LF Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Re-entering Tai Zhang Palace

When the carriage entered the city, it was the midday hour, with the golden sun hanging high in the sky. The swaying carriage suddenly stopped, and a guard outside bowed and said, “Your Highness, we have arrived outside the palace gates.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yinghua, supported by a maid, stepped out of the carriage and stood on the wide imperial road. Turning back, she could see the bustling streets of the capital, with the faint sounds of laughter and happy chatter from the people. Directly in front of her were the towering red walls, the glazed tiles shimmering and dazzling.

The afternoon air was crisp and clear, with the wind rustling, causing Jiang Yinghua’s crimson brocade robes and the ponytail cascading down her back to sway.

Jiang Yinghua raised her eyes and gazed for a long time. The green bricks, blue tiles, and white jade steps of the nine-layered palace added a touch of bewilderment to her gaze. After a long while, she finally withdrew her gaze, turned to look at Yan Wanzhi, who was quietly waiting by her side, and said in an exceptionally gentle voice, “Accompany me into the palace, will you?” Jiang Yinghua’s eyes lacked their usual firmness, and a hint of anticipation was hidden within.

If someone were to touch her palm at this moment, they would feel a chilling coldness mixed with faint sweat.

Yan Wanzhi, hearing her unconfident request and recalling her dejected state when she left the capital three years ago, agreed without hesitation, “This subject is willing to go with Your Highness.”

Jiang Yinghua lowered her eyes slightly, her thick eyelashes fluttering, and withdrew her gaze from Yan Wanzhi, as if making a great decision. Once again, she stepped into the deep palace path beneath the red walls of the Tai Zhang Palace.

The palace was crowded with people, and there were many ears and eyes. Therefore, the two remained silent throughout the long palace road.

One in front of the other, as long as she heard the rhythmic footsteps following behind, Jiang Yinghua did not feel nervous.

Until she stood at the stone steps of Chengming Hall, she clenched her teeth, as if she saw again the stubborn and headstrong girl who had knelt there three years ago, receiving the favor of the cold wind.

She stopped, took several deep breaths, and fought her final battle with herself.

The inner servant, having received the news, had been waiting anxiously outside the hall. Seeing Jiang Yinghua’s figure, even without waiting for her to speak and request permission, the old eunuch happily hurried inside to report, “Your Majesty, the Ninth Princess has returned and is waiting outside the hall!”

Your Majesty, who had been sitting on the throne, diligently writing with a vermillion pen, immediately shifted her gaze from the memorial upon hearing this, her anticipation unconcealed, “Quickly, invite her in.”

The old eunuch obeyed the order and went out, giving Jiang Yinghua a grand salute, “Your Highness, Your Majesty invites you in. Let us go in quickly, it is cool outside.”

Jiang Yinghua gave a perfunctory help and responded lightly, “Thank you for your trouble.” Then she followed him up the steps.

After taking a few steps, not hearing any movement behind her, she quickly stopped and turned back, “Scholar Yan, come inside with me.”

The old eunuch looked embarrassed but ultimately did not say anything to stop her, after all, Yan Wanzhi had been Your Majesty’s favorite for many years, and he dared not offend her.

Logically, Your Majesty most wanted to see Jiang Yinghua, her younger sister who had been away for three years, and Yan Wanzhi should not interfere. However, ever since entering the capital, she had sensed Jiang Yinghua’s worries, so she no longer hesitated and stepped forward to follow. At worst, she would be chased out by that person.

Jiang Yinghua waited like this until Yan Wanzhi was only a step away from her before she was willing to move forward. The old eunuch had been in the palace for many years and had seen countless people. With a rough glance, he guessed seven or eight out of ten of her little thoughts.

The two entered the hall one after the other. When Your Majesty saw Jiang Yinghua, she originally intended to get up to greet her, but upon seeing Yan Wanzhi following closely behind, she restrained her impulse.

Jiang Yinghua, from the moment she entered the door, had lowered her eyes and nodded, not looking sideways. When she reached the center of the hall, she bowed in accordance with court etiquette towards the person on the throne, her tone even and without emotion, a picture of dutiful formality. Yan Wanzhi behind her, of course, need not be said, she had been like this for years.

Your Majesty’s earlier expectant expression faded slightly, and there was a hint of disappointment. She sat upright on the throne and simply instructed, “Scholar Yan has had a hard journey. I will reminisce with Prince Zhao. You may return to your residence to rest and come to report tomorrow. Also, stay in the palace for the banquet.”

With one sentence, she arranged everything clearly.

Yan Wanzhi, even with great courage, dared not disobey the imperial decree and had to rise, acknowledge the order, and take her leave.

Jiang Yinghua, her head lowered in her arms, closed her eyelids slightly and pursed her lips tightly.

The support she had brought was so easily dismissed.

After Yan Wanzhi left, Your Majesty dismissed all the attendants, and the hall was instantly left with only the two sisters.

Your Majesty strode down from the throne and reached out very kindly to help Jiang Yinghua, who had been kneeling on the ground for a long time and refused to get up, “Why are you so estranged? Get up quickly and let me see you.”

Feeling Your Majesty’s warm hand on her arm, Jiang Yinghua’s body trembled slightly. She took the opportunity to get up, unconsciously taking half a step back, and lowered her eyes in silence.

Your Majesty naturally noticed her small movement and suddenly withdrew her hand in mid-air, “Are you blaming me?”

Jiang Yinghua suppressed the unease in her heart. At this moment, her heart was beating rapidly in her chest. She moved her lips slightly and said in a low voice, “Your Majesty misunderstands, this subject dares not.”

“Dares not? In that case, you really do hold a grudge. Three years apart, you are unwilling to look at me. Let me see you, how about it?”

Your Majesty slowly walked up to her, and the two were very, very close, close enough to hear each other’s heartbeats and feel the warm breath between their noses. Jiang Yinghua dared not hide anymore and did not know how to respond.

If Yan Wanzhi had stayed here, there would not have been such an awkward situation. Unfortunately, things did not go as she wished.

As she was thinking, Your Majesty’s fingertip had already landed on Jiang Yinghua’s cheek, and her body shook violently, startling Your Majesty. However, the person did not stop moving and took the opportunity to lift Jiang Yinghua’s cheek. Jiang Yinghua directly held her breath.

In three years, Jiang Yinghua had grown taller and was now about the same height as Your Majesty. When the two stood together, they could look each other in the eye. Jiang Yinghua was very uncomfortable with this feeling. She was somewhat disgusted by Your Majesty’s deep, unfathomable eyes.

“Grown up, not like a little girl anymore.” After staring for a long time, Your Majesty finally released the person and said softly.

Jiang Yinghua had no response and obediently stood aside. Your Majesty was a little helpless and even regretted the decision to send Yan Wanzhi away just now. Because she now seriously suspected whether Yan Wanzhi had given good advice in the Zongzheng Temple that year.

The hall was silent, and the reunion after a long absence was so depressing. Your Majesty knew Jiang Yinghua’s stubborn nature, so she had no choice but to say, “Go see Mother, she misses you very much.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yinghua felt as if she had been granted amnesty. She bowed respectfully, said goodbye, and left Chengming Hall cautiously.

Recalling the last time she saw her, it was on the day she was recalled and dragged to the Zongzheng Prison. Your Majesty was a little remorseful, perhaps because she was upset at the time and had neglected something. That year, she should have gone to the Zongzheng Temple herself and made things clear to her. Now that her younger sister was so restrained and estranged, it would be difficult to reconcile in the future. The words in the letters back and forth were ultimately unreliable.

Jiang Yinghua dragged her body out of the hall, walking somewhat dejectedly on the way to the Empress Dowager’s palace. As soon as she stepped through a palace gate, she saw the scarlet official robe waiting to one side, her face full of concern.

Jiang Yinghua forced a faint smile, “It’s nothing, I was just abrupt. Scholar Yan, go back and rest, I’ll see you at the banquet tomorrow.”

Yan Wanzhi was a little puzzled, the two had not seen each other for many years, how could she come out in less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. But seeing that Jiang Yinghua’s expression was normal, she returned to her residence as she was told.

Jiang Yinghua looked at the sky. At this moment, the Empress Dowager was probably taking a nap. She could not bear to disturb her, so she leisurely moved her steps and slowly moved forward. Many of the young palace servants on the palace road did not recognize her, but seeing her in brocade clothes, they knew that she was of noble status and hurriedly saluted and avoided her.

The last time she was summoned back to the capital, she had not heard a word of concern from the Empress Dowager, nor had she seen her in person. Jiang Yinghua did not know whether her mother was blaming her for her unruly behavior and was angry with her. Stepping into the palace gate, Jiang Yinghua felt a little guilty. She quietly stood under the corridor of the main hall, looking at the scenery and furnishings around, which were no different from the Mid-Autumn Festival three years ago.

Occasionally, one or two small cleaning servants passed by. Jiang Yinghua waved her hand, indicating that they did not need to salute. At this moment, the courtyard was quiet, and her mother should be sleeping soundly.

After standing for a long time, the hall door suddenly creaked open, and a figure flashed out of the door. That person glanced at the red-clothed girl under the corridor, her gaze fixed, and she called out to her with some shock and great joy, “Ninth… Ninth Princess!”

This person was the chief Mama beside the Empress Dowager. Jiang Yinghua smiled slightly and nodded to the person. The old Mama turned back to the hall and said, “Empress Dowager, the Ninth girl has returned.” Then she opened the hall door wide and said to Jiang Yinghua, “Why are you standing there in a daze, come in quickly.”

Jiang Yinghua no longer delayed, knowing that she had disturbed her mother, and hurried inside. The autumn sunlight shone directly into the window. Jiang Yinghua turned her side and saw the Empress Dowager’s head illuminated by the sunlight, her silver hair shining brightly and piercingly. Her heart suddenly ached, and the nervousness she had felt just now disappeared instantly.

That’s right, the Empress Dowager was already in her sixties and was no longer the imposing, assertive, and domineering Empress she used to be. People will all grow old.

Jiang Yinghua stepped forward, and the Empress Dowager was still having the palace servants comb her hair on the bed.

She knelt straight down on the ground and murmured softly, “Mother, your daughter has returned.”

The Empress Dowager waved her hand to dismiss the palace servants, and a few touches of emotion appeared on her always solemn face. She stood up, stunned for a moment, and then embraced the person in her arms. Although she did not say a word, Jiang Yinghua was already in tears, sobbing, “Mother, please forgive me, Hua’er is unfilial and has caused you worry.”

The Empress Dowager released her hand, pulled the person back to the bed to sit down, and looked at her with deep affection in her eyes, “You’ve changed, have you gone to see your sister?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yinghua lowered her eyes and nodded slightly, “I came after paying my respects.”

The Empress Dowager’s generous and powerful palm patted her shoulder, “These three years have not been easy for you two, but you have both done very well. You are not allowed to blame her, sometimes she does act impulsively, but no one is perfect. No one can understand her pain and difficulties, do you understand?”

There was a hint of disappointment in Jiang Yinghua’s heart. After three years of separation, her mother did not ask about her situation, but only mentioned her relationship with her older sister. This Empress Dowager, I’m afraid, will never change her temperament of putting state affairs first. As long as Your Majesty is the ruler for one day, she, Jiang Yinghua, is a subject for one day, and in her mother’s heart, this scale will always tilt towards her older sister’s side.

Jiang Yinghua had hoped that her mother could care about her a little, even if her words were scolding, she would obediently admit her mistakes and coax her to calm down.

The current situation showed that she had thought too much. After hearing these words, Jiang Yinghua nodded silently, then withdrew her arm from the Empress Dowager’s hand, bowed, and said, “Mother, your daughter has traveled a long way and has not yet changed her clothes, so I will not disturb you here. Tomorrow is Mid-Autumn Festival, your daughter will return to her residence to bathe and burn incense, and will come to the palace early in the morning to accompany you.”

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager saw the exhaustion in her eyes and could not bear to keep her any longer, so she agreed to let her return to her residence.

Prince Zhao Manor in the capital was still the same old people. Although they had received the news that their master was returning to stay for a while, they were also discussing in private that Prince Zhao had not returned for three years and would definitely stay in the palace and would not come back.

Who would have thought that they would only receive the news of her entering the capital in the afternoon, and in less than an hour, the person would appear alone on horseback outside the manor gate. Everyone in the manor was shocked and hurriedly led the person into the main hall, showering her with warmth and concern, which was very enthusiastic.

Jiang Yinghua scanned the surroundings. The furnishings were the same as when she left, and everything was spotless. These old people were the most attentive to her in the capital, weren’t they. The greetings and inquiries after entering the capital did not come from her relatives, but from the close attendants in the manor.

Jiang Yinghua nodded and thanked them, and exchanged a few words with these old acquaintances. After the servants went out, they were whispering, “Her Highness’s temperament seems to be more approachable.”

I wonder what Jiang Yinghua herself would think if she heard these words.