After what happened on Xishan, the Emperor ordered anyone involved to keep quiet about it.
Xie Yao hit dead ends everywhere she went before finally finding one of her late father’s former subordinates and learning what had happened the day before.
“At the time, the Sixth Prince and the Third Prince were standing at the very edge of Xishan. The princes had just finished surveying the hunting grounds and were preparing to head down when a horse nearby was startled. Everything fell into chaos. Then, quite suddenly, the Sixth Prince lost his footing and fell. After he woke up and learned that he might never walk again, he immediately went crying to His Majesty, insisting that he felt someone push him from behind and that it had to be the Crown Prince seeking revenge.”
The old subordinate continued, “He had physical evidence in hand. As for the person suspected of pushing him, once he was identified, he bit off his own tongue and committed suicide. His Majesty likely thought the Sixth Prince would never joke about something involving his own life, so he summoned His Highness the Crown Prince as well.”
Xie Yao already knew what followed.
“His Highness clearly stated that the jade pendant had gone missing. The suspect is dead and cannot testify. His Majesty should have searched for other evidence. No matter what, he shouldn’t have confined His Highness so hastily.” Her tone grew sharper.
Thinking that all of this had begun because of her, Xie Yao became even more worried about Gu Changze’s current situation. Shanglin Garden was colder in spring than most places. She still remembered that he had suffered a flare-up of his illness only a few days ago. Now he was under confinement, and even the imperial physicians were not permitted to visit him. The thought left her increasingly anxious.
“Do you really think His Majesty doesn’t know there are many suspicious points in this matter?”
General Chen let out a soft sigh. What did that mean?
Xie Yao abruptly looked at him. Yet General Chen said no more. “Go back now, my worthy niece.”
General Chen sighed softly. “As for what happened the night before… the Sixth Prince has already ended up in this condition. His Majesty is certainly reluctant to punish him now. But regardless of whether the matter began because of you, the fact that he openly accused the Crown Prince of harming his own brother also means he has no intention of dragging you into it.”
Xie Yao bit her lip and looked at General Chen. “If His Highness truly did it, then it was because he rescued me that night. And if he didn’t, then the Sixth Prince hated and framed him because of me. How can any of this not be my responsibility?”
She understood what General Chen meant. He wanted her to stay out of the matter. But how could she possibly abandon Gu Changze?
After bidding General Chen farewell, Xie Yao hurried away, intending to visit Xishan and inspect the place where the accident had occurred.
To her surprise, the moment she stepped outside, a eunuch was already waiting there. “Miss Xie, His Majesty summons you.”
Over the past two days, news that the Crown Prince had harmed his own brother had spread throughout the capital.
Officials submitted memorial after memorial, insisting that the matter could not be allowed to pass lightly.
Rumor had it that in only a single day, the documents impeaching the Crown Prince had piled high upon the Emperor’s desk.
“All these people…” The Emperor flipped through the memorials, frowning.
“Some are recommending that the Crown Prince be confined for three months. Others suggest docking his stipend for a year. Still others want the matter left to Dun’er himself to decide.”
He shook his head. “But in my view, none of those solutions are appropriate.”
“Then Your Majesty’s intention is…?”
“The illness has plagued Ze’er for three years now. Three years ago, he rendered great service in battle. Because of that, I have given him every honor due to him despite his frail health. I do not wish outsiders to accuse me of being cold-hearted, but the Crown Prince of Great Sheng cannot remain a weak and sickly man forever.”
The eunuch was instantly alarmed. “But a jade pendant alone cannot be considered conclusive evidence.”
“I do not need conclusive evidence.” A trace of coldness flashed through Emperor Yan’s lowered eyes. “I only need outsiders to believe the evidence is conclusive.”
He had been waiting a long time for an opportunity like this.
“Your Majesty, Miss Xie has arrived.” A voice sounded from outside.
Emperor Yan set the memorial down and smiled amiably at Xie Yao.
“You suffered a grievance because of yesterday’s incident. However, Dun’er has already ended up with a crippled leg. I believe he has received the punishment he deserves. I will reprimand him further, and nothing like this will happen again.”
At once, Xie Yao dropped to her knees. “Since Your Majesty knows that what I said is true, then Your Majesty should also thoroughly investigate the matter between the Crown Prince and the Sixth Prince. I believe that His Highness has always been respectful toward his superiors and benevolent toward those beneath him. He would never do something as cruel as harming his own brother.”
The moment she finished speaking, she felt the smile disappear from Emperor Yan’s face. He looked at her silently for a long moment. “You are merely a young lady raised within the inner chambers. You do not understand how ruthless the struggles outside can be.”
His voice was calm. “Perhaps, even if he truly did such a thing, it was not only because of you.”
His words carried absolute certainty, as though he had long since concluded that the Crown Prince was guilty.
Xie Yao understood his implication. He believed that the princes were competing for the position of heir apparent, and that her involvement had merely provided the excuse for such an act.
“But the matter of the jade pendant is not conclusive evidence. If His Highness truly intended to do such a thing, would he deliberately leave behind evidence for others to find?”
In a single sentence, she pointed out the flaw in the argument.
Emperor Yan stepped down from the dais.
A shadow fell over her.
His voice was gentle, yet carried an unmistakable pressure. “Yao’er, I am the Emperor. I will always act impartially according to the law. The reason you speak in the Crown Prince’s defense is simply because you are worried about your marriage to him.”
At once, Xie Yao’s heart tightened. Could the Emperor intend to cancel the engagement as compensation?
“You need not worry. Even if Ze’er has committed a grave offense, I will not allow him to implicate you. Your father and brothers rendered great service to Great Sheng. I will certainly guarantee you a lifetime of wealth and honor.”
Emperor Yan looked at her steadily. “No matter who becomes Crown Prince…”
“You will remain the one and only Crown Princess.”
A loud buzz erupted in Xie Yao’s mind. For a moment, she thought she had misheard. “What did you say?” She lifted her head in disbelief.
“Choose whichever of my sons you wish,” the Emperor said. “No matter which prince you favor, I will grant the marriage.”
The implication was clear: She had to marry into the imperial family.
Xie Yao sensed a trace of pressure in the Emperor’s gaze. Emperor Yan watched her closely, waiting for her reaction.
Instinctively, she lowered her head. “I only speak on behalf of the Crown Prince because I do not wish to see a good man wronged.”
The Emperor let out a smile that was difficult to interpret.
Xie Yao gritted her teeth and was about to say more when a servant hurried in from outside. “Your Majesty, something’s wrong!
A servant from the Crown Prince’s residence has reported that His Highness is unconscious with a high fever and begs Your Majesty to summon an imperial physician to examine him.”
A shock ran through Xie Yao. Worry immediately appeared on her face.
“He was perfectly fine only a few days ago. Now that he’s been confined, he suddenly has a high fever?” The Emperor flew into a rage upon hearing this.
“When he was harming his own brother, he seemed perfectly healthy to me. There is no need to summon an imperial physician.”
“Your Majesty!” Before the eunuch could respond, Xie Yao cried out in alarm. Her face turned pale, and her lips trembled.
“Even if His Highness is under confinement, he is still Your Majesty’s son. His health was already poor to begin with. If no physician is sent, then I fear…”
The Emperor ignored her and turned to the eunuch. “Give them my answer exactly as I said.”
“Your Majesty!” Before the eunuch could respond, Xie Yao cried out. She could tell that the Emperor was still angry. By now, she also understood that the rumors outside were likely true: the Emperor was not particularly fond of this son of his. Yet she could not stop worrying about Gu Changze.
So she knelt and bowed. “The Crown Prince’s confinement is connected to this subject. I humbly beg Your Majesty to permit me to visit His Highness.”
“You wish to go?” The Emperor looked at her. “Are you not afraid of being dragged down by him?”
“His Highness has shown this subject great kindness.”
Xie Yao bowed once more.
The Emperor watched her for a long moment. Seemingly recalling something, he slowly raised a hand. “Since you are willing to go, then go.”
“But remember this: only you may enter.”
Xie Yao hurriedly thanked him for his grace. Knowing Gu Changze was suffering from a high fever, she sought out an imperial physician and got some medicine before setting off.
The guards at the entrance had already received orders. After inspecting everything she carried, they allowed her inside.
This was the second time Xie Yao had come to Gu Changze’s residence. The first time had been when his illness had flared up. She still remembered him standing before her and saying, “Starting tomorrow, the Empress will not summon you again.”
The second time she came, heavily armed guards lined the entrance. Only a handful of servants remained, and the entire residence felt desolate and silent.
Her throat tightened. Quickening her pace, she headed straight inside.
Jiang Zhen was just walking out carrying a bowl when he nearly bumped into her.
“Where is His Highness?” Xie Yao leaned forward, trying to see into the room.
Jiang Zhen looked at her in surprise. Only yesterday, His Highness had been thinking about her, and now she had actually managed to persuade the Emperor to let her come. That was no small feat.
Raising his voice, Jiang Zhen called inside, “Your Highness, Miss Xie has come.”
Cough, cough… “Please ask Miss Xie to come in.”
The moment Xie Yao stepped through the doorway, she smelled the heavy scent of medicine. The braziers that had once warmed the room had already been removed by imperial order. The late-spring chill still lingered in the air.
Gu Changze was reclining on a couch. His handsome, gentle features looked even paler and more frail than usual. Even his voice lacked its usual strength.
“Your Highness!” Xie Yao’s heart clenched. She was so worried that she forgot to bow.
Hurrying forward, she stopped beside the couch. “How are you?”
“…You heard about it?” Gu Changze smiled gently, forcing himself to stay alert enough to speak with her.
Xie Yao’s eyes instantly reddened. “I went to plead with His Majesty on your behalf. While I was there, I happened to hear the eunuch’s report, so I begged for permission to come see you.”
Cough, cough… “You needn’t involve yourself in this. Perhaps the person behind it simply dislikes me.”
Gu Changze pushed himself upright.
Xie Yao hurriedly adjusted the cushions behind him, raising them higher before gently helping him sit comfortably. “Your Highness already said you didn’t do it. Naturally, I believe you. This matter began because of me. No matter what, I cannot allow myself to drag you down.”
A basin of water and a cloth sat beside the bed.
Xie Yao guessed they had been used to reduce his fever. Outside, Jiang Zhen was busy preparing the medicine she had brought. So she took the initiative and wrung out the cloth. “Let me do it, Your Highness.”
Before Gu Changze could refuse, Xie Yao’s soft figure had already leaned closer. A faint fragrance drifted to his nose.
Gu Changze’s heartbeat suddenly accelerated. A trace of color appeared on his pale face.
Completely focused on his condition, Xie Yao carefully wiped him down with the damp cloth, her movements exceptionally gentle. She started at his forehead, then moved across his handsome brows and eyes, and finally down to the side of his neck. Her slender fingertips brushed lightly against his skin.
The movement left her clothing slightly disordered. When Gu Changze lowered his gaze, he caught sight of the delicate line of her fair neck, smooth as white porcelain. The pale-blue collar of her robe only made her skin appear even whiter. The small red beauty mark at the side of her neck stood out vividly. Lower down were the elegant curves of her shoulders. Her faint fragrance, belonging only to her, filled his senses, making his head feel light and hazy.
Gu Changze felt the warmth spreading from his chest through the rest of his body. Startled, he hurriedly looked away and pulled the thin blanket higher over himself.
At that moment, Xie Yao suddenly exclaimed, “Your Highness, why do I feel like your body is getting even hotter? Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?”
Gu Changze coughed lightly twice and replied, somewhat unconvincingly,
“…”
“There’s nothing wrong. Just stay and talk with me for a while, Miss Xie.” He deliberately changed the subject.
Xie Yao placed the cloth back into the basin and helped him lie down again. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she found herself very close to him.
Gu Changze’s ink-black hair spilled across the pillow, a few strands tangling with her fingertips.
He let out a quiet sigh. “It’s my fault. After seeing Sixth Brother that day, I should have stationed more people around you. Perhaps what happened that night could have been avoided.”
Xie Yao hurriedly shook her head. “If not for Your Highness, who knows what might have happened that night?”
“This illness has dragged on for so long. I can no longer draw a bow, and I’m of little use. Now I’ve been slandered and trapped here, and I’ve even dragged Miss Xie into it. I truly am worthless.”
Hearing the self-reproach in his voice, Xie Yao became worried that the rumors outside were weighing on his heart. Her tone softened at once.
“Your Highness has already done very well. Whether in court affairs or on the battlefield, when I was younger, I often heard my father speak highly of you. He always said that you were the most qualified Crown Prince Great Sheng could hope for. Even if you are facing difficulties now, Your Highness, you are kind-hearted. Time and again you have helped me. I am deeply grateful for all of it. To me, you are already the finest person I have ever met.”
She remembered the pass at the city gate, his help at Shanglin Garden, and now this incident. Who else would have helped her so many times without hesitation?
“I mean every word sincerely.”
Seeing that he still seemed unconvinced and his expression remained gloomy, Xie Yao opened her mouth to praise him further.
Without saying a word, Gu Changze shifted a little closer to her. As he turned his head, the corner of his lips brushed lightly across her palm, seemingly by accident.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, concealing the faint hint of mischief in his eyes that was far less weak and helpless than he appeared.
He coughed softly twice, then, noticing the concern in Xie Yao’s eyes, asked in a frail voice, “Miss Xie, did you really mean what you said just now? That I am the finest person you have ever met?”
A gentleman of integrity, open and honorable, kind and benevolent.
Naturally, that was exactly how Xie Yao saw him.
When she nodded, Gu Changze sighed. “I suspect those are merely words you are using to comfort me. I know very well what I am capable of. Compared with Young Master Xiao, I am afraid I fall far short.”