Chapter 2: Longevity and Perpetuity

Chapter 2: Longevity and Perpetuity

"I have been waiting for you,"

Inside Fengyi Palace, as soon as they met, Empress Liu, without waiting for Zhu Yan to finish her formalities, smiled and extended her hand to lift her up, then gestured for her to sit beside her, "It was my idea to arrange Su Cairen in your palace, but the emperor also agreed."

Zhu Yan hadn't even settled into her seat when her frantic heart found some relief. She internally cursed the despicable emperor for his scheming, yet she had only guessed half right, wrongly assuming the other half; it was actually the Empress's idea, "Why?"

She voiced the doubts in her heart.

Four years had been enough for her to understand the dignified and composed Empress Liu, who was not meddlesome and always strived for harmony in the harem, avoiding conflicts. Yet, assigning Su Cairen to her palace was clearly a provocative move.

Su Cairen was the top pick of this year's selection, and Zhu Yan was the top pick of the previous one. Anyone with even a hint of ambition would be stirred to compete.

Moreover, the rank difference between a Cairen and a Beauty was just one level.

With Su Cairen's beauty, advancing further wouldn't be difficult, and then the hierarchy within Fuhua Palace might become uncertain.

"I hope you won't continue to be at odds with the emperor."

"Your Majesty, I have never been at odds with the emperor," Zhu Yan said, her smile fading, her tone as decisive as ever.

Hearing this, Empress Liu massaged her forehead wearily, dismissed the attendants, leaving even Liu Gonggong, the palace manager, and spoke after everyone had left, "If you're not at odds, then accept the position of Zhaoyi. I will have Cai Shishi place your jade tablet in the emperor's chamber..."

"I don't wish to."

"Ayan, the emperor needs a way out."

Empress Liu's gaze fixed on Zhu Yan, her voice lowering, "I understand your thoughts. According to the Great Yu dynasty's ancestral laws, princes are enfeoffed at fifteen and must go to their fiefdoms. After the emperor's passing, the prince's mother can join him. You have Aji, but Ayan, you need to be alive until then, alive to leave the palace."

Aji was the fourth prince, Zhang Ji, born to Zhu Yan.

"Though I am the head of the six palaces, if the emperor intervenes in harem affairs, I can't protect you. You know his temperament better than I do; he is autocratic and does whatever he pleases."

Zhu Yan was well aware of the despicable emperor's nature. Flatteringly put, he was autocratic and followed his own will; bluntly put, he was a tyrannical and capricious dictator. "Sister, don't worry. I won't anger the emperor again. I just want to take care of Aji and watch him grow up."

Empress Liu didn't respond to Zhu Yan's words, musing to herself, "Of course, I have my own motives. I'd rather have you as the favorite consort than the newcomers, whose character is unknown to me. So Ayan, if you're willing, taking advantage of the new entrants, I will propose to the emperor to appoint you as one of the Four Consorts."

"I cannot bear this responsibility."

"You are more than capable. Since the crown prince and the eldest prince passed away last year, aside from Consort Wei's third prince, there's only the fourth prince by your side. With Prince Aji at your side, you can bear this status. Considering the Emperor's affection for you, if you wish, the position of Imperial Consort..."

"I do not wish for it."

As soon as Zhu Yan heard the term 'Imperial Consort', her entire demeanor changed. She rudely interrupted Liu Zhongshi's words, forgetting all propriety. The title was a thorn in her side, untouchable and unbearable. Despite deviating from the original plot, was she still expected to return to it?

Impossible.

Absolutely impossible.

Spilled water can't be gathered; a broken mirror can't be made whole again.

Zhu Yan took a deep breath of cool air, "Your Majesty, there are countless beauties in the palace, and the Emperor is still young. More beauties will win his favor in the future, and more princes will be born. The positions of the four consorts should be left for others. Being able to serve in the palace and receive Your Majesty’s favor and protection, and having Prince Aji by my side, is more than enough for me."

"You..."

Empress Liu stared at Zhu Yan in disbelief, both crying and laughing, pointing her finger at her. Despite knowing Zhu Yan's aspirations, she was still taken aback. Everyone in the palace vied for the Emperor's favor, but Zhu Yan was the exception. Perhaps more accurately, Zhu Yan wasn't an exception at all.

She still remembered how, three years ago upon entering the palace, Zhu Yan became the exclusive favorite, overshadowing all others in the harem.

Two years ago, no one knew what had transpired in Fuhua Palace.

Afterwards, Zhu Yan had a falling out with the Emperor, or more precisely, she was the only one upset, even smashing the jade tablet for imperial visits, refusing the Emperor's favor, and shocking the inner court.

"Sister, I really dislike Su Cairen. To avoid future conflicts and disturbances in the palace, and to spare you trouble, I request that you transfer her out of Fuhua Palace."

"I can't make that decision, but you can personally ask the Emperor." Empress Liu didn't dare agree.

Zhu Yan felt disappointed upon hearing this but understood the Empress's character. She didn’t persist and bid farewell. Before leaving Fengyi Palace, Empress Liu patted her back and said meaningfully, "Ah Yan, reconsider my suggestion. I hope that in the palace, we can be companions for a long time."

——

Liu Gonggong, the palace manager of Fengyi Palace, watched Zhu Yan's retreating figure with anxious brows. Turning back, she couldn't help but remind, "The last sentence, Her Majesty shouldn't have said that."

"What did I say?"

Empress Liu replied with a hint of a smile, "I didn't say anything. I was just trying to mediate."

Liu Gonggong looked troubled, "Zhu Yan has always been intelligent and perceptive."

"That's exactly why I said it because she is smart. If she were foolish, I wouldn't have bothered," Empress Liu said, touching the phoenix hairpin by her ear and walked back into the palace with grace.

At this moment, Zhu Yan, the 'smart one' referred to by Empress Liu, indeed became suspicious.

The Empress, though a Buddhist, was benevolent and never acted without purpose. She wouldn't have said those final words without a reason.

There was a clear hidden meaning.

It was not as superficial as it seemed. Zhu Yan couldn't figure it out for the time being. Moreover, her priority was to have Su Cairen transferred out of Fuhua Palace. With the Empress's avenue closed, she had to find another way.