The Prime Minister's White Moonlight - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Planting Seeds

Shen Zhuo remained silent, so Hanbi spoke, “How did the Northern Di assassins know that His Majesty was holding a royal hunt?”

When scrutinized, the reason was simple: someone leaked the information. Otherwise, how would the Northern Di know?

“Perhaps it was someone in the court, or someone else entirely? Who knows?” Hanbi prompted, reminding him. Although the Grand Commandant and Zhao Yan were uncle and nephew, their political disagreements had been long-standing. The best solution would be to let the new Emperor die silently and then install a compliant puppet.

Shen Zhuo frowned slightly, looking at her. Hanbi laughed internally. She intended to sow suspicion in Shen Zhuo. The Shen family, after all, were subjects. If the Grand Commandant harbored such intentions, the Shen family’s allegiance would naturally shift.

Having spoken, Hanbi paid no further attention to Shen Zhuo, merely sitting in a chair and waiting quietly. Hanbi counted the time, and at dusk, Xi Wuming finally returned.

“Zhaoyi Niangniang, His Majesty requests your presence,” Xi Wuming said in a strictly businesslike manner. Hanbi naturally knew he could not appear too familiar with her, so she merely nodded slightly. “Does Lord Shen wish to come along?”

To Hanbi’s surprise, Shen Zhuo refused. Thus, she said no more, turned, and exited the tent.

Xi Wuming saw that Shen Zhuo hadn’t left and seemed to have something to say to him. He was generally impatient with communicating with civil officials, but out of courtesy, he patiently waited for Shen Zhuo to speak.

“How does Commander Xi know Zhaoyi Niangniang?” Shen Zhuo’s brows held a hint of coldness as he thought of Hanbi’s past experience.

Xi Wuming waved his hand and then spoke, “I was responsible for the aftermath of the Cui family’s confiscation. The female members of the Cui family were all made slaves. It was winter then. I saw her… Zhaoyi Niangniang was standing barefoot in the snow, so I lent her a pair of shoes.”

Shen Zhuo frowned slightly. Xi Wuming continued, “Later, Zhaoyi Niangniang remembered that small kindness of mine at the time. She spoke to His Majesty on my behalf, and that’s how I was able to take command of the Imperial Guards.”

Shen Zhuo listened, silent. After a moment, he bowed and said, “Thank you, Commander Xi, for clearing my confusion.” He then slowly exited the tent. Xi Wuming felt that this man did not seem like an ordinary civil official at least, not as he presented himself.

Hanbi left the tent and walked back to the camp in Shanglin Garden, where she met Hua Wu. Hua Wu was naturally overjoyed to see her.

“What happened, Zhaoyi?” Hua Wu was alarmed to see her pale face. “It’s nothing serious, just a minor injury. Where is His Majesty?”

Hua Wu replied, “This servant and Ningzhi hid as Zhaoyi Niangniang instructed. Commander Xi led the Imperial Guards, and the Northern Di assassins have all been executed. However, those people had all taken poison and committed suicide, so nothing could be found out.”

Hanbi then had Hua Wu support her to see Zhao Yan. Zhao Yan sat in his tent, looking distressed. The Empress, Ning Changyi, had been frightened and passed out. Ning Changxue had just settled her, and even Zhao Yan himself looked a bit dishevelled at the moment.

Upon seeing Hanbi enter, Zhao Yan finally restrained his expression somewhat. “A’Bi, Commander Xi has told me everything. It was you who found him and asked him to come to protect the Emperor.”

Hanbi bowed deeply at once. “My honor and disgrace are tied to Your Majesty. Everything I did was only proper.” Zhao Yan looked at her pale face, bruised from the injury, and felt even more tenderness.

He personally helped Hanbi up. “I understand your feelings. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have brought you out of the temple.” Hanbi replied, “The Emperor’s grace is already difficult for me to repay. What is a small injury?” She then coughed lightly from being overly agitated.

Zhao Yan stroked her back. Hanbi knew that Zhao Yan would trust her even more now, so she decided to plant some seeds of suspicion in Zhao Yan’s mind as well.

“But there is one thing this concubine does not understand: How could the Northern Di assassins so easily sneak in? And how did they happen to know that Your Majesty was hunting in Shanglin Garden, where security was lax?” Hanbi said in a soft, slow tone, leaving her meaning unfinished.

Zhao Yan’s hand paused. He gazed at her face. Apart from being excessively pale, it was indeed the face of a beauty, and Hanbi was far more clever than Ning Changyi.

After a moment of distraction, Zhao Yan turned his back, clasped his hands behind him, and said, “The Empress was frightened. These matters must naturally be investigated. Let the people from the Dali Temple (Court of Judicial Review) handle the investigation.”

When Hanbi stepped out of Zhao Yan’s tent, Hua Wu came to support her. Her weakness in front of Zhao Yan had not been entirely feigned; she was indeed extremely weak.

Hua Wu supported her back to her own tent. Hua Wu helped Hanbi onto the couch. Ningzhi was also nearby. Hanbi instructed, “Don’t let anyone see me for the next few days. If anyone comes, tell them I am recovering from my injuries.”

With the hunt taking a dramatic turn, it naturally couldn’t continue. And since she was injured, it was a good opportunity to avoid chores.

Having given her instructions, Hanbi closed her eyes, lay on the couch, and fell into a deep sleep. Hua Wu and Ningzhi exchanged glances and then quietly withdrew.

Ning Changxue took the wrung-out cloth from Taozhi’s hand and said, “Let me do it.” She then used her jade-like hands to gently wipe Ning Changyi’s cheeks with the cloth.

The matter of the assassins had truly frightened the Empress, causing her to faint. As Ning Changxue was wiping her, a maidservant came to report, “His Majesty has come to see the Empress Niangniang.”

Ning Changxue showed no reaction upon hearing this, only nodding slightly. When Zhao Yan entered, he saw her meticulously and patiently wiping Ning Changyi. Ning Changxue and Ning Changyi shared a slight resemblance, but their temperaments were completely different. Ning Changxue was much gentler.

Zhao Yan could only see her profile. Ning Changxue looked up and saw him. She then belatedly put down the cloth and curtsied. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

He and Ning Changyi were husband and wife after all, so he couldn’t neglect appearances. However, seeing Ning Changxue, Zhao Yan said, “Your sister is lucky to have a sister like you.”

Ning Changxue covered her smile with her sleeve and replied, “Your Majesty overpraises me. Changxue is merely doing her small part to care for my sister. After all, when we were home, A’Jie loved Changxue the most.” Then she started crying. “My sister suffered this disaster. Changxue wishes she could have taken her place.”

Zhao Yan looked at her but said nothing. In fact, he could vaguely guess Ning Changxue’s thoughts. She had just lost her husband and needed support. The identity of the Empress’s sister was naturally the best choice.

So Zhao Yan spoke a few more words to her, asking her to take good care of Ning Changyi, and then he left.

After Zhao Yan left, she leaned down and said to the unconscious Ning Changyi, “A’Jie, your fainting truly happened at the right time.” When she said this, her face held none of the expression from before; her lips were even slightly curved.

Having said that, Ning Changxue stood up. She had heard that that Cui Zhaoyi was also injured by the assassins. She knew Cui Zhaoyi was a clever person. However, her Empress sister disliked her intensely. “Perhaps I should test her limits once Ning Changyi wakes up,” she thought.

Ning Changyi woke up the next day. The Northern Di assassins had truly terrified her, causing her to faint. When she woke up, she saw Ning Changxue standing by the bed, her face full of worry.

Seeing her awaken, Ning Changxue looked delighted and said, “A’Jie is awake?” Ning Changyi looked at her younger sister. “Where is His Majesty?”

Ning Changxue replied, “His Majesty has already visited, but since you were still unconscious, Changxue was very worried.” Ning Changyi sighed in relief. Ning Changxue then eagerly said, “Would you like to have something to eat?”

Ning Changyi thought for a moment and nodded. Ning Changxue called Taozhi, “Bring the prepared meal.” Taozhi left to comply. Ning Changxue then spoke to her again. “I heard that Cui Zhaoyi also got injured when she went to find the Imperial Guards. His Majesty is very fond of her.”

Ning Changyi scoffed, “She is an expert at acting.” Ning Changxue soothed her, “Sister, you should focus on recovering now. Those Northern Di assassins were truly terrifying.”

Taozhi brought a bowl of plain congee and a plate of small dishes. Since Ning Changyi had just woken up, she couldn’t have anything rich. After Ning Changyi finished eating, she felt much better in her stomach. She then instructed Taozhi, “Pack up all the things we brought.” Since she had woken up, it was time to return to the capital.

Ning Changxue reminded her, “Sister, aren’t you going to visit Cui Zhaoyi?” Ning Changyi thought for a moment, then curved her lips and said, “I should go and pay a visit.”

Taozhi dressed her hair and makeup. Ning Changxue waited by the side. Ning Changyi looked at herself in the mirror, looking slightly haggard. She was in the prime of her youth when she married Zhao Yan, but now her face showed fatigue.

Thinking of this, Ning Changyi’s resentment deepened. After finishing her preparations, Ning Changyi took Ning Changxue and Taozhi to Hanbi’s tent.

Hua Wu and Ningzhi were guarding outside. Seeing the Empress’s entourage, they were unsure what to do. Hanbi had said not to see anyone, but the Empress was of noble status, and the two did not dare to make a decision on their own.

Just then, Hanbi exited the tent. Seeing the Empress and Ning Changxue with her, she quickly curtsied. “This concubine greets the Empress Niangniang.”

Ning Changyi made a gesture to help Hanbi up but quickly withdrew her hand. “I heard Cui Zhaoyi was injured. There’s no need for such formality.” Ning Changxue also looked at her. “Yes, Cui Zhaoyi has earned merit now,” she said with a full smile.

Hanbi was unsure of the Empress’s intentions, but this Ning Changxue seemed to want to kill her with praise. Hanbi spoke gently, “Propriety cannot be abandoned. The Empress Niangniang is more noble in status than this concubine. It is only right that you receive my courtesy.”

Upon hearing this, a hint of genuine smile appeared on Ning Changyi’s lips. At least Hanbi was much more obedient than Consort Shu, Yun Tinglu. Ning Changxue watched her, feeling that this person was quite restrained and adept at feigning submission. She felt that she had seen this Cui Zhaoyi somewhere before but couldn’t recall where.

Hanbi then invited them inside to sit, but the Empress refused. “Zhaoyi is a patient. How can we expect a patient to entertain? When we return to the palace, Zhaoyi should visit the Taiji Palace more often and move around.”

Hanbi sighed internally but responded courteously, “This concubine was inconsiderate. I will certainly visit the Empress Niangniang more often at Taiji Palace in the future. I hope Niangniang will not find it bothersome.”

The Empress and Ning Changxue exchanged a few more pleasantries with Hanbi before leaving. Hanbi turned and returned to her tent. Hua Wu presented a cup of almond tea, which Hanbi habitually drank when thinking.

After drinking a cup of almond tea, Hanbi began to contemplate why the Empress and Ning Changxue had come. The Empress was certainly not a clever person, otherwise, the rumors about her sowing suspicion in Zhao Yan’s mind would have already reached her ears. How could she still act so cordially towards her, even if Hanbi knew it was a pretense?

Thinking of this, Hanbi couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. The Ning family raising such a daughter only made things easier for her. As for Ning Changxue, she was slightly better than Ning Changyi, but her methods still relied on petty scheming and were nothing to fear. Furthermore, Ning Changxue’s motives might not be pure. It was possible that these two sisters might turn against each other in the future.