Spring Remains the Same - Chapter 68

The Hall of Proclaimed Virtue was no different from any other day.

At the foot of the white jade steps before the hall, a Feathered Forest Guard was stationed at every short interval, standing solemnly with sword in hand. The armor they wore glinted with a cold light, displaying the majesty of the imperial family. Further in, two rows of eunuchs dressed in green robes and wearing futou headcloths stood respectfully outside the hall with lowered gazes, ready to be dispatched at any moment.

Puyang ascended the steps on foot. Seeing the princess, the eunuchs on both sides bowed in unison. As was her custom, Puyang simply instructed her attendants to wait outside and entered.

Unlike the brightness outside, the hall was dim and somber. Lamps were lit within, and as the door opened, the flames flickered in the breeze, causing the shadows on the walls to sway along with them.

The hall doors closed behind her. Puyang walked slowly inward, her steps light and her posture graceful, a faint smile gracing her lips. She passed through a curtained partition and saw the Emperor sitting behind the imperial desk, engrossed in a register he held in his hands.

Hearing the sound, he looked up. When he saw it was Puyang, his sharp eyes softened.

All of this was utterly ordinary.

Puyang took a graceful step forward, but the Emperor’s next words made her freeze.

“Seventh Lady, you’ve come. Just in time. Come and see. All the handsome and elegant young masters of the great families in the city are in this register. Seventh Lady, choose one to be your Prince Consort.” As the Emperor spoke, he smiled and beckoned to Puyang. He appeared benevolent, but beneath his gaze was an unyielding authority.

The sun slanted west, and another day passed.

Wei Xiu sat under the eaves with her eyes closed, waiting for the princess to return.

As dusk fell, the wind rose and the temperature dropped sharply. A servant brought a crane-feather cloak and draped it over her shoulders to ward off some of the chill.

Ever since the princess had left, Wei Xiu had been sitting there. Her tranquil expression was still and unmoved, her eyes merely closed, her thoughts unknown.

Since establishing her own residence, the princess rarely stayed overnight in the palace. No matter how late, she should have been back by now. Wei Xiu’s hands unconsciously caressed the box resting on her lap. Inside that box was the cyan jade crown the princess had sent someone to deliver earlier.

No one appeared at the courtyard gate. The servant sent to keep watch had not yet returned.

In winter, the days were short and the nights long. The sky would soon be dark. Wei Xiu opened her eyes, glanced toward the courtyard gate, and then summoned a clever maidservant to her side, instructing, “Go and ask the Chief Scribe to come here.”

The maidservant acknowledged the order and left.

Because Wei Xiu preferred quiet, this courtyard was always tranquil. The servants who came and went were all calm in demeanor and composed in bearing. The maidservant knew that Sir must have a reason, so her steps were swift. She was out of sight in a moment, yet her figure showed no trace of panic.

Watching her receding figure, Wei Xiu grew more and more unsettled.

The princess often went to the palace, sometimes seven or eight times a month, at other times two or three. But this time, for some reason, she had a bad premonition. She couldn’t say where this sense of foreboding came from, but it threw her heart into turmoil for no reason.

The Chief Scribe arrived quickly. The princess, naturally, had still not returned.

Wei Xiu did not waste words, saying directly, “I have asked you to come, sir, because there is a matter in which I require your assistance.”

The Chief Scribe had hurried over, his gauze cap askew. He straightened it with one hand and said at once, “Sir, please give your instructions.” Others might not know this Sir’s importance in the residence, but the Chief Scribe was perfectly clear about it.

Wei Xiu nodded slightly. “I must ask you, sir, to send someone to inquire whether Her Highness will be staying in the palace tonight.”

A trace of confusion flashed in the Chief Scribe’s eyes. It was not strange for Her Highness to stay in the palace, and the capital was calm today with no major events occurring. Why the special need to find out? But despite his surprise, the Chief Scribe agreed without hesitation. “This subordinate will see to it at once.”

Outside the Hall of Proclaimed Virtue, all was silent. A young eunuch hurried over from outside. Seeing the situation, he keenly sensed that there was likely trouble inside and was momentarily unsure of what to do. Just then, Dou Hui came out. The young eunuch quickly put on a smile and scurried forward. “Lord Dou, Consort Li is waiting for His Majesty for the evening meal. May I ask when His Majesty will be going?”

Dou Hui’s mind was in turmoil. He glanced at the young eunuch and, seeing he was one of Consort Li’s trusted attendants, said gently, “Tell Consort Li that His Majesty has state affairs to attend to and will not be going over today.”

Having received his answer, the young eunuch bowed and left as quickly as he had come.

Dou Hui watched him disappear into the night, a hint of worry revealed in his eyes. But when he turned back, he calmly instructed a eunuch standing by, “Go and tell the kitchens to keep the evening meal warm for now. His Majesty will dine later.”

The eunuch acknowledged the order and left.

Dou Hui looked up at the overcast night sky. A thick layer of dark clouds churned in the heavens, pressing down on the entire firmament. He didn’t know if this was a sign of an impending storm, or if it would be blown away by the wind after dawn.

The atmosphere inside the hall was as turbulent as the world outside—oppressive and heavy, with a crisis that seemed ready to erupt at any moment.

Puyang was kneeling on a low couch, her gaze lowered, but her expression was still relatively composed.

The Emperor still wore that same benevolent look, smiling as he said, “My child, have you thought it over?”

The register still lay open on the desk, but no one was looking at it now.

Puyang also maintained her composure. “My mind is made up.”

Somehow, His Majesty had found out about her and Sir. Though she was surprised, she was not flustered. She would have had to report it to His Majesty sooner or later; a little earlier or later made no difference.

Hearing this, the Emperor was not surprised, but he still said gently, “Why are you so insistent on him? He is talented, but his legs are unwell. This is an irremediable flaw.” Seeing that Puyang was unmoved, he continued, “You are so resolute, but do you know what he thinks? Be careful not to misplace your affections.”

Hearing His Majesty’s words, Puyang thought of Wei Xiu’s picturesque features, of her smiling lips, of the lingering tenderness in her voice when she softly called her ‘Your Highness.’ With every thought, her heart grew a fraction more resolute. These resolutions layered upon one another until they could no longer be shaken.

“Sir and I feel the same.”

The Emperor raised an eyebrow. “The human heart is hard to fathom. How can you be so sure?”

Puyang said, “If I didn’t even have this much discernment, on what basis would I deserve Father’s trust?” Whether Sir’s feelings for her were true or false, she, being in the midst of it, was naturally clearer than anyone.

She truly held Sir in her heart, with no room for anyone else. But if she had not known Sir’s feelings, she would not have been so frank with His Majesty. She disliked forcing matters, and with her grand ambitions, she would not invest all her energy in matters of love.

Fortunately, they were in love, and they shared the same aspirations. Puyang had no reason to let go. Wei Xiu was falling deeper and deeper, but was Puyang not the same? In this world, she could not find a second person who suited her as well as Wei Xiu. Across two lifetimes, she could not find another person whom she respected and adored so much.

The Emperor saw that Puyang was not trying to move him with emotion like an ordinary woman, but was instead clear-headed. He felt a measure of approval, but what use was it?

“Whether it’s true or false, it doesn’t matter. If you will not choose, We shall select a fine husband for you.” The Emperor seemed to have lost his patience, pointing at the register. “You need only prepare for the wedding.”

His words were a sign that his decision was unchangeable.

Puyang’s expression grew grave, but she did not panic. She bowed low. “Why is this so? I ask Father to enlighten me.”

At a time like this, acting spoiled was useless. Pleading the case for her and Sir was even more useless. Only by knowing why His Majesty had made this decision, by getting to the root of the matter, could she find a way to resolve it.

How could the Emperor not know Puyang’s thoughts? While he admired Seventh Lady for remaining composed in a crisis and being capable of great things, he couldn’t help but find it amusing. She was a daughter, after all, and when it came to matters of love, she was bound to be stubborn.

He just didn’t know if that Sir Wei was equally stubborn. The Emperor narrowed his eyes, looking at Puyang prostrated on the floor. “When my child was young, you used to gamble with Father, each of us rolling dice, with the winner receiving gold. Today, Father will make another wager with Seventh Lady.”

The people standing in this hall were all His Majesty’s servants. Outside, the Feathered Forest Guard was on standby. His Majesty’s mind was made up; nothing she said would change it.

Puyang raised her head and saw the Emperor’s nonchalant smile. It looked no different from his usual doting affection, but Puyang suddenly understood with stark clarity. Everything she had now depended on His Majesty’s favor. If he no longer doted on her, she would have nothing. All that she currently possessed could be lost at any moment.

She had always known this, but never so profoundly, so soberly as at this moment. Born into the imperial family, to be without power was to be no different from an ant. She seemed glorious now, but the moment she went against His Majesty’s will, she could only be at his mercy, without the slightest ability to resist.

A flash of resentment appeared in her eyes, hating that now, just as in her past life, she was utterly powerless.

As expected, the Emperor ignored Puyang’s feelings and continued on his own. “Let’s wager on whether Wei Xiu is as sincere as you say. If you win, Father will grant you a marriage. If you lose…”

Puyang kept her head down, her brow twitching. Her heart was clenched into a tight knot as she listened to the Emperor’s next words.

The Emperor smiled and continued, “We want his life!”

The hall was frighteningly quiet. Dou Hui, who had re-entered the hall, stood to one side, his brow showing his worry. For His Majesty to want the life of a reclusive scholar with no official post was as easy as turning over his hand. Even if this person was a scion of the Wei family, Grand Tutor Wei was a most sensible man. How could he oppose His Majesty?

He glanced at the princess, expecting to see her either furious or full of fighting spirit. Who would have thought that, after a moment, the princess would raise her head, a thoughtful look on her face. “Then let it be as Father says. If she is not sincere with me, then she has long harbored malicious intent, and keeping her around would only be a disaster!”

The Emperor was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. He rose and walked to Puyang, helping her up. “My child is wise, it is just so! If Wei Xiu is open and honorable, he is a rare talent. But if he has other schemes, he should be eliminated first. It is excellent that you are not blinded by sentiment.”

He had felt a slight regret that Seventh Lady, for all her shrewdness and wisdom, could not escape the narrow perspective of a woman. Now, it seemed she was truly the most like him among all his children.

The Emperor’s delight was evident, and Puyang’s bright eyes also held a smile. But Dou Hui, standing to the side, saw that the princess’s right hand, hanging by her side, was clenched into a tight fist.

A thoughtful look flashed in Dou Hui’s eyes. He lowered his head, pretending to have seen nothing.

In Princess Puyang’s residence, Wei Xiu was waiting for the Chief Scribe’s report.

She had a group of people under her command, all of them elites. Some had been left to her by her father. The main branch of the Zhong clan had been exterminated, and the collateral branches had declined within two or three years. After Wei Xiu grew up, she had naturally taken control of these people. There were others she had recruited separately. Both groups had one thing in common: their loyalty to her.

When Wei Xiu had matters for them to handle, they were always carried out properly. This time, however, as it involved the palace, she had no choice but to use the residence’s connections and ask the Chief Scribe to act.

Puyang had been cultivating her influence in the palace for many years. Ordinary news could be passed out. The situation in the palace could be known in an hour at most.

The sky darkened bit by bit. Darkness gradually swallowed the earth, leaving not a single trace of light. Tonight, the stars and moon were all hidden. A restless and oppressive feeling floated in the black night.

Wei Xiu remained seated in the same spot. A Rong came forward to persuade her, “The Chief Scribe will surely bring any news. Sir, why not have your evening meal first?” In her heart, nothing was more important than Sir.

But Wei Xiu, her face still serene, said, “There is no hurry. I am not hungry yet.”

A Rong could only withdraw.

Nearly an hour passed like this before the Chief Scribe came running. In the darkness, his figure, running in panic, was particularly jarring. As he entered the courtyard, the light from the high-hanging lanterns under the eaves illuminated his face, revealing it to be pale and distraught, his usually deep and reserved eyes filled with terror.

Wei Xiu’s heart sank in an instant.