past
The side hall was cramped, and now only a small cluster of dim lights remained, casting long shadows that swayed silently in front of the window.
Everyone was dismissed, and the surroundings became deathly silent.
Prince Mao glanced around, then unceremoniously sat down in a grand chair, inhaling the all-too-familiar fragrance. He simply closed his eyes contentedly, completely ignoring the Empress, who stood uncomfortably not far from the screen.
"Your Highness, how dare you trespass into my Changchun Palace in the middle of the night? Do you know what your punishment is?"
Upon hearing this, Prince Mao's eyelids twitched. After a long while, he let out a long sigh. He slowly unfastened the sword from his waist and placed it on the table. The iron struck the wooden surface with a dull thud. He turned his head, his eyes deep and thoughtful, but the bloodthirsty sharpness he had displayed in the night was gone, replaced by a completely composed expression.
He looked at the Empress, his gaze gradually becoming complex, and said in a low voice, "What crime? Haven't I committed enough crimes over the years?"
The Empress was already terrified, and fearing that Prince Yi Mao's personality would soon escalate the situation, she could only lower her voice and suppress her anger, trying her best to maintain her dignity as Empress: "What... what exactly do you want to do!"
Prince Mao sneered, inadvertently revealing a gleaming gold ring on his wrist, carved into the shape of a coiled golden tiger.
"Your Majesty has just handed over command of the Imperial Guard to me. It is merely a matter of patrolling the Forbidden City according to the law and showing loyalty to the Emperor. Why is Your Majesty so wary? Is there something you are ashamed of that you are doing and are afraid I will find out?"
The Empress closed her eyes. All she knew was that after Wei Kaiji was punished that day, Emperor Su summoned Prince Mao to the palace. She never expected that Emperor Su would entrust the Imperial Guard to him. This news was kept completely secret, and even she, with so many confidants, only found out now. The Empress was stunned.
No wonder Prince Mao can now move around the palace at will, acting as if he owns no place.
Seemingly sensing the growing panic in her eyes, Prince Mao's lips curled into a mocking smile. He lowered his voice and said in a hoarse tone:
"What, is the Empress worried about your good son? Don't worry, if I really wanted to do something so cruel as to kill both mother and son, we wouldn't be standing here in this side hall of your palace right now."
The Empress's face was deathly pale; had she not been leaning against the screen, she might not have been able to stand. She felt dizzy, but feigned composure and raged, "Prince Mao, you know this is my palace! Even if you command the Imperial Guards, how can you barge in without permission! I... I advise you to behave yourself... The Crown Prince is the heir apparent of Dayu; how dare a subject like you criticize him!"
Prince Mao remained silent, instead giving the Empress a provocative sidelong glance, his gaze sweeping upwards, which only made her more flustered. His silence left her unsure what to do, but then she heard his voice, like a flame suddenly ignited in the darkest night, blazing fiercely and making everything around them ambiguous.
“Take care of yourself… what a fine ‘take care of yourself’… Shutang, when have you ever spoken to me like this?”
Shutang was the Empress's childhood name. Over the years, almost no one has called her that anymore.
The Empress trembled, feeling an uncontrollable chill run through her hands and feet. She almost lost her balance, but she still managed to stare intently into the man's eyes. After a long while, she steadied herself and said:
“And what about you, Prince Mao? Haven’t you changed too?”
As a young man, he was full of vigor and knew that she loved the pastry shop with the long queue at the palace gate. He would always pretend to belittle it, saying, "What's so good about this stuff? It's so sweet and greasy... It can't compare to the ones in the palace at all." But after making her cry, he would always eagerly lead his horse, holding pastries in his arms, and stand carefully outside her backyard waiting for her.
She loved the pastries from this shop the most, and seeing them made her stop being angry. But looking at the pastry box he was holding tightly, wrapped in layers of silk cloth that were hard to untangle, she couldn't help but feel confused. "Why did you wrap it up like that!"
The young man was unruly and already showed the unparalleled bearing of a nobleman, yet he remained like a child in her presence. Hearing this, he blushed and looked away at the sky, “…I’m afraid that the bumpy ride on the road might accidentally damage you and you won’t like it.”
She too came from a prestigious family, and although she often flaunted her noble birth as the Empress's legitimate daughter in her youth, she felt no inferiority. "My grandfather and father were important ministers in the founding of the dynasty!" What she didn't say was—
Without us, your Wei family might not have been able to conquer this vast empire so easily...
The boy's eyes sparkled. His mother was the Empress, and from a young age, she had repeatedly told him that only the most outstanding daughters of prominent families would be worthy of him. Shu Tang was also a young lady from a wealthy family, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. More importantly, he always wanted to see her every day! Wasn't she more than good enough for him?
The more he thought about it, the smuger and happier he became, and he couldn't wait to return to the palace to report to his mother. He even wanted to show off in front of her again, so he deliberately kept her in suspense, saying, "From now on, when you see me, you must change how you address me. You can't call me by my name directly, and you certainly can't act like a spoiled young lady anymore..."
She had to address herself as His Highness the Crown Prince, or call him her husband.
Later... he still patiently played with her for half a day, and didn't return to the palace until evening. Before he could even be happy, he received the news that his mother was jealous of the concubine and he had been suddenly banished to the cold palace.
The Empress Dowager is the most upright and just person. Although she sometimes has a bad temper, she always reminds herself to be a gentleman and to be consistent in word and deed. How could such a person harm others?
Overnight, his world turned upside down. Before he was even officially named crown prince, he suddenly lost his father's favor. All the servants and ministers who used to flock around him had vanished in an instant.
Only the newly appointed imperial concubine leaned weakly against her father's chest, her eyes brimming with tears, pleading for him:
"Although the Sixth Prince is immature, he is ultimately innocent. Since you have already punished Lady Wang, please do not blame the Sixth Prince anymore..."
His father looked at him coldly, his eyes filled with disgust for the first time, devoid of love.
He could only kneel, trembling, gritting his teeth, to express his gratitude. He thanked his father, the Emperor, for his leniency, and thanked the former Consort Fu, the then Imperial Concubine, and the future Empress, for sparing his life. From then on, that woman was the one he publicly acknowledged as his mother. His real mother, however, passed away from excessive grief the month after being banished to the Cold Palace.
Thus, he went from being a favored son of heaven to the son of a deposed empress, a world apart from the son of the new empress, and could only live a life of despair. But when he saw that face he had once longed for day and night again in the palace, it was like a nightmare, driving him almost mad—
She could no longer call him by his name as usual. She married her elder brother, the emperor, and became the empress, the mother of the Great Yu Kingdom.
The Empress gazed silently at the deep, dark eyes before the candlelight, now etched with the marks of time. Her eyes suddenly welled with tears, but she could do nothing but forcibly avert her gaze. She felt as if her hands and feet no longer belonged to her, and for a moment she did not know what to do. She could only clumsily take a step back, nearly knocking over the screen behind her.
Prince Mao looked at her obviously flustered appearance, but sneered a few times. The scars on his face from years of fighting looked even more ferocious, and his eyes were full of mockery.
"What, am I that terrifying?"
Seeing that she didn't answer, perhaps finding it boring, Prince Mao stood up. He walked to the door, looked quietly at the high-hanging moonlight through the window for a while, and his voice gradually became very faint.
"The weather has turned cold in the blink of an eye. Tell me, when will the snow finally fall this year?"
.
After several autumn rains, the Cold Clothes Festival has arrived in the blink of an eye. October has always been the time for ancestor worship, and everyone from the imperial family to ordinary people prepares meticulously. Crowds throng everywhere, the flags and lanterns of taverns flutter in the wind, and the increasingly chilly autumn breeze carries the aroma of roasted chestnuts and osmanthus cakes.
Jiang Heng sat calmly in a private room on the second floor of a tavern, sipping his tea with an air of nonchalance, completely ignoring the women who had gathered around him, secretly observing and discussing him. His appearance, family background, and official position were all outstanding, so he was naturally used to such attention. However, waiting here for so long was starting to annoy even the usually good-tempered Jiang Heng.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed down the stairs. The once bustling tavern fell silent.
Jiang Heng shook his head helplessly, then looked at the tall figure who arrived late, and said in an annoyed tone, "Lord Dou still remembers to grace us with his presence. I thought you were delayed by being surrounded by a cloud of women on the way."
The newcomer lifted his robe and sat down. His face, as if carved by a knife and sculpted by jade, remained unchanged. In particular, his eyes, as bright as peach blossoms, contrasted with the wide black cloak he wore, making his features appear even more profound and mysterious.
Dou Yanxun was busy with political affairs and spent almost every day at the Eastern Palace, rarely having the opportunity to go home. He had become even thinner, making his already tall figure appear even more imposing. His handsome face, however, always wore an air of indifference and aloofness, making him seem more like the most delicate yet stunning flower among the vibrant blooms of spring. Knowing he was not to be trifled with, he inexplicably aroused a desire to investigate.
Since his divorce, no matter how badly his reputation has fallen, or how rampant the rumors about him killing his mother, forcing his father to abdicate, and frequenting brothels are, he still attracts the attention of most women whenever he appears. There are countless noble ladies who have heard of his desire to marry him and become his second wife.
Perhaps everyone envies the strong. He had a bad reputation before, but his petty philandering only aroused the disgust of ordinary people. But now that he is truly wicked, the outside world is more willing to believe that he is really ruthless and vicious, like the Crimson Flame Yama, and even has some desire to get close to him.
Dou Yanxun had never bothered with such things, and now that he was truly alone, he was even less concerned. He didn't even look up when he heard this, but simply took off his cloak, carefully folded it, and revealed a dark blue brocade robe with floral patterns underneath.
The political landscape has shifted dramatically. Although the Dou family has fallen, it has had no impact on him whatsoever. On the contrary, not long ago, due to the downfall of Chancellor Zhao, he was newly appointed as a Grand Master of the Palace, a nominal position of the third rank, making him a very influential and feared figure in the court. He is always accompanied by two or three trusted attendants when he travels, and they are all waiting respectfully outside the private room at this moment.
Jiang Heng tapped the now-cooled teapot with his fingertip, and instantly a graceful tea lady entered, skillfully brewing tea for them. Seeing that Dou Yanxun didn't respond, he wasn't disappointed, but couldn't help shaking his head and teasingly saying with a smile:
"Doctor Dou is really putting on quite a show these days. It's rare for him to grace us with his presence. It seems that just tea won't be enough. We must drink a few pots with him today to truly enjoy ourselves."
Jiang Heng took the tea that the tea lady had just prepared, took a slow sip, leaned against the table, and then raised his cup with a smile:
"However, you are now a dignified Grand Master of the Palace, a young and outstanding talent. Even in the palace, it is said that you are an indispensable right-hand man to the Crown Prince. Yet you still deign to drink tea with me in this shabby tavern. Aren't you afraid of losing your dignity?"
Dou Yanxun took a sip of tea before speaking slowly, "It's not that I intentionally delayed today, but rather..."
Jiang Heng was taken aback, but he was also grateful that Dou Yanxun was willing to share such an important matter with him. Although the two met in court every day, they rarely had such an opportunity to talk in detail. He put aside his jokes and said calmly:
"...Prime Minister Zhao is getting old, and it is not easy for him to have held a high position for so many years. There are bound to be times when he makes a mistake. It's just that not everyone is happy about it."
The two chatted over tea. Dou Yanxun looked out the window; amidst the bustling crowd, a familiar figure was squeezed in front of a small stall. It was Lin Xu's personal maid, Zhu Ling.
He frowned slightly, then looked further away, and sure enough, he found her a few steps away.
Her jet-black hair was casually tied up with a hairpin, and she wore a light blue soft silk dress with a crimson cloak over it. She stood out in the crowd, but her face was delicate and elegant, so serene that one could hardly look away after just one glance.
He stared at her for a while before shifting his gaze and quickly glancing at the other woman beside her and the two teenagers. He had already carefully investigated the backgrounds of everyone around her and knew that this was Luo Shilan, the woman who ran the successful bookstore, and the two adopted children.
Jiang Heng noticed that Dou Yanxun's breathing had slowed considerably, and already knew what was going on. He casually sipped his tea and smiled, saying:
"I heard that a few days ago, the fourth young master of the Changsun family only happened to see her once at a banquet, and he became hopelessly infatuated with her, repeatedly trying to strike up a conversation using Princess Kunrou's name. Unfortunately, just a few days later, this fourth young master was stopped and severely beaten on his way to the gambling den, and now he's lame. A promising young master from a noble family has become a cripple, and from now on, even finding a wife will be difficult. Tell me... who could have done such a cruel thing?"
Dou Yanxun withdrew his gaze, finished the last sip of tea in his cup, and said calmly, "Lord Jiang has discerning eyes; is there anything in this world that can be hidden from you?"
Jiang Heng smiled upon hearing this.
He looked at Dou Yanxun, but his gaze gradually became serious.
“I know you’re unhappy. The Crown Prince has placed someone who looks so much like her in front of you and even made her a concubine. You’ll have to face those who still have feelings for her every day, so naturally you’ll be exhausted.”
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