A sudden and terrifying thought caused Yan Zhiyu to experience nightmares all night long. He dreamed that Ling Dong turned into someone else, and even dreamed that Ling Lie returned with a drastically altered temperament, pinching his neck and asking him why he had found someone identical to him to serve as a replacement. Awakened by a crack of thunder, Yan Zhiyu touched his forehead and found his hand covered in sweat.
He had no mood to sleep any longer, so he simply got up to continue reading the memorial reports, though his frame of mind remained rather restless.
It was hard to tell whether this was because of Ling Dong or because of these endless tasks that could never be finished.
When Xu Jinbao pushed the door open and saw him sitting before the writing desk, he immediately hurried over with small steps and spoke in a soft voice, “Empress Dowager, the night is chilly. You should return to bed and rest early.”
Yan Zhiyu shook his head. “Have the imperial kitchen send over a plate of yam cakes.”
Xu Jinbao acknowledged the order and withdrew.
Yan Zhiyu put down his brush, listening to the pattering sound of rain outside the window in a daze.
Ling Lie had always assumed he was afraid of thunder. Whenever such stormy, rainy nights arrived, Ling Lie would run outside the palace to bring him delicious yam cakes. Sometimes, when the rain was too heavy to go out, he would have the imperial kitchen make them for him instead.
While the culinary skills of the imperial chefs were undoubtedly exceptional, the cakes always lacked something compared to the ones Ling Lie brought back. Back then, he always assumed the man could keep bringing them to him for a lifetime, so he never bothered to inquire further. Now, if he wanted to eat them again, he no longer knew where to buy them.
On the other side, Ling Lie, who had slipped out of his residence taking advantage of the night, was drenched thoroughly. A servant followed him to shelter from the rain in front of a pastry shop, earnestly trying to persuade him, “My Prince, why on earth are you still coming out this late? Your constitution cannot handle the chill. What will you do if you fall ill tomorrow?”
Ling Lie raised a hand and tapped rhythmically against the door before him, then spoke, “Tomorrow is the court assembly, so I must make some preparations first.”
The servant, named Daoyun, had followed his master for many years and knew that his master was not someone suited for meddling in court affairs. Hesitating for a moment, he said, “I heard people saying that the palace is in chaos right now! My Prince, you had better be careful.”
Ling Lie chuckled. “How do you know it is in chaos?”
Daoyun immediately replied, “Everyone throughout the capital is talking about it! The Emperor is so young now, and everything in the palace is decided by the Empress Dowager alone!”
Hearing this, Ling Lie’s gaze darkened.
He would have preferred it to be that way; then no one would dare to bully his father and son.
“Listen less to such nonsense in the future.” Ling Lie let out a few low coughs, raising a hand to rub his aching chest.
He had merely been rained on a little, yet he could not even handle that? With a constitution like this, would he drop dead in a few days?
At that moment, with a creaking sound, the door in front of them opened, and a child of six or seven years old walked out, saying to him, “Sir, we are closed for the day!”
“I need them urgently.” Ling Lie coughed a few more times. “It will be very quick.”
The child originally intended to refuse, but seeing him cough like this, his heart softened a bit. Hesitating for a moment, he stepped aside. “Then be quick.”
“Thank you.” Ling Lie walked inside, his gaze sweeping over the man calculating accounts at the counter before walking familiarly toward the pastries on the shelves.
The man was the owner of this shop. Hearing the commotion, he did not even raise his head, simply asking, “Why are you opening the door again?”
Hearing this, the child replied, “If we do not open the door, how will you buy rouge for Mother?”
The man smiled and said nothing more.
Ling Lie picked up a few varieties of pastries, placed them in order before the counter, laid down several copper coins on top, and asked, “Are there still any dragon-phoenix pastries from the palace?”
This shop was a covert stronghold he had left behind in the capital. The owner was originally his shadow guard, named Bai Tao. Later, Bai Tao was severely injured during a mission, losing most of his martial arts prowess, so he was stationed in the capital to run a shop for him and traffic in intelligence.
Many things could be inquired about here, and those that could not be found out immediately could be investigated by hiring someone with money. However, there was one type of intelligence here that was never sold: all information concerning the Emperor, Empress, and the Crown Prince. Unless one came carrying personal written orders from the individuals themselves, it was impossible to glean even the slightest hint of information.
Naturally, he had never mentioned any of this to Yan Zhiyu, otherwise this place would likely have been targeted by now.
Hearing this, Bai Tao furrowed his brows and looked up. He was stunned upon seeing the pastries on the counter, then abruptly raised his head to look at the customer. Confronted with that familiar face, he grew even more shocked. “You are still alive?”
Hesitating for a moment, Ling Lie shook his head. “I am Ling Dong.”
Only then did Bai Tao restrain his shock, a look of skepticism appearing on his face. “The dragon-phoenix pastries are not for sale.”
Upon hearing this, Ling Lie pulled a piece of paper from his bosom and handed it to Bai Tao. On it were a few characters written in his own handwriting.
Bai Tao took it and examined it carefully before finally dismissing the child to close the door. He then stood up, led Ling Dong to the second floor, and poured him a cup of tea.
“Regarding matters of the palace, we cannot say too much either.” Bai Tao sat down across from Ling Lie and sighed. “Even though Your Highness is gone, the rules remain.”
Ling Lie nodded slightly. “I know. When did the various princes enter the capital?”
“On the second day after the late Emperor passed away, Prince Ning entered the capital,” Bai Tao replied. “Prince Duan and Prince Qi arrived on the third day.”
Ling Lie let out a cold laugh. “They certainly watch things closely. What about the palace? When were the members of the Feathered Forest Guard replaced?”
“That very day.” Bai Tao sighed again, picking up his teacup to take a sip. “As soon as the late Emperor passed, the Feathered Forest Guard surrounded the Fengyi Palace.”
Ling Lie slammed his cup down with a thud. “Impossible!” The general of the Feathered Forest Guard had known him since childhood, and the two had grown up sharing the same trousers. It was utterly impossible for the man to betray him, or else he would never have entrusted him with such an important position.
Bai Tao naturally understood his meaning, smiling bitterly. “Everyone has a weakness, and the general of the Feathered Forest Guard is no exception.”
Ling Lie’s expression instantly darkened. “What happened afterward?”
“Later, General Yan entered the palace to rescue the sovereign and protect His Majesty’s ascension to the throne,” Bai Tao explained. “The command of the Feathered Forest Guard is currently temporarily taken over by the Third Miss Yan. Although the city defenses within the palace are not completely flawless, at least they can ensure the safety of the Empress Dowager and His Majesty.”
Ling Lie let out a breath of relief, tapping his fingers on the table. “I also want the movements of the senior court ministers over these past few days.”
Bai Tao did not ask any further questions. He stood up, retrieved a scroll from the bookshelf behind him, and handed it to Ling Lie.
Ling Lie fished two banknotes out from his bosom, laid them down, and said, “Help me find someone else as well.”
“My Prince, please give your commands.” Bai Tao pushed the banknotes back toward Ling Lie. “Since you came with His Highness’s written orders, I cannot accept this money.”
Ling Lie did not touch the money either, simply stating, “Xie Zhengsheng.”
Bai Tao was startled. “My Prince wants to find Divine Doctor Xie?” Before he finished asking, he saw Ling Lie covering his mouth as he began to cough, and immediately understood, accepting the task.
Only then did Ling Lie stand up, pack some more pastries, and depart.
The following day.
Today was the Prince Regent’s first time attending the court assembly. Many ministers had entered the palace early, hoping to converse with him for a moment, but all of them froze when they caught sight of that face.
Ling Lie stood with his hands tucked into his sleeves beneath the jade steps, his calm expression sweeping across each person. He mentally reviewed the scroll he had obtained the previous night, his hands hidden within his sleeves clenching so tightly that they almost drew blood.
He had known that his departure would inevitably cause some turmoil in the court, but he had never expected so many people to harbor rebellious intentions. These individuals had undoubtedly given his empress no small amount of hardship.
The first to walk over and strike up a conversation was Prince Duan. As this was their first meeting, Prince Duan was also startled by his appearance, but quickly reined in his emotions and addressed him as a brother to close the distance. Ling Lie forced a smile to cope, appearing neither too intimate nor too distant. Seeing this, the others also crowded forward, and the hall instantly grew bustling and somewhat noisy.
At that moment, the sound of bells and drums rang out from outside the hall, and everyone immediately quieted down, respectfully returning to their proper positions to stand.
A moment later, Yan Zhiyu walked in step-by-step, holding the young Emperor by the hand.
Bound by a golden crown and dressed in a dark robe embroidered with a golden phoenix, the attire made that face look all the more stunning. In order to match the young Emperor, he walked very slowly, yet every step was graceful and resolute. He displayed neither a shred of weakness nor excessive sharpness, completely different from the person in Ling Lie’s memory, to the extent that he was almost dazed with staring.
His empress was truly beautiful.
Thinking back to what Bai Tao had said last night, his heart began to ache in waves once again.
The person who should have protected him instead faced him with a sharp blade. His empress must have been terrified out of his wits. To make matters worse, these people were the ones he had left behind himself, and he wondered if the Empress resented him in his heart.
Noticing his gaze, Yan Zhiyu swept a frown in his direction. Only then did Ling Lie bow slightly, though his eyes remained glued to Yan Zhiyu.
This slight commotion caught Little Yunshuo’s attention. Seeing a familiar person, the little fellow wanted to scamper over on his short legs, but was reined in by a pull from Yan Zhiyu, who whispered softly, “What did I teach you before we came?”
Little Yunshuo pouted, following Yan Zhiyu reluctantly toward the jade steps, and was lifted up to sit upon that cold dragon throne.
Yan Zhiyu stroked the child’s hair and walked over to sit on a soft chair at the side.
Only then did the hundred officials kneel and shout long live.
“Rise, my lords.” Little Yunshuo said in his babyish voice.
Ling Lie’s heart practically melted. As expected, this was the son he shared with the Empress; he was truly adorable.
Watching him foolishly smile, Yan Zhiyu couldn’t help frowning. He simply averted his gaze, refusing to look, and said coldly, “What matters are to be discussed today?”
A minister stepped forward first, speaking about the affairs of the Feathered Forest Guard.
The current commander of the Feathered Forest Guard was Yan Zhiyu’s elder sister. Although she had practiced martial arts with her father and brothers since childhood, she possessed no actual military achievements of her own, and naturally held no official military rank. For her to hold the military command of the Feathered Forest Guard in this manner naturally left some people dissatisfied.
Yan Zhiyu attributed the merit of saving the sovereign during the recent rescue to his elder sister, bestowing both rewards and official rank upon her, thereby officially placing the military tally of the Feathered Forest Guard into her hands.
Following that, other ministers raised difficulties one after another, all of which Yan Zhiyu batted back. Occasionally, someone would mention the Prince Regent; although Ling Lie’s attitude was not firm, it was clearly biased toward the Empress Dowager, so fewer people brought him up afterward.
Following a morning court session fraught with tension, Yan Zhiyu’s headache flared up again, and after the officials dispersed, he continued to lean against the soft chair massaging his temples.
Seeing this, Little Yunshuo trotted over and pulled his hand. “Daddy.”
“Daddy is fine.” Yan Zhiyu reached out to pull the child into his arms, raising a hand to stroke his hair. “Is A-Xue tired?”
Little Yunshuo shook his head, reaching out to mimic his actions and massage Yan Zhiyu’s temples.
Yan Zhiyu smiled helplessly, lowering his head to kiss the child’s smooth forehead, and spoke softly, “Let us return, otherwise the grand tutor will grow impatient waiting.” As he spoke, he stood up holding the child, only to discover that another person was still standing beneath the jade steps, magnificent, imposing, and possessed of an extraordinary bearing.
“Does the Prince Regent still have business?” Yan Zhiyu asked.
Ling Lie frowned as he looked at him, having many things he wanted to say, but after turning them over in his mind several times, only a single sentence remained on his lips: “Yesterday’s memorial reports have not yet been fully approved.”
“Come again in the afternoon.” Yan Zhiyu said, turning to leave immediately.
Ling Lie quickly pursued him. “There is still one more matter.”
Yan Zhiyu paused his steps, turned around, and frowned at him. “Speak.”
“This subject went to the pastry shop in the city last night.” Ling Lie pulled an oil-paper parcel from his sleeve and handed it before Yan Zhiyu. “Hearing that the Empress Dowager likes sweets, I brought some along.”
Yan Zhiyu looked at him coldly and did not accept it.
Finding himself stared at somewhat uncomfortably, Ling Lie couldn’t help scratching the bridge of his nose as he explained, “I didn’t mean anything by it. I simply wanted to treat you well.”
Yan Zhiyu’s expression sank. “Who taught you those words?”
Ling Lie was stunned, looking blankly at him. “What do you mean, who taught me?”
Yan Zhiyu carefully scrutinized his face, attempting to discern any hidden clues, but failed to find even the slightest flaw.
Back then, Ling Lie had also spoken such a sentence to him, but at that moment, besides his personal attendant, no one else was present. The attendant could never have betrayed him, so who else could have taught him this phrase?
Or perhaps he had simply been overly suspicious and paranoid these past two days? After all, it wasn’t a particularly unique phrase.
Yan Zhiyu’s brows nearly knitted together into a knot. After staring at the oil-paper parcel for a long while, he finally extended a hand hesitatingly and opened it.
Inside, four pastries were neatly arranged, each varying slightly in color to correspond with different fillings. They had a mildly sweet flavor, and were his absolute favorite yam cakes.