Chapter 41: Sunset’s Glow

Chapter 41: Sunset's Glow

Indeed, Yuan Jun was immersed in reading within the Han Palace, in a tranquility that had settled since the strict surveillance began. Though the tutors still visited alternately to teach, they dared not speak much, given the intense watchfulness. Yet, in this newfound stillness, Yuan Jun devoted more time to studying history and literature. He approached his texts with an unprecedented dedication, meticulously reading, extensively exploring various subjects, and jotting down notes. The tutors were astounded by his academic progress yet sorrowful for his confinement, lamenting the untapped potential of his talent.

Each week, Yuan Jun's essays on state affairs were carefully composed and then inspected by others before being sealed and delivered to the Grand Tutor responsible for his education. The Grand Tutor, in turn, would submit these assignments to the Emperor for perusal. Occasionally, the Emperor would read them himself and offer red-inked comments before instructing that they be resealed and returned to the Imperial Palace. Once the Emperor had annotated the box, no one dared to inspect its contents further; it was immediately delivered, still sealed, to the Crown Prince.

Within the box that contained today's essays, someone had secretly inserted a letter.

Yuan Jun remained impassive, retrieving his own policy proposal. After scanning the comments on it, he merely stated his intention to rewrite it, requesting not to be disturbed. He dismissed all attendants who were in service, only then slowly unfolding the thin sheet of rice paper.

The rice paper was thin, and the words were few, yet Yuan Jun studied it repeatedly. His face turned ashen before he tucked the paper into his sleeve. He abruptly rose and instructed Yan Xin, "Fetch Shen Anlin here."

Unaware of the situation, Yan Xin noticed Yuan Jun's somber expression and promptly went out personally. Yuan Jun glanced at the sunset, as thick and translucent as honey, painting the sky. In the golden glow, the vegetable garden he had planted himself was thriving with life. After the spring rain and sunshine, the vegetables had grown wildly. The palace attendants in Han Gong could not possibly consume so much produce, and as a result, after a few days without harvesting, the chives had turned into lush green ribbons, swaying and rolling in the gentle spring breeze like a vibrant green carpet.

Vigorous vines twine around the bamboo trellis beside the vegetable patch, a structure he himself had crafted from bamboo harvested in the nearby hills and bound with his own hands. In the distance, young ducklings and goslings freshly released into the lake paddle about, their quacking sounds as tender as the nascent sunflower sprouts. The towering ancient trees nearby cast their emerald shadows upon the water, their reflections rippling gently.

A gentle breeze blew, abruptly dispelling the anger-induced dizziness in Yuan Jun's mind. No matter how urgent the situation, he must not lose his composure. He was under intense scrutiny, and one misstep could land him in a trap, dragging his elder sister down into an inescapable abyss.

He turned back into the room. Just as Yuan Jun was lifting his teacup to sip, Shen Anlin rushed in. The thin slip of paper concealed in the wide sleeves was clenched into a ball and swallowed along with the tea.

Each character on that paper seemed to be imbued with venom, and he had memorized them all, swallowing the poison as if it were a deadly draught.

Shen Anlin stepped forward to bow. "Your Highness, what instructions do you have for me?"

Yuan Jun glanced at Yan Xin, who promptly retreated. After a long moment of studying Shen Anlin, Yuan Jun said slowly, "I've heard that your sister is with child. I wish to pray for her well-being. When you return, please light incense for her at the Guan Yin Temple and make offerings to ensure a safe pregnancy. Also, consider providing food aid through soup kitchens and performing acts of charity, as a blessing for both your sister and her yet-unborn child."

A hint of joy appeared on Shen Anlin's face. "Yes, Your Highness, I will attend to these matters immediately."

Yuan Jun added, "Be diligent in supervising your family members and refrain from rushing into official duties."

Shen Anlin reassured, "Rest assured, Father and our kin mostly keep to themselves, devoting their time to reading and avoiding social gatherings or entertainment."

Yuan Jun closed his eyes briefly. "You may leave."

Shen Anlin observed Yuan Jun's less-than-pleased countenance with a touch of puzzlement, but he obediently bowed in respect and withdrew from the palace gate nonetheless. However, before he could even fully exit the palace grounds, a detachment of imperial guards detained him.

Yuan Jun was unaware that Shen Anlin had been detained. His face turned pale and his eyes cold as he sat alone in the dimly lit study, watching the thick sunset fade away. As usual, he went to bed that day, but he couldn't fall asleep for a long time. He was clearly so anxious that his heart felt as if it were on fire. As he watched the sky outside the window gradually brighten, he thought to himself, "Let me switch places with her, let me see my elder sister."

Unaware of the passing time, he dozed off only to awaken in Jingbei as dawn was breaking. With no time to tend to his lustrous black hair, he rushed to the princess's main residence, eager to request an audience with her.

Princess Yi Yang was seated by the window, a book in hand, dressed in a loosely fitting robe that showed its age. With her brows lowered and eyes averted, her slightly protruding belly contrasted with her thinner face, making her eyes appear larger and more sunken.

Their gazes met, and seeing the young palace maid's uncombed long hair and intense, anxious expression, Yi Yang immediately recognized it was her brother. She couldn't help but smile as she reached out to take his hand. "You're back? How was it there? Did the news of my pregnancy improve your situation in the capital?"

Yuan Jun held his sister's hand, feeling the fragility of her wrist, which stirred a pang of sorrow in his heart. He whispered, "Sis, it's perilous here. Let's go back!"

Yi Yang was taken aback. "Did you hear some rumor? Don't worry, it can't be that bad."

Yuan Jun kept holding her hand. "Someone secretly passed me a letter, stating that Prince Jingbei is infertile."

Yi Yang was astonished. "How is that possible?" A flicker of realization crossed her face, and for a moment, a myriad of emotions swirled within her chest. The strange and abrupt behavior of Prince Jingbei now made sense. She asked solemnly, "What exactly did the letter say? Tell me in detail."

Yuan Jun recounted the message from Princess Su that had been conveyed through the letter in a hushed tone.

Princess Yi Yang, filled with concern, said, "The person who wrote this letter must have malicious intentions, trying to sow discord between you and Father. Have you acted impulsively because of it?"

"No, I didn't make a scene," Yuan Jun shook his head. "The matter of Su's poisoning might indeed be true. Sis, the situation you're in now is too dangerous. I can't rest easy."

Princess Yi Yang replied, "The poisoning might be real, but the child in my womb is undoubtedly Prince Jingbei's."

Yuan Jun was startled.

Princess Yi Yang looked at him with an open gaze. "Aside from Prince Song and Prince Jingbei, I haven't had any inappropriate relations with any other man."

A warmth spread through Yuan Jun's chest. "I believe you, Sister! But, Prince Jingbei might not!"

Princess Yi Yang chuckled, her voice filled with sorrowful sarcasm. "After Prince Song's death, I no longer had any expectations in matters of love. This marriage was originally for mutual benefit, and now it has merely returned to its roots. The truth will eventually surface. Regardless of whether the child in my womb is his, his lack of denial suggests that it's not yet time for him to openly defy the court."

"Similar to how he had to reluctantly agree to marry me, it's all about endurance! Bei Xi is unstable, while the court has enjoyed peaceful years. Although the Emperor is somewhat incompetent, he hasn't done any lasting damage. With the ministers working together, things have been manageable. If he were to rebel, Bei Xi might take advantage of the situation, leaving him vulnerable from both sides. At the same time, if he opposes the court, he loses the moral high ground and could be accused of conspiring with Bei Xi to betray the nation, facing universal condemnation. Without the support of justice, the people's hearts won't align with him, and how could he possibly win? He can neither submit to the court nor rebel against it. With Prince Jingbei's position hanging by a thread, he has no choice but to marry a princess to stabilize the situation and maintain a superficial peace with the court."

Yuan Jun's eyes brimmed with concern. "If the childless plot is true, he must hate the court fiercely now."

Princess Yi Yang replied, "Prince Jingbei... won't do anything to me. Father's heart is as hard as iron; you're the one who needs to be cautious."

Anger flared on Yuan Jun's face, his hands trembling slightly, his eyes reddening, leaving him speechless.

Princess Yi Yang gathered the maid's silky black hair, softly advising him, "It's better to speak out and die than to remain silent and live. But we cannot act rashly. Once you act impulsively, the Emperor will undoubtedly become suspicious. The Emperor would never believe that you know of such a conspiracy without any resentment towards him. Once the last fig leaf of our father's dignity is stripped away, there's no going back. He remains our sovereign and father, and we cannot resist."

"Our current priority is to strengthen ourselves. Prince Jingbei isn't where we should stay, and we can't return to the court, as our father doesn't tolerate us. We must endure and exploit every opportunity. When you sit on that lofty imperial throne, then... you can bring me and our child back."

A cold determination gleamed in Yuan Jun's eyes.

Princess Yi Yang continued, "There's no need to resent Guo Shuji. On the contrary, if used wisely, he might even become our ally, given that we share a common enemy."

Yuan Jun replied, "You don't have to try to please him for my sake anymore. Not only do we have a shared enemy, but also a shared goal."

Princess Yi Yang picked up a hairpin from her dressing table, securing his hair in place. She comforted him, "Well, it's rare for you to visit. I don't know how long you can stay this time. I'm not sure if Rong Bi can handle things over there. But this swap might actually be for the better. She doesn't bear any resentment towards the Emperor and is content with a peaceful rural life. If you were still there, your presence might have been detected."

Yuan Jun said, "When I found out about this last night, I was troubled and just wanted to come to you as soon as possible. I wonder if this swap has anything to do with it."

Princess Yi Yang mused, "Speaking of the last swap, wasn't it when Rong Bi encountered trouble at the shop? She must have been upset then, considering the effort she put into the business. You should ask her if she was agitated at that time when you have the chance."

Yuan Jun fell silent. Princess Yi Yang, understanding his nature, chuckled and said, "Too shy to ask? The two of you sharing the same body is a strange fate. It's best to get familiar with each other sooner rather than later. After all, she's our last hope, the only one left for both of us."

Yuan Jun acknowledged, "Yes, I understand."

Princess Yi Yang helped him adjust his outer robe. "Go back now. Since you're here, make the most of your time to sort out your people and gather them. There's no need for you to waste time coming here. Time is precious, and all I'm doing is carrying the child. There's nothing much for you to accompany me with."

Yuan Jun hesitated, worry evident in his eyes.

Yi Yang reassured him, "Rest assured, I value this child more than anyone else. Regardless of whether it's a boy or a girl, since his father has no expectations, I must not do him injustice."

Yuan Jun replied, "We must still exercise caution."

Yi Yang said, "If I can't protect him, then I'm unworthy of being a mother." She then instructed for breakfast to be served.

Seeing his sister's confidence, Yuan Jun felt slightly relieved. After accompanying Yi Yang for breakfast, he left He Guang Courtyard.

As he walked out, he encountered Mei Xiang. Mei Xiang immediately noticed the hairpin belonging to the princess on his head and laughed. "Why did the princess favor you again? What did you have for breakfast? By the way, Guard Tang is looking for you. Apparently, a cat has run into the inner courtyard."

"A cat?" Yuan Jun was taken aback, then remembered that he should have checked Rong Bi's journal first thing, but he had been so eager to meet his elder sister that he had forgotten.

Mei Xiang explained, "The one from Ju Lu that you mentioned was pregnant. You said the princess moved it outside for the guards to take care of."

Yuan Jun nodded slightly and returned to his room to find the notebook. Upon careful examination, he indeed found a record of the cat sent by the Zheng family. Frowning, he pondered the need to gain the Zheng family's support. There had been many incidents lately, but fortunately, the young lady officer had kept detailed records. Yuan Jun began to appreciate Rong Bi and wondered how she was doing in the palace. He imagined she would be pleased to see the garden he and his men had cultivated.