn’t too bothered by it.

After the meal, they returned to the Sikong residence for a short rest. Then, Yunqin dragged Yuwen Qiyue out again to go shopping.

Qiyue had never strolled through a street market like this before. Everything she saw was a novelty.

Before they knew it, the market stalls were starting to close up for the day. Heavenly Light City still had a curfew. Except for special days when the night market was allowed, it was prohibited at all other times.

The three of them reluctantly returned to the palace only when the market was completely closed.

Back in the palace, Yuwen Qiyue alighted from the carriage, looking a bit sheepish as she asked Yunqin, “Can we leave the palace again tomorrow?”

A small smile played at the corners of Yunqin’s lips. “Of course we can.”

Yan Ke was still accompanying them as their guard, along with two other Shadow Guards hidden in the shadows. Both Xi Fengyu and Yunqin were aware of them and had no objections. After all, their identities were too sensitive. If anything went wrong, neither of them would be able to bear the consequences.

After returning to her quarters and freshening up, Yunqin made a brief record of the day’s events.

She chose not to submit it directly to Shen Yanxin just yet. She planned to make a report once every five days.

The next day, the three left the palace again, just as they had the day before. They went to the Sikong residence first. Today, her Elder Sister was home. Her brother-in-law, Yun Yi, was on duty at the palace. They had arrived early and ran into her Second Brother, who was just returning from his patrol of the city.

Si Yuanju was holding a packet of sugar-roasted chestnuts in his arms, which Yunqin promptly snatched from him.

“You certainly make yourself at home,” he remarked.

“What, am I supposed to be polite with my Second Brother?” Yunqin said, a smile tugging at her lips. She took two chestnuts for herself and gave the rest to Yuwen Qiyue. “Young Master Qiu, please, don’t stand on ceremony.”

Seeing Yuwen Qiyue, Si Yuanju was taken aback for a second. He turned to Yunqin. “And this is?”

“He’s the fiancé of my Elder Sister, Si Qi. Did you forget, Brother?” Yunqin’s smile widened.

Si Yuanju: “…”

He had just set himself up for an awkward question. He didn’t have any cousin named Si Qi, so where did a cousin-in-law come from?

It seemed Yunqin didn’t want to tell him the person’s real identity. Since that was the case, he wouldn’t ask any further. He knew his younger sister’s identity was special, and leaving the palace itself was already breaking the rules. He gave a slight bow in greeting. “Cousin-in-law, long time no see.”

“Brother, are you familiar with the eldest son of the Wen Clan?” Yunqin asked him directly.

Si Yuanju thought for a moment and shook his head. “No, I’m not. I’ve never even met him. Are you looking to get acquainted with him?”

His gaze swept over the three of them. It couldn’t be that they had taken a fancy to that Wen Kai, could it? After all, Yunqin was the Empress, Xi Fengyu was a former Consort of the Late Emperor, and as for this third person, he couldn’t even be sure if it was a man or a woman.

“Yes. Can you help us out, Brother?” Yunqin asked, propping her chin on her hand.

“That’s not difficult.”

“Then I’ll be counting on you, Brother.” Yunqin didn’t stand on ceremony with her own brother at all.

“What’s in it for me?” Si Yuanju gave her a sidelong glance. She was still the same as she was as a child—no action without a reward.

A crafty glint flickered in Yunqin’s eyes. “I came into possession of a fine bow recently.”

“Deal.” Si Yuanju raised his hand for a high-five.

Yunqin reached up and slapped his palm.

True to his word, Si Yuanju wasted no time. He took them out that very afternoon. Yunqin was very satisfied with his speed.