Chapter 66 “Just a Cold, Thank You for Your Concern, Father…”

Chapter 66

"It's just a chill, thank you for your concern, Father."

"It's just a chill, thank you for your concern, Father," Yan Xuerui replied softly. The bonds of imperial kinship always felt distant. She could not—and dared not—treat the emperor as an ordinary father, yet compared to others, the emperor truly doted on "Princess Changle."

Perhaps the emperor had genuinely felt some affection for her birth mother, Imperial Consort Chen.

The emperor nodded noncommittally. "You're still young. Go out more often; don’t always stay cooped up in the palace."

The emperor, burdened with myriad state affairs, had already shown great favor by merely mentioning the incident of a physician being summoned to Changle Palace the previous night. Yet Yan Xuerui had other thoughts. After a moment of contemplation, she sighed softly.

"To be honest with Father, this is a cold syndrome I’ve had since childhood. The imperial physicians also advised me to go out more to ease tension and lift my spirits."

"Though the palace is splendid, I am accustomed to the countryside. Seeing these towering, majestic palace walls, I can’t help but feel uneasy and ill at ease."

She stopped there, and the emperor understood her meaning.

"It’s too soon. The renovation of the princess’s residence is not yet complete. Moving in now would be unsuitable for you."

Instead of agreeing directly, the emperor asked, "If you’re uncomfortable in the palace, has someone bullied you? Empress Xu?"

The intricacies of palace life never escaped the emperor’s notice; it was merely a matter of whether he chose to intervene. During her lifetime, Imperial Consort Chen had suffered under the oppression of Empress Xu. At the time, the emperor was at odds with Imperial Consort Chen and wanted to humble her pride, so he turned a blind eye and allowed Empress Xu’s behavior.

He never expected Imperial Consort Chen to be so unyielding. Now that she was gone, all love and hatred had turned to dust. Yet Yan Xuerui, with her resemblance to Imperial Consort Chen, still evoked the emperor’s tenderness, and he could not bear to see her wronged.

"You are my own daughter. Who would dare make you uncomfortable? Tell me, and I will uphold justice for you."

The emperor’s tone remained authoritative. Yan Xuerui hurriedly explained, "What are you saying, Father? With your wisdom and might, and Empress Xu’s kindness and benevolence, who in the palace would dare give your daughter offense?"

She lifted her skirt and stood, placing her delicate hands on the emperor’s shoulders to gently knead them.

"I too am reluctant to leave Father. Even if I move into the princess’s residence, I will enter the palace daily to fulfill my filial duties before you."

Empress Xu was anything but "kind and benevolent," yet the emperor was comforted by Yan Xuerui’s understanding and patted her hand, signaling for her to sit.

Her jade-like hands were soft and boneless, but her technique was clumsy, clearly unpracticed. The emperor found it curious—most married women, having served their husbands at home, would have some skill in massage. Yet Yan Xuerui was completely inept, even worse than Pingyang.

Thinking of Pingyang, who was languishing in her residence, the emperor’s smile faded.

After a moment’s thought, he said, "I will order them to expedite the construction."

Since she was so understanding and considerate, why not grant her wish?

"I will always see to it that you get what you want."

The emperor repeated these words, and Yan Xuerui’s heart skipped a beat, sensing an underlying meaning.

She thanked him and cautiously asked, "I see dark circles under your eyes, Father. Have you been sleeping poorly again? Let me make another sachet for you."

"The imperial physicians say that a tide of worries leads to sleepless nights. Father, is something troubling you?"

At this, the emperor snorted coldly and said fiercely, "The Gu family has grown utterly arrogant!"

As expected.

Yan Xuerui closed her eyes. Usually, she avoided matters concerning the Gu family. Caught between her father and her husband, she found herself in a difficult position.

In the emperor’s presence, she was thoughtful, understanding, and delicate. The emperor did not hide his feelings from her, gritting his teeth as he said, "I am not dead yet. How dare that insolent wretch!"

From the emperor’s furious tone, Yan Xuerui could clearly see that he had already made up his mind to kill. Even if it caused turmoil in the court, he was determined to remove Gu Yan.

How could this be? He wasn’t usually so impulsive. Why provoke the emperor at such a critical time?

Yan Xuerui’s mind was in turmoil. Suddenly, the emperor looked up at her and said, "Don’t worry. He is he, and you are you. After the divorce, you will have no further ties to the Gu family."

He had been wrong. Initially, for the sake of stability, he had tolerated Gu Yan’s arrogance, intending to leave the Gu family for the new emperor to assert authority. But recently, first there was the imperial examination. The emperor had lost a son and had no time to oversee the exams. All involved were executed, and those who had passed were disqualified, never to be employed again.

Unexpectedly, Gu Yan stepped forward as a righteous man, speaking with high-sounding words. Punishing the culprits was justified, but the scholars who had earned their ranks were innocent. Many among them were talented, and it would be better to set new questions and hold another examination.

As a result, Senior Tutor Gu’s reputation among the people, especially the scholars, reversed dramatically. Many praised Senior Tutor Gu’s benevolence, making the emperor appear like a tyrant.

Then there was the case of the Virtuous Prince. Before the Virtuous Prince’s body was cold, the crown prince and his faction were determined to pin the charge of "treason" on him. Officials who had once been loyal to the Virtuous Prince were demoted or punished. Senior Tutor Gu, with his manipulative prowess, had turned the court into his own domain in a short time.

And there was Pingyang, his poor daughter. It turned out that Pingyang’s earlier peril had also been orchestrated by Gu Yan.

Such a man with wolfish ambitions—if the Gu family were not exterminated to the ninth degree, the emperor’s hatred would never be appeased!

The emperor’s expression darkened. He stared intently at Yan Xuerui and asked, "When I previously asked what you wanted, you unhesitatingly said a divorce."

"You and Gu Yan must have no marital affection left, correct?"

Yan Xuerui lowered her eyelashes, avoiding the emperor’s gaze.

"Yes."

The emperor’s expression softened. "Good child."

Before, he had only wanted them to divorce, to make Gu Yan understand that the only one who ruled the world was the emperor himself.

Now, he only wanted Gu Yan dead.

***

Yan Xuerui returned to Changle Palace with a heavy heart. Bi He brought in a plate of candied fruits and placed it on the table before her.

"Your Highness, these candied fruits are from the imperial kitchen. Please try them."

The plump, orange flesh was coated in a glistening layer of sugar, exuding a tempting sweetness. Yan Xuerui took a bite. After all these years, how could she not recognize it?

These were not from the imperial kitchen but from Furong Pavilion.

Every time she had to take medicine, Gu Yan would personally go to Furong Pavilion to buy them, regardless of wind, frost, rain, or snow, without fail.

"Chirp, chirp—"

The quick-footed palace maid was efficient. No sooner had she given the order than a golden canary in a cage was delivered. Its song was clear and melodious, like shattered jade falling onto a plate.

Yan Xuerui ate the familiar candied fruits while watching the beautiful canary chirping in its cage, fluttering its wings, unable to escape.

"Rui’er, prick my name here, alright?"

"You belong to me. Is there anything I cannot do?"

"..."

Yan Xuerui hated him to the core. Once, she had even wanted to kill him. Now, restored to her status as a princess, he had repeatedly forced his way into the palace. She both hated and feared him.

Yet, as her mother had said, after nearly twenty years of marriage, how could she be completely emotionless? She was not without feeling.

"Bi He."

After some hesitation, Yan Xuerui walked to the writing desk, weighing her words carefully, and wrote a letter.

"Gu Minglan is on duty at the South Gate. Bring him a bowl of mung bean soup and give this to him."

***

By the time the letter reached Gu Yan, it was already evening.

She wrote in a veiled manner, first inquiring about the elderly madam, then mentioning the crying Little Young Slave waiting to be fed. Her words were sincere, advising the Marquis to be cautious. At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary family letter.

Gu Yan understood her meaning.

He gave a light chuckle and placed the letter on the desk, glancing at Gu Yuan and Gu Minglan on either side of him. He sighed and said, "She is timid. We must make arrangements early to bring her back to the manor."

This veiled "family letter" brightened Gu Yan's gloomy mood, but he showed no sign of relenting. He had already found a tattooist, an elderly woman over sixty. He was so possessive that he would never allow another man to touch her body.

Just a little longer, and soon he would keep her safely hidden. From then on, no one in the world would be able to separate them.

Gu Minglan, seated below, looked up eagerly. "Father, what did Mother say?"

He was an obedient child. The letter was from his mother to his father, and it bore no seal like wax. A principled man doesn't pry, and he truly had not opened it to read.

Gu Yan glanced at him sideways. "Your mother and I are discussing some private marital matters. Are you very interested?"

Gu Minglan clamped his lips shut and immediately stood up to apologize. Beside him, Gu Yuan's eyes dimmed as he interjected, "Elder brother, don’t tease Minglan."

"Did Sister-in-law’s letter warn us that the emperor is planning to move against our Gu family?"

Just as Yan Xuerui had thought, Gu Yan had always been level-headed and cautious. How could he provoke the emperor at such a critical juncture?

Unless he did it on purpose.

According to the original plan, with the Virtuous Prince just dead, Gu Yan intended to lie low and bide his time for a while. After all, the Crown Prince was infertile. Taking it slow, even if it meant waiting it out, he could eventually push his Little Young Slave to the top.

When the time came, he would act as regent for his son, truly standing above all others. From then on, the imperial family would carry the blood of the Gu family, and the Marquis’s estate would prosper for generations.

The conflict with Western Rong was unexpected, but even more unforeseen was that Minglan and the princess of Western Rong had, by chance, already consummated their relationship.

If A Yina is fertile, Gu Yan might even become a grandfather next year.

Gu Yan secretly resented his second brother’s recklessness and hated Minglan for his lack of restraint. He gave each of them twenty military lashes as a minor punishment and warning. But what was done was done; avoiding the issue was not an option.

During this time, with Yan Xuerui in the imperial palace, even with Minglan facilitating matters, it wasn't as easy for him to see her as before.

His daughter was still entangled with that Su fellow, Minglan was wrapped up with the Western Rong princess, and yet he alone had to keep an empty bed. What kind of logic was that!

A daring plan started forming in Gu Yan’s mind.