Princess Yihe, having struck down the intruders, hurried forward to check on her daughter’s condition, but the eunuchs, now alert to the emperor’s voice, blocked her path.
The emperor strode out quickly, his voice booming with anger: “What is this crying and wailing! Have you no respect for palace rules?!”
Chen Jiao, lying under the white cloth, had been about to peek out to signal her mother, but at the sound of the emperor’s voice, she immediately shrank back.
It was clear that the old emperor intended to teach her a lesson today. If he discovered that she had survived the punishment unharmed, she might not have walked away so easily.
Chen Jiao was no fool. The young eunuch who had delivered her punishment had struck hard in appearance but controlled his strength; this meant someone had deliberately held back. Only the Crown Prince or her maternal grandmother could authorize such discretion in the palace, and Chen Jiao knew she must not reveal this, lest she inadvertently endanger them.
Princess Yihe, however, was already enraged, paying no heed to the lofty emperor: “Step aside at once!”
The few eunuchs in front could not hold back their determined cousin. Seeing the situation slipping out of control, the emperor’s eyes flared, and he thundered: “Yihe, how dare you defy me!!”
Rushing further into the palace, Princess Yihe was stopped by a few more eunuchs, and by now her carefully styled hair had become disheveled.
She lifted her chin and sneered: “Yes, I am defiant! If my child comes to harm, I will throw myself down here today, letting all under heaven know that Your Majesty drove your own kin to death!!”
Her words sent the surrounding eunuchs trembling to their knees, and even the emperor’s face went pale with anger.
Princess Yihe’s fury was complete; she truly seemed ready to die for her child. Yet on second thought, her rage seemed only natural.
Princess Yihe and the Yong’an Marquis had gone years without conceiving. Only at forty did they have a daughter, whom they cherished like a precious gem, fearing the slightest harm to her. Yet that daughter had tragically passed around the age of two, plunging Princess Yihe into a severe illness and leading the Marquis’s household to punish and disperse negligent servants.
Following her illness, the Yong’an Marquis had taken her to recuperate in the outskirts of Chang’an for a year. Perhaps blessed by fortune, the couple later had another child, the current Chen Jiao.
The first tragedy had made the household cautious. Princess Yihe raised her son herself without relying on wet nurses. The child had been premature, weak from birth, and repeatedly sick. The Yong’an Marquis couple guarded him vigilantly, not even allowing the wind to touch him, let alone strangers. Only when Chen Jiao reached six or seven did they allow him to be seen outside.
As a result, the city gossiped about the Yong’an Marquis family, calling them peculiar for spoiling their young son so. Now, seeing their cherished child beaten, Princess Yihe’s fury was completely understandable.
Being a daughter of the Grand Princess, and thus royal kin, her words, though harsh, were reasonable. After all, the emperor threatening Chen Jiao was effectively threatening her life as well.
Everyone present felt this, yet none dared show it. Heads pressed to the ground, none raised an eye.
The emperor, attuned to appearances, could see through their thoughts. Princess Yihe’s words struck him to the core, enraging him: “Fine, fine! Look at yourself! A mere commoner, acting like a street scold, where is the image of a royal princess?!”
Tension mounted. Chen Jiao, still under the white cloth, widened her eyes, ready to jump up and defuse the situation, but the young eunuch holding her down pressed her firmly.
Amid the chaos, he leaned close and whispered: “The Yong’an Marquis is here!” His voice was so low only they could hear.
Chen Jiao’s heart relaxed slightly at the news, though sweat had already formed on her forehead.
Though the Yong’an Marquis held the lowest rank at home, his years at court made him no fool. The emperor’s aim had only been a small punishment today, not an attack on the entire Yong’an Marquis family. The tension existed solely because Princess Yihe confronted the emperor.
Though Chen Jiao had rarely seen the emperor, she could gauge his nature from her grandfather, the former Crown Prince. Cold and ruthless, yet concerned with reputation. Once the Yong’an Marquis arrived to make amends, the emperor would calm naturally.
Upon hearing from the eunuch, the Marquis’s presence was immediately announced: “Your Majesty!”
Hearing the familiar voice, Princess Yihe exhaled sharply. Though angered by her daughter’s plight, she had not entirely lost reason. Facing the emperor’s wrath, she still feared the consequences.
The Yong’an Marquis hurried in. He saw his wife confronting the emperor, and his daughter lying unconscious beneath the white cloth, and froze, panic flooding him.
A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, the worst being that his lifelong worry had come true: he had allowed his daughter to serve as Chen Jiao, and now she had suffered for it.
“Yong’an Marquis! Look at your wife, creating chaos in the palace…” the emperor’s voice thundered, snapping the Marquis to attention.
Fearing further retribution against his family, he immediately removed his official cap, fell to his knees, and kowtowed repeatedly: “I failed in teaching my child and have brought shame to Your Majesty’s grace. I request to resign my post. Henceforth, I will diligently correct this wayward son. I beg Your Majesty to pardon this once for the sake of the Chen family’s only child.”
He kowtowed with such sincerity that blood appeared on his forehead, too afraid to raise his head.
The emperor, initially intending to further punish the Yong’an Marquis household for supporting the Crown Prince, hesitated upon seeing the Marquis’s bloodied plea and the near-death of their only child.
Princess Yihe’s earlier outburst had forced him to consider the implications. If news spread that he had killed royal kin, it would tarnish his reputation as a wise and benevolent ruler.
After contemplation, the old emperor relented: “Enough! Chen Jiao’s disrespect at court is understandable given Princess Yihe’s grief. You may take them home.”
The Yong’an Marquis, his wife, and daughter left the palace. Word quickly spread through Chang’an of Chen Jiao’s “disrespect at court.” Crown Prince supporters were both angered and alarmed, while other princes’ followers secretly smirked, knowing the source of this “disrespect.”
At the Yong’an Marquis residence, Chen Jiao lay asleep. The family doctor examined her and confirmed that her injuries were only superficial; with rest for about a month, she would recover. Only then could the family finally breathe.
Princess Yihe sat by her daughter, her eyes red.
Having waited forty years for this child, she cherished her as an eye’s delight, wishing she could pluck the stars from the sky for her. Not wealth or glory, just health and happiness. Seeing her daughter return in such a state broke her heart.
The Yong’an Marquis stood beside her, his head bandaged from earlier kowtows, face darkened. The Old Lady, already frail, had fainted upon hearing of the threat to her granddaughter.
The Old Marquis, unable to enter the inner chamber, stood outside in regret and frustration, cursing himself for underestimating the emperor’s attention to their young Chen Jiao.
Princess Yihe suddenly exclaimed: “I wish I could tear him limb from limb!”
Her eyes red, hair disheveled, she ground her teeth: “He doesn’t care for his own child, yet mine is a treasure!”
She turned and struck the Yong’an Marquis in frustration: “You’re a scholar, no skills in martial arts!”
Though angered, the Marquis knew he could not have rescued Chen Jiao alone from the palace.
The Old Marquis remained silent for a long moment, then sighed: “My fault. I was the one who suggested letting Jiao’er visit the Crown Prince that day…”
Like Chen Jiao had thought, even with the Right Chancellor and many officials present, he had not expected the emperor to single out a minor marquis’s child.
Princess Yihe covered her mouth, tears welling: “I can only pray to the gods that he recovers swiftly and peacefully!”
The Yong’an Marquis household was silent, heavy with tension.
A maid announced that the child had woken. Princess Yihe rushed inside, leaving her anger at the emperor aside.
Half an hour later, she personally applied medicine to her daughter.
Chen Jiao, lips pale, gasping: “Mother! Please be gentle!”
Having been doted upon since birth, this was the first hardship she had endured.
Hearing her daughter in pain, Princess Yihe instinctively eased her movements, torn between heartache and anger: “Serves you right! That damned emperor threatened you, yet you didn’t heed him! You risked your life, all while I have labored for you for over a decade!”
Chen Jiao, in pain, admitted fault: “Yes, mother, all my fault. I’ll do better next time, so you won’t worry.”
She knew her mother had been worried, but there was no choice: caught between the emperor and the Crown Prince, she was merely collateral.
She had already learned from the palace physician that the young eunuch had held back, ensuring her injuries remained superficial, a mercy only someone from the Crown Prince’s household could orchestrate.
Seeing her daughter’s sincere contrition, Princess Yihe’s eyes reddened anew. She lamented: “If I had known, I would never have let you go serve the Crown Prince.”
Wealth and glory were secondary; Chen Jiao’s health and safety mattered most.
Chen Jiao, gasping, said: “We’ve always been watched. Even if we don’t side with the Crown Prince, sooner or later, we’d be drawn into the princes’ struggles.”
The Yong’an Marquis household, with the Old Marquis and Princess Yihe, along with connections in the Ministry of War and the Grand Princess’s household, had already attracted attention before Chen Jiao had pledged allegiance to the Crown Prince.
Princess Yihe, still dissatisfied, was interrupted by news: the Crown Prince had arrived.
Chen Jiao froze: “But Your Highness was still under restriction…” Before she could finish, she understood.
It was late, and the messenger was cautious. The Crown Prince must have left his residence secretly.
The Crown Prince personally visiting the Yong’an Marquis household was a significant matter. Both the Yong’an Marquis and Old Marquis hurried to greet him.
Despite lingering dissatisfaction, the household had already compromised; now they could only rely on the Crown Prince. Chen Jiao, injured, would serve as living proof of loyalty.
Upon learning of the Crown Prince’s visit, Chen Jiao immediately flopped forward, asking Princess Yihe for a white cloth and throwing her bloodstained clothes beside the bed, ensuring he would see.
She had suffered greatly for the Crown Prince today. She had endured a historic beating, causing her family immense worry; she would make sure he noticed her sacrifices.
When the Crown Prince entered, the windows and doors were closed. The boy lay weakly on the bed, pale, with a white cloth draped over his head.
Xie Xianqing, who had anticipated this, was nonetheless momentarily stunned.
Chen Jiao struggled to rise, her voice weak: “Y-Your Highness…”
Eunuch Zhang followed the Crown Prince inside, shocked: “Chen Jiao! You’re so injured you can barely speak?!”
“Wasn’t it just your backside? How are you unable to talk in an afternoon? Did the Marquis household hire a quack?”
Chen Jiao froze: …Damn it, that treacherous Eunuch Zhang again!
Princess Yihe twitched her mouth, unable to watch. Even through her maternal filter, she felt her daughter’s act was excessive.
The only person deceived was the Crown Prince himself.
He stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder, his voice gentle: “You’ve been hurt. No need to kneel.”
Chen Jiao, merely acting, had no intention of truly rising. Hearing that she could remain lying down, she complied.
She continued to signal her mother with frantic glances, urging her to remove Eunuch Zhang lest he sabotage her performance.
Princess Yihe, heart torn, found an excuse and escorted Eunuch Zhang out. The room was left with only Chen Jiao and Xie Xianqing.
Having just applied her medicine, Chen Jiao lay pale and frail under the covers.
Xie Xianqing took her hand, noticing for the first time how delicate it was, as if it would snap with a slight bend.
A flash of resolve crossed his eyes, though his voice remained soft: “This time, I failed you.”
The current emperor’s narrow-mindedness could not tolerate even him, yet he had never expected Chen Jiao to suffer for his decision. Had he known, he would never have allowed her to visit the Crown Prince.
Surprised, Chen Jiao said: “How can this be blamed on Your Highness?”
Her voice was small but firm: “I went to see Your Highness. I refused to yield to the emperor’s threats, risking myself to uphold my loyalty to you…”
Through careful phrasing, she highlighted her courage and steadfastness in the emperor’s presence, demonstrating her unwavering loyalty.
Only the Crown Prince could appreciate such a faithful follower; where else would one find another like her?
She met his eyes, earnestly declaring: “A loyal subject dies for their master. The Crown Prince is my sovereign in my heart.”
Xie Xianqing met her gaze, solemnly: “This matter involves the Fifth Prince spreading slander before the emperor. Rest assured, I will see justice done.”
Chen Jiao blinked: “The Fifth Prince?”
Xie Xianqing’s eyes darkened: “Before the emperor summoned you, the Fifth Prince had already been to court to speak with him.”
Chen Jiao had had conflicts with the Fifth Prince before; no one in the Yong’an Marquis household doubted his involvement.
Fury welled within her: “I knew it! That despicable turtle of a Fifth Prince!”
Having always kept a low profile, she had offended no one else. Only that unreasonable Fifth Prince remained.
Hearing her expletive-laden tirade, Xie Xianqing smirked, realizing that if the Fifth Prince was a turtle, he too had been insulted by extension…
He cleared his throat: “I have submitted another memorial. Do not worry; he will not have an easy day today.”
Meeting Chen Jiao’s eyes, he said seriously: “I will not betray your loyalty.”
Chen Jiao translated this as: “My efforts are recognized; promotion and rewards are inevitable!”
She had wondered why the Crown Prince held her hand; now she was too moved to think, grasping his hand in return: “I would die without regret!”
In the past, it was difficult for superiors to appreciate loyal subordinates. Many had suffered for supporting the Crown Prince. Chen Jiao only slightly exaggerated her injuries, yet the Crown Prince understood.
Countless times she marveled at her wise choice. Amid a pile of unworthy men, she had recognized a leader of exceptional character.
They held hands, eyes locked—one filled with restrained emotion, the other overwhelmed.
Sunlight filtered through the window, casting shadows on the floor. Just then, Princess Yihe entered: “Jiao’er, it’s time to take your medicine…” She froze.
What on earth was happening?
Jiao’er and the Crown Prince sat hand in hand, staring at each other.