Chapter 59: Storm and Rain

Chapter 59: Storm and Rain

"The barbarians surrounded the city without attacking, seemingly attempting to force surrender. After half a month of siege, Princess Yi Yang dispatched her family general, Rong Bi, to launch a surprise attack under the cover of a rainy night, routing the enemy and annihilating tens of thousands of them. They captured their general, Marquis Ma Sui, plundered their supplies, and thus lifted the siege."

The military report was concise, yet conveyed its message effectively. Rong Bi's gaze lingered on the words, knowing that for that city to hold out for half a month was no small feat, considering it was the enemy's main stronghold. The enemy's decision not to attack was likely an attempt to intimidate the defending general and soldiers into surrendering Princess Yi Yang, hoping to achieve their goal with minimal loss. Yet, they hadn't anticipated the prince's daring night raid during the rain.

Indeed, only with the prince could the siege be lifted. He had yet to reach adulthood... but already, he was like a hidden dragon soaring to the sky, making a resounding impact. It seemed her brother was safe too. She gently traced the report, her face lit up with joy. Outside, the lotus leaves stood tall in the pond. In just a month, the lake was now covered in lush green leaves, with some red buds beginning to emerge.

Rong Bi strolled along the Nine-Curve Bridge as if admiring the flowers. A gentle breeze rustled the lotus leaves, while Shen Anlin walked beside her, slightly behind, until they reached the bridge where he softly reported, "A few days ago, Rong Mo, the third son of the Rong family, unexpectedly approached my father. Someone has been sowing discord between the prince and the Rong family, claiming that Lady Rong was forced to accompany Princess Jingbei to the north because of the prince and the princess, putting herself in danger. Rong Mo believed it."

Rong Bi felt a pang in her heart, but maintained her calm demeanor. "Has the misunderstanding been resolved?" She leaned against the railing, watching the carp swim beneath the water. This bridge was perfectly designed for private conversations, as long as no one followed.

Shen Anlin replied, "Father has already explained the situation thoroughly to Rong Mo. However, it is true that Lady Rong was put in harm's way due to the prince and the princess. With this recent military report, Father has advised me to remind Your Highness that Lady Rong, as a woman, led the army, defeated the enemy, and achieved great feats. No wonder the prince has been so keen on recruiting her. But now, there will undoubtedly be those who take notice and continue to exploit the situation, stirring up trouble with Rong Mo. Please, Your Highness, prepare accordingly and avoid any potential dangers. My father will also do his best to soothe Rong Mo's concerns."

Rong Bi fell silent for a moment before saying, "Very well." After a pause, she added, "Ask Marquis Cheng'en to take care of Rong Mo and have him stay at our residence to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the situation."

Shen Anlin acknowledged softly.

Turning from the bridge, Rong Bi observed the expanse of green lotus leaves. She then instructed, "These lotus leaves are thriving. Fetch me some of the best ones; I want to make steamed chicken with lotus leaves." Immediately, several attendants hurriedly boarded boats to pick the leaves. Then, she summoned Tang Xi, "Today is a joyful occasion; we cannot abstain from drinking. Tell Eunuch Tang that he previously promised to make me lotus leaf-roasted chicken. Ask him to prepare it." Recalling how Li Dongfu had mentioned the emperor's satisfaction with the partridge porridge the other day, she added, "Also, get a few partridges and let Eunuch Tang cook them together. Send them to Father as a gift."

Tang Xi arrived promptly and, after washing her hands, started preparing Lotus-Wrapped Partridges. She stuffed the partridges with sand ginger and yuzhu root before having them steamed and promptly sent them to the Emperor.

Yuan Zixu confidentially instructed the leader of the Qinghou Guards, "Set off immediately. Upon meeting Duke Ding, convey my order for him to join the princess at once and proceed with the original plan."

The guards bowed in obedience, and Yuan Zixu said in a chilling tone, "If Duke Song refuses to comply with the imperial order, he shall be executed immediately."

The guard obeyed with a stern and respectful demeanor.

After dismissing the attendants, Li Dongfu observed that it was almost time for dinner. He instructed someone to bring forward a dish of Steamed Partridge with Lotus Leaves: "Your Majesty, this is the Steamed Partridge with Lotus Leaves offered today by the Bao'Huan Palace. It's said that the lotus leaves in Bao'Huan Palace have flourished, and upon hearing the great victory in the Northern Frontier, His Highness was delighted and ordered this dish to be prepared as a tribute to Your Majesty. I've had the Imperial Medical Institute examine it, and they say that the dish contains sand ginseng and Solomon's seal, both of which are refreshing, thirst-quenching, and nourishing to the body and blood – perfect for Your Majesty."

Fresh from issuing such a secretive decree concerning the crown prince, Yuan Zixu couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. Nevertheless, he instructed his servants to bring the dish for him to sample. The tender bones and succulent meat, infused with the fragrance of lotus leaves, indeed had an exquisite taste. He praised, "The crown prince's filial piety is commendable. Princess Yi Yang has rendered great service to our realm. Let us have the imperial treasury prepare a generous gift list in appreciation, to be bestowed upon the prince."

In recent days, whenever he felt a twinge of guilt towards the Crown Prince, he would shower him with generous rewards. This way, his conscience was eased, and he could console himself that it was all for the sake of the country. As an emperor, he was alone in his sovereignty, and the royal family couldn't afford personal attachments. He was thinking of the greater good, sacrificing for the perpetuity of the realm and to eliminate the Jingbei King, a formidable internal threat. With such rationalization, he could continue his pursuit of governance with a clear conscience.

In the eyes of those within the palace, however, matters were perceived differently. Princess Yi Yang's triumphant defeat of the Northern Xi had sparked discussions in the court about rewarding her. The Emperor had shown unusual leniency towards the Crown Prince these days, even allowing him to attend the Second Prince's wedding. During the banquet, the Crown Prince mocked the prince of Bei Xi, yet he was not severely punished but merely confined to his quarters as a symbolic gesture.

This fueled much speculation about the monarch's intentions, as people began to believe that the Crown Prince might be on the verge of a comeback. After all, Princess Yi Yang had genuinely contributed to the kingdom, and with Prince Jingbei's support, it seemed that the emperor now relied on the prince. It was evident that the emperor had not stripped the Crown Prince of his title, despite confining him in the palace for almost a year, claiming it was for his convalescence. The emperor's favor still rested with him. Furthermore, the Crown Prince himself was exceptionally charismatic, kind, and modest. Most of the court officials held a deep respect and faith in this future ruler.

This resulted in the imperial guards assigned to monitor the Crown Prince in the Treasure Scroll Palace being unable to get close enough to eavesdrop on their conversation, despite spotting the Crown Prince and Shen Anlin enjoying fish viewing at the Nine-Curves Bridge. The bridge's layout restricted their movement. Thus, they were unaware of what exactly was discussed between the two. This posed a problem, as their duty was merely to supervise the Crown Prince, not to restrain him. He was still an incredibly esteemed individual; how dare they approach him without orders?

The Nine-Curve Bridge and the Lotus Viewing Pavilion, however, were projects that the Emperor himself had approved. With the Emperor's recent generous rewards and the tragic death of the former commander of the Qinghou Guards, who was beaten to death during the palace search, the internal guards responsible for surveillance were well aware that the Emperor was displeased with the false accusations against the Crown Prince.

With the Crown Prince still in favor, the lives of those below them meant nothing to the nobles. Who knew if the Emperor would become enraged over such a trivial matter?

Therefore, they carefully omitted any mention of the bridge and merely recorded Shen Anlin's visit to the palace, his time spent with the Crown Prince admiring lotus flowers and feeding fish, as well as casual conversations about the Marquis Cheng'en's well-being. The day passed uneventfully.

In the Treasure Box Palace.

Fresh lotus leaves wrapped around marinated chicken, steamed to perfection, filled the air with a delightful aroma. A superior plum wine was served, and Eunuch Tang Xi personally carried the steamed Lotus Leaf Chicken, whispering, "Your Highness has just recovered from illness; it's best to drink less. This old servant notices that rain might be on its way tonight, and it might affect Your Highness's sleep, harming your health."

Rong Bi understood: "I understand, but my elder sister's victory brings me great joy. Just a small cup will do. Even without alcohol, I'm too excited to sleep well tonight."

Eunuch Tang Xi chuckled: "Princess has rendered a great service to the state; no wonder His Highness is delighted. If the late Empress were still alive, she would have been overjoyed too."

Rong Bi nodded, engaged in idle chatter, sipped some sweet and sour plum honey wine, and tasted the Lotus Leaf Chicken. Despite her anticipation, she didn't consume much due to her concerns and retired to her chambers to wash up, preparing to feign sleepiness after imbibing a bit of wine. Tonight should be the night when Eunuch Tang Xi's arrangement would come into play, allowing her to access the secret tunnel beneath the lotus pond. However, she needed to figure out how to exit safely, as she had some swimming skills. Moreover, she needed to plan what to say to her second brother and how to persuade him, in her role as the Crown Prince, not to stray down the wrong path and fall prey to cunning individuals.

Rong Bi mulled over these matters as she sat before the dressing table. Glancing at her reflection, she was surprised by the Crown Prince's appearance. He had an attractive face, and every time she looked in the mirror, she felt the regal aura was undeniable, even making her feel bashful when meeting his gaze. But today, to disguise herself, she had consumed a few cups of wine, which had flushed her cheeks, stained her eyelids pink, and tinted her lips a rosy hue.

Rong Bi mused inwardly: So the Crown Prince's tolerance for alcohol is so low, even lower than mine. On ordinary days, I can drink several cups of Sangwo Wine and Chongyang Wine from the palace without showing any signs of intoxication.

Yet, she couldn't afford to meet her second brother in such a drunken state; it would undermine the dignity of the Crown Prince. She ordered a basin of cold water to be brought in, planning to splash it on her face and then drink some Kudzu Tea to sober up. Tang Xi Gonggong must have arranged for assistance late at night, by which time her flushed complexion should have subsided.

Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she solemnly whispered, "Thank you."

Suddenly, a flash of lightning illuminated the window, followed almost immediately by a downpour and thunderclaps. The wind swept across the lake, causing the lotus leaves to sway like waves. The sky had finally turned pitch black.