Reclaiming the power of the palace
Just as all the dishes were served, Jiang Jin heard the sound of a door opening outside. She quickly called Zhai Wan to peek through the crack in the door and saw the Second Prince leaving the second floor with a group of guards.
"You mean they left separately?" Jiang Jin nudged Zhai Wan, who was leaning against her.
"I don't know, let's wait and see!" Zhai Wan, also wanting to seize on the Second Prince's weakness, chose to abandon the steaming hot food on the table and stared intently at the door of the private room.
But even after the waiter went inside to tidy up, they didn't see a second person come out. "Could he have jumped out the window?" Zhai Wan said irrationally.
"Could it be that the Second Prince is simply here to improve his meals?" Jiang Jin rubbed his slightly numb legs and sat down on the stool.
"Could it be that someone actually disguised themselves as a staff member and left?" Zhai Wan said, savoring a bite of chicken.
"If that's the case, then it's not just about winning over court officials; it might be tantamount to rebellion." Jiang Jin, seeing Zhai Wan's emaciated appearance, didn't say much more.
"Alright, hurry up and eat, or you'll freeze into an ice cube. You're overthinking things, that's why your old ailment has flared up. Just pretend you never saw the Second Prince today; we just had a meal here." Zhai Wan placed the roasted mutton into Jiang Jin's bowl.
"Don't worry, nothing will happen." Zhai Wan ladled a bowl of soup and placed it next to Jiang Jin. "This pork rib soup is good, have some to warm yourself up."
"By the way, I've reviewed the accounts of all the clothing stores in each state. Have you reviewed the music store's?" Jiang Jin picked up a spoon and took a small sip of the pork rib soup, feeling much warmer all over.
"Alright, there's nothing seriously wrong. We'll send them all to the other courtyard for safekeeping later." Zhai Wan seemed to have thought of something and spoke up. "However, the music hall in Sangzhou isn't doing so well, possibly because it's newly opened."
"The same goes for the clothing workshop. Sangchen is different from other states; we can't rush things here." Jiang Jin nodded and tapped the porcelain bowl with her finger.
"I'm going to Pingkangfang tonight to see Xiaoniang." Zhai Wan nodded upon hearing this. "I have to go back to the palace and can't go, so please give my regards to Xiaoniang."
"With the matter of Beizhou over, I suppose Xiaoniang's wish can be fulfilled. It's just a pity that the dead cannot be brought back to life." Jiang Jin looked at the table full of delicious food but lost her appetite.
"Let someone pack up the leftovers. Many officials' families have already received porridge due to the snow disaster outside; let's not waste any more." Zhai Wan lost her appetite thinking about returning to the palace, resulting in a lot of uneaten food. Jiang Jin then packed the leftovers into the food box.
"Alright, we'll take our leave now. You go to the Wei residence, I'm returning to the palace." Zhai Wan, wearing a veil, left Yangchun Tower first. Jiang Jin sat for a while, making sure no one was watching outside, before picking up her box and leaving. After taking a detour through the city, she entered the Wei residence through the back gate.
“Madam.” Abei quickly took the box from Jiang Jin’s hand. “The general was kept in the palace by His Majesty after court today and has not returned.”
Jiang Jin warmed her hands over the charcoal brazier. "I understand. His Majesty must have left him here to give him something; otherwise, he would have sent men to surround the Wei residence." Jiang Jin then went to the copper basin to wash her hands before changing into her nightgown.
"From today onwards, have someone keep a close eye on the people in the manor, and prevent them from causing trouble outside. If this gets back to His Majesty, there won't be any good consequences." Jiang Jin knew that once Song Zhimin's affair was exposed, Lou Xuan would be the first to be reprimanded.
"Madam." Mo Niang's voice rang out from outside. Jiang Jin gave A Bei a look.
"Mo Niang, Madam has just retired for the night." Jiang Jin listened to A Bei's reply from behind the bed curtains, lying on the couch.
"My family has arrived in the capital, and I would like to bring them to the manor to pay their respects to Madam. So I would like to ask if it is permissible for you." Mo Niang's complexion was much better than when she first met Mo Niang, and the clothes she wore were meticulously sewn by the embroiderer.
"Madam must be very tired from her journey today. She's resting now. I'll come and wake you when she wakes up." Since Jiang Jin doesn't want to see Mo Niang today, Abei naturally wants to help her resolve her concerns.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Madam Abei." Mo Niang left cheerfully, and Abei closed the door to keep out the chill from outside.
"Madam, Mo Niang said she wants to bring some people to pay her respects to you." Jiang Jin propped her head up and lifted the bed curtains.
"Let's try tomorrow. We still need to test Mo Niang's identity. It's not good to keep things unresolved like this." Abei took the bed curtain from Jiang Jin's hand and said softly, "Madam, why don't you rest for a bit? I'll keep the food in the food box warm on the stove."
"Hmm, send all the account books from the clothing and music shops to the other courtyard." Jiang Jin, huddled under the quilt, watched as Abei lowered the bed curtains again.
Inside the Zichen Palace, Wei Shu was sitting in a chair, facing Princess Zhaoyang, whose expression remained calm.
"Alright, have you two had lunch? Do you have any new ideas?" Emperor Wende sat on his dragon throne, looking at the two of them.
"Your Majesty believes that someone who could orchestrate such a grand scheme must have spent a considerable amount of time. It would be better to have the secret guards remain inactive until Song Zhimin is lured out before dealing with that person."
Lou Xuan remained completely calm. Although Song Zhimin's betrayal was unexpected, she had a weakness she could exploit.
"I believe we shouldn't alert them. We should have someone investigate how much influence they have in Da Yan before striking them down in one fell swoop." Wei Shu knew Song Zhimin's identity upon hearing his name.
"Lin Ben." Emperor Wende slammed the memorial onto the table. Lin Ben immediately bent down, picked it up, and handed it to Lou Xuan.
"Raising a tiger is a recipe for disaster; misjudging people is a sign of weakness." These four simple words made Lou Xuan's face turn pale, but he still composed himself and opened the memorial.
"It is my fault. Back then, I only felt sorry for Song Zhimin's talent and the Song family's unwarranted suffering. I never thought he had such intentions."
Lou Xuan knelt on the ground, head bowed, and spoke. The Zichen Palace fell silent. Emperor Wende remained silent, and Lou Xuan didn't know whether the people above were angry or not.
"Get up. Be careful next time. Luckily, you still have your brains and managed to control his family." Emperor Wende sighed, and Lou Xuan finally sat back down in his chair.
"Everything is related to Sangzhou. When the time is right, I will send Wei Shu to Sangzhou to investigate. Xuan'er, you need to hurry up. You've only just placed two people here; aren't you ashamed?" Emperor Wende tossed a black folding document into Lou Xuan's arms.
"My time is running out. If you do well, you'll have a chance to live; if you do poorly, none of your men will survive, and Wei Shu won't be able to protect her either!" Wei Shu stared at Emperor Wende in shock, having just died once.
"It's not that I want her dead, but rather it's the will of Heaven." Emperor Wende's words left the two of them lost in thought.
"Alright, go back now. Don't stand around here in a daze. Xuan'er, clean up your men so they don't end up like the others, being sold out and still counting the money for the seller." Emperor Wende waved his hand, watching the two figures walk away, his face revealing an undisguised weariness.
May everything go smoothly and bless my Great Yan!
Lou Xuan stepped out of the palace gate, the warm sunlight shining behind her. Looking at Wei Shu, whose brows were furrowed, she asked, "Are you worried about A Jin?"
"I was merely pondering what Your Majesty meant by the will of Heaven." Wei Shu vaguely understood something, yet it remained somewhat unclear.
"Heaven's will is the Emperor's will; General Wei, you should prepare well." Lou Xuan left, carrying a heavy black folding document.
"Your Highness." Xueya helped Lou Xuan put on a cloak, and followed behind her as they walked towards the garden.
"The Bureau of Clothing and Sacrifices delivered your wedding attire today." Lou Xuan walked along the clean pavement, holding a hand warmer in her hand.
"Hmm, has the Empress's decree arrived yet?" Lou Xuan thought that with the Consort causing trouble, her father's patience was probably about to run out.
"The decree has already been issued. I heard that although the Imperial Concubine was unwilling, she agreed." Xueya looked at Lou Xuan carefully, afraid that she would be unhappy because of this.
"Has there been any movement from Fifth Brother?" Lou Xuan's face was expressionless. So much had happened this past year that the Empress Dowager seemed insignificant.
"Lady Wang has some skills, and the Fifth Prince has already taken her in, but she serves in his room without any official title." Xueya recounted the events in the palace to Lou Xuan.
"Are the fifth and fourth brothers fighting?" Lou Xuan nodded and walked towards the pavilion.
"On the surface, they appear to be brotherly and respectful, but beneath the surface, there's a certain tension." The palace servants laid out soft cushions in the pavilion, and Lou Xuan sat there, gazing at the snowy scene outside.
"Keep an eye on them, make sure they're distracted and their attention is diverted." A palace servant brought over a pot of hot tea and snacks, along with a lit charcoal fire, adding a touch of warmth to the snow-covered pavilion.
Lou Xuan looked at the frozen lake and said, "Xueya asked someone to send the hairpin from my palace to the Crown Princess."
"Okay, but that hairpin was left to you by the late Empress. Won't giving it to the Crown Princess displease His Highness the Crown Prince?" Xueya rubbed Lou Xuan's legs, making a hissing sound as the charcoal fire burned.
"So what if she's dissatisfied?" Lou Xuan waved his hand. "The Crown Princess is a smart woman. Even if the Crown Prince doesn't love her, she has done her duty. That hairpin is rightfully hers." Lou Xuan could only offer this much help. The Crown Princess was pitiful, but who in the world isn't?
"Your Highness, may you be well? The Imperial Concubine invites you to come for a chat." A palace maid's voice rang out from outside the pavilion.
"Your Highness?" Xueya helped Lou Xuan up, looking at the palace maid standing outside beside the Imperial Concubine.
"Since it is the Imperial Concubine's invitation, how could I refuse?" Lou Xuan walked ahead with a cold face, leading a group of palace maids towards the Imperial Concubine's palace.
"Your subject greets the Imperial Concubine." Lou Xuan performed a curtsy and saw that the Fifth Prince was also in the hall. "Fifth Brother is here too. I thought you were on duty at this hour."
Lou Xuan sat down in a chair, holding a hand warmer. She glanced at the furnishings in the hall. "No wonder she's going to be empress," she thought, "they're practically displaying gold blatantly on shelves."
"I wonder what important matter Your Highness has summoned me here for today?" Lou Xuan asked with a smile, leaning back in his chair and looking at the elegant and dignified Your Highness seated above him.
"Zhaoyang, you are about to get married, so you should put aside your palace affairs. Before, there was no legitimate empress, so you and I managed them together. Now it's time to let go."
Lou Xuan knew that the Imperial Concubine wouldn't have invited him here for no reason, and that she was even bringing in the Fifth Prince to give her an advantage.
"Of course, I will have the things sent over as soon as I get back. From now on, I will stay in my own palace and wait for my marriage in peace." The Imperial Concubine was taken aback by Lou Xuan's agreeable manner and hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"Okay, let's go back." Lou Xuan left without looking back as soon as she finished speaking.
"Your Highness?" Xueya looked at Lou Xuan, who had a cold face, and didn't dare to breathe. "If she wants it, give it to her. Whether she can keep it or not is up to her!"
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