These days, a man who remains unmarried for four years after his wife’s passing is a rarity, aside from this Privy Councilor, one would be hard-pressed to find another.
Dequan, always eager to interject, remarked, “I know about the Duke’s late wife. She was a distant cousin of the late Empress’s family, which means she was related to the Crown Prince from both sides. Originally, she was set to marry someone from another province, and all the betrothal rites had been completed. But then, she met the Grand Chancellor. She cried and pleaded until her family annulled the engagement. Their journey to marriage was full of twists and turns, but sadly, the lady’s life was short. She passed away midway, leaving the Privy Councilor all alone, enduring to this day.”
At first glance, Huo Yan simply came across as indifferent. But with this additional context, it seemed that his aloofness likely had its reasons. Thinking it over carefully, he was actually quite a pitiful person.
Su Xinghe asked again to confirm, “How old is he?”
Yinchen replied, “Thirty-seven. He returned to the capital at twenty-seven, and for two years, there was a lot of fuss over his marriage before he finally wed his first wife. After they married, they were together for about four years, but she didn’t leave him any children…” She paused for a moment, then took a different turn. “But I’ve also heard another version. There’s a rumor going around in the streets that he was the one who caused his wife’s death. Back then, she insisted on marrying him, but he was unwilling. She used underhanded means to force him, so he had no choice but to marry her. I asked my mother about it, and she scolded me harshly. No one in the family would ever admit to such a thing. But four years without having any children, is that normal? Could it be that Huo Yan was harmed by the cold up north and lost his ability to have kids?”
Su Xinghe exclaimed in dismay, while Dequan let out a sound of disapproval. “Shangguan, you’re a young lady. If your mother hears you talking like this, she’ll surely reprimand you again.”
Yinchen, however, didn’t think she had said anything worth scolding. “I’m just stating the facts.” She never got along with Dequan, so she seized the opportunity to mock him. “We’re women; we wouldn’t know about such things. But you, Jinyi Guard, you’re a man, can the cold really cause that? Give us a straight answer.”
Dequan lowered his head in embarrassment. “Shangguan is making fun of me. I know it. People like us? We hardly count as real men.”
Yinchen successfully managed to drive Dequan away. Now, only she and Su Xinghe remained in the duty room, which made her feel at ease. She applied a little more pressure with her hands and asked, “Sister Su Xinghe, are you feeling any better?”
Su Xinghe moved her ankle a little. “Much better, it doesn’t hurt as much now. It’s really kind of you, such a delicate young lady to help me apply medicinal oil.”
Yinchen’s face turned red. “It’s nothing. I’m happy to take care of you. I don’t have any sisters at home, only brothers. If only you were my real sister, too bad I don’t have that fortune.”
Seeing her like this made Su Xinghe’s heartache. She pulled her into an embrace and said, “I don’t have any sisters either. From now on, let’s be like real ones.”
Overjoyed, Yinchen nuzzled against her temple affectionately. “No matter how successful we become in the future, we must never forget each other.”
Su Xinghe smiled and agreed. Who could predict the future? Having more friends meant having more opportunities.
Suddenly, she remembered something. “Has there been an edict from the Hall of Supreme Harmony? Has the Emperor named an Empress yet?”
Yinchen shook her head. “Not yet. I suppose there’s fighting up north, and His Majesty hasn’t had time to deal with it.”
Su Xinghe nodded slowly. This unresolved matter left a sense of unease lingering in the air. Her mind drifted back to the ongoing cases in the government office, and she fell into silence. When she finally came to, she noticed Yinchen was so exhausted that beads of sweat had formed on the tip of her nose. Quickly, she told her to rest, then put on her socks and stepped outside.
She took a few steps, there was still some pain, but it was far better than before.
By nightfall, the snow had begun to fall again. There was no wind, only the silent descent of large, fluttering snowflakes. SHe stood beneath the corridor, gazing toward Lìzheng Gate. In the deep night, the palace lanterns flickered faintly, and the eunuchs standing on either side of the entrance were as motionless as statues. The palace gate was half-closed, and it was almost time for the night lock. Yet, the Crown Prince had still not returned.
The Crown Prince’s expression remained indifferent. “It’s only natural to seek credit for one’s achievements. However, all strategic commands and deployments in the capital were issued by the Eastern Palace. While his bravery on the battlefield is commendable, the true foundation of our great victory still lies with the Eastern Palace.”
After a long day of work, the Crown Prince finally took a brief rest in his armchair. Inwardly, he calculated his odds, achieving military merit was highly likely, but so was the risk involved. The general leading the expedition was his man, and the conquest of the Uda Khanate wouldn’t be settled in just one or two battles. As for Prince Jianping, he lacked combat experience and was merely serving as a deputy general. Yet, his noble birth gave him a sense of arrogance that not even the gods could reason with.
Setting him up to make a mistake wouldn’t be difficult, but in war, a failure at the top meant suffering for everyone below. The potential losses were too great to be worth it. On the other hand, if he were to take a more decisive approach after all, swords and arrows had no eyes on the battlefield, eliminating him in one swift move wouldn’t be impossible either.
Sitting behind his desk, he pondered his next move. Su Xinghe took the tea from Qinggan and placed it before him. She saw him resting one elbow on the armrest, his long fingers covering his mouth and nose, leaving only his deep-set eyes exposed. As his long lashes lowered, he seemed enshrouded in mist and clouds, lost in thought.
Regardless of what schemes he was planning, the Su family was already distancing itself from Prince Jianping. From Su Xinghe’s perspective, getting rid of this former master once and for all would be the cleanest solution. However, he was still a prince. If he died outside the emperor’s control, it would undoubtedly provoke the sovereign’s fury. Once an official investigation was launched, who knew how many people would be implicated or how great a storm it would stir?
She let out a soft breath. Seeing him deep in thought, she refrained from disturbing him and instead stepped outside to ask Yinchen, “Has His Highness had his evening meal yet?”
Yinchen replied, “The food was sent from the Hall of Two Rites, but it was just some milk and pastries. Everyone is on edge. Who could have the appetite to eat?”
“Then have the imperial kitchen prepare something properly,” Su Xinghe instructed. She glanced back inside. “His Highness likely won’t be sleeping tonight, so don’t let the copper tea stove go out. Be ready in case he calls during the night.”
Yinchen acknowledged the order and left to make the arrangements.
Su Xinghe turned back inside. It was only then that the Crown Prince noticed something off about the way she was walking. He stood up and asked, “Did you sprain your ankle?”
He had been too occupied today to check on her, and now, with just one moment of neglect, she could barely walk properly.
She repeated the same words as before, “The ground was slippery. I lost my footing for a moment, it’s nothing.”
The Crown Prince didn’t see it that way. Having a limping future Empress wouldn’t exactly be a disgrace, but it would certainly make ascending the Grand Staircase an inconvenience.
He had her sit down and insisted on checking her injury. Su Xinghe told him that Yinchen had already applied medicine, but he wasn’t reassured he had to see it for himself.
Kneeling in front of her, the roles were suddenly reversed from their usual dynamic, where she would be the one sitting at his knee. He carefully lifted the silk stocking from her foot, only to gasp in surprise. “Why is it so red?”
Su Xinghe explained, “I had to rub in the medicinal oil. If you don’t massage it in, the medicine won’t penetrate the muscles properly. It’s winter and my skin is frozen stiff. Just applying a layer wouldn’t have done much.”
The Crown Prince let out a long sigh. “You really are hopeless. You can’t even walk properly without getting yourself hurt. Tell me, what else are you good for?”
Su Xinghe smiled and let him scold her a little. She was used to it by now. “Yes, Your Highness, I’m useless. At least I can’t bring harm to others, only to myself.”
The Crown Prince nearly scoffed at her words. She was acting all meek and harmless, but he knew better who was she trying to fool? They both understood each other too well.
Since she could still walk, it meant her bones were fine. He let down her pant leg and remarked casually, “The edict to establish the Empress will be issued at tomorrow’s morning court. The draft was prepared earlier in the Hall of Two Rites.”
She immediately pressed him for details. “Who is it?”
“The Zuo Zhaoyi.”
Hearing this, she finally breathed a sigh of relief and clapped her hands. “His Majesty actually listened to you. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have considered appointing her at all.”
Her words sounded like a celebration, but the Crown Prince did not share her sentiment. His expression remained indifferent as he said, “No matter who it is, whether the Left Zuo Zhaoyi or the Right Zuo Zhaoyi someone is taking my mother’s place. To me, it’s nothing but a knife in the heart. I feel it’s an injustice to my mother.”
For the dynasty to function, this was inevitable. Otherwise, the court officials would raise an endless outcry. The Emperor had held off for eight years, which was already an act of great consideration.
Su Xinghe could only try to comfort him. “Your Highness, don’t be upset. Tomorrow, I’ll visit the Warm Pavilion and win her over first.”
For now, the Right Zuo Zhaoyi had no one else to rely on, so there wasn’t much need to worry. The Crown Prince simply said, “Take care of your injury first. If you don’t rest now, you might end up permanently crippled.”
“Oh, come on, that’s an exaggeration.” She grinned and flattered him, “Your Highness, I serve you. I’m not afraid of a lame leg.”
He let out a scoff, unimpressed. “Shouldn’t you ask me first whether I even want to employ a crippled female official?”
Those words were so hurtful. Su Xinghe looked at him resentfully. “If I end up crippled, I’ll request to leave the palace myself.”
“Leave the palace and get married? You wish.”
That was just how things were between them, they could never say anything truly comforting to each other.Su Xinghe thought it was better to stick to official matters and said, “There’s only half a month left until the New Year. I don’t know if we’ll be able to close Cao Zhan’s case before then. I’ll meet the new Empress first, then I’ll need to leave the city and head to the Northern Army’s archive to retrieve the past years’ military supply records.”
The Crown Prince let out a long sigh. “It’s a busy time for everyone. Now both the northern and southern battles have flared up at the same time.” He clenched his fist and knocked it lightly against his forehead. “What a headache.”
As the heir to the empire, aside from teasing her, his life was like a spinning top, if he wasn’t in the Hall of Two Rites, he was in the Left or Right Chunfang. Toying with her seemed to be his only respite from the endless grind of responsibilities.
Lately, the Emperor had been growing weaker. He was just over fifty, yet his energy was visibly declining. His health wasn’t good either, this winter alone, he had caught cold twice, and his persistent cough and fever refused to go away.
Su Xinghe had a nagging feeling that the drunken fantasy the Crown Prince had last time might actually become reality.
If the Emperor passed away, then the Crown Prince’s ascension would be a matter of course. But with his nature, he would never tolerate his half-brothers and their supporters for long.
Sometimes, it wasn’t about wanting to play power games. When you’re sailing against the current, if you don’t move forward, you get dragged back. And that step back would land him at the edge of survival, with no room for negotiation.
She didn’t want to die, nor did she want the entire Su family to be wiped out. That was why she didn’t want the Crown Prince to ascend. If things could remain as they were, that would be ideal. But who could live forever? The day the Emperor died, everything would be set in motion, and by then, it would be too late.
The best solution was for the empire to have no Crown Prince. That way, the Empress would hold the power to decide the successor. That had always been Su Xinghe’s plan. She had hinted as much to her father, and he had agreed.
Yet, an inexplicable sense of melancholy crept over her. If she truly stripped him of his title, would he survive? To step over an old friend in order to climb higher, it was a tragic thought.
A thousand thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant, but she was someone with absolute self-control. None of it showed on her face. She simply stepped forward, took his hand, and began to massage it. “Your Highness…”
He accepted the gesture, letting out a soft hum with his eyes closed.
” Commander Nan Yushu has handed over the entire General Cao Zhan case to me. Tomorrow, I need to set a time with the Privy Councilor to leave the city. The snow might not stop, and if I can’t make it back before the gates close, I might have to return the next day. Is that alright?”
He refused immediately. “I don’t care if it’s snowing or raining knives, you must come back the same day.”
Hearing her grumble under her breath like a little puppy, he added, “I’ll have Dequan bring my waist token. Even if it’s the middle of the night, you’ll be allowed through the city gates. Remember this, you are not allowed to stay out overnight. This is my only demand for you.”
This wasn’t an old childhood friend, it was practically a father’s command.
Su Xinghe calculated the timing. The Northern Army’s camp was only ten miles outside the city, but the roads were rough. Searching through the archives wouldn’t be a quick process, not to mention interrogating people and handling various affairs. No matter how she looked at it, there was no way she could finish everything in a single day.
She felt uneasy and refused to comfort him, lowering her hands as she said, “Since I hold this position, I must fulfill my duties. You don’t even see me as a woman, so why insist that I return at night? Besides, I’m an appointed official, who would dare disrespect me? What exactly are you afraid of?”
What was he afraid of? He was afraid that, in the end, she was still a woman. A woman navigating the officialdom faced far too many inconveniences. In the capital, he could protect her, but outside the city, it was a different story, filled with rugged soldiers and rough men. If something happened, punishing those bastards would be easy, but how could the damage be undone?
And who said he didn’t see her as a woman? Wasn’t it her who never saw him as a man? This ungrateful wretch, she would probably never understand his heart, not even in death.
He turned his head away. “There’s no need for further discussion. No means no.”
Seeing her pull a long face and keep arguing about how she wouldn’t make it back in time, he grew increasingly annoyed. Finally, out of sheer helplessness, he made a concession. “If there’s no other way, take my personal guards with you. Let them ensure your safety.”
The Crown Prince had his own elite force, collectively known as the Six Regiments of the Eastern Palace. Among them, the Left and Right Gate Guards and the Left and Right Inner Guards were directly under his command, allowing him to deploy them at will. These men came from solid backgrounds, handpicked from thousands of soldiers, a force absolutely trustworthy.
Having her take personal guards was an excessive display of force. She wanted to negotiate further, but he shot her a sharp look. “Otherwise, you will come back overnight with no excuses.”
There was no need for further discussion. Su Xinghe slumped, her head hanging low. “When will you ever let me make my own decisions? I’ve grown up listening to my parents, and when I leave home, I have to listen to you.”
In truth, she knew deep down that it was just a different way of saying the same thing, first obeying her father, then obeying her husband after marriage. The Crown Prince, though, was pleased but still spoke harshly, “Wait until I die, then no one will control you.”
His blunt words provoked a pout from her. “Please, show some restraint. Death and life, so unlucky!”
The Crown Prince said, “Your parents sent you into the palace, so I have to take responsibility for your family.”
Su Xinghe internally scoffed. He didn’t even care for her family, yet he said such lofty things. Didn’t he feel embarrassed?
At this point, their conversation reached a deadlock and could go no further. The Crown Prince was busy with state affairs, sitting at his desk without getting up. Piles of memorials, petitions, and draft edicts were stacked on his desk, almost burying him. Su Xinghe checked on him at the hour of the rat (11 PM); he was still working. She checked again at the hour of the rooster (3 AM), and he was still busy.
By the hour of the tiger (5 AM), the Crown Prince got up to stretch his legs. He noticed she had fallen asleep on the southern kang (heated platform) in the side hall. Worried she might catch a chill, he picked up a blanket from the bed and gently covered her.
At the hour of the rabbit (7 AM), the morning court session was moved to the Taiji Hall due to the weather. Su Xinghe saw the Crown Prince off and then quietly waited for the final decree for the Empress’s appointment in the Eastern Palace. The news from the previous dynasty finally arrived: it was confirmed that the Right Zuo Zhaoyi had been chosen.
Looking at the time, she decided to wait a little longer. The Court of Internal Affairs would soon officially enter the inner court to announce the decree, and all items related to the Empress’s ceremonial attire and regalia had to be properly in place. It was a bit too hasty for her to go now; it would be better to wait until everything was arranged in the Northern Palace. Then, with the Crown Prince’s name, she could respectfully offer her congratulations.
However, the new Empress followed all the traditional customs for Empresses, except for one: the Emperor had issued an order for the Empress to live in the Greenhouse Palace as her residence, rather than allowing her to enter the Hall of State Affairs and reside with the Emperor, as other Empresses had done.
The Empress Hui, although somewhat dissatisfied with this arrangement, did not show it on her face. When Su Xinghe brought it up, she maintained her usual grace and humility, saying, “I understand how I came to hold this title of Empress. It wasn’t originally mine, I merely picked up the opportunity left by someone else. The Emperor and the late Empress had a deep bond, and we all saw that clearly when the late Empress was still alive. Now, in order to appease the officials’ petitions in the court, the Emperor had no choice but to reluctantly appoint an Empress. How could I compare to the late Empress?”
From the humble expression on her face, Su Xinghe still noticed a hint of dissatisfaction. Seizing the opportunity, she smiled and said, “Your Majesty is truly wise and virtuous. Who in the harem would dare not to be respectful with you as Empress? In terms of seniority, you are no less than anyone else. As for having children, you have already blessed the Emperor with Princess Xialing, so why downplay your own worth? My humble opinion is that since everything is being done according to the Empress’s ceremonial customs, this omission is ultimately improper.”
The Empress smiled faintly. “I am the successor Empress, so I shouldn’t ask for too much. His Majesty must be considerate of the Crown Prince’s feelings. The Crown Prince lost his mother at a young age, and the Emperor has not appointed an Empress for many years. First, it was out of respect for the late Empress, and second, it was for the sake of the Crown Prince. Now, though the Crown Prince is an adult, replacing everything his mother once had may not sit well with him. Moreover, the Hall of State Affairs… isn’t Prince Xin already living with the Emperor? My presence there would not be suitable either.”
Look at this, in the Great Yin dynasty, the entire harem revolves around those two brothers. When a person rises to a high position, they always want more. The new Empress quietly has her grievances.
Su Xinghe was always good at reading between the lines, and as the Empress stood up to tidy up the things on the table, she moved forward at the right moment to help.
“Last time, when I met you outside the Mountain Pool Garden, I mentioned the Crown Prince’s thoughts to you. On the day of the Winter Solstice, the Crown Prince attended the Emperor, and the Emperor brought up the matter of appointing an Empress. It was the Crown Prince who strongly recommended you… The Crown Prince’s feelings haven’t changed. He said, if others can become the Empress, why can’t you? After all, it’s because of the affection from when he was young, when you treated him kindly. The Crown Prince is a person who values old ties.”
The Empress nodded. “I understand the Crown Prince’s feelings.” It was simply that Left Consort had a child, and she had none. People, who doesn’t consider their own interests? Although this position as Empress was acquired, now that she held it, her title and power were solid. No one would dare belittle her, and no one would dare treat her with disrespect. She was grateful for the Crown Prince’s kindness and would, in the future, naturally depend on him.
Su Xinghe smiled and glanced at the hourglass on the desk. “Soon, all the other palaces will come to offer their congratulations to the Empress. I won’t stay here and cause trouble. The Crown Prince said that there are battles at the border right now, and he can’t leave for the moment. But as soon as he’s free, he’ll come with Prince Xin to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.”
The mention of “Empress Dowager” made Empress Hui freeze for quite some time.
Just yesterday, she had heard bitter words, but today she stood at the peak of the world. In the past, when the royal sons and daughters addressed the late Empress as “Mother Empress,” it always felt distant, and she had no particular feeling about it. But today, when that title was spoken to her… “Mother Empress,” “Mother Empress”… She was both a mother and the Empress. Her heart churned with a sour feeling, and her eyes gradually reddened.
Su Xinghe could tell from the Empress’s expression that her reaction wasn’t out of gratitude, but more like a tribute to the years of hard work finally paying off. But for now, the Empress surely felt grateful to the Crown Prince, since she had just risen from the dust and wasn’t yet firmly established. In a month or two, she would realize that others’ support couldn’t be relied upon to protect her. Even though the Left Consort had fallen from favor, she still had a son. The Empress, even though she had ascended to her position, would end up with just a nominal title, occupying a spot on the wall of the Fengxian Hall in the future.
Su Xinghe had her own plans. There was no rush; things would unfold slowly. The Crown Prince’s attempt to win the Empress’s favor would inevitably pass through her hands. Whether the Crown Prince would succeed or whether the Su family would seize the opportunity along the way was yet to be seen. The more chaotic the palace, the more beneficial it was for the Su family. The former Left Consort had not been so easy to manipulate, after all! As for the current Empress, she may not be without ambitions for power; she just lacked a son to secure her position. Someone like the Crown Prince, who centralized power, would not give her any benefits. At most, she would be treated like the current Empress Dowager honored and revered on special occasions, brought out for people to bow to, and that would be the extent of it.
![Flying Dust [Fei Chen]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/9k.png "Flying Dust [Fei Chen]")
