After Rebirth, I Married my Archenemy - Chapter 17

The rain had been falling for several days, enveloping the entire palace city in a veil of white mist.

With his duties keeping him busy, the Crown Prince emerged from the Zichun Hall as dusk fell.

Shouxi held an umbrella for Li Xuan as they descended the jade steps, where they saw Prince Yan Li Huan kneeling at the foot of the stairs.

Zheng Fu hurried out of the hall, draping an embroidered crane-patterned cloak over Li Xuan’s shoulders. 

“His Majesty said the inner chambers are heated with charcoal. When you came out, I forgot to remind you to put on an extra garment, so I rushed to fetch it. Your Highness, you are weak; be careful of the wind and cold.”

After putting on the cloak, Li Xuan turned to look at the kneeling Li Huan in the rain.

Li Huan was clad in light armor, his inner garments soaked through, revealing the muscular contours of his body. The ground beneath him was faintly stained with red water, suggesting he had not fully recovered from an injury, making him appear quite miserable.

Zheng Fu, a senior eunuch close to Emperor Chenming, saw the Crown Prince gazing at Yan Wang and forced a wry smile. 

“The common folk are buzzing with rumors. His Majesty doesn’t wish to see the second prince right now, yet he refuses to leave…”

Li Xuan nodded.

Having made a mistake, one must endure the wrath of the ruler; this anger cannot simply be dispelled by kneeling.

Not to mention, Li Huan was never favored by Emperor Chenming. In their youth, the emperor had hardly paid any attention to Li Huan. He remembered that when his father spoke, Li Huan would always stand outside the door, looking gloomy. As the elder brother, he treated his younger siblings equally and often took Li Huan’s hand to pull him into the main hall.

But that was a long time ago.

Li Xuan gestured to Li Huan, 

“Give him a cloak as well.”

Not knowing if Li Huan envied his cloak, he instead envied this younger brother’s strong physique that could endure kneeling in the rain. Just then, a fit of coughing shook his body, causing Zheng Fu to hastily urge him to return to the palace.

The relationship between the two brothers was not friendly enough for small talk. Li Huan remained completely still, letting Zheng Fu drape the cloak over him, as if he were a statue made of stone.

Only when he heard a young lady speak did the statue show signs of life.

Bao Shu stepped forward with the umbrella, saluting Li Xuan. Biting her lip, she said, 

“The princess has been ill for some time and has been thinking of Your Highness. I wonder when Your Highness will visit the Luanyi Pavilion?”

Before Li Xuan could respond, Li Huan suddenly turned his head to look at Bao Shu.

Li Xuan asked, 

“Is it really that serious? The medicine I sent, did Ah Fu take it?”

Bao Shu replied, 

“The medicine Your Highness sent has been taken daily without fail, but her heart is restless, and it’s only natural that she isn’t getting better. She keeps mentioning wanting to see her elder brother.”

Li Xuan glanced at her, then smiled, 

“Bao Shu, life in the palace is tiring, not as free as at home. Are you getting used to it?”

Bao Shu was taken aback for a moment, quickly expressing her gratitude, 

“This servant… I feel the palace is wonderful. The princess is gentle and kind. I will surely do my best to serve her well.”

“Do your duty, and if you need anything, come to me anytime,” Li Xuan said warmly, not waiting for Bao Shu to say more before leaving with Shouxi.

Bao Shu sensed a warning in that smile and was left flustered.

Recently, she had heard that Zheng Liangdi had angered the Crown Prince, causing him to lose his temper. She had thought the princess’s opportunity had come, only to realize she might have said the wrong thing.

Li Huan called out “Bao Shu” behind her, but she ignored him. Frustrated, he raised his voice, “What about the things I sent? There were medicinal herbs in there.”

After walking quite a distance, Bao Shu looked back, seeing Li Huan kneeling on the ground, gazing up at her anxiously. The fallen prince looked like a drowned dog. Yet even dogs lacked such a ferocious and terrifying face.

In this era, appearances held significant weight. Historically, heirs were expected to be dignified and handsome; someone as ugly as he, could not possibly ascend the throne.

Thus, as she greeted the Crown Prince, she couldn’t hide her disdain: 

“The princess knows this is the second prince’s belongings and directly instructed this servant to dispose of them. The second prince is well aware that the princess dislikes you. Why do you keep pestering her? Allow me to offer you some advice: you are in a precarious position. Do you want to drag the princess into a life of uncertainty with you?”

With that, she turned and left.

Raindrops flowed continuously from Li Huan’s bronze mask, obscuring all expression.

Meng Guanlou was accustomed to drinking heavily in the evenings. Half-drunk, he stumbled back to his quarters, only to find someone sitting in his room, which sobered him up significantly.

Li Xuan sat in his chair, draped in a soft, gilded robe, with Shouxi standing beside him, both wearing expressionless faces.

Noticing that all the servants in the room had cleared out, retreating to the outside, Meng Guanlou quietly closed the door.

“In broad daylight, in a bustling market, you cause a scene. Who told you to act rashly?” Li Xuan asked.

Meng Guanlou’s face shifted slightly; he was about to speak when Li Xuan interrupted sharply, “Was it your idea, or your father’s?”

Meng Guanlou was so frightened his eyelashes trembled. He raised both hands. 

“It was my fault, Your Highness! My father has already reprimanded me heavily for it. If it weren’t for my mother’s protection, I wouldn’t be able to stand here before you intact today.”

Li Xuan’s expression softened slightly, but he remained serious. 

“Jiu Lang, your quarrel with Lu Huating is merely a disagreement among subjects, a small skirmish. But you’ve ignited a fire that has reached the Prince Yan’s garments. Do you realize what this means?”

“This is factional strife.” Li Xuan raised his phoenix-like eyes to look at him. 

“How many nations have fallen because of factional strife? The world has just been stabilized, and my father has only been on the throne for less than a year. At this moment, if the crown prince and Prince Yan are at odds, the people of the Kingdom Chu must be thrilled: a group of individuals who haven’t even settled into their positions are causing chaos among themselves.”

“I understand your Highness’s concerns,” Meng Guanlou said hesitantly. “However, my perspective is slightly different. You may think this way, but others may not. It’s certainly not the right time for conflict now, but waiting until the world is at peace might be too late!”

“After several years of war, the Li family army are loyal brothers of Prince Yan, to the extent that they only recognize him, not the Eastern Palace. Now that the Xiao family army has surrendered and Prince Yan has been ordered to garrison outside the city, he has Lu Huating, that ambitious wolf, by his side. If he wishes to, he could fill the entire palace city with his people. If one day Prince Yan surrounds the palace, forcing the Emperor to change the crown prince, what will you do then?” Meng Guanlou pressed.

Li Xuan shook his head. “He wouldn’t dare.”

“How do you know he wouldn’t dare?” Meng Guanlou urged. “Your Highness does not understand Prince Yan, nor does he understand human nature. Don’t forget, when you were presumed dead after the battle at Feihu Path, the Emperor promised him the position of crown prince. Did he not accept? If something were to happen to you…”

Li Xuan crushed the teacup in his hand.

His mother had died in the battle at Feihu Path, and he himself had endured countless hardships. Meng Guanlou realized he had misspoken and quickly knelt down.

“Your Highness, when you entered this room, did you notice how the soft couch, cushions, ice basin, and incense burner were all arranged just right? I had them prepared six hours in advance. I prefer to have everything ready before I enjoy myself, why leave sand in my shoes and cause myself more trouble at night?”

Meng Guanlou raised his chin defiantly. 

“We don’t seek Prince Yan’s life; we only want to eliminate his chances of inheriting the throne while he’s at a disadvantage. In the future, Your Highness’s path will be smooth and free of threats. Wouldn’t that be better?”

“What about those people you recruited? What’s their fate?” After a moment, Li Xuan asked.

“Just a bunch of rootless street rascals. They’ve been sent to a farm at the foot of Wancheng Mountain, watched over by my guard, Qu Feng. Once the storm passes, I’ll give them some silver to send them off to other places,” Meng Guanlou explained.

“Today, I actually wanted to confirm something with you.” Li Xuan poured himself more tea. “I heard that a woman was involved, but later slipped away. You mentioned she was one of Prince Yan’s guards?”

“Absolutely true,” Meng Guan Lou said. “That day, I saw her with my own eyes. She was hiding in the crowd and collaborating with Jian Su. Lu Huating was willing to risk his life, directing his guards to protect her. If it weren’t for the guards, how could she have done that?”

“This woman is so eager to save Lu Huating’s life that she has pushed the situation to an irretrievable point, causing harm to the reputation of Prince Yan,” Meng Guan Lou chuckled. “Even if we don’t look for her, Prince Yan will certainly punish her properly.”

Li Xuan replied, “You’re mistaken. The female guard in the prince’s residence cannot be her.”

“But Your Highness, my spies say there is not just one female guard in Prince Yan’s residence,” Meng Guan Lou stated. “In these years, the assassination attempts from Kingdom Chu have never harmed Prince Yan in the slightest, thanks to Lu Huating recruiting eight capable guards. One of them, a female covert guard named Wen Su, has been working outside the residence for years and has never shown her face.”

Li Xuan’s hand paused, and he suddenly looked at Meng Guan Lou, 

“Did you see what that woman looked like?”

“No, she always covered her face, and I don’t know what she was up to. It seems Lu Huating deliberately kept her hidden from view,” Meng Guan Lou said, annoyed. 

“Moreover, this woman is very cautious; she didn’t wear hairpins and didn’t leave a single earring at the scene. The only thing left was a knife mark, a throw wound that pierced through. This rules out a typical noble girl and doesn’t prove she is Wen Su. If it weren’t for the crowded situation at Ling Xinji, our people wouldn’t have lost track of her.”

Li Xuan’s expression changed several times: 

“Was the incident location very close to Ling Xin Ji?”

Meng Guan Lou replied, 

“It’s that shop that sells lotus flower pastries, the one with a long queue right next to it. Your Highness, do you recall something?”

“Nothing much. Yesterday, a palace maid left Zheng Liang Di’s palace,” Li Xuan casually mentioned. 

“Around the hour of Hai, she happened to be near Ling Xin Ji. I thought she might know Lu Huating since she was a maid; if she witnessed the fight, she might have seen something. But I didn’t expect she could be an even more formidable person.”

Before leaving, Li Xuan’s hand brushed over Meng Guan Lou’s forehead and sideburns. Meng Guan Lou obediently stayed still, like a loyal dog.

Li Xuan said, “Your temperature is indeed a bit high. If you’re feeling anxious, I can ask Shou Xi to find a doctor to prescribe some calming medicine. You know whether this is for the sake of the palace or for personal revenge. Don’t provoke Lu Huating again; I know him better than you do.”

Early in the morning, the door to Qun Qing was opened, and it was Shou Xi coming to deliver a message.

Having been confined for two days, she had enough time to speculate on all possible outcomes. It could only be that Zheng Zhiyi was pleading for her, or the entire palace was interceding on her behalf…

But Qun Qing did not expect to face a golden plate.

Inside the plate was red and silver silk, bright as the clouds at sunset.

Shou Xi said, “The Crown Prince’s order: Due to the unpleasant mood that day, he heavily punished the maid of Qing Xuan Pavilion, resulting in the fright of the good lady. This palace feels deeply remorseful, awarding a bolt of silk to comfort you, hoping you will be more attentive in the future.”

Ah Meng and the others were stunned. They knew the Crown Prince was gentle, but they didn’t expect it to reach this extent, apologizing to a palace maid.

Lan Yue looked at Qun Qing with almost hateful eyes: the good lady’s heart was shattered, and she didn’t even receive a visit from the Crown Prince, yet this woman did! Who knows what charm this woman has; is she a reincarnated fox? Ordinary matters become extraordinarily unusual when they involve her.

Qun Qing stood still until Shou Xi urged her to express her gratitude, finally accepting the golden plate.

In the Chen Dynasty, the brighter the fabric, the rarer and more precious it was. This bolt of red silk was rare even in the residences of nobles.

Qun Qing looked at this silk. The Crown Prince’s excessive favor toward a palace maid felt like a significant warning.

Not punishing but rewarding—is it meant to provoke Zheng Zhiyi? Or is it intentionally putting her in a difficult position? How could a prominent Crown Prince concern himself with such trivial matters regarding a few women?

As soon as Lan Yue left, Ah Meng and the others quickly gathered around Qun Qing: 

“I told you, Sister Qing, that a lucky person has the favor of heaven! Not only did you avoid punishment, but you also received a reward!”

Ah Jiang’s gaze constantly drifted toward the silk: 

“Sister Qing, you must remember our kindness! That day, we pleaded for you and ended up offending Sister Lan Yue.”

Ah Meng spat, 

“Clearly, it was Ruo Chan who took the repaired sleeve shirt to plead for you, while you were hesitating and afraid to go!”

Ah Meng and Ah Jiang spoke for her, which Qun Qing anticipated, as their defection had already offended Lan Yue. If they didn’t rescue her, they wouldn’t be able to live peacefully. She didn’t expect Ruo Chan to be so brave.

Ruo Chan’s face was as red as a boiled shrimp as she clutched her skirt and said, 

“If Sister Ruo leaves the palace, no one will teach me embroidery anymore…”

“So you wanted me to teach you embroidery,” Qun Qing said without waiting for Ruo Chan to defend herself, smirking, “Alright then.”

Ruo Chan was overjoyed upon hearing this.

“Can Sister Qing return to her residence today?” Ah Jiang asked. “That’s good; tonight, you won’t have to worry while sleeping anymore.”

Only then did Qun Qing notice the gloomy expressions on their faces.

The wind swept through the fallen leaves and dust, and Qun Qing saw the messy scene: 

“Why isn’t the courtyard swept again?”

It had just been tidy for a few days, and now it returned to its initial disarray.

“What’s the use of sweeping? I think we won’t need to keep it so clean anymore,” Ah Meng said with a bitter smile. “Sister Qing, we are utterly finished.”

“Why are we finished?” Qun Qing asked, confused.

“Don’t you understand?” Ah Jiang glanced at the inner chamber and said resentfully, 

“The Crown Prince sent a reward today, but did he mention the good lady even once? He compensated you to maintain his reputation; if the good lady had any hope before, after the Crown Prince left with a dark expression a few days ago, the entire palace knows that the good lady has completely severed ties with the Crown Prince. He will never step into our Qing Xuan Pavilion again!”

Qun Qing patiently listened to them speak. Ah Jiang didn’t understand why Qun Qing’s eyes remained as clear and calm as still water, her expression even somewhat dazed.

“Sister Qing, is there nothing you care about?” Ah Jiang asked painfully.

There was indeed one thing she cared about. Qun Qing asked, 

“Is there any change in our salary? Is Liu Si Shan still around?”

“Well, there’s no change… Liu Si Shan is in the kitchen—what does it have to do with her?” Ah Jiang choked, “Good things will never come our way again!”

“You two,” Qun Qing commanded, “take someone to clean the side hall and the southern garden.” After hearing their replies, she returned to her usual demeanor. 

“Ruo Chan, you wipe the inner hall. It’s been rainy these past few days; the wood might rot and cause illness. If the good lady falls seriously ill, we will truly be finished.”

Upon hearing this, everyone found it reasonable and went to fetch tools to clean.

With money, food, and life at stake, Qun Qing’s mood was very stable and even cheerful.

She picked up the silk from the plate and shook it open. The bright red silk flowed down like a waterfall: 

“You all seem unhappy lately. This silk will be made into shawls, one for each of you. Let’s have a bit of joy today.”

Outside, there was the joyous noise of young ladies celebrating. Inside the inner hall, Lan Yue changed the handkerchief for Zheng Zhiyi, feeling even more uncomfortable.

The noble lady was gravely ill; did these ingrates have any conscience at all?

This quarrel caused significant injury. After the Crown Prince left, the nearby palaces were filled with discussions, and the next day, Zheng Zhiyi didn’t get out of bed.

She didn’t wash or groom herself, just lying in bed with her eyes open. Lan Yue tried every possible way to coax her, but Zheng Zhiyi remained silent.

Qun Qing entered with a tray of lunch, and Lan Yue threw a handkerchief at her: 

“You lack perception! The noble lady can’t even drink plain porridge!”

This scolding woke Zheng Zhiyi, who called Lan Yue’s name, and Lan Yue hurried to help her sit up.

Qun Qing saw the little good lady in the bed, her hair disheveled. In just a few days, the vitality had drained from her originally dark eyes, now dull and lifeless.

Zheng Zhiyi sobbed, 

“I dreamed about the past in Huaiyuan… Back then, Li Xuan was seriously ill, and I used a small coal stove to prepare medicine for him. The smoke blackened my face… When he opened his eyes, he actually smiled at me. He clearly didn’t hate me, right? It was so hard to endure the cold… At night, he even tucked the blanket tightly around me.”

Lan Yue, feeling heartbroken, reached out to wipe the tears from her face, but the more she wiped, the more they flowed. With a choked voice, she said,

“Liang Di… Miss, please don’t cry…”

Soon, the two of them couldn’t hold back anymore and hugged each other, weeping bitterly.

Listening to the sounds of crying filling the room, Qun Qing lowered her eyes, feeling a twinge of sympathy in her heart.

Back when Emperor Chenming was still a minister, he had just arrived in Huaiyuan as the military governor. In that barren, windy land plagued by bandits, the governor’s residence was struggling to get by. One day, when Li Xuan went out to deliver a message, he was robbed on the mountain.

At that time, Zheng Zhiyi was the little daughter of a bandit family. Seeing Li Xuan’s elegant demeanor and handsome looks, she insisted on having him as her husband. Zheng Zhiyi’s grandfather doted on her excessively and didn’t dismiss it as a child’s whim; he truly wanted to arrange this marriage.

At that time, Li Xuan was unmarried, and the Li family was weak. Facing the overwhelming bandits, they had to let their eldest son accept this humiliating marriage. Li Feng was always humble, and after chatting with Zheng Zhiyi’s grandfather, he greatly admired this prospective in-law. The two families forged a strong bond over drinks, which helped resolve years of bandit troubles.

Later on, the Zheng family brought all their forces to ally with the Li family, and even fought and died for them. But that’s another story.

Zheng Zhiyi’s teeth chattered, unsure if it was from sadness or fear. 

“When we went out to scout the horses, we were ambushed by scattered troops, and we rolled down the valley without food or drink… He left the last bit of food for me while he waited to die… He used to treat me well, but it turns out he hadn’t met a good person before. Now that he’s been enchanted by Yang Fu, he seems like a different person. He used to never raise his voice, but now, with a maid I like in front of him, he shouts orders to kill, like a warning to others…”

Heaven must have secretly swapped Li Xuan for a stranger by her side.

“Liang Di, I want to tell you something.” A cool voice cut through the cries, like dew falling into a pool of water. Zheng Zhiyi paused and looked at Qun Qing.

Qun Qing slowly said, 

“The Crown Prince went to Huaiyuan with the Emperor when he was eight. Since then, he only returns to Chang’an for the New Year’s Eve to pay his respects. Moreover, unmarried former Chu princesses are restricted by palace rules and cannot converse with men; their female attendants must hold a fan to shield the princess’s face.”

“So…” she took a deep breath, “the Crown Prince and Princess Bao’an have only met a few times during the night banquet and on the Tonghua Terrace. Their relationship cannot compare to that of a beloved concubine who shares daily joys and sorrows.”

Zheng Zhiyi’s expression instantly shattered: 

“What are you saying this for?”

“How is this possible?” Zheng Zhiyi said, “Are you saying there is no personal affection between them at all?”

“Exactly.”

“How do you know? You’re talking nonsense! They can’t possibly have only met a few times…” Zheng Zhiyi refused to believe it.

Qun Qing naturally knew the truth. Because it was she who had accompanied the princess back then, and it was she who held the fan.

Yang Fu’s infatuation with Li Xuan was merely an illusion, and Li Xuan was not truly infatuated with Yang Fu. Otherwise, after Yang Fu became the Crown Princess, why would they treat each other with such respect? Yang Fu ended up feeling discontent and eventually sought comfort in the arms of Prince Yan.

“I grew up in Yeting and know a lot about Chu royal palace affairs. What’s so surprising about that?” Qun Qing lifted a plate of enticing braised duck and placed it on the floor. 

“Liang Di, please look, this is Princess Bao’an.”

She took another bowl of Yangchun noodles: 

“This is you.”

Zheng Zhiyi stared blankly at the ground, her brows furrowing, not understanding what Qun Qing was trying to show.

One by one, Qun Qing arranged several small dishes next to the braised duck: 

“Among the officials, 40% are former ministers of the Chu state; the four prominent families of Xie, Cui, Meng, and Wang have long intermarried with the Chu royal family. After all, Princess Bao’an is a princess of Chu. If she were to become the Crown Princess and then the Empress, these people would have the opportunity to build connections and benefit from it. Naturally, they would want her to become the Crown Princess. As for you, you have no relations with anyone; they will adopt a wait-and-see attitude.”

“If the Crown Prince could marry Princess Bao’an, he would win the hearts of the people, and the noble families would submit, the court officials would yield, and everything would be much simpler. If a beloved concubine were the Crown Princess, would she still be married or not?”

Zheng Zhiyi blinked, and cold sweat gradually broke out on her forehead.

Compared to the fear that Li Xuan could feign affection for a woman he didn’t love, she was more afraid that beside her bowl of Yangchun noodles, there was nothing at all.

“Has the beloved concubine ever thought about what you mean to the Crown Prince?” Qun Qing asked.

“Didn’t you say?” Zheng Zhiyi’s confidence had already been shattered; she choked on her words, “We share joys and sorrows and accompany each other day and night.”

“That’s partly true, but also not entirely,” Qun Qing replied. 

“I’ve heard that the marriage between the beloved concubine and the Crown Prince was initiated by a childish remark from the beloved concubine. At that time, the beloved concubine was still young and didn’t know whether the Crown Prince had someone he liked or how much ridicule and gossip came from that.”

“Are you saying he has been enduring me all along?” Zheng Zhiyi thought for a moment, realizing that whenever Li Xuan saw her, he did seem to suppress his emotions. But he had never told her that he suffered from rumors and mockery because of her.

“The Crown Prince does not despise you; he despises those days of having to bow his head. The Princess of Changping from the Chu state also had a husband she chose herself. He seemed obedient, but who could have known he would rebel and usurp the throne later?” Qun Qing’s eyes were dark and clear as glass. 

“How many men abandon their first wives after gaining power? Those first wives often did nothing wrong; it’s simply because they remind them of their past. Not to mention, the beloved concubine is a source of shame for the Crown Prince…”

“Nonsense!” A trembling Lan Yue angrily rebuked, while Zheng Zhiyi swayed and grasped her trembling hand, 

“Lan Yue, you go outside first.”

“But—my grandfather died for the Li family. Doesn’t that count for anything?” Zheng Zhiyi still stared at the Yangchun noodles. 

“And the Emperor and the Empress, they will stand by me… Yes, they said they would treat me like their own child.”

“Indeed, there are the Emperor and the Empress. The Emperor is a man who values loyalty; all those who participated in the cause together received official titles, and your grandfather was also posthumously awarded a title. Earlier this year, a scholar wrote the ‘Ode to Dripping Water’ praising this, and the Emperor selected it as the flower of the examination. The beloved concubine has done a service to the royal family, and the Emperor will not forget that.”

Qun Qing picked up a golden-orange orange and weighed it in her hand, but then placed it between the two bowls.

“But the royal family is not like ordinary commoners; your in-laws are not ordinary people either. In the palace, there is loyalty, but… compared to personal interest, it’s like a paper sword against a steel knife.” Qun Qing shattered Zheng Zhiyi’s illusions.

In her previous life, Zheng Zhiyi was despised by Li Xuan for her reckless words and actions, leading to her confinement in Qingxuan Pavilion. The Mid-Autumn Palace banquet in the second year of Shenglin was the day when Yang Fu was proclaimed Crown Princess. It was unknown which malicious palace maid informed Zheng Zhiyi of this news. She ran out barefoot, crying and questioning Li Xuan if he had forgotten past kindness, and ultimately, she was punished for her impropriety and sent to the cold palace. The Emperor did not speak a word.

Mentioning the past in front of a crowd of nobility and accusing the Li family of ingratitude was no different than a royal’s unforgivable sin. Unfortunately, young Zheng Liangdi could never comprehend why her once-kind father-in-law chose to watch coldly…

At present, Zheng Zhiyi looked at the golden orange with tears in her eyes: 

“If what you say is true, then I’m already on the edge of a cliff. What… should I do to protect myself?”

“You don’t have to be afraid, beloved concubine.” Qun Qing reassured her, 

“There is only one master in the palace; the Emperor’s will is the most important. As long as the beloved concubine serves the Emperor as you would your grandfather, you will remind him of the Zheng family’s kindness with your actions. The Emperor and the Empress will naturally suppress the Eastern Palace.”

Qun Qing gently placed the orange behind the Yangchun noodles but then raised the bowl high: “But if you keep talking about loyalty every day, it will become an act of leveraging kindness for profit. Those who rule must always think too much. If the beloved concubine doesn’t hold such heavy meanings, others will impose them on you. Words can also be swords; even the Emperor fears them. When someone points a sword at your throat, it’s unbearable; it’s better to…”

As she spoke, she pretended to throw the bowl; if she threw it down, it would surely shatter into pieces!

Zheng Zhiyi suddenly jumped off the bed and snatched the Yangchun noodles from Qun Qing’s hand.

She held the bowl, trembling all over, but still managed to pick up a mouthful with her jade chopsticks and shove it into her mouth.

Before she finished the noodles, her tears began to fall: 

“Qing girl, you want me to serve the Emperor as I would my grandfather. I can’t do that; I only have one grandfather, and he is already gone.”

Qun Qing thought for a moment and asked, 

“Does the beloved concubine wish to return to Huaiyuan?”

“What are you going back for? There’s no one at home anymore. If I don’t return, I can only stay in the palace.” Zheng Zhiyi’s tears streamed down her face. 

“But… I can’t do as you say. I feel so miserable inside; I feel like I’m going to become another person. The original me will be gone forever, just like my grandfather…”

In that moment, Qun Qing understood her pain; was she not the same? She could not accept becoming the person she despised the most.

“Then just think of it as a temporary measure,” she said.

“What is a temporary measure?” Zheng Zhiyi looked at her blankly.

In Qun Qing’s mind flashed the end of Zheng Zhiyi’s story from her previous life: in the cold palace, lacking medicine and food, Zheng Zhiyi inexplicably fell gravely ill. The maid Ling Yue risked punishment and went to kneel outside the door of Princess Bao’an, begging for help, as she had no other options.

Yang Fu was afraid of angering Li Xuan and dared not open the door, waiting until the next day to send a message to Qun Qing. After hesitating for a quarter of an hour, when Qun Qing finally took the physician to the cold palace, Zheng Zhiyi’s body was already stiff and emaciated, curled up like a withered summer flower. Ling Yue looked at her with hatred before crashing against the wall to follow her master in death.

Qun Qing’s skirt was stained with their blood. Passing by Luanyi Pavilion, she saw the princess cutting window flowers, her expression still innocent and serene, carefree as in her childhood. Qun Qing felt happiness upon seeing her, not knowing why she did not enter, merely wandering aimlessly through the palace like a fallen leaf in the wind, unaware of where she would be swept away.

She recalled every trap she had set for Zheng Zhiyi and the moment she hesitated to save her. All of it melted into deep red blood, staining her hands.

But she was being swept forward, without any control, not even time to question her heart or discern right from wrong.

Now, however, she had the chance to change everything.

“A temporary measure is like the cattail grass; when the strong wind comes, it first bends down.” Qun Qing said, looking up. 

“But never forget who we are, what we want to do, and what we believe in. Plant our roots deep, and one day, when we hold power in our hands, we can stand up again and do what we want to do, helping others to withstand the strong wind.”

After Zheng Zhiyi fell gravely ill, her lingering sickness was gone, and she not only ate but also got up to dress and groom herself.

Ling Yue held a mirror, watching the gradually revitalized Zheng Zhiyi, a smile appearing on her face. 

“Last time, the good consort said the flower hairpin was old. I’ll go to the garment bureau and have them make us a batch of large silk flowers.”

“Cannot.” Qun Qing helped her arrange her hair. 

“The war in the west is fierce, and even the Empress isn’t wearing new accessories. Concubine Chen even scraped off the gilding from the screen to use for military funds. It’s best not to trouble the garment bureau at this time.”

“Then let’s not bother them. We’ll apply for some silk thread and ask Ruochan to wrap a plush flower for us?” Ling Yue suggested again.

Qun Qing thought for a moment. 

“That doesn’t seem right either. The silkworm farmers have suffered this year, and silk is more expensive than silver thread.”

Ling Yue was so angry she nearly fainted.

Before she could speak, Zheng Zhiyi said softly, 

“It’s just a flower. It’s not like we can eat it, so let’s forget it.”

After noon, there was not a single maid in the front and back halls of Qing Xuan Pavilion.

Ling Yue rushed to the southern garden and was shocked. 

“What are you doing?”

Ah Meng and Ah Jiang, under Qun Qing’s direction, had cut down the Xiangfei bamboo in the southern garden, tying it into bamboo fences to enclose several square patches of land, while the rough servants cleared out the weeds inside.

Qun Qing rolled up her sleeves, bent down to insert her fingers into the soil, and said, 

“Loosen it a bit more.”

Ruochan dared not lift her head, shoveling vigorously as she replied, 

“Back to Sister Ling Yue, Qun Qing said these few dead trees drop leaves daily, and sweeping them is annoying, so it’s better to pull them all out and change it to a flower garden.”

Years ago, Zheng Zhiyi liked the southern garden of Qing Xuan Pavilion and occupied this place but never took care of it, so the rare flowers and strange herbs withered away, turning it into a wasteland.

Qun Qing said, “The good consort wants flowers for her hairpin but cannot apply for them. We can grow them ourselves. Flowers like jasmine can survive when planted in the soil, so we can go to other palaces to gather some; I can also get some seeds from Yeting. In a month or two, we’ll be able to wear them in our hair.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Ling Yue was anxious. 

“Our good consort is the crown prince’s wife; how can she dig and plant flowers here? Every word and action of hers already attracts attention. Wouldn’t this make the entire palace look down on her?”

“Is that so?” Qun Qing smiled at her. 

“In the last dynasty, Emperor Jing of Chu planted rice in his own palace; how come only his reputation for simplicity and love for the people is remembered, and no one looks down on him?”

Ling Yue couldn’t argue with her, and her nails nearly dug into her palms.

Shifting her gaze to the quietly working Ah Meng and Ah Jiang, she felt a surge of panic. When did everyone in the palace start following Qun Qing’s orders? She, a mere maid, could no longer interject.

Zheng Zhiyi came out too.

The weather was clear, and Zheng Zhiyi looked at them digging in the soil. She snatched the shovel from Qun Qing’s hands and started digging with great interest, asking incessantly, 

“When can we plant? How deep do we bury them?”

“When will they bloom? How big will they be?”

Before Ling Yue could complain, Zheng Zhiyi handed a shovel to her. 

“Ling Yue, hurry, you dig too, help me move this big stone…”

After a few days, blisters had formed on Ling Yue’s lips, and they hurt whenever touched, making it hard for her to speak.

Qun Qing lingered beside her, gazing at her turned profile. 

“Sister Ling Yue, I want to talk to you.”

“What is there to talk about?” Ling Yue suppressed her anger. 

“Now that you’re thriving, your true colors have finally been revealed.”

After several exchanges, Ling Yue was afraid for her position. When Qun Qing led her to a secluded area behind the hall, she shifted uncomfortably, even pulling back her shawl to avoid touching the hem of Qun Qing’s dress.

Qun Qing pretended not to see. 

“I want to ask you, why did you choose to be Zheng Liangdi’s maid? Is it because you want to go to the Six Departments?”

“What Six Departments?” Ling Yue looked at her quizzically. “I don’t want that.”

“So you have a deep relationship with the good consort, and being her maid is just so you can be by her side and have her trust you alone?” Qun Qing looked at her sideways. “Is that it?”

“My loyalty to the lady is something people like you, who only think of climbing up, can’t compare to! I’m the only family-born maid; if I don’t protect her, are you all going to gang up and bully her?”

“In this place, have you ever thought that protecting her like this might harm her?” Qun Qing said.

Ling Yue was momentarily speechless.

She did have the responsibility of correcting her noble master’s behavior, yet there were many times she couldn’t bear to chastise Zheng Zhiyi, leading her to remain childlike and offend the crown prince…

“Then do you serve her so diligently because you want to go to the Six Departments?” Ling Yue asked.

Qun Qing shook her head but handed her a letter.

Ling Yue grabbed the letter and brought it close to her face. After looking for a while, her tone changed. 

“You want to leave the palace?”

Qun Qing gave her the letter that had almost been stolen by Ah Meng, a letter written by Fang Xie before entering the palace.

“Sister, weren’t you always curious about what the letter said? Here, take a look, and it will satisfy your curiosity,” Qun Qing said. 

“I want to leave the palace because I…”

Lan Yue said gravely, 

“I understand; you have a lover. But it’s strange—didn’t you enter the Yeting when you were very young? Wasn’t it an arranged engagement from childhood?”

Qun Qing was taken aback. Lan Yue didn’t even know Fang Xie’s age and had mistakenly taken him for a lover. She lowered her long eyelashes, hiding the emotions in her eyes.

“Mm. Since I’ve been fortunate enough to leave the Yeting and can be exiled from the palace, I’ve begun to plan.”

“It’s been years since you’ve seen each other, yet you send letters every year… A man like that is indeed better than His Highness the Crown Prince,” Lan Yue murmured.

The abrupt turn of events made Lan Yue’s expression change several times. 

“So it turns out that day, you intentionally angered the Crown Prince… No wonder you were so flustered; you scared me as well. But what exactly are you after?”

Lan Yue turned to look at Qun Qing. 

“I’m not a fool. In the palace, people don’t do things that are of no benefit to themselves. If you want to leave the palace, then there’s no point in accumulating merit. You manage the Qingxuan Pavilion, teach Liangdi in every possible way, and now you tell me about this…”

“Who says I’m not after anything?” Qun Qing’s eyes were as dark as a shimmering pool of water flowing in the dimness. When she turned her gaze, there was a hint of cunning. 

“Just give me your position as a Lady-in-waiting.”

“What did you say?” Lan Yue’s face flushed red.

“Stop being a Lady-in-waiting and let me take your place,” Qun Qing boldly repeated.

The second-rank palace maids had a much higher status and salary than ordinary maids. Lan Yue had this honor because she was a family-born servant. Now she was both surprised and angry, feeling a bit upset inside. 

“…Why should I?”

“The regulations for palace maids have rank requirements. You must have been in the palace for ten years, and be at least a second-rank maid to leave. I have been in the palace for a full ten years. If I can become a palace maid, I can leave the Qingxuan Pavilion smoothly,” Qun Qing explained.

Lan Yue hesitated, saying, 

“You—how do I know if you’re serious or just playing with me? What if you’re just toying with me?”

“Then I’ll make an effort to help Liangdi vie for the position of Crown Princess again; after all, you won’t lose anything.” Qun Qing knew that Zheng Zhiyi was Lan Yue’s soft spot, so she continued, 

“You also know that Liangdi is different from a princess. She comes from a humble background and has no family support, making her like a reed in this palace. Aside from her rank, she has nothing to protect her.”

The life of a low-ranking concubine was not easy, and it remained a mystery who had made Zheng Zhiyi fall ill in the cold palace in the previous life.

“What are you talking about? I wouldn’t dare even dream of such a thing!” Lan Yue looked around. 

“After you left, Liangdi lost control of her emotions and said all kinds of hurtful things to the Crown Prince. There’s no way he would come back.”

Qun Qing lowered her gaze at the silk draping over the stones, the silver-red fabric resembling an ominous dream. 

“That’s not necessarily true. I have a feeling he will come.”

Soon, Zheng Zhiyi received a summons. Due to the pressing situation with the Western Barbarians, Empress Ma took the lead in practicing frugality. However, few of the concubines who had just transitioned from poverty to luxury under Emperor Chenming were willing to comply; some merely pretended, while others completely ignored the edict.

This highlighted Zheng Liangdi’s honesty; she hadn’t even collected the new palace attire for autumn but wore old clothes that had been restitched.

Empress Ma was very pleased and summoned Zheng Zhiyi to the palace. As she had grown older, she inevitably felt lonely. Zheng Zhiyi had previously spoken bluntly, but this time, the empress surprisingly spent the entire afternoon chatting with her, confirming the girl’s pure filial heart.

Zheng Zhiyi suddenly realized that it wasn’t hard to make theEmperorand the empress happy; she just had to treat them not as her in-laws to rely on but as strangers who could shatter her like a fragile bowl of noodles at any moment.

As Zheng Zhiyi descended the steps, her skirt finally tripped her up, and Lan Yue rushed over to support her. 

“Noble Consort!”

“Don’t help me; I can walk by myself,” Zheng Zhiyi pushed her away. “There’s still a long road ahead.”

Zheng Zhiyi walked ahead, while the two followed slowly behind.

Suddenly, Lan Yue grabbed Qun Qing’s arm, her eyes shimmering with emotion. 

“I’ll have my palace maid serve you. All I want… is for the noble consort to have a peaceful and good life.”

The sound of cicadas filled the air as Qun Qing looked ahead. Under the trees, willow catkins danced gently in the breeze. The weight of two lives pressed down on her heart, yet she couldn’t tell when they had dissolved into the wind. A fragrant breeze brushed against her face, and as she caught a whiff of the warm floral scent, Qun Qing suddenly felt her body grow light as a feather.

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🌟 Translator thoughts: Have a theory about what might happen next? Or maybe you just want to share how a character made you feel? I’m all ears! Comment below and let’s spark a delightful discussion together!

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