Xie Zhenrong’s heart felt heavy as she left Cining Palace.
So watching meteor showers didn’t actually bring misfortune after all. Had she known this earlier, she would have gone with His Highness to watch it.
Yet she couldn’t quite let go of the fact that His Highness hadn’t invited her.
She thought that if His Highness had asked her to watch it together, she would have been willing to go even at the risk of incurring misfortune.
Lost in her tangled thoughts, she hadn’t walked far when she spotted a tall figure approaching at a leisurely pace ahead.
It was the Crown Prince.
Xie Zhenrong stepped forward to pay her respects: “Your humble consort greets Your Highness.”
Yan Shixu looked at her curiously: “Why didn’t you wait for me to come together?”
Instead of answering, Xie Zhenrong asked: “Your Highness, regarding the fire in the side hall last night, has the arsonist been identified?”
Yan Shixu shook his head: “Last night, all the palace maids and eunuchs were hiding indoors. No one saw who started the fire.”
Upon hearing this, Xie Zhenrong frowned.
“Then arrest everyone and subject them to harsh interrogation. We’re bound to extract some information that way.”
Yan Shixu’s expression cooled slightly: “Crown Princess, acting in such a manner would only produce coerced confessions, even if we obtained any information. It wouldn’t convince the public.”
“How could that be? Those who didn’t do it would never…” admit.
Before she could finish her sentence, Zhuang Momo tugged at her sleeve.
Zhuang Momo was growing frantic. Why was the Crown Princess saying such things?
His Highness naturally had his own judgment in these matters. There was no need for her to offer such detrimental suggestions here.
She was only creating a poor impression before His Highness for no reason.
Xie Zhenrong also came to her senses.
Indeed, she had been too impatient.
Actually, last night’s incident didn’t even require investigation – the mastermind behind it was undoubtedly Yang Guifei.
But even if they uncovered the truth, they could do nothing to her.
What they should be considering now was how to respond.
Although she understood all this clearly, Xie Zhenrong still couldn’t help feeling agitated.
The Crown Prince’s position was like delicate grass growing on a cliff edge, constantly swaying in the wind and rain.
The slightest misstep could send it tumbling into the abyss.
The Emperor was probably just waiting for an opportunity to catch the Crown Prince in a mistake, so he could depose him and make room for his precious son.
But Xie Zhenrong could tell the Crown Prince was somewhat displeased, so she softened her voice and forced a strained smile onto her face.
“This humble consort was too hasty.”
Though she said this, her face remained full of worry.
Yan Shixu sighed helplessly.
“Return to the Eastern Palace first. I’m going to pay respects to Grandmother.”
Having said this, he stepped around Xie Zhenrong and continued toward Cining Palace.
Seeing the Crown Prince walk away, Zhuang Momo couldn’t help advising Xie Zhenrong.
“Crown Princess, His Highness is such an intelligent man. He can naturally handle this matter properly. Why trouble yourself with excessive worry?”
Xie Zhenrong said angrily: “If he could handle things properly, he wouldn’t have failed to even mention watching the meteor shower to me!”
Zhuang Momo was momentarily speechless.
When the Crown Prince went to Fuyao Hall that day, he had probably intended to invite the Crown Princess to watch the meteor shower together.
But the Crown Princess had been too frightened at the time, so the Crown Prince likely didn’t feel comfortable bringing it up.
Zhuang Momo advised again: “This matter is already past, so let it rest. If His Highness visits Fuyao Hall later, you must be gentle and attentive with him. Men, after all, appreciate women who show care and concern. The Crown Princess must firmly capture the Crown Prince’s heart.”
“I know, I know.”
Xie Zhenrong sounded somewhat impatient as she turned and walked away first.
Zhuang Momo sighed helplessly; this clearly didn’t seem like someone who understood the situation.
……
Cining Palace.
Yan Shixu paid his respects to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager looked up and asked him, “Have you had your morning meal?”
“Imperial Grandmother, your grandson has already eaten.”
The Empress Dowager nodded but didn’t inquire about the fire at the Eastern Palace. Instead, she asked, “Is Wen Fengyi that girl named Li whom I questioned the other day?”
Yan Shixu nodded. “It is indeed her.”
The Empress Dowager remarked with surprise, “I never expected that little girl, who looks so gentle and soft, to have quite some courage.”
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince thought of the woman who had been so frightened by him the previous night that she scurried away in panic. He chuckled and said, “Imperial Grandmother, she is actually quite timid.”
“Is that so?”
The Empress Dowager keenly noticed that when the Crown Prince spoke of this Wen Fengyi, the smile in his eyes seemed more genuine.
She thought of Yang Guifei, who overshadowed the Empress, and couldn’t help but offer a few words of caution.
“That Wen Fengyi is indeed commendable, but the other two Fengyi are not lacking either. Why have you only rewarded her?”
The Crown Prince, unusually, joked, “Your grandson is short on funds lately and must spend frugally.”
The Empress Dowager burst into laughter and poked his forehead.
“You sly one, don’t think you can fool your grandmother. You don’t have any children yet. Don’t focus solely on state affairs; continuing the royal lineage is equally important. In matters of the rear court, spreading favors evenly is the way to maintain balance.”
Yan Shixu nodded but did not respond.
Before noon even arrived, news of the fire at the Eastern Palace the previous night had spread throughout the palace.
As the rumors circulated, they twisted into claims that the Crown Prince lacked virtue, was not chosen by heaven, and was unfit to inherit the throne.
As soon as this rumor gained a foothold, several officials aligned with Consort Yang immediately petitioned the Emperor to select another crown prince.
However, shortly after they submitted their memorials, evidence of their factionalism, corruption, and abuse of power in the court was exposed.
Faced with compelling evidence, the Emperor had no choice but to punish them.
It was clear whose handiwork these revelations were.
For a time, the other officials in Consort Yang’s faction fell silent, too afraid to speak out again about selecting a new crown prince.
This time, Consort Yang had suffered significant losses without even harming her opponent.
……
On this day, the Empress’s biological daughter, Princess Taiping Yan Shishu, entered the palace.
The Emperor disliked the Empress but doted immensely on this daughter of his.
After all, she was his first child, and that made her special.
Moreover, Princess Taiping’s facial structure and features closely resembled the Emperor’s, and even her interests and hobbies were nearly identical.
In short, whatever the Emperor liked, Princess Taiping liked as well.
How could the Emperor not cherish a miniature version of himself?
“Father! Your daughter has come to see you!”
As soon as Princess Taiping entered, she flew into the Emperor’s embrace like a young swallow.
Despite being a married princess, she acted like a little girl, clinging to the Emperor’s arm and shaking it coquettishly.
“Father, it’s been a month since I last saw you. I missed you so much that the flowers in my mansion have wilted.”
Hearing this, the Emperor laughed heartily.
“In that case, shall I reward you with a few more pots of flowers?”
Yan Shishu nodded eagerly.
“Wonderful! The flowers here are all rare treasures. I must take a few more pots.”
The Emperor patted her head. “You little rascal, take whichever ones you like. Take them all.”
Yan Shishu blinked triumphantly. “Excellent! Thank you, Father!”
The Emperor pulled his daughter over to look at a qin manual, claiming it was a rare edition composed by the renowned qin master Liu Qingchuan.
Yan Shishu glanced at it, flipped through a few pages casually, then shook her head and said, “Father, who presented this to you? A rare edition? It’s clearly a forgery!”