Chapter 3

A personal attendant cautiously entered the hall and knelt before him. “Go to Changning Palace and deliver a message,” Qi Yu said hoarsely. After a pause, he changed his mind. “Forget it. You may leave.” The attendant felt as though he had been granted a new lease on life and quickly retreated. Qi Yu leaned back against the imperial throne and stared up at the ceiling. What did he really want? He wanted to be a good emperor, one whose power could not be taken away by his ministers. He wanted to be a good emperor who could secure the throne for his son in the future. But... “Yan Zheng, why aren't you home for dinner yet?” Fan Changyu's words seemed to echo in his ears. They were as light as smoke, yet as heavy as a mountain. He closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time. The candle flames flickered inside the hall, casting his lonely shadow onto the floor, surrounded by nothing but the mess scattered everywhere. Changning Palace After Yu Qianqian left, the palace fell into a silence as still as a pool of dead water. Fan Changning sat beside the bed, clutching the urgent report that had been smoothed out and crumpled again. Her fingers repeatedly brushed over the now-blurred words. “General Huaihua... mentally confused... unable to handle his duties.” She closed her eyes, and all she could see was her elder sister. The sister who had protected her from every hardship since childhood. The sister who had mounted a horse and fought enemies at just fifteen. The sister who had once smiled and told her: “Changning, the luckiest thing in my life was marrying your brother-in-law.” But now, that same sister was standing at the doorway, clutching a wrist guard and waiting for someone who would never return. Fan Changning suddenly opened her eyes and stood up. She walked to the palace door and pushed it. It was locked from the outside and wouldn't budge. She pounded on the door several times, making her palms go numb. “Is anyone there?” Her voice was hoarse. “I want to see the Empress Dowager!” The palace maids standing outside exchanged uneasy glances. The head nanny carefully spoke up. “Your Majesty, the Emperor has ordered—” “I said I want to see the Empress Dowager!” Fan Changning's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unmistakable authority. “If you refuse to deliver my message, I'll keep banging on this door until you all go deaf!” There was a brief silence outside before hurried footsteps faded into the distance. Half an hour later, someone from Cining Palace arrived. But they hadn't come to let her out. Instead, Yu Qianqian had come in person once again. When Yu Qianqian entered, she saw Fan Changning still standing by the door, her hands hanging at her sides and her fingertips red. Her heart ached. She quickly walked over and took Fan Changning's hands. “Why haven't you applied any medicine?” Yu Qianqian rubbed her cold fingers. “The weather hasn't even warmed up yet. Why are you treating yourself like this?” Fan Changning didn't pull her hands away, nor did she cry. She simply looked at Yu Qianqian, her eyes filled with something heartbreaking. “Aunt Qianqian,” she said, “I want to return to the Xie Residence.” Yu Qianqian's fingers paused. “I want to see my elder sister.” Fan Changning's voice was calm, so calm that it didn't sound like a request. It sounded more like a decision that could no longer be changed. “Uncle Yuanbao wrote to me saying that she hasn't had a proper meal in a month.” “Uncle Xie Wu, a grown man, knelt before her and cried, but she couldn't even see him.” “Congyun is only fourteen. She has to take care of her mother and look after her younger brother. She can't handle everything alone.” “I have to go back.” Yu Qianqian looked into her eyes and remained silent for a long time. There were tear stains, bloodshot eyes, and exhaustion in them. But there was no hesitation. “Alright,” Yu Qianqian said. “I'll go with you.” Fan Changning's eyelashes trembled. “Aunt Qianqian, you've already gone there for me once. This time, I want to go by myself. I'm just a little worried about Nianning.” Yu Qianqian immediately understood. “Leave Nianning to me.” She held Fan Changning's hand. “Don't worry.” Tears finally began falling from Fan Changning's eyes again, one after another, without a sound. She opened her mouth, wanting to say thank you, but those two words suddenly felt too insignificant to express how much Yu Qianqian was doing for her. Yu Qianqian wiped away her tears and gently said, “I'll have them prepare a carriage for you. Your elder sister... perhaps seeing you will make her feel a little better.” Fan Changning nodded and turned to pack her things. In truth, there wasn't much to pack. She had brought nothing when she arrived, and the only thing she would take with her was that urgent report. Fan Changning prepared to leave the palace and head to the Xie Residence. She changed into a simple, plain outfit and loosely tied up her hair without wearing any jewelry. When she reached the gate of Changning Palace, she pushed it open. Seeing that it wasn't locked, she felt slightly relieved and stepped outside. But the moment she crossed the threshold, two long spears crossed in front of her, blocking her way. “Please stop, Your Majesty.” The guards stood expressionless. “The Emperor has ordered that the Empress remain confined to Changning Palace. She may not leave without his permission.” Fan Changning stopped. She glanced at the crossed spears, then at the guards. She said nothing and simply stood her ground without stepping back. Hurried footsteps sounded behind her. Yu Qianqian quickly approached, holding little Qi Nianning's hand. When she saw the two crossed spears, her expression immediately darkened. “What do you think you're doing?” Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried unquestionable authority. “Lower your spears!” The guards exchanged glances, but their weapons remained in place. The leading guard knelt down and spoke respectfully but firmly. “Please calm down, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. We are only following the Emperor's orders to guard Changning Palace. While the Empress is under confinement—” “I know,” Yu Qianqian interrupted. “I'm taking the Empress out now. Move aside.” The guard lowered his head further as he knelt. “Your Majesty, you may go wherever you wish, but the Emperor specifically ordered that the Empress must not leave without his permission. This subordinate dares not disobey his command.” Yu Qianqian looked down at the kneeling guard and remained silent for a moment. Then she did something no one expected. She raised her foot and kicked the guard hard in the shoulder. He fell sideways, and his spear crashed onto the stone floor with a sharp clang. The surrounding guards were stunned. They didn't know whether to kneel or stand, so they froze in place. “Get out of my way!” Yu Qianqian put both hands on her hips and shouted with the authority of a battlefield commander. “I gave birth to the Emperor! It's not his place to decide whether the Empress can leave the palace!” The entire area fell silent. Several guards immediately knelt on the ground, pressing their foreheads against the cold stone. None dared to make a sound. The guard who had been kicked hurriedly got back up and knelt as well. His lips trembled, but he didn't dare say another word. Yu Qianqian looked down at them, her chest still rising and falling slightly. “Move aside, all of you.” Her voice softened a little, but her authority remained. “I'll explain everything to the Emperor myself. If the sky falls, I'll hold it up!” The guards exchanged glances before finally lowering their spears. They remained kneeling as they cleared a path. Yu Qianqian turned around, handed Qi Nianning to a nanny, then took Fan Changning's hand. “Let's go.” Fan Changning looked at Yu Qianqian, her eyes filling with tears. She held Yu Qianqian's hand tightly and followed her, step by step, out of Changning Palace. Behind them, the guards knelt on the ground. Not one dared to raise his head. “Thank you, Aunt Qianqian!” “Just hearing you call me Aunt Qianqian tells me that you and your husband can no longer go back to the way things were. As long as you're still willing to call me that, I promise I won't let that brat do anything foolish while I'm alive.” Fan Changning's eyes filled with tears. “Aunt Qianqian, I know you're different from him.” After saying that, Fan Changning walked toward the carriage. Yu Qianqian watched her back and suddenly called out, “Changning.” Fan Changning turned around. “As for Yu Bao'er...” Yu Qianqian's voice softened. “I'll talk to him. You can leave without worrying.” Fan Changning didn't ask how Yu Qianqian would talk to Qi Yu, nor did she ask whether he would agree. She simply nodded, then turned and walked toward the palace gate. This time, the gate was open. Jian’an Hall When Yu Qianqian entered, Qi Yu was sitting behind the imperial desk, lost in thought. The memorial in front of him was still the same one he had opened that morning. His red brush lay to the side, its tip already dry. He raised his head and saw Yu Qianqian. Instinctively, he turned his face slightly. The swelling on his left cheek hadn't completely gone down, and he didn't want his mother to see it. But Yu Qianqian had already noticed. She said nothing and simply walked up to him. “Changning wants to return to the Xie Residence.” Qi Yu's fingers tightened slightly. “To see her elder sister.” Yu Qianqian spoke calmly, as though she were talking about something completely ordinary. “Changyu is in that condition, and the two children are still young. The household needs someone to look after them.” Qi Yu remained silent for a moment. “I already said that the Empress cannot leave the palace without my permission.” Yu Qianqian looked at him without getting angry or sneering. She simply gazed at him calmly, like the surface of a still lake. “Qi Yu,” she called him by his name instead of Yu Bao'er. “You can keep Changning locked up, but can you silence the whole world?” The corner of Qi Yu's mouth twitched. “Xie Zheng guarded your country's borders for fifteen years. Changyu fought your wars for fifteen years.” “Now one is dead, and the other has lost her mind. Yet you keep their younger sister locked inside the palace. What do you think people outside will say?” “They'll call you an ungrateful person who turns his back on those who once served him.” Her words pierced Qi Yu's chest like a needle. The blow wasn't heavy, but it struck exactly where it hurt. His breathing quickened. “I—” “What about you?” Yu Qianqian interrupted. “You can either keep her locked up for the rest of her life and let the whole world know that Emperor Qi Yu is a man who turns his back on those who served him.” “Or you can let her go and see her sister, even if it's only for a moment. Otherwise, she won't be able to rest easy.” Qi Yu pressed his lips into a thin line. Yu Qianqian said nothing more. She simply stood there, waiting for his answer. The hall remained silent for a long time. “Yu Bao'er, I didn't come here to discuss Changning leaving the palace with you. I came to inform you.” Yu Qianqian had almost given up waiting for an answer and was about to turn away when a hoarse voice came from behind her. “I know that once Mother makes up her mind, it's difficult to change it.” Yu Qianqian paused. “I didn't want her to go because I was afraid she would see General Huaihua in that condition and be unable to do anything about it. I didn't want her to suffer for nothing.” “Since she insists on going, she must return before dark.” Qi Yu's voice was low, as though he were trying to find an excuse for himself. “I... I just don't want people outside to gossip.” Yu Qianqian glanced back at him. Qi Yu wasn't looking at her. His head was lowered, his eyes fixed on the memorial in front of him, which he hadn't written a single word on. Half of his face was hidden in the candlelight's shadow, making his expression impossible to read. Yu Qianqian said nothing more and turned to leave. When she reached the entrance, she heard a faint sigh behind her, like the wind passing through withered leaves. She didn't look back. Outside the Xie Residence By the time the carriage stopped outside the Xie Residence, it was already afternoon. Fan Changning lifted the curtain. Before she could step down, she heard a familiar voice. “Yan Zheng, why are you taking so long to come home?” Her fingers suddenly tightened around the curtain until her knuckles turned white. She jumped out of the carriage, stumbled, and nearly fell. The nanny hurried to support her, but she gently pushed her away. The gates of the Xie Residence stood wide open. Someone was lying across the threshold. Fan Changyu's clothes were disheveled, and her hair hung loosely over her shoulders. Her face was as pale as winter snow. She lay across the doorway, her cheek pressed against the cold stone floor, tightly clutching a wrist guard so worn that its original patterns were no longer visible. Her lips moved as she repeated the same words over and over. “Yan Zheng, why haven't you come back to eat yet?” “Yan Zheng...” Several people stood beneath the corridor. Jin Yuanbao was squatting at the foot of the steps. The man, who was in his forties, had eyes as red as a rabbit's. His lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word. The two brothers, Manwu and Mancang, stood behind him with their heads lowered, their shoulders shaking as they quietly cried. Manwu sobbed, “It's already been a whole month! When will Sister finally get better?” Xie Wu leaned helplessly against the doorframe, looking as though he had aged ten years. He clutched a jug of wine and took one drink after another, but his eyes never left the figure lying across the threshold. Xie Jiu stood beside Xie Wu, his fists clenched tightly and his jaw firmly set. The two Kang brothers stood on either side of the courtyard. One stared up at the sky while the other looked down at the ground. Neither dared to look at the person lying at the doorway. A fourteen-year-old girl knelt beside Fan Changyu. Her face was covered in tears, and her eyes were swollen and red. She reached out to help Fan Changyu, but halfway through, she pulled her hand back. She had already been pushed away too many times. “Mother...” Xie Congyun's voice was so hoarse that it was almost inaudible. “Father isn't coming back. Could you please look at me and my younger brother? We're still here with you.” Fan Changyu seemed not to hear her. She continued lying there, repeating the same words. A boy of around eleven or twelve stood behind Xie Congyun. He was small and thin, dressed in plain hemp clothing. He wasn't crying, but his lips were bitten so hard that they had turned pale. His eyes were fixed on his mother at the doorway, as though he were afraid she would disappear if he blinked. “Elder Sister,” Meng Xingchuan said in a childish, hoarse voice. “It's already been a month. What will happen if Mother keeps going on like this?” Xie Congyun didn't answer because she didn't know either. All she knew was that her mother no longer recognized her. That day, her mother had been sitting in the courtyard, clutching the wrist guard. Xie Congyun brought her a bowl of porridge and called out, “Mother.” Fan Changyu looked up at her, but her gaze simply passed over her face, as though she were looking at a blank wall.