Chapter 51: The Gathering Storm
Gu Yuan was taken aback by his brother's sudden change in tone. After a moment of stunned silence, he replied, "With Mother present, Eldest Sister-in-law should be safe."
To avoid any appearance of impropriety, Gu Yuan had deliberately kept Yan Xuerui out of his arrangements at the military camp on the capital's outskirts.
Only women and children remained in the manor. They had already stationed personnel both inside and outside the residence, ensuring no one could threaten them at their doorstep. However, the women of the household were unaware of the full situation and might endure a few days of anxiety.
Gu Yuan offered, "Eldest Sister-in-law is frail. Perhaps I should return to give instructions—"
"No need." Gu Yan lowered his eyes, his voice cold and firm. "Proceed as planned."
That Mr. Gao truly possessed some skill. After several days of administering Pingyang's heartblood, he had taken her pulse; it was steady and even, a significant improvement from before.
His own skin was thick and rough, and her strength meager. The wound on his shoulder had long since scabbed over, but the twisted, gruesome scar on his chest was not so easily healed.
All these years, he had pampered her like royalty, denying her nothing. He had given her his heart—what more could she possibly be dissatisfied with?
Lost in the game, he had been misguided. Like water trickling through fingers, the tighter he grasped, the more he lost. Perhaps he should loosen his grip.
Then she would realize she had taken her blessings for granted. Without his protection, what awaited her was not the freedom she dreamed of, but hardship and adversity.
In the end, she would obediently return to his embrace, begging for her husband's mercy and affection.
Gu Yan's thin lips were tightly pressed. The flickering candlelight cast shadows on his stern face, making him appear sinister and foreboding.
***
Meanwhile, within the Taoist temple in the palace.
Before the enormous Yin-Yang Eight Trigram diagram, the Virtuous Prince's refined face could not conceal his excitement. "Taoist Master, this is a rare opportunity that comes once in a thousand years. We must seize the chance now or regret it forever."
Fang Zhixu sat in a wheelchair, emanating a pungent herbal odor. He frowned slightly, his tone hesitant. "Your Highness, please remain calm."
Everything had gone too smoothly, which made him suspicious.
Twenty years ago, when he was still a scholar, the Marquis of Jingyuan's estate was a colossal power in his eyes. No matter how he struggled or resisted, he was nothing but an ant that the powerful could crush on a whim. The pressure of a blade hanging over his head kept him trembling with fear and made him even more cautious.
Could Gu Yan, who had dominated the court for two decades, have fallen into their trap so easily without a contingency plan?
"There's something suspicious about this. Let's watch quietly and see how things develop; maintain composure."
"Composure, composure, composure! How many years have I already bided my time?!"
Having not slept all night, the Virtuous Prince's eyes were bloodshot, his fists clenched tightly.
"I am nearing forty years of age."
He was the emperor's first child, the eldest son. The emperor praised him for his intelligence, diligence, generosity, and benevolence, hiring great scholars to teach him, promoting his mother, and granting power to his maternal uncle.
He thought he was the uncrowned crown prince, but years later, the emperor welcomed a daughter of the Xu family into the palace, who gave birth to a legitimate "crown prince."
He had once considered living honestly as an "idle" prince, like his uncle, the Prince of Su in Yangzhou, enjoying peace and freedom. But the emperor's ambiguous stance, constantly supporting the Upright faction, made him entertain delusions he shouldn't have.
He was much older than the crown prince. The emperor was aged but healthy and illness-free, potentially living another ten or twenty years. To speak treasonously, even if he won in the end, how many years could he sit on that throne?
Facing the emperor, he had to constantly display loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and love. Facing his subordinates, he couldn't put on airs of royalty but had to show respect to talented individuals. Even facing the crown prince, that young brat—though young, he was the ruler—the Virtuous Prince had to kneel and bow to him.
He had had enough of this frustrating and humiliating life!
The Virtuous Prince took a deep breath, his tone resolute. "Taoist Master, you are overthinking it."
Their initial plan was to use the imperial examinations to frame Gu Yan. To distance himself, he specifically used scholars from other regions.
When Gu Yan was successfully dismissed from office, he had felt uncertain. Especially when the investigation led to his own people, while the Crown Prince's faction was let off lightly. Just as he suspected Gu Yan was turning their scheme to his advantage, he discovered unusual movements at the military camp on the capital's outskirts!
The camp stationed three thousand Black Armor Army troops brought by Gu Yuan from the northwest.
So that was it—Gu Yan, like a cornered animal desperate to fight back, was planning a rebellion!
He was the crown prince's teacher. Even though he had been dismissed from his position as Grand Tutor, he heard the crown prince intended to elevate Gu Yan's niece to the Eastern Palace. The marquis' estate and the Eastern Palace were inextricably linked.
If Gu Yan rebelled, it meant the crown prince was committing treason.
After learning this news, the Virtuous Prince couldn't sleep all night. Should he report it to his father? No, no—that would be too slow. If he mobilized the imperial guards before the Black Armor Army took action, killed the crown prince, purged the court of corrupt influences, and his father fell ill from the crown prince's treasonous actions, the eldest son could assume regency.
It was perfectly reasonable!
Suppressing the trembling in his heart, the Virtuous Prince said to Fang Zhixu, "Taoist Master, please divine a hexagram for me."
Fang Zhixu lowered his eyes, his expression slightly cold. "Since Your Highness has already made up your mind, why ask me again?"
The Virtuous Prince shook his head gently. "Timing, favorable geographical conditions, and harmony among people are all indispensable."
Perhaps deep down, he also felt it was risky, which was why he had arranged today's meeting.
Fang Zhixu could not dissuade him. The young servant in green behind him presented a tortoise shell and three copper coins. Fang Zhixu raised his hand slightly and cast them onto the hexagram plate.
Six times. Lower trigram: Zhen (Thunder), Upper trigram: Qian (Heaven). The hexagram of Heaven over Thunder: Wu Wang (Innocence). Great misfortune.
"How is it?" the Virtuous Prince asked eagerly, his red-rimmed eyes gleaming.
"Auspicious omen." Fang Zhixu said calmly, "I congratulate Your Highness in advance."
He and the Virtuous Prince had always used each other. He entered the palace to kill Gu Yan and reclaim his cousin.
But she told him to let go.
All these years, he had endured suffering, hunger, cold, and humiliation, crawling out of the underworld. The breath he had been holding onto suddenly dissipated.
She said she was now a wife and a mother. The affections of their youth should be forgotten.
Fang Zhixu closed his eyes in pain. To survive, to accumulate strength to return to the capital, he had shed much innocent blood—more than he could count.
He was no longer the kind and weak Scholar Fang of the past. What use was kindness? Murder and arson led to wealth and power. He would climb up by any means necessary, but she... she was his beloved Rui cousin, whom he had adored and protected since childhood.
How could he bear to make things difficult for her?
She told him to let go, and he would listen to her.
Whether the crown prince or the Virtuous Prince won—what did it matter to him?
Fang Zhixu slowly said, "I still have personal matters to attend to. I need to leave the palace for a day and return that same day. Could Your Highness grant me this convenience?"
The one in charge of the imperial guards was the Virtuous Prince's uncle, Grand Marshal Qi.
"Of course."
The Virtuous Prince was pleased and readily agreed. As an honored guest in the palace, Fang Zhixu was not a prisoner; he could leave, though the process was rather cumbersome. Granting this small favor was no trouble, and the prince didn't think much of it. His mind was wholly occupied with his grand scheme. After a brief exchange, he hurried away.
Once he left, Yao Er entered carrying a basin of clean water and knelt at Fang Zhixu's feet.
She said cautiously, "Godfather, it's time to change the dressing."
Her godfather had met with that woman twice now, and his expression had grown increasingly cold. Though he hadn't said anything, Yao Er fretted inwardly, suspecting that the lie she had told had been exposed by Yan Xuerui.
Anxious and angry, yet afraid to bring it up herself, she lived in constant fear.
She lifted Fang Zhixu's pant leg and removed the medicated patch on his knee. A strong, pungent herbal scent wafted up, somewhat irritating.
Yao Er wrinkled her nose and muttered, "Godfather, how are you feeling? Does it still hurt? Should we pause the treatment for a couple of days?"
This medicated patch had been delivered to her godfather by that woman. It wasn't that Yao Er was biased, but every time her godfather applied it, his muscles tensed up rigidly. She knew he was in extreme pain, though he never showed it.
Ordinary bone-healing medicated patches might not be comfortable, but they shouldn't cause such agony. Her godfather had endured much hardship in his early years; for him to react like this, the pain must be excruciating.
She suspected that woman might be secretly trying to harm or torment him.
Fang Zhixu endured the needle-like stabbing pain and asked, "Have the talismans His Majesty requested been delivered?"
Yao Er nodded. "Three days' worth, all delivered."
"Good."
Fang Zhixu said calmly, "No need to pack. You and Congqing will come with me tomorrow. We're leaving the palace."
The palace was about to fall into chaos.
Before leaving, should he see his cousin Rui one more time?
***
These undercurrents of turmoil did not affect Yan Xuerui. She had spent the entire day in Gu Yan's study and emerged unsteady on her feet, her beautiful face dazed and distracted.
So that was it!
She was actually the long-lost Princess Changle the palace had been searching for all these years. No wonder the emperor had been so kind to her.
Was it because, in following the dying wish of Imperial Consort Chen—her birth mother—he didn't want to acknowledge her?
Yan Xuerui's heart was in turmoil. So she wasn't an unwanted child after all. She was the emperor's daughter, a noble princess who could have been like Princess Pingyang…
Remembering the assassinated, dying Princess Pingyang, Yan Xuerui clutched her chest, overcome by waves of dry heaving.
Gu Yan had known all along. That wasn't medicine to replenish her energy and blood—it was Princess Pingyang's heart's blood!
Logically, she was the last person in the world with the right to disdain or blame Gu Yan.
But… but she truly couldn't bear it. When she had used Gu Yan's blood before, she had only felt shock. Now, it felt as if tiny insects were gnawing at her entire body. It was unbearable.
She didn't want to use her half-sister's life to cure her illness.
She didn't want to drink anyone's blood.
Her face pale, she stumbled to the parasol tree in the courtyard. The rough bark scraped her palms until they were red, and sourness welled up in her throat.
"Madam, what's wrong?"
In the dim moonlight, Qiu Yue hurried forward to support Yan Xuerui's arm.
"This servant will fetch a physician."
"No, no need."
Beads of sweat dotted Yan Xuerui's forehead. She clenched her fingers tightly and said, "Help me back to my room."
Too much had happened in one day: Gu Yan's imprisonment, calming the Hou household, suddenly learning her true identity, and the matter of Princess Pingyang. Gu Yan, the emperor, the crown prince, the Virtuous Prince… each had their own schemes.
She couldn't panic.
Now, with the old and young in the Hou household relying on her, she couldn't collapse.
Gritting her teeth, Yan Xuerui pushed Qiu Yue away and stubbornly endured her discomfort as she returned to the main courtyard. On the desk, the tokens for the inner and outer courtyards were neatly arranged. According to Yan Xuerui's original plan, she was to go out tomorrow to visit various officials and, if possible, go to the Dali Prison to see Gu Yan.
Everything was in chaos.
Her thoughts were a tangled mess, but Yan Xuerui forced herself to calm down and sort through them one by one. The most urgent matter now was to resolve the Hou household's predicament. Who could she rely on? The emperor? No. The crown prince? She didn't even consider him. Even if it was Gu Yan…
Was this sudden disaster unexpected, or had he anticipated it?
The candle flame flickered on its stand, wax tears winding downward. As the light in the room grew dimmer, Qiu Yue entered to replace the candle. Seeing Yan Xuerui motionless, she was greatly surprised.
"Oh, Madam, why are you still awake?"
"You said tomorrow you need to visit Dali Temple to call on various officials. You should rest early."
"No."
In the darkness, Yan Xuerui's voice was somewhat faint but unusually firm. "Tomorrow, I will enter the palace."