Ji Hengge, suspended from the mechanical wooden contraption, experienced a momentary trance.
He ought to leave; his plan dictated as much, and it was the most rational choice.
However, the words to agree became stubbornly stuck in his chest, refusing to be uttered no matter what. It felt as though a hand were suspended there, pressing down firmly with its scalding, thin calluses against his chest, scattering the words he wished to speak right past his throat.
Having waited too long without hearing a response, Wu Qiang raised his head to look at the Prince Regent, just in time to see him descending from the mechanical wood.
Because he could not directly stand on his own, once the Prince Regent descended from the mechanical apparatus, he would pick up a pair of wide wooden crutches close at hand to prop up his body, using these crutches as his two legs all the way as he supported himself toward the rear washing room.
Sunlight filtered through the wooden lattice of the window, casting mottled patches of light and shadow upon the Prince Regent’s body. Wu Qiang could clearly see the beads of sweat rolling down the Prince Regent’s form alongside the bruised purple marks pressed into his flesh by the mechanical wood.
Once down, the Prince Regent gripped his crutches, leaning against the mechanical apparatus with his chest heaving slightly, his breathing somewhat hurried as a result.
“We are not leaving yet,” after a moment, Ji Hengge finally spoke. “This Prince must observe further.”
He knew what he would face if he did not leave; the Empress Dowager had specifically named him to attend this hunting expedition precisely so she could make a move against him.
A violent tempestuous vortex had already coiled around his surroundings. How massive was this storm vortex? Massive enough that with a single inadvertent slip, he could easily drown himself.
Yet he still wished to stay behind and observe, to see precisely what other methods Yan Lingyi possessed, and to witness what earth-shattering feats Yan Lingyi might yet accomplish.
The palace he had previously found wearisome had bred a fresh source of amusement, hooking his heart and pressing it firmly in place. Crisis accompanied the edge of a blade, yet he stubbornly refused to depart even half a step.
Ji Hengge even gave birth to a delusional notion.
True, the people he beheld within this imperial palace were all petty and scheming wretches, every single one blinding themselves for the sake of power, but Yan Lingyi was different.
Following the late emperor’s passing, she was the sole individual who genuinely faced his contributions, cherished his sacrifices, and even the only one capable of empathizing with the hardships of the borderlands and willing to negotiate peace for the sake of the common people.
At times, those willing to accommodate and concede were far braver than those rushing blindly forward with a head full of hot blood. For the former had to endure far more public censure and skepticism.
Thus, he desperately desired to observe Yan Lingyi further.
Slowly lowering his eyelids to gaze upon his crippled legs, he murmured as though asking himself, If she discovers that the Empress Dowager intends to kill me,
Yan Lingyi, whose side would you stand on?
Your maternal aunt by blood, or the general whom you profess to admire aloud?
True, he had once been a general, but now he was nothing at all, whereas the Empress Dowager remained the Empress Dowager. Between a useless cripple and a biological aunt wielding absolute power, would you truly choose me for the sake of the justice in your heart?
Regarding Ji Hengge’s intentions, Yan Lingyi remained entirely oblivious.
Because the imperial palace was heavily patrolled by the Imperial Guards, each possessing exceptional skills and formidable martial prowess, Yan Lingyi possessed martial arts training yet lacked such supreme mastery. She had no way to evade everyone and cross the vast expanse of the inner palace in the dead of night to reach the Chengming Hall. Consequently, she had grown quite well-behaved over the past few days, quietly remaining within her own Fengyi Palace, guarding Emperor Wenkang day after day or heading to the Ranshou Palace to copy scriptures.
Emperor Wenkang ought to have bestowed his favors upon other imperial concubines; according to palace regulations, the first and fifteenth days of every month belonged to the Empress, while the remaining time was allotted for various concubines to serve in bed, adhering to the principle of sharing the imperial dew evenly. However, the present Emperor Wenkang was no longer the former Emperor Wenkang, forcing her to grit her teeth and lodge within the Empress’s palace, pretending not to notice the subtle overtures from those imperial concubines.
Occasionally, during the ingress and egress of morning court, Emperor Wenkang would cross paths with certain concubines.
Some were lively and cute, while others were delicately boneless and charming, stepping before him to utter honeyed words, yearning for Emperor Wenkang to visit their palaces and sit awhile.
How could Emperor Wenkang possibly go? She gave a subtle shake to the radish tied around her waist, feeling as though she were no different from a castrated eunuch. The other concubines all wished to fish something out from beneath her trousers, but she knew there was nothing inside, and even if they wanted to fish, nothing could be retrieved. If they truly insisted on fishing out something, they would only dredge up a radish.
Beloved concubines, it is not that this Emperor does not cherish you; this Emperor genuinely lacks the capacity.
Surely the beloved concubines would not wish to pull down this Emperor’s trousers only to touch a radish, right?
The Radish Princess could only flash a kidney-deficient, wife-fearing smile toward every approaching concubine: “The Empress is still waiting for me.”
Upon hearing Yan Lingyi’s moniker, the remaining concubines had no choice but to retreat awkwardly.
For a time, rumors of the Empress monopolizing the Emperor drifted wildly across the inner palace. Several concubines wished to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager and shed tears before her. Had this been during the tenure of the previously robust Empress Dowager, she might well have reprimanded the Empress not to constantly hog the Emperor, as fulfilling the duty of opening branches and scattering leaves for the Emperor was fundamentally the Empress’s responsibility. Alas, with the Empress Dowager currently bedridden and too ill to bother with them, they had no choice but to endure.
Yan Lingyi was naturally well aware of the petty schemes harbored by these concubines, yet she had no inclination to bicker with such individuals.
From the very beginning, she had never regarded herself merely as a woman. She harbored no romantic affection for Emperor Wenkang; her target was the power-holding Empress Dowager. Much like her aunt, the position of Empress had served as her stepping stone from the very start.
To reiterate: as long as she remained Empress now and became Empress Dowager hereafter, everyone else mattered not in the least.
Three days’ time flicked past in a flash. The appointed day arrived, and the entire retinue departed the palace en masse for Jianye’s royal hunting grounds.
The royal hunting grounds lay east of Jianye City, abutting Mount Wutai. The mountains were teeming with beasts, and a royal garden had been constructed at the foot of the hill, serving as a venue for summer refuge and hunting, brimming with wild charm.
This excursion permitted all civil and military officials of the court to accompany the party, with households each bringing their eligible young master scions along.
Those young masters were decked out in all their finery, each one longing to catch a glimpse of the legendary Princess Ningyue.
Although Princess Ningyue seldom stepped outside the palace gates, rumors held that the Princess possessed transcendent beauty comparable to a celestial maiden. With the time for the Princess to select a husband now arrived, these young scions were practically itching to stick a feather duster into their hair and display their plumage like peacocks the moment they set eyes on the Princess.
Regrettably, they never caught sight of the Princess.
Departing the Jianye Imperial City all the way along the road toward the eastern royal hunting grounds, the Princess remained indisposed, remaining sheltered within the Cloud-Ascending Sedan Chair. Word had it that the Princess suffered from a persistent allergy to pollen and injured her face, thus necessitating a thin veil whenever she traveled.
A total of four Cloud-Ascending Sedan Chairs had been dispatched: one for the Empress Dowager, one for the Princess, one shared by the Emperor and Empress, and another for the Prince Regent. The entire imperial clan of Dajin had emerged in full force.
Naturally, someone inquired: wasn’t it said the Prince Regent was gravely ill and unable to rise from his bed?
Someone replied: all thanks to the Emperor’s boundless benevolence.
The story went that previously, when the Prince Regent was critically ill, Emperor Wenkang knelt and prayed devoutly for three whole days and nights at Sanling Mountain, pleading before the Buddha to retrieve a protective talisman. The moment this talisman was brought back, the Prince Regent miraculously showed signs of recovery. He no longer bedded down, ceased taking medicine, and stopped dying, prompting the imperial physicians to marvel at the miraculous talisman’s power to rejuvenate spring. Presumably, the Emperor’s filial piety had moved the Buddha, who bestowed this divine talisman.
Thus, the profound affection between uncle and nephew was evident, moving all who heard it.
Had the Buddhas of Sanling Mountain heard these individuals’ words, they would likely have let out a collective sigh: Keep weaving your tales; at least I won’t refute them.
Mount Wutai was considerably closer than Sanling Mountain, requiring no full day and night of travel, but merely a few hours’ journey. Just as the horizon began to brush with dusk, the entire company arrived at Mount Wutai.
Entering the mountain, everyone proceeded to their respective quarters according to official rank and status to settle in, preparing to participate in the selection process starting the following day.
Since ancient times, selecting a Prince Consort required passing through a round of trials, and the Empress Dowager had pushed these examinations to their utmost limit, testing both literary prowess and martial valor.
Word had it that because the Empress Dowager intended to personally screen husbands for the Princess, the maiden grew too shy to step outside. Consequently, the final selection duties were jointly handled by the Emperor and Empress, with the Prince Regent’s counsel factored in during the process.
Thus, in the end, the selection was overseen collectively by the Emperor, Empress, and Prince Regent, mirroring the grand formation of Emperor Wenkang’s previous selection of imperial consorts.
Pity that the Empress Dowager was unable to rise from her couch and could only force herself to sit upright in a chair, casting a glance over the faces of the candidates to count as having participated.
The selection comprised three rounds: first, an in-person presentation to assess countenance and eloquence; second, a test of archery, horsemanship, and martial skill; third, an examination of poetry and lyrics.
Among the trio of the Emperor, Empress, and Prince Regent, the one who conducted the selection with the greatest diligence was none other than Emperor Wenkang.
During the initial in-person presentation, she personally interviewed every single young master, plowing through nearly a hundred candidates across a single day. She meticulously inquired what books they had read, evaluated each young master individually, memorized every face, and carefully selected those she favored while weeding out those she disliked, displaying extraordinary earnestness.
Oh my, she was actually dying to pull down their trousers and compare them against her radish, surely she couldn’t pick someone whose equipment was inferior to her radish after choosing from thousands!
Emperor Wenkang’s immense solicitude prompted onlookers to praise her for deep fraternal devotion.
That evening, the Radish Princess returned to her quarters bearing the roster of names to deliberate with her imperial sister-in-law.
Within the chamber, enveloped in the mild breeze of a summer night, the Empress leaned against the low couch by the window, studying a map of the Beizhao Kingdom.
Ever since her previous consultation with the Prince Regent, Yan Lingyi had developed a heightened interest in Beizhao. Such a mysterious realm was a destination she ought to experience firsthand within her lifetime.
While she was examining the map in detail, Ning Yue entered carrying the name roster, chattering endlessly before her about all the young gentlemen of the court, claiming she fancied every single one of them.
Oh my, why were there so many attractive men under heaven? Being good-looking aside, every single one spoke so pleasingly to the ear; she picked and chose yet still couldn’t decide!
Yan Lingyi looked over with a smile, offering: “In the future, if you fancy them, you may take them all in.”
“Huh?” Ning Yue lifted her eyes in shock: “All of them?”
“Why ever not?” Yan Lingyi gazed at her, offering gentle guidance: “Since ancient times, it has been common enough for founding princesses to establish their own estates, eschewing marriage in favor of keeping male concubines. Others may do so; why ever not Ning Yue? So long as you have Emperor Wenkang to serve as your backing, who would dare find fault with you?”
Ning Yue was stunned right where she sat, resembling a little peacock realizing for the very first time that others could see her backside when she displayed her plumage, startled beyond all measure.
She had indeed heard tales of such matters, but the Empress Dowager had never instructed her thusly, nor had anyone else ever taught her such things. They told her a princess could enjoy fine clothes and gourmet food, exercise a degree of arrogance within her husband’s family, yet ultimately remained merely slightly superior to ordinary women, still bound to become a virtuous lady.
Her physical body and her heart remained confined within the framework of a woman, daring not commit any audacious transgressions.
Yet Yan Lingyi was pushing her down an entirely different path.
Ning Yue, why must you forever remain a gentle, submissive princess?
Having sat upon the imperial throne for so long, have you not tasted the exquisite delight of power, nor experienced the exhilaration of towering status?
So long as one grasps the reins of authority, what distinction remains between men and women?
Ning Yue, if your true identity were ever exposed, would you willingly crawl back to submissively resume the role of a mere princess?
You ought to stand alongside me, becoming one of the two most supreme figures in this world, rather than retreating into a vulnerable position at the mercy of others. You should cooperate with me heart and soul, you should strive valiantly upward to safeguard this dragon throne, rather than waiting for your imperial brother’s return only to hand it over on a silver platter.
For a moment, Ning Yue was at a loss. Her imperial sister-in-law looked at her with such a smiling gaze, seemingly encouraging her to discard her identity as a princess and stride toward an entirely different horizon.
The Empress’s words stirred a measure of unease within her; she vaguely sensed that she had perpetrated something extraordinary, yet this undertaking was simultaneously brimming with temptation.
The Empress Dowager had used decades of ritual propriety to bind her, yet Yan Lingyi was seducing her with solid, tangible power.
Imperial power and immense wealth, when such treasures were dangled before one’s eyes, no mortal could possibly resist!
Yan Lingyi was confident in her ability to infatuate Ning Yue with these pursuits, and this precisely constituted Yan Lingyi’s unappealing trait.
She had read far too widely, her intellect razor-sharp. Unlike Li Niang, who deemed love alone sufficient and disdained even occupying the role of an imperial consort, projecting an attitude of romance above all else to plunge into madness over minor affections, nor would she resemble Ning Yue in remaining gentle, obedient, and docile enough to die for Emperor Wenkang.
She was overly intelligent, intensely greedy, and deeply ambitious. She comprehended the rules of power and surrendered to those rules rather than blindly obeying any individual. Consequently, she could not be controlled; she was liable to betray and flip the table at any given moment. She was never a manipulated pawn; throughout this game of power, she entered the fray with absolute clarity.
Presently, Yan Lingyi no longer desired to fight alone; she began agitating Ning Yue.
“Ning Yue, other princesses must humble themselves before the emperor, yet you have become the emperor yourself. You far surpass them; you merely desire this tiny bit of privilege, so how could it be wrong?” The tail-end of the Empress’s words dragged long and slow, gradually dissipating into the ambient air to hover deep within Ning Yue’s heart.
“Now that you are Emperor Wenkang,” the Empress watched her, gently prying open a tiny fissure within her heart: “Establishing an inner harem, what of it?”
Ning Yue, you possess two lives; why not venture down that other path to take a look?