“Yes,” Nan Rongchen scattered all the fish food in his hand in one go. “Go back and tell the Empress Dowager that Gu will pay his respects tomorrow.”
“Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has ordered this servant and the others to escort Your Majesty back to the palace.”
Escort? Monitoring was more like it. Nan Rongchen turned around and glanced at Song Xiang. This man was a senior attendant in the Empress Dowager’s inner court, deeply trusted by her.
“Then let us return to the palace immediately.” As soon as Nan Rongchen finished speaking, he strode out of the Zhanyi Pavilion. Not far behind him, trailing closely, were more than ten guards led by Song Xiang. They belonged to the Imperial Guards, commanded by the Empress Dowager’s own nephew, Li Changyuan. In his past life, he had trusted the Empress Dowager, and thus heavily relied on this cousin of his.
Naturally, this was yet another foolish mistake.
“Gu remembers that you and Eunuch Gao are fellow villagers.” As he walked forward, he casually raised a casual inquiry to Song Xiang. “Back when the incident happened so suddenly, I wonder if he managed to return safely to his hometown.”
Song Xiang respectfully replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, Gao Zhong colluded with the Bureau of Astronomy’s astrological officers to delude the Sovereign, and he has already confessed and submitted to the law. Gao Zhong’s actions truly failed Your Majesty’s deep concern for him.”
It was not entirely unexpected. The Empress Dowager and Zhou Yanzhi would never allow anyone who might pledge allegiance to Nan Rongchen to remain alive. Nan Rongchen smoothly built upon Song Xiang’s words, “No wonder Gu felt so mazed that day.”
As for that implicated astrological officer, he was most likely one of Regent King Nan Rongxian’s men. From this point forward, the Bureau of Astronomy would probably fall entirely into the hands of the Empress Dowager and Zhou Yanzhi, which meant it would ultimately land in Prince Xiang’s grasp.
Although the notions of ghosts and deities were illusory, the common people of Linyue had worshiped them for generations, and quite a few individuals in the imperial court deeply believed in the Witch God.
How absurd it was to pin the destiny of a nation on immortals. In his past life, he had originally intended to begin dismantling the Bureau of Astronomy once the political situation completely stabilized, never expecting the Chief Astrologer to first reinforce the label of a tyrant with the Witch God’s prophecy.
As for now? It did not matter. Whoever wanted to believe could believe; besides, the Witch God truly existed and happened to be part of the protagonist’s faction. Because of this, his world would undoubtedly be free of worries after his death.
He wondered where the plot had derailed to warrant the system dragging him back to replay it.
Several hours later, Nan Rongchen boarded the canopied, treasure-adorned imperial carriage at the Jianwu Gate. Surrounded by a winding procession of guards all the way, it finally came to a halt outside the Zichen Palace.
Amid echoing cries of “Greetings, Your Majesty,” the Empress Dowager, supported by the arm of her senior attending maid Xuetang, hurried out to the front of the hall. With a mixture of joy and anxiety, she clasped Nan Rongchen’s hand, leading him into the hall as she asked, “Does Your Majesty still feel any discomfort anywhere? Xuetang, go to the side hall and summon the imperial physician.”
In her youth, the Empress Dowager had been a peerlessly gorgeous talent renowned across the realm. Now, her mature grace only grew richer; adorned with pearl hairpins, she looked magnificent and majestic without losing her gentle harmony.
Nan Rongchen allowed his maternal empress to pull him down onto the soft couch, obediently extending his arm to let the imperial physician take his pulse.
Having cooperated to this extent in his actions, he could afford to slack off and be idle with his tongue.
While he enjoyed his peace, the imperial physicians, maids, and servants suffered for it, standing in the eerie silence of the hall with their eyes fixed on their noses and their noses fixed on their hearts.
Among them, the elderly servants accustomed to serving in the Zichen Palace felt especially anxious. In the past, whenever their Sovereign saw the Empress Dowager, he was exceptionally affectionate and warm, appearing no less close than an ordinary mother and son among the common folk. This kind of cold indifference was happening for the very first time.
The imperial physician checked the pulse three times over before finally reporting, “Your Majesty’s severe injuries have yet to heal, leaving your vital energy and blood unstable. You must take good care of yourself and recuperate with nourishing foods.”
The current situation was vastly better than the day the Sovereign committed suicide by cutting his throat in the hall. Having faithfully served the Empress Dowager for many years, his head felt much safer on his shoulders here than it would in front of Nan Rongxian.
“Since Imperial Physician Jiang says so, Aiwan can finally rest easy,” the Empress Dowager’s brow finally relaxed. “Xuetang, bring over the medicinal diet I had prepared.”
“Go and transmit orders for some light dishes as well, and have the calming incense prepared.”
Following this string of instructions, the maids and eunuchs in the hall moved back and forth with hurried steps. Amidst their busy work, they could not help but marvel at the Empress Dowager’s deep maternal love.
After settling all the arrangements, the Empress Dowager spoke in a gentle tone, “Gao Zhong acted with unbridled audacity and can no longer be employed. Your Majesty cannot be without a chief attendant by your side. Are there any inner servants that catch your eye?”
Nan Rongchen raised his gaze to meet the concern in the Empress Dowager’s eyes, speaking without a trace of emotion, “Does the Empress Dowager have a candidate in mind?”
If the pawn Gao Zhong was gone, they could simply replace him with another.
In his past life, he would have completely deferred to the Empress Dowager’s arrangements for such trivial matters. He was her only son, raised with meticulous care and affection since childhood, so he had no reason to suspect a maternal empress who seemed to consider everything on his behalf.
The Empress Dowager paused at those words; this was the first time Nan Rongchen had refrained from calling her Mother. “The Bureau of Inner Servants does have some seasoned and steady individuals.”
While the two of them were speaking, Xuetang placed the medicinal bowl on the table, every movement of hers restrained and precise. Nan Rongchen lowered his gaze to look at the white jade bowl, which contained a dietary concoction brewed through tedious procedures using various rare and precious medicinal herbs.
This medicinal meal possessed exceptional efficacy; not only did it nourish qi and replenish blood, but it also helped people alleviate worries. If consumed over a long period, one’s memory would gradually decay until they became a muddled madman. How could that not be considered a state of eternal freedom from worries?
To prevent madness and violence, this medicinal meal could also leave a person strong on the outside yet hollow within, steadily withering away day by day.
It was only right before his death in his past life that he came to understand his maternal empress’s thoughtful intentions: if he ever slipped out of her control or lost his remaining value, she would cause him to suffer a sudden bout of madness and die prematurely, lest he block Nan Rongchengyu’s path.
“Let us set the matter of the inner servants aside for now. Your Majesty traveled to the Jiuan Palace with injuries over these past two days; you should finish this medicinal meal first.”
Hearing this, Nan Rongchen quietly observed the Empress Dowager through the soft, warm sunlight. The otherworldly detachment in his eyes completely faded away as he picked up the jade spoon and pinched it between his fingers. “Gu thinks Xuetang is quite good. Why doesn’t Imperial Mother keep her here in the Zichen Palace?”
As soon as he said this, the expressions of both Xuetang and the Empress Dowager shifted drastically. Nan Rongchen consumed a mouthful of the medicinal diet without changing his expression; putting aside everything else, it tasted fresh, soft, waxy, and quite pleasant.
“Is Imperial Mother reluctant to part with her?” Nan Rongchen finally curved his lips into the first trace of a smile since entering the hall. “Gu has been on the throne for a year now, yet all the ministers and Imperial Mother have restrained yourselves, sparing Gu’s pride out of regard for the wild words Gu once spoke, which is why no one has urged the matter.”
“Yet as the ruler of Linyue, Gu cannot remain so self-indulgent and disregard the continuation of the imperial bloodline.”
The more Xuetang listened, the paler her face became. She dropped to her knees and pleaded with a mournful voice, “Your Majesty, this lowly maid of humble birth is unworthy of such a blessing.”
The Empress Dowager had already recovered her calm composure, earnestly persuading him, “Imperial Mother is deeply gratified that Your Majesty has this intention. However, Xuetang has served by Aiwan’s side for many years, and Aiwan could never bear to treat her poorly. If we were to elevate her position exceptionally based on this, it would only place Your Majesty in a difficult position.”
“Furthermore, an eldest prince is best born from the legitimate Empress. Why doesn’t Your Majesty consider taking an Empress first before looking into other matters?”
Nan Rongchen spoke earnestly, “Gu feels it matters little. Regardless of the mother’s status, as long as the imperial prince receives Imperial Mother’s backing, surely any of them could secure the throne.”
Seeing the Empress Dowager display a troubled expression and remain silent, he achieved his goal. He leaned down to help up Xuetang, who was putting on a show of kowtowing, and prepared to send his visitors away. “Forget it, Gu does not care for forcing things.”
For a sovereign born to be a pawn like him, naturally no one wished for him to leave behind offspring. Fortunately, in his past life, he had sworn not to take a wife until the realm was pacified, intending instead to spend his life solely devoted to Xiao Yuanqing, while eventually selecting someone capable from the imperial clan to shoulder the heavy responsibilities.
For a moment, the Empress Dowager could not read Nan Rongchen’s intentions, so she probed cautiously, “Is there a change in the court? Or has the sorcery of that astrological officer from half a month ago not yet completely dissipated?”
Nan Rongchen finished the last bite of his medicinal meal. “It is merely those ministers arguing annoyingly. Imperial Mother, sitting on this throne is far too exhausting. Since they are all imperial princes anyway, why not let Prince Xiang take a turn at sitting upon it?”
Perhaps because his words sounded entirely sincere, the Empress Dowager, who always maintained a gentle and poised facade, suddenly changed expression upon hearing them. “Your Majesty, do not act on impulse, and do not forget your late father’s final words.”
Nan Rongchen naturally had not forgotten. On his deathbed, the late Emperor had taken his hand and entrusted him with the empire, while also leaving behind a group of loyal ministers and capable generals led by Zhou Yanzhi.
Their loyalty was real, except that their loyalty belonged to the late Emperor.
Seeing that he remained silent, the Empress Dowager softened her tone and altered how she addressed him. “Chen’er, Mother knows your current situation is not easy. Putting aside what your late father entrusted to you, Mother even more so cannot bear to see all your scheming over these past many years go to waste, letting Nan Rongchengyu and the Liang family benefit for nothing.”
These words sounded both reasonable and grounded in emotion, but Nan Rongchen had no desire to listen further. “Imperial Mother persuaded the Chief Astrologer to assist me in smoothly dispatching troops to subjugate Yuezhi; you spared no effort, and this son is aware of it all.”
“With Imperial Mother’s backing like this, Prince Xiang will surely accomplish great achievements.”
Aside from the time he sneaked out of the Imperial Study to play when he was young, he had never spoken falsely to the Empress Dowager. In the past, it was because he was unwilling; now, it was to spare himself future hypocrisy and pretense.
In his past life, he had known the person who offered the strategy was connected to the Empress Dowager, but he had simply assumed she was being deceived by others, given that throughout the entire palace only his maternal empress and Xiao Yuanqing could treat him with unconditional sincerity.
As for now, he might as well lay it all out in the open.
Over the span of half an hour, the Empress Dowager had suffered setback after setback, leaving her with no choice but to advance her plans slowly. “Chen’er, Mother does not know much about court affairs. Tomorrow, Lord Xiao will enter the palace to plan things out for you; for today, you should rest well first.”
Nan Rongchen casually gave an affirmative reply. Since the honest truth had reached this point, surpassing even the Witch God’s prophecy in authenticity, if the Empress Dowager chose not to believe it, there was nothing he could do other than let them busy themselves as they pleased.
It would be best if the Empress Dowager grew even more suspicious of him and made a move against him; that way, it would be all the easier for him to max out her hatred value sooner.
After waiting for quite some time, the Empress Dowager grew truly fatigued and rose with Xuetang’s support, pausing before her departure to remind the attendants to properly tend to the Sovereign.
Having finally welcomed Nan Rongchen’s return, not only had the doubts in her heart failed to dissipate, but they had instead tangled into a complete mess.
The timing of Nan Rongchen’s abdication and suicide that day was far too coincidental, arriving right before the Chief Astrologer presented the divination to the court. Following that, Nan Rongchengyu had even meddled in the affair, taking the responsibility of gathering provisions upon himself.
Just what on earth did Nan Rongchen know, and what methods had he used to force Chengyu not only to work for him, but to have his weaknesses held so firmly that he dared not reveal the reason behind it?
And what was brewing between Nan Rongchen and Nan Rongxian?
“Empress Dowager, watch the steps.” Xuetang had already realized today she was merely a pawn in the chess game played between the Sovereign and the Empress Dowager, so she put her mind at ease to soothe the Empress Dowager. “In this servant’s view, Your Ladyship need not worry. The Sovereign still possesses youthful impulsiveness; perhaps he truly was driven mad by the noise, giving that astrological officer an opening to exploit. In any case, he still trusts you and is willing to listen to you.”
The Empress Dowager gave a slight nod. Nan Rongchen had mostly likely grown suspicious of her, and any attempt to probe his current plans could no longer be executed by her own hand. Otherwise, it would only cause the trust bought through years of meticulous cultivation to be washed away in vain.
Panicking now served no purpose. The Empress Dowager raised her foot and took her seat on the soft sedan. “Summon Lord Xiao to enter the palace tomorrow.”
After those few individuals departed, the hall finally grew quiet. The calming incense drifted in curls, and Nan Rongchen leaned back on the soft couch, casually flipping open a book.
It was reportedly written by Nan Rongchengyu back when he lived among the common people. Titled The Peach Blossom Fan, it was widely popular among the common folk, suggesting that his protagonist brother must have made quite a bit of silver off this book back in the day.
He had only turned a few pages when the light before him abruptly darkened, and the book was snatched right out of his hand.
“I was gone for merely a single day, and you’ve already gone ahead and consumed that poisoned medicine?”