Chapter 67 The Difficulty of the Shu Road (Part 1) "Since he's using me, he must have something in mind..."

Spring has passed and summer has arrived, a time when grass and trees are lush and flowers and leaves are abundant. The sun is not yet scorching, and it mingles with the unrestrained and leisurely fragrance of flowers. A cool breeze rustles through the air, making even the air feel sweet and refreshing.

Inside the East Palace, Yan Chao, dressed only in a simple evening gown, reclined on a rattan chair, her eyes closed. A delicate fragrance filled her nostrils, her breath coming in and out in a calm and steady rhythm. The soft rustling of the wind and the occasional clear chirping of a sparrow filled the air.

She was not asleep. So when the slightly chaotic footsteps appeared, she could clearly distinguish the unique composure that belonged to Liang Lu, getting closer and closer.

"Your Highness."

Liang Lu deliberately walked lightly, and when he reached her, he bowed and called out softly.

Yan Chao opened her eyes, and the sudden brightness made her feel uncomfortable for a moment, and a sour feeling spread to the corners of her eyes.

Outside the pavilion, the half-bright sunlight danced on the lush greenery, like golden waves surging. Looking up, the blue glazed tiles were also shimmering with light, so dazzling that one could hardly open their eyes.

She lowered her head slightly, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly, before wearily asking, "What did Physician Feng say?"

Liang Lu's expression was not good. He bowed his head and knelt down: "Your Highness, there is indeed a problem."

"It's a cassia branch."

He paused, noticing that Yan Chao's hand, which was resting on his knee, was slightly clenched and then pulled back.

Yan Chao sat up abruptly, pondered for a moment, and looked at him, saying, "If I remember correctly, cinnamon twigs are warm in nature and can help with heat, so they are used as medicine for external wind-cold."

Liang Lu said yes, and continued, "Your Highness is often cold, and this medicine is often used when your hands and feet are cold in winter. Cinnamon twigs are indeed very beneficial to your body, but this medicine is inherently toxic and is not combined with other medicines. Long-term use alone will damage your body fluids, leading to yin deficiency and blood heat, and even the risk of poisoning. Overdose will cause symptoms such as excessive dreaming, night sweats, fatigue, palpitations, etc."

"If it's medicine, Physician Feng always considers it carefully," Yan Chao pursed his lips, "but was it added to food or drink?"

"It's from the tea you drink on a regular basis. Your Highness's constitution is slightly cold, so Physician Feng suggested drinking warm black tea. The Lapsang Souchong you usually drink has a rich aroma and a sweet and mellow taste, which perfectly masks the sweetness of the cinnamon. The spiciness is also barely noticeable after processing. Also, because of the dryness in winter and spring, it's common to drink more and feel thirsty, so Your Highness's fatigue in winter and spring is more obvious than others."

"Furthermore, in the hot summer, His Highness doesn't like black tea and prefers green tea. However, because Physician Feng advised that green tea is cooling, His Highness doesn't overindulge. But ever since the Nanjing eunuch Sheng Huai'an presented Mengding Ganlu two years ago, His Highness has been particularly fond of it and always keeps some on his desk. Mengding Ganlu contains mint, which is supposed to have a refreshing and invigorating effect on the eyes. I asked Physician Feng about it, and he said it was harmless. But little did I know, that mint was actually used to mask the smell of cinnamon..."

Yan Chao couldn't help but sigh at the ingenuity of the plan. And the person behind it had clearly been plotting for a long time.

Her brows furrowed slightly, and she asked, "How long has it been?"

"If it's been so long, why didn't you notice it before?"

I've felt sleepy countless times in the past two years, and perhaps it's not all due to medication. But the thought that I've been plotted against for so long without even realizing it makes me uneasy.

"Firstly, we never paid attention to it. Even when His Highness was occasionally sleepy, we only thought it was due to spring fatigue or autumn lethargy, and that it was our negligence. We never thought that there was a problem with his diet. Secondly, whenever His Highness was unwell, it was mostly related to his constitution, so Physician Feng often used some warm medicines. When His Highness occasionally showed obvious abnormalities, Physician Feng would adjust his treatment in time, and the person who administered the medicine would also stop at the right time, so it was difficult to detect in time. Also, because His Highness instructed Physician Feng not to take his pulse too frequently, it gave the thief an opportunity."

Yan Chao remained silent, then raised his eyes slightly and said indifferently, "Is there anything else? Tell me all at once."

"Yes. There are other reasons why the cinnamon twigs could not be detected in the tea. Mengding Ganlu is a top-grade tea from Mengding Mountain in Sichuan. The tea Your Highness drinks is handled by a special person from cultivation, picking, drying to presentation. Physician Feng said that this tea itself has some problems. Its properties and effects seem to be different from normal Mengding Ganlu. However, when combined with cinnamon twigs, it is very detrimental to Your Highness's health."

"You have been catching colds more often in the past two years than before, which has led to your physical weakness. Another thing is that if you take too much of this herbal tea, you will experience symptoms such as excessive sweating, fatigue, and palpitations. Last year, Your Highness often had nightmares, felt tired from deep thinking, and experienced palpitations and night sweats for a period of time, which was also due to this."

Yan Chao's face turned ashen with cold, his knuckles were white as he gripped the rattan chair tightly, and he felt a chill run down his spine.

She asked, "If things continue like this, how many more years can I live?"

"At most three years."

Liang Lu looked up and saw that she had suddenly closed her eyes, her face was pale, and her whole body was limp as she lay back down. Without thinking of anything else, he rushed forward to help her up.

"It's nothing," she managed a breath, then shook her head and sighed listlessly, "I should have thought of that..."

Are there few cases, whether open or covert?

She stared blankly at the gardenia nearby, its translucent, snow-white petals swaying precariously.

“…Physician Feng said that it was not too late to discover it. As long as Your Highness takes good care of yourself, you will surely be fine.” Liang Lu glanced at her, who remained expressionless. A bitter feeling welled up in her heart. She lowered her head and tears fell first. She choked back sobs and begged for forgiveness, “It was my dereliction of duty that caused this great mistake. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”

The rattan chair was large, and Yan Chao's slender figure seemed to shrink alone to one side, leaning against the stone table. His moon-white figure looked especially pure in the dappled sunlight.

Liang Lu knelt at her feet, at a loss for what to do.

He was the person Empress Wenhui placed by Yan Chao's side. Three months before Yan Chao entered the palace, he went to the Cui family to take care of her. He knew her well and was the first person to teach her about the palace.

On his first night in the palace, Yan Chao got lost. No matter how much effort Empress Wenhui made, she couldn't find him anywhere in the palace.

That night, the sky was pitch black, and outside the staggered palaces were a complex network of passageways. When Liang Lu found her, she was huddled in a corner, and even though she was dressed in magnificent brocade robes, she dared not speak easily, feeling utterly lost.

She looked up, and as he walked to her side, she stood on tiptoe and hugged him, calling out softly, "Uncle Liang."

Liang Lu was, after all, a eunuch. He had been alone for many years without any relatives. He had climbed up from the lowest rank of servant. Even though Empress Wenhui appreciated him, others could only respectfully call him "Eunuch."

The sixth prince, the legitimate son of the empress, was not young and ignorant; he actually addressed him as "uncle." So many people don't even treat eunuchs as human beings. What merit or ability did he possess?

He was immediately overwhelmed with mixed feelings. He lowered his head and dared not respond. He bowed respectfully, carried her out of the darkness, and carried her all the way back to the central palace.

From then on, he stayed by her side for decades, caring for her meticulously, truly treating her like blood relatives. Perhaps the way she addressed him that day wasn't enough to move him, but the heartfelt concern he showed her over the years was genuine.

He didn't dare call himself an elder, but he still taught her a lot. Most parents would feel sorry for their children if they saw them in trouble.

Later, to protect Ying's safety, Yan Chao sent her out of the capital. After that, the Crown Prince had fewer and fewer reliable people around him.

This time, however, it was indeed his oversight. If the Crown Prince were to truly be in danger, how could he face the late Empress Wenhui, and how could he live with himself...?

Liang Lu was lost in his memories, so much so that he didn't even hear Yan Chao calling him to get up.

Yan Chao sighed and got up himself. Only then did he notice Yan Chao's gaze following him, so he asked, "Where are we now in the investigation?"

Liang Lu, still choked with emotion, replied, "Your Highness, we've apprehended a few who were informing others, and we've roughly uncovered these things through interrogation. To find out the rest, we'll probably have to send people outside the palace, or even to the south and Sichuan."

"Is there a traitor among my people?"

"I have checked carefully, and everything around you is clean. I suspect that the person behind this did it intentionally."

Yan Chao nodded: "Of those we capture, keep a few key ones and return them to their original places. There's no need to alert them, but keep a close eye on them; they might be useful in the future. Also, give Physician Feng a good talking-to; everything must be done with utmost caution."

Liang Lu understood his meaning, answered "yes," and finally got up and left at Yan Chao's signal.

Yan Chao took two steps outside, and the sunlight suddenly became dazzling. She raised her arm to shield her eyes. When she lowered it again, the soreness in her palm made her open her hand and couldn't help but look at it. The red crescent-shaped nail marks were etched on her palm, which should fade soon.

She suddenly froze.

These hands, though strong enough, were no longer the delicate, snow-white hands of an ordinary girl; they were neither youthful nor tender. They had gripped knives and pens, immersed in endless darkness, and were still scarred and battered by the dawn. The lingering warmth filled her with hope, yet she was repeatedly caught in the turbulent undercurrents, yearning to ride the wind and break through the light of day.

.

West Garden, Renshou Palace.

Just past dawn, the emperor had been meditating in his inner chamber for quite some time. In recent days, due to his illness, he had been unable to visit the Qingfu Hall, but he had not been able to abandon his daily meditation practice.

As Lan Huaien stepped out of the inner room, he lifted the curtain and saw several eunuchs standing outside. Each of them wore a red tunic adorned with embroidered patches, their expressions solemn and respectful, their heads bowed, revealing their status as close attendants to the emperor.

It wasn't like this before. Lan Huaien glanced at their faces, some familiar and some unfamiliar, his gaze darkening slightly.

Since the emperor retreated to the Western Garden to devote himself to Taoist practice, he had little time to attend to political affairs and inevitably had to delegate power. However, he was always suspicious and absolutely unwilling to let his ministers seize power, so his close attendants became his eyes and ears and tools for checks and balances.

Lan Huaien, as the Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial and concurrently the Superintendent of the Eastern Depot, was undoubtedly favored by the emperor. However, at the same time, a group of eunuchs were also promoted to spread their spies and perform their respective duties.

Lan Huaien's position was inevitably threatened. He also sensed the emperor's concerns and could only become more cautious.

He stopped in his tracks and gave an order: "Your Majesty will not hold court tomorrow. Please invite Master Wu as usual."

"yes."

The eunuch who answered the call, Hu Zuoming, was the head of the Qianqing Palace and the director of the Silver Bureau. When the emperor wanted to move to the West Garden last year, he was the most attentive and obsequious person in the Qianqing Palace. The emperor liked his gentleness and often ordered him to serve him after the emperor moved to the Renshou Palace.

The emperor's court sessions had long since changed from once every ten days to once every half month, and then to only once every month or so, yet he still found it troublesome. This time, the court session was originally scheduled for tomorrow, but he suddenly changed his mind, and everyone had no choice but to obey.

Lan Huaien pointed to a few people and said, "Come with me to the duty room first."

Zheng Hui was referring to the recent bandit rebellion in the southwestern Sichuan region. If it were merely unruly peasants causing trouble, that would be one thing; the real problem is the deep-rooted involvement of local officials, which is why the rebellion has been slow to subside.

Lan Huaien was concerned that the Sichuan governor, Shen Yue, was entangled in this matter, and he worried that it might implicate the crown prince.

Because the emperor often resided in the Western Garden, his attitude towards the crown prince became more distant than before, but his suspicion remained undiminished. To prevent the crown prince from abusing his power in the court, the emperor did not grant him too much authority. While relying heavily on court officials and allowing eunuchs to interfere in politics, he would also occasionally send Prince Xin to do some things.

The Crown Prince would come to the West Garden to pay his respects every three days. The Emperor would sometimes see him and sometimes not, but he never explicitly said that she could be exempted from this courtesy. Over time, it became just a personal custom for the Crown Prince.

As for Prince Xin, since the emperor refused to pay attention to his enfeoffment, he offered fewer and fewer remonstrances. Therefore, although his favor was not as great as before, he was now able to maintain his position in the capital.

The emperor also showed great favoritism towards his grandchildren. The eldest sons of the Prince of Changle and the Prince of Xin, who were close to him, were particularly fond of each other. One had grown his hair long and was neat and dignified, with youthful vigor in his eyes, just like his father; the other was at the age of being mischievous and lively, chattering all day long. The emperor was always overjoyed whenever he saw the two children.

The desolate Eastern Palace also fell behind in terms of offspring.

Lan Huaien left the duty room, covered his mouth and yawned, and glimpsed the imperial physician who was taking the emperor's pulse lifting the curtain to go in.

He secretly twirled his fingertips, lowered his gaze, and knew perfectly well in his heart: the emperor's health had been deteriorating in the past two years, and even the most skilled imperial physicians were powerless to save him. How could Taoist cultivation possibly save him?

.

The midday sky was overcast, with dark clouds gradually rolling in, swallowing the slivers of sunlight peeking through the gaps. Soon after, a few muffled claps of thunder sounded. It seemed the heavens were about to send rain, yet no wind was blowing; this was the most sultry of the day.

Inside the East Palace, Yan Chao and Shen Wei sat facing each other, a difficult game of chess in their hands. The board was filled with black and white pieces, and it was a tense moment before a single piece was finally placed.

As he was carefully stroking a white chess piece, deep in thought, he suddenly heard a servant's voice outside the hall announcing something.

"Your Highness, the West Flower Room has sent over several pots of lotus flowers, saying they were brought in from outside the palace and are still very fresh."

Upon hearing this, Yan Chao shifted his gaze from the chessboard, raised his chin slightly, and asked in surprise, "This is quite novel. It's just lotus flowers, so why did the flower room specially transport them in from outside the palace?"

The eunuch said, "Your Highness, the eunuch said that the newly delivered lotus flowers are different from those of the past, and he would like to invite you to take a look."

Yan Chao glanced at Shen Wei, who was equally curious, and chuckled, "You're all tired of playing chess, why don't you go and take a look at Tan Ze too?"

Fearing rain, the flowers were placed under the eaves. Three full pots of lotus blossoms—red lotuses vibrant and red, white lotuses pure and white—each in its own unique pose, some in full bloom and others still budding, stood out strikingly against the backdrop of lush, expansive lotus leaves. The sunlight was gentle, the leaves glistening with dew, and the slender stems stood gracefully. A gentle breeze wafted by, carrying a refreshing and pleasant scent.

Upon closer inspection, it became apparent that the lotus flowers had been carefully selected, with the flowers and leaves arranged in a harmonious and orderly manner, prompting one to marvel at the meticulous care put into them.

After admiring the lotus flowers, Yan Chao turned to the eunuch and asked calmly, "Tell me, what's different about these pots of lotus flowers compared to before?"

"Your Highness, these lotus flowers were transported from North Lake. The eunuch said that Your Highness did not have time to see the lotus flowers in full bloom last year, so he presented the first batch of flowers that bloomed this summer to Your Highness, wishing you good fortune and all things going smoothly."

Both men were startled. They naturally understood who this eunuch was. Shen Wei's expression immediately changed inscrutable. He looked at Yan Chao and called out, "Your Highness."

Yan Chao nodded and said calmly, "Go and tell him that I appreciate his kindness." She then ordered someone to move the flowers to the backyard.

Back in his study, Shen Wei finally showed some unease. He had suspected the relationship between Yan Chao and Lan Huaien before, but he had always been too proud to speak up. But this time, it truly alarmed him.

"He is trying to curry favor, and I am happy to accept it. As you think, the Eastern Depot and the Crown Prince have secretly joined forces. With him as my eyes and ears, I feel as if I have gained a pair of eagle eyes."

"What's the big deal about whether he's a good fit or not? Since I dare to use him, I naturally have my reasons."

Shen Wei was startled by her attitude.

In recent years, the struggle between the Crown Prince and the Xin Prince has never ceased. He knew that Yan Chao had been scheming and calculating all along; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to get to where she is now. But he never expected that her temperament was also changing.

So he couldn't believe that she could actually get together with a sycophantic eunuch.

After a long silence, Shen Wei lowered his eyes and asked softly, "What if he has other feelings for Your Highness?"

"Other motives?" Yan Chao pondered for a moment, then chuckled lightly, "Since he's using me, it's only natural that he has his own agenda. I know what I'm doing."

Shen Wei opened his mouth, speechless for a moment. Was this how she viewed Lan Huaien? It didn't seem wrong, but he felt inexplicably resentful. Lan Huaien was being far too attentive; even flattery didn't require such effort. More importantly, he felt that Yan Chao had been indulging Lan Huaien all along.

A thought seemed to flash through his mind. He remembered what Yan Chao had told him before about Lan Huaien's trespassing into the East Palace's sleeping quarters. He immediately felt a chill.

Yan Chao slowly finished his half-cup of tea, nodded slightly, and pressed Shen Wei back down before he could cry out. He said in a deep voice, "You don't need to worry about that. I have his weaknesses. Tan Ze, you're too nervous."

She didn't want to say too much. Given Shen Wei's temperament, if she knew Lan Huaien was a fake eunuch, she might impulsively ruin things. So she changed the subject: "Tan Ze, you should pay more attention to the Shen family these days."

Shen Wei was still in a daze when Yan Chao patted him on the shoulder and said in a more serious tone, "These days, the court has been discussing the incursions by the barbarians on the western border of Shu. You must have heard about it."

"Yes. My father is the governor of Sichuan. He has already submitted a memorial to the emperor, discussing strategies for suppressing the rebellion and doing his best to share the burden of the court."

Yan Chao shook his head and sneered: "Since the year before last, the Southern Sichuan Circuit has been quite unstable and has not been pacified to this day. Yet Governor Shen's statement that he is nothing to fear has already enraged His Majesty. If you are so inclined, write a letter to your father, either to report the facts truthfully or to find a way to suppress him immediately. There are many people in the court who are impeaching Governor Shen. Although the officials report based on hearsay, it is not necessarily all unfounded."

Shen Wei realized the seriousness of the situation, and a cold sweat broke out all over his body. He replied with a "yes," and finally bowed and took his leave.