Chapter 18: Only Heaven Knows He Merely Wanted to Save Himself!

As Xiao Huaijing was about to enter the main chamber, the guards stopped him.

Zhang Jiang said sternly, “Chief Steward Zhou comes by imperial decree. Young Lord, you must not force your way in. Otherwise, don’t blame me if I accidentally injure you.”

Xiao Huaijing’s eyes darkened, and he clenched his fists tightly.

He stepped back and asked a servant, “Where is Luo Qingyu?”

He remembered a spot from which he could climb up and see into the main chamber.

The servant replied, “Commander Luo asked for leave after delivering the Princess Consort back today. He said he was going out of the city.”

Xiao Huaijing snapped, “When I need someone, they’re nowhere to be found. Go fetch me a ladder, and be careful.”

The servant hurried off to get the ladder.

In the courtyard, Zhou Dahai was speaking with two eunuchs and Lin Yue.

One eunuch was tall and burly, even taller than Zhou Dahai, but his hat brim was pulled low, obscuring his face.

At first, Lin Yue glanced at him a couple of times, but seeing Zhou Dahai subtly block her view, she assumed he was Zhou’s favored apprentice brought along for amusement.

“The Fourth Prince didn’t say much and didn’t interfere with the Ministry of Works. It was I who insisted on giving the Night Pearls to my elder brother. Please convey this to the Emperor,” Lin Yue explained.

(In truth, I didn’t dare accept the Fourth Prince’s gifts; I was sparing the Ministry of Works.)

(Sigh... that’s worth twenty thousand taels of silver in cash; it pains my heart and soul.)

Zhou Dahai was on a mission, and the man behind him was watching closely. Just thinking about it made Zhou’s legs weak.

“The Emperor is concerned that the Fourth Prince’s sudden visit to the Lin residence might trouble the Princess Consort, so he sent this old servant to inquire. If there’s nothing amiss…”

“Ah!” Zhou Dahai suddenly cried out in pain on his back.

Lin Yue was startled. “Sir, are you all right?”

Zhou Dahai had just been pinched painfully, but forced a fake smile. “The Emperor also wishes to ask if the Princess Consort has any message for the Prince.”

After all, the Emperor was right behind him, and Zhou was unsure of the Emperor’s true intent.

Just came to have a look… without a word. What is the point?

Lin Yue replied, “No need. I’ve already sent a family letter through Chief Historian Bai.”

(The Emperor’s message might not reach Xiao Jingyun. Otherwise, how could Mu Lixin have cut off their contact and severed Xiao Jingyun’s support?)

(But there are still external enemies. Recklessly moving against Mu Lixin now would cause internal unrest and external threats, which is very unfavorable.)

(I’ll have to find another way myself—send the military supplies to Xiao Jingyun as soon as possible. Once the external threat is repelled, then deal with Mu Lixin. Or perhaps switch their positions: Mu Lixin guards the border, Xiao Jingyun watches over Mu Lixin. That would be perfect.)

Behind Zhou Dahai, Xiao Jingxian’s eyes lit up, and he instinctively looked up.

Lin Yue did not notice.

But Xiao Huaijing, who had just climbed the wall, saw everything clearly and was shocked to the point his eyes nearly popped out.

Uncle Emperor!

It was him!

Lin Yue and he… they were secretly meeting under the cover of night!

Xiao Huaijing’s foot slipped, nearly falling.

Fortunately, Chief Historian Bai caught him and frowned. “Young Lord, why are you climbing the Princess Consort’s wall?”

Xiao Huaijing trembled all over, clutching Bai’s arm tightly. “My Imperial…”

Bai frowned. “What?”

Xiao Huaijing felt a surge of panic. No, he couldn’t say it.

If Bai knew Lin Yue had betrayed his father the Emperor, he might poison her on the spot.

Forcing himself to calm down, Xiao Huaijing didn’t know why he wanted to help Lin Yue, but he didn’t want her to die, especially not for betraying his father.

“My imperial uncle’s aide, Zhou Dahai, came. I’m uneasy.”

Bai said, “Zhou Dahai may be powerful, but he’s still a servant. How dare he harm the Princess Consort?”

“Go back first, I’ll check it out.”

Xiao Huaijing didn’t dare let him go and pulled him back. “I saw. They didn’t say much. Don’t go.”

“I heard Qingyu left the city. Do you know where she went?” Xiao quickly changed the subject.

Bai recalled that Qingyu said she was going to find Master Zhang, and it concerned the Prince’s life.

Since Qingyu was raised by the Prince and regarded him as her master, their bond was deep. She must have learned something to be so anxious.

Bai said, “We’ll know when she returns.”

Xiao Huaijing said, “Then let’s go wait for her in the study.”

Bai wanted to say Qingyu might not return until dawn, but seeing the young lord’s distraught state, he reluctantly agreed to accompany him.

Meanwhile, outside, a sentry sounded an alarm.

Xiao Jingxian tapped Zhou Dahai’s sleeve, signaling him to leave.

He thought his mother wouldn’t speak ill of Mu Lixin without cause; Lin Yue must have hinted something to her.

Now it seemed that was true.

Mother meant to replace Mu Lixin, but she overlooked that rashly doing so without fault would have serious repercussions for the court.

He also understood Mu Lixin’s intent: to become his trusted minister, willing to do anything for him.

But a trusted minister is different from a powerful confidant.

He couldn’t let Mu Lixin manipulate him; that would endanger the Great Wei.

Satisfied with the answer, Xiao Jingxian was pleased. He must listen more to Lin Yue’s true feelings—self-rescue was now a priority.

Just as they left the Prince’s Mansion, the sentry reported that Xiao Huaijing had climbed the wall and almost fell upon seeing him.

Xiao Jingxian’s face darkened immediately.

He said to Zhou Dahai, “It’s inconvenient for me to leave the palace. Find a way to bring the Princess Consort to live in the palace.”

Zhou Dahai immediately sank to his knees, weakly protesting, “Your Majesty, we already came out of the palace to see her. Are you still not satisfied?”

“If this continues, this old servant really worries… what if something happens…”

Before Zhou Dahai could finish, Xiao Jingxian’s face turned pitch black, and he kicked fiercely. “Get lost!”

Everyone seemed to think he was some lecher!

He only wanted to save himself!

Damn it!

...

Inside the palace, the Empress Dowager and the Empress both received news that Xiao Huaizheng was going to see Lin Yue.

They wanted to see her too, but could not. They needed Lin Yue to leave the palace to earn merit and hoped she would save the Crown Prince and Crown Grandson.

Both women longed desperately to see her and, hearing that Zhou Dahai had visited the Prince’s Mansion, were summoned to be questioned in detail.

Upon learning that Lin Yue had donated two Night Pearls to the Ministry of Works, their eyes brightened.

Donate?

Night Pearls are money, aren’t they?

Donate money?

Earn merit!!!

So that’s possible! Why hadn’t they thought of it before?

The Empress Dowager immediately told Eunuch Deng, “Bring ten strings of Eastern Pearl necklaces and twenty strings of Eastern Pearl bracelets to the Princess Consort. Tell her to rest well and not overexert herself.”

Though puzzled, Deng obeyed.

On his way out, he encountered Chief Steward Chen from the Empress’s palace.

They exchanged a glance and said in unison, “Princess Consort’s mansion?”

Then they smiled wryly at each other.

Chen said, “Unexpected that the Princess Consort’s first visit to the palace would win the favor of both the Empress Dowager and the Empress. Truly surprising.”

Deng recalled the events of the day the Princess Consort entered the palace and said, “Actually, I think there have been rumors.”

“Or perhaps someone deliberately slandered the Princess Consort’s reputation before.”

Chief Steward Yu thought for a moment and understood. Three years ago, people said the Princess Consort was desperate to marry, so she agreed to the marriage with Prince Ding for fortune-telling. They also spoke ill of her conduct, saying the Prince never touched her after marriage because he found her repulsive, and so on.

Back then, the slanders were endless.

“Alas, they’ll be disappointed. Now our Princess Consort is precious.”

“Yes, truly precious.”

Deng agreed, thinking that in just two days, the Empress Dowager had already opened her secret treasury twice. She kept mumbling about having the Prince produce a little prince and princess to bring grandchildren for her.

Tsk, tsk, just hearing that made him envious.