Chapter 144: Each Holding Their Ground

Chapter 144: Each Holding Their Ground

Hearing Zhu Yan's response, Princess Xiangyang was both surprised and not.

She could understand why Zhu Yan argued with the Emperor over his favoritism towards other women. After all, before that palace maid appeared, Zhu Yan had been the sole recipient of the Emperor’s affection for many years. Jealousy is common among women, even those in the harem as consorts.

What she couldn't comprehend was the extent of Zhu Yan's actions, which seemed excessive. Far from the typical quarrels that end in reconciliation, Zhu Yan was adamant about joining a Taoist temple.

This seemed a bit too much.

Now that the Emperor has already extended an olive branch, Zhu Yan should ideally come down the ladder he offered and reconcile. Continuing this dispute will bring no benefits; on the contrary, it might genuinely anger the Emperor, leading to impatience and damaged feelings. In the end, it would be a loss rather than a gain.

Therefore, she was surprised. Zhu Yan, such an intelligent person, what exactly was she thinking?

As for not being surprised, it was due to Zhu Yan’s past 'glorious' actions in the palace: refusing titles, rejecting the Emperor's favor, smashing the jade plaque for the imperial bedchamber, destroying records in the Tongshi, and storming into the prison chamber.

Each act was akin to courting death.

Princess Xiangyang had no doubt that if it were someone else, they would probably be on the brink of facing the King of Hell at any moment.

Neither in her father’s palace nor in the Emperor's has Princess Xiangyang seen anyone dare to behave like this. Even Empress Wen Zhen, the favored Imperial Noble Consort Xu in her father’s reign, never dared to cause such a commotion in front of her father. The Emperor, known for his authoritarian and decisive nature, was not as gentle and lenient as his predecessor.

Honestly, Princess Xiangyang felt anxious for Zhu Yan if this continued.

She looked up at Zhu Yan, asking very seriously, “Ah Yan, do you really plan to stay in Taiping Temple and become a Taoist nun, never returning to the palace?”

“Of course.” Zhu Yan answered swiftly, without any hesitation.

“What exactly are you doing? No matter how big the quarrel, there should be limits. Even if you were furious, it should have subsided after a few days. That palace maid was an accident; the Emperor never took it to heart. His heart has always been with you, showing deep affection and generosity. His favor for you over the past ten years has been excessive, neglecting all others in the harem. Few men in this world could do that, let alone…”

“Let alone he is the Emperor.”

Zhu Yan cut off Princess Xiangyang coldly, interrupting her. She was tired of hearing such conciliatory talk these past few days and didn’t want to listen anymore. She questioned Princess Xiangyang, “The Emperor didn’t take that palace maid to heart, so you took it upon yourself to kill her?”

Her tone was filled with certainty.

Hearing this, Princess Xiangyang no longer showed her previous discomfort. Perhaps having opened up, she spoke frankly, “Ah Yan, she was just a palace maid.”

"Yes, a palace maid is also a person." Zhu Yan had had enough of this disregard for human life. The reason Xiangyang thought this way was that, as someone in a position of power, wielding the knife, she naturally took such an attitude for granted.

But Zhu Yan couldn’t do the same.

She did not kill directly, yet people died because of her.

"You should not come here anymore," Zhu Yan said indifferently. She once admired Xiangyang's boldness and decisiveness, but forgot that Xiangyang's actions were enabled by her status as a princess, inherently a part of imperial power.

That's why Xiangyang was particularly fond of wielding authority.

Given the choice to be the butcher or the cattle, who wouldn't choose the former?

Princess Xiangyang could clearly see Zhu Yan's displeasure and realized she had genuinely angered her. But thinking of their friendship over the past decade, the help Zhu Yan had provided during her toughest times, and how she attained her current power, she did not leave right away.

She was the last person who wanted to see Zhu Yan fall out of favor.

"Ah Yan, since you don't want to see me anymore, I might as well speak my mind once and for all."

Xiangyang looked at Zhu Yan, and seeing her not voicing any objections, continued: "Since you left the palace, everything from food to clothing to shelter has been provided daily by the palace, always in sufficient quantity and never late. Outside Taiping Temple, five hundred Jinwu guards protect you day and night. This is not because you are praying for the royal family at Taiping Temple, but because you are the favored imperial consort."

"Once the emperor's favor is gone, look at the fate of Deng Fei who was imprisoned in Xiangguo Temple, dying in misery and anger, and now Empress Liu, confined to Fengyi Palace, with her movements restricted. These are lessons from the past, not far away. Have you thought about the future if you continue like this? Have you thought about Si Lang?"

Xiangyang's gaze sharpened as she spoke, "In Dayu Palace, a child's status depends on the mother. Si Lang is still in the capital because of you. If you don't think for yourself, at least consider Si Lang. Favored princes who lose favor never end well."

Zhu Yan's expression shifted slightly, and she asked, "Xiangyang, are these your own words, or is the Emperor making you say them?"

"I am saying this of my own accord."

Zhu Yan felt somewhat relieved upon hearing this. She wasn't concerned about the threatening nature of Xiangyang's words, but about the person who spoke them.

The same words mean different things when spoken by different people.

Zhu Yan said to Xiangyang, "I understand."

As soon as she finished speaking, Xiangyang contradicted her, "No, Ah Yan, you don't understand."

"You've been in the palace for sixteen years and have never lost favor, but women in the palace can never escape the fate of losing their beauty and love. You rely on your beauty to monopolize the Emperor's favor, but what about the other women in the harem? Go see how the consorts in the old palace live. Over the years, they have faded from the Emperor’s favor..."

"Enough."

Zhu Yan fiddled with the golden threaded bracelet in her hand, almost laughing upon hearing these words, no longer wanting to listen.

Such a huge blame, she couldn't bear it.

With the Emperor's tendency to favor the new over the old, it would have been someone else if not her.

Zhu Yan thought, if even Xiangyang is saying this, she must be really pushed to the edge by the Emperor. She also remembered the Emperor's limited patience and that there were nearly ten days left until the stormy night predicted by the Qingping calculation. She didn't want the Emperor to become truly impatient and come to Taiping Temple in person, disregarding everything.

The Emperor's pride was always as thick as a city wall.

She needed to do something to delay the Emperor's personal visit.

She didn't want to see the Emperor again.

Having made her decision, she was resolute without regret.

Zhu Yan stood up, walked to the 'Huangting Jing' scripture placed before the Three Pure Ones, picked up a copy she had handwritten since coming to the Taoist temple, and handed it to Xiangyang. "Give this scripture to His Majesty, I've recently copied it. I've found peace in reciting the scriptures, and my calligraphy, especially the fine print, has improved. Please present it to His Majesty on my behalf."

She knew exactly how to irritate the Emperor, adding, "Also, about the clothes sent from the palace, don't send royal attire anymore. If you send anything, let it be Taoist robes; I prefer wearing them these days."

The blue Taoist robe she wore was bought by her eldest brother, Zhu Jin, in the East Market.

"With this task, you won't be returning empty-handed. You may leave now." Zhu Yan dismissed her again, this time without a trace of sentiment, her demeanor extremely cold, not sparing Xiangyang another glance.

Princess Xiangyang felt extremely uneasy, experiencing such cold treatment from Zhu Yan for the first time in many years.

After a short while, unable to sit still, she stood up, clutching the handwritten 'Huangting Jing'.

Xiangyang felt Zhu Yan was right about one thing; having this scripture meant she could return with something accomplished. Ever since Zhu Yan left the palace, the Emperor had been in a foul mood, increasingly irritable, and prone to sudden outbursts of anger, making everyone in the palace tread on eggshells.

The Imperial Attendant Yang Xin was dismissed from his position, severely beaten, and now clung to life at home, barely breathing.

In the court, several officials who had been inefficient were stripped of their ranks and exiled to Lingnan. Even the Imperial Secretary Xu Jie was recently berated by the Emperor for inappropriate wording in a drafted edict. Other ministers preferred to avoid the Emperor, dealing with matters directly with the Prime Ministers at the Administration Hall.

Princess Xiangyang got up to take her leave. Seeing no response from Zhu Yan, she awkwardly exited, but just as she stepped over the threshold of the hall, she heard Zhu Yan calling out, "Wait."

Xiangyang quickly turned around, thinking Zhu Yan had changed her mind, and joyfully called out to her.

But Zhu Yan said, "When you go back, tell His Majesty to replace the Jinwu Guard commander outside, Dongyang, with someone more astute."

The smile that had just begun to form on Princess Xiangyang's lips immediately faded. She acknowledged and left, disappointed.

Currently, Dongyang, Zuo Ji'an, was on duty outside.

Zhu Yan didn't want to involve others. Her third brother Zhu Ji also served in the Wei Mansion and was favored by the Emperor for his cleverness and good looks. By mentioning this, she hoped the Emperor would replace Zhu Ji with someone else, ensuring that even if she encountered trouble later, Zhu Ji would at most be demoted, not losing his life.

With Dongyang Zuo Ji'an, Zhu Yan couldn't predict how the Emperor might react in his fury, whether he might take Zuo Ji'an's life.

Knowing the Emperor well, she could only foresee and address as many issues as possible.

There are limits to human effort.

She tried to consider every aspect, involving others as little as possible.

——

In the Seven Star Palace, the Kaiyang Hall.

After returning from Taiping View, Princess Xiangyang headed straight here.

At the entrance, she heard Lin Fu quietly warn her, "Princess, the Emperor just had a serious outburst at the Right Deputy Director of the Ministry of Revenue over the front line's supplies."

Hearing this, Xiangyang hesitated, considering whether to come later, but then Xing En came out and said, "Come in quickly, the Emperor has been waiting."

Xiangyang nodded slightly, composed herself, and bravely entered the hall. After paying her respects, she did not delay and conveyed Zhu Yan's message, presenting the handwritten copy of "Huangting Jing" to the Emperor without waiting for his response.

The Emperor snatched it away, threw it to the ground without looking, and said darkly, "Fine, she's set on pursuing immortality now. She really is something." He had thought that after so many days, her anger would have subsided, and he was prepared to humble himself and appease her at Taiping View.

But it turned out he was wrong; Zhu Yan was seriously considering leaving secular life.

He looked up at Xiangyang and ordered sharply, "Leave."

Xiangyang, feeling relieved, quickly responded and withdrew.

The Emperor glared viciously at the "Huangting Jing" on the ground, growing increasingly angry, his heart and lungs aching with rage. Remembering what Princess Xiangyang said, that this Taoist scripture was handwritten by Zhu Yan, he stood up, bent over, and picked up the book he had thrown on the floor.

Recognizing the familiar handwriting, he had no doubt that Zhu Yan had used this book to provoke him.

Clutching the book tightly, the Emperor called for Xing En after a long pause, instructing him to summon Zhu Ji, the Centurion of the Guard Bureau. Despite his fury, he couldn't help but agree to her demands.

He decided to replace Zuo Jia'an with Zhu Ji.

——

July 7th, night.

Dark clouds obscured the sky, hiding the stars.

Suddenly, thunder roared through the night.

Author's note:

Today's update, kisses~ Happy Women's Day to all the lovelies!!