Chapter 152 Fulfilling His Mission Your Highness Princess Shunhe, this humble Taoist priest, etc...
The banquet to entertain Yu Nie was held in the Jade Palace, with Lang Xi as the host, and no one else present.
After a few drinks, a feeling of warmth gradually arose.
Taking advantage of Langxi's absence while he was practicing his sword dance, Zhao Yunfu picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and then tapped his fingers lightly on the pear wood round table in time with the music: "The medicine I had the Empress give you the night before Huan Xun left, did it come in handy?"
Yu Nie remained calm and obediently replied, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Everything... will be done according to Your Majesty's wishes."
Seeing her obedient and unresisting demeanor, Zhao Yunfu had no doubts about what she said and did not want to delve into it. He only said thoughtfully, "The spring night is too short. It's only one night. I'm afraid it's hard to expect a baby to be conceived soon."
“But that’s alright.” He changed the subject: “This is not a dead end. If fate does not allow it, I have my own ways to work around it.”
After a brief exchange of glances with Lang Xi, who was practicing his swordplay, Yu Nie pondered to himself what other way he could resolve this situation.
So she steadied her voice and asked, "Your Majesty, I am foolish and do not know what wise strategy you are suggesting?"
Zhao Yunfu replied in a calm and unhurried tone: "You and he have already consummated your relationship. The die is cast, and the fact remains. If fate is not on your side, someone else will take over the task and complete the mission he failed to accomplish. There is no need to worry too much about this matter."
"Once you are pregnant, you only need to write to the front lines at the appropriate time to inform our Prince Consort that you are carrying his child."
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire Jade Palace was filled with music.
With her head bowed, Yu Nie felt a surge of humiliation and anger welling up inside her, accompanied by these words that treated her as a puppet and plaything.
She almost retaliated on the spot, but reason held her back.
This is the majesty of the imperial family, this is the mind of an emperor. In order to consolidate their power, they can easily erase human dignity, crush moral principles and emotions into dust, and manipulate them at will.
Since it wasn't time yet, she could only suppress her anger and maintain a calm demeanor.
When she looked up again, all the turmoil in her eyes had vanished, leaving only a wounded expression.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and her voice, choked with disbelief, betrayed a hint of a sixteen-year-old girl as she murmured in shock, "Brother... how... how can this be?"
Her small face stung by the immoral suggestion, and she shook her head from side to side, the gold hairpins and pearl flowers in her hair jingling.
Her eyes quickly welled up with tears, and her gaze was filled with helplessness.
"If we follow Your Majesty's words, how should I, your younger sister, conduct myself after the child is born? How should I face the child? And how should I face Huan Xun when he returns from the battlefield?"
She was terrified and bewildered. Her current state was that of a frightened girl who instinctively felt uneasy and aggrieved, showing no trace of the cold indignation she had just felt.
Zhao Yunfu did not respond immediately, but only let out a deep "Hmm?" from his throat.
The tone of his voice alone proved his dissatisfaction with her attitude.
Then, as if startled by his displeased response, she trembled and immediately lowered her head in a panic, staring at the intricate embroidery on her skirt, like a child who had said something wrong.
Seeing that she was so frightened that she didn't dare to look at him, Zhao Yunfu seemed to realize that perhaps he shouldn't be so serious.
After all, she is connected to Huan Xun, and many arrangements in the future will require her to cooperate willingly. If she is frightened and harbors resentment now, she will inevitably be timid and hesitant in the future, or even harbor resentment, which would not be good.
A good chess piece needs to be polished frequently and given some gentle words of encouragement so that she will appreciate it and become more devoted to it.
The best way to win people's hearts is to combine kindness and severity. Now that you have established your authority, it is time to show some kindness and loosen the reins.
Thinking of this, the coldness on Zhao Yunfu's face instantly melted away, and he spoke apologetically and gently: "It was because Your Majesty was anxious that your tone was a bit harsh. Hua Yan, please don't take it to heart."
As he spoke, he personally picked up the wine pot and slowly filled the wine glass in front of her, just like a considerate older brother.
“I know you feel wronged, Your Majesty,” he sighed. “But as members of the imperial family, we enjoy the patronage of the people, and many things are beyond our control. Some things concern the foundation of the nation and the stability of the country. Huan Xun and his adoptive father hold great military power, and the court is currently in need of capable people. His rear must be secure, and his loyalty must be maintained.”
"My actions are not intended to make things difficult for you, but rather to ensure that he remains single-minded and utterly loyal to the Zhao family's empire. Do you perhaps understand the unavoidable difficulties behind this?"
Fearing she still wouldn't agree to the subsequent arrangements, he continued to add leverage: "The grievances you suffer in the future will be repaid when the country is stable and the nation is at peace. Your brother will certainly not treat you unfairly."
"This cup of wine is my way of apologizing to you, Your Majesty. Please stop crying, okay?"
Yu Nie knew perfectly well that the emperor's condescending sense of guilt would be fleeting. If she didn't bring up her affair with the royal family now, when would she? Once his feelings of gratitude faded, if she spoke rashly again, she feared it would only arouse suspicion.
This is an opportunity not to be missed.
Having made up her mind, she did not take the glass of wine, but instead left her seat, lifted her skirt, and knelt down.
The music that was meant to entertain suddenly stopped, and everyone present was taken aback by her actions.
The Jade Palace, which had been filled with the sounds of drums and music just moments before, suddenly froze into a block of ice.
The palace maids, servants, and musicians all held their breath and lowered their heads, not daring to look up.
Upon seeing this, Attendant Feng, who was serving nearby, immediately dismissed the others.
Langxi, who had been keeping an eye on their movements, stopped halfway through the flourish of his longsword and hurriedly ran towards Yu Nie, who was kneeling on the ground.
"What happened? Why did you kneel down all of a sudden?" She quickly went to Yu Nie's side, squatted down, and tried to help her up.
Seeing that Yu Nie remained motionless, Lang Xi immediately turned to Zhao Yunfu.
She frowned slightly, and spoke in a tone unique to imperial concubines, somewhere between coquettish and questioning: "She was fine just now, what happened? Did His Majesty reprimand Shunhe?"
“She is still a child. If she is not careful in any way, Your Majesty can teach her slowly. Why frighten her like this?”
As soon as Langxi finished her questioning with a hint of coquettishness, Zhao Yunfu shifted his gaze from Yu Nie to her beautiful and delicate face.
There was no blame in his eyes, but a hint of indulgent smile: "My dear consort, what are you saying? When have I ever blamed her? I was also puzzled. I was just comforting her with kind words, how come she knelt down in the blink of an eye?"
His tone was teasing, then his gaze turned to the kneeling Yu Nie: "Hua Yan, your brother has not blamed you. Why are you kneeling down so suddenly? Get up and tell me properly."
Yu Nie lowered his body, touching the ground with his forehead.
Feeling that the time was about right, she looked up with tears in her eyes and said, "Your Majesty's teachings were just right. It was I who was foolish and ignorant of the bigger picture. I will keep your words in mind and will follow your instructions in the future."
Hearing her submissive words, Zhao Yunfu's face showed a satisfied expression.
He said, "Now that you understand, there is no need for such a grand ceremony. Get up quickly, or Consort Hui will really think that I am punishing you."
Yu Nie cried and still did not get up: "But there is something that is stuck in my throat and I cannot sleep peacefully. I beg my brother to do something for me."
Seeing that she was crying and it didn't seem fake, Zhao Yunfu frowned slightly: "What is it that makes you so uneasy? Please tell me."
Upon hearing this, Yu Nie sobbed as she recounted the entire story of Wang Fengqi's sudden death. She deliberately omitted the specific details of her connection with Cui Miaochang, only saying that Cui was a wandering Taoist priest she had invited to her residence to help with alchemy.
She wept and said, “That Taoist priest witnessed Wang Fengzhu harming people, heard about his past evil deeds, and knew that he had killed the people in my sister’s residence. The Taoist priest was benevolent and righteous, upright and incorruptible, and was driven by righteous indignation to choose to act on behalf of Heaven. This matter was not something I could have instructed, nor was it something I wished to see.”
“But the Wang family has witnesses and a portrait, and they will find my sister sooner or later. Wang Situ and the others will definitely believe that my sister was the one who instigated the death of Wang Fengyi. How could they let my sister off the hook? My sister, I'm afraid I can't explain myself.”
In the end, she broke down in tears, her frail body lying on the ground like a withered leaf in the wind, looking innocent, worried, and afraid.
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhao Yunfu paused in his action of fiddling with the thumb ring.
The Empress did send someone twice during the day, saying she had important matters to report, but due to the busy military affairs, she dismissed them casually with the help of Attendant Feng.
Listening to Yu Nie's tearful account, he realized that the two incidents must be inextricably linked.
He asked directly, "Where is the murderer right now?"
Yu Nie: "I haven't seen the person since yesterday, so they've probably already run away."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yunfu stood up and paced back and forth with a heavy expression.
Yu Nie and Lang Xi exchanged a quick glance.
Langxi was unaware of what was happening outside. Even though Yu Nie hadn't mentioned names, she knew that her master had definitely killed the person, and she was certain that, given her master's personality, the person was no longer in Jian'an.
Without needing to discuss or say anything, Langxi knew at this moment that she had to resolve this matter for Yu Nie and asked Zhao Yunfu to take action.
With a somber expression, Zhao Yunfu knew the thorny nature of the matter. The person had left from Hongzheng Pavilion, and she had an old grudge against the Wang family. If Wang Chang insisted that Yu Nie was the mastermind, it would make perfect sense logically.
He had originally thought that as long as the murderer was caught, whether dead or alive, there would be some explanation. But now that the person had escaped, there would be no way to verify the story. If Wang Chang were to plead his case in court, wouldn't the truth be entirely determined by his words?
Moreover, Wang Chang was the emperor's father-in-law and the empress's father. Even if the power of the aristocratic families had faded, he still had to give the Wang family a satisfactory explanation.
Seeing his furrowed brows, Langxi stood up, walked to his side, and said softly, "Your Majesty, Shunhe is young and has suffered this undeserved calamity. I have also heard about that young master Wang in the palace. He does indeed act somewhat recklessly outside the palace."
She stopped there, not going into details, and instead said with concern, "Now that the murderer is on the run, if the Wang family believes that Shunhe was behind it, I'm afraid they won't let it go easily. Your Majesty needs to come up with a foolproof plan to protect Shunhe and, more importantly, to preserve the dignity of the royal family."
Her words, seemingly meant to persuade, inadvertently highlighted the necessity of protecting Yu Nie.
Zhao Yunfu paused, looked at Lang Xi, and then at Yu Nie.
He remained silent for a long time, without saying a word.
Langxi spoke up again: "In the end, the princess was kind-hearted and kept that Taoist priest in the manor. Otherwise, she wouldn't have suspected her."
These words seemed to awaken Zhao Yunfu. He suddenly stopped and turned around, saying, "What my beloved consort says is absolutely right."
Langxi was puzzled and glanced at Yu Nie, who also didn't understand the meaning of his words.
But Zhao Yunfu did not explain to them. He summoned Feng Changshi and said, “Issue an imperial decree: Princess Shunhe is kind and compassionate, and I know that she cherishes the weak and the poor. However, this disaster is due to her failure to understand the wickedness of people’s hearts, which has led to this great calamity. From this day forward, she shall be confined to Hongzheng Pavilion for quiet reflection.”
He pondered for a moment, then dictated his second decree: "Furthermore, issue an edict to Minister Wang Chang. Inform him that I am fully aware of the changes in the household. Minister Wang has suddenly lost his beloved grandson, and I share his grief. However, upon investigation, it has been found that this was a wandering sorcerer who, under the guise of a hermit, took advantage of the princess's youth and kindness to infiltrate the household, harboring malicious intentions to commit this heinous crime. This villain's crimes are heinous, and he even intended to provoke the imperial family and virtuous ministers; his crimes are truly unforgivable."
"I have personally interrogated Shunhe, and she is indeed unaware of this matter. Shunhe is still young and innocent. Even if she had some minor disagreements with the young master of the Wang family, it was merely the temper of a young girl. She would not do something so audacious. I hope that Minister Situ will investigate this matter carefully and not misunderstand the goodwill of the imperial family because of past trivial matters."
"I have ordered the four gates to be closed and the perpetrators to be apprehended. They must be brought to justice to appease my virtuous ministers and reassure the people. I hope that you, Minister, will take heed of this grief and temporarily suppress your sorrow. I will personally oversee this matter and will certainly give the Wang family an explanation."
Feng Changshi: "It is Your Majesty."
Kneeling on the ground, Yu Nie and Lang Xi's gazes met briefly, unnoticed, between their lowered brows.
Both of them understood that this decree was the best outcome they could currently achieve to completely extricate themselves from the Wang family's overwhelming wrath and protect themselves.
With the emperor personally setting the tone, his words were law, making it difficult for the Wang family to openly use this as a pretext for trouble.
As for the imperial decree ordering the arrest of Cui Miaochang, this was an explanation that had to be given to the Wang family, and a necessary price to pay to quell the unrest. They couldn't change this at the moment, and could only try to mediate privately.
Right now, they only hope that Cui Miaochang has fled far away and disappeared without a trace.
As long as the perpetrator cannot be caught and there is no way to verify the facts, the matter will eventually fade away over time, and there will be a chance for things to turn around.
After Attendant Feng received the decree and left, the hall returned to silence.
Zhao Yunfu rubbed his temples, his gaze returning to Yu Nie, and admonished her: "Let's leave it at that. After you return, stay in Hongzheng Pavilion and reflect quietly. Keep the people in your household in check and prevent any further complications. As for the Wang family, I will make arrangements."
He said very seriously, "Remember, whatever you do, don't cause any more trouble."
"You may leave now."
Yu Nie understood immediately, knowing that he was reminding her.
She understood that she would not have another chance to speak alone with Langxi tonight.
But she could only bow deeply in accordance with etiquette: "Your subject will follow Your Majesty's teachings and thank Your Majesty for your great kindness."
Zhao Yunfu didn't look at her again and sat back down in his seat.
Langxi, who helped him sit down, watched Yu Nie leave the palace gate before turning his gaze away.
After leaving the Jade Palace, a night breeze blew, and Yu Nie seemed somewhat silent.
She was about to be confined to her quarters, so she had to quickly contact the informant Huan Xun had left for her to discuss the plan to replace the emperor.
She composed herself and, under the pretext of inquiring about alchemy, turned to Song Ai, who was attending her, and asked, "Does Ju Ling know where Daoist Qi Xun is right now?"
Having served in the palace for many years, Song Ai knew that although Master Qi Xun was a recluse, he was deeply trusted by the emperor and was a true favorite.
Song Ai bowed slightly: "Your Highness, at this hour, Daoist Qi should be in the alchemy room."
"Then I'll trouble you to take me there. Once I'm under house arrest, I might not be able to get out."
Upon hearing this, Song Ai didn't say much, but led her to a secluded palace garden.
Looking out from the courtyard, the alchemy room was brightly lit by candles.
Yu Nie left Song Ai outside the door, gave her some instructions, and then went in alone.
In the vast alchemy room, a person dressed in a bamboo-patterned Taoist robe stood with his back to the door, focused on the alchemy furnace in front of him. He was slender and upright, and his black hair was neatly tied up with a wooden hairpin.
Hearing footsteps, Qi Xun didn't turn around, but asked in a clear voice, "Who goes there?"
Yu Nie quickly replied, "My name is Shun He, and I have come to pay my respects to the Daoist Master."
After she introduced herself, Qi Xun stopped what he was doing and turned around.
This man was about twenty years old, and although he had a long beard, he looked very young.
His gaze swept across Yu Nie's face, then landed on the double-patterned jade pendant at her waist. He lightly swept it with his whisk and bowed, saying, "Your Highness Princess Shunhe, this humble Taoist has been waiting for you for a long time."
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