After Rebirth, I Married my Archenemy - Chapter 36

Li Xuan: “Speaking of this, do you think that I am inferior to Sanlang in loyalty?”

When Li Xuan mentioned Li Huan, he didn’t seem to hate him deeply. Instead, his tone carried a mix of emotions, even a hint of envy.

The late-night silence deepened. Although Qun Qing had felt a bit drowsy earlier, mentioning Prince Yan snapped her wide awake. 

“Your Highness, anyone who has experienced the pain of losing their mother could never forgive Prince Yan. Let alone…” She hesitated but pressed on, “After the Empress Dowager passed, His Majesty gave the title of Empress to Prince Yan’s mother, now the current Empress. Your Highness, no matter how much you dislike Prince Yan, it’s entirely justified.”

She never missed a chance to criticize Prince Yan.

“That’s not all,” Li Xuan said lightly. “When I was enduring torment, Father promised Sanlang the position of Crown Prince.”

He paused briefly, his expression shifting as he realized he had said too much. 

“This is in the past. Do not let it spread.”

“I understand, Your Highness,” Qun Qing replied, then added after a moment of thought, “You praise Prince Yan’s loyalty because, as someone who is not the eldest legitimate son, he is free from responsibility and can act as he pleases. If Your Highness had not been bound by restrictions from an early age, you could have been the person you truly wanted to be.”

Li Xuan finished reviewing the memorial in his hands. The scent of rosemary calmed his mind, and her voice, cool as night dew and crisp as autumn winds brushing through his hair, sharpened the sounds of crickets chirping outside.

“Go to sleep,” Li Xuan said gently, setting the memorial aside, his tone uncharacteristically soft.

Qun Qing had barely gone to bed late at night when she was jolted awake at dawn by commotion in the courtyard. Hastily dressing, she rushed to the front yard.

Shou Xi was surrounded by Lan Yue and several others, who were reprimanding him. Spotting her arrival, Shou Xi immediately appealed, 

“Lady Qing, please speak on my behalf!”

Only then did Qun Qing notice the wooden box in his hands. “What is this?”

Shou Xi pushed the box toward her, revealing an emerald-green seed larger than a soybean inside.

“This is a seed of the ‘Udumbara’ flower from Liuli Kingdom, gifted by an envoy. Legend says this flower blooms in 18 days, has a long flowering period, and possesses miraculous properties of purifying and dispelling evil. His Highness has decreed that Lady Liangdi must plant this seed in the flower garden and ensure it blooms for the ancient Buddha’s birthday celebration at Biquan Palace.”

Wasn’t this good news? Qun Qing turned to Lan Yue, who looked aggrieved. 

“If it were just us, it’d be fine,” Lan Yue protested, “but ask him! The envoy also gifted Princess Bao’an seeds, along with scriptures, jewelry, and several chests of treasures. Clearly, we’re being bullied.”

Shou Xi explained to Qun Qing with a helpless tone, 

“Everything was agreed upon initially, but Princess Bao’an suddenly sent a letter to the envoy. After receiving it, he insisted on meeting the princess. However, as she is confined, they couldn’t meet. Whatever she wrote must have stirred him to favor her, leading to this demand for Lady Liangdi to present the flowers.”

Ah Meng found it odd. “But Princess Bao’an is under confinement, with guards everywhere. How did she manage to send a letter?”

“She’s a princess of the previous dynasty with vast connections. Who’s to say there aren’t guards loyal to her?” Ah Jiang retorted coolly, arms crossed.

Qun Qing asked, “Is this meddlesome envoy named Atine?”

“Yes, that’s him,” Shou Xi replied with a frown. “This is his second mission to Zhongzhou. On his first visit, during the previous dynasty, he met Princess Bao’an. He probably can’t forget her and is an old acquaintance.”

Qun Qing finally recalled who Atine was.

In her youth, Yang Fu indeed met envoys from Liuli Kingdom, and Atine was one of them. Enchanted by her beauty, he had vowed to return.

Princess Bao’an… Having stepped out of her role in the princess’s life in this timeline, even the name felt distant to Qun Qing. Only the faint stinging pain on her face reminded her of past entanglements.

Recently, “Frost and Dew” had run out, and her face had started to ache again. Physician Li had warned her that until she turned 20, her bone structure would gradually return to its original state unless suppressed with medication. The process would be unbearably painful without treatment.

This was the path she had chosen in her reckless youth, and she could only endure it now.

Taking the wooden box, Qun Qing asked, “Apart from planting this seed, did His Highness give any other instructions?”

It seemed Yang Fu’s confinement was unpleasant enough to drive her to take a risky gamble by sending a letter to the envoy at such a crucial time.

Qun Qing already knew Princess Bao’an’s influence remained strong and wouldn’t allow a lowly-born woman like Zheng Zhiyi to ascend to the highest position without resistance.

Shou Xi sighed and quietly reminded her, 

“Lady Qing, you must act quickly. The Buddha’s birthday is at the end of the month. If the petals fall or the leaves yellow, it’ll give them an excuse to cause trouble.”

“Is having a flower bloom all it takes to prove one has a connection with Buddha? They can spin the narrative however they please, especially since the Empress believes in such things,” Lan Yue said, gritting her teeth. “But what if you don’t have a connection with Buddha? Does it mean Lady Liangdi can’t become the Crown Princess?”

“Lan Yue, go dig a hole and plant the seed,” Qun Qing ordered, handing her the box. “The princess has already planted hers. Since time is short, let’s not fall behind.”

Lan Yue stomped off reluctantly. Shou Xi was surprised. “Lady Qing, do you already have a plan?”

“I don’t,” Qun Qing admitted, “but arguing here achieves nothing. Since the other side has acted, we might as well go along with it and see their true intentions.”

For the next three days, Lan Yue would barge into the side hall during Qun Qing’s morning routine, clasping her hands and murmuring to the sheep-head sachet hanging high above.

“What are you doing?” Qun Qing’s hand, which was tying her hair into a bun, stopped in the air.

“I’m learning from you and making a wish for the seed to sprout!” Lan Yue exclaimed. “Ruochan, come quickly and help me make a wish!”

“I only make wishes for my sister…” Ruochan looked reluctant, and shrank her neck when Lan Yue yelled, “Are the affairs of Qingxuan Pavilion unimportant?”

Ruochan had no choice but to pick up the homemade whisk with a trembling hands and started the ritual.

Qun Qing glanced at the sheep-head sachet, finding it absurd. It was a relic of her late father and brothers, so if anyone wanted to bless it, it should bless her. Why would it bless Lan Yue?

Three days after planting the Udumbara seed, it showed no signs of growth. Qun Qing, along with the palace staff and Zheng Zhiyi, stood before the flowerbed.

“Dig it up,” Qun Qing ordered decisively.

“Let’s wait a few more days. If it blooms within 18 days, we’ll still be fine,” Lan Yue protested nervously. “What if we damage it while digging?”

A young eunuch carefully unearthed the seed and placed it in Qun Qing’s handkerchief.

Qun Qing cleaned it gently, revealing its vibrant green, still as pristine as when it had been in the box. 

“If it’s supposed to bloom in 18 days, it should grow rapidly. Normally, a seed watered and planted for days would at least swell or sprout. This hasn’t changed at all.”

“It’s a Western flower; maybe it grows differently and only surges in the final days?” Lan Yue said, increasingly anxious. She had suspected trouble with the seed but hadn’t expected it to fail entirely.

“If you’re worried, we’ll confirm it,” Qun Qing said. She called the eunuch, “You look light and agile. Can you climb walls?”

Everyone stared at her in shock.

“Y-Yes, I can…”

Ignoring their astonishment, Qun Qing continued, “I’ll distract the guards. You sneak into Luan Yi Pavilion and check if Princess Bao’an’s seed has sprouted.”

Half an hour later, the eunuch returned with unwelcome news. He gestured with his fingers to show, 

“Their Udumbara has grown about this high—similar to a soybean sprout.”

The group fell silent, unease growing. Only their flowerbed failed to produce results. What could they present at the Buddha’s birthday celebration?

Zheng Zhiyi grew desperate, shaking the seed in frustration. 

“Is this cursed? Why won’t it grow? That damn envoy must have tampered with it to make trouble for me!”

Lan Yue clamped a hand over her mouth, while the eunuch added, 

“Lady Qing, Lady Liangdi, there’s something else. On my way back, I noticed loose bricks outside the southern courtyard wall, with several muddy footprints on top.”

“What does that mean?” Lan Yue asked blankly.

“It means someone’s been climbing our wall in recent days,” Zheng Zhiyi replied, her face darkening.

She frowned and commanded, “Climbing over the walls of the Eastern Palace? Summon the craftsmen to raise the walls higher. Line the top with shards of porcelain so no thieves dare enter this palace again!”

“Please wait, Liangdi.” Qun Qing’s eyes flickered as she spoke. “If Liangdi trusts me, I believe it’s better lower your guard for now.”

“What do you suggest we do, then?” Zheng Zhiyi turned to her.

“Don’t raise the walls yet, but station people to guard the area as if we’re unaware of anyone’s intrusion,” Qun Qing advised. “Lan Yue, dig up a shorter soybean sprout and plant it in the place of the Udumbara.”

Lan Yue had meticulously cared for the Udumbara, giving it a dedicated patch of soil and surrounding it with a protective net. Now, to replace it with a soybean sprout filled her with unease.

But knowing that Qun Qing always had her reasons, Lan Yue reluctantly carried out the task.

Qun Qing took the hardened seed with a composed expression. 

“As for this Udumbara seed, bury it in another part of the garden for now. If there’s a problem with it, we must prepare for both possibilities.”

“What do you mean by both possibilities?” Zheng Zhiyi asked.

“Ruochan,” Qun Qing addressed her calmly, “Lan Yue mentioned before that you’re skilled at crafting fake flowers. Could you show me?”

Qun Qing followed Ruochan to the storage room. There, Ruochan pulled out a lotus flower she had previously crafted. Though covered in dust, it radiated vibrant beauty.

Qun Qing couldn’t help but touch it, feeling the firm, intricate petals that shimmered like silk. 

“If I’d known you had this talent, Liangdi wouldn’t have needed to plant flowers.”

Ruochan blushed but smiled at the compliment. 

“Sister, are you thinking of having me craft an Udumbara? These fake flowers resemble real ones from a distance, so they could serve in a pinch for the Burning Lamp Buddha’s birthday or when dealing with emissaries.”

Qun Qing nodded. “Can you finish it within eighteen days?”

“I can… but, Sister,” Ruochan hesitated, “I’ve never seen an Udumbara before and don’t know what it looks like.”

Qun Qing froze for a moment.

She had overlooked this detail. The Udumbara was a flower native to the Western Regions, and no one in the palace had ever seen it. Her only impression came from a fleeting glance at a text, where it was described as white, about the size of an Epiphyllum, but distinct in its details.

“Well, for now, prepare the silk and copper wires. Use magnolia-white silk, and wait for my news,” Qun Qing instructed.

Li Xuan’s heavy cloak, left behind at Qingxuan Pavilion, was neatly folded and delivered back to the Eastern Palace by Qun Qing on a golden tray.

The palace doors were shut tight, and muffled sounds of Li Xuan arguing with his advisors could be heard within.

“Just give it to me, Lady Qing,” Shouxi sighed as he accepted the tray. “They’re arguing again over the Siye Tower incident.”

Hearing the name “Siye Tower,” Qun Qing’s curiosity was piqued. 

“Eunuch, what incident?”

“It’s about that peasant woman who rolled over nail boards to petition the court,” Shouxi explained. “The matter has escalated, and now some refugees are gathering around Siye Tower. His Highness has no choice but to visit.”

Qun Qing’s hand tightened within her sleeve, sharp pain pricking her palm. Rolling over nail boards was an extreme method of seeking justice, where the petitioner had to walk barefoot over sharp nails while holding their petition, a desperate act to prove their sincerity and lack of deceit.

Someone who would go to such lengths must have been severely wronged.

Suddenly, her aversion to the Siye Tower task lessened. 

“Is His Highness going today?”

“The Three Departments are still investigating the case. His Highness plans to inspect the area outside Siye Tower tonight to reassure the people. However, his advisors oppose the risk and are demanding security measures,” Shouxi replied. “Lady Qing, make sure Qingxuan Pavilion prepares some food for His Highness tonight.”

“Yes,” Qun Qing answered.

Returning to Qingxuan Pavilion, she encountered officials from the Ministry of Rites wrapping up a discussion. As the group of scholars passed, Qun Qing stepped aside to let them go first.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed a dark string of sandalwood beads hidden under one man’s wide sleeve.

She looked up.

Lu Huating brushed past her, his movement lifting her loose strands and veil. His low voice lingered faintly in the air: 

“Today at 5:45 pm, the item will be in the stone cave.”

Qun Qing froze. Why did he have to pick tonight? It was the very night the Crown Prince was heading to Siye Tower. For her, this was risky. 

“I have night duty…”

But the group of officials had already moved ahead like the wind. Lu Huating turned back to look at her, tilting his ear with feigned innocence. His upturned black eyes seemed to say, 

I didn’t hear what you said clearly.

Qun Qing flicked her skirt and walked away.

When the coast was clear, she retrieved a cloth bundle from the depths of the stone cave. Back in her chambers, behind locked doors, she opened it carefully. Inside were several sets of clothes, jewelry, a fish token from Prince Yan’s estate, and the permit she needed to temporarily leave the palace.

A piece of paper in the bundle caught her eye. Qun Qing examined it intently, her gaze reflecting the sky as she studied the permit.

The top bore celestial stems and earthly branches denoting the date, the middle displayed intricate sigils, and the bottom featured eight obscure seal characters.

Her intent in requesting the permit from Lu Huating had been to study it, hoping to decipher its patterns and forge a replica.

However, she realized that the eight seal characters encoded specific details like location, gender, and validity period. Any discrepancy would expose her forgery.

It seemed only Lu Huating or the Ministry of Revenue knew how the cipher worked.

Abandoning the idea of counterfeiting, Qun Qing changed into a plain short palace dress and inspected Qingxuan Pavilion one last time before leaving. She noticed Lan Yue still fretting over the un-sprouted Udumbara.

For some reason, the image of that sandalwood-beaded wrist flashed in her mind. She suddenly recalled that Lu Huating, once a disciple of the Buddhist order, had a personal connection to Zenjia, a revered monk from Liuli Kingdom. Zenjia, being a famous monk, might have seen the Udumbara.

Rushing back to the southern courtyard, Qun Qing caught her breath and extended her hand. “Dig up that seed and give it to me.”

Lan Yue was shocked but complied, retrieving the seed barely buried for a day. She handed it to Qun Qing, who carefully wrapped it and added it to her bundle.

“I’m leaving the palace to consult an external gardener about this seed. The journey is long. If His Highness arrives early, tell him I was summoned to Yeting and will return late,” she instructed.

Lan Yue nodded approvingly. “Don’t worry, I’ll know how to reply. Go check the seed quickly; it’s driving me crazy!”

Qun Qing, holding the fish token of Prince Yan’s estate, exited the palace gates. The bustling streets of Chang’an unfolded before her, draped in an inky veil as the evening settled. A cool autumn breeze brushed her face, stinging her cheeks. She instinctively touched her face and quickly withdrew her hand.

Perhaps because of the Crown Prince’s planned outing, city defenses were tight. Within a few steps, Qun Qing encountered guards checking permits.

She presented hers. The guard glanced at it and waved her through. “You may pass, but, young lady, this permit is valid only until midnight. After that, you’ll need a new one.”

Qun Qing nodded outwardly but smirked inwardly. As expected, the permit was temporary— Lu Huating wouldn’t let her take advantage of him. Since she was already out, she resolved to accomplish her task first.

Securing the permit, she headed straight for the Apothecary Pavilion.