Chapter 29: “Let everyone see openly and clearly…”

Chapter 29: "Let everyone get a good look..."

Unlike when Prince Duan visited Changle County, where he only brought a few dozen Royal Guards for speed, this return to the capital was a massive production.

Just his security detail alone had a thousand men, creating an imposing procession that drew attention not only from towns across Yanxi but also from the noble circles of the capital.

Of course, Prince Duan by himself wouldn’t have gotten everyone talking.

But word had gotten around—the legendary Xiang'an Commandery Lady was traveling with him.

April was one of the finest seasons of the year, with flowers in full bloom and everything coming to life.

Princess Elder Ningxin, who adored peonies, threw her yearly peony party during this time, inviting ladies of high society to admire the peonies cultivated in her estate.

As the women gathered and chatted, they couldn’t help but gossip about the capital’s hottest topic.

"What do you think the relationship is between that Xiang'an Commandery Lady and Prince Duan?"

"His Royal Highness Prince Duan has kept embarrassing the Princess Consort of Duan for her—what else could it be?"

"On paper, she’s coming to the capital to present prisoners on her father’s behalf, but in my opinion, Prince Duan’s household is about to gain another consort."

"Isn’t a Commandery Lady’s status a bit low for a consort?"

"Being both a Commandery Lady and his beloved, entering as a consort seems like a raw deal. But men—when they wrong a woman in one way, they’ll compensate in another. Prince Duan’s household is in for some drama from now on."

A woman fluttered her fan, catching sight of a lady in lavish robes crossing the arched gate toward the pavilion. She elbowed her friend with a smirk.

One nudge led to another, and soon everyone noticed the Princess Consort of Duan.

"What were you all discussing just now?"

The Princess Consort of Duan entered the pavilion alongside the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Wuwei’s household.

The circle of noblewomen in the capital wasn’t vast—among the dozen or so seated in the pavilion, some were close to the Princess Consort, while others were not.

At her question, a few covered their giggles behind their hands.

"We were just talking about His Royal Highness Prince Duan’s return to present prisoners. Does Her Highness have the inside scoop to share?"

The Princess Consort’s smile remained flawless, but her knuckles went white around the fan. "I know just as much as you do."

"Surely not? Didn’t His Royal Highness write anything to you in his letters?"

The Princess Consort replied, "The prisoner presentation rules are all dictated by the Ministry of Rites. He’s merely following their instructions—what could he possibly tell me?"

The questioner slightly curled her lip, realizing nothing more would be extracted, and refrained from pressing further.

The Princess Consort couldn’t sit still. After a few perfunctory remarks, she excused herself with the Marquis of Wuwei’s daughter to admire flowers elsewhere.

As the women watched her leave, they dove right back into the juicy talk.

"I’m growing more and more curious about who this Xiang'an Commandery Lady really is. Before her marriage, the Princess Consort was hailed as the capital’s top talent—her lineage, beauty, and bearing were all impeccable. She even bore Prince Duan two sons. What kind of spell did this Commandery Lady cast to bewitch him into such irrational devotion?"

"Don’t you know who her grandfather was?"

"Her grandfather? I thought she came from a humble family."

"That's only because her family fell from grace. Her grandfather was none other than Jade Scholar Huo."

"Ah, I remember now. My grandmother mentioned that name to me. Wasn't he the one once called Huo Yingshao?"

...

"How intriguing. The capital hasn't had this kind of excitement in ages. When Prince Duan enters the city, I plan to go to the city gates to catch the show and take a look at that Commandery Lady. Would you all like to join me?"

"Together, together!"

"You're only realizing this now? As soon as the news broke, my elder brother and his friends booked a private booth at the tavern by the street."

"Ah, how'd you move so fast? Isn't it too late for us to book now?"

...

Lady Duan had lost all heart for appreciating the splendid peonies in full bloom. She struggled to maintain her dignity, not wanting to be made a fool of, yet felt as if everyone was mocking her behind her back.

Enduring until the banquet finally ended, Lady Duan got into the carriage with the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Wuwei.

The eldest daughter of the Marquis of Wuwei lowered the carriage curtain and turned to look, immediately startled by the frosty expression on Lady Duan's face.

"Cousin?"

Lady Duan remained silent, first instructing the coachman to take the eldest daughter home before ordering, "To the Duke of Liu's manor."

Due to matters concerning her daughter, Lady Gu, the wife of the Hereditary Prince of Duke of Liu, hadn't been feeling well recently and thus did not attend the flower-viewing banquet today.

The Hereditary Prince had no official duties that day and had been keeping Lady Gu company, making small talk.

When their daughter entered, Lady Gu initially intended to ask about the banquet, but seeing her daughter's expression, her voice turned sharp: "A Qiao, what's wrong? Wouldn't they be gossiping about you at the banquet?"

"Oh, child, I told you not to go, but you wouldn't listen."

Lady Duan's lips curled slightly in bitterness: "Even if I didn't go, wouldn't they still be gossiping and mocking me behind my back? I won't give them the satisfaction."

Born into the illustrious Liu household, second in status only to the palace princesses, few noblewomen could rival her status.

With such an esteemed background, Lady Duan held herself to exacting standards.

Whether it was qin (zither), chess, calligraphy, painting, or poetry and literature, she demanded perfection in everything she learned—even in choosing the best husband.

After eight years of marriage to Prince Duan, she had given birth to two sons.

The eldest was clever and sensible, the younger adorable and affectionate, and Prince Duan treated her with respect and love.

She truly had nothing to complain about in such a life.

Until last year, when Emperor Jingyuan decided to select suitable children from the imperial clan to be sent to the palace. Though reluctant to part with her eldest son, she agreed for the sake of his future.

Unfortunately, the Emperor had too many doubts and didn't formally adopt Yuanyuan under his name.

Coincidentally, the Qiang Rong rebellion broke out then, and Prince Duan volunteered to take command in the west.

Lady Duan not only did not object but fully supported him. During this time, she diligently managed household affairs to ensure Prince Duan could focus completely on the war.

But what has she been waiting for?

At this thought, Princess Consort Duan felt a pang of bitterness in her heart. She clutched her mother’s hand and said, "Mother, after all these years of marriage, how could he treat me like this?"

"In his letter, he accused me—saying I’ve always been generous and kind-hearted, and that out of consideration for me raising our children and managing the household, he never once entertained the thought of taking a concubine. Now that I’ve borne him two children and my position is secure, why can’t I accept him taking a concubine?"

"But has he ever stopped to think how many times he’s humiliated me for that woman? If he wanted to take someone else, no matter how much it hurt me, I would never stand in his way."

"And she hasn’t even entered the household yet. If that woman really steps into the palace and bears him a son, where would that leave me and my children? Would we even have a place in the prince’s household anymore?"

Her daughter had always been proud, so hearing her speak like this showed just how deeply hurt she was. Heartbroken, Lady Gu patted Princess Consort Duan’s hand and said bitterly, "Just like her mother Gu Shengyu—the mother was shameless, carrying on with men before even marrying, and the daughter has surpassed her in every way."

"What kind of Commandery Lady is she? If you ask me, His Majesty is far too lenient. Prince Duan petitioned for her title, and he just agreed without a second thought."

"That vixen isn’t worthy of being a Commandery Lady, let alone receiving the title of Xiang’an. Who knows how much Prince Duan exaggerated and flattered her in his memorial? For his beloved, he’s truly spared no expense."

The heir apparent could no longer bear to listen and knocked on the table, warning, "Talking like this only stabs A Qiao in the heart."

Lady Gu was forced to stop, but resentment still simmered within her.

Back then, it was because of Third Concubine Gu that her own mother had gone into premature labor, leaving her frail and sickly as a child. Later, when Third Concubine Gu was married off to some remote place and supposedly died within a few years, she had finally been at ease. Over time, she had almost forgotten about this half-sister.

And now, here was Third Concubine Gu’s daughter, tormenting her own child.

Old grudges now compounded by fresh grievances.

"I will never allow that woman to enter the prince’s household," Princess Consort Duan said firmly.

The heir apparent, however, did not approve of this approach.

Even when he personally wrote to Prince Duan, the prince refused to yield—clearly determined to take the Huo girl as his concubine. If A Qiao remains stubborn, not only would it damage their marital bond, but it would also deepen Prince Duan’s obsession with the Huo girl.

Even if his feelings for her were moderate at best now, after being forced apart, they would surely grow stronger.

After a moment of thought, the heir apparent said, "I have a better idea."

Lady Gu’s eyes lit up, and she urged her husband. "Speak quickly—don’t keep us in suspense."

The heir apparent touched his beard thoughtfully. "Trying to persuade Prince Duan will be difficult. Instead, we should focus on the Huo girl."

"If she marries into the prince’s household, she’ll only be a concubine. Even if she bears many children, her children would never inherit the princedom. Now that she’s been formally bestowed the title of Commandery Lady, if a better marriage prospect were presented to her, do you think she’d still be so fixated on entering Prince Duan’s household?"

Before Princess Consort Duan could respond, Lady Gu’s expression darkened.

"Who does she think she is? Are we supposed to find her a better match just to keep her out of Prince Duan’s household?"

The mere thought made her furious.

The heir apparent chuckled and shook his head. "Of course, no noble-born, unmarried young master from a prestigious family would take her as his principal wife. But in the capital, there’s no shortage of men who are all glitter, no gold."

"This girl is newly arrived in the capital and unaware of the truth behind appearances. If we present her with appealing terms, she might even be grateful for our help."

Lady Gu nodded eagerly, clearly pleased with the plan. "This way, we not only remove her from the picture but also show Prince Duan her inconstancy. He’ll be completely disenchanted with her."

The Princess Consort of Duan, however, was not as optimistic as her mother.

In her view, Prince Duan was already the best husband she could have chosen after careful consideration—there was simply no better candidate in the capital.

Would a woman like her from the Huo family, having won Prince Duan's admiration, even consider other men?

"That won’t be up to her," the Hereditary Prince of Duke Liu said coldly. "We can’t move openly, but back in Yanxi, she thoroughly offended He Tai and the Duke of Chengen’s household. Now, both He Tai and the Duke of Chengen’s household are out for revenge."

"Once Prince Duan returns, A Qiao, find ways to keep him tied up and distracted so he can’t protect her."

"Without Prince Duan’s protection, she won’t stand a chance against the Duke of Chengen’s household. We’ll set up a few ‘accidents,’ then swoop in as heroes—she’ll have no choice but to fall for it."

If the woman truly remained unshakably devoted to Prince Duan, there were still other methods.

Worst case, we force her hand—once she’s ruined, she’ll have no choice but to yield.

But there was no need to spell out such dirty tactics and taint his daughter’s ears.

The Princess Consort hesitated for a moment, but upon reflection, if the Huo woman entered Prince Duan’s household, she herself would be the one to suffer.

So in the end, she merely gently clasped the Hereditary Prince of Duke Liu’s hand and said, "Then I’ll leave it in your hands, Father."

The Hereditary Prince of Duke Liu replied, "Rest assured. With me personally overseeing this, I’ll quickly remove this nuisance for you and Yuanyuan."

While warmth filled the Duke Liu’s household, Emperor Jingyuan was leisurely strolling through the imperial gardens.

The gardens were undeniably beautiful, but even the best sights lose their charm after decades.

As he walked, Emperor Jingyuan suddenly asked Chief Eunuch Li Man and Cui Hongyi, who followed behind him, "How long has it been since I’ve stepped outside the palace?"

Chief Eunuch Li Man replied, "Your Majesty, aside from your trip to the western suburban villa at the end of last year, you’ve remained in the palace these past few months."

"So it’s been that long," Emperor Jingyuan mused. "Is the thirteenth due to arrive in the capital in three days?"

Cui Hongyi, more familiar with affairs outside the palace, answered, "Yes, they’ll enter the city on the morning of the third day. I’ve heard the streets are bustling—the taverns along the main roads have long been fully booked."

"Oh?" Emperor Jingyuan asked. "Is everyone so curious about the prisoner presentation?"

"Not because of the prisoners," Cui Hongyi said. "Most just want to see the Xiang'an Commandery Lady."

Emperor Jingyuan raised an eyebrow and turned to Cui Hongyi, signaling him to continue.

Cui Hongyi had no choice but to press on, phrasing his words as delicately as possible: "They all want to see what the Xiang'an Commandery Lady looks like."

Emperor Jingyuan understood—they just wanted to gawk and maybe see a scandal.

But would she let them have their fun?

Remembering the girl’s fearless attitude, Emperor Jingyuan felt a strange mix of amusement and curiosity. "Back in the day, Huo Yingshao looked dashing riding his white horse, his hat tilted just so, adding to his charm—it’s still a famous story in the capital. The Xiang'an Commandery Lady will outshine even her grandfather."

"Li Man, make arrangements. I’ll go out that day to see the show myself."

In truth, Emperor Jingyuan had many duties to attend to that day.

Prince Duan had spent over half a year in Yanxi and would undoubtedly seek an audience with him immediately upon returning to the capital.

The palace also had to throw a banquet for Prince Duan.

But Li Man didn’t bring it up, merely smiling in assent. "This servant will take care of everything, and get you the best spot to watch."

***

After departing western Great Yan, the drizzle still hadn’t let up.

The undulating distant mountains blurred into the steady summer rain, the green peaks looking even lusher, the summer rain growing ever cooler.

Yet Huo Ling’s mood remained entirely unaffected by the weather.

When bored, she would read Emperor Jingyuan’s reports like stories—from his days as a prince at twelve or thirteen, to his time as the crown prince in his late teens, and finally to his ascension to the throne at twenty.

The more she read, the more she gained a new perspective on him beyond just his generosity.

He was an enlightened and wise emperor who showed compassion.

For a founding emperor, benevolence might not be ideal, but for Great Yan, which had already seen several generations of rulers, Emperor Jingyuan’s twenty-year reign happened to be a time for recovery and growth.

However, for more than half of the journey, Huo Ling spent her time entertaining Prince Duan.

The closer they got to the capital, the more antsy Prince Duan grew.

The more antsy he was, the more he sought her out for small talk.

Before long, the caravan slowly stopped—the relay station lay just ahead.

Huo Ling stepped out of the carriage, gave a quick nod to Prince Duan, and then headed upstairs with Wu Mo.

As she passed the stationmaster, she asked him to prepare two buckets of hot water.

Once inside the room, Wu Mo opened the window to air out the room, gazing at the gradually darkening sky outside. "We’ll reach the capital in two days. I wonder when this rain will finally stop."

Huo Ling replied, "I think it should clear up by tomorrow."

"That would be for the best. If it keeps raining, I swear I’ll start growing moss."

Just as they were chatting about the weather, a sudden knock came at the door.

"It’s probably the hot water," Wu Mo said, bouncing over to answer it.

But when the door swung open, there was no hot water—only two men dressed in fine clothes, clearly servants from some wealthy estate.

Behind them stood a large chest, its contents a mystery.

"Who are you?"

The leader, a round-faced, friendly steward, smiled. "Is Xiang'an Commandery Lady staying here? We are servants from the household of the Marquis of Wuwei, sent on our lord’s orders to deliver some gifts to Xiang'an Commandery Lady."

The Marquis of Wuwei?

Wu Mo instinctively turned to look at Huo Ling.

The round-faced steward followed her gaze.

Huo Ling’s expression remained unchanged, though privately she found it curious. "I’ve had no dealings with the Marquis of Wuwei’s household. I wonder what the marquis intends to send me."

The steward first bowed to Huo Ling before explaining, "Commandery Lady, your mother came from the Marquis of Wuwei’s household—she and the marquis were siblings. That family tie can’t be broken, no matter what. The marquis has always pitied your loss at such a young age, but couldn’t openly show concern out of consideration for the old madam’s feelings."

"Now that he learned of your approach, the marquis feared you might be short on supplies, so he specially sent us here."

With that, the steward lifted the chest’s lid himself.

The clothes and jewelry inside the box were all laid out before Huo Ling's eyes.

With her discerning eye, Huo Ling could tell at a glance that these garments and accessories had been carefully chosen.

What was this supposed to mean?

A peace offering?

Surely the Marquis of Wuwei’s household couldn’t be naive enough to think there was any chance of reconciliation between them.

A family that had managed to establish itself in the capital couldn’t possibly be that gullible. So their sudden delivery of this chest at such a critical moment was undoubtedly calculated.

Huo Ling flatly refused. Seeing the steward still trying to persuade her, she smiled and said, "His Royal Highness Prince Duan has gifted me far more precious things than what’s in this chest. There’s no need for the Marquis of Wuwei to worry about me."

The steward’s expression instantly changed.

Without another word, Huo Ling ended the conversation by shutting the door.

Wu Mo glanced at the closed door, puzzled. "Miss, after ignoring us all these years, why suddenly show up now with such a grand gesture? What exactly are they trying to do?"

Huo Ling took a seat. "I’m not entirely sure myself."

"But my guess is, these two weren’t sent by the current Marquis of Wuwei—they were sent by the Dowager Marchioness."

That was why the steward’s expression had shifted so quickly when she mentioned Prince Duan.

"Before we’ve even entered the capital, they’re already watching us," Wu Mo fumed. "They cannot bear to see us doing well."

"Pay them no heed," Huo Ling said after a moment’s thought. "Go call Wu Feng over. I have something to discuss with him."

Wu Feng arrived promptly. After hearing Huo Ling’s request, he left to fulfill it.

Before long, there was another knock at the door—but again, it wasn’t the innkeeper with the hot water. This time, it was Prince Duan.

"My Royal Guard mentioned that people from the Marquis of Wuwei’s household came to see you earlier. They didn’t cause you any difficulty, did they?"

Prince Duan still had a clear memory of the old Dowager Marchioness—after all, she was the Princess Consort of Duan’s maternal grandmother.

In front of the Princess Consort, she was a kind and gentle old woman, but when it came to other matters, she could be thoroughly unreasonable.

Huo Ling said dismissively, "They brought me a chest of finery, claiming it was to make up for all the hardships I’ve endured over the years. Do they really think I’m so shallow that a chest of finery would make me grateful and forget all their past neglect?"

"I told them that Your Highness has already given me far finer things, then dismissed them."

Prince Duan smiled—that was exactly the kind of remark he’d expect from Huo Ling. "So, have you prepared the clothes you’ll wear when we enter the city the day after tomorrow? Will you be wearing the robes of a Commandery Lady, or do you have something else in mind?"

Their party would be entering the capital to present captives, so their attire had to be formal. Prince Duan, for his part, planned to wear his full princely regalia for the occasion, not wanting to bother with anything more elaborate.

Huo Ling replied, "The clothes and jewelry were prepared long ago. I’ve just asked Wu Feng to arrange a palanquin befitting a Commandery Lady’s rank for me as well."

Prince Duan asked curiously, "You plan to enter the city in a palanquin?"

For the first time, Huo Ling spoke openly about her future in the capital with Prince Duan. "Your Highness, even if you don’t tell me, I can already guess the difficult situation I’ll be in once we arrive."

Seeing Prince Duan about to speak, Huo Ling politely interrupted with a smile. "I know—there must be countless people curious about my appearance, waiting to see me make a fool of myself."

"If they want to see me, then I’ll sit in that palanquin and let them get a good look."

"But if they’re hoping for a spectacle, they’ll be greatly disappointed. I will enter the capital presenting my best self."

Luocheng would be the beginning of her new life.

She was determined to make her first appearance nothing short of perfect.