Chapter 99 Green...
News of the Crown Prince's return to the palace had already spread, and his confrontation with Lan Huai'en had become the focus of everyone's attention. Even the strict rules of the palace could not stop the rampant gossip in private.
The Eastern Palace remained as quiet and serene as ever.
Liang Lu has always been adept at managing the internal affairs of the Eastern Palace. He had previously used both kindness and severity to discipline everyone, so the palace is now in good order.
At this moment, he stood at the palace gate, eagerly awaiting the return of the imperial carriage.
Because Consort Ning had arrived at the Eastern Palace, Liang Lu did not accompany the palace servants to greet the Crown Prince. After arranging everything, he remained in the front hall. However, he was still very anxious and worried, so he made an excuse to temporarily withdraw.
The chill of the winter morning gradually melted away in the sunlight, and the imperial city was silently bathed in a thin, cool light.
Looking into the distance, palaces stand tall, with layers of vermilion walls, and the dragon-head ornaments on the roofs of the halls stand facing each other, unmoved by wind and frost.
The familiar sedan chair suddenly appeared from around the corner. Liang Lu's spirits lifted, he shook his stiff shoulders, and quickly stepped forward to greet it, just as the sedan chair stopped.
Before he could speak, a eunuch hurried forward and whispered something to him.
"I won't see anyone today. We'll discuss this further at the Wenhua Hall tomorrow." Even through the sedan chair, the Crown Prince's voice remained calm and composed.
The eunuch acknowledged and withdrew.
Just as they were about to lift the sedan chair, Yan Chao suddenly lifted the curtain and happened to see Liang Lu.
When Liang Lu's eyes met hers, he suddenly froze as if his feet were made of lead, and a lump formed in his throat. When he came to his senses, he hurriedly lowered his head and said, "Your Highness, Consort Ning has arrived at the Eastern Palace."
Yan Chao nodded gently: "Let's go back to the palace first."
Upon entering the Eastern Palace, it was as if all the dust and grime I had traveled had found a place to settle down, and I immediately felt at ease.
As she stepped out of the sedan chair and into the palace, Consort Ning came forward, removed her cloak, and carefully examined her. Finding no signs of torture, she was both suspicious and relieved. She then handed her a hand warmer.
Yan Chao accepted the gift and bowed slightly to her, saying, "Greetings to Your Highness. I originally planned to visit Your Highness at Yongning Palace after returning, but I didn't expect you to come here first despite the cold wind."
"There's no need for you to be so polite with me, Chao'er."
But once the words were spoken, a sense of estrangement had already arisen. Consort Ning felt a pang of loss, a hint of melancholy flashing in her eyes. She fell silent, momentarily at a loss for what to do.
"The incident at the Eastern Palace happened so suddenly, it has implicated Your Highness. Has His Majesty made things difficult for you?" Yan Chao didn't think too much about it. She glanced at the dappled light and shadows by the window and broke the silence with her voice.
Consort Ning shook her head and smiled gently: "His Majesty is bedridden and has no time to take care of himself, how could he trouble others?"
She never mentioned the slap the emperor delivered to her face in his rage, a slap that still stung her face and sent shivers down her spine whenever she thought about it.
“Eunuch Lan was ordered to investigate and interrogated several palace maids who had served Empress Wenhui before, and then he did not touch Yongning Palace again. However, Liang Lu from your palace was imprisoned in the Eastern Depot Prison…” She shifted her gaze outward and frowned slightly. “I asked him, and he said that Eunuch Lan did not use torture, but only questioned him.”
Seeing that Yan Chao remained silent, Consort Ning lowered her eyes and asked about her experiences at the border. When her injuries were mentioned, Consort Ning, having been concerned for many days, wanted to inquire about the details, but Yan Chao gave only a few perfunctory answers.
Consort Ning sighed softly, looking at her with deep concern: "The fact that Madam Sun revealed your identity was too sudden. Everyone in the capital was caught off guard. I heard that those ministers are submitting petitions every day demanding a change of heir, and they've even recommended several candidates. Although His Majesty hasn't issued an edict, his attitude towards you is very firm. The current situation is very unfavorable for you... Chao'er, do you have any plans?"
"Isn't His Majesty still seriously ill?" Yan Chao raised his chin towards the direction of the Qianqing Palace, a hint of coldness in his eyes, and said in a light tone, "The situation is not completely out of control yet, Your Majesty, please put your mind at ease."
Consort Ning understood her meaning, and it was within her expectations, but for a moment her heart was filled with mixed feelings. As her thoughts wandered, she suddenly recalled some old events, which disturbed her peace of mind.
Looking up, he met Yan Chao's icy gaze. His right hand, hidden in his sleeve, trembled violently, as if weighed down by a thousand pounds. It landed heavily on his leg, and he was unable to move.
.
After Consort Ning left, Chi Rong, who had been waiting outside, followed Liang Lu into the hall. After bowing to Yan Chao, she reported, "Your Highness's instructions have been followed. As Your Highness predicted, His Majesty's secret edict was not carried out of the capital by a palace eunuch, so the Director of the Imperial Guard was unaware of it. As for who it was, we cannot find out for now. I went to find Lord Wang Zhuo of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and conveyed Your Highness's orders to him."
When the emperor mentioned summoning Prince Su back to the capital, she paid special attention. If the secret edict was taken out by a palace servant or official, it would inevitably pass through Lan Huai'en's hands, and he would never stand idly by.
Lan Huaien was the emperor's close attendant, serving him in his daily life. Yet he was completely unaware of this secret edict, which clearly indicated that the emperor had become suspicious of him and deliberately avoided him, entrusting this important task to someone else.
As for who it is, it is still unknown.
Yan Chao remained calm, nodded in agreement, and ordered him to leave first. She then turned to ask about Liang Lu. Of course, she knew that Lan Huaien would not make things difficult for Liang Lu, but the imperial prison was a cold and oppressive place, and besides, Liang Lu was getting on in years.
Upon hearing this, Liang Lu shook her head: "Eunuch Lan secretly took care of me, so I was not wronged. It is Your Highness who is suffering in the harsh conditions of the border region and is also injured..."
Seeing that his eyes were red and he was choking up and about to cry, Yan Chao quickly pushed the teacup away and said in a slightly raised voice, "Look, the tea is getting cold."
Liang Lu's mouth was half-open, so he had to change his words and gave a muffled reply. He then called someone in to bring in more tea. Even though he knew she was trying to shut him up, Liang Lu continued, this time changing his phrasing: "It's being said in the palace that His Majesty ordered Lan Huai'en to give you fifty strokes of the cane. Have you done anything about it...?"
“How dare he?” Yan Chao smiled, tapping her hand warmer with her fingertips, and said softly with a focused gaze, “I returned to the capital with military merits, but I am condemned by thousands for deceiving the emperor, and now my position as crown prince is in jeopardy. At this critical juncture, if I were to be whipped at will by a eunuch or servant, would I still have a place to stand?”
"But what about His Majesty..."
"I intend to use Lan Huaien to establish my authority, and I am not afraid of His Majesty finding out. If His Majesty, as the sovereign and father, personally administers the punishment, then I will certainly accept it willingly." She glanced out the window, a hint of worry in her eyes regarding Lan Huaien's situation.
He used to act recklessly because of the emperor's favor, offending everyone. Now, if even the emperor refuses to protect him, he will truly be isolated and helpless.
After a moment's thought, she instructed Liang Lu: "Go find Sun Shan and tell him to find a way to get close to the Emperor and overshadow Lan Huai'en."
.
The weather changed in the afternoon. A sudden cold wind tore apart and swallowed up all the sunlight under the sky. The wind and frost raged wildly, making the sky dark and the clouds heavy.
Yan Chao did not receive guests, yet he was also far from idle.
During the month or so that she was away from the capital, the emperor had basically neglected official duties. Although the cabinet and the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs controlled the government, there were still many things she should know about that she needed to be aware of.
She scrutinized each of the draft approvals until her eyes ached, but she had to be more careful than before. Every step she took now required careful consideration; she couldn't afford the slightest mistake, or all her efforts would be in vain.
She calmed herself, pushed the book in front of her shut with her left hand, and then picked up the next one. After reading only a few lines, she frowned and called Liang Li in.
Liang Li was Liang Lu's adopted son. He accompanied her when she left the capital this time, and he handled things quite well. Liang Li was young and not as mature and steady as Liang Lu. He was neither humble nor arrogant, but had his own sharp edges. His piercing, deep eyes could be intimidating when he got angry.
"Take a few men and go to the document room to get something for me." Yan Chao rubbed his temple and let out a long breath.
.
The head eunuch secretly wiped away a bead of sweat and reported tremblingly, "His Highness the Crown Prince said that the Secretariat of Ceremonial Affairs had withheld memorials, so he sent someone to question them..."
Lan Huaien pondered for a moment, his brows slightly relaxed, but when he spoke, he remained calm and composed: "We cannot bear the crime of withholding memorials. You should go back and let them be. Don't worry about it. I will find a way to ask His Majesty to make a decision for us."
The eunuch replied, "Yes." Knowing Lan Huaien's abilities, he was completely at ease and bowed his head as he withdrew.
Lan Huaien grabbed a cloak from the side, wrapped it around himself, and strode out of the duty room with his hands tucked in. The two servants behind him, not knowing where he was going, did not dare to ask and simply followed closely behind.
He himself didn't know where to go.
In the past month, he had had too many opportunities to manipulate the emperor. As long as the emperor died, Yan Chao could return to the capital and succeed to the throne without any problem. Even if her identity was made public later, he would definitely be able to help her secure the throne and avoid the predicament she was in now.
The plan had even reached its final stage. Just when it seemed to be on the verge of success, Yan Chao suddenly sent back a letter, urging him to stabilize the court. He understood her meaning, of course, and had no choice but to abandon the plan at the last minute, making a complete mess of the ending.
When Yan Chao defied the imperial decree and refused punishment, the reasons had already been explained to him. Perhaps it was also to tell him that it was only the beginning, and to prepare him mentally.
The Imperial Street stretched on and on. He stopped at the end of the palace road, turned around, and gazed towards the East Palace. He sighed deeply, suddenly feeling a pang of grievance: But how could that wicked and treacherous eunuch be with His Highness the Crown Prince...?
"No one in the world will know," he murmured. A cool, melting sensation spread across his face, as if it had snowed.
The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, which was in charge of the Imperial Archives, had always been domineering and arrogant, but this time it unexpectedly suffered a setback in front of the Crown Prince. This also sent a message to the court officials: the Crown Prince intended to use this opportunity to seize power.
Unfortunately, the evidence against her was irrefutable, and even Lan Huaien could not defend himself.
Immediately afterwards, the Crown Prince did something else. While reviewing the official documents of the Eastern Palace Administration Bureau, she discovered several oversights and held the relevant officials accountable one by one.
When imperial edicts were issued, whether it was demotion, punishment, or reprimand, all the actions were in accordance with the law and beyond dispute. Those who argued illogically and disobeyed the edicts were disciplined by palace servants.
The Crown Prince was previously relatively lenient in governing his subordinates, but this time he acted suddenly and swiftly, punishing officials under the Eastern Palace, clearly intending to make an example of others.
While the officials outside were making a huge fuss, the cabinet was unusually quiet this time, with all the senior ministers remaining silent. Yang Ren, who was usually reluctant to speak first, was also absent due to illness, and Cao Ying and Ren Lu were also silent.
Everyone is waiting for tomorrow.
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