Chapter 143: Precaution in Advance

Chapter 143: Precaution in Advance

Half a month more?

Zhu Yan stood under the eaves outside the main hall of Taiping Temple, looking up at the sky. The scorching sun baked the earth, the sky was cloudless, and not a breath of wind stirred in the air. The branches of the cypress trees in the courtyard drooped listlessly, showing no signs of impending rain.

If it weren’t for their shared goal, she would have doubted Qingping’s skill in observing celestial phenomena.

She had waited for sixteen years; another half month would not make much difference.

When Taiping Temple was initially built, Zhu Yan’s plan was to burn it down and then flee with Qingping. Hence, the construction used more flammable cedar wood and less sturdy blue bricks.

In the initial blueprint of the plan, only she and Qingping knew about it. To keep it secret and avoid implicating others, she had been cautious, but the plan was accidentally discovered by her eldest brother Zhu Jin while Qingping was digging a tunnel. Qingping had no choice but to push the responsibility onto Zhu Yan.

When her eldest brother Zhu Jin first came to question her, his opening question was: "Sister, are you planning to escape the palace?"

Then, he added, "I’m willing to help you."

Hearing these words from Zhu Jin again after many years still shocked and comforted Zhu Yan. Now, unlike those days when her father, Zhu Qingyun, secretly broke off her engagement and entered her into the selection for the imperial concubines, Zhu Jin, a hot-blooded youth, had wanted to help her escape the Zhu family and avoid the selection, even suggesting she elope with Mo Wangzhi.

The current wealth and status of the Zhu family were all because of her. It was truly remarkable that Zhu Jin hadn’t been blinded by it.

Recently, with her leaving the palace, her sister-in-law and fourth sister Zhu Luo, among others, had rushed to Taiping Temple as if the sky were falling, desperately urging her to return to the palace and apologize to the Emperor, to reconcile and maintain the Zhu family's glory and position.

It seemed to be a case of the extremes of a situation provoking a reversal.

Her father, Zhu Qingyun, valued career and ambition as dearly as life itself and had always hoped Zhu Jin would study hard for the imperial examination, enforcing strict discipline from a young age. Yet, Zhu Jin was rebellious by nature, especially resistant to advancement, enduring countless beatings, growing more averse to studying, and instead joining the Mo family in trade and commerce.

Zhu Qingyun was infuriated to no end.

Now, Zhu Jin, due to his status as an imperial in-law, held the title of a third-rank Silver and Azure Light Envoy, but he steered clear of court politics and avoided forming connections with officials.

The Emperor once joked: "Ajin is indifferent to fame and fortune, more genuine than those hermits on Mount Zhongnan."

Therefore, when her elder brother Zhu Jin offered to help, Zhu Yan, after hesitating, being uncertain, and remaining silent for a long time, finally agreed to involve him upon hearing his words, "Sister, I am more reliable than Qingping." She then shared her entire plan with him.

The root of the problem was Zhu Yan's lack of trust in Qingping.

Especially regarding safety after leaving the palace.

It was proven that her elder brother, Zhu Jin, was more reliable, able to do more and act more conveniently. Just the tunnel, which Qingping worked on alone for many years without success, was completed within a year after Zhu Jin joined. Moreover, the two of them could watch out for each other when handling affairs outside.

A few years ago, she had given her elder brother Zhu Jin a book titled "Yi Yao" by Jing Fang, telling him that when she sent someone to retrieve the book, it would be the time for her to leave the palace. She needed him to find two suitable recently deceased bodies in advance to place in the tunnel and cover up after the event.

Now, there were two suitable bodies stored in the tunnel.

Recently, the Dog Emperor had ice sent to alleviate the summer heat, which Qingping used to preserve those bodies. Even so, they probably couldn’t last more than fifteen days and needed to be dealt with sooner, instructing Zhu Jin to continue searching for replacements.

Zhu Yan's initial plan was to start a sudden fire at midnight, burning down the entire Taiping Temple.

In the hot summer, fires are common due to dry conditions.

However, considering the five hundred Jinwu guards surrounding Taiping Temple, Zhu Yan worried about quick rescue efforts. After experiencing a thunderstorm, she decided to change her plan to setting the temple on fire during a thunderstorm night, using lightning to strike Taiping Temple and igniting it with flammable dry wood placed under the eaves.

To divert some of the Jinwu guards, Zhu Yan included the nearby arsenal in her plan, intending to have lightning strike and set it on fire first, thus drawing away some guards for rescue.

The Dog Emperor placed great emphasis on military preparedness.

These people taking it upon themselves to save the arsenal from fire would not incite the Dog Emperor's anger.

Dying from a lightning strike was not considered honorable in this era.

The Dog Emperor would undoubtedly try every means to cover it up. Even if he did not believe in ghosts and spirits, he would hesitate when dealing with her matters. After more than a decade of close association, she knew the Dog Emperor better than she knew herself. All her calculations were based on her understanding of his tendencies.

Over a decade, Roujia's nature had been gentle, graceful, and compliant.

Although she couldn't meet the Emperor's expectations, she managed to make him let down all his guards and suspicions.

She was almost unrecognizable to herself.

After all her schemes and calculations, Zhu Yan felt pathetic and heartbroken, relying on the Emperor's power and affection in the end.

"Qingping, go and tell Duke Dongyang and Zuo Jia'an that except for those sent by imperial command, I, as a first-rank Imperial Consort, should have the right to refuse visitors unless the Emperor has deposed me. They don't need to listen to me anymore. Otherwise, from this moment, I will see no one." To avoid suspicion, she had thought of enduring for a few days, but she could no longer bear the continuous persuasion to return to the palace.

Besides, with ten more days to go, if it continued like the last few days, she would be overwhelmed.

Qingping nodded in agreement, "In that case, if I’m free, I'll also stay there to help you fend off visitors." Despite his mocking, as a partner, he was willing to help.

Besides, he had had enough of the faces of those coming to persuade and reconcile.

Wealth and power can charm and blind.

The Zhu family was full of opportunists, except for Imperial Consort Yuan and Zhu Jin.

In the following days, Zhu Yan only met with her eldest brother Zhu Jin, not even her son Ah Ji.

"It's fine not to see others, but you should meet your son. After all, every meeting now is one less for the future," Zhu Jin pleaded on behalf of his nephew, kneeling outside.

Zhu Yan shook her head, "Ah Ji has grown to fifteen without ever being denied anything." Thinking of her son's audacity to even demand the crown prince's position from the Emperor, she sighed, "He needs to face a setback, to understand that he can't always get what he wants."

"Ah Jin, if this goes well, I have another request for you. If there's any change in the palace, regardless of whether he is the crown prince at that time, please persuade him to step back bravely, retire as a feudal prince, and live peacefully in his domain."

Hearing this, Zhu Jin’s expression changed slightly, looking up at Zhu Yan, he called out, "Sister, perhaps the Emperor's affection for you, and his father-son relationship with Ah Ji, will prevent it from reaching that point."

"Not in the short term."

But no one can guarantee the long term. Hearts change, and Zhu Yan admitted she couldn't foresee the future. She suddenly asked Zhu Jin, "Have you been to the palace to meet the Emperor?"

Otherwise, Zhu Jin wouldn't mention the Emperor's affection for her.

Zhu Jin didn’t hide it, admitting, "The Emperor hopes I can persuade you to return to the palace. He said the argument that day was in the heat of the moment and he doesn't hold it against you. He's been waiting for you in Yaoguang Hall these days."

Zhu Jin thought about the Emperor's sincere words. If he hadn't grown up with his sister or understood her aspirations since childhood, or if she were the Empress instead of a consort, he might have been swayed, almost losing his resolve.

After speaking, fearing Zhu Yan might misunderstand, he quickly raised his right hand to assure, "Sister, I’m still on your side. I’m just the messenger."

"I know."

Zhu Yan had never doubted him since deciding to involve him in her plans, unlike her reservations with Qingping. She also cautioned him about another matter, "Remember this, if our second brother continues as he is now, merely holding a nominal position, it’s fine. But if he ever holds a real post, you must immediately sever ties with him."

Zhu Jin was shocked and asked hurriedly, "Did our sister-in-law say something unpleasant? Don’t mind her. Ah Wei said she talks too much, and mother said she’s too ambitious."

'Ah Wei' refers to his wife, Wei Shi.

'Mother' refers to his stepmother, Mo Shi.

He had heard from his wife Wei Shi that ever since their third brother got promoted in the Guard Bureau, advancing from a regular sixth-rank to a fourth-rank Centurion, his wife gained status as a county lady. His sister-in-law often complained at home about being the only one without a title.

She even urged their mother to go to the palace to seek a title for her or a higher official position for their second brother.

In the Dayu Dynasty, only relatives of officials of the fifth rank and above could receive titles. Currently, their second brother held an assistant teaching position in the National Academy, which was an upper sixth rank.

"Mother warned her to stay in line or she'd replace her for our second brother. I thought she had calmed down. I’ll talk to him when I get back. Our second brother really should keep her in check," Zhu Jin said, frowning.

Zhu Yan responded sarcastically, "Perhaps our second brother is contemplating a change of wife."

"Surely not."

Zhu Jin looked shocked and uncertain. With his sister's favor in the palace, the Zhu family’s status had visibly risen over the years. Their third brother married a fourth-rank official’s daughter, a match downplayed by their mother. Now it was their fourth and fifth brothers’ turn, and their matches were all from families of third-rank officials or higher, nobility, or relatives of the Emperor.

"Just remember what I said." Zhu Yan reiterated. Their second brother was different from Zhu Jin. He was more influenced by their mother Mo Shi and Zhu Jin, while the second brother always listened to their father Zhu Qingyun, showing similar traits. Seeing the sister-in-law's behavior at Taiping Temple these days, Zhu Yan was concerned.

Their second brother had failed the imperial examinations five times, only passing the Mingjing exam two years ago at the age of twenty-three.

But the Emperor was known for his unconventional appointments and favoritism. With the example of their third brother's rapid promotions, Zhu Yan worried that if the second brother took up a substantial post and rose quickly, he might bring disaster to the entire Zhu family, even implicating Zhu Jin.

Her warning to Zhu Jin was merely a precaution.

Maybe she was worrying needlessly.

After a few days of tranquility, Zhu Yan eventually had to meet with Princess Xiangyang who came under imperial orders.

When she first left the palace, Princess Xiangyang had tried to persuade Zhu Yan, but their conversation was unpleasant and ended on bad terms.

Upon entering this time, Princess Xiangyang, wary of irritating Zhu Yan again, got straight to the point, "Ah Yan, the Emperor sent me to tell you that if you're willing to return to the palace, he promises to send Consort Qin and Noble Consort Xu to your son’s fiefdom ahead of schedule."

Zhu Yan, upon hearing this, didn’t respond immediately but instead inquired about another matter, "Xiangyang, the pregnant palace maid, is she alive? Or dead?"

Princess Xiangyang uncomfortably shifted her gaze away.

Zhu Yan understood everything immediately, scoffed coldly, and dismissed her, "Leave, and tell the Emperor that I will not return."

Author's note:

Kisses for today’s update~~