The Beauties of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 58

With a loud "crack," the wine glass in Zhao Guangyi's hand shattered, breaking the silence. Everyone looked at him, some in astonishment, some with schadenfreude, and some... with sorrow and despair...

As the cup shattered, a streak of blood immediately seeped from between his tightly knit fingers, but he paid no heed. He slowly raised his eyes to meet the Empress's terrified and desperate gaze, then turned to Zhao Kuangyin without pausing. He smiled and said, "Your Majesty, why didn't you announce this joyous occasion to the court and the people sooner? Your Majesty is virtuous and kind, a model for the nation. Now, with this joyous news, it is a great event for all to celebrate. Your Majesty, I congratulate you!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Kuangyin laughed heartily, seemingly ignoring Zhao Guangyi's bloodstained hand, and said to himself, "You are right. This is a great event that the whole world should celebrate. Tomorrow I will announce to the world a general amnesty. This will be to accumulate merit for this child. What do you think?"

Zhao Guangyi smiled, rose, and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty is wise." He flicked his wide sleeve to cover the bloodstains on his hands, took a step back from his seat, and said, "Your Majesty, I have matters to attend to and would like to take my leave now."

"Uncle!" Zhao Defang stood up with him, glancing worriedly at his sleeve, now stained with blood from his actions. "Your hand..."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Seemingly only just noticing his injury, Zhao Kuangyin stood up to stop him. "Don't rush off. It's alright to deal with things later. I'll summon the imperial physician immediately to treat your injury. Eunuch Wang—"

Wang Ji'en, who had been waiting outside the hall, entered in response to the call, "This servant is here." [TXT novel download: ]

"Quickly summon Physician Hu to the palace."

"As you command."

Wang Ji'en received the order and withdrew. The others in the hall left one by one at Zhao Kuangyin's command. "Defang, take Deqing back. The Empress has Yuanniang to serve her, so she doesn't need her. Dezhao, you may also leave. I have something to discuss with your Imperial Uncle."

Wanlan stood still, not moving an inch.

Nothing had changed. Zhao Kuangyin kept Zhao Guangyi, and this happened after the Empress was announced to be pregnant. Things had developed so quickly that Wanlan deeply regretted not being able to stop the Empress from coming to Qingshou Palace in the first place.

"Wanlan, let's go." Zhao Defang pulled her out. As they passed Zhao Dezhao, Wanlan noticed that he had a gloomy face and was coldly looking at Prince Jin. Perhaps the Emperor's order to leave Prince Jin behind alone had angered him.

"Zehua, wait a minute."

Wanlan stopped abruptly, glanced back at Empress Song who was still sitting in her chair, and said to Zhao Kuangyin, "Father, Wanlan would like to escort Mother back to the palace first before returning herself, is that alright?"

"No need," Zhao Kuangyin glanced at her with a half-smile. "Your mother needs to be by your side to serve you. You may all leave now."

Wanlan wanted to say something, but Zhao Defang pulled her into his arms and quickly left. The only thing she had time to do was to take one last look at Empress Song and Zhao Guangyi.

But the last glance she exchanged with Zhao Guangyi sent a chill down her spine—

Those were eyes filled with a resolute determination, like someone who had given up all hope!

Chapter 65, The Sound of Axe and the Shadow of Candlelight Startle the Snowy Night (1)

In winter, in the tenth month, the Emperor fell ill. On the day of Renzi, he ordered the eunuch Wang Ji'en to set up a Yellow Register Ritual at the Jianlong Temple. That evening, the Emperor summoned Prince Jin to an audience, and he withdrew at midnight.

On the evening of the day of Gui Chou, the emperor died in the Wansui Palace at the age of fifty, and his body was laid to rest on the west steps of the palace.

This is a historical record that only briefly mentions the death of Emperor Taizu of Song. Later generations were naturally very curious about the truth behind his sudden death, and Prince Jin, who had the last contact with Taizu, naturally became the target of public criticism.

Wanlan concluded that, judging from what happened tonight, even if the death of Emperor Taizu was not caused by Prince Jin, it was definitely related to him. What she was most worried about now was Empress Song, who was caught between the two brothers.

What role will she play in this sibling rivalry?

What is the Emperor's purpose in insisting on keeping the Empress Dowager here today? Does he already know that the child in the Empress Dowager's womb is not the Emperor's son? What truth did the Emperor see in his eyes when his uncle crushed the wine cup tonight?

And Zhao Dezhao's eerie smile—does he know something? What will he do?

What about the Imperial Uncle? Will the plan, originally scheduled for the end of the month, be changed? Does he still want Zehua to inherit the throne at this moment?

Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night.

With the palace coup imminent, Wanlan had no choice but to stay behind and force Zhao Defang to remain in Qinlan Palace as well, instructing him not to leave the palace tonight no matter who summoned him.

It was mid-October, but the weather was quite cold. Not long after Wanlan returned to Qinlan Palace, a sudden heavy snow fell. She stood by the window, wearing a light purple cloak with trim, silently watching the light snowflakes fall all over the courtyard. From 3:45 PM to 1:15 PM, she did not move an inch.

She didn't know what she was thinking; her mind was a jumbled mess, yet also seemed completely blank, without a trace of thought remaining. She just stared blankly as the swirling snow covered all the withered branches and leaves in the courtyard, gradually obscuring all the unsightly truths with the dazzling white snow.

Zhao Defang stood with her until 11:45 PM, then without hesitation, she stepped forward and pulled her away from the window, took the thermos from the maid and placed it in her cold hands to warm them, saying, "No matter what you're thinking, don't forget about your own body."

Wanlan's mind was in turmoil, gradually going blank. She held the thermos flask blankly and whispered, "Zehua... things have changed... perhaps—"

Her breath hitched, and she was suddenly pulled into a tight embrace by the person in front of her. "Wanlan, you still won't tell me? What do you know? Will Father and Uncle really break off their relationship?"

break……

Is this word appropriate? From the moment Prince Jin fell in love with the Empress, he should have known the consequences, so… he should have broken ties with his brother long ago…

Wanlan dropped the thermos, wrapped her arms around his waist, and buried herself in his embrace. Her indistinct voice reached his ears intermittently: "The child in Mother's belly... is not your father's..."

Zhao Defang's slightly lowered eyes froze at the news that reached her ears, then suddenly widened, staring blankly at the thermos that had rolled to the ground, and she didn't move an inch.

Wanlan could clearly feel the stiffness in the man's body as he held her. She closed her eyes and slowly said, "Zehua, this matter may be a complete secret that no one knows. Even if I know everything that will happen tonight, I have no idea that my uncle and mother would have a child. So... so maybe something will happen tonight... maybe everything will be different... maybe I'm just overthinking it..."

Zhao Defang held his breath and asked in a low voice, "...Wanlan, I once asked you if I was in the ending. Now tell me!"

"You don't need to know...you don't need to know..." She tightened her arms around his waist. "Zehua, you just need to promise me that you will not leave Qinlan Palace tonight no matter what. I'll take care of everything..." She wouldn't let Zehua be sad, and she would definitely prevent anything that would make him sad from happening!

"Wanlan! I don't want to be kept in the dark. At least tell me... what do you want to do?"

After a long silence, she pushed him away, fixed her gaze on his face, and said, "Zehua, can you help me go to the Palace of Ten Thousand Years?"

Zhao Defang simply looked back at her, pursed her lips, and remained silent.

"I don't know if I can change anything, but I want to go and see. I'm really worried about my mother." She released him, glanced back at the snow falling heavily outside the window, and said, "Zehua, can you help me?"

Zhao Defang trembled slightly as she withdrew her hand, but Wanlan turned her head and didn't see it. He gritted his teeth and said slowly, "I'll go with you."

He had a premonition that if he let go now, he would lose her forever, and this feeling was so strong that it terrified him, so he absolutely could not allow her to leave his sight.

"No, you can't go—" Wanlan turned sharply to look at him, her breath catching in her throat as her gaze fell upon his pale face. She knew his feelings, and helplessly waiting for news was a agonizing experience, but—Zehua absolutely could not appear in the Wansui Palace!

No one knows what the Hall of Ten Thousand Years looks like now. If Zhao Guangyi and Zhao Kuangyin are currently at odds, she can't even imagine the chaos that Zehua's appearance would bring!