Meeting Si Yunqin’s puzzled gaze, her mother glanced at her and said, “Alright, I know what you’re thinking.”
“Fine,” Si Yunqin said, rubbing her nose.
“Mother, I’m not miserable. Anyway, it’s not like I can find someone who truly understands me outside. Staying in the palace is pretty good—I have power, status, and no one dares to cross me, right?” Si Yunqin said with a chuckle.
After lunch, she managed to soothe her mother’s mood and personally saw her off. Only then did Si Yunqin breathe a sigh of relief. But then it occurred to her: if Shen Yanxin really decided to send her out of the palace, her mother would think she was even more miserable.
Si Yunqin let out a deep sigh. Forget it, there was nothing to be done about it. She would deal with it when the time came.
Ever since Shen Yanxin had taken charge, there weren’t many rules left in the palace. On the first day of the new year, Shen Yanxin was still in the Imperial Study reviewing memorials—what kind of strict rules could there be?
To the surrendered women and children from the Southern Yue Palace, Si Yunqin specially bestowed some palace pastries.
After the sixth day of the new year, everything gradually began to return to normal. The various businesses owned by the people of the Imperial Harem also started operations one after another.
As for Si Yunqin, she didn’t have much to do. She spent her days loafing outside the palace, visiting Yiyi and Zhu Jing’an to chat. All in all, life was quite pleasant.
Meanwhile, Shen Yanxin was extremely busy in the court. The New Year celebrations were over, but the ice disaster in the Northern Region was not.
At this critical juncture, especially under that rigid disaster relief supervisor, someone still dared to embezzle relief funds and provisions—this truly crossed Shen Yanxin’s bottom line.
In the court, she dismissed many officials and even threw the grain transport officer responsible this time into death row, to be executed after the autumn harvest.
Shen Yanxin making such a big move before the fifteenth day of the new year caught many people off guard.
The court was in an uproar, and Si Yunqin had heard about it.
“Shen Yanxin is genuinely furious this time,” Si Yunqin said to Xi Fengyu in the Bright Palace.
Yuwen Qiyue had just walked over and tapped her on the forehead. “Addressing the Empress Dowager by her personal name is disrespectful.”
“I even call her that to her face. It doesn’t matter. Elder Sister Qiyue, did you find out anything?” It was only the second day of court, and Si Yunqin hadn’t left the palace, so she wasn’t clear on the details. But if Yuwen Qiyue went to inquire, it would be more convenient for her.
“Mm, the Vice Sikong sent word that the Grain Transport Officer, Qin Si, had embezzled up to half of the disaster relief supplies. The Empress Dowager is furious. Your elder brother is also implicated. You know that your brother was in charge of the initial transport, and Qin Si insists that the goods your brother provided were problematic,” Yuwen Qiyue said with a worried expression.
“It seems they’re trying to force my father to break with the Empress Dowager.” If the charge was confirmed, the Sikong Mansion would lose the Eldest Young Master, and they would inevitably break with Shen Yanxin.
Of course, that was what those people thought. Even if her father knew that her elder brother was being framed, if Shen Yanxin directly convicted him without a thorough investigation, then the charge would be imposed by Shen Yanxin. Both officially and personally, Shen Yanxin and her father would never be the same as before.
“What are you planning to do?” Xi Fengyu asked worriedly. This matter was no small thing.
Si Yunqin shook her head and sighed softly. “Spring is coming, but this world won’t find peace.”
“I don’t know. I need to ask my father and Shen Yanxin,” Si Yunqin sighed.
“Half of the supplies and silver—how many commoners are waiting for their lives to be saved? Shen Yanxin’s fury is justified. This year’s snow was too heavy.” Si Yunqin truly understood Shen Yanxin; she was indeed a ruler who cared for the people.
Xi Fengyu and Yuwen Qiyue also sighed. “Fortunately, it was discovered in time.”
“The court is full of treacherous schemes. When officials fight among themselves and harm the common people, that is truly unjust.”
Si Yunqin looked at Yuwen Qiyue, stood up, and bowed to her. “Elder Sister Qiyue, I need your help.”
“Yunqin, just say it,” Yuwen Qiyue quickly helped her up.
Si Yunqin pursed her lips. “The Chancellor is from the Imperial Loyalist Faction—we both know that. But there are others we don’t know about. So I hope you can show them a willingness to cooperate and hint at my strong dissatisfaction with Shen Yanxin. Those people must want to use the grain transport matter to do something; otherwise, they wouldn’t act without reason. Qin Si, just a lowly grain transport supervisor with a rank no higher than sixth grade—how could he have the guts to embezzle on his own?”
Xi Fengyu caught on. “So maybe they were targeting the Empress Dowager. They probably didn’t expect it to be exposed, nor did they expect the Empress Dowager to have the Shadow Guard supervising. The relief personnel were all selected by the Empress Dowager, which means there must be some among them who outwardly obey the Empress Dowager but are secretly aligned with the Imperial Loyalist Faction.”
“And they must have a backup plan. It won’t be that simple,” Xi Fengyu speculated.
Yuwen Qiyue was momentarily bewildered. “So complicated.”
She frowned slightly. “I’m afraid I can’t handle it.”
Si Yunqin gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s fine. Fengyu and I are here. We’ll teach you. In short, don’t be too soft with those people. Be fierce when you need to be.”
“I’ve never been fierce with anyone,” Yuwen Qiyue said aggrievedly.
Si Yunqin really didn’t know what to do. She looked at Xi Fengyu. “Senior Sister? Help train her a bit?”
Xi Fengyu sighed. “I owe you one.”
Then Xi Fengyu added, “I’m not fierce either.”
Si Yunqin’s eyes shifted. “How about this: whenever Elder Sister Qiyue meets them in the future, you go along. Pretend that you also want to conspire. The reason is simple—say you want to leave the palace.”
“That works too. Otherwise, there’s no other way. After all, her status as the Grand Princess is set.” Using Yuwen Qiyue to express dissatisfaction with Shen Yanxin was the best approach.
After giving her instructions, Si Yunqin left the palace and went directly to the Sikong Mansion. Her father had just returned from the morning court.
When Si Yunqin went to the study, she saw him with a worried expression.
“Father, are you worrying about Elder Brother’s matter?” Si Yunqin asked directly.
“Yes,” Si Yan let out a long sigh. “Why have you come?”
Si Yunqin closed the door. “What did the Empress Dowager say about this?”
“The Empress Dowager has temporarily imprisoned your elder brother and ordered the Grand Court of Justice to thoroughly investigate the matter.” Si Yan rubbed his brow. “Your brother was framed, but they have fabricated evidence. If the Sikong Mansion, the Grand Court of Justice, and the Empress Dowager can’t find evidence of your elder brother’s innocence, then he truly won’t be able to defend himself. The Empress Dowager is in a difficult position too.”
“If the Empress Dowager really convicts Brother, what will you do, Father?” Si Yunqin asked.
Si Yan’s face immediately showed anger. “Your father is not stupid. It’s nothing but the Chancellor and others thinking that if something happens to your elder brother, I would side with them. But how could I, your father, consort with wolves who harmed my son? The Empress Dowager’s anger this time is for the people. I understand that. Yunqin, you haven’t seen people frozen to death. I have. I understand.”
“Then I understand. I will find a way to handle Elder Brother’s matter. The Empress Dowager certainly won’t kill Brother. You can be completely assured of that, Father. You mentioned the Chancellor? Has the Chancellor contacted you?”
“After court ended today, he said a few words to me. Nothing more than saying that this world ultimately belongs to the Yuwen clan, and telling me not to be muddleheaded,” Si Yan said with disdain.
“Exposing himself so early? Could they really have a backup plan?” Si Yunqin couldn’t figure out what else they could do.
She frowned slightly, trying to connect the clues, but couldn’t make sense of it.
“In any case, Father, be careful. If they come to win you over, it wouldn’t hurt to agree. If you don’t agree, and you hear that I have already conspired with them, don’t be alarmed,” Si Yunqin cautioned.
“Qin’er, what are you planning to do?” Si Yan frowned slightly. His daughter had always been clever and resourceful.
“Nothing much. Just give the wolves courage. Once they’re bold, they’ll show their tails.” Si Yunqin had a rough idea of what Shen Yanxin wanted to do. These people who wanted to cling to the Yuwen clan and use the Young Emperor to rise to power—it would be better to remove them first. She was only afraid that Prince Han would be implicated as a result.
“You…” Si Yan sighed. “Your father needs to discuss this with the Empress Dowager.”
Si Yunqin shook her head. “No need. I will find the Empress Dowager myself when I return to the palace. As long as you know that I won’t truly oppose you, it’s fine.”
Si Yan relaxed his brow, went over, and patted her shoulder. “Good. Your father will always stand behind you.”
“I knew my daughter has always been clever.” Si Yunqin had given Si Yan plenty of advice in the past, so he naturally knew his daughter’s abilities.
Si Yunqin smiled. “Father, I have one more question.”
“If one day I am deposed as empress and driven out of the palace?” Si Yunqin wanted to know her family’s attitude in advance.
Si Yan frowned again. “What are you up to now? Being driven out of the palace would mean angering the Empress Dowager. But if you really could leave the palace, that would be good too. You’ve been used to freedom since you were little.”
Hearing her father’s words, Si Yunqin went over and hugged him. “Thank you, Father. I understand.”
“As long as your father remains the Sikong of Great Zhao, there is no way I cannot protect my own children.” Si Yan was extremely protective of his own, and Si Yunqin had known that since childhood.
A slight smile curved her lips. “Father, rest assured. I’m not going to rebel.”
After bidding farewell to Si Yan, Si Yunqin rushed back to the palace. She returned to the Eternal Peace Palace, changed her clothes, and freshened up before heading to the Imperial Study. This time, she didn’t just bring Si Yin or Lin Feng with her—instead, she went with a full empress’s procession, traveling in a grand and ostentatious manner, as if afraid the world wouldn’t know.
When Si Yunqin arrived outside the Imperial Study, Lan Xi was waiting outside. After reporting to Shen Yanxin, Lan Xi summoned Si Yunqin to enter.
Just as she was about to go in, the Chancellor came out.
Si Yunqin exchanged a glance with him. The Chancellor bowed first and took his leave.
After she entered, Lan Xi closed the door.
The Chancellor looked back once before fully turning and leaving.
As soon as Si Yunqin entered, her demeanor completely changed. Her small face was scrunched up. “This empress’s attire is no less heavy than the phoenix crown and colorful robe from the grand wedding. It’s all dreadfully heavy.”
Shen Yanxin let out a soft laugh, her gaze falling on the lavishly dressed figure. She felt that the girl was still too young; the outfit looked too ornate and heavy, unsuited for her.
“Has the Empress come to interrogate me?” Shen Yanxin said half-jokingly.
“You threw my elder brother into prison. Shouldn’t I come to ask and plead for leniency?” Si Yunqin retorted.
Shen Yanxin nodded. “Indeed, you should.”
“Exactly.”
Si Yunqin unceremoniously began to drink tea. “Can you, old one, explain to your subject what exactly is going on?”
Shen Yanxin looked at her hand holding the teacup. “Am I very old?”
Si Yunqin nearly choked on her tea. “You really know how to pick out the important points.”
