Jiang Yuzhou held her soft little hand, saying, “If you ever need anything in the future, or if someone bullies you, feel free to come and tell me.”
“I will definitely stand up for you.”
Jiang Yuzhou spoke as if she were a righteous judge.
But Xiao Changning was no fool. The Emperor of Nanxiao had many concubines, and from a young age, she had witnessed the schemes and intrigues of the palace. How could she easily give her trust?
She curved her eyes into a smile, “Thank you, Empress.”
After speaking, Jiang Yuzhou glanced at the medicinal soup on the table, “Rest for now.”
Xiao Changning watched the Empress depart, her heart filled with wariness toward this Empress who offered kindness without reason.
Jiang Yuzhou was not idle either. She immediately summoned Ying Qi.
Dressed in dark clothing, Ying Qi walked and chatted with Jiang Yuzhou along a small path beside Weiyang Palace.
“Having been in Nanxiao for many years, does Xiao Changning know of your existence?”
Ying Qi replied, “She does not. I have hidden myself well. On several occasions, I have helped the Princess escape danger through the hands of others.”
Jiang Yuzhou nodded, “In a few days, find a way to appear before her.”
“Just say that Bixia sent you to protect her. Do not mention anything about Nanxiao.”
“Yes.” Ying Qi bowed and accepted the order, and Jiang Yuzhou strode away.
Inside Weiyang Palace, it was quiet and still.
A palace maid approached with candied fruits. Glancing at the untouched medicinal soup on the table, she bowed slightly, “Your Highness has caught a chill and suffered from excessive fright, which is why your health has not improved.”
“This is the medicine prescribed by the Imperial Physician. Your Highness should drink it while it’s still warm.”
As she spoke, she handed over the steaming, bitter medicine.
Xiao Changning turned her head, keenly sensing that this medicine was far from ordinary bitterness. Her gaze shifted upward, landing on the maid’s face.
She had not wanted to drink the medicine, but Alan’s expression was filled with an air of refusal.
Alone in an enemy country, and remembering that she was the Empress’s person, she endured it.
She reached out and took the medicine bowl, asking, “What is your name?”
“This servant is Alan.”
“How many years have you been in the palace?” Xiao Changning asked while drinking.
Alan replied, “Three years.”
“I see.” Then, she tilted her head back and drank the medicinal soup in one gulp. Alan cleverly offered a piece of candied fruit.
“You may leave. No one is to disturb me.”
After speaking, Xiao Changning turned over, facing away from her.
Alan bowed respectfully, tucked the blanket around Xiao Changning, and left.
Hearing the door creak twice, the vast sleeping palace was now empty except for her.
Xiao Changning opened her sore eyes. The bitter taste of the medicine churned in her chest, as if fermenting. She rolled out of bed, quickly crawled to the flowerpot, and with a “retch,” vomited all the medicine.
Looking at the seeping liquid, a terrifying thought suddenly sprouted in Xiao Changning’s mind.
Could this medicine… be someone trying to harm me?
She covered her chest in fear as the icy cold wind blew through the window, mercilessly chilling her.
The maids cannot be trusted! The palace concubines cannot be trusted! As for Murong Yao, he must not be trusted either!
Early the next morning, the Imperial Study was crowded with ministers. Three or five heads huddled together, whispering and muttering, making it impossible to hear what they were saying.
The sound of footsteps approached from afar.
“Bixia has arrived!”
As the eunuch’s sharp, thin voice rang out, everyone stood properly in their positions.
Murong Hao wore a black dragon robe, with a golden thread-embroidered dragon pattern extending from his back to his chest, solemn and majestic.
In the court, aside from the Prime Minister, the Grand General, and Murong Hao’s imperial uncle, the Prince of Dingyuan, all the other court officials knelt and kowtowed.
These three men: one was the Prime Minister, head of all officials, holding authority over state affairs and also Murong Hao’s mentor.
Another was Beiyuan’s Grand General Helian Jue, a veteran of three dynasties with illustrious military achievements, possessing a death exemption token personally bestowed by the late emperor.
The third was Murong Hao’s imperial uncle, Murong Yunzheng, enfeoffed as the Prince of Dingyuan, who had supported him in ascending the throne, a figure of great importance.
Murong Hao glanced at the three of them, then said softly, “Rise!”
Everyone stood up, and Murong Yao signaled, “My esteemed ministers, do any of you have memorials to present?”
The Minister of War glanced at Helian Jue, then stepped forward, “Bixia, there is one matter I do not understand. Our Beiyuan cavalry has already reached the outskirts of Jiangling, just one step away from breaching the imperial city and unifying the north and south. So why did we suddenly withdraw the troops?”
“How can this be justified to the soldiers who died on the battlefield?”
Murong Yao turned to look at Prime Minister Jiang Xun and asked, “What does the Prime Minister think?”
After all, it was he who had secretly manipulated the withdrawal of troops, weakening Nanxiao rather than destroying it. If he didn’t step forward, who would?
Prime Minister Jiang Xun seemed to have anticipated this and argued, “The neighboring small states harbor wolfish ambitions and frequently harass our borders. Now is not the time to destroy Nanxiao; we should recuperate and build up strength.”
“Nanxiao will be destroyed sooner or later, but the right timing is needed.”
Grand General Helian Jue spoke bluntly, “That’s all nonsense!”
“What timing? Isn’t it all created by people?”
“Enough!” Murong Yao promptly called a halt, ending the heated argument in the court.
Prime Minister Jiang Xun remained as steady as a pine tree, unmoving, while Grand General Helian Jue, glaring with anger, stepped aside.
The two sides were like fire and water, restraining each other—exactly what Murong Yao wanted to see.
Murong Hao then continued, “However, the Prime Minister just said something very true.”
“War between two nations requires the right timing. Currently, the Emperor of Nanxiao is incompetent and foolish, with corrupt governance. The fall of his state is inevitable sooner or later, so why rush?”
“Nanxiao still retains some fighting capacity. Let them bring about their own destruction. I do not want my soldiers to die in vain.”
“This matter ends here. It shall not be mentioned again.”
After Murong Yao finished speaking, he gave a glance to Eunuch Feng beside him, who immediately took out the imperial edict prepared earlier, announcing to the world the decree to confer Xiao Changning as Guifei.
Murong Yao carefully observed the court officials. Just as Jiang Yuzhou had predicted, an advisor of the Prince of Dingyuan stepped forward, and he adopted Jiang Yuzhou’s method, directly having the man dragged out and beaten thirty strokes with a rod!
After this, no one in the court dared to object.
Meanwhile, in Fengyi Palace, Xiao Changning and the other palace concubines had already paid their morning respects to the Empress.
Xiao Changning’s beauty was striking, and at the sight of her, everyone felt a pang of jealousy.
Defei looked at the woman across from her, “Guifei Niangniang, I was unable to see you yesterday and regretted it for a long time.”
Xiao Changning turned to her. She had heard from Alan that Defei was the youngest daughter of the Grand General.
“Defei Niangniang, you flatter me. There will be plenty of time in the future for us to meet. What regret is there?”
“Oh.” Defei covered her face with a light laugh, “I misspoke, please forgive me, Guifei.”
Chen Zhaoyi shot her a disdainful glance and said arrogantly, “Bixia has made her Guifei, the highest among the four consorts. I wonder if she’s worthy of it.”
“Such a seductive appearance.”
Xiao Changning stood up and walked over to Chen Zhaoyi, swinging her fist in a wide arc to strike her face.