Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Committing the Act of Seizing His Younger Brother’s Wife After saying this, Cheng An saw that His Majesty’s hand, which had been turning the pages of the book, seemed to pause. Yet nothing could be discerned from His Majesty’s expression. When County Princess Yongning had left the palace, it was as though she had taken His Majesty’s joys and sorrows with her. His Majesty was always distant and impassive now, as if the wind and snow of that night on Jiucheng Mountain had fallen forever into his heart. Seeing His Majesty give a slight wave of his hand, Cheng An had no choice but to withdraw from the Western Warm Pavilion with the other palace attendants, no matter how worried and anxious he was about His Majesty’s health and state of mind. As he silently stood guard outside the Western Warm Pavilion, Cheng An fretted inwardly. This could not go on forever. As the saying went, only the right medicine could cure an affliction of the heart, and only the person who had tied the bell could untie it. If he wanted His Majesty to recover, they would likely have to rely on County Princess Yongning. But County Princess Yongning refused to enter the palace to see His Majesty, and His Majesty refused to summon County Princess Yongning into the palace. Surely he, Cheng An, could not forcibly bind County Princess Yongning and drag her in? That method was absolutely unworkable, but there had to be some other way to resolve the present predicament as quickly as possible. Cheng An sighed anxiously to himself. It would be best to cure His Majesty’s heart ailment as soon as possible. Among the messages brought into the palace each day, there was word that County Princess Yongning seemed to be growing increasingly close to Prince Chu, while the Xue family also appeared to be intentionally bringing the two of them together. If County Princess Yongning truly became Princess Consort of Chu, becoming His Majesty’s younger brother’s wife, what would His Majesty do? There would be nothing particularly serious if His Majesty merely favored County Princess Yongning or took her into the palace. After all, County Princess Yongning was no longer the Heir Princess of Shuobei. She was merely a widowed woman who had lost her husband and had no children. But if His Majesty developed improper feelings for his younger brother’s wife, or even committed some act that violated propriety and moral order by forcibly taking his younger brother’s wife, it would cause an enormous uproar. Not only would he become the subject of condemnation throughout the realm, but his infamy would also be passed down to later generations, destroying his reputation for an entire lifetime. No one knew what His Majesty was thinking now. These days, news about County Princess Yongning and Prince Chu had continued to reach His Majesty’s ears. For instance, Prince Chu had personally gone to the Xue family to visit County Princess Yongning, and County Princess Yongning had personally broken off a plum blossom branch and given it to him. For instance, Prince Chu sent people every day to inquire after County Princess Yongning’s health. After the wintersweet bloomed, he had personally painted a picture of wintersweet and sent it to County Princess Yongning, while County Princess Yongning had given him a box of agarwood in return. For instance, after County Princess Yongning’s health improved, she sent someone to deliver an invitation to Prince Chu, inviting him to come admire the plum blossoms. After Prince Chu arrived, she had gone to the trouble of personally brewing Shuobei milk tea for him. How did all these matters weigh upon His Majesty’s heart? What did he think of them? Cheng An recalled how County Princess Yongning had once loved pestering His Majesty, while she had been rather cold toward Prince Chu and found him extremely bothersome. Yet now, circumstances had completely reversed themselves. Sighing at the fickleness of fate, Cheng An could not help letting out another deep sigh inwardly. If things continued like this, his worries would be the death of him. This year’s New Year was the first time in five years that the Xue family had finally been able to spend a reunion celebration together again. On New Year’s Eve, the Xue residence had been exceptionally lively. Lanterns hung everywhere, and fireworks had gone off without pause. Shaoyin had accompanied her niece and nephew in staying up for the new year and cutting paper decorations. In the end, she did not even know when she had fallen asleep. By the time she opened her eyes, it was already a new day and a new year. At the beginning of the new year, the first thing Shaoyin did after getting out of bed and washing up was to light incense and pray before the Buddhist shrine. In her heart, she prayed for Aunt’s health and safety, wishing that Aunt would remain healthy and well. On New Year’s Eve the previous night, Shaoyin had kept thinking of Aunt. If only Aunt could return home too—then it would be a true reunion. Yet that was impossible. The late emperor had decreed that Aunt was to be confined in the palace until the end of her life, and Shaoyin could not bring her home. The only thing she could do was find a way to enter Chongqing Palace to visit Aunt and do whatever she could for her. After her health improved, Shaoyin had considered entering the palace to ask Xiao Heng for permission to visit Aunt in Chongqing Palace. But Xiao Heng had only recently returned to normal. Shaoyin worried that if she entered the palace to seek an audience now, she might accidentally provoke him again, causing him to fall back into that frenzied, unreasonable state. Thus, she endured the impulse for the time being, intending to wait a while longer—until Xiao Heng had completely forgotten his madness of the past days—before requesting an audience. She had only just inserted the incense into the censer before the Bodhisattva statue when the sound of her niece and nephew knocking and calling out New Year’s greetings came from outside. “Auntie, Auntie, may the new year bring you great fortune!” “Auntie, Auntie, may you enjoy peace and prosperity throughout the year!” They sounded like two little turtledoves in spring, happily cooing without end. Shaoyin hurried over and opened the door. Smiling, she tied one of the two lucky pouches she had embroidered by hand before the new year around each child. After that, Xue Zhan and Xue Yi each took one of her hands, leading her along with them to have breakfast with their Older Brother and Sister-in-law. Naturally, the family then remained gathered together. In accordance with the customs of the new year, they set off firecrackers, erected longevity banners, replaced the peach-wood door charms, and so on. Half a day passed amid the bustle and celebration. At lunchtime, Shaoyin and her family followed tradition by drinking Tusu wine, which symbolized auspiciousness, health, and peace, and eating dumplings they had wrapped themselves. Her Older Brother and Sister-in-law had arranged for an opera troupe long ago. In the afternoon, the family gathered in Qingyin Pavilion to drink tea and watch the performances. After the troupe had sung two lively martial operas that the children enjoyed, her Sister-in-law, Yan Huiniang, handed the program to Shaoyin and smiled, asking her to choose a favorite performance. “You should choose first, Sister-in-law. I’ll be happy watching anything.” As Shaoyin and her Sister-in-law were politely deferring to each other, a maid came over and reported that Prince Chu’s carriage had already arrived outside. Upon hearing this, Yan Huiniang smiled at Shaoyin. “Then I’ll choose the opera. You should go quickly. Don’t keep Prince Chu waiting.” “He won’t mind waiting,” Xue Ming added with a smile from the side. “Prince Chu has always had a good temper, and he is especially indulgent toward his younger sister. How could he possibly grow impatient with her?” Shaoyin looked at the smiles on her Older Brother and Sister-in-law’s faces and did not know what to say. Still smiling, the two of them had already risen to send her to the main gate of the Xue residence and pay their respects to Prince Chu. Two days earlier, when Shaoyin had invited Xiao Yu to admire the plum blossoms and drink tea, Xiao Yu had extended an invitation to her, asking her to go sightseeing with him in the capital for half a day after the new year. Before Shaoyin could respond, her Older Brother had already accepted on her behalf. Since her Older Brother had agreed for her, Shaoyin could not bring herself to refuse. Doing so would embarrass her Older Brother and reject Xiao Yu’s sincere invitation, leaving everyone in an awkward position. Thus, beneath Xiao Yu’s expectant gaze, she had smiled, nodded, thanked him, and accepted his invitation. Shaoyin knew that her Older Brother and Sister-in-law were deliberately trying to bring her and Xiao Yu together. Their intentions toward her were, of course, entirely kind. They hoped she could put aside the sorrow of the past and find a good match again soon. But she still could not let go… She merely felt gratitude and guilt toward Xiao Yu in many matters—gratitude and guilt, nothing more. As for Xiao Yu himself, she did not have the feelings for him that she had once held for Helan… Her Older Brother and Sister-in-law escorted her to the main gate, exchanged greetings with Prince Chu Xiao Yu, and then saw her into the carriage. Xiao Yu smiled and assured them that he would take good care of her. He then mounted his horse and personally rode beside the carriage, escorting her to the bustling and prosperous West Market. The West Market was the capital’s most prosperous commercial district. It was normally filled with traffic and pedestrians, and during the New Year festivities, it was even more crowded and lively. Lanterns and decorations adorned every street, while drums and music filled the air. The carriage could only stop at the outskirts. Shaoyin got down and walked with Xiao Yu through the streets filled with laughter and cheerful voices. The guards, maids, and other attendants accompanying them dispersed into the crowd a short distance behind, following at neither too close nor too far a distance. Shaoyin had originally come out with Xiao Yu today because her Older Brother had agreed on her behalf. She herself had felt somewhat compelled to do so and had not truly been in the mood for an outing. Yet once she was actually walking with Xiao Yu along the bustling main street, listening to the laughter around her and looking at the happy smiles on the faces of men, women, old, and young alike, she gradually became infected by the atmosphere. Her mood began to lighten as well. Moreover, Xiao Yu had an open and cheerful personality and never allowed things to become dull. Whenever he saw something interesting or entertaining, he would quickly call out to her with a smile and invite her to look as well. The youthful energy and vitality about Xiao Yu seemed highly infectious. Thus, as the afternoon passed, Shaoyin gradually began to feel as though she truly were out enjoying herself. She and Xiao Yu watched acrobatics and puppet shows, played little street games together, and several times found the corners of her lips curling upward along with Xiao Yu’s smile. Before she knew it, time had flown by, and dusk had arrived. Xiao Yu brought her to a well-known restaurant in the West Market to have dinner and rest for a while. While they waited for the dishes to arrive, Xiao Yu took out a small box. With a smile at the corner of his lips, he gently pushed it across the table toward her. “This morning, when I went to the palace to offer New Year’s greetings to Mother Consort, I mentioned that I would be going out with Sister this afternoon. When Mother Consort heard that, she gave me this and asked me to pass it on to Sister.” Xiao Yu smiled. “Please accept it, Sister. This is Mother Consort’s goodwill toward you.” Shaoyin opened the box and saw a pair of pink hibiscus-jade bracelets. Both the material and workmanship were extraordinarily exquisite; they must have been gifts bestowed by the late emperor years ago. Shaoyin had hardly interacted with the Noble Consort Dowager and therefore should not accept such a costly gift. But since Xiao Yu had said it was the Noble Consort Dowager’s “goodwill,” Shaoyin, as her junior, could not refuse. She could only accept it. She expressed her thanks to Xiao Yu for the Noble Consort Dowager, while thinking that the next time she entered the palace, she would definitely go to Shou’an Palace to pay her respects and thank the Noble Consort Dowager in person. In Shaoyin’s memories, Xiao Yu’s mother, the Noble Consort Dowager, had been a rather unusual favored consort during the late emperor’s reign. Although her rank was second only to the empress, she enjoyed the emperor’s favor and had given birth to a prince, Noble Consort Shen had been gentle and modest. She had never relied on the emperor’s favor to become arrogant. She was lenient toward those beneath her, and toward the empress, whose position was above hers, she had always strictly observed the rites of rank and status, never showing the slightest disrespect or overstepping her bounds. Even so, Aunt had disliked Noble Consort Shen intensely at the time. Though she maintained a good relationship with Noble Consort Shen in public, Aunt had once mocked her in private, saying that Noble Consort Shen was hypocritical. Shaoyin had happened to overhear her. It was understandable. What wife could truly like her husband’s beloved concubine? Thinking of Aunt, Shaoyin could not help thinking of how Aunt was now alone and forlorn in Chongqing Palace. She did not know what festival it was, nor even who she was. Perhaps, just as Shaoyin had seen the last time she visited, Aunt was currently speaking to herself in front of a mirror, with no one to care for her. The mere thought made Shaoyin’s eyes redden. She forcibly swallowed the ache in her throat and lowered her eyes to conceal her loss of composure. She was not alone at this moment—Xiao Yu had happily accompanied her out to play, and she did not want to spoil someone else’s enjoyment. But no matter how hard Shaoyin tried to hide it, Xiao Yu still noticed the change in her mood. His smile froze at the corners of his lips. Looking at her anxiously, he asked carefully, “…What’s wrong, Sister?” Then he asked, “…Did I do something wrong? Did I make some mistake and upset you?” “…No… It has nothing to do with you. I just… suddenly thought of Aunt…” Shaoyin forced down the sourness in her heart and tried to give Xiao Yu a smile. “I’m sorry. We came out to enjoy ourselves together, and I shouldn’t be like this and spoil your mood.” But Xiao Yu said, “Sister, don’t say that. I want to make you happy, and I want to share the things that make you sad and upset.” Shaoyin had not expected Xiao Yu to say such a thing. For a moment, she did not know how to respond. Fortunately, the restaurant’s waiter arrived just then, calling out cheerfully as he carried the food and wine into the private room. Shaoyin used the meal as an excuse not to continue the conversation. Yet Xiao Yu’s words seemed to linger in her heart, so sincere that they stirred the same ache within her. Although Sister Xue did not say anything further, Xiao Yu knew that she was missing her Aunt. He thought about how he might help Sister Xue see her Aunt, but he did not say anything for the moment. There were many things he only wanted to do quietly for Sister Xue; he did not want to mention them merely to claim credit. By the time they finished dinner, night had already fallen outside the restaurant. As Shaoyin was leaving the restaurant with Xiao Yu, a sudden explosion came from somewhere outside. Shaoyin flinched in alarm and instinctively stepped backward, straight into Xiao Yu’s arms. Worried that something had happened to Sister Xue, Xiao Yu had no time to concern himself with the separation between men and women. He hurriedly grasped Sister Xue by the shoulders and shielded her in his arms, warily looking around to see what had happened. Only after seeing that it was merely a child at the street corner, throwing a firecracker onto the ground, did Xiao Yu release her. He was just about to apologize to Sister Xue for his boldness when he saw her look up at him and raise a hand toward his hair. A fragment of colored paper had landed on his head, though he had no idea where the wind had blown it from. After Shaoyin removed the fragment, she could not help laughing. “You really are lucky.” As she spoke, she turned the colored paper around for him to see. A tiny character for “fortune” had been written on it. Smiling, Xiao Yu took the paper fragment from her and was about to speak when he suddenly saw Sister Xue stiffen. He hurriedly asked with concern, “What’s wrong, Sister?” “…Nothing… It’s nothing…” Although she said it was nothing, Shaoyin’s voice remained somewhat stiff, and her mind was hazy. For an instant just now, she could have sworn that she had seen Xiao Heng’s figure through the crowd.