After Lu Moyun departed, a light drizzle began to fall outside. By late afternoon, it transitioned into sleet; raindrops mingled with snowflakes, freezing the moment they touched the ground.
Qin Ziyu was nestled on a chaise longue, wearing a plain padded cotton jacket. The underfloor heating in the Taihe Palace had been lit early that morning, making the room steaming hot and not cold in the slightest. He ate dried fruits that two young palace maids had peeled for him while listening to them recount the events of the previous night.
“The Noble Consort arrived in person. Lady Chen protected those two servants, refusing to allow them to be punished no matter what was said.”
Jinfan and Jinrong walked behind the screen. One played the Noble Consort, and the other played Lady Chen.
“Lady Chen, do you acknowledge your crime?”
The silhouette of the Noble Consort appeared on the screen, exceptionally tall. Though her face couldn’t be seen, her noble and cold aura was palpable, making one dare not look directly at her.
Lady Chen knelt on the ground, sobbing softly in a voice that sounded like it was coated in cream: “This concubine acknowledges her crime; I deserve ten thousand deaths. Those two developed feelings for each other many years ago. It was I who ignored Yingtao’s wishes and brought her into the palace, implicating Fuquan into following her, which led to today’s disaster. Every mistake is mine; I hope the Noble Consort will stay her hand and spare them.”
Noble Consort Wen stepped forward: “So you are saying you indulged their illicit private relationship and the passing of items out of the palace? They may not know their place, but do you mean to say that you, Lady Chen, do not know it either?”
Lady Chen wept: “This concubine knows her mistake and is willing to accept punishment.”
Noble Consort Wen laughed out of pure anger: “Indeed. The crime of a maid and a eunuch having a tryst is certainly lighter than the crime of passing messages out of the palace.”
“This concubine does not know what the Noble Consort is talking about.” Lady Chen shook her head piteously. “I only know they had private dealings. Yingtao is timid; she would never dare commit a capital offense. The Noble Consort must speak with evidence; you cannot simply say whatever you wish based on your own words. This harem belongs to the Emperor; I cannot allow you to wrong me in such a manner!”
Noble Consort Wen said: “This palace can handle such a small matter without troubling the Emperor.”
“You wish to see the Emperor? Secure your own safety first!”
“Men! Throw all the servants of the Zhiyu Pavilion into the 慎刑司 (Prisons of the Ministry of Justice) for strict interrogation. Until the confessions are produced, Lady Chen is not permitted to step a single foot out of her palace doors.”
“Yes!”
Seeing her head maid being dragged away, Lady Chen collapsed to the floor and lost consciousness.
The two young girls emerged from behind the screen and asked if their performance was accurate.
Qin Ziyu nodded: “When you reach the age to leave the palace, you could go to a teahouse to become professional storytellers.”
The two were overjoyed. Jinrong wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes; she had been so immersed in the role that she had cried along with it.
“Did Father stay at the Noble Consort’s palace last night?”
Jinfan nodded: “Precisely. The Emperor went to the Changle Palace before nightfall. Lord Xiao personally stood guard at the Chonghua Palace.”
“Mhm. It seems the thief is about to be caught,” Qin Ziyu said.
Jinfan was curious: “How does Your Highness know?”
“Isn’t it easy to guess? With Lord Xiao there, that thief will certainly have nowhere to run!” Jinrong raised her chin high, her eyes full of reverence for Xiao Ci.
Qin Ziyu fiddled with the Western clock that Qin Zizhang had sent over a few days ago, sparing a sliver of his attention for her: “You all seem to hold him in high regard.”
Qing’an, listening nearby, silently broke into a cold sweat for them. Over the past few days, His Highness had been far too proactive toward the Governor. These new young maids didn’t know the weight of the situation and might truly believe the two had a good relationship.
Jinrong smiled, revealing two dimples: “Ever since I entered the palace, all I’ve heard is praise for the Governor. Many of my sisters are even competing to serve him!”
Qing’an’s pupils dilated; he wanted to cover Jinrong’s mouth. Competing with His Highness for a man? They must be tired of living!
Jinfan tugged at Jinrong’s sleeve: “Your Highness, don’t laugh at us. We are just lowly maids who don’t understand grand logic; we just think the Governor is handsome. But that was before.”
She lowered her head, her face flushing: “Now that we’ve had more contact, I think Your Highness is the most handsome person in the world.”
Jinrong nodded in agreement: “Yes, Your Highness is not only handsome but also has a good temperament. You never take your anger out on us; you truly are like a celestial noble from a storybook!”
“Alright, you two.” Qin Ziyu put down the clock and shook his head with a smile. “Go outside and hold a basin of ice water to cool yourselves down; your faces are about to be cooked through.”
Jinfan and Jinrong breathed a sigh of relief and departed together.
The smoke in the incense burner swirled with the draft from the opening door, continuing to drift gracefully throughout the room.
Qing’an poured a cup of warm water: “The winter is dry; Your Highness should moisten your throat.”
“Yes, it is winter.” Qin Ziyu looked out the window. A layer of paper was pasted over it, allowing a faint view of the scenery outside. “Winter came so early this year.”
“Do you think I am indulging them too much?”
An alarm bell rang in Qing’an’s heart: “This servant wouldn’t dare think so.”
Qin Ziyu said: “I simply don’t want it to be too lonely. You and Qingkang are about the same age as them, yet you act like you’re ten years older. Following palace rules every day has made people numb.”
Qing’an bowed halfway: “We entered the palace early and have seen the weight of the rules.”
He had been there when Xiao Ci purged the guards and servants of the Eastern Palace.
After finishing his medicine, Qin Ziyu felt drowsy. Just as he was about to have Qing’an help him rest, Qingkang came to report that the Side Consort had brought Lady Li and Lady Zhang to pay their respects.
Since transmigrating here, he hadn’t met the original host’s concubines. When he was on the brink of death, these people were nowhere to be seen; now that his health was improving, they knew to come and curry favor.
In truth, they couldn’t be blamed. The original host was in a half-dead state every day, and they were in the prime of their youth. The Taihe Palace was always filled with the smell of medicine; who would want to stay here and care for a sickly man?
The Side Consort, Wen Huixin, had requested an audience twice, but Qin Ziyu had declined under the pretext of resting. It seemed the incident with Noble Consort Wen yesterday had emboldened this niece of hers. She had brought two concubines along; if he continued to refuse them, Wen Huixin would surely go to the Changle Palace to cry, and then the Emperor would make him cry in turn.
Qin Ziyu instructed Qing’an to brew tea: “Let them in.”
Three women dressed in palace attire entered and kowtowed on the ground. Qin Ziyu sighed inwardly; in his past life, he hadn’t even held a girl’s hand, and in this life, he suddenly had several beautiful wives. He wasn’t quite used to it.
“Rise.”
The three rose after thanking him. Side Consort Wen, in the lead, looked up first, offering Qin Ziyu a lingering, suggestive smile. Lady Li behind her was slightly startled, her face instantly turning red and her lashes fluttering wildly. Lady Zhang kept her head low, her cautious manner making her seem even more pitiable.
Qin Ziyu gently invited them to sit. To be honest, if these three were in the modern era, the line of people chasing them would stretch from the city center to the airport. It was a waste to have them hidden in the deep palace.
Everyone loves beauty; looking at such women made his mood much lighter.
“I have been drifting in sleep for some days. Now I am finally able to stay awake for a few hours. How have you been since entering the palace? If you lack anything, just tell Qing’an; he will prepare it for you.”
Side Consort Wen rose and performed an elegant curtsy: “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. We are all well.”
“As long as Your Highness is healthy, we are at peace.”
The two concubines followed suit with a curtsy, not saying a word.
From their speech and behavior, it was clear that Wen Huixin had been meticulously raised with flawless etiquette. The other two came from smaller households; meeting him for the first time today, they were trembling with nerves.
Qin Ziyu nodded, asked about their daily lives, and dismissed them after a brief conversation. Once they left, he buried himself in his blankets.
“Wake me in two hours.”
Qing’an was worried: “The rain and snow haven’t stopped outside. Your Highness shouldn’t go out today.”
Having said that, he pursed his lips, not daring to advise further for fear of a scolding.
Qin Ziyu gave a yawn: “It is precisely because the wind and snow haven’t stopped that my sincerity will be shown.”
“Say no more. You go and sleep a while too; there will be more to deal with tonight.”
Qing’an sighed: “Yes.”
The moment he left the Taihe Palace, a bone-chilling wind hit him. Qin Ziyu couldn’t help but cough a few times, covering his mouth with a handkerchief. The warmth in his body was gradually replaced by a chill. This time he didn’t act stubbornly; he had Qing’an find a sedan chair. Usually, he didn’t mind walking, but the weather was too cold, and he feared this body couldn’t take it would be a net loss if he fell ill again.
The wet ground was covered in ice, requiring extra care while walking. A fifteen-minute journey took a full half-hour.
The rain had ceased, but the snow was falling harder.
Qin Ziyu stood before the Kaiyang Palace, gazing at the heavy snow. He seemed to see a young Xiao Ci, huddled in a corner being beaten, where blood and snow mingled, hidden in the pitch-black night and the deep palace walls.
There was no underfloor heating in the hall, only two basins of charcoal fire. It wasn’t exactly cold, but it certainly didn’t compare to the Eastern Palace.
Qin Ziyu held a hand-warmer. Aside from Xiao Ci, there were two young eunuchs warming themselves by the charcoal fire.
“Crown Prince!” The two saw Qin Ziyu and ran over to pay their respects.
Qin Ziyu smiled: “Do not mind me. I am here to see Lord Xiao. You go on with your warming.”
The two young eunuchs exchanged a look and retreated, pulling Qing’an along with them. The Governor hadn’t spoken, which meant there was no need to stop him. Since the Crown Prince already treated this place like the Eastern Palace, coming and going as he pleased, what could they do?
Xiao Ci was playing chess, holding a white piece in his left hand and a black piece in his right. Qin Ziyu walked to his side, but Xiao Ci didn’t look up, acting as if he hadn’t heard a thing.
The board was clearly divided between black and white, locked in a fierce battle. Qin Ziyu didn’t understand it well, but he felt the black pieces had the upper hand. The sounds of the pieces hitting the board were crisp and decisive.
After watching for a while and still unable to see a winner, Qin Ziyu grabbed pieces from both sides and swept his sleeve across the board, scattering them everywhere with a clatter.
“The situation is at a stalemate. What your lordship needs now is not black or white pieces, but a hand to throw the game into chaos.”
Xiao Ci looked up. Qin Ziyu happened to lean down, the tips of his hair brushing past Xiao Ci’s nose, instantly filling the air with the scent of pear blossoms.