The Beauties of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 34

The journey back to the capital seemed longer than the journey there, and the weather grew increasingly hot and dry. The group changed into summer clothes and traveled by boat from Jiangling to Xiangzhou in silence. The oppressive atmosphere made it difficult for Wanlan to find an opportunity to speak with Zhao Defang. After abandoning the waterway and taking the land route in Xiangzhou, Zhao Defang and Zhao Guangyi refused to ride in the carriage, each riding alone. Lan Wen drove behind in the carriage carrying her and Xuan'er, making it even harder for her to find a chance to speak.

She would never forget the sorrowful look on Zehua's lips when he turned to look at her.

In the blink of an eye, who she was became unimportant. Lan Wu's death brought to light an issue that couldn't be ignored in this era, making her existence increasingly insignificant. She was kidnapped by Zhao Dezhao and used as bait to lure Zehua into abandoning his duties and seeking her. He secretly crossed the border to Jiangling to search for her, which led to Lan Wu's investigation and Xue Suxin's departure from home. Only a little over a month has passed; by the time she returns to the capital, everything will have changed. What was seemingly a harmless kidnapping incident has resulted in one death and one illness, and Zehua… is now forced to make a choice…

She suddenly felt that everything seemed to have been planned in advance, with everyone fulfilling their duties and walking their destined paths toward their destined ends. The direction of this series of events was probably decided the moment Princess Deqing nodded in agreement to marry Zehua.

However, history cannot be changed in the end. Perhaps she doesn't need to do anything, and history will still move forward in the direction it is meant to go. But how can she, who is deeply involved and knows all the love and hatred, truly let go of all love and resentment and stand by indifferently? She believes in fate, but she does not accept it. Heaven has brought her into this strange world a thousand years ago, so she has something she should do.

They rushed back to the capital under the stars and moon, and even when they had a brief rest, it was always in a hurry. Whenever this happened, Zhao Defang and Zhao Guangyi would walk away. Wanlan didn't know what they were talking about, nor could she find an opportunity to talk to Zhao Defang. When their eyes met by chance, they would just stare at each other in silence, unable to say a word.

When I left the capital, Kaifeng was shrouded in a light drizzle. I still remember that day when I left the capital in a carriage under the gaze of many people. Now, more than a month later, when I returned to the capital, it was sweltering and the sun was blazing. It was as if the schemes hidden in the drizzle and mist had begun to be exposed under the scorching sun, so pale and unbearable.

Upon entering the city, Zhao Defang instructed Xuan'er to escort her back to the Qin Prince's residence. He then took Lan Wen and Zhao Guangyi with him to the palace. Wanlan said nothing, but after he turned to leave, she immediately ordered Xuan'er to turn her horse around and enter the palace.

"Madam?" Xuan'er looked at her hesitantly, "The Prince wants you to return to your residence to rest—"

“I can still rest in the palace. Besides, now that I’m out of danger, I should go to the palace to see my mother so she won’t worry anymore. Also, the young master is still in the palace, and I have to go pick him up. Let’s go.” Wanlan glanced at her calmly, then lowered the curtain and went back into the carriage. Seeing this, Xuan’er had no choice but to urge her horse toward the palace gate.

Inside the car, Wanlan clasped her hands together, her resolute dark eyes fixed on the wooden houses rushing past the window, her lips pressed tightly together. Zehua's silence didn't mean she couldn't do anything. Perhaps the Zhao Dezhao affair was premeditated, but she was the one who had brought all of this together today, and she would not allow Zehua to exclude her no matter what!

The carriage arrived at Anfu Palace just past noon. Wanlan alighted and was about to ascend the steps when someone hurriedly descended them. Upon meeting her gaze, a gasp of surprise rang out:

"lady!"

"Yuan Niang?" Wan Lan strode forward to greet Yuan Niang, who was holding a child. "How did you know I had come to the palace?"

"You're really back!" Yuan Niang looked her up and down as if she couldn't believe it, then smiled with relief, her eyes glistening with tears. "The Prince just sent someone to inform the Empress that you have returned to the capital, but you are too tired to go back to your residence to rest. I was just thinking of sending the young master to you! You must have missed him terribly after being apart for so long."

"Mmm..." Wanlan choked out a sound, reaching out to take the child from Yuanniang's arms. Seeing his large, clear eyes staring straight at her, Wanlan bit her lip hard, swallowing the sob in her throat. Unable to contain herself, she pressed her face against the child's, "Xu'er, Mother is back..."

"Madam, please come in first. Her Majesty has just finished resting. She will be very happy to know that you have arrived."

Wanlan nodded and followed her through the palace gates. "How has Mother been these days?"

Yuan Niang remained silent for a while, then suddenly stopped and turned to the side, her face filled with unprecedented worry and panic, just as Wan Lan was wondering what was going on. "Madam, I know you've forgotten everything from the past. The matter concerning Her Majesty shouldn't be brought up again, but recently Prince Jin has been appearing frequently. If this continues, something bad will happen sooner or later!"

Is it the Prince of Jin again?

Wanlan stared at her in astonishment, "What exactly is the grudge between Mother and Prince Jin? What did Prince Jin do to Mother?"

Yuan Niang sighed deeply, "It's not a grudge, it's a karmic entanglement."

“Yuanniang,” Wanlan turned and handed the child to Xuan’er, then took Yuanniang’s hand and said quietly, “Now that Mother has rested, we will go to see her later. There are some things I want to ask you.”

We can't stay ignorant any longer; it's time to sort everything out.

Chapter 39, Don't Lean Alone on the High Tower Under the Bright Moon (2)

Empress Song was born into a noble family and, having frequented the palace from a young age, was well-informed and knew how to conduct herself appropriately. Her father, Song Wo, was serving as the military governor of Huazhou, and Song accompanied her mother to her post. Later, she accompanied her mother to celebrate the Lunar New Year, where she was favored by the Emperor and bestowed with a crown and robes. She also gained the favor of Empress Xiaoming, who frequently summoned her to the palace for short visits. After Empress Xiaoming's death in the first year of the Qiande era, Song gradually withdrew from the palace. In February of the first year of the Kaibao era, Song was brought back into the palace and made Empress, at the age of seventeen.

[Text] Emperor Taizu of Song was a full twenty-five years older than Lady Song. However, Lady Song was gentle and well-educated. Although she was a bit young and inexperienced as the Empress, her upbringing made her quite adept at handling the position. If it weren't for Zhao Guangyi's madness, her life would have been peaceful and serene, and she would have been the envy of everyone.

The ill-fated relationship between [the person] and Prince Zhao Guangyi of Jin began with that grand and solemn investiture ceremony.

[Book] That one glance in the imperial court dragged a man and a woman from completely different worlds into an endless abyss of pain. The torment of having no connection with each other became increasingly unbearable amidst the Prince of Jin's repression and the Empress's self-restraint. All the seemingly peaceful facades were finally shattered by a sudden external factor, and they could never go back to the way things were.

[House] Back then, when Emperor Taizu of Song attacked Later Shu, he had long heard of Consort Fei, the concubine of the Shu ruler Meng Chang, who was known as "Lady Huarui" for her talent and unparalleled beauty. In order to obtain Lady Huarui, Emperor Taizu devised a plan to cause Meng Chang's sudden death. He then brought Lady Huarui to the palace as he wished. However, although Lady Huarui was favored by Emperor Taizu and ranked first in the six palaces, she could not let go of Meng Chang's past kindness. She thought about leaving the Song palace every day. It was in this deep-seated scheming that Lady Huarui accidentally learned of Prince Zhao Guangyi's paradoxical infatuation with his sister-in-law, Empress Song. She used this to blackmail Prince Zhao Guangyi into helping her leave the palace.

However, Lady Huarui's scheming was no match for Zhao Guangyi's unwavering devotion to protecting the woman he deeply loved. During a hunting trip with the emperor, she was ultimately shot and killed by Zhao Guangyi in the hunting grounds.

Empress Song was terrified when she learned of this, fearing that the Emperor would punish Prince Jin if he found out the truth. So she used her own danger to force Zhao Guangyi to stay away from her. For five years, the nine years of the Kaibao era, the two had no contact and lived peacefully. Yuan Niang had followed Empress Song since childhood and knew a lot about this matter. She thought that Zhao Guangyi had given up, but unexpectedly, since the preparation for the sacrificial ceremony in Xijing, Prince Jin had been appearing intentionally or unintentionally. The unexplained disappearance of Princess Deqing Jiao Wanlan also became the most convenient excuse for Prince Jin to frequently appear in Anfu Palace.

No wonder the Empress and Prince Jin acted so strangely the day she brought Xu'er into the palace, but when Zehua sent Lan Wen to the palace to ask the Empress to send someone to pick her up, it was Prince Jin who appeared.

Inside Qinlan Palace, Wanlan dismissed her attendants and listened as Yuanniang recounted the whole story. She couldn't help but admire the Prince of Jin, who harbored inexplicable hostility towards her. To remain so calm and composed while guarding a married woman for eight years was truly remarkable. Even Emperor Taizu of Song probably hadn't noticed his brother's incestuous feelings for his sister-in-law. Perhaps a large part of the reason for the Prince of Jin's strictness and tolerance towards Zehua was because of Empress Song.

Love is a thing that can hurt both the giver and receiver; even when the pain is extreme, no one is willing to let go, which is why it has such a powerful magic.

"Xianniang."

Wanlan swallowed a sigh and turned to look at Yuanniang, who had a worried expression on her face. "Mother... she's only twenty-five, isn't she?" To find love at such a young age, yet not be able to stay together, what a regret that must be.

Yuan Niang was stunned by the question, "Madam...why are you suddenly asking this?"

Wanlan sighed softly, "It's nothing. I just suddenly thought that this is not a tragic fate, but the most regrettable thing in a person's life. Although this relationship goes against reason, it should still be respected."

"Madam?"

Wanlan smiled calmly, offering no explanation to Yuanniang's surprised expression, and said directly, "Yuanniang, I have something else to ask you. During the time I've been away from the capital, has the Prince of Yan ever entered the palace to see the Emperor? If so, do you know why?"

When this matter was brought up, Yuan Niang temporarily put aside her astonishment at what she had just said and replied with a solemn expression, "I have heard Your Highness mention this matter. Prince Yan did indeed enter the palace, but I am not quite sure what it was about. I only know that the Emperor was restless every time he came to Anfu Palace during those days, as if he had encountered some troublesome matter."

Just as I thought...

According to Xuan'er, apart from the Empress and a few people from the Qin Prince's residence, no one else knew about her disappearance. Therefore, it seems the Emperor and his officials are unaware of Zehua's true purpose in setting aside his official duties to go to Jiangling. At this point, if the Prince of Yan were to stir up trouble even slightly, Zehua's refusal to take up his post in Guizhou would likely displease the Emperor and lead to misunderstandings among the officials, which would be extremely detrimental to Zehua. Zehua's decision to return to the capital this time is probably because the Prince of Jin forced him to confront the problem and take countermeasures. First and foremost, Zehua will likely report everything that has happened over the past month to the Emperor.

What should she do at this time?

"Xianniang."

Wanlan stood up gracefully, turned to look at Yuanniang, and smiled, "I don't know if Mother has woken up yet. You go back to Funing Palace to check on her first. I'll freshen up and then come over."

"lady……"

Yuan Niang seemed to want to say something more, but Wan Lan shook her head, "Go."

The footsteps behind her gradually faded away until they disappeared. Wanlan's body went limp, and she slumped back into the chair she had been sitting in, forcing a bitter smile. What could she do now?