LF Chapter 12

Chapter 12: A Precarious Situation

Your Majesty carried the unconscious Jiang Yinghua back to the palace and settled her in her own bedchamber, guarding her every step of the way.

That night, at the darkest hour, the long streets were under curfew, utterly deserted. After a series of urgent watchman’s clangs, Star Plucking Tower erupted in a raging inferno, flames soaring into the sky.

The following morning, Star Plucking Tower, once the most famous restaurant in the capital, was reduced to a pile of rubble. Over twenty people, masters and servants alike, perished in the blaze, their bodies charred beyond recognition.

Around dawn, as the morning star gradually brightened on the horizon, Jiang Yinghua, nestled on Your Majesty’s long couch, mumbled in her sleep. She groggily turned over, reaching up to rub her drowsy eyes, only to knock against something soft. Her muddled mind instantly cleared. How could there be something else on her bed?

Your Majesty, who had been resting with her eyes closed beside her, was struck in the stomach by this heavy blow. She now glared resentfully at this little troublemaker.

Thus, as Jiang Yinghua opened her eyes, she saw Your Majesty’s face, filled with resentment, looming over her. As if startled by a nightmare, she screamed and pushed herself up, only to unexpectedly lose her balance. With a muffled thud, she tumbled to the ground.

Before the sensation of freefall could fade, Your Majesty slowly stood up, surveying Jiang Yinghua, who was now sitting on the floor, with amusement, barely able to contain her laughter.

“Awake?” she asked, her voice as cool as ever, with no hint of teasing.

Jiang Yinghua, who had been sitting dazedly on the floor for a while, finally came to her senses. She looked around at the furnishings and confirmed that she, a little mouse, had fallen into the cat’s den – Your Majesty’s bedchamber.

Recalling the dangerous events of the previous day, she pieced together what had happened that night, secretly lamenting her predicament.

“Elder Sister, did I disturb your rest? Um, it’s still early. You should go back to sleep. Little Sister will take her leave…” Jiang Yinghua said, a forced smile plastered on her face, as she scrambled to her feet and backed towards the door, trying to slip away unnoticed.

“Yesterday, you didn’t break your legs. Today, if I don’t cripple them, you won’t feel right, will you?” Your Majesty said calmly, sitting down at her desk, no longer in the mood to sleep. She poured herself a cup of strong tea.

The smile on Jiang Yinghua’s face faltered. Her eyes darted around, and then she said, “Yinghua wouldn’t dare. But matters of state are paramount. You still have to attend court. You barely had a moment of rest. How could I disturb you?”

“You know that matters of state are paramount? If you’re so sensible, then get over here!” Without warning, Your Majesty suddenly raised her voice, slamming the teacup heavily on the table.

Jiang Yinghua shuddered. Her body reacted faster than her mind, and she scurried back to the bedside and knelt obediently beside Your Majesty, without a word.

“Explain everything, in detail. If you say a single word wrong or leave something out, all the useless servants in Prince Zhao Manor can be dismissed.” Your Majesty glanced at her and said softly.

Jiang Yinghua understood. Your Majesty probably hadn’t slept at all that night and had been investigating her affairs. The poor servants in the manor were probably already weeping in the Imperial Prison.

“Elder Sister, please calm your anger. It’s not their fault. It was my own idea to accept the Prince of Yun’an’s invitation and go to Star Plucking Tower to discuss matters. I simply didn’t expect him to be so audacious as to tamper with the food.”

Jiang Yinghua explained cautiously, carefully avoiding the most sensitive points. Her voice was barely louder than a mosquito’s buzz.

“Discuss how to sell yourself to South Yue? How are you any different from that bastard who used aphrodisiacs?!”

Your Majesty slammed her hand on the table, causing the bottles and cups to tremble.

“If Yan Wanzhi hadn’t been there, would you have preserved your innocence or your life? Huh? A marriage alliance between two nations is a matter of utmost importance. They approached you privately to discuss it. If you had used your brain even a little, you wouldn’t have been foolish enough to go.”

Your Majesty stood up and looked down at her, her breathing quickening because of her agitation.

Even without Your Majesty’s scolding, Jiang Yinghua couldn’t reconcile with herself. She had always been strong-willed, but she had stumbled so badly. The anger in her heart was overwhelming. She couldn’t forgive her own stupidity and recklessness, and she couldn’t pardon the bestial actions of her so-called cousin.

“Did he do anything to you?” After a long while, Your Majesty calmed down and sat back in her chair, her tone softening slightly.

“No, I stabbed him and escaped,” Jiang Yinghua said, her head lowered, her face flushed with shame.

Your Majesty sighed in relief and said, “That’s good. Now I can explain things to Mother.”

Jiang Yinghua’s eyes filled with panic, and she said in a trembling voice, “Elder Sister, please keep it from Mother, okay? I’ll take care of my own mess. Please, don’t trouble her.”

“How will you take care of it? By drawing your sword and killing him in the palace?” Your Majesty’s face instantly turned cold.

“This matter can only be resolved by Mother. Stay in the palace for the next few days. You don’t need to attend court. After the South Yue emissaries leave, you can return to your manor. Pack your things and go to Mother’s palace. Don’t be an eyesore here.” Your Majesty instructed, turning and walking towards the door, leaving Jiang Yinghua sitting helplessly on the floor.

Jiang Yinghua understood that her elder sister was protecting her.

But in this way, the Prince of Yun’an still held the upper hand, and all the negative pressure was on her mother and elder sister. A single misstep could cause a major crisis. Moreover, in her mother’s eyes, she was an utter failure who only caused trouble. How could she possibly be allowed to run free again?

—

The previous night, Yan Wanzhi’s bedchamber was pitch black, but the bed was empty.

An owl perched on the high eaves, watching with a mischievous grin as a group of black-clad figures lurked in the alley late at night.

The capital’s patrol guards were several times more numerous than usual, but they all happened to avoid the alley where Star Plucking Tower was located.

The long night stretched on, the stars twinkling tirelessly. The Milky Way hung high, and the moonlight shifted westward. Yan Wanzhi, huddled in a corner, yawned.

He looked up at the eastern sky. A sliver of pale white light appeared deep within the eaves, signaling the beginning of dawn. The sky would soon be bright.

In the distance, a fast horse stopped at the entrance to the alley. A nimble man stealthily approached the group of night owls, searching for a familiar pair of eyes beneath the masks. When his gaze met Yan Wanzhi’s, he bent down and whispered a few words in his ear before quickly disappearing into the deserted street.

Yan Wanzhi waved his hand, and the group removed their night clothes, still surrounding the guesthouse and lying in wait.

Before long, a cart carrying swill emerged from the back gate of the guesthouse. Two large wooden buckets, filled to the brim, were driven by a carter towards the city gate.

Yan Wanzhi led his men forward and surrounded the swill cart, startling the carter, who was at a loss for what to do.

A guard stepped forward and uncovered the wooden buckets. One was filled with foul-smelling swill. The other, however, was far more interesting. The Prince of Yun’an was curled up inside, a silk handkerchief stuffed in his mouth and nose, enduring the stench with a look of disgust.

Without a word, the guard pulled him out. Yan Wanzhi, observing his appearance, jested with a smile, “What is the Prince up to? A rather unique interest, so early in the morning. I just received word from the palace that the Empress Dowager is concerned about you. Please, let’s go.” With that, he playfully gestured for him to proceed.

The Prince of Yun’an knew that he was completely surrounded by these men and had no choice but to obediently follow them.

—

Guided by a palace servant, Jiang Yinghua left Your Majesty’s bedchamber and went to the Empress Dowager’s Palace. When she arrived, Your Majesty had already left, but the Empress Dowager treated her as if she were air, not even granting her an audience or allowing her to offer her respects.

Somewhat dejected, Jiang Yinghua went to the residence she usually stayed in. Standing in the corridor, she kept looking towards the main hall, trying to discern her mother’s activities.

Seeing this, a young eunuch stepped forward to comfort her. “Your Highness, if you have any instructions, I can help you find out.”

Jiang Yinghua looked at him. The man was quite clever. “Go and keep an eye on the hall. Report back to me who the Empress Dowager summons today, one by one. If you’re able, find out some news from the front court. I’ll reward you handsomely.”

With that, Jiang Yinghua slipped the jade thumb ring from her hand and placed it in the young eunuch’s hand.

“Thank you for the reward, Your Highness. I will certainly do my best.” The young eunuch quickly hid the ring in his pocket and hurried off.

In the afternoon, with nothing to do, Jiang Yinghua was nestled in bed, playfully teasing the palace servants to amuse herself and distract herself from her restless emotions.

A young eunuch came running from afar. Jiang Yinghua saw him at once and beckoned him closer.

“Well?” Jiang Yinghua asked with a smile, casually placing a cherry near his mouth.

The young eunuch swallowed the cherry with trepidation and replied with a flattering expression, “Reporting to Your Highness, the Prince of Yun’an entered the hall early this morning. After about half an hour, the Princess Consort of Yun’an also went in. About three quarters of an hour later, the two of them left the palace, looking dejected. As for news from the front court, I asked my master, and he said that Your Majesty dispatched General Wu on a southern tour this morning.”

Jiang Yinghua, who had been wearing a faint smile, patted him on the shoulder. “Very well done. Help me find out one more thing, and I’ll give you all ten land deeds to my hundred acres of farmland in the south of the city. How about it?”

The corners of the young eunuch’s eyes crinkled with joy. He hurried forward and began massaging Jiang Yinghua’s legs diligently. “Just give the order, Your Highness. I would go through fire and water for you!”

“Find out what Yan Wanzhi is doing today,” Jiang Yinghua said softly.

“Scholar Yan? This… Your Highness, this…” Hearing that he had to investigate someone from the imperial court, the young eunuch seemed inclined to desert his post.

“Hmm? I haven’t even asked you to go through fire and water yet, and you’re already refusing?” Jiang Yinghua’s face turned cold, and she surveyed him with amusement.

“I wouldn’t dare. I’ll do my best, Your Highness. Don’t worry.”

“Okay, go,” Jiang Yinghua waved her hand and lay back down on the bed, closing her eyes, but her pupils continued to roll restlessly beneath her eyelids.