Si Yunqin handed the wine she had brought to Lan Xi. “Please take a look, Aunt Lan Xi.”
Shen Yanxin chuckled lightly. “What, would you dare to poison it?”
Si Yunqin then took out some other food. “I wouldn’t dare, but that doesn’t mean others wouldn’t. The wine was brought in from outside the palace, not made by the palace cooks, so it’s better to be cautious. The Empress Dowager is of noble status; there must be no mishap.”
Shen Yanxin just smiled. “Alright, go inside and sit.”
Si Yunqin obediently followed her in, then handed her little notebook to Shen Yanxin. On the cover were written large words: Work Report.
Shen Yanxin smiled inexplicably, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. She opened the notebook, which recorded the itinerary of the three of them over the past few days, along with some summaries.
“In short, Wen Kai is definitely not a good match. The Grand Princess doesn’t like someone like him, and the Wen Clan doesn’t have much reverence for the Emperor.”
It wasn’t that Si Yunqin was a supporter of feudal autocracy, but rather that feudal autocracy was the most suitable system for the current era. She didn’t have the ability, like the protagonists of novels she’d read in her past life, to travel to a feudal era and directly usher in an age of freedom and democracy. She couldn’t do that, so she could only do her best to choose the side she felt was most suitable for this era.
The monarchy would have its successors to dismantle it; times always move forward. Si Yunqin firmly believed this.
After reading, Shen Yanxin roughly understood. “What has the Grand Princess decided?”
“She’s still thinking. Whether to break off the engagement is naturally her own decision. I can’t decide for her. I’m just reporting on the work in advance.” Si Yunqin knew she couldn’t escape Shen Yanxin’s trap; she could only be her worker.
Shen Yanxin closed the notebook. “I understand.”
“I also have something related to the Empress. Would the Empress be interested in hearing it?” Shen Yanxin asked.
Si Yunqin had already picked up a piece of pastry, but upon hearing this, she put it down. “What is it?”
“There’s news of your elder brother,” Shen Yanxin said calmly to Si Yunqin.
Her face was expressionless, her eyes calm, and even her smile had faded. For a moment, Si Yunqin couldn’t tell if the news was good or bad.
But her heart couldn’t help racing. She lightly pinched the tip of her left finger that hung at her side. “May I ask the Empress Dowager, what is the news?”
Seeing her like that, Shen Yanxin poured her a cup of wine, then poured one for herself. Only then did she look up at Si Yunqin. Si Yunqin couldn’t figure out the meaning behind her actions and unconsciously grew tense.
But unexpectedly, Shen Yanxin chuckled lightly and raised her cup. “Congratulations. Your elder brother led an elite force to circle around the mountains, deep into enemy territory, and coordinated with the Grand General’s troops from within and without, breaking through the last line of defense of Southern Yue. Now, Southern Yue is like an open door to our army.”
“The war report was just delivered. I imagine even Sikong doesn’t know yet.” Shen Yanxin raised her hand slightly, watching as Si Yunqin gradually relaxed, then an irrepressible joy appeared on her face.
“As long as Third Brother is alive, that’s good.” Si Yunqin raised her cup, respectfully clinking it with Shen Yanxin’s. “Thank you, Empress Dowager, for telling me in advance.”
“Relieved?” Shen Yanxin finished her wine and asked with a smile.
Si Yunqin nodded seriously.
Shen Yanxin put down her cup. “I know that you work for me because you were afraid I wouldn’t send troops to rescue your elder brother.”
But Si Yunqin shook her head. “Yes, but not entirely.”
“Oh?” Shen Yanxin looked up at Si Yunqin, wanting to hear what other reasons there were.
“Which matter is the Empress Dowager referring to?” Si Yunqin changed her tone, becoming less serious again.
“You’re the only one who dares to joke around in front of me,” Shen Yanxin poked her head.
Si Yunqin smiled. “I am merely speaking my mind.”
“Then say everything. Don’t say I’m forcing you. Even if I pressured you, if you chose to play dumb to the end, I couldn’t actually do anything to you.” Shen Yanxin’s gaze sharpened again.
Si Yunqin also withdrew her smile. “I truly do not wish to meddle in political affairs. The court is deep, and I have a special status. Whether as the daughter of Sikong or as the Empress, even a slight misstep will bring disaster to my family. And what I have sought in this life until now is still just to live freely and carefree.”
“But if everyone could act according to their wishes, there wouldn’t be so many troubles.” Si Yunqin laughed.
“It’s just that when you’re in a position, you do what’s necessary. Nothing else.” And it was true. If her father and brother weren’t in the court, and also of Shen Yanxin’s faction, she wouldn’t have given Shen Yanxin those ideas. Not even if a knife were at her throat.
Of course, there was another reason: Shen Yanxin’s personal charisma did attract her. A woman who could grasp the fate of a dynasty in this era of feudal patriarchy was indeed admirable to Si Yunqin.
Seeing her troubled by the aristocratic clans, and since she indeed had a way to help, she would help if she could.
Shen Yanxin nodded and didn’t say anything more. “Regarding the Grand Princess’s matter, if she comes to ask on her own, I will naturally grant it. But as for the reason for rejecting the marriage, does the Empress have any good ideas? She can’t just reject it for no reason.”
Hearing Shen Yanxin ask her again, Si Yunqin gave her a rather annoyed look. “Empress Dowager, your chain of schemes is truly formidable. One link after another, trapping me completely, aren’t you?”
Shen Yanxin saw that she no longer said polite words in front of her, but she didn’t feel closeness from her either. It was more like a feeling of “Oh well, it’s already like this, what else can I do?”
“For such a matter, I can’t exactly bring it up in court, can I?” Shen Yanxin poured herself wine. The two didn’t seem to be discussing something so important; they were more like drinking wine and chatting gossip.
It was only when she was with Si Yunqin that she didn’t need to hide all her emotions.
Si Yunqin sighed softly. “I don’t know either. Even if all the reasons the Grand Princess dislikes Wen Kai were piled together and told to the whole world, the world would only think the Grand Princess is being unreasonable.”
“After all, all men under heaven are like this. Men having three wives and four concubines is common. Moreover, everyone under heaven lives this way. What right does the Grand Princess have to be different, right?” Si Yunqin threw the question back. “I truly don’t know how to handle it. If you don’t like it, you don’t like it. There aren’t that many reasons.”
Hearing her dissatisfied complaints, her face was full of displeasure toward these rules and etiquette.
Shen Yanxin lowered her eyes. “Yes, everyone under heaven is like this. What right does the Grand Princess have to be different?”
“So discussing the Grand Princess’s marriage in terms of male-female matters is absolutely impossible.”
Shen Yanxin slightly pressed her lips together. She was clearly smiling, but it gave people a sense of ruthlessness and coldness.
Si Yunqin trembled a little. This ruthless person was probably going to do something again.
But on second thought, it wasn’t hard to guess. Shen Yanxin was probably going to use this as an excuse to suppress the Wen Clan.
Si Yunqin didn’t want to get involved, so she changed the subject to the matter of the government-run school.
Shen Yanxin also understood her thoughts and didn’t want to drag Si Yunqin into it this time.
Talking about the government-run school led to the imperial examinations. Si Yunqin didn’t dare drink too much this time. She said some things and held back some.
They talked until late at night. Shen Yanxin still felt reluctant to stop, but Si Yunqin was sleepy and didn’t want to chat anymore. After finishing the wine, she prepared to make a run for it.
Shen Yanxin ate her pastries and drank the wine she brought. She also praised them a few times.
Hearing that she thought the wine was good, Si Yunqin said before leaving: “Then next time I go out, I’ll bring you something else.”
Shen Yanxin didn’t make things difficult for her today, didn’t force her to think of a plan, her elder brother was safe, and the wine was quite tasty. Si Yunqin was in a good mood.
“The Empress certainly knows how to appreciate wine.”
“Of course.” Having drunk wine, though not so drunk as to be unconscious, her courage had increased quite a bit.
She walked out of the pavilion somewhat tipsily, but accidentally missed a step and nearly fell. She was jolted half sober. Before Si Yunqin could react, a hand was placed on her shoulder and pulled her back.
Si Yunqin’s face was already red from the wine. Now she looked at Shen Yanxin with hazy eyes. Her peach blossom eyes seemed full of confusion, as if asking why Shen Yanxin would help her.
Releasing her, Shen Yanxin calmly pinched her nose. “Is the Empress drunk?”
Si Yunqin quickly shook her head. “No, thank you, Empress Dowager.”
After saying that, she ran off in a panic. If she didn’t leave quickly, she would suspect that Shen Yanxin had been possessed.
When Si Yunqin reached the door, as if remembering something, she took a few steps back, turned to look at Shen Yanxin, and said: “Empress Dowager, I know you wish for the Grand Princess to have a good future. But some things, hearing them from others and saying them to oneself are two different things.”
Then she quickly slipped away again, afraid that if Shen Yanxin showed the slightest displeasure, she would be done for.
After all, this was teaching the Empress Dowager how to do things! And she had made such a fool of herself in front of Shen Yanxin! Even if she was drunk, Si Yunqin still felt a little timid.
After she left, Shen Yanxin slightly curled her lips. That girl’s courage was growing day by day. When Si Yunqin first entered the palace, she would take a detour to avoid meeting her. How could she talk like this now?
After drinking with Si Yunqin, she felt much more relaxed. The war with Southern Yue was also within sight of victory.
After she washed up, Lan Xi massaged her shoulders. “The Empress Dowager always seems happy when she sees the Empress recently. It seems the Empress can indeed share your worries and solve problems.”
Shen Yanxin smiled. “Indeed, but it’s not just that.”
“Then what else?” Lan Xi asked cautiously.
“Forget it, let’s not talk about this.” Shen Yanxin waved her hand. “You go rest too.”
She just felt that when she was with that little empress, she didn’t have to calculate everything. That girl clearly knew everything.
Shen Yanxin stretched, lay down, and slept. It was a rare good night’s sleep.
The next day, as soon as Shen Yanxin finished morning court, Yuwen Qiyue came to the Respectful Peace Palace to request an audience.
What she sought was not unexpected to Shen Yanxin.
Shen Yanxin sat in the main seat, looking at Yuwen Qiyue kneeling before her.
“Have you truly thought it through?” Shen Yanxin asked coldly.
Yuwen Qiyue still felt some trepidation in her heart, afraid that Shen Yanxin might not agree, or that the courtiers would not agree.
But thinking of the words Xi Fengyu and Si Yunqin had said to her before coming, she bit her lip and answered firmly: “Reporting to Empress Dowager, I have thought it through. I am unwilling to marry the eldest son of the Wen Clan.”
“Since you’ve thought it through, then so be it,” Shen Yanxin said indifferently.
Yuwen Qiyue was still somewhat surprised, but thinking of some things Si Yunqin had told her these past days, her heart began to lean toward the idea that Shen Yanxin didn’t want her and Yuwen Luo to live unhappily.
“Thank you, Empress Dowager.” Yuwen Qiyue thanked her again.
“Get up. Before Elder Sister passed away, she asked me to take care of you all. I also don’t wish for you to live unhappily,” Shen Yanxin said indifferently.
If Si Yunqin were here, she would probably nod with satisfaction—the Grand Princess had finally spoken up.
Yuwen Qiyue was indeed surprised to hear Shen Yanxin say these words. For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.
It was Shen Yanxin who spoke first. “If there’s nothing else, go back. I still have state affairs to handle.”
“Yes.”
Yuwen Qiyue still felt dazed when she came out of the Respectful Peace Palace. When had Shen Yanxin become so easy to talk to?
