Chapter 71 Yang Guifei (I) Covet

The autumn air of Chang'an, wrapped in the sweet fragrance of golden osmanthus, drifted over the vermilion walls of Xingqing Palace, but was somewhat subdued by the solemnity of the mourning hall.

Lin Jiaojiao held the hand of her maid Cui'er and walked across the palace path paved with bluestone slabs. The lotus pattern embroidered on the plain hem of her skirt swayed gently with her steps. The original owner of this body was Yang Yuhuan, the wife of Prince Shou, and she was a fast-traveler who had just crossed time and space from the Wei River in the Western Zhou Dynasty.

Before he even approached the mourning hall, a palace maid stopped and looked back.

It was not because she was wearing plain clothes, but because the appearance of this body was so eye-catching. A white jade hairpin was inserted diagonally in her temples, and her unpainted cheeks were white in the autumn morning light. When the corners of her eyes were slightly raised, she had a bit of gentleness, and when she lowered her eyes, she revealed a bit of coldness. She made the plain clothes look as stunning as those in gorgeous clothes.

Even the imperial guards guarding outside the mourning hall subconsciously slowed down their breathing and their eyes unconsciously followed her figure.

"Princess, the mourning hall of Consort Wu Huifei is ahead. Please walk slowly." Cui'er's voice was timid, and her fingertips gently grasped Lin Jiaojiao's sleeve. She had followed the original owner for many years, but had never seen her own princess have such a dazzling aura. It was as if overnight, all the hidden spirit was stimulated.

Lin Jiaojiao nodded gently, a slight chill running through her fingertips. Zero's pale blue shadow clung to her sleeve. An electronic voice echoed in her mind, a hint of alarm. "Jiaojiao, there are imperial guards on duty thirty steps ahead. Besides Emperor Xuanzong, Li Linfu, Gao Lishi, and other important officials are also inside the mourning hall. Your appearance has drawn attention from those around you. You must maintain a low profile and avoid overly exposing your presence."

She took a deep breath and pushed open the vermilion lacquered wooden door of the mourning hall.

The candlelight flickered in the hall. Wu Huifei's spirit tablet was placed in the middle, with court officials and royal family members in plain clothes standing on both sides. The man sitting on the main seat in the mourning hall, wearing a dark plain robe and with slightly graying temples, was none other than Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji.

He had obviously just cried, his eyes were red, but the moment Lin Jiaojiao stepped into the mourning hall, his gaze was fixed on her as if attracted by a magnet.

The look was too intense, filled with amazement, inquiry, and even a hint of possessiveness that didn't belong to "father-in-law mourning his daughter-in-law." The hall instantly became quiet, even the smoke from the burning incense seemed to pause for a moment. Lin Jiaojiao subconsciously took a half step back to make her presence even less noticeable.

"Mao'er, you're here." Tang Xuanzong's voice was hoarse, but he didn't look at Shou Wang Li Mao who was kneeling beside him. His eyes were still glued to Lin Jiaojiao, and his tone was filled with subtle admiration, "Is this the Shou Wang Consort? It's been a long time since I last saw her. You've grown so beautiful."

Shou Wang Li Mao's body visibly stiffened, his head drooped even lower, and his voice was as thin as a mosquito: "Your Majesty, it is... it is my son's princess Yang Yuhuan."

His fingers were tightly clenched on the corner of his clothes, and his knuckles turned white, but he didn't even have the courage to look up and look at Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. He hadn't reacted yet at that time, and just thought that his father was just praising him casually, and didn't notice the strangeness in his eyes at all.

Lin Jiaojiao's heart sank, and Zero's electronic voice immediately sounded: "The scan detected that Emperor Xuanzong's heart rate increased and his pupils dilated, indicating a strong interest in the host. Prince Shou's heart rate was stable, with no obvious stress reaction, and he has not yet sensed the danger."

She suppressed her uneasiness and knelt down to salute: "Daughter-in-law Yang Yuhuan pays homage to Your Majesty. May Concubine Hui rest in peace. Your Majesty, please take care of yourself and don't be overly sad." Her voice was gentle, as befitted the princess's status, yet she deliberately kept a distance. Even her hanging sleeves obscured most of her figure, not wanting to draw attention to herself.

Tang Xuanzong stood up from his seat and slowly walked over to her. His eyes swept over her features, then settled on her figure beneath her plain clothing. His tone was filled with inexplicable emotion: "I remember when you first married into the Shou Prince's mansion, you were still a young, childish girl. Now you've grown into this... You look a lot like Concubine Hui when she was young."

These words were too out of line. The court officials in the hall lowered their heads subconsciously, and even Gao Lishi frowned quietly.

Lin Jiaojiao dug her fingertips into her palm, forcing herself to remain calm. "Your Majesty, you are too kind. How dare I compare my humble daughter-in-law to Concubine Hui?"

"Why not?" Tang Xuanzong took a half step forward, almost getting close to her. The ambergris wafting from his sleeves overwhelmed the sandalwood incense in the mourning hall. "Your eyes and figure are even more lively than Concubine Hui's. If..."

"Father!" Prince Shou Li Mao suddenly spoke with a trembling voice, but still did not dare to look up, "It may be disrespectful to be in the mourning hall. Your son... Your son will accompany the princess to withdraw first." As he spoke, he wanted to pull Lin Jiaojiao's hand, but was forced to retract his hand by a look from Emperor Xuanzong of Tang - until then, he vaguely felt that something was wrong, but still did not dare to think too much about it.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang snorted coldly and stopped talking, but he looked at Lin Jiaojiao deeply. His eyes were like hooks, trying to hook her firmly inside the palace walls.

"Forget it, you guys can leave first." He turned around and walked back to the main seat, picked up the wine cup on the table, but did not drink it. He just stared at the spirit tablet in a daze, not knowing what he was thinking about.

Lin Jiaojiao supported Cui'er and fled the mourning hall. As soon as they exited Xingqing Palace, they saw Prince Shou Li Mao standing beside the carriage. His face was pale, but he still looked a bit confused. "Yuhuan, was father just saying that...wasn't he just saying that casually? I always feel like the way he looks at you is a little strange."

"Your Highness is overthinking." Lin Jiaojiao avoided his gaze. "Your Majesty only asked a few more questions because he was thinking of Concubine Hui and saw that I was wearing plain clothes. Let's go back home. The atmosphere in the mourning hall is too stuffy." She didn't dare to point it out, for fear that the cowardly Prince Shou would not be able to bear it and would make the situation worse.

The carriage slowly drove away from Xingqing Palace. Lin Jiaojiao lifted the curtain and looked at the golden osmanthus trees passing by outside the window.

The shadow of Ling drifted out from her sleeves, and the electronic voice was solemn: "Tang Xuanzong's interest in you is already obvious. He will not give up easily. Prince Shou's belated realization will only make us more passive. In the next period of time, you must pay more attention to the palace's movements."

"I know." Lin Jiaojiao responded softly, her eyes fixed on the distant palace wall. "I just didn't expect to fall into such a difficult situation as soon as I arrived in this world."

As the days passed, Wu Huifei's funeral ceremony was held with great ceremony, and the plain clothes in the Shouwang Mansion were changed three times.

At first, Prince Shou Li Mao would occasionally mention the strangeness of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, but as time went by, he gradually returned to his former cowardice. Li Linfu sent people to warn him several times, telling him to "mind his own business and be a prince of Shou at ease." He really suppressed all his doubts and even saw Lin Jiaojiao less often.

Lin Jiaojiao didn't count on him, but with Ling's assistance, she quietly collected intelligence from the court.

Recently, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang often went to the palace outside Chang'an City on the pretext of "relaxing his mind".

Li Linfu's contacts with An Lushan became more frequent.

The Taoist priests of Taizhen Temple had also been summoned several times by people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs - all signs confirmed Zero's prediction.

A month after Wu Huifei's funeral, the housekeeper of Prince Shou's mansion suddenly rushed in, his face panicked: "Your Highness! Princess! Someone from the palace has come, saying that His Majesty has issued an order, asking you two to go to the main hall immediately to receive it!"

Prince Shou Li Mao was reading in his study. Upon hearing this, the bamboo slips in his hand dropped to the ground with a "bang" and his face turned pale instantly: "Receive the order? Father... Father is finally going to take action?" Only then did he realize that all the abnormalities before were his father paving the way for today.

Lin Jiaojiao's heart sank, but she still forced herself to remain calm: "Your Highness, please go to the main hall first. You can't hide from them."

Prince Shou shook his head violently, stood up and walked towards the inner room of the study: "I won't go! I dare not see my father's people! Yuhuan, you... you go and deal with it first, I... I'll think of a way!" As he spoke, he closed the door of the inner room, and no matter how Lin Jiaojiao knocked on the door, he refused to come out.

Lin Jiaojiao looked at the closed door and sighed softly. She should have expected that Prince Shou would just run away at the critical moment.

The shadow of Zero drifted out from her sleeves, and the electronic voice was cold: "His cowardice has reached a point where it is hopeless. You can only accept the order yourself and handle it carefully."

Lin Jiaojiao straightened her clothes and walked towards the main hall alone.

The eunuch who was delivering the imperial edict was already waiting in the hall. He was wearing a bright yellow palace robe and had a haughty smile on his face. When he saw that only Lin Jiaojiao had come, a glint of understanding flashed in his eyes, but he didn't ask any more questions. He just unfolded the bright yellow imperial edict, and his shrill voice echoed in the hall:

"By the grace of Heaven and the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Consort Yang Yuhuan of Shou Wang was virtuous, gentle, and of good character. Now that Consort Wu Hui has passed away, I am deeply saddened. Therefore, I order Yang Yuhuan to become a female Taoist priest at the Taizhen Temple in Chang'an and pray for Hui Fei for three years as a token of my filial piety. I decree this."

After the imperial edict was read, the eunuch put away the scroll, but did not immediately hand it over. Instead, he stepped forward and lowered his voice, his words full of hints: "Princess Shou, His Majesty is also very thoughtful. Think about it, your going will not only fulfill your filial piety, but also make His Highness feel at ease. After all, His Highness is young and has a long way to go. You can't let such a small matter hinder your future, don't you think?"

The threat in these words was obvious: if she did not accept the order, Prince Shou's future and even the safety of Prince Shou's Mansion would be affected.

Lin Jiaojiao looked at the tightly closed door of the inner room, then at the imperial edict in the eunuch's hand. She knew in her heart that she had no choice.

"My daughter Yang Yuhuan, obeys your order." She stretched out her hand and took the imperial edict. When her fingertips touched the bright yellow silk, she felt a chill.

The eunuch who delivered the imperial edict smiled with satisfaction, and looked at her meaningfully: "The princess is a sensible person. His Majesty will definitely remember your kindness. I will return to the palace to report first." After that, he turned around and left with his entourage, leaving Lin Jiaojiao standing alone in the empty main hall.

Not until the footsteps faded away did Prince Shou come out from the inner room. His face was as pale as paper, and his voice was filled with tears: "Yuhuan, I'm sorry, I... I really don't dare to resist my father. I'm afraid..."

"Your Highness, there's no need to apologize." Lin Jiaojiao interrupted him, placing the imperial edict on the table. "Now that things have come to this, there's no point in saying these words. After I enter the Taoist temple, Your Highness, take good care of yourself and don't try to escape like you did today. After all, the future of the Shou Palace still depends on you."

Prince Shou opened his mouth but could not say anything. He just looked at Lin Jiaojiao, his eyes full of guilt and powerlessness.

Lin Jiaojiao didn't look at him again and turned to walk towards her own courtyard.

Ling's shadow floated around her, and his electronic voice carried a hint of comfort: "At least we are safe for the time being. After entering the Taoist temple, we can secretly gather intelligence and look for opportunities to counterattack. Also, I just scanned that Prince Shou's emotions are extremely unstable. I'm afraid he will do something extreme. You must pay more attention."

Lin Jiaojiao nodded and her eyes fell on the golden osmanthus tree in the courtyard.

Taizhen Temple, three years of praying, behind this seemingly peaceful arrangement, lies the covetousness of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and the conspiracy within the palace walls. During these three years, she must accumulate strength and wait for the opportunity to counterattack.

As the night deepened, the sound of wine glasses breaking suddenly came from the backyard of Prince Shou's mansion, followed by the dull thud of heavy objects hitting each other.

Lin Jiaojiao's heart tightened, and Ling's electronic voice immediately sounded: "Not good! Prince Shou got drunk in the study and crashed into the palace pillar! His vital signs are rapidly declining!"

She stood up suddenly and ran to the study.

Ling's shadow led the way ahead of her, his voice a little hurried, yet also concealing a subtle determination: "Jiaojiao, this might be our chance. If Prince Shou dies, I can try to possess his body. As Prince Shou, I can secretly accumulate strength and help you out of this predicament."

Lin Jiaojiao paused for a moment, looking at the faint candlelight coming from the study in front of her, with a complicated feeling in her heart.

Was Prince Shou's death an accident, or the "chance" that Ling mentioned? She didn't know, but she knew that within this perilous palace, without the support of power, she would always be a pawn at the mercy of others.

"Okay." She responded softly, her voice firm. "If there's a chance, we'll do as you say. But Zero, we can't harm innocent people. We can only change our fate under the premise of protecting ourselves."

Zero's electronic voice was filled with relief: "Don't worry, I won't let you do anything that goes against your conscience. Let's go quickly. It will be too late if you are late."

Lin Jiaojiao walked quickly towards the study. The moment she opened the door, she saw Prince Shou collapsed beside the palace pillar, blood oozing from his forehead, and he was no longer breathing.

Zero's pale blue shadow was floating above his body, flickering slightly, as if accumulating energy in preparation for a transformation across forms.

The night in Chang'an still carries the sweet fragrance of golden osmanthus, but in the study of Prince Shou's Mansion, the foreshadowing of changing the fate of the prosperous Tang Dynasty has been quietly laid.