Chapter 191: Aspiring for Greater Heights

Chapter 191: Aspiring for Greater Heights

Xiao Yiyuan had never encountered such a girl before, vivacious, with eyes so pure, as immaculate as the radiant moonlight, devoid of any impurities.

"Master Xiao."

The girl’s voice came again, pulling Xiao Yiyuan back to reality. He responded with a hum, stepped forward, tiptoed to reach the kite hanging on the wall, lifted it high, and said, "Miss, you may pull the string now."

Tang Anle uttered an acknowledgment, gently tugging at the kite's string, and then she raised the kite. Bending her eyes into a smile, she said, "All done, thank you, Master Xiao."

Xiao Yiyuan nodded, "No need."

"Then, I'll make my way down." Tang Anle waved at him and started to turn around to descend, prompting Xiao Yiyuan to caution her, "Be careful."

Tang Anle looked back at him with a smile, "Don't worry, I’m quite skilled."

Hearing her say this for the second time, Xiao Yiyuan couldn't help but want to laugh. He had now heard the young lady boast about her prowess twice.

Watching the ornament on the young lady’s head disappear over the wall and hearing the sound of her safe landing on the other side, Xiao Yiyuan finally walked away. However, after a few steps, he couldn't resist looking back at the wall.

On the other side, Tang Anle jumped down from the rockery and said to Xiao Yuzhu, "He resembles Cousin Yuming a bit."

Xiao Yuzhu took the kite from her, "Right, I think so too."

As they walked on, Tang Anle asked Xiao Yuzhu, "What do you think of him?"

"He seems decent," replied Xiao Yuzhu.

"That's good," said Tang Anle, "Yesterday, my mother and father were discussing him, saying that it would be troublesome if he harbored improper intentions."

Xiao Yuzhu had a favorable impression of Xiao Yiyuan and said, "He seems quite decent from what I've seen so far, and he's good at studying too. Fang Darru holds him in high regard."

"So, is he better at studying than Cousin Yuxin?" asked Tang Anle.

With a haughty huff, Xiao Yuzhu declared, "Naturally, my elder brother is the one with scholarly prowess."

Tang Anle giggled, "I think so too."

The two young girls continued their conversation as they reached the garden, where they began flying kites anew.

……

In the palace, the Empress Dowager Jiashu once resided in these halls, now sitting face to face with the Emperor. Although they were both in their fifties, the Emperor appeared significantly more aged.

"How has your health been lately, Empress Dowager?" the Emperor asked with a smile.

The Empress Dowager gave a faint smile, "It's much the same, merely enduring the days."

The Emperor's gaze lowered momentarily before he looked at the Empress Dowager again, saying, "The Sixth Brother also wishes for your wellbeing."

"Nowadays, I spend my days chanting Buddhist scriptures," the Empress Dowager's voice carried a twilight tone.

"You shouldn't stay cooped up in the manor all day. The weather is neither cold nor hot; it would be good to go out for a walk," suggested the Emperor.

The Empress Dowager hummed in acknowledgment, "I often visit Chongguang Temple to offer incense."

At this point, as if recalling something, a smile graced her face, "I seem to have a karmic connection with the Marchioness of Yongning. I've run into her several times when offering incense. And her little girl, she seems quite endearing."

"The Marchioness of Yongning also goes to offer incense?" the Emperor asked casually, his regard for the Yongning Marquis household having waned recently.

"Yes, to offer incense for the late Marquis of Yongning," the Empress Dowager sighed, "It's not easy for her, widowed with three children after the Marquis died in battle. It's quite pitiable. Please look after them more, Your Majesty."

The Emperor's expression faltered slightly, uncertain if the Empress Dowager's sudden visit was related to the Yongning Marquis household.

"Xiao Huai died for Daqian, it is my duty to look after them," the Emperor said. "Jingming is thoughtless, always troubling the Yongning Marquis household. I have severely reprimanded him this time."

"This child, he must be taught gradually," the Empress Dowager sighed again, "If Chengyun could have left behind a son or a daughter, it would have given me some solace."

Hearing her words, the Emperor frowned slightly and suggested, "Have you considered adopting a child from the imperial clan for Chengyun? That would ensure his lineage."

"We shall see what fate brings," said the Empress Dowager.

"If you are inclined, I can summon the children of the imperial clan, and you may choose," he offered.

The Empress Dowager shook her head, "Let's talk about it another time."

Seeing her reluctance, the Emperor did not press further and said, "Should you ever consider adoption, do let me know."

The Empress Dowager hummed in acknowledgment, and after an indifferent exchange, she excused herself on the pretext of other matters and left the palace.

Returning to his study, the Emperor pondered the true purpose of the Empress Dowager's visit. Reflecting on their conversation, he concluded that her concerns lay with the Yongning Marquis household.

Was it because of the matter with Li Jingming? Did she fear his wrath would extend to the Yongning Marquis household, prompting her to make a special trip to the palace? But since when had the Empress Dowager become so closely involved with them?

"Investigate the Empress Dowager's interactions with the Yongning Marquis household," the Emperor instructed Jiao Kangsheng.

As Jiao Kangsheng left to carry out the order, the Emperor felt a sense of unease. If the Empress Dowager went out of her way to visit the palace for the sake of the Yongning Marquis household, might other ministers also believe he would act against them?

Before his ascension to the throne, he had imagined that becoming Emperor would free him from many constraints. Yet, once enthroned, he found himself even more restricted.

At times, he truly wished to act on a whim, to abandon the burdensome role of a wise and just ruler. But that was merely a fleeting thought.

……

Upon returning to her residence from the palace, the Empress Dowager entered the study, penned a few words on a small slip of paper, then approached the window. She opened the birdcage, took out a pigeon, tied the note to its leg, and released it into the sky.

Watching the pigeon soar higher and farther away, the Empress Dowager murmured to herself, "Soon, very soon."

……

Xiao Yiyuan spent several more days at the Yongning Marquis household. During this time, Tang Shuyi had someone closely monitor the Second Prince's residence, which was tightly guarded by the Imperial Forest Army, allowing not even a dog to escape. Even their food was delivered daily.

The Emperor loved his son, but when it came to choosing between him and the throne, the throne was paramount. The Second Prince had crossed a line that the Emperor could not ignore.

Regardless, with the crisis temporarily averted, she allowed Xiao Yiyuan to return to the Shanglin Academy. Coincidentally, as he left the Yongning Marquis household, he ran into Tang Anle, who had come to visit Xiao Yuzhu, right at the doorstep.

Both were taken aback upon meeting, then Xiao Yiyuan greeted Tang Anle with a formal bow, which she returned, and they passed by—one leaving, the other entering.

Xiao Yiyuan finally learned that she was the young miss of the Tang Ducal Mansion, and for some reason, this left him feeling somewhat heavy-hearted.

Upon reaching Shanglin Academy, he went straight to Master Fang Darru's study. Without hiding anything, he recounted all that had transpired during his absence.

"I had not expected your connection with the Yongning Marquis household to be of this nature," Master Fang Darru commented. "I had heard about the old Marquis's search for a wife. Alas, it seems fate plays its own games."

Xiao Yiyuan nodded slightly, and Fang Daru continued, "Although Lady Yongning does not follow the common path in her actions, she is reasonable. Xiao Yuchen is even more upright, and though Xiao Yuming may be naughty, he has never committed any grave crimes. The Yongning Marquis’s household is trustworthy. It's beneficial for you to seek higher connections and there’s no harm in befriending the Yongning Marquis’s household."

"The student understands," Xiao Yiyuan sincerely said, "The people from the Marquis’s household have been very kind to me."

Fang Daru chuckled twice, "That's good to hear. However, during the imperial examinations, you'll have to compete with Xiao Yuchen. You must work hard, especially since he has a tutor who was once a top scorer in the examination."

"I shall endeavor to do my best," Xiao Yiyuan said.

At this moment, the aforementioned Xiao Yuchen was in dire straits, fleeing for his life.