Chapter 39: Suddenly Like Someone Else

Chapter 39: Suddenly Like Someone Else

Xuan Mingzhu tossed and turned all night, only dozing off as dawn broke. When day came, she tidied herself up and went into the city as usual.

There were several servants in the palace whose backgrounds were unclear; she had known this from her first day here, thanks to Auntie Bai's careful attention, who had given her a list of their names.

Xuan Mingzhu did not immediately move against these spies. At the time, she hadn't figured out the strings behind them, but now, she intended to use their eyes to see how the Imperial Princess remained calm and composed, rather than acting like she was facing a great threat.

She held both military and financial power and was perceived as "not taking the emperor seriously." Showing any signs of nervousness would only raise suspicions.

It was naturally safer for the children to stay in the palace. Fortunately, there were many scenic spots here, and even after nearly ten days, they hadn't explored everything. Mei Yu suggested going down to the lake to pick water caltrops, while Bao Ya insisted on rowing a boat. As Xuan Mingzhu was leaving, she gave each of them a light tap on the head.

She sternly ordered the three boys not to go near the water before she left.

She returned two hours later, her slender neck damp with a thin layer of sweat. She threw the horsewhip to an attendant nearby and saw a small palace maid hurrying towards her.

Xuan Mingzhu thought something serious had happened, but the maid reported that Master Zhang had broken his arm on the curved bridge at Xiaopengzhou.

Xuan Mingzhu was momentarily stunned before realizing the "Master Zhang" referred to Zhang Jianian.

She couldn't help feeling exasperated. "Is this child made of sugar cane? He breaks every time?"

Someone with pressing matters on their mind wouldn't bother with such trivialities and simply dispatched a physician to tend to him. However, Bai Lin arrived shortly after and whispered a few words into the Imperial Princess's ear.

Xuan Mingzhu then learned that Zhang Jianian hadn't fallen by himself; he had encountered the advisor Zhang Zongzi on the curved bridge. The path wasn't narrow, but both wanted to walk in the middle and refused to yield. In the end, the slender Zhang Jianian lost the confrontation, being knocked down by Zhang Zongzi, breaking his forearm in the process.

Xuan Mingzhu's gaze darkened slightly. If it involved her guest, it was no longer a trivial matter.

She looked at the only witness, the palace maid, and asked, "Did you see clearly? Was one person directly colliding with another?"

The young maid, seeing the princess's angry expression, guessed that the fallen one must be someone the princess favored. She blushed and said:

"I saw it clearly, but the gentleman holding the book seemed unworldly and unlikely to have done it intentionally..."

"Don't speculate; just tell me what you saw."

The maid nodded and confirmed that she had indeed seen the man with the book collide with the other.

Xuan Mingzhu let out a frustrated sigh.

She had brought two guests to the palace this time: Zhang Zongzi and Yu Qingyuan. The latter was versatile and capable, while the former was deep and specialized, coming from an old noble family with a clean background. Therefore, she favored Zhang Zongzi more.

At the inn, Ying Xiao had hesitantly mentioned that Zhang Zongzi seemed to have some issues with Zhang Jianian. Since she wasn't sure, Xuan Mingzhu hadn't taken it seriously.

Now, someone had clearly told her that the person she wanted to cultivate as her right-hand man was deliberately challenging her favorite.

How disappointing.

Xuan Mingzhu gently rubbed her temples and picked up the horsewhip again, entering the hall. "Bring Zhang Zongzi to me."

Within the time it took to brew a cup of tea, Zhang Zongzi was brought to the hall entrance.

The slender man in bamboo clothes stepped over the high red threshold and knelt down beside the pillar.

"I know I am guilty, but I do not regret it. Someone like Zhang Jianian is unworthy of serving Your Highness."

From a distance behind the pearl curtain, Xuan Mingzhu inwardly scoffed. Was he confessing without being questioned?

She flicked her python whip twice and laughed lightly, her voice clear and cold like jade.

"You also bear the surname Zhang. You're practically kin. If he is unworthy, do you think you are qualified?"

"I dare not presume," Zhang Zongzi's voice lowered, but his words were straightforward. "That day outside the Observing Stars Building, I witnessed Your Highness, a daughter of Tianyin, free from constraints, with a phoenix-like spirit reaching the heavens. Ever since, my admiration for Your Highness has been like looking up at the sun and moon."

This man had a clean voice and a refined scholarly face, not immediately striking but imbued with the charm of Jiangnan's misty rain.

Watching him from behind the pearl curtain, Xuan Mingzhu's anger dissipated by half.

Everyone adored beautiful faces, and she was no exception. Unfortunately, for her, a favorite and a guest could not coexist. When a talented and ambitious person harbors personal desires, no matter how clever they are, they cannot be trusted.

"See those things on the low table? I'll give you another chance to choose."

Zhang Zongzi looked up and saw two boxes on the long case with a coiled dragon design. One box contained a white chess piece, and the other held a black pill.

The Imperial Princess told him that the pill was called "Ji Wu Xin."

"Kai Feng comes from the south, blowing away the thorny firewood. A poem praising maternal love," Zhang Zongzi said calmly. "Ji Wu Xin means 'mother without child.'"

True to a scholar, he understood the name's meaning immediately and picked up the pill without hesitation. "I wish to serve Your Highness."

"You're quite clever, aren't you? Put it down for me."

Xuan Mingzhu chuckled. A smart yet not slick person pleased her. This light-hearted banter relaxed her tense nerves since last night.

She suddenly understood why emperors, after handling state affairs, still had to mediate conflicts among their concubines back in the palace.

Turns out, this feeling wasn't bad at all.

She lifted the crystal curtain with the tip of her python whip and walked gracefully to the scholar. "Look up."

Zhang Zongzi raised his clear, watery gaze, and upon seeing her lotus-like face, his breath hitched, unable to look away.

"This pill is rare. Just because you chose it doesn't mean you're qualified to take it," Xuan Mingzhu smiled, watching him become entranced. "Can you comb hair?"

Zhang Zongzi's voice was slightly hoarse. "I can learn for Your Highness."

Xuan Mingzhu nodded in satisfaction. She hadn't slept well last night, and her scalp still ached. With a mirror in the hall, she turned and sat in front of it.

Zhang Zongzi followed closely and stood behind the princess. The deity-like presence, so close yet so silently burning his heart, made him almost unable to breathe.

He gently raised his hand and pulled out the princess's hairpin. The mass of black hair brushed against Zhang Zongzi's hand, igniting a flurry of sparks.

The man clumsily picked up the comb. "I, I have overstepped."

The beauty in the mirror glanced at him with a gentle look. "I allow it."

Zhang Zongzi heard his thundering heartbeat and used his left hand to hold his right wrist, carefully combing the princess's hair stroke by stroke.

Combing hair and drawing eyebrows were intimate secrets of the boudoir, a rare moment of tranquil intimacy. His awkward movements, unlike those of a skilled maid, carried a natural strength yet were gentle and careful, making one feel cherished and comforted.

Xuan Mingzhu closed her eyes contentedly, enjoying the attention, and gradually leaned back, knowing someone would catch her. However, the heavens did not cooperate, and just then, a guard outside the hall announced:

"Your Highness, the Governor of Ruzhou requests an audience."

Xuan Mingzhu frowned slightly, without opening her eyes, saying, "What does he want? If he has offerings, leave them; if not, send him away."

After this order, silence fell outside the hall.

Then, another voice rang out:

"This humble servant comes to pay respects to Her Imperial Princess."

That clear, frosty voice was like a bolt from the blue. Xuan Mingzhu suddenly opened her eyes and turned, causing Zhang Zongzi to accidentally pull a strand of hair.

He hurriedly apologized, "I deserve death!"

"Ouch." Xuan Mingzhu felt a sharp pain in her scalp, but it was insignificant compared to her shock. All her romantic thoughts vanished instantly, and she rose without a second glance at Zhang Zongzi.

Outside the hall, the visitor bowed respectfully.

Dressed in a grand black robe embroidered with cranes, the third-grade official's attire was adorned with sea cliffs and jade borders. The cold black silk encased his ivory-white wrists, making his features distinct. Wearing a plain hat and boots, a golden belt adorned with seven accessories gleamed around his waist, accentuating his tall and slender figure.

Xuan Mingzhu's loose hair hung down her waist as she stared at him in astonishment.

Used to seeing him in red robes and jade belts, this sudden change into black brocade and gold belt made him seem like a different person.

His gaze swept over her face before quickly returning to proper decorum, bowing again:

"This humble servant, Mei Changsheng, Governor of Ruzhou, pays respects to Your Highness."

"You, Governor of Ruzhou?"

One inside the hall, one outside, Xuan Mingzhu frowned, looking strangely at Mei Heting, who was no longer the lesser judge but inexplicably became the Governor of Ruzhou.

Seeing the golden fish bag and the imperial token at his waist, she understood why he could enter her main hall unimpeded.

But this only deepened her confusion—how did he convince the emperor? Why would he forsake a good position in the capital to take on a trivial governorship in a provincial town?

Was it because Ruzhou was her fiefdom?

She had heard that the emperor intended to promote Mei Heting to the cabinet, but he politely declined. She thought he couldn't let go of the past.

Back then, he refused to marry her because it would hinder his career.

Now, he refused the cabinet because it would cut off any chance of reconciliation.

A powerful minister and a prince consort—both could not be had together.

She believed that given time, he would come to understand.

Today, for the first time, she doubted herself.

Mei Heting's next words sent another wave of shock through her: "This humble servant came without a formal letter, urgently seeking to discuss Prince Chuguang's matter. Please forgive my impertinence."

Xuan Mingzhu looked at him in alarm, her gaze quickly sweeping the steps below before decisively saying, "Come inside! Guard Cui, close all the gates and prohibit anyone from approaching."

Mei Heting responded affirmatively, keeping his gaze lowered, entering the hall with due respect.

Outside, people were blocked, but inside, there was still a white-robed gentleman holding the comb, waiting for the princess.

Xuan Mingzhu tapped her forehead, having forgotten about him, saying, "You—"

She reconsidered, looking at Mei Heting, and asked meaningfully, "Should I dismiss everyone else?"

Mei Heting's demeanor today was peculiar. Though his cautious and respectful conduct was fitting, perhaps the heavy black robe hid his usual clarity. Xuan Mingzhu felt she couldn't quite read him.

She wanted to test him, whether his visit was official or personal.

"Your Highness is precious and noble, I dare not presume," Mei Heting's expression remained unchanged, bowing, "Please do as you wish."

"Very well." Xuan Mingzhu scrutinized him, and Zhang Zongzi stayed.

Then, Mei Heting said solemnly, "Regarding Prince Chuguang Xuan Jian's treasonous intentions to harm the emperor and place his grandson on the throne, I received news last night that assassins disguised as dancers infiltrated the palace to meet with Your Highness. Please share the details so I can devise a plan to assist the emperor."

The clear, jade-like voice echoed in the hall, and Zhang Zongzi heard everything, his heart pounding.

Mei Heting, once the top scholar of Jiangnan, revealed such a shocking secret openly.

Zhang Zongzi, born in Jiangnan, understood now—

He wanted him dead.

Throughout history, the imperial family has been rife with intrigue and scheming, always vigilant against leaks of information. His position in the Imperial Princess's residence was tenuous, and she had little trust in him; any favor she showed was fleeting. He had witnessed the Imperial Princess's imposing presence in her ceremonial robes, knowing full well that she harbored deep ambitions and would not allow personal feelings to interfere with state affairs.

As an insignificant figure, he had no private matters worth bringing before the Imperial Princess beyond their brief connection.

At this point, it was too late for him to retreat. Zhang Zongzi knelt down, "Your Highness! I heard nothing, my loyalty to Your Highness is as clear as heaven and earth!"

Xuan Mingzhu's anger surged like a mountain, not even sparing Zhang Zongzi a glance, as she gritted her teeth and stared at another impassive face.

She knew she had fallen into his trap, but for safety's sake, she could only order sternly:

"Xue Tang, come in. Take Young Master Zhang away and look after him well. Without my command, he must not move a single step or speak a word to anyone."

With a response, Zhang Zongzi did not even have time to protest before being dragged out by the guards who entered, their hands covering his mouth.

The item he had been holding tightly fell during the chaos, the ivory comb's fine teeth breaking as it landed beside Mei Heting.

Mei Heting's gaze, hidden beneath long lashes, was dark and piercing.

The heavy sandalwood door creaked shut once more, leaving only the two of them in the grand hall.