The Beauties of the Song Dynasty - Chapter 148
He gradually gave up on Lan'er, regardless of whether her so-called amnesia was real or fake, or how long she would lose her memory. After several months of entanglement, he finally realized that Lan'er was quite happy now. Regardless of whether she would remember the past one day, he did not want to force Defang for that uncertain ending.
He no longer wanted to be his father's pawn. If his father truly intended for Defang to be the crown prince, he should have issued an edict long ago instead of doing everything he could to witness his son's abilities firsthand.
As it turns out, even when Defang was pushed to the limit, he never lost control. On the surface, his abilities had not yet been fully displayed, but his ability to turn all the unfavorable situations against him with such ease was also a kind of talent.
"Your Highness, have you noticed something?"
Zhao Dezhao didn't stop walking, heading straight towards Qinlan Palace. "What is it?"
"The atmosphere in the palace is a bit strange today, but I can't quite put my finger on it." Xiao Luzi frowned, thinking quite seriously. "My lord, I'm reminded of a saying, 'The calm before the storm.' Do you think the atmosphere in the palace tonight has that feeling?"
"Something is bound to happen tonight," Zhao Dezhao said calmly without stopping.
It was nearly 7:45 PM when the two arrived at Qinlan Palace on foot. Zhao Dezhao waved his hand to stop Xiao Luzi, who was about to step forward. He looked up at the guards who were blocking his way and said indifferently, "I have business with the Prince of Qin. There is no need for such caution. Step back!"
"I am afraid I cannot obey. The Princess has ordered that no matter who comes to see the Prince of Qin tonight, he shall not be seen."
Zhao Dezhao raised an eyebrow. How could Lan'er be so sure that someone would come looking for Defang tonight?
"What if I absolutely must see him?"
"This servant is only acting under orders. Please, Your Highness, do not make things difficult for this servant."
Zhao Dezhao sneered, stretched out his long arm, grabbed the other man's collar, and tossed it to Xiao Luzi behind him, saying, "I won't make things difficult for you."
He stepped into the hall.
In the empty outer hall, three people stood with their backs to the door, completely unaware of the intruder. Zhao Dezhao quietly retreated to a less noticeable spot by the door and silently watched the three silent figures.
Little did he know that this stop would last for two quarters of an hour. He watched as Defang finally stepped forward and pulled the woman who was lost in thought by the window away from the window. He took the thermos from the maid and placed it in her cold hands to warm them. "No matter what you are thinking, don't forget about your own body."
The woman, still in a daze, seemed not to have recovered yet, simply holding the thermos blankly, and whispered, "Zehua... things have changed... so be it—"
Zhao Dezhao watched them quietly, wondering what Bian Tianlan'er was trying to say.
But Defang didn't let her continue. He suddenly pulled her into his arms, stopping her from going any further. "Wanlan, you still won't tell me? What do you know? Will Father and Uncle really break off their relationship?"
Zhao Dezhao gave a silent, cold laugh. His uncle had already broken ties with his father long ago, ever since the moment his uncle fell in love with the empress.
With a thud, he watched as Lan'er dropped the thermos. The thermos rolled all the way to the door, and he stepped back, completely disappearing into the shadows behind the door. He silently watched the two embracing, listening to their increasingly strange conversation—
"The child in Mother's womb... is not your father's..."
“Zehua, this matter may be a secret known only to the Madam. Even if I know everything that will happen tonight, I have no idea that the Imperial Uncle and the Empress Dowager would have a child. So… so perhaps something will change tonight… perhaps everything will be different… perhaps I’m just overthinking it…”
"...Wanlan, I once asked you, was I ever in the ending? Now tell me!"
"You don't need to know...you don't need to know...Zehua, just promise me that you won't leave Qinlan Palace even a step tonight, and I'll take care of everything..."
"Wanlan! I don't want to be kept in the dark. At least tell me... what do you want to do?"
A moment of silence fell over the hall. Zhao Dezhao slowly frowned. Did Lan'er know what would happen tonight? How did she know? And why was she so insistent that Defang promise her not to leave Qinlan Palace tonight?
Just as Zhao Dezhao was becoming increasingly alarmed, the woman finally spoke up—"Zehua, can you help me go to the Wansui Palace? I don't know if I can change anything, but I want to go and see her. I'm really worried about my mother. Zehua, can you help me?"
"I'll go with you."
"No, you can't go—you can't go, Zehua."
"I--"
De Fang opened his mouth to argue, but Wan Lan raised her hand to stop him. This action startled Zhao Dezhao, who was watching the two of them intently. Just as he was wondering if he had been discovered, he caught a glimpse of a palace maid rushing into the hall. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"What's up?"
"Your Highness and Your Highness's Consort, Eunuch Wang requests an audience."
"Eunuch Wang? Please let him in."
The palace maid responded and left. A moment later, Wang Jisi strode in, his back bent, and said, "This servant greets Your Highness and Your Highness."
"What brings you to Qinlan Palace?" Wanlan took a step forward and asked urgently.
Wang Jisi maintained his bent posture and replied with his head half-lowered, "Her Majesty the Empress is unwell. His Majesty is worried about the palace maids' clumsy hands and feet, so he specially sent this servant to invite the Princess Consort to the Wansui Palace to bring Her Majesty back."
"Is Mother alright?"
"Please rest assured, Your Highness. She is well, but she is a little tired and needs to rest."
"I'll go with you to fetch Mother!"
"Wanlan! I said I'll go with you!"
I already told you you can't go!
"You can't stop me. Either I go with you, or you stay with me."
Upon seeing this, Zhao Dezhao sensed something amiss. Why was Lan'er so insistent on not allowing Defang to leave Qinlan Palace? And what was she planning to do at Wansui Palace? Was it really just because she was worried about the Empress?
Suddenly, he watched as Lan'er rushed into Defang's arms, then spun around abruptly. Wang Jisi, who had been hunched over, swiftly stepped forward and delivered a chop to the back of Defang's neck. Defang's expression mirrored his own—a wide, incredulous stare at Lan'er. But Defang fainted the next moment. He could only watch blankly as Lan'er and Wang Jisi helped the limp Defang to the bed. He then retrieved a knotted rope from beside the archway and handed it to Wang Jisi, saying:
"Tie him up."
"Yes." Wang Jisi took the rope and returned to the bedside. After tying it around Defang's hands and feet several times and tightening the knot, he got up and looked at the woman who had been standing to the side.
"Your Highness, the Prince will likely be angry with you when he wakes up."
"We can't worry about that now... Tell me first, how's the situation at the Palace of Ten Thousand Years? Is Mother really just tired? Or has something happened?"