"Xuan Yin!"
The seventh prince looked up.
"I now wish to remove this shackle and live a clean and honest life." Empress Yan stared intently at the Seventh Prince, calling out Xuan Yin's name over and over again.
The seventh prince said with a complicated expression, "I have no right to do this on behalf of my father."
"Empress Yan may die and be buried in the imperial mausoleum." Empress Yan stared intently at the Seventh Prince, clutching her chest, her frail body swaying precariously.
...
Three days have passed in the blink of an eye.
The Seventh Prince had not returned either, and Princess Jiahua's brows furrowed more and more, feeling somewhat uneasy.
"I heard that Her Majesty the Empress is very ill this time, and all the princes are waiting in the palace. It is not easy for Your Highness to leave so easily," Xiu Shu said.
Princess Jia Hua gave a faint "hmm," and recalling Xiang Zhu's words, she felt increasingly uneasy.
Day 4
The Seventh Prince has finally returned.
He changed his armor into a black robe, and his handsome face couldn't hide his weariness. He went to the study alone and locked himself there for a long time.
I went to see Princess Jia Hua in the evening.
"Jiahua".
Princess Jia Hua got up, poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to the Seventh Prince, then instructed Xiu Shu, "Make some light food."
Xiu Shu understood and withdrew.
The two sat down facing each other. The Seventh Prince gripped his cup tightly, unsure of what to say.
"If Your Highness trusts me, you can consider me a confidant, and I will certainly keep your secret."
The Seventh Prince slowly began to speak: "My father had a total of eleven sons. The eldest prince, who was the most favored, died five years ago from a serious illness. He didn't particularly like the other princes. My father was used to having a smooth life and could get whatever he wanted. When I was young, I was sent to Prime Minister Yan's residence to learn skills. Among the princes, Prime Minister Yan took special care of me."
"My father once said that he would let one of the princes marry the eldest daughter of Prime Minister Yan. On the day she came of age, she danced in public, and my father, who had secretly left the palace, saw her. That same day, he issued an edict to bring the eldest daughter of Yan into the harem as empress."
Upon hearing this, Princess Jia Hua felt even more disgusted with the Southern Border Emperor.
At his age, to go back on his word and to seize things by force is simply too much.
"The night before she was to enter the palace, the eldest daughter of the Yan family almost died in the Yan family. It was only after Madam Yan begged her desperately that she was forced to agree to enter the palace."
The Seventh Prince lowered his head, took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, and continued, "The eldest daughter of the Yan family is skilled in both literature and martial arts, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She is also an outstanding equestrian and one of the best noble ladies in Jincheng, attracting the admiration of many."
"Does that include His Highness as well?" Princess Jiahua interrupted to ask.
The seventh prince hesitated for a moment, then did not respond.
Seeing the reaction, she understood.
A few days ago, on the day the Third Prince's wife gave birth, I saw Empress Yan. She had fair skin and a lively voice, and she didn't look sick at all.
Moreover, she deduced at the time that the Empress most likely felt the same way about the Seventh Prince.
Three years ago, if it weren't for Empress Yan's personal intervention, the Seventh Prince might have already murdered the emperor.
She could tell that the Seventh Prince listened to Empress Yan.
"The Empress is on her deathbed. She wants to be free, to relinquish her status as Empress, and to leave the palace," the Seventh Prince said.
Princess Jia Hua's fingers, gripping the cup tightly, turned white: "Giving up one's status is easier said than done. Isn't Your Highness taking too much of a risk?"
The mother of a nation can just hide away like that?
It's been so many years, and then suddenly I got sick. This illness is really strange.
Princess Jiahua grew up in the palace and had witnessed many of the palace's secrets, so she simply did not believe Empress Yan's various helpless claims.
With Prime Minister Yan's ability to act as regent, the Empress was well able to escape unscathed.
He happened to fall ill on the very day the Seventh Prince returned victorious.
She didn't want to meddle, but since the Seventh Prince had saved her, Princess Jiahua sighed again and advised, "There are too many things in this world that are beyond our control. Has Your Highness ever considered that there are many eyes and ears in the palace? You hold a high position, and if you take one wrong step, you will fall into an abyss. The Emperor has been imprisoned, and who dares to stop the Empress from doing whatever she wants?"
The seventh prince's eyebrows furrowed slightly as usual.
"The Empress represents not just herself, but the entire Yan family. Your Highness is not alone either; behind you are countless soldiers. Life is full of regrets."
"You don't agree with the Empress leaving the palace?" The Seventh Prince was surprised, perhaps not expecting Princess Jia Hua to be so opposed.
Princess Jia Hua nodded: "Your Highness, may I ask if you have any thoughts on that position?"
The seventh prince shook his head.
"So, does that mean Your Highness is going to relinquish power?"
He remained silent.
"Which prince does Your Highness favor to ascend the throne?"
“My third brother is wise and steady, and a refined gentleman. If he were to ascend the throne, he would surely be a good emperor. I am too full of murderous aura and am not suitable for that position.”
Princess Jia Hua took a deep breath, her brows furrowed: "If Your Highness wants to live, you have no choice but to ascend to the top. No matter who comes to power, they will not allow Your Highness to live. If Your Highness compromises with the Empress and leaves the palace, you will become a weakness in the future."
"You're overthinking it. My third brother treats me very well." The seventh prince did not agree with Princess Jia Hua's guess; he believed that the third prince would treat him kindly.
Princess Jia Hua smiled slightly: "Your Highness, how about we make a bet?"
The Seventh Prince looked at Princess Jia Hua seriously and said, "You speak."
"Your Highness has divided your military power into three parts, stationing them in the southeast, north, and south respectively. Each of them will be led by a trusted confidant. There is no need to mention who should be put on the throne. Your Highness should act as if nothing has happened and continue with your life. If someone puts the Third Prince on the throne, Your Highness must make the Third Prince promise that once he takes the throne, he will immediately send Your Highness to the border."
Princess Jia Hua smiled confidently: "I bet the Third Prince will never agree to let His Highness leave, I bet the Empress will not die of illness, and I bet the Third Prince, the Empress, or the Yan family will do everything they can to force His Highness to relinquish power."
The Seventh Prince was startled and stared intently at Princess Jia Hua.
"If Your Highness wants to delegate power, you must do so as soon as possible."
What if you lose?
Princess Jia Hua raised her chin: "If I lose, I will willingly stay in the Southern Frontier for the rest of my life and never mention the Northern Chu again."
The Seventh Prince swallowed hard; no one knew better than him how much Princess Jia Hua longed to return to Northern Chu.
She actually made such a solemn vow.
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