Chapter 15 Dim Light (Part 6) "Your Highness must not repay kindness with enmity..."
Lan Huaien was calmly adjusting the wick of the lamp, causing the candlelight to flicker and the room to light up. He heard the Crown Prince's stern rebuke, but he still insisted on covering the lamp with gauze before turning around and calmly kneeling to pay his respects.
"This servant, Lan Huai'en, greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"Who gave you permission to enter the bedchamber!" Yan Chao hurriedly lowered the curtain and then raised his voice to shout, "Liang Lu!"
She was still ill. After sleeping all night, she woke up with a parched throat. When she cried out, her throat was sore from the irritation, and she couldn't help but cough repeatedly, which made her internal organs vibrate and her whole body feel weak.
All that could be heard was Liang Lu's hurried response from outside, followed by the sounds of the door opening, the curtain being lifted, and footsteps rushing in.
When Liang Lu saw Lan Huaien on the ground, he was also stunned.
"Your Highness..."
"Where have you been?" she asked, struggling to keep her breath steady as she half-propped herself up. The curtain remained closed, clearly to keep Lan Huaien at bay.
"Your Highness, there were some errands to run in the front courtyard, I just got back..."
"How did you deal with Lan Huaien last night?"
"As you instructed, Xiao Jiu took him to the backyard for interrogation and also assigned people to guard him..."
"Then why is he in the palace now? Where are his guards? Where are the people on night watch outside the palace? How can a living person be wandering around the East Palace like this without anyone noticing?" Whether it was anger or illness, her teeth trembled.
Liang Lu knelt before the bed, her face pale: "This servant has failed in her duty."
Yan Chao took a deep breath, his gaze becoming somewhat vacant. His eyelashes drooped unintentionally, concealing a trace of barely perceptible panic. After a long silence, he said in a deep voice, "Take the person away. He has trespassed into the palace. He should be dealt with according to palace rules."
After saying that, he paused and added, "Find out the whole story clearly. If he refuses to confess honestly, then don't show him any mercy."
Lan Huaien is currently just an insignificant eunuch with no power or influence. Even if he were killed, no one could do anything to him. It would be a good thing to rid the country of a scourge.
Lan Huaien knew he couldn't escape a beating this time, but he never expected the Crown Prince to be so ruthless. He was immediately dumbfounded and, in desperation, shouted into the curtain, "Your Highness, you can't repay kindness with enmity and kick away the ladder after you've crossed it! I helped you out of that predicament, and you promised to save my life..."
Yan Chao sneered and asked him impatiently, "Why are you so guilty before I've even interrogated you? How did you get into the East Palace and how did you break into my bedchamber? Tell me honestly, and I naturally won't take your life. Besides, let's keep things separate. I'm protecting you for what happened last time when you framed Meng Huai, but this time you brazenly barged into my bedchamber and you think you can get away unscathed?"
A flash of murderous intent crossed her eyes, but she closed them again, suppressing her fierce aura, while a torrent of emotions surged within her.
"Drag him away." She said coldly, her hands gripping the corner of the blanket were sweaty.
Liang Lu agreed and quickly called for men to come in and take Lan Huaien away. He glanced fearfully at the tightly concealed curtains, feeling deeply remorseful for his negligence.
The hall finally quieted down, and Yan Chao's heart, which had been pounding with anxiety, slowly calmed down. As she hastily threw on her outer robe and lifted the curtain, she glanced at Liang Lu kneeling outside.
"Liang Lu, how do you explain this? All the eunuchs in the Eastern Palace are under your command; you shouldn't be completely ignorant of this. Now you dare to use 'dereliction of duty' to fob me off?"
“Your Highness, please calm your anger. I dare not do this. Today’s incident was indeed my negligence. I was unaware that Lan Huai’en was running rampant in the Eastern Palace.” At this point, Liang Lu felt even more ashamed. Having nowhere to defend himself, he could only kowtow and say, “I know I cannot escape my guilt, but Your Highness is still ill. Please allow me to investigate the cause and effect before determining my guilt. I do not seek to make amends, but only that Your Highness is well.”
Yan Chao pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling helpless: "Go ahead and investigate. Come back and report back after you've found out."
"Yes." Liang Lu dared not delay any longer and left first.
Yan Chao silently turned her head, glancing around the fairly tidy room, still somewhat worried. She had been completely unsuspecting while sleeping; what if Lan Huaien found out...?
"Perhaps we shouldn't have let him into the Eastern Palace." She felt a pang of resentment.
.
This is probably the first time the Crown Prince has been confined to his quarters. The news actually spread last night, but only this morning, causing a great deal of discussion in the court.
After recovering from his illness, the emperor resumed his duties, but instead of holding a court assembly, he visited the Wenhua Hall.
He didn't mention the Crown Prince or Prince Xin at all, but the conversation that took place in the warm pavilion that day had been leaked without a trace. The Emperor let it go and didn't pursue the matter.
Everyone was at a loss for words to offer advice.
It was He Shu, the Grand Master of the Palace, who spoke up, saying that since the Crown Prince's words and actions were flawed, his lectures should not be stopped, lest he become indulgent and lazy. Several officials under the Crown Prince's command all agreed.
The emperor refused to budge, saying only, "The Crown Prince is unwell, so the lectures will have to be put on hold until he recovers. Besides, if the Crown Prince is willing to improve, he will be diligent without the need for his tutors. He should also reflect on his actions these next few days. As officials of the Crown Prince's palace, you have failed to provide adequate assistance and should also reflect on your mistakes."
He Shu understood the deeper meaning in the emperor's words: if they said any more, they might all be punished.
This was originally his responsibility, and there was no question of implicating him, but the Crown Prince was indeed seriously wronged this time. However, since things had already come to this point, making a bigger fuss would be detrimental, so he had no choice but to hold back for now.
.
The snow has cleared, the sky is bright, and the night is cold. A sliver of cool sunlight, nestled in the pale clouds, shines obliquely into the palace, its faint light unable to even obscure a shadow.
Chen Xiu stood on the long road, looking south. The dark blue glazed tiles of Wenyuan Pavilion stood out among the vermilion eaves of the palace courtyard. Suddenly, a dazzling light flashed into his eyes, and he felt a cold, desolate atmosphere all around him. Not far away, palace servants were stamping their feet to shake off the snowflakes falling from the trees, and then picked up their brooms again to sweep diligently.
He turned around, walked around the Wenhua Hall and went back, and ran into a few acquaintances along the way.
There were people from the Imperial Household Department and the Left and Right Spring Palaces. He Shu was talking to Shen Wei. When everyone saw him arrive, they all bowed and raised their sleeves in greeting.
Chen Xiu asked, "Are you all going to the Eastern Palace?"
Several people should be.
"Then let's go together."
He Shu was slightly surprised and stepped aside to make way for him to go first.
The group arrived at the East Palace gate and found it heavily guarded. The Emperor only ordered the Crown Prince to remain in seclusion and reflect on his actions, without explicitly forbidding outsiders from entering. Everyone understood the Emperor's intentions, but they still insisted on seeing the Crown Prince.
After the eunuch finished announcing the news, he came out and said that the Crown Prince understood everyone's intentions, but he was unwell and not fit to receive guests, so he asked them to go back.
He Shu frowned, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I'll trouble the eunuch to go and persuade them again. We..."
The eunuch seemed to have anticipated that the crowd would not leave, so he lowered his voice and said, "His Majesty has decreed that His Highness should reflect on his mistakes. His Highness is deeply gratified that you gentlemen, who are of one mind with the Crown Prince, have come to visit him. But at this moment, we hope that you gentlemen will calm down and act with caution."
The men exchanged glances, hesitant and undecided. They were considered the Crown Prince's confidants, and if they didn't do something now, they felt it wouldn't be enough to demonstrate their loyalty.
Shen Wei pondered for a moment, then stepped forward and said, "Your Excellency, I went to the Meng family yesterday, and Meng Tingke asked me to pass on a few words to His Highness the Crown Prince, which may be related to his grandfather, Grand Tutor Meng. I know that His Highness has always valued Mr. Meng..."
The eunuch pondered for a moment, then went in again to report. When he returned, he nodded: "His Highness invites Lord Shen in."
Shen nodded slightly, then turned to the crowd and asked, "If any of you gentlemen have anything to say, I can help you convey it inside."
He Shu had a lot to say, but now he suddenly felt it wasn't so important, so he just shook his head.
Chen Xiu said, "Since His Highness does not wish to see us, he probably knows what we want to say. Tan Ze, when you see His Highness, please convey our regards to His Highness's good health."
The crowd stopped discussing it, but some were disappointed, and eventually dispersed.
As soon as Shen Wei entered the hall, the first thing she saw when she saw Yan Chao was her furrowed brows and her tone ruthless: "Say what you have to say quickly, the Eastern Palace cannot keep anyone here right now."
"Your subject Shenwei greets Your Highness the Crown Prince." Shenwei performed the ceremony himself, and seeing the red marks left on her face and the gauze wrapped around her hands, he felt a pang of heartache.
Not wanting to embarrass her, he lowered his head and replied with utmost seriousness, "Your Highness, Meng Tingke has entrusted me to convey a few words to you."
Yan Chao gave Liang Lu a wink, and all the palace servants in the hall withdrew.
"Get up and speak." But Shen Wei got up but still kept her head down. Yan Chao raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but ask with a smile, "Am I that ugly now? So much so that you don't dare to look at me?"
“That’s not it.” Shen Wei felt a little relieved and apologized before speaking seriously about Meng Tingke: “Meng Tingke is returning to Ji’an to observe mourning for Mr. Meng. Before leaving, he asked me to tell Your Highness that Mr. Meng’s death was a frame-up by the Cao family. Now that Mr. Meng has died unjustly, the treacherous villains are still rampant in the court. Although Mr. Meng’s posthumous name has been preserved, his reputation has been damaged. I beg Your Highness to do justice for Mr. Meng.”
At that time, Meng Tingke was overwhelmed with grief over the loss of his loved one and his words were extremely impolite. Shen Wei could not possibly have said the exact words, but only relayed the gist of them.
"I know that you died unjustly, but Cao Ying was not the only one who plotted against you. The relationships behind the court are very complex and intertwined. If one thing is done, it will have far-reaching consequences. It is not an easy task. Of course, this revenge must be taken, but it cannot be rushed. We must proceed slowly."
Meng Huai's enemies are also her enemies. Yan Chao's expression darkened, and he fell silent.
Shen Wei nodded in agreement, and after a moment of silence, took his leave. Yan Chao, however, said, "If there's nothing urgent, please sit down and have a cup of tea."
A short while later, a palace maid entered the hall to serve tea. Shen Wei took a small sip from the cup, pondered for a long time, and finally couldn't help but speak: "Your Highness, since Imperial Censor Xu's memorial has already been processed by the Grand Secretariat, you don't need to pay any attention to it. Those who are interested will report it to His Majesty on their own. Why should Your Highness go and offend His Majesty?"
He looked up and could see that Yan Chao was not in good spirits and looked weak, which made him feel a pang of sadness.
Yan Chao looked directly at him and said calmly, "Yes. I shouldn't have spoken up about this. I'm under pressure from above to uphold filial piety and brotherly love, and there are people below waiting to see me make a fool of myself. I'm the last person who should have spoken up."
Shen Wei stammered, "It's just that Your Highness has been wronged."
Yan Chao twitched the corners of his mouth, half calm and half helpless: "I know. From the moment I mentioned the matter of Prince Xin staying in the capital, I knew that the result would not be good. This is also within my expectations."
My cheeks felt hot again. That forbidden precept was still vivid in my mind, and it was truly embarrassing.
Shen Wei sighed softly, took out a porcelain bottle from his sleeve, and presented it to the emperor: "I brought some wound medicine, and I know that the palace also has it, but I am still worried..."
Seeing that he was well hidden, Yan Chao's eyes softened: "Thank you."
Shen Wei nodded almost imperceptibly, watching the tea steam rising from the cup beside him, wisps ascending slowly and dissipating in less than an inch, gentle and continuous. He loved these quiet moments in his leisure time, doing nothing but peacefully waiting for time to pass, feeling exceptionally content.
"Lan Huaien is in the East Palace."
As soon as Yan Chao finished speaking, she unconsciously frowned and glanced out the window. She was really frightened this morning.
After she finished explaining, Shen Wei was so shocked that she was speechless: "How dare he... that's His Highness's bedroom!"
Yan Chao closed his eyes and said wearily, "I asked Liang Lu to investigate the whole story. Because I was afraid something might happen, I beat him up and tied him up in the backyard."
Shen Wei frowned slightly and bit her lip, saying, "It's better to just end it all now. Leaving it around will only cause endless trouble later."
“But some things can’t be left unresolved. There are some people in the Crown Prince’s Palace with unclear backgrounds, and we need to use them to expose them. These days are quiet, which is a good time to deal with them. Some things will be harder to handle after the New Year.”
The warmth of the hall enveloped me. Although medicine had been applied to my hands, the soreness and swelling hadn't subsided. The pain wasn't sharp, but even sitting quietly, it would still creep in subtly and repeatedly. With each breath, a slight itch would tickle my throat, which I couldn't cough up, and the scratching only made me more irritable and restless.
She twitched her fingers slightly, the bandages making her fingertips numb. She smoothed her brows and said slowly, "You don't need to worry too much. My condition isn't too bad right now. I just happened to catch this illness at the right time, and I'll be fine after a period of rest. You don't need to come during my confinement, so as not to give others cause for gossip. After you leave, tell the officials in the Eastern Palace that they don't need to worry about me and should just do what they need to do."
Shen Wei nodded slightly and was about to take his leave when a eunuch suddenly came in to announce: "Your Highness, Cheng Tai from the Eastern Depot requests an audience."
Both of them were taken aback.
Yan Chao quickly realized: "For Lan Huai'en?"
"yes."
She sneered, "I won't see him. Go out and tell him that once he enters my Eastern Palace, he's mine, and his life and death are in my hands. If he has the guts, tell him to go to the Directorate of Ceremonial and take him away."
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