Chapter 4

Chapter 4

A month ago, she was just the daughter of a seventh-rank official, had never seen an official above the fifth rank, never worn a gold-threaded silk gown, never walked alongside nobles from high families, never laid eyes on the splendor of the imperial palace, and never imagined that one day she would marry a prince and meet the Son of Heaven.

Now, adorned in fine garments, with a gold hairpin in her hair, she stood before the Zichen Hall, the heart of power, about to face the emperor.

How could she not be nervous?

Moreover, her identity was false.

Even if she forced herself to stay calm, her heart trembled. The emperor and empress had both seen Wei Yalan before; she feared that with one careless slip, she would expose the deception and commit the crime of high treason.

She thought Duke Qingguo was far too reckless.

"Just like at any palace banquet," Chen Yingchou said.

The words jolted her awake. Jiang Mo immediately realized that as the legitimate daughter of Duke Qingguo, her current demeanor was truly inappropriate.

She didn’t know if Chen Yingchou had noticed her unease. She opened her mouth to explain, but couldn’t find the right words.

Before she could dwell on it, a young eunuch came out and announced: "His Majesty invites the Prince and Princess to the East Side Hall."

Chen Yingchou stepped forward, and Jiang Mo dared not delay, helping him as they walked.

As she walked, she steadied her nerves and told herself: from this moment on, she was Wei Yalan, the legitimate daughter of Duke Qingguo’s mansion, a noble lady of the capital.

The hall’s doors were wide open, emitting a faint scent of incense. The bright, fierce sunlight poured into the empty space within, faintly revealing red and gold hues. Even before stepping inside, she felt the weight of authority.

The moment she set foot inside, Jiang Mo, to her surprise, calmed down.

Like a general heading into battle—no matter how anxious or worried before the fight, once he dons his armor and takes the field, he adopts a spirit of burning the boats and facing death with defiance.

She had practiced the rituals and etiquette countless times. Together with Chen Yingchou, she knelt and performed the formal bow.

"Your son and daughter-in-law pay respects to Your Majesties, Father Emperor and Mother Empress."

A steady, deep voice, warm with kindness, said: "Rise."

Jiang Mo helped Chen Yingchou stand. Before she dared to lift her head, she heard footsteps descending from the high seat.

"Let Mother Empress have a good look at you."

The woman before Chen Yingchou was imposing, wearing a 'Morning Sun' five-phoenix hairpin with hanging pearls and a crimson gold-woven trailing dress, grand and flowing, resplendent and dazzling.

There was no need to guess—this was the Empress. Jiang Mo tactfully stepped aside.

The Empress took Chen Yingchou’s hand, looking at him with deep affection. "Chou’er, how have you gotten so thin again?"

A smile curled at the corners of Chen Yingchou’s mouth. "I’ve worried Mother Empress. I'll take good care of myself from now on."

The Empress led Chen Yingchou to a nearby table and helped him sit. "Early this morning, I had Gui Xi prepare your favorite dishes: crispy bone fish, chicken and bean sprouts, stuffed lotus root with glutinous rice, and water chestnut pastries."

"Thank you, Mother Empress. I'll eat a lot. Please, you should join me."

The Empress turned and walked back to the high seat, her gaze sweeping over Jiang Mo as she gave her a careful look. After settling herself, she said: "Princess Yu, please take your seat."

Sensing the Empress’s unfriendly gaze but not understanding why, Jiang Mo quickly curtsied and then sat beside Chen Yingchou.

Palace maids brought in the meal.

Jiang Mo cautiously looked up at the people on the high throne.

The Emperor’s expression was calm, neither happy nor sad, his hair streaked with gray. Jiang Mo thought it odd—why didn't the Emperor use the hair dye everyone in the capital knew about?

The Empress, dignified and graceful, looked at Prince Yu with great kindness, but at Jiang Mo she showed some disapproval.

Attendants by the Emperor and Empress served them their food. The Emperor picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, then set them down and looked at Chen Yingchou. "Old Nine, how are your injuries?"

Though the Battle of Zhuoyang was a victory, it was a brutal one. Fifty thousand troops marched out, and fewer than ten thousand returned.

Yellow sand buried bones for ten thousand li; a mournful wind swept across the land.

Chen Yingchou lowered his head, his demeanor becoming heavy. He set down his chopsticks slowly, pressed both hands on the table, and stood to bow. "In reply, Father Emperor, besides my eye injury, I suffered multiple injuries to my chest and abdomen. The wounds look healed, but I still have occasional dull pain. It's been over three months since I led the survivors back to the capital. At night, I often dream of tens of thousands of souls demanding my life. When I wake, I'm still in darkness, not knowing one day from the next. I've been lazy and neglectful, disappointing Your Majesties."

The Emperor’s gaze grew more intense and cold.

The Empress frowned and cut in: "Chou’er, on such a joyous day, why bring that up? Old injuries and lingering pain will heal with rest. Your complexion is much better than last month. In two more months, you'll surely be fully recovered."

Obviously, this was not the first time the Emperor had asked, nor the first time Chen Yingchou had answered.

Chen Yingchou knew what the Emperor wanted to hear, but he clung stubbornly to his inner scars and refused to say empty words.

Jiang Mo looked up at the man with the red silk over his eyes, feeling the grief and fury pouring out of him, wrapping him tightly.

She then looked toward the high throne. The Empress’s eyes were full of genuine worry and affection—not his birth mother, but she doted on him like one. Jiang Mo realized it was only because the Emperor and Empress doted on him that Chen Yingchou could be so blunt.

The Empress said to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, Chou’er is still young and overly sentimental. As he grows older, he will change. Besides, with his eyes in this condition, we don’t know if they will ever heal. Why force him?"

Where there's hope, there are expectations. They hoped his eyes would heal one day, and then they'd expect him to let go of his guilt, become once again the spirited general and the virtuous minister who discussed state affairs in court, and ultimately qualify to enter the Eastern Palace as crown prince.

But not everything happens as one wishes, not even for the Emperor.

The chill in the Emperor’s eyes lasted only a moment before it faded, replaced with helplessness and an indescribable sorrow.

"Enough, let’s eat."

Chen Yingchou sat down. A young eunuch helped him with his food. He held chopsticks in his right hand, steadied the plate with his left, and tried to pick up dishes from the plate. He missed three out of five times and ate mostly by luck.

Seeing this, Jiang Mo used her spoon to guide the food under his chopsticks, making it easier for him.

"Thank you," Chen Yingchou said, turning his head.

"Lady Wei is truly the granddaughter-in-law the Empress Dowager handpicked. Being so attentive and patient with Old Nine shows she's a gentle, kind woman."

The Emperor seemed in a better mood after witnessing this, and the oppressive atmosphere in the hall eased slightly.

Jiang Mo set down her spoon and was about to respond when the Empress said: "Yalan, don't just fuss over Chou'er. Eat something yourself." She then whispered something to the old matron next to her and added: "After court yesterday, I inquired with Duke Qingguo about your favorite foods, and I’ve prepared a few dishes for you."

As her words fell, two maids carried trays directly to her and placed several dishes on the table.

"First, try the lotus seed soup."

Under the Empress’s gaze, Jiang Mo scooped a spoonful of lotus seed soup into her mouth.

As soon as she chewed, a bitter taste flooded her mouth. She took another spoonful and examined it closely. The lotus seeds were plump, yellowish-white in color—top-quality lotus seeds—but the green lotus hearts had not been removed.

The Empress said: "These lotus seeds look clean and smooth on the outside, but inside they hold bitterness. See, even after being boiled into soup, they still refuse to give up their bitterness. Yalan, how's the lotus seed soup?"

Jiang Mo realized that the Empress was doing this on purpose, but why was the Empress saying these things to hint at her?

Her mind raced, but she couldn't find an answer. As far as she knew, no one in the Wei clan had offended the Empress. Although the marriage was arranged by the Dowager Empress, the Empress had also approved of it.

Unable to find a reason, she had no choice but to steel herself and say, "Lotus seed soup calms the mind and regulates the qi—it's definitely a great dish."

Since it was bestowed by the Empress, she absolutely could not say it was bitter, so she could only dodge the question.

"You and Chou'er both like lotus root. Try these sweet-and-sour lotus root cubes and the glutinous-rice-stuffed lotus root, and tell me the difference."

After the earlier lesson, even though Jiang Mo only took a small bite, she couldn't help but gasp at the sour taste, blinking involuntarily.

"This lotus grows from mud, neither spoiled nor fragile. On the contrary, it is alluring without being vulgar, graceful and poised. Even when sourness is added, it should not change the essence of the lotus root." The Empress's dignified smile was accompanied by an icy gaze. "Ya Lan, what do you think?"

Something's definitely up!

Jiang Mo truly did not understand what the Empress meant, so she glanced at the Emperor, trying to see if he had put the Empress up to this.

The Emperor's expression was calm, and he slowly chewed with his chopsticks raised, not looking at her.

Jiang Mo could not discern any clue, so she forced herself to stay calm and replied, "Lotus root..."

"Empress Mother!" Chen Yingchou stood up and interrupted her words. "Ya Lan is gentle in nature. Last night she offered to share my bed, but it was I who refused her because my injuries have not fully healed."

At these words, Jiang Mo finally understood. It must have been that they hadn't consummated the marriage on their wedding night, and the Empress had found out, thinking she was unwilling. That was why the Empress was using objects as metaphors to warn her.

Everyone knew that Prince Yu's injuries had long healed. What had not healed, besides his eyes, was his heart full of guilt and self-blame.

The four maids in the Zhaomu Courtyard of the residence had all come from Kunning Palace; not a single move of hers could escape the Empress's eyes. Chen Yingchou had temporarily resolved the situation, but what about afterward? Without thinking, she knew what the Empress would have her do—nothing less than flattering and seducing him in the most sycophantic way, perhaps even using extreme measures. Rather than wait for that, she might as well strike first.

Seeing the Empress's anger growing more apparent, Jiang Mo feigned shyness and tugged at Chen Yingchou's sleeve. "Empress Mother, it's that your daughter-in-law's period isn't over yet..."

Chen Yingchou turned his head to look at her. Although his eyes were covered, one could sense that his eyes expressed surprise and confusion.

The Empress laughed heartily. "You two really seem devoted to each other, each rushing to take the blame, not wanting the other to be punished. In that case, regardless of the reason last night, I will no longer inquire. I only hope that you will soon produce offspring for the imperial family."

The Emperor also had a smile in his eyes, and he looked at Jiang Mo. "Wei-shi."

"Your daughter-in-law is here."

"After the Battle of Zhuoyang, it's rare to see Old Nine care about anything again. That he stepped in to help you shows that he acknowledges you as his wife. From now on, you must take good care of him and accompany him. Do not disappoint the trust I have placed in you and Duke Qingguo."

"Yes." Jiang Mo answered with a guilty conscience.

She was not Wei-shi; she was only doing her best to play the role of Wei-shi. Even if Chen Yingchou acknowledged her as his wife, she had not acknowledged him as her husband. She would leave sooner or later and would not stay by Chen Yingchou's side taking care of him forever.

Whether Duke Qingguo would disappoint the Emperor, she did not know, but she was destined to disappoint Prince Yu.