LF Chapter 3

Chapter 03: First Encounter

Shaozheng first year, fourth month, first day.

At dawn in late spring, dark clouds rolled overhead, while a gentle breeze brushed the face. The willow branches swayed like the slender waists of celestial beings, and the catkins in the air fluttered like playful sprites.

Another gloomy, sunless day, adding a touch of weariness.

Yan Wanzhi received the decree and hurriedly rode her horse from the inner palace to the Prince Zhao Manor.

Before she had even taken three steps inside the manor gate, she heard melodious singing and the sounds of string and bamboo instruments from ahead.

Yan Wanzhi frowned, thinking to herself: The rumors are indeed true, this little Prince Zhao is really capable of causing a stir, starting the fun so early in the morning.

The eunuch led her to the corridor of the main hall and gently knocked on the door.

With a creak, the hall door opened from the inside.

Yan Wanzhi only glanced inside, but it was enough to make her scalp tingle. The hall was filled with bright colors and lively activity.

The eunuch stepped forward, bypassed the fluttering water sleeves, and stood with his hands clasped in front of the main seat.

Jiang Yinghua leaned lazily on the couch, one hand propping up her body against her forehead, the other holding a wine pot with her slender little finger, in a completely cynical posture.

Her eyes were half-closed, drunkenly following the rise and fall of the performers’ gauze, languidly dragging out her words as she asked, “What is it?”

The eunuch replied, “Reporting to Your Highness, Your Majesty has sent someone to deliver an oral decree, and the person is waiting outside the hall.”

“Invite them in,” Jiang Yinghua said, casually tossing the wine pot aside and waving her hand.

As Yan Wanzhi entered, the discarded wine pot was rolling down to her feet.

The smell of alcohol in the hall was strong, and the floor was scattered with many wine pots identical to the one at her feet.

She sized up the person before her, who looked eight parts like Your Majesty, with a round, oval face, long, dark eyelashes, and slightly raised phoenix eyes, a pair of eyes that captivated the soul. However, her features were still immature, not yet fully developed, still like a child, too young.

The bright red soft gauze robe accentuated her delicate beauty, and the slightly flushed face from the alcohol, combined with her languid posture, added a touch of enchanting charm. She was indeed a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms.

Seeing that the newcomer was standing on the floor without speaking, Jiang Yinghua raised her hand, and two handsome young palace maids hurried forward to help her rise from the couch.

Jiang Yinghua lowered her eyes to look at the person before her, casually pulling a messy shawl over her shoulders: “Does Your Majesty require this Prince to kneel to receive the decree?”

“This official, Yan Wanzhi, greets Your Highness. I am only here to convey Your Majesty’s oral decree, Your Highness need not kneel,” Yan Wanzhi said, realizing her impoliteness and clasping her hands in reply.

“Yan, Wanzhi? So it is the Inner Counselor Yan from Your Majesty’s side who has come. I have long heard of Scholar Yan’s great name,” Jiang Yinghua said, slowly walking down the steps, waving her hand to dismiss the troupe of performers.

She was most fond of handsome beauties, and seeing that he was not bad-looking, Jiang Yinghua said a few more complimentary words.

“This official is terrified and dare not accept such praise, Your Highness flatters me,” Yan Wanzhi replied respectfully.

Jiang Yinghua sized her up, her features were very attractive, but this person was too proper and uninteresting.

“What are Your Majesty’s instructions? I await Scholar Yan’s guidance,” Jiang Yinghua said, abandoning her lazy manner, straightening her clothes, and becoming serious.

“Your Majesty’s oral decree is that Prince Zhao should immediately…” Yan Wanzhi hesitated.

“Immediately what? Continue,” Jiang Yinghua’s steps faltered, and she turned her head to glance at his profile from behind.

“Immediately… roll into the palace,” Yan Wanzhi finished, respectfully bowing towards the person before her, adding, “Please forgive me, Your Highness, these are Your Majesty’s exact words, I have no intention of offending you.”

Jiang Yinghua’s expression changed immediately upon hearing this.

After a long while, Jiang Yinghua reluctantlyfrom the corner of her mouth drew out a decent smile, took the eunuch handed over a full Pursegold leaf, 친수Stop entered Yan Wanknow hands, softly said:

“Thank you, Counselor Yan, for coming to deliver the message in person. This is a small token of my appreciation. I will change and enter the palace immediately. Please forget what just happened…”

“Your Highness is too kind, this is my duty. I have done nothing to deserve such a reward. I have delivered the message, I take my leave,” Yan Wanzhi pushed the money bag back, bowed, and left the main hall.

A glint of sharpness flashed in Jiang Yinghua’s eyes, this person was truly unyielding, daring to reject her goodwill. This Prince will remember you.

Inside Chengming Hall, Your Majesty returned from court and sat in a chair, rubbing her forehead and closing her eyes to rest.

Yan Wanzhi was at the desk, organizing the official documents and memorials that had been submitted today.

A palace attendant came to report: “Your Majesty, the Ninth Highness has arrived.”

“Summon her,” Your Majesty said softly, with her eyes closed.

Jiang Yinghua, dressed in full court attire, walked to the desk and gave a proper bow.

“This subject greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be in good health,” she said, bowing to the ground, very respectful.

“Hmph, you’re behaving now, what, don’t you even recognize your elder sister?” Seeing that the person before her had performed this series of actions smoothly, without any flaws, Your Majesty snorted coldly and stood up to stand in front of her.

“This subject dares not, I have no such intention, I hope Your Majesty will see clearly,” Jiang Yinghua replied respectfully, still with her head lowered.

“Since I ascended the throne, you have claimed illness and refused to come out, not even seeing me, and for three months, you have not even greeted our mother. The court officials have accused you of singing and dancing day and night, never without wine and meat. I originally didn’t believe it. Jiang Yinghua, you’ve become quite capable!” Your Majesty said, gritting her teeth.

Jiang Yinghua prostrated on the ground, without saying a word.

Your Majesty dragged her straight up from the ground and asked coldly, “You’re deliberately going against me, letting the court officials criticize me behind my back, scolding me for enfeoffing a reckless little girl as a prince. You’re doing well, living a life of wine, women, and song, enjoying yourself immensely.”

Jiang Yinghua desperately lowered her head, cursing inwardly: “How dare I go against you, those who opposed you are already lining up to report to King Yama. The moat in the outskirts of the capital has probably been red for many days.”

Your Majesty pinched her chin, raised her face, and continued, “Why are you hiding? Look at me! What exactly are you up to?”

Jiang Yinghua did not dare to break free from her hand, and could only turn her eyes to the side, lowering her eyes and saying, “This subject was ill and is now recovering, I have been lazy for a while, I know I was wrong, I beg Your Majesty to forgive me.”

“Recovering from illness? Heh, Yan Wanzhi, she won’t shed tears until she sees the coffin, tell her what you have verified,” Your Majesty said with a furious laugh, instructing Yan Wanzhi, who was standing at her side.

Yan Wanzhi listed everything, from this person bribing the imperial physicians to alter the pulse records, to secretly sending people to investigate the evidence of the deposed emperor’s death.

Jiang Yinghua’s face turned red and white, and the cold sweat on her body soaked through several layers of silk gauze.

She had not expected that this Scholar Yan would not only fail to cover up her playfulness, but would also secretly investigate her movements so thoroughly. This person was not only unyielding, but also had some means, no wonder she had pleased her elder sister. It seemed that it was not just relying on that good-looking appearance to rise to her position, as the rumors said. Scholar Yan, this feud, we have settled it.

After Yan Wanzhi finished speaking, Jiang Yinghua knelt on the ground with a thud, with her head drooping, unable to say a word. After all, the evidence was irrefutable, and even the most eloquent mouth would be useless.

“Do you think that I and our mother killed your second brother, yes or no?” Your Majesty asked without beating around the bush, in a Sound voice.

Jiang Yinghua’s face was pale, and her body trembled uncontrollably, even her upper and lower teeth were chattering. She cursed herself inwardly for being a coward, but her body was honestly shaking with fear.

Her second brother had only been on the throne for two years before he was deposed by their mother with a decree, and he died suddenly only half a month after stepping down from the throne. Anyone would suspect that this matter was inseparable from the new emperor before her—her elder sister—and their mother.

If that was the case, their mother killed her son, and her elder sister murdered her younger brother. How was she, who shared the same mother and father with her second brother and elder sister, to deal with herself? Moreover, when their father was alive, he had loved her even more, and she had sat on that dragon throne since she was a child. Jiang Yinghua was afraid, but she was also unwilling to be kept in the dark.

Even though her elder sister had enfeoffed her as a prince as soon as she ascended the throne, giving her her former residence as her manor, and giving her a unique share of honor among all the court officials, she did not dare to be as close to her sister as she had been before.

“Look at your cowardly appearance, your worries are all written on your face. I will tell you clearly today, your second brother died of illness, I didn’t touch him, and our mother didn’t harm him either. Four siblings from the same mother and father, now only you and I are left, Jiang Yinghua, I won’t let you mess around.” Your Majesty said, seeing her trembling with fear, and became inexplicably angry. She turned her head and instructed Yan Wanzhi:

“Send her to the Empress Dowager’s Palace, and say that it is my intention, and ask the Empress Dowager to strictly discipline her.”

Yan Wanzhi received the decree and stepped forward, wanting to help the person on the ground up. Who knew that this person was even more flustered at this moment, pushing her away and throwing herself towards Your Majesty, grabbing Your Majesty’s skirt and begging in a trembling voice:

“Elder sister, sister, Hua’er was wrong. Please don’t send Hua’er to mother’s place, you can punish me in any other way.”

“It’s too late to beg for mercy now,” Your Majesty left a sentence and walked away with a stern face.

Yan Wanzhi found this little person a bit funny, actually being so afraid of her mother. However, it was difficult to disobey the imperial order. She half-pushed and half-supported the person to the Empress Dowager’s Palace. Before leaving, she received a resentful glare from this girl. Fine, it would be strange if she didn’t hold a grudge.

Jiang Yinghua’s mother was not only the Empress Dowager of the Kingdom, but also the Queen of the South Yue Kingdom. This heroine attached great importance to rules, was strong-willed, and strict in teaching her children. She rarely showed a smile on weekdays. Her children, whether male or female, had to cultivate both literary and martial skills, and were not allowed to be lazy in any way. If they were slightly unsatisfactory in their studies, a beating with a stick was light punishment. Even an emperor could be pulled down if they were not qualified.

It was precisely because of this that Jiang Yinghua, who had been spoiled and indulged by the late emperor since childhood, had not gone astray, but she had resisted her mother since she was a child.

On the way back to Chengming Hall, Yan Wanzhi thought to herself that Your Majesty only had this one direct younger sister. Since she had been enfeoffed as a prince early on, this young lady would definitely be reused in the future. Creating a rift with her would definitely be greatly disadvantageous to herself. Fortunately, she was still a sixteen-year-old child, and if she could find an excuse to send some things to coax her, this grudge could be resolved.

It was a pity that she had walked too hastily and had not heard the crisp sound of bamboo shoots fried with meat, as well as the accompanying sounds of the girl crying and begging for mercy in the Empress Dowager’s Palace. If she had heard it, she would not have thought that way.