Chapter 16 (Part 1/2)
Returning to Yangui Tower, Yan Xuecui summoned the shadow guards and ordered them to thoroughly investigate the Soul-Severing Pills.
The culprit behind the scenes pointed to the Empress, but there were still many details to uncover—for instance, where the Soul-Severing Grass came from, whose hands refined it into pills, and who the craftsman who made the sandalwood box worked for. Everything had to be investigated one by one.
Recalling the Empress's circumstances over these years, Yan Xuecui could actually vaguely guess her motive.
Most of the high-ranking consorts in the harem had borne imperial heirs, yet the Empress only had one princess. She had been anxious about this for half her life, exhausting every method, only finding slight resignation in recent years.
When the emperor eventually passed, the new emperor would naturally honor his birth mother as the Sacred Empress Dowager. With two palaces of equal honor, she would have the title of Mother Empress in name only, ultimately unable to compare with the intimacy of a birth mother.
The Empress was of noble birth and the mother of the nation, but over the past decades, she had watched helplessly as various palaces successively bore princes, dividing the Middle Palace's favor. In the future, she would have to stand as equals with consorts who once kowtowed and knelt before her. How could she endure it?
Noble Consort Ning, Consort Li, and Consort Yi schemed for the throne for their sons, willing to pay any price to topple other princes. But the Empress's target was these consorts with sons—regardless of who ascended the throne, she could only be the sole Empress Dowager.
Five years ago, the Empress bet on him, so she moved against Mother Consort, wanting her to die mad through self-harm.
But now that he was blind and had no chance at the throne, the Empress was perhaps already calculating her next target...
Prince Xuan's mother Consort Li, Prince Rui's mother Consort Yi, Prince Qing's mother Concubine Lan, even the Ninth Prince's mother Noble Lady Min, all were possible.
Over all these years, his elder brother died tragically on the battlefield, Mother Consort was poisoned, he'd walked through mountains of blades and seas of blood, paths covered in thorns, to reach today. There was no longer any path of retreat.
Towering hatred and rage nearly burned through his heart. Yan Xuecui clenched his palm, his knuckles turning white from the force. The scabbed burn on his palm cracked open again, fresh blood seeping through his fingers.
He would use the pain of flesh and blood to remember this hatred, to make those behind this fall in disgrace and repay blood debts with blood.
---
Shuyu Pavilion
Aunt Fangchun helped Chi Ying sit down and carefully examined the swelling on her ankle. Even after applying wound medicine, she was still worried. "I should have asked Physician Lin to come take a look while he was here."
Chi Ying said, "It's fine. It doesn't hurt anymore."
Aunt Fangchun insisted, "Let's observe tonight. If the Princess Consort feels uncomfortable, you must tell this servant immediately."
Chi Ying nodded to reassure her.
Fangchun recalled today's events and sighed. "If that box hadn't cracked, we still don't know how long we'd have been kept in the dark. These past two years, Her Ladyship's spirits have grown increasingly poor. Several times she nearly self-harmed..."
Thinking of how Her Ladyship had suffered the pain of losing her son all these years, tormented day and night, seeming mad and deranged, even committing disrespect before His Majesty, Fangchun's heart was filled with both hatred and fear.
"Harem struggles have been cruel since ancient times, but Her Ladyship has already lost one son. She's not the type to compete jealously for favor or monopolize affection, nor can she affect the Middle Palace's position. Why would the Empress, after Her Ladyship had already lost her eldest son, still want to kill her completely?"
Chi Ying patted her hand comfortingly. "Since His Highness said he'll investigate, I'm sure the truth will soon come to light. When that time comes, evildoers will be dealt with by law, Mother Consort will slowly recover, and everything will eventually get better."
Aunt Fangchun nodded tearfully. "Thank you, Princess Consort."
Chi Ying pondered for a moment, then probed tentatively, "Some days ago I was ill with a cold and delayed going to the palace to express gratitude. In the future, when I enter the palace with His Highness, won't I be able to see the Empress?"
Fangchun furrowed her brow and considered. "Let's see how His Highness arranges it. His Majesty, considerate of His Highness's blindness, doesn't require him to attend court daily or pay respects in the palace like the other princes. He's also excused from palace banquets and various ceremonial rituals. Though you'll inevitably enter the palace a few times in the future, just follow His Highness and you'll be fine. Whatever the palace masters are like privately, they all maintain proper appearances."
She lowered her voice: "If we hadn't discovered those Soul-Severing Pills today, this servant would still think the Empress was benevolent and approachable..."
Chi Ying understood then, the palace nobles mostly had Buddha's mouths and snake hearts, saying one thing and meaning another. She would inevitably have to enter the palace to pay respects, but as long as the Prince of Zhao wasn't in a hurry, she could enjoy a few more days of peace.
Over the next two days, Chi Ying didn't see the Prince of Zhao, presumably he was still investigating the Soul-Severing Pills' origins.
With nothing to do, she visited Shouchun Hall daily to see Consort Zhuang.
Because of her previous episode, the great anger and grief, Consort Zhuang had slept for three full days. When she awoke, she'd forgotten that she'd mistaken her for Noble Consort Ning that day. Everyone at Shouchun Hall, considering her health, temporarily concealed the Soul-Severing Pills matter, lest Consort Zhuang worry excessively and hinder her recovery.
When Consort Zhuang was lucid, she habitually worshipped Buddha, but didn't see the prayer beads she usually wore. Qionglin produced another string of small-leaf rosewood beads for her, explaining, "Yesterday His Highness came by and noticed a crack in those beads, so he took them to be maintained and repaired."
Consort Zhuang didn't suspect anything.
Chi Ying came for several days in a row. Though Consort Zhuang still looked listless and tired easily after speaking a few words, she wasn't tormented by nightmares every night as before. When she woke, her thoughts were fairly clear, she no longer spoke nonsense or mistook people. Her condition was indeed slowly improving.
She also frequently sent pastries. Consort Zhuang praised her skills directly, saying her crisps were even more fragrant, sweet, and soft than those from Ruyi Studio.
Ruyi Studio was the pastry shop most popular with nobles in the capital. Chi Ying vaguely remembered eating there once as a child. This gave her the idea of making pastries to earn money.
However, being in the prince's manor, her every word and action was watched. Making pastries on a large scale to sell outside the manor would draw far too much attention.
To earn enough for Mother's medicine, she'd have to think of another way.
Early the next morning, Chi Ying went through her usual washing and grooming.
Chapter 16 (Part 2/2)
Aunt Fangchun had informed her in advance that today she would bring the manor's stewards to pay respects. Xiangqin specially dressed her elaborately, applying makeup according to Chi Yingyue's usual style. Chi Ying sat before the mirror, gazing at the woman with a head full of jeweled ornaments. In a daze, she seemed to see that bright, exquisite Chi Yingyue in brocade robes and fine garments.
She wondered when they'd be able to switch identities back.
After breakfast, Chi Ying came to the main hall surrounded by a cluster of maids. Liu Changshun led the various stewards to pay respects, everyone kneeling to greet her.
Though Chi Ying hadn't experienced such a scene before, she roughly knew the protocol. She gently bade them rise, her gaze sweeping over everyone as she spoke some pre-prepared formal words.
In truth, with her status and position, as long as she sat properly in the main seat without smiling unnecessarily, none of the stewards would dare slight this young mistress of the prince's manor.
Steward Liu respectfully presented a stack of account books. Chi Ying opened the topmost one and casually flipped through two pages. The accounts had already been compiled by time and category, recording income and expenditures from various places, the amounts were substantial, the organization clear.
Chi Ying only then discovered that as Princess Consort, she also had an annual salary of four hundred taels of silver, which she could use freely.
Four hundred taels, enough for her and Mother to leave the capital and settle somewhere with clear mountains and beautiful waters.
Chi Ying sighed inwardly but quickly recognized reality. She most likely wouldn't stay until a year later. If she absconded with the money midway, being caught would be even more unforgivable.
Next, several stewards responsible for farmland and shops, garden maintenance, and kitchen procurement came forward in turn to report.
In a blink, two hours had passed. Chi Ying spoke a few conventional words about managing subordinates as was customary. The stewards all bowed in unison.
After everyone withdrew, Chi Ying's body, tense for half the day, finally relaxed slightly. In the afternoon, she read the account books for a while to appear more competent.
---
Deep night, Yangui Tower
Cheng Huai had pursued leads for several days and came to report: "That sandalwood box was crafted five years ago by a carpenter in the Imperial Directorate of Construction named Liao Ji. This subordinate learned that five years ago, Liao Ji returned from the capital to his hometown of Zhigu. But not long after, he fell into a river while drunk and drowned."
Yan Xuecui laughed coldly.
Dead men tell no tales, the mastermind behind it all was indeed thorough in planning.
Cheng Huai: "The villagers all said he had good craftsmanship and was appreciated by nobles in the capital. He brought back a generous reward, but had money to earn but no life to spend it."
Yan Xuecui continued asking, "Have you found out which imperial physicians entered and left Kunning Palace that year?"
Cheng Huai nodded. "This subordinate checked the duty records at the Imperial Hospital. That year, six imperial physicians had all gone to Kunning Palace to take pulses. None have retired or been silenced. Director Fang Jiayu and Physician He Lianqing are quite trusted by the Empress. Whenever the Empress feels unwell, she prioritizes summoning these two to the palace."
Yan Xuecui pondered for a moment. "Investigate these two strictly, see if they have any private means of obtaining Soul-Severing Grass, whether they've had contact with Liao Ji, whether they've received generous rewards from the Empress. Report immediately once verified."
Cheng Huai cupped his hands to acknowledge the order. But the person who should have withdrawn still hadn't moved, standing bowed in place as if hesitating to speak.
Yan Xuecui heard his palm clench and release repeatedly several times and couldn't help but frown. "What is it?"
Cheng Huai could only steel himself to speak: "Last time Your Highness ordered this subordinate to investigate where the Princess Consort's half-dropped earring went. This subordinate has found a clue."
Yan Xuecui's brow arched slightly, his interest was piqued.
Seeing Cheng Huai's conflicted expression, Yuán Dé felt somewhat uneasy. Don't let it be some disreputable person.
Cheng Huai's throat was dry, his voice dropping lower. "That day, between when Your Highness was ambushed and when this subordinate returned to search, only... only Prince Xuan's carriage passed by."
Yuán Dé’s pupils contracted sharply. He almost didn't dare look at his master's expression.
Prince Xuan, Yan Yunshen, was Consort Li's son. Consort Li and Prince Rong's mother, Noble Consort Ning, were cousins. Prince Xuan and Prince Rong were allies, they could be considered His Highness's enemies.
How could the Princess Consort's earring have been picked up by Prince Xuan of all people!
Instead, Yan Xuecui's smile spread at his lips, as if he'd heard something extremely interesting.
To send her to his pillow while secretly picking up her earring.
His Princess Consort and Prince Xuan, they truly had quite deep ties.
---
Shuyu Pavilion
Chi Ying had just lain down when her eyelids began twitching without warning. Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, every time she closed her eyes, her mind replayed that night's intimacy.
The man's low, scorching panting still seemed to echo in her ears. He'd held her tightly, hot breath spilling over the side of her neck...
Half-dreaming, half-awake, a warm sensation came from near her feet, slightly ticklish, as if something had wrapped around her ankle. She unconsciously kicked her legs but couldn't break free from that strange restraint.
Until a cool, magnetic, low chuckle sounded. She jolted awake, eyes flying open, and sprang up from the bed as if electrocuted.
At the bedside stood a tall, familiar male figure.
The Prince of Zhao's palm pressed against her not-quite-healed swollen ankle as he spoke casually, "I've disturbed you late at night and inadvertently woken the Princess Consort. The Princess Consort won't blame me, will she?"
Chi Ying's sleepiness had completely vanished. Her heart nearly leaped to her throat. Only after a long while did she calm down. "Your… Your Highness, why have you come?"
In the middle of the night, to have a man silently enter her bed curtains, even though this person was her husband in name and blind so he couldn't see anything, Chi Ying still couldn't help feeling alarmed.
She hadn't slept that deeply either. How had she been completely unaware?
Yan Xuecui lowered his head, stroking the injury on her ankle. Since he couldn't see, he could only explore inch by inch with his hands.
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TRANSLATOR: Guys, i just realized this book is rated 18, and i cannot continue posting it on my website. i am still trying to figure out what to do when we get to those chapters.
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GLOSSARY
Characters
Chi Ying (池萤) - Female protagonist; concubine-born third daughter who substitutes for her legitimate elder sister in marriage to the Prince of Zhao
Yan Xuecui / Prince of Zhao (晏雪摧 / 昭王) - Male protagonist; blind prince with a dark reputation, suffers from touch-starvation condition
Chi Yingyue (池颖月) - Chi Ying's legitimate elder sister who was originally supposed to marry the Prince of Zhao
Countess Yin / Yin-shi (殷氏)- Chi Yingyue's mother; the legitimate wife who arranged the substitute marriage
Aunt Xue / Xue Yiniang (薛姨娘) - Chi Ying's mother; a concubine in poor health
Consort Zhuang (庄妃) - The Prince of Zhao's mother
Prince Ding (定王) - The deceased elder brother of Prince of Zhao
Emperor Yongcheng (永成帝) - The current emperor
Servants & Attendants
Xiangqin (香琴) - Chi Ying's maid, originally serving Lady Yin's interests
Baoshan (宝扇) - Chi Ying's maid
Aunt Fangchun (芳春姑姑) - Senior servant managing household affairs
Steward Yuan / Yuan-de (元德) - The Prince of Zhao's chief steward
Qingzhi (青芝) & Yintiao (银翘) - Maids at the manor
Qingze (青泽) - The Prince of Zhao's attendant
Physician Lin (林院判) - The physician treating the Prince of Zhao
Locations
Prince of Zhao's Manor (昭王府) - The prince's residence
Shuyu Pavilion (漱玉斋) - Chi Ying's residence, formerly the Prince of Zhao's chamber
Yangui Tower (雁归楼)- The Prince of Zhao's current residence with a dungeon beneath
Shouchun Hall (寿春堂)- Consort Zhuang's residence
Changyuan Earl Manor (昌远伯府)- Chi family's declining noble household
Titles & Terms
Wang/Prince (王)- Imperial prince title
Wangfei/Princess Consort (王妃) - Wife of a prince
Dianxia/Your Highness (殿下) - Formal address for a prince
Niangniang/Your Ladyship (娘娘) - Formal address for an imperial consort
Di (嫡) - Legitimate-born (from legal wife)
Shu (庶) - Concubine-born
Substitute marriage (替嫁)- Marrying in place of another
Consummation/Yuan fang (圆房) - Completing the marriage ceremony through intercourse
Returning home visit/Hui men (回门) - Traditional bride's first visit to natal home after marriage
Cultural Items
Bamboo cane/scrolls (竹杖/竹简) - The prince uses these for mobility and reading
Incense (熏香) - Various types used for ambiance
Dragon and phoenix candles (龙凤喜烛) - Wedding candles
Phoenix seal (鳳印)- Symbol of empress status
Hundred Sons and Thousand Grandsons pattern (百子千孙图) - Auspicious bedding embroidery symbolizing fertility
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