Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 83

It was the rainy season, days filled with gloomy weather and sticky dampness lingering in the air, making breathing hard. Xiao Yun suffered heatstroke, and Qin Ling stayed in the palace to care for him.

When the eldest prince fell ill, not only did the concubines come to attend to him, but even Princess Baoyin paid a visit.

Placing her medicine box on the table, Princess Baoyin took a dark plum-like pill and gently shook it. “This herbal medicine from the grasslands dispels heat and dampness. When I had a fever as a child, my mother would give me this. It works overnight.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Princess,” Qin Ling said to Zhu Lan. “Please prepare a cup of fresh tea for the princess.”

“Yes,” Zhu Lan replied.

Princess Baoyin knew about the Han customs; they might not use the medicine she brought. So, without further ado, she quietly sat on a stool, watching Xiao Yun’s tiny hand. After a moment, she couldn’t help but smile. “He’s really fair.”

Being the youngest daughter of the old Khan with three brothers and two sisters, Princess Baoyin rarely interacted with children of Xiao Yun’s age. Seeing the little prince sleeping with closed eyes was endearing, prompting her to extend her hand and gently touch his. The tender and delicate touch was irresistible, and she couldn’t help but tap his fingertips softly. “Zhaoyi, his nails are so thin.”

After a few touches, Xiao Yun opened his eyes, looking around in a daze.

Princess Baoyin couldn’t help but admire, “His Highness really resembles the emperor…”

Fully awakened and catching sight of an unfamiliar woman before him. Xiao Yun’s lips immediately pursed and seemed on the verge of tears. “Mother…”

Unaccustomed to consoling young children, Princess Baoyin panicked at the expression on the little prince’s face. “Y-you, you’re not about to cry, are you?”

Hearing Xiao Yun’s whimper, Qin Ling finally snapped out of her daze. When Baoyin had spoken earlier, she had been absent-minded, her complexion not quite right.

For two days, Xiao Yu had been negotiating future trade alliances with the Mongols, a matter involving interests. Considering the Mongolian tribes’ resistance to Sinicization, the atmosphere wasn’t as harmonious as usual. Xiao Yu hadn’t visited the palace these past few nights, and without his presence, Qin Ling woke up from nightmares multiple times each night.

Three days, three nightmares.

One day, she dreamt of Dantai Yi burning down Mount Li, and many lives were lost. On her way back to the capital with Xiao Yun, someone stopped her. Dantai Yi stood tall, like a towering tree, his gaze dark and menacing.

The next day, the dreams were filled with shadows hanging everywhere. Even the faces of those around her changed.

On the third day, crying surrounded her. Sometimes at the Qin family, sometimes at the Su family, and she herself was covered in blood.

Her mental state was deteriorating, and her right eyelid kept twitching.

Returning to her senses, Qin Ling took a slow breath and lifted Xiao Yun, patting his back. “Mother’s here, it’s okay, it’s okay.”

Xiao Yun’s nose twitched, sensing his mother’s presence. He immediately quieted down, settling contentedly in Qin Ling’s arms. Unlike his complex relationship with his father, Xiao Yun only had eyes for his mother. Even the empress dowager and his aunt came second after his mother.

Princess Baoyin, seeing that the little prince only wanted to be with Qin Ling, awkwardly withdrew her hand.

Fine, ignore her then!

She had already planned to suggest to the emperor to move the neighboring palace and, if need be, have her own child to play with.

Just then, a young eunuch at the door announced, “Your Ladyship, the grand princess has arrived.”

Qin Ling looked up. “Quickly, let her in.”

Princess Baoyin made a half bow and softly said, “Baoyin greets the grand princess.”

Xiao Linyu frowned at her, thinking to herself, Isn’t this Mongolian girl being overly warm…? My brother hasn’t even brought up the marriage proposal yet, and she’s already considering herself a palace concubine?

“Princess, no need for formalities,” Grand Princess Changning turned to Qin Ling. “My lady, is Yun’er feeling better?”

Qin Ling nodded. “He’s been fine since yesterday and wants to play.” With that said, she gently let Xiao Yun down on the ground.

Changning rustled her sleeves, making a rustling sound, and looked at Xiao Yun. “Guess what Auntie brought for you?”

Xiao Yun’s eyes instantly lit up.

Seeing Xiao Yun’s expression, Princess Baoyin suddenly felt ignored. Fuming, she flicked her sleeves, quickly found an excuse, and left the palace.

Changning took out a set of thirteen interlocking rings from the box, tempting him. “Do you want this?”

Being too small to reach the thirteen rings after leaving his mother’s embrace, he stretched his hand into the air, then tugged at Changning’s sleeve. “Auntie.”

The grand princess was made speechless by his eyes. She lifted the child with her left hand and placed the thirteen rings in his hand, gently saying, “Auntie will teach you how to play.”

Zhu Lan couldn’t help but smile at this sight. “The grand princess is truly amazing; the little prince usually doesn’t get close to people.”

Hu Po agreed, “Yes, just now Princess Baoyin almost made the little prince cry.”

Qin Ling couldn’t help but be surprised as well.

***

In the Changning Palace, the candlelight flickered.

Lu Ze said, “The weather is dry these days. We might not prevent a big fire even if we’ve taken precautions.”

Su Huai’an responded, “The grand scribe oversees the celestial calendar; he’s been observing the auspicious times. But how could the Second Prince believe the Qi State orchestrated it if it doesn’t explode?”

“Dantai Yi has smuggled many people into Great Zhou. For several days, my men have been keeping an eye on him. He only interacts with the Minister of Rites, no suspicious actions,” Lu Ze continued. He couldn’t help but pound the table in frustration. “I’m puzzled. Besides the Imperial Guards and the Imperial Bodyguards, there are also five thousand cavalry under General Mu’s command, making the surroundings impenetrable. How could he plant explosives? Even if he did it beforehand, who would ignite it if we don’t allow anyone in? It’ll only raise suspicions if we aren’t vigilant in our watch, allowing unrelated people in.”

Su Huai’an replied, “Commander Lu, continuous investigations are underway. If Dantai Yi doesn’t ignite the fire, he can’t pose as the Qi State’s Imperial Tutor.”

“So you’re certain it’ll explode soon?”

Su Huai’an nodded. “The Qi State is ambitious, but a head-on confrontation results in significant losses. The old Khan and Great Zhou won’t see eye to eye as long as the Second Prince is here. Once they engage in conflict, it’s a golden opportunity for Qi. Dantai Yi won’t let it slip.”

Xiao Yu studied the map of Mount Li, contemplating for a while. “Once the trouble starts, General Mu will immediately seal the mountain. With Dantai Yi’s suspicious nature, even if rumors of my and the Second Prince’s injuries are spread, he might not believe it. He’d need confirmation before acting.”

Su Huai’an added, “Once he succeeds, Qin Wang’s position becomes useless. At that point, he’ll seek another role.”

“To leave Mount Li, one must have a token,” Lu Ze suddenly raised his gaze. “General Mu has one.”

Shortly after, Eunuch Sheng stepped forward. “Your Majesty, Lord Xue requests an audience.”

Xiao Yu twirled his finger ring and leaned back. “Let him in.”

Su Huai’an and Lu Ze moved into the warm pavilion.

Xue Xiangyang entered the hall, bowing deeply. “Your Majesty, I have something to report.”

Xiao Yu said, “Lord Xue, speak your mind.”

Xue Xiangyang presented a memorial, removed his official hat, and knelt. “Your Majesty, please refrain from entering the eastern hunting grounds.”

Xiao Yu looked at him. “What’s the reason, Lord Xue?”

Xue Xiangyang spoke in a grave tone, “I am guilty and deserve punishment.”

Xiao Yu slowly opened the memorial and skimmed through the first ten lines, his eyes showing increased interest. Being the Minister of Justice for so long, Xue Xiangyang had found an excuse for Second Young Master Xue within a few days. He managed to manipulate the matter of Second Young Master Xue sending items to Mount Li as an incident caused by drunkenness and being misled by others. According to Great Zhou’s laws, attempting to confess would lead, at most, to imprisonment for a limited time.

Not having to betray one’s conscience to be a traitor and planting seeds of disaster for the future while also saving Second Young Master Xue’s life. It was indeed a win-win solution.

Xiao Yu closed the memorial, speaking casually, “If Second Young Master Xue was misled this time, was he also misled when he sold military equipment thirteen days ago?”

As the words fell, Xue Xiangyang’s jaw tensed, his face turning ashen.

“For the sake of his life, is Lord Xue planning to sacrifice the lives of the entire Xue family?”

Xue Xiangyang nodded vigorously, beads of sweat formed on his temples, loudly repeating three times, “I am guilty and deserve punishment.”

“Lord Xue has been a loyal minister of Great Zhou, known for his integrity and public service. Old General Xue has sacrificed and contributed numerous achievements on the battlefield for our nation,” Xiao Yu paused momentarily before changing the subject, “However, achievements are one thing, wrongdoing another. Though I can pardon the Xue family for collective punishment, I cannot balance their actions against the nation’s and its people’s interests!”

“I have been foolish and unworthy of Your Majesty’s grace. I should be dismissed and investigated…”

Xiao Yu interrupted his plea, “When I personally enter the eastern hunting grounds, this matter should not be disclosed. Regarding the crime of Second Young Master Xue’s arms dealing and Minister Xue’s deception, it will be handled upon returning to the capital.”

As the doors closed behind Xue Xiangyang, his heart pounded. His throat dry, he felt like a traveler in a desert after three days.

He couldn’t tell whether he should be afraid or relieved.

***

In the 5th year of the Yanxi era, early June, the sky was cloudless. In the summer abundance of water, the Imperial Bodyguards watered the warhorses used for hunting. One horse, one bow, a hundred arrows.

Lu Ze approached the emperor. “Your Majesty, everything is prepared.”

The Second Prince of Mongolia rose, toasting to Xiao Yu.

Drums beat, nature’s sounds harmonized, and the atmosphere simmered like water on the edge of boiling over, ready to erupt.