Emperor Liang had four sons and one daughter.
The First Prince, Xiao Xu, was nineteen years old. His mother was a palace maid of the late Empress. Having no sons of her own, the late Empress had promoted her, and she subsequently gave birth to the First Prince. After the late Empress passed away, although the mother was not favored, she still held the rank of Jieyu.
The Second Prince, Xiao Lang, was eighteen years old. His mother was the daughter of the Minister of Justice, a high official of the third rank, and was currently Consort Shun.
The Third Prince needed no further introduction.
The Fourth Prince, Xiao Jing, was only thirteen this year. His mother was the legitimate daughter of an eighth-rank military officer; she had entered the palace and survived by depending on Consort Chen, and had now been titled as a Pin.
The only princess in the palace was Xiao Gui, born of the late Empress. One could see the importance Emperor Liang placed on her by the fact that her name followed the same naming convention as the princes.
After the late Empress passed away, she was raised by the late Empress’s younger sister, the current Consort Qu. At the moment, she was away from the palace accompanying the Empress Dowager.
Princes could take up official duties upon reaching the age of sixteen and could establish their own manors and offices at eighteen.
Therefore, the only ones residing in Taihe Hall were the Third Prince, Xiao Cong, and the Fourth Prince, Xiao Jing.
Since the Fourth Prince was still young, Ye Liujin’s veiled implications suggested that there was discord between Lady Rong and Xiao Cong.
“Lady Ye, I just happened to be passing by.”
Rong Shuiyue managed to squeeze the words through her teeth with great difficulty.
“Passing by? In the middle of the night, acting so suspiciously—where exactly were you trying to go?”
Consort Chen’s chest heaved, clearly incensed.
If word got out that a concubine had visited Taihe Hall late at night, there was no telling how scandalous the rumors would be.
“Someone, come!”
Consort Chen shouted with a cold face, “Bind her and send her directly to the Yeting. I don’t believe she won’t tell the truth there.”
“Consort Chen, please forgive me.”
Lady Rong knelt down instantly. “The Third Prince is in poor health, and in the end, he was dragged down by Rong Chan. I truly felt uneasy in my heart and wished to visit him, but I feared your Ladyship would be displeased if you knew. That is why I resorted to this clumsy plan.”
She dug her nails into her palms, her head pressed against the cold floor. “Your Ladyship may punish or beat me however you wish, and I will not utter a single word of complaint. However, His Majesty has just been enraged because of the Third Prince, and the imperial physician said after checking his pulse that he must not be agitated again. I hope your Ladyship will think twice.”
If she were sent to the Yeting, it would most likely alert His Majesty.
“Aunt, look. I told you Lady Rong cares more about my cousin than you do,” Ye Liujin said indifferently. “If the imperial physician hadn’t just reported that my cousin had fainted, you wouldn’t even have come to take a look.”
Fainted?
Lady Rong’s body swayed. She bit the tip of her tongue to steady her nerves.
“Your Ladyship, please go and see the Third Prince quickly. I… I will stay kneeling here and wait for your Ladyship’s judgment.”
Consort Chen was indeed somewhat anxious. She gave a cold snort and entered Taihe Hall.
Xiao Cong had caught a chill and had been tormented at Guanju Palace; his body could not withstand it for the time being, and he now lay unconscious on the couch.
Ye Liujin followed Consort Chen forward to catch a glimpse.
Tsk, tsk.
If he can’t pull through, then everyone will be happy.
“Imperial Physician, how is Cong’er?”
Consort Chen could not be bothered with the gloating Ye Liujin beside her and asked with a frown.
“The high fever will not subside. I am truly at my wits' end.”
“Is there no other way now?”
Though she hated that he was so disappointing, he was still her son. Hearing the physician’s words, Consort Chen grew anxious, feeling a hint of regret for having been too heavy-handed earlier today.
“We have already administered medicine; now all we can do is wait. However, His Highness has caught a chill and suffered injuries; his body is severely depleted. I dare not speak rashly…”
Ye Liujin’s eyes lit up. From the sound of it, Xiao Cong might actually kick the bucket.
“Right!” the imperial physician suddenly cried out. “I remember that there was a very rare Seven-Star Leaf in Prince Yu’s manor. If we can obtain it, I can guarantee His Highness’s safety.”
Ye Liujin sneered inwardly. He doesn’t deserve to use a Seven-Star Leaf…
“Fine, I will send someone immediately.”
Consort Chen instantly called Feng Yi forward.
“Take my token and go to Yu Wangfu. Prince Yu is kind-hearted and benevolent; he will surely lend his assistance.”
Ye Liujin sighed inwardly. To think that a man as kind and compassionate as he was had been forced to lead a coup years ago, with corpses piled as high as mountains at the Vermilion Bird Gate—it was as if a god of slaughter had descended upon the world.
Her heart ached for him.
What rightfully belonged to him had to be reclaimed in such a horrific and tragic manner.
"Liujin," Consort Chen said, turning toward her. "It is chaotic here. You should head back and rest first."
"I want to go with Aunt Feng Yi," Ye Liujin blurted out.
"Very well," Consort Chen nodded. "After all, we are asking for a favor. It is inconvenient for me to leave the palace, so having you go in my stead shows more sincerity."
"Do not delay, Miss. If we move faster, His Highness will suffer less," Feng Yi said, pulling Ye Liujin away before she could say anything more.
As they stepped outside and saw the worried Lady Rong kneeling on the ground, a spark of malice rose within Ye Liujin.
"Lady Rong, Xiao Cong has only one breath left in him."
Lady Rong stared blankly at the receding figures before letting out a piercing scream. She scrambled to her feet, stumbling as she rushed recklessly into Taihe Hall.
When the carriage reached the gates of Yu Wangfu, Ye Liujin hesitated to get out.
In her previous life, it was also here, under a torrential downpour, that she had knelt before the Wangfu to beg for a glimmer of hope.
She had forgotten how she managed to run all the way to Yu Wangfu back then. She only remembered that after the heavy gates opened, Xiao Zhaoyan had looked at her with a complex expression.
"No wonder my men said they couldn't find you. It turns out you escaped on your own."
At the time, she didn't understand what he meant. She had only said tremulously, "I beg the Prince, for the sake of our past acquaintance, to save my life…"
The rain had been pouring, and the sky was pitch black.
Xiao Zhaoyan hadn't carried an umbrella. He had walked down the steps of the Wangfu one by one until he stood before her, still looking as cold and refined as a banished immortal.
"Have you thought this through? Once you enter this Wangfu, there will be no more Second Miss Ye. I am currently embroiled in troubles myself. If things go poorly, you will be dragged down with me into eternal perdition."
"If you wish, I can send men to escort you back to Longxi to your father and brother's former subordinates. Though the Young General Ye is dead and Longxi is in a state of chaos, there is no shortage of loyal people there who can take you in."
How could she have dared to leave? Having been tortured to the point of wishing for death by Rong Chan and those in the Eastern Palace, she didn't have a shred of courage left to travel all the way to Longxi.
"I have thought it through. In life or death, I will stay by the Prince’s side."
Xiao Zhaoyan had looked at her in silence for a long time as they both became soaked to the bone. Finally, he said in a hoarse voice, "Ye Liujin, this time, you chose this yourself."
"Miss? Miss?"
The carriage curtain was lifted. Feng Yi looked at the dazed Ye Liujin and asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell?"
Ye Liujin's thoughts were pulled back to the present. Her cheeks felt a bit flushed as she exhaled a long breath. "I'm fine."
Leaning on Feng Yi's hand, she stepped down from the carriage and looked up to see the towering Yu Wangfu.
The Wangfu was the same, but tonight the winds were calm, and she was no longer facing the same life-or-death crisis as her previous life.
"I have already explained the situation to the gatekeeper. They have gone to inform the Prince."
Feng Yi stood behind Ye Liujin. For some reason, she felt an indescribable air of desolation emanating from the young lady.
Creak—
The vermilion gates opened, and it was Xiao Zhaoyan himself who walked out.
"Greetings, Your Highness," Feng Yi hurriedly bowed. "I am here on the orders of Consort Chen—"
"There is no need to say more. I already know," Xiao Zhaoyan suddenly interrupted, his gaze landing on Ye Liujin.
"Miss Ye, we meet again."
One stood atop the steps, the other below.
The scene was exactly as it had been in her previous life, yet the state of their hearts at this moment was entirely different.
Ye Liujin gave a faint smile and looked up at the tall and elegant Xiao Zhaoyan.
"Your Highness, we meet again."