The woman, already dressed, knelt prostrate on the floor, trembling slightly. After uttering only the words “Empress,” she dared not speak again, nor even raise her head.
Li Xiuyue did not even glance at her again, fixing her cold gaze on Li Sheng instead. “Guards, take her away first and keep her under watch!”
Several palace attendants entered from outside the hall, dragging the woman up from the floor and pulling her away, along with the maid who had been guarding the door for her. The woman cast a pitiful, pleading look toward Li Sheng, but he did not speak up for her.
Li Xiuyue closed her eyes briefly before reopening them, suppressing the anger in her heart. “Today, a banquet is being held in the gardens, with nobles and their wives in attendance. Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
The corner of Li Sheng’s mouth lifted almost imperceptibly, clearly indifferent to Li Xiuyue’s words.
“I know you have a reputation for being a libertine, but who is she? She is your Emperor Father’s favored consort!”
Li Xiuyue pointed at her son, her hand trembling with rage. “Have you considered what would happen if this matter reached your Emperor Father’s ears? The path to the throne is treacherous. I have schemed for you for years, even eliminating the former Crown Prince. Have you become so arrogant that you would now destroy your own foundation?”
When Li Sheng heard her mention his Emperor Father, the disdain on his face grew even more pronounced. He scoffed lightly. “What if His Majesty finds out? Isn’t this temperament of mine his own doing? When I was young and still ignorant of worldly affairs, the toy he gave me was a Joyous Buddha Automaton! When the mechanism was activated, the figures moved as if they were real people, engaged in copulation! Tell me, what kind of father in this world does such a thing?”
“Silence! How dare you utter such treasonous words? You must be mad!”
Li Xiuyue was so enraged that her chest heaved violently. After taking a few deep breaths, she continued, “And don’t think for a moment that the throne is already yours for the taking. Consort Yi’s Ninth Prince, though young, is exceptionally clever and deeply favored by His Majesty. His maternal grandfather, the Left Vice Director, is currently at the height of his power. Who will sit on the throne is still uncertain! Moreover, I observe that His Majesty still harbors lingering affection for the Former Empress. Although the Crown Prince has been deposed, there is no guarantee he won’t rise from the ashes. Isn’t that why you’ve been eyeing that Secretary? With such critical matters at stake, how could you commit such a foolish act!”
“What about Noble Lady Ye captivated you so? For a moment of carnal pleasure, you would disregard the grand scheme!”
Li Sheng’s throat moved slightly, unable to help but recall the half of her face veiled by soft gauze, so reminiscent of a certain delicate beauty.
Li Xiuyue continued her relentless scolding: “If you remain so unrestrained, once someone with ill intentions seizes evidence against you, it will be your utter ruin!”
After all, she was his mother, who had schemed on his behalf. Suppressing the resentment in his heart, Li Sheng placated her, “Mother, please calm your anger. Your son knows he was wrong! As for Noble Lady Ye… she is not someone I cannot part with. I must trouble you, Mother, to send her where she belongs.”
This response seemed somewhat reasonable. Li Xiuyue softened her tone. “You must also consider your reputation. If similar matters reach the Eldest Princess’s ears again, it will be difficult to explain. Your marriage to Zhaohua is also…”
“Hah.” Before she could finish, Li Sheng let out a derisive laugh, his tone full of contempt. “What if Aunt finds out? My little indulgences are hardly unusual compared to her own in her youth. Even her daughter, Zhaohua, is not exactly pure!”
“You foolish child!” Li Xiuyue rebuked him. “Such words should only be spoken in front of me! Your marriage to Zhaohua was decided long ago. Even if you dislike it, you must endure it. After all, the support of the Eldest Princess is what truly matters!”
Li Sheng’s gaze darkened slightly, a reaction that Li Xiuyue caught. She spoke softly, “I know you don’t like Zhaohua, but whether you like her or not is irrelevant to your marriage. It’s only because of your stubbornness that it’s been delayed for years. Now we can delay no longer. After today’s banquet, I will go with the Eldest Princess to request His Majesty’s decree for the marriage!”
Li Sheng gave a cold smile. “I don’t mind—it’s just another woman in the rear courtyard. I’m only afraid my little cousin won’t agree! Didn’t you see at the peach blossom banquet a few days ago how closely she pursued Yan Yu? If she’s forced to marry someone else, she’ll turn the world upside down!”
“It won’t come to that. The Eldest Princess will handle it. You just need to put on a joyful attitude and marry her. In the future, when you ascend the throne, whoever you want will be yours with a single word. Don’t be so stubborn!”
“I understand, Mother.”
After admonishing her son, Li Xiuyue still felt a heavy, suffocating tightness in her chest. Her two children—one so dissolute, using his privilege to enter the palace at any time to sleep with the emperor’s women, and the other so fixated on a dead person, seemingly determined to remain alone for life—were utterly useless, truly infuriating her!
And then there was Noble Lady Ye, who had been selected to enter the palace half a year ago. His Majesty was deeply engrossed in the Way of Alchemy and rarely visited the rear palace, but to balance court politics, he still routinely selected beauties. Ye Shaoxian had been personally chosen by Li Xiuyue, with some distant familial ties. At first, she appeared gentle and obedient, but who could have guessed she would nearly ruin her son’s future!
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Initially, she intended to deal with Ye Shaoxian directly, but then she had a sudden change of heart and ordered her to be brought up again.
Ye Shaoxian knew she had committed a grave sin and understood that today would not end well for her. Her delicate face was deathly pale, her eyes swollen and red from crying. After being thrown to the ground, she crawled a few steps toward the empress’s feet on her knees, kowtowing heavily several times. “Your servant knows she is wrong! Your servant has no face to beg for Your Majesty’s forgiveness. I only hope that Your Majesty will spare my family, considering my past loyalty in serving you!”
As she spoke, she kowtowed again and again, not stopping.
“Lift your head,” Li Xiuyue commanded, seated imposingly on a large carved chair, her demeanor regal and authoritative.
Ye Shaoxian cautiously raised her head. Li Xiuyue examined her carefully for a moment before instructing the maid beside her, “Fetch a soft veil to cover her eyes.”
At these words, Ye Shaoxian, kneeling on the ground, felt inexplicable terror.
While the palace attendants were binding the soft veil, Li Xiuyue’s icy voice rang out. “When did it start? How many times?”
With her vision obscured, Ye Shaoxian grew even more panicked, her trembling voice intensifying as she stammered, “Th-three months ago… How many times… Your servant doesn’t remember.”
“Kneel properly and lift your head.”
Ye Shaoxian obediently complied.
Li Xiuyue remained silent for a moment.
Ye Shaoxian’s heart pounded wildly until she finally heard another question: “Was this soft veil used before?”
“N-no… Only this time…”
Li Xiuyue closed her eyes and waved a dismissive hand toward the palace attendants.
After leaving the empress’s palace, Li Sheng instructed Ma Quan’er, “After the inner banquet, the empress and the Eldest Princess will seek His Majesty’s decree for the marriage. Quickly leak this news to Princess Zhaohua. If you fail again…”
“This servant will end himself!” Ma Quan’er said before scurrying away.
Mei Yao chatted idly with Li Youtong for a while at her residence. Li Youtong smiled and said, “We get along so well, and there are no outsiders here. It feels distant for you to keep calling me ‘Princess.’ Call me ‘Sister’ instead.”
Mei Yao smiled sweetly. “Then I won’t stand on ceremony—Sister Tong.”
“Do you have a courtesy name, Sister?”
“Xiyan.”
This name was given by Mr. Xu when she came of age, but since she had been in the southern borderlands before, few people had ever called her by it.
“Mei Xiyan—a fine courtesy name.”
A hint of mischief flickered in Li Youtong’s eyes. “Sister Xiyan, you’ve been in the capital for some time now. Among the noble young men here, is there anyone who has caught your eye?”
Mei Yao smiled shyly. “Sister Tong, don’t tease me. How could I possibly…”
“Never mind His Majesty. I’m asking you—do you have someone you like?”
Seeing her remain silent, Li Youtong continued, “Then let me guess. It couldn’t be my Fourth Brother or Ninth Brother, could it? Or perhaps… General Yan from the northwest?”
Noticing the faint smile on Mei Yao’s face, Li Youtong grew even more certain. “It is General Yan! No wonder Zhaohua gave you such a hard time that day.”
Mei Yao cautiously probed, “What is her relationship with General Yan…?”
“It’s all one-sided infatuation! Last year, when General Yan returned to the capital, he visited the General’s Mansion. By chance, she happened to see him, and ever since then, she’s been completely obsessed. Thankfully, that Cold-faced Prince isn’t often in the capital, otherwise who knows what trouble she’d stir up!”
Hearing there was quite a story behind it, Li Youtong didn’t hesitate to share the details. “She’s been spoiled since childhood and has always been determined to get whatever she wants. Last year during the spring hunt, she went to great lengths to trick him into being cornered in a deserted cottage on the outskirts of the capital, forcing that Cold-faced Prince to enforce military discipline right in front of her. He had the servant she bribed beaten to death on the spot and returned to the great northwest the very next day.”
Mei Yao thought to herself, no wonder he avoids her like a rabbit fleeing a hawk. Could he really kill someone every day just for her sake?
Li Youtong spoke earnestly, “I noticed at the spring banquet that you and Zhaohua seemed to have some friction over Yan Yu. I’m telling you all this to give you a warning—that Jade-faced Asura is no good man either. It’s best not to get involved with him.”
Mei Yao thought to herself, too late for that.
As the two chatted, a maid entered and whispered something into Li Youtong’s ear.
Li Youtong looked up and said, “Trouble indeed! Noble Lady Ye drank a bit too much at the banquet and accidentally fell into the water on her way back to the palace. Her maid, Ziyuan, failed to rescue her in time, and both have drowned.”