Spring Remains the Same - Chapter 90

Wei Xiu’s greatest fear was that Puyang would be bullied. With the Emperor still alive, he would protect her. But what would happen after His Majesty passed away? Hearing that a Grandson had been established as heir, yet also hearing that the various princes were still putting up a desperate struggle, she forced herself to rally and ask for a clear account of the situation.

Xiao Dewen was an ungrateful wretch. Once his own wings were full, Puyang would gain nothing. As for the princes, they were all vicious and cruel beasts. If Puyang fell into their hands, not even her bones would remain.

How could Wei Xiu rest easy? After a moment’s recovery, she struggled to embrace Puyang, letting her lean against her chest as she always did.

She had no strength at all, and even her smile was faint. Puyang dared not lean too heavily, only pressing lightly against her chest and whispering, “You must get well soon. Don’t let them bully me.”

“I’ll be well in no time. I want to spend a lifetime with you…” Wei Xiu’s voice, full of reluctance, gradually faded away.

Puyang waited a moment, and when she heard no further sound, she knew Wei Xiu had fallen asleep again.

The Prince Consort’s condition was improving. Though the recovery was slow, it was definite. The capital was astonished. Everyone had been prepared for the news that Princess Puyang’s consort would not survive, pitying Her Highness for being newly married only to face being newly widowed. Who would have thought that after lingering on her sickbed for more than half a year, Prince Consort Wei would actually begin to recover? Everyone in the capital had their own thoughts on the matter, some joyful, some worried. But no matter what, Wei Xiu had finally survived this major illness.

Wei Xiu had lain through spring and summer. Now, the window was open, and the “autumn tiger” was sweeping through, the lingering heat of summer still present. The air in the room circulated, dissipating much of the medicinal scent.

A maid brought in freshly made congee. It was cooked to be extremely soft, thin, and easy to digest. Puyang had her set it aside and rose to help Wei Xiu sit up.

The moment Wei Xiu moved, her breathing hitched, and she lowered her head, coughing. Puyang quickly ordered the window closed to keep the wind out, patting her back to help her catch her breath.

Seeing the maid walk toward the window, Wei Xiu quickly tugged on Puyang’s sleeve. “Don’t… don’t close it.” Seeing Puyang’s disapproving look, she pleaded coaxingly, “I feel like I’m gathering dust. Let me get some fresh air.”

Puyang was helpless against her and could only gesture for the maids to withdraw. The maids all covered their lips to hide their smiles, bowing their heads as they exited the room and closed the door behind them.

With the Prince Consort’s recovery, even the air flowing through the residence felt lighter and more vibrant.

“The sun is at its peak right now. When it gets cooler later, we’ll close the window,” Wei Xiu explained to Puyang.

Bright sunlight streamed in, sweeping away the gloom that had pervaded the room for over half a year. The temperature rose with it, like the stones in the courtyard baked hot by the sun, possessing the unique bustling clamor of summer.

In the sweltering heat, such clamor would normally only be irritating. But having been cooped up in her room for half a year, the vast scenery outside, even just looking at it, made Wei Xiu feel as if she too had become vibrant and refreshed.

Seeing that she knew her limits, Puyang said no more. She raised a hand to touch the hair at Wei Xiu’s temple; it had come loose while she slept. She was always so mindful of her appearance—her clothes neat and unwrinkled, her hair impeccably styled, her demeanor rigorous yet gentle. Although Wei Xiu never spoke of the inconvenience of her legs, Puyang knew she cared deeply. It was precisely because she cared that she never mentioned it, and if she did, it was with a self-deprecating humor that feigned indifference. It was precisely because she cared that she tried her utmost to appear tidy, no different in appearance from an ordinary person.

But this illness had made it impossible for her to maintain even that.

Wei Xiu saw Puyang stroking her temple without a word and raised her own hand to touch it. It seemed it was no longer so neat. She suddenly felt self-conscious but tried to appear nonchalant, smiling as she asked, “Is it messy?”

Puyang sensed the flicker of anxiety in her eyes. She withdrew her hand, picked up the bowl of congee, and said casually, “A little. Much better than Wang Qing, though.” Wang Qing was the Chancellor’s eldest grandson and Puyang’s cousin. Nearing thirty, he was an eccentric scholar who enjoyed taking Five-Mineral Powder. His clothes were disheveled and his hair unkempt, and he prided himself on his wild abandon. The Chancellor would hold his nose whenever he saw him, but the man wrote brilliant essays. Every poem and rhapsody he composed was a masterpiece, eagerly passed around and read by scholars throughout the realm.

Wei Xiu had met him. The thought of his appearance made her smile, but she was also full of admiration. “My elder cousin’s literary talent is extraordinary. I can recite all his finest works from memory.”

Seeing that her attention had been diverted, Puyang finally felt at ease. No matter what, the fact that she was alive and well was the greatest blessing.

The congee was still steaming, scaldingly hot in the summer heat. Puyang blew on it until it was warm before feeding it to Wei Xiu. Wei Xiu managed to eat half a bowl before she could swallow no more.

After the midday meal, Puyang fetched a wooden comb and re-did Wei Xiu’s hair. Wei Xiu felt much better and, taking Puyang’s hand, asked her about the situation at court.

With the Grandson newly established and the princes suffering setbacks, the court situation had been turned upside down compared to before her illness. Puyang knew her temperament. If she were unconscious and truly lacked the energy, it would be one thing. But once she was awake, she would not be at ease until she knew everything. So, Puyang simply sat down beside her and told her everything, one by one.

Amidst the court’s turmoil, Puyang’s power had been preserved to the greatest extent. Before her illness, Wei Xiu had told her, “If you cannot spare the effort, you might as well ask His Majesty to protect you on your behalf.” The Grandson was young and needed support. His Majesty would select one or two ministers, but he would certainly not rely on court officials alone. Officials served two families; their loyalty could not be guaranteed. He still needed the Xiao imperial clan. Among the clan members, it was a blessing if the princes didn’t cause more trouble. The others had been ruined by the Emperor’s machinations. Those who were preserved, like the Prince of Zheng, dared not meddle in court politics. That left only Puyang. Since he needed to use her, he would not allow her to be harmed.

She had been right. The factions of the princes had been thrown into utter chaos, while the Princess’s household remained a picture of peace and calm.

However, in the last couple of days, the Prince of Jin seemed to have lost his mind. It was unclear whether it was out of anger or envy for the power in Puyang’s hands, but taking advantage of the Prince Consort’s grave illness and the Princess’s residence closing its doors to guests, he had suddenly made a move to snatch away Puyang’s subordinates.

“He’s already scrambling to deal with His Majesty, yet he still has the energy to make trouble for you?” Wei Xiu was puzzled. It was already good enough that Puyang wasn’t helping the Emperor deal with them and was merely staying out of it. A smart person would be properly enduring the Emperor’s pressure, striving to preserve some of their strength, and lying low. But the Prince of Jin, while fending off the Emperor’s attacks, was now encroaching on Puyang’s interests. This was tantamount to creating another powerful enemy. What was the Prince of Jin trying to do?

He couldn’t be that foolish.

Wei Xiu focused her thoughts for a moment, then asked, “Could it be that His Majesty is pushing him too hard?” Pushing him to the point of desperation, leaving the Prince of Jin with no way out? Perhaps he also wanted to drag Puyang into the mire. Since the Emperor was being ruthless, he might as well throw the court into chaos so that no one could survive!

Puyang thought about the Emperor’s actions over the past few months. He had indeed shown no mercy. “His Majesty intends to purge the court as quickly as possible so he can focus wholeheartedly on teaching the Grandson how to govern.”

“This move is also to preserve the princes.” Only by being powerless and posing no threat could they survive. A smile touched the corner of Wei Xiu’s lips. “A pity His Majesty doesn’t know that the Grandson he just established is of a harsh and ungrateful nature.”

With no power, the princes would be unable to protect themselves. Whether they fared well or poorly would depend entirely on the new ruler’s grace. They were also men accustomed to giving orders; it was not in their nature to surrender without a fight.

Puyang lowered her eyes. It wasn’t just the Emperor; in her past life, she too had failed to see Xiao Dewen’s true nature. When one was in the thick of it, there were always things one couldn’t see clearly. The Emperor was not a prince; he thought of the overall stability of the realm. The princes, however, were more concerned with their own lives and fortunes. Forcing the princes to relinquish their power was like forcing them to their deaths. But if their status was preserved, would they truly be willing to assist the Eastern Palace?

“From the moment His Majesty considered establishing a Grandson, it became impossible for the princes and Dewen to coexist,” Puyang said.

“That is their affair,” Wei Xiu said. “What His Majesty wants is stability. The Prince of Jin will not get his way. In a few days, when I am a little better, I will go to the palace for an audience. No one can say what changes will come next. We must be prepared.”

The direction of the court depended entirely on the Emperor’s will. The best approach was to start with the Emperor. Besides, now that she was recovering, the Emperor would not let both of them remain idle. At this point, Wei Xiu couldn’t help but admire the Emperor’s methods. For so many years, he had allowed the princes to fight amongst themselves, yet he still held firm control over the central government.

Puyang thought the same. She said worriedly, “I just fear the four princes will join forces.” Acting alone, their power was meager. But if they united, even the Emperor might have to back down.

Wei Xiu chuckled softly. “How could they? The Prince of Zhao, the Prince of Dai, and the Prince of Jing might join forces. The Prince of Dai is indecisive, always thinking of a retreat before advancing; he values his own life more than the throne. The Prince of Jing was originally assisting the Prince of Jin, but he was driven to contend for the throne by His Majesty’s sowing of discord, which shows he isn’t that determined to have it either. These two, if pushed into a corner, might very well ally with the Prince of Zhao and support him alone. But not the Prince of Jin. He has a long-standing feud with the Prince of Zhao. He only fell out with the Prince of Jing two years ago, but their enmity runs deepest. The Prince of Dai is less of an issue, but there is still a rift. He, ah, has left himself no path of retreat.”

“Then the three princes…”

Wei Xiu shook her head. “It hasn’t reached that point yet. The Prince of Dai and the Prince of Jing are not decisive men. For them, the current situation is not yet one of being pushed into a corner.”

And by the time they were truly pushed into a corner, the opportunity would have passed. Even if they did join forces, it would be too late!

Wei Xiu closed her eyes. She had an ominous premonition. Beneath the scorching sun, a bone-chilling current seemed to be spreading through the capital. From the moment the Grandson was established, the court had appeared stable, but in truth, all the seeds of change had been sown. If the Emperor was present, there would be no great disaster. But what if he was not? If she were in the princes’ position, and she wanted to survive, what would she hope for most?

Putting herself in their shoes, Wei Xiu’s heart skipped a beat. She grabbed Puyang’s hand. Puyang was confused. Wei Xiu gradually calmed down, but the pressure on her chest and lungs brought on a violent fit of coughing.

“Don’t rush, don’t rush.” Puyang quickly brought over a cup of warm water. After her coughing subsided, she had her take a sip to soothe her throat.

Wei Xiu’s chest heaved, and her head spun. A cool breeze drifted in through the window. Puyang was about to get up and close it, but Wei Xiu leaned against her shoulder and said, “Seventh Lady, I’m fine now. You should go out and make your rounds. The Chancellor’s residence goes without saying, but you cannot neglect the high officials and the imperial clan. Grand Tutor Wei wants to profit from the chaos, so don’t let them stay out of it.”

Puyang stroked her newly combed hair and said softly, “I know.”

Wei Xiu leaned against her, closing her eyes in exhaustion. “Seventh Lady,” she whispered, “if only the turmoil of this world had nothing to do with us, how wonderful that would be.”

The turmoil to come would be incessant, all of it their Xiao family’s internal strife. No matter who lost, she would be happy to see it. But Puyang would not be happy; she would be sad. From the moment they met, their positions had been opposed. She did not fear chaos, nor did she dread conflict. But if only she were not a Xiao, and she were not a Zhong, how wonderful that would be.

Wei Xiu shouldered all the guilt alone. Puyang knew nothing, thinking only that she was tired from sitting up for so long after just recovering from her illness. She gently draped a thin quilt over Wei Xiu, letting her lean on her shoulder. “Once all this is over, nothing will be able to disturb us. Ah Xiu, you’re tired. Just lean on me and sleep for a while. I’ll be right here. I won’t go anywhere until you wake up.”

Soothed by her tenderness, Wei Xiu rested against her and drifted into a drowsy sleep.