Chapter 141: Self-Governance

Chapter 141: Self-Governance

Empress Yuan summoned Lu Ping'an, instructing him to visit the Zhu Mansion and retrieve the book "Yi Yao" by Jing Fang, which she had given to her elder brother Zhu Jin a few years ago.

Zhu Jin held an honorary title as a literary official, titled Silver and Azure Guanglu Grand Master, a third-rank position usually granted as an honor to nobles or royals without actual duties, merely entitling the bearer to a salary and corresponding privileges.

Zhu Jin, the epitome of a leisurely aristocrat in the Zhu family, was an easy find at their mansion.

Lu Ping'an promptly completed the task and reported with a smile, "Master Silver and Azure told me to assure Your Majesty that he took great care of the book." Silver and Azure referred to his official title.

Empress Yuan took the sealed book and inquired if her brother had said anything else.

Lu Ping'an recalled, "Oh, when I was leaving, he mentioned going to Taiping Observatory to consult the diviner Qingping Sanren."

Empress Yuan nodded, dismissing him and caressed the book, unopened. The book, used for divining omens, became significant since she discovered the superstitious Emperor's belief in these things, sparking her thoughts of escape using supernatural omens.

She had kept it as a precaution, never expecting it to become useful one day.

In the afternoon, Xu Xiuyuan, the mother of the Sixth Prince, visited Empress Yuan at Qixing Palace, expressing her desire to join her son in his domain sooner. She promised to erect a temple for Empress Yuan in Xiangdong and performed a grand ritual, which Empress Yuan hastened to stop and support her.

Empress Yuan's willingness to advocate for concubines with children to join their sons was not only to prevent Qin Zhuzhu from feeling isolated but also aligned with her long-standing wish. Unable to fulfill it herself, she aimed to help others achieve it.

The primary, unspoken reason was for her son, Ah Ji.

It was about forging good karma.

In the Great Yu imperial harem, a child's status depended on the mother's. Despite Ah Ji's proximity to the crown prince position, his situation could flip if the Emperor favored a new consort or son. Even seated as the crown prince, Ah Ji would remain vulnerable.

Empress Yuan had initially hoped to entrust Ah Ji to Empress Liu.

Alas, Empress Liu herself was now in peril.

The palace dynamics shifted rapidly and unpredictably.

Prior to this, Zhu Yan's impression of Xu Xiuyuan was rather vague, knowing only that she was timid, reticent, and that her son had been appointed as the Prince of Xiangdong, a distant territory in Xiangdong. It was a title Zhu Yan had once sought for her own son, Aji, but in an ironic twist of fate, it had gone to the sixth prince instead.

However, Xiangdong in this era was very remote and impoverished, far away from the capital, Chang'an.

Zhu Yan found that, apart from being timid, Xu Xiuyuan was a very sincere person. Neither of them were talkative, and beyond initial pleasantries and serving tea, they soon fell into silence. In total, Xu Xiuyuan's visit to the Yaoguang Hall lasted less than a quarter of an hour.

Before leaving, Xu Xiuyuan, ignoring Zhu Yan’s objections, kowtowed three times to express her gratitude.

Zhu Yan personally escorted Xu Xiuyuan out, and coincidentally encountered the Emperor returning to the palace at the grand hall entrance.

Xu Xiuyuan hastily bowed, "Greetings to Your Majesty."

The Emperor glanced at Xu Xiuyuan and took a while to recognize her. His face darkened as he asked, "Who allowed you to come here? What are you doing here?"

He remembered that among the consorts in the old palace, only Consort Qin and Zhu Yan had a good relationship.

At the entrance, Zhu Yan initially didn't want to engage with the Emperor, preferring to talk inside. However, seeing Xu Xiuyuan turn pale and tremble under the Emperor's gaze, barely able to speak, Zhu Yan intervened, "She came to speak with me."

Hearing this, the Emperor didn't pursue further. He looked up at Zhu Yan with a smile, "I'm going back first. I rode all the way here and am covered in sweat." After saying this, he strode inside, followed by his attendants who bowed to Zhu Yan and Xu Xiuyuan before hurrying after him.

Zhu Yan watched the Emperor's retreating figure, her brows furrowed. Turning back, she saw Xu Xiuyuan exhale in relief. Meeting Zhu Yan's gaze, Xu Xiuyuan looked caught and awkwardly averted her eyes, "Sister, I should leave."

Zhu Yan nodded, "Take it slow on the road. Have the coachman drive carefully."

Xu Xiuyuan walked towards the carriage pulled by two red horses parked on the right.

The carriage started moving slowly.

Zhu Yan stood at the doorway, watching the elegant carriage depart until it was out of sight. Only after Qu Gu's reminder did she turn and walk back slowly. She had been eager to confront the Emperor directly before he returned, but now that he was back, her urgency had faded.

In fact, after meeting with Xiangyang, she already had her answer.

No matter how slow one walks, there is always an end.

Zhu Yan hoped to control her emotions as much as possible. With a heavy heart, she returned to the grand hall, only to find it empty, "Where is His Majesty?"

"His Majesty went to the cleansing chamber to bathe, and Eunuch Xing is attending to him," Lin Fu, an attendant left in the hall, quickly responded.

Empress Yuan, upon hearing this, felt the tension in her heart deflate by half. She shook her fan lightly, instructing, "You may leave. No need to attend here in the hall."

Lin Fu, one of the Emperor's close attendants, familiar with Empress Yuan's habits, didn't hesitate. He bowed and left the great hall.

Empress Yuan then said to Qu Gu, "Bring me some hot tea and then leave."

Qu Gu, hesitant, met Empress Yuan's indifferent gaze and advised, "Your Majesty, please speak kindly with the Emperor. Think of the Fourth Prince."

Empress Yuan didn't respond, moving to sit on a low couch at the lower end of the hall, leaning against an armrest and closing her eyes. Qu Gu prepared fresh hot tea, topping up the teapot, before retreating to the entrance of the hall.

In the four corners of the hall, the mythical beast ice mirrors emitted a subtle coolness.

The hall was utterly silent.

Only the slight swaying of Empress Yuan's ivory-handled peony fan made a soft sound. So, when the Emperor entered, despite his careful steps, Empress Yuan immediately sensed his presence and opened her eyes. The Emperor wore a loose plain robe, his hair freshly washed, untied, and damp, hanging down his back.

The Emperor sat beside Empress Yuan, reaching for her tea bowl. Upon sipping, he spat it out, surprised, "Hot tea in summer? How have I wronged you?" He quickly called for Xing Gonggong to bring a bowl of ice water, feeling his tongue burn.

Seeing the Emperor's reaction, Empress Yuan sat up straight and asked, "Haven't you seen anyone sent by Xiangyang?"

"Seen who? I rode straight here from the military camp, eager to see you," the Emperor replied, then hurriedly drank some ice water to soothe the burn, asking, "What happened in the old palace?"

"I have a favor to ask."

The Emperor, intrigued by her use of 'ask', set down his tea bowl, reaching to embrace Empress Yuan but she evaded, prompting him to chuckle, "Tell me, what is this important matter that you're asking about?"

"I wish to ask you to allow Consort Qin and Consort Xu to go to their sons' fiefs in advance."

The Emperor, hearing this, instantly dropped his teasing demeanor, looking seriously at Yuan, "Yuan, you're quite direct, not mincing words. I'm still alive, you know."

"I just think keeping them in the palace, where Your Majesty won't favor them, serves no purpose. Better to let them reunite with their sons, easing their longing and allowing their sons to fulfill filial duties."

After saying this, Yuan looked unwaveringly at the Emperor, quickly changing the subject, "After all, Your Majesty prefers younger beauties. The palace maid sent by Xiangyang during last month's Dragon Boat Festival, just sixteen, a youthful beauty."

The Emperor, startled, his expression changed. He knew Yuan was sensitive about this, asking nervously, "You know about this?" His voice, though questioning, was certain, urgently asking, "Who told you? Was it Consort Xu who just left?"

His tone was almost accusatory.

Yuan felt like she had plunged into icy waters, chilled, even though she knew already. The shock was different hearing the Emperor's confirmation, devastating her.

No room for self-deception remained.

Yuan, frosty-faced, retorted, "Your Majesty, can you stop blaming others for everything? When trouble arises, you lash out. If you hadn't done it, no one could have reported it. But now, heavens and earth witness, you can't hide forever."

"Or do you wish me to remain blind and deaf forever, deceived until you tire of deceiving me?"

"A man's word is his bond, Your Majesty. As a ruler and a man of honor, breaking promises and deceiving even a woman, or perhaps, should I be grateful for your efforts in deceiving me?"

"I never thought like that, Yuan,"

The Emperor hastily explained, in his mind, it was long past, shocked that Yuan brought it up so fiercely, caught off guard. He tried to soothe her, reaching to embrace her, but she pushed him away, he earnestly said, "Yuan, I never intended to hide or deceive you. I just didn't want you to get upset over nothing."

"It's not a big deal, just a palace maid. It doesn't affect us. How I've treated you these years, you know well. I hold you dear. It's your jealousy making a mountain out of a molehill."

Yuan, enraged yet laughing, found the last topic she wanted to discuss was their bond.

"Yes, I am jealous. Your Majesty knows it well and promised me before. Why then favor other women knowing this?"

The Emperor, seeing no point in hiding, confessed, "Yuan, that day I had too much to drink."

"Drunk, yet still energetic enough for a woman? Were you truly drunk or feigning it? Perhaps the alcohol emboldened you, stirring up desires and leading to reckless actions..."

The Emperor, shocked and angered by her words, his face turned extremely dark, shouted furiously, "Insolence! Silence!"

"Not a big deal? Exposed the truth and hit a nerve, did I?"

"Yuan, I'm the Emperor, responsible for all under heaven. Do I really have to be controlled by you, even in my personal freedoms? For ten years, it's been only you. Now, for a mere palace maid, you confront me with such hostility. Is there any woman as jealous as you?"

"Who's controlling you? I dare not claim that false title. Sleep with whomever you want, just stay away from me. I despise it," Yuan retorted angrily, then declared, "You're the Emperor, and I can't stop you from coming to Yuanling Hall. I'll willingly give you space. From today, I'll retire to Taiping Temple."

"Fine, go now."

The Emperor, as if his airway was struck, furious and impulsive, yelled out, "Send her out of the palace to Taiping Temple immediately, I won't tolerate this anymore."

Yuan turned and walked away without looking back.

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