Chapter 45 Verdant Greenery and Gentle Breeze (Part 5) "The first time I boarded her boat, it was wonderful..."
A gentle evening breeze rustled through the trees, causing the clusters of flowers and plants under the eaves to tremble. She stood still, and as her gaze shifted, it inadvertently fell upon the bright moon hanging low in the sky, not yet fully round, shrouded in a thin layer of clouds, adding a touch of haziness.
She quickly looked away and gazed at Lan Huaien, who was standing just inches away: "Come in with me."
Lan Huaien responded and stepped up the stairs. He couldn't help but feel a little surprised; he could clearly sense her impatience.
Two lights in the room had just been turned off. Liang Lu came in, turned them back on, and then left.
Yan Chao cut to the chase: "What are your plans regarding Cheng'an's matter?"
"Your Highness, I will obey your orders." Lan Huaien looked up at her, whose face was dark and inscrutable in front of the lamp, and gave this ambiguous reply.
He then added, "After all, I am also involved, and I cannot stand idly by. But Your Highness, you also know that the person targeting me is Ji Weixian. My original intention was simply to drag him down with me. As for Prince Xin, it depends on Your Majesty's will."
Yan Chao nodded slightly: "But I cannot make decisions for you."
Moreover, even if she knew the situation within the palace, there were many things she couldn't necessarily do. Lan Huai'en, on the other hand, had the Eastern Depot under her control, which allowed her to act with impunity, while her people could only operate in secret.
Lan Huaien didn't respond to her words. After estimating the time in his mind, he said softly, "The eunuch Cheng An has gone missing. The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs has already sent people to search the palace. As long as Your Highness gives the order, I can leave the palace to find him without any problem."
The candlelight on the candlestick flickered suddenly for some unknown reason, then slumped limply into the shadows, the faint flame went out, and the room suddenly darkened.
"Isn't Ji Weixian going to stop him?"
Yan Chao's heart skipped a beat. He took a few steps closer and asked in a low voice, "In this way, you are clearly indicating that you are opposed to Prince Xin."
Since Lan Huaien rose to power, he established a separate faction outside of the major powers of the court and the harem. He did not associate with the corrupt officials, but he was not exactly clean-living either. He accumulated various misdeeds and became so wicked that the masses rose up to attack him.
Lan Huaien crossed his arms and chuckled softly, "I always need to find a backer. If I really have to choose between the Crown Prince and Prince Xin, then Your Highness is more reliable."
Yan Chao lowered her eyes, remaining noncommittal. Lan Huaien's reason always seemed too far-fetched to her, but she knew she couldn't waste any more time. She composed herself and called Liang Lu in.
"The Imperial Eunuch Cheng An has gone missing in the inner palace, which may be detrimental to His Majesty's health. Liang Lu, you should immediately inform Qiu Cong, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Naturally, the Eastern Depot should do everything in its power to search for Cheng An to ensure His Majesty's safety, whether inside or outside the palace."
That was a brilliant order.
The Crown Prince made no mention of Cheng An's men being involved in the plot to harm the Eastern Palace, only inquiring whether the missing eunuch posed a threat to the Emperor. While this hinted at a personal vendetta, no concrete evidence could be found.
He acted with an air of grandeur, but was actually thinking of the emperor's best interests.
Lan Huaien smiled slightly, thinking to herself that she was indeed cautious. He and Liang Lu had just received their orders and were about to leave when Yan Chao added, "The Directorate of Ceremonial and even the Twelve Directorates can be used as an opportunity to purge them."
"Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness." Lan Huaien thought to himself that he didn't really need her to say that, but he still responded and said, "May Your Highness's wishes come true."
When the room quieted down, she turned around and turned off the other lamp beside her desk, plunging the room into darkness. She strode out, and a moment later heard the eunuch close the door behind her.
"Will Your Highness return to your bedchamber to settle down?"
As Yan Chaofang walked down the corridor steps, a green branch that slanted out from the altar by the roadside caught on her sleeve. She lowered her eyes and gently brushed it aside. The branch swayed before regaining its balance, as delicate and lovely as a child clinging to a garment.
As she straightened her sleeves, she said calmly, "No need for now, let's talk about it when Liang Lu returns."
The eunuch acknowledged and followed her at a respectful distance. Very few people in the entire Eastern Palace could exchange more than a few words with the Crown Prince; aside from Liang Lu and Xiao Jiu, most remained silent, each performing their duties.
Therefore, some people have privately discussed that the Crown Prince's Palace was as dull as the Cold Palace, and judging from the usual situation, it can be said to be true.
Although Yan Chao was preoccupied with that matter, he also knew that it was not advisable to act rashly at the moment. Having nothing else to do, his mind inexplicably calmed down. Hearing that the footsteps behind him were lighter than usual, he couldn't help but turn around to look.
He was already seven or eight steps away from her, still hesitating whether or not to take that step.
"Since you're going to follow me, why are you staying so far away?"
When the man saw her turn around, he suddenly trembled, bowed, and took three or four steps forward, folding his hands as if to apologize.
"slave……"
Yan Chao looked at his face clearly, thought for a moment, and tentatively asked, "Fifteen?"
The eunuch named Fifteen replied, "Yes."
She reached up and gently rubbed her temples, then sighed, "The name Xiao Jiu gave you?"
Fifteen said, "Yes. Ninth Eunuch said that I look like his cousin and have a round face, like the moon, so he chose Fifteen."
Yan Chao carefully examined his face, frowned and muttered, "This doesn't look like him at all..." Then he jokingly said, "The moon is fullest on the sixteenth of the month."
The tension around Fifteen gradually dissipated, and she smiled and said, "Eunuch Jiu did indeed find another round-faced eunuch to name him Sixteen."
"..."
Yan Chao remained silent. But the mention of Xiao Jiu suddenly brought many things to her mind.
Born in September, she was castrated and entered the palace at the age of nine.
It was in late autumn, September of a certain year, when she heard that he had been drinking. She intended to go and confront him, but when she went outside, she saw him holding a tattered coat, crying bitterly for his mother in the throes of alcohol.
That night, a slender crescent moon hung in the sky.
Xiao Jiu seemed particularly obsessed with the moon. In his memory, every full moon night, Liang Lu would mention, "Xiao Jiu went to admire the moon again."
Fifteen secretly observed her expression, wanting to say something more, but hesitated and stopped.
Yan Chao paused for a moment, then asked as they walked, "Have you been following Xiao Jiu the whole time?"
"yes."
“Alright,” Yan Chao nodded, took a few more steps, turned around and said to him solemnly, “Now take your men and search the East Palace and the surrounding palace roads. Don’t miss any corner. If you find anything unusual, report back immediately. A eunuch has gone missing in the palace, so keep an eye on him.”
Naturally, she knew perfectly well that Cheng An was not in the palace. The fact that there was no news from within the palace meant that Qiu Cong hadn't received the message yet.
However, since the decree was issued by her, the Eastern Palace should make some moves at this time.
Fifteen's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help but feel a little nervous. This was the first time he had received an order from the Crown Prince alone. Suppressing his excitement, he bowed, accepted the order, and withdrew.
.
Lan Huaien did not waste much time inside the palace. After a symbolic search of the Directorate of Ceremonial, he randomly grabbed one of Cheng An's men, "asked" him that Cheng An was not in the palace, and then ordered Cheng Tai to take men to search outside the palace first.
Ji Weixian saw that his actions seemed absurd, but were as if they had been premeditated, and for a moment he hesitated.
Lan Huaien had done similar things many times before. Ji Weixian knew he always had something to say to the Emperor, so he only asked one question: "May I ask, Your Excellency, when did the Crown Prince issue the decree?"
His single, seemingly ordinary sentence was incredibly sharp. Even when reporting back to the emperor, he dared to repeat it verbatim.
These few simple words immediately linked the Eastern Palace and the Eastern Depot together, inevitably prompting much speculation. Not to mention, the Emperor was even more wary of this.
Lan Huaien tilted his head to look at him, quite puzzled: "When the Crown Prince heard that Cheng'an had gone missing, he was concerned about His Majesty's safety and sent someone to summon Qiu Cong. Although Ji Bingbi was not on duty tonight, he should still know nothing about it?"
Ji Weixian's expression froze.
Lan Huaien deliberately kept it from him, and now that he's twisting the truth, it's his fault. Thinking of Cheng An, both the Crown Prince and Lan Huaien are watching him now; it's hard to say whether the two have reached some kind of agreement. But he has no evidence.
Seeing that Lan Huaien had already ordered someone to bring the horse, his posture sent a jolt through him. The purpose was clear. He was stunned. Even though he had served the emperor for decades and considered himself to be quite capable, he still found it hard to believe that Lan Huaien was the one to lead the horse.
If they fail, it will be tantamount to going against the emperor. What exactly is Lan Huai'en, the powerful head of the Eastern Depot, after?
The spring breeze, which had been warm for several days, suddenly turned sharp in the night, making Ji Weixian's temples ache. He took a step back, suppressing the unease in his heart, and was about to go back the way he came when two eunuchs suddenly appeared behind him.
He recognized the man as one of Lan Huaien's men, and his face immediately darkened. He asked in a cold voice, "What? Are you trying to arrest me? We're not criminals."
Lan Huaien has become increasingly arrogant lately.
One of them replied expressionlessly, "Please forgive me, Your Excellency. The Inspector has explained that Eunuch Cheng's disappearance is related to you. Until he is found, it's better for everyone if you behave yourself. Please go back to your room and rest."
Ji Weixian frowned, snorted coldly, and finally turned and left.
.
Lan Huaien left the palace after curfew. However, the people of the Eastern Depot were always arrogant, and with the Crown Prince's decree in hand, the patrol officers asked a few questions and let him go without much obstruction.
There were quite a few people from the Eastern Depot in Beijing. They simply asked the eunuchs who were secretly guarding various places, and then headed towards the Prince Xin's Mansion without saying a word.
Just as he was preparing to find an excuse to enter the Prince's mansion, an unexpected incident occurred.
"Your Excellency, a dark figure flashed past in that alley! Do you think it's that escaped eunuch?"
The one who suddenly shouted was the head constable of the military police. He had sharp eyes and, as soon as he saw something unusual, he shouted urgently.
Lan Huaien narrowed his eyes slightly and immediately sent someone over. However, a thought flashed through his mind: that person was not Cheng An.
As soon as he turned around, the constable had vanished.
A diversionary tactic!
His eyes turned cold, and he was about to question Cheng Tai when a servant came to report: "Your Excellency, Lord Qiu has already departed. However, there is an imperial decree ordering Your Excellency to return to the palace immediately!"
Lan Huaien tightened his grip on his sword, his gaze unfathomable as he looked at him. After a long pause, he stepped forward and said calmly, "Understood. Lend me your horse."
The soldier dismounted at the sound of the swordsman's voice, but before he could even regain his footing, a flash of cold light appeared before his eyes. He instinctively tried to retaliate, but unexpectedly, he was attacked from both sides, and a sword pierced through his chest. He died without ever understanding how he had lost his life.
Cheng Tai arrived and his expression changed upon seeing this scene. Seeing him dismount, he went to greet him and asked, "Lord Governor..."
Lan Huaien's eyes still held a cold glint as he casually wiped the bloodstains from the blade with a handkerchief he had taken out from his pocket.
"Is the Prince Xin's residence well protected?"
"Yes. But there seems to be no movement inside the mansion at the moment... Lord Eunuch, should we rush in?"
“No need. Cheng’an may no longer be at Prince Xin’s residence. But he was seriously injured and left during curfew, so he shouldn’t have gone far. Just search carefully.” He sheathed his sword, his face appearing even colder in the pale moonlight.
How could such a closely guarded secret have been leaked?
Cheng Tai breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "Yes." But then he heard him say, "We must not let our guard down at the Prince Xin's residence. As long as Cheng An is alive, he can go anywhere."
"Then, Lord, what if he dies..."
"Since we've come to Prince Xin's residence for help, he won't let anything happen to him unless absolutely necessary. Let's search him first and find him before the Embroidered Uniform Guard arrives."
The emperor wanted him to go back now. If he really went back now, not only would all his previous efforts be in vain, but his own life and property would also be in danger.
Oh, right, his Highness the Crown Prince is still waiting; he can't go back empty-handed.
Since it's my first time on her ship, I should at least show some sincerity.
He chuckled softly, looked down at his shadow, which was vague and indistinct, and thought to himself that he would need a lamp to make it clearer.
However, Lan Huaien was unaware that Yan Chao was currently in the Qianqing Palace, facing a sleepy-eyed emperor.
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