Chapter 138 Meeting the Emperor This time, you are here.
Yue Yining returned to the princess's residence under the moonlight. She had only been in her bedchamber for a short while when someone came to invite her to the Jade Illumination Hall, saying that Her Highness the Princess had some urgent business to discuss with her. Yue Yining didn't even bother to change her clothes or wash up; she immediately got up and left the hall.
"Yining, you've arrived."
Wei Yihua was already waiting for her in the hall. As soon as she sat down, he got straight to the point, “Today, my father suddenly summoned me to the palace and discussed many important military and national affairs with me. He also specifically asked for my opinion.”
Yue Yining was stunned. "Why would His Majesty suddenly think of summoning Your Highness?"
Wei Yihua: "Perhaps it's because of Wei Ye. Recently, my father has been frequently summoning Wei Ye to the palace to assist in governing. Every time Wei Ye leaves the palace, he comes to me and recounts to me what he and my father talked about, mostly his views on the current situation in the court and the country."
"When I heard his answer, I felt that things were not good. My father probably saw that he was only half-baked and actually had no real ability."
Emperor Wei Tianxuan was a wise and capable ruler in his youth. He has probably managed to find out a good deal about the actual abilities of the Third Prince, Wei Ye, by asking around.
Yue Yining understood the situation. "The two major cases in the court recently were handled by the Third Prince's men. Among the three princes, the Third Prince currently has the most outstanding political achievements and the most prominent reputation. The Emperor frequently summons the Third Prince to the palace for talks because he wants to see how well he understands these cases as a leader and what role he plays in them."
But clearly, the emperor was disappointed.
He wasn't the one in charge of the overall situation. A leader who lacks vision, courage, and insight into the current situation cannot properly allocate personnel and resources, balance the various forces, or guide the political situation toward the outcome he desires.
Of course, this was also related to their strategy. They hadn't discussed their plans with Wei Ye because they never intended for him to understand their schemes and deceive the emperor.
Their original plan was to expose Wei Ye's true colors.
"So, His Majesty now suspects Her Highness the Princess?" Yue Yining asked this question. Seeing Wei Yihua nod solemnly, she understood and continued, "How did Her Highness handle the situation during the audience with the Emperor?"
Wei Yihua stated frankly, "I did not hide anything or conceal my abilities. I told the truth about everything I did."
Yue Yining slowly sat up straight. The two looked at each other across a sandalwood table that was neither too wide nor too narrow, and both saw the solemnity and seriousness in each other's eyes.
"Your Highness, please recount your conversation to me in detail," Yue Yining said. "Tell me slowly, and don't omit any details."
Wei Yihua nodded slightly and began to slowly recount her conversation with the emperor in the imperial study that day, including what questions the emperor asked, the court officials and forces involved, and how she analyzed and worded her answers. She recounted everything in great detail.
As Yue Yining listened, her heart, which had been in her throat, gradually settled down.
Wei Yihua answered fluently, hitting the nail on the head and providing insightful analysis.
Even if Yue Yining wanted to find fault after listening, she felt that she was nitpicking.
"Your Highness answered very well." Yue Yining felt gratified. "In that case, the road ahead will be much easier."
Wei Yihua stared intently at her face for a long time before lowering her eyes. "...But I couldn't tell what Father was thinking. I thought my answer was flawless, and I could feel the approval that Father showed for a moment...But in the end, Father didn't say anything. He only exchanged a few simple pleasantries with me before letting me leave the palace and return home. He might be satisfied, but how satisfied was he? Did he think I was capable, or did he reconsider and think I was too sharp?"
After all, she was a princess, a woman, and an exception.
She was prepared to face questions and attacks, but what if Wei Tianxuan still felt that a woman could not be emperor in the end?
Looking at Wei Yihua's expression, Yue Yining pushed the teacup in front of her and said softly, "Your Highness, His Majesty's silence is itself a response."
Yue Yining met Wei Yihua's gaze as he looked up, her eyes clear and profound: "The heart of an emperor is as deep as the ocean, impossible to fathom. His noncommittal statement precisely shows that he is still weighing the options and cannot easily draw a conclusion."
"There is no precedent for a woman to become emperor. To set a precedent for all ages will inevitably be fraught with difficulties. However, His Majesty did not express his opinion when he realized the Princess's intentions, nor did he discourage or reject her. This gives us hope for our efforts."
"Your Highness has displayed extraordinary talent, keen insight, and the vision and responsibility befitting an imperial heir. Compared to birth and age, His Majesty values the competence of the Crown Prince more. I dare say that Your Highness is the foremost among all imperial heirs, and no one can rival your brilliance."
“Your Highness is concerned about your children and your subject, so I understand that you have worries, anxieties, suspicions and sorrows. Your Highness is free to talk to me,” Yue Yining smiled. “As Your Highness’s advisor, I should use my words and my talents to share your burdens and comfort your mind.”
Wei Yihua's fingers, which were resting on the table, suddenly clenched. She ignored the cup of tea and instead reached out and grasped Yue Yining's hand. Her palm was burning hot, which startled Yue Yining slightly.
The eldest princess was looking at her with her bright eyes, the sun, moon, and stars swirling within them, reflecting her image, and stirring emotions she couldn't understand.
Wei Yihua nodded emphatically and smiled with relief: "Yes. I'm not worried, not at all."
Because this time, you are by my side.
...
That evening, the first snow fell in Beijing.
A gentle breeze rustled through the air, carrying jade-like sand that blanketed the earth in white. In the deep of night, the imperial capital was utterly silent, yet thousands of pear trees burst into bloom. As dawn broke, the rising sun finally leaped over the golden glazed tile roofs of the palace. In an instant, all things slowly awoke to the soft light, and the world was a scene of pure, transparent whiteness.
Yue Yining felt cold as soon as she woke up in the morning. She put on her clothes, got out of bed, and went to the window. Sure enough, the first snow had fallen.
Fu Yao changed her into a thicker cloak with a white fox fur collar. The dark blue satin fabric smoothly wrapped around the slender and aloof woman. Fu Yao looked at her again and again, very satisfied, thinking that even if the young lady was exposed to wind and snow today, she would not be cold.
Yue Yining dressed neatly, got into a carriage, and drove towards the palace gate.
Today happens to be the last day of court this year.
Snow blankets the palace path, red walls gleam like blood, and the purity and turbidity of the world dissipate in the bright sunlight.
The morning court sessions mostly concerned various miscellaneous matters, with the main focus revolving around three things: the repair work on the main hall, the selection of candidates for the civil service examination before the spring, and the purge and reassignment of officials in the Qinghuai region after the disaster relief efforts ended.
The capital was peaceful and quiet, and there was no news of any unrest on the border.
After the morning court session, Yue Yining followed the flow of people out of the main hall and into the courtyard. The densely packed officials and ministers gradually dispersed, turning into tiny ink dots.
Yue Yining walked slowly and fell behind. When she went down the stone steps, there were hardly any people around. She was stopped by the old eunuch who was guarding the steps.
She paused, looked up, and saw the old eunuch step forward and calmly bow to her.
"Lord Yue, the Emperor wishes to see you. If it is not urgent, please come with me."
Yue Yining remained motionless. The snow-covered ground and the red walls made her appear even more fair and rosy-cheeked. When she looked down at people, her eyes were as black as lacquer, unusually dark, and it was hard to tell whether they held a sense of tranquility or an unfathomable depth.
"Alright." Yue Yining turned around and spoke softly, with wisps of white mist rising from her lips. "Please lead the way, Father-in-law."
The eunuch responded and stepped aside to lead the way. The palace path, clean and dazzling after the first snowfall of the night, had thin ice clinging to the cracks in the blue bricks, making a soft, crisp sound underfoot, like birdsong. The two walked one after the other along the quiet, cold palace path, passing through layers of vermilion gates.
Yue Yining pondered to herself. She guessed that the emperor would summon her. She was now the most prominent strategist in the Third Prince's camp and the key figure in handling these two major cases. If the emperor wanted to sound out his intentions, she was the best candidate.
It really happened very quickly.
The old eunuch led her to the door of the imperial study. As soon as she stepped inside, a warm and pleasant atmosphere, along with the scent of ambergris, wafted over her, instantly dispelling the chill outside.
Yue Yining did not raise her head. She bowed according to custom, and after a long while, she heard a low, hoarse voice say, "Rise." She straightened her clothes and stood up, her feet firmly planted on the ground. Finally, she dared to look directly at the emperor, the ruler of destiny, before her.
She finally got to see the emperor's face.
In my mind, the fortunes from the two tortoise shell divinations converged on the face before me. Dragon veins, luck, destiny—all were reduced to one, eliminating any room for speculation or imagination, leaving only complete reality.
Behind the imperial desk was no one. Emperor Wei Tianxuan sat by the window, not in his dragon robe, but in a plain yellow robe. He looked older than she had imagined, his face pale, his brows furrowed with a deep, calm stillness, exuding an imposing aura.
A game of Go pieces lay on the table, the black and white pieces arranged in a neat and orderly fashion, forming an endgame.
Wei Tianxuan then lifted his eyelids, his cloudy eyes looking at her. After a short while, he raised his hand to gesture for her to sit down opposite him.
"You are Yue Yining."
Wei Tianxuan looked at her and said, "I remember you. You have a special identity; you are a celestial master. It was Hua'er who recommended you to the court."
"How long have you been an official?"
Yue Yining lowered his head and replied, "Your Majesty, it has been less than a year."
Wei Tianxuan said slowly, "It has been less than a year, but your political achievements are outstanding, and you have been able to complete all the government affairs you have handled satisfactorily. Among the young officials in the court and the country, you can be considered one of the best."
Yue Yining: "Serving the country is my duty, and I dare not claim credit for it."
Wei Tianxuan didn't speak again, and Yue Yining then noticed that he had been holding a string of red coral beads in his palm. The coral was of pure quality, and the beads were full and round, each one perfectly formed by nature. They were rare and precious, unseen in the world.
However, this color and style of beaded string was mostly intended for the concubines in the imperial harem to enjoy and wear on a daily basis. Not to mention the emperor, even ordinary male officials would avoid using it, simply because it was too bright and flamboyant, and lacked a sense of composure as an ornament.
Today, this string of red beads, which only young women would wear on their wrists, is wrapped around the fingers of an aging emperor.
"Does Yue Du know how to play chess?"
Yue Yining withdrew his gaze, glanced at the chessboard in front of him, and replied after thinking for a moment: "This humble subject has some knowledge of chess, but his skills are not proficient."
In fact, she could understand this game of chess. It was not an ordinary game, but a deadlock where the black and white pieces were intertwined and strangled each other, with no clear winner. Their liberties were almost exhausted, and the situation was unclear. It seemed like the game was about to turn around, but in reality, one wrong move could lead to total defeat.
However, if the current game can be maintained, it will end in a draw, and neither side will be able to win.
-----------------------
Author's note: I've been racking my brains trying to come up with a plot.
Actually, the third case has been going on for a while, but I forgot to mark it in that chapter [laughing and crying emoji]
I just re-marked the first three cases more prominently, and marked the beginning and end.
I previously mentioned five cases, but it seems there aren't that many. After three cases, Volume 3 will be finished, then Volume 4 will begin, and the main text will be complete after Volume 4. I estimate the main text will be around 900,000 words. (But I'm not entirely sure.) Just a brief overview. [Applause]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com