Peach Blossoms

Chapter 50

"Why are you back so late?" Qin Hao frowned as he looked at her.

Lin Suyang shook him off, dragged her feet inside, and lay down on the bed. "I'm tired, you should go back and rest too."

Qin Hao's expression was unpredictable. Shouldn't he be happy that she was back? Why did he feel so upset when he saw her looking sad?

Qin Hao clenched his fist, then turned and left without saying a word.

Hearing him leave, Lin Suyang opened her eyes, got up, called Yanzi in, and asked, "Where is the Crown Prince?"

Yanzi replied, "The Crown Prince cried nonstop today, and I couldn't soothe him no matter what I did. Later, Shunzi went to invite the Emperor over, and only then did the Crown Prince calm down. He is now asleep."

"Then...when did His Majesty arrive?"

"It's noon, isn't it? His Majesty had lunch here," Yanzi said. She didn't understand why her master was asking these questions.

Lin Suyang nodded and said, "Go and bring the Crown Prince over, so he won't cry in the middle of the night."

Yanzi responded and went out. A moment later, she brought back little Qin Xiao, whose face was still streaked with tears. Lin Suyang took the child and said to Yanzi, "You must be tired. Go and rest. I'll call you if I need anything."

Yanzi closed the door, and Lin Suyang unwrapped the embroidered dragon blanket from Qin Xiao. As soon as he was free, Qin Xiao stretched his legs and flailed his arms in the air. Lin Suyang gently placed him in the small rocking crib beside her, leaving her familiar embrace. Qin Xiao grumbled in dissatisfaction, and Lin Suyang quickly rocked the crib. Once the little guy calmed down, she blew out the lamp and went to bed herself.

A gust of wind blew by, and the figure standing outside the door slowly left after the lights inside were turned off, leaving a faint scent of ambergris in the air.

The next day, Lin Suyang got up very late. What was rare was that although Qin Xiao had woken up early, he obediently lay on the small bed sucking his fingers until Lin Suyang picked him up from the bed, at which point he made a few noises.

Yanzi carefully combed Lin Suyang's hair and was about to ask if breakfast was served when she heard a report from outside that the Emperor had arrived. She secretly glanced at her mistress. Seeing that she seemed not to have heard and was playing with the Crown Prince, she sighed and went out to pay her respects, only to see Qin Hao walk straight in.

"Your Majesty..."

Qin Hao waved his hand, and Yanzi glanced back at her master before discreetly leaving.

"Child, are you making a fuss?" Qin Hao walked over and looked at little Qin Xiao, who was babbling at him.

"No," Lin Suyang looked up at him and said, "Is there something you need?"

Qin Hao reached out and touched Qin Xiao's head, replying, "Minister Lin is waiting for you in the Imperial Study."

Lin Suyang was stunned. His father? Why...?

After changing her clothes, Lin Suyang was about to leave when Qin Hao, who was walking ahead, turned around and said to her, "Take the child with you." Lin Suyang didn't say anything, but simply took Qin Xiao, who was yawning constantly, into her arms.

No one spoke the entire way. Lin Suyang walked behind, keeping a considerable distance from Qin Hao. She patted Xiao Qinxiao's back while pondering Lin Cheng's purpose in coming.

She couldn't make sense of the Lin family's reactions after she lost her memory, and she didn't know what Lin Cheng was thinking. Rumors were circulating that Minister Lin's personality had drastically changed because of the Grand Tutor's death. Did he really believe she was dead until Qin Hao recently told him the truth? Or did he know all along that she had been taken to the palace during that time, but deliberately avoided visiting her? In short, there were many suspicious points. If she didn't ask him directly, no matter how hard she racked her brains, she wouldn't be able to find the answers. So, she decided to get to the bottom of things today.

Volume Four, Palace Intrigue, Chapter 115: Open and Covert Struggles (Part 1)

Lin Suyang looked at the person in front of her with a very uncomfortable feeling. He was clearly her own father, so why did he have to pretend not to know her and bow to her and call her "Your Majesty"?

Lin Suyang looked at Qin Hao with a questioning look in her eyes. Qin Hao glanced at her but said to Lin Cheng, "Minister Lin, there's no need for such formalities. We're all family here. If you have anything to say to Her Majesty, please feel free to speak. I have other matters to attend to. Minister Lin, please stay at Qingxiang Palace for dinner later."

"Your Majesty, I obey your decree. I respectfully see Your Majesty off," Lin Cheng replied with a bow.

After Qin Hao left, An Zhen closed the door to the Imperial Study. Only then did Lin Cheng raise his head and look at Lin Suyang, calling out, "Yang'er..." Tears welled up in his old eyes.

Lin Suyang was initially taken aback by his exaggerated expression, but quickly calmed down and coldly observed what he was up to. Lin Cheng stepped forward, his voice trembling with excitement, and said, "Yang'er, you are truly alright! I thought Heaven had truly intended for me, Lin Cheng, to be a white-haired man burying a black-haired one, without even being able to see you one last time. I, Lin Cheng, must have done many good deeds to receive such a reward. I will certainly go back and properly thank the Lin family ancestors and all the gods and Buddhas..."

"This...this is my grandson?" Lin Cheng raised his sleeve, wiped away his tears, and looked at Qin Xiao in Lin Suyang's arms.

Lin Suyang remained silent, watching Lin Cheng with an air of detached amusement. Lin Cheng ignored him, extending his hand and saying, "Come, let me see my precious grandson."

Lin Suyang frowned, but didn't loosen his grip on Qin Xiao. Lin Cheng said again, "Give it to me, let me take a good look." Standing in front of Lin Suyang, he whispered, "Walls have ears." Taking advantage of Lin Suyang's momentary daze, he took Qin Xiao into his arms.

Lin Suyang frowned even more, looking at her father who was busy playing with the child, completely bewildered.

"What a handsome boy! He's just like your mother when she was little," Lin Cheng said cheerfully, hugging Qin Xiao. Lin Suyang inwardly scoffed, *You probably never even saw me as a child, did you?*

Lin Cheng's laughter in the hall was quite loud, making Qin Xiao giggle. After a while, a crisp sound of something breaking came from outside the door, and then it was quiet again.

Lin Cheng stopped at this moment. When he looked up at Lin Suyang again, his eyes had regained their usual sharpness.

Lin Suyang's mind cleared instantly. She asked calmly, "You knew everything?"

Lin Cheng looked at her with a complicated expression but remained silent for a long time.

"You know all this, don't you?" Lin Suyang raised her voice and asked again.

"Yes. I know. I've known for a long time."

Long ago? In the Lin family, only the wet nurse knew Lin Suyang's true identity. But Lin Suyang was certain she wasn't the type to leak secrets. From childhood, Lin Cheng rarely paid attention to Lin Suyang. His focus was entirely on Lin Ziyan. Only later, when Lin Ziyan joined the army for training, did he relentlessly pursue Lin Suyang, urging her to take the imperial examinations. Could it be that he discovered it then? But if he knew she was a woman, why did he still allow her to enter the court? Was he planting the seeds of deceiving the emperor?

"Why did you do this? You know perfectly well that I am not the real young master of the Lin family, so why did you still make me participate in the imperial examination?"

Lin Suyang's accusations left Lin Cheng speechless. He could only sigh bitterly, "Perhaps I was deceiving myself, fantasizing about having a house full of children and grandchildren, and having my own son to see me off in my old age. When I learned that you were not a son but a daughter, my heart sank. I wanted to continue taking concubines to carry on the family line, but I felt I was too old, and even if I had a son, I wouldn't live to see him grow up. So I simply decided to make the best of a bad situation and raise you as a boy, letting you take the imperial examinations and marry. Over the years, I had almost forgotten that you were a woman. Who would have thought..."

The Lin family originally had many descendants, but for some unknown reason, their numbers gradually decreased until, by the time of Lin Suyang's grandfather, it was almost a single line of heirs. In fact, Lin Cheng had two older brothers, but both of them died suddenly from illness in their early twenties. By the time of Lin Cheng, only Lin Ziyan remained as the sole heir, which explains why Lin Suyang's affairs had such a great impact on him.

However, regardless of the circumstances, favoring sons over daughters is wrong, especially since Lin Cheng was so foolish as to want Lin Suyang to enter the dangerous world of the imperial court. But then again, if Lin Suyang hadn't insisted on taking the imperial examinations for Qin Yu's sake, she probably would have found a way to avoid it no matter how much Lin Cheng pressured her.

Who can we blame now? Lin Suyang sighed, it was truly a twist of fate.

"Then who told you the truth?"

"Qingwan".

"Mother?" Lin Suyang immediately exclaimed, "Impossible!"

Lin Cheng looked at her intently and said, "Believe it or not, Qingwan left a letter in the room where you two stayed, which I found by chance. The letter explained your situation very clearly. She told me that I must treat you well and said that you suffered a lot for her."

"Enough!" Lin Suyang didn't want to hear anything about her mother from Lin Cheng. Back then, Lin Cheng had heartlessly abandoned them, mother and daughter, without a care in the world. He had only made a brief appearance on the day Su Qingwan died. Su Qingwan spent her whole life hoping for Lin Cheng to turn back, but she still died with regret.

Lin Suyang was dressed as a boy from a young age, mainly because Su Qingwan wanted to comfort herself by hoping to regain Lin Cheng's favor. Lin Suyang had to wear dark gray men's clothing every day, speak with a strong, boyish voice, and behave like a boy in every way. Fortunately, she was indifferent to all of this and deeply sympathized with Su Qingwan's plight, so she always tried her best to meet Su Qingwan's demands. Unfortunately, no matter how hard they tried, it was all in vain.

The man in front of me not only showed no remorse but also had many reasons, and even wanted to continue taking concubines and enjoying himself, all for the sake of that lineage of offspring.

“Yang’er. I know you resent and hate me in your heart. But I’ve always wanted to make amends. Even though you’ve entered the court, I’ve cleared obstacles for you at every turn…”

"No need to say anything more," Lin Suyang said coldly. "You're just saying all this because you think my mother and I harbor resentment towards you. Lin Cheng, you underestimate my mother. Do you know what she said to me before she died? She said, 'Don't hate. Don't hate!' So later, when I lived with Ziyan, I behaved myself, as if none of those things had ever happened. I made myself forget the past and focused on being a good son to you, never mentioning a trace of my mother's sorrow. I think you'll never want to know these things, but I don't care. Now I just want to ask you, did you already know that I was taken to the palace after I lost my memory?"

Lin Cheng lowered his head. Little Qin Xiao was squirming in his arms. He took a few steps forward and handed Qin Xiao to Lin Suyang. Then he returned to his original position. He looked at Lin Suyang for a long time before finally saying, "Yes."

Although she had long anticipated this outcome, Lin Suyang was still heartbroken to hear Lin Cheng say it himself. He was her father! Why didn't he consider her feelings? What did he want to gain by using her? Power? Status? Or perhaps, the world?

Lin Suyang laughed bitterly, "Lin Cheng, do you think I have the ability to help you achieve this goal?"

Lin Cheng knew what she was thinking, and without offering any explanation, he simply said, "No matter what, the current situation is unchangeable. I don't want to say anything more, and you don't need to worry. Even if the harem is fraught with danger, I will clear all obstacles for you. I've said it before, I will make up for the mistakes I made to you and Qingwan in the past."

“But Father,” Lin Suyang suddenly changed his form of address, “what exactly is this so-called compensation? Do you know that I don’t want to stay here at all, and I don’t want to be the Empress! I just want to be with the person I love. Why did you ruin my mother and then ruin me too?”

Lin Cheng looked at her calmly, "Yang'er, I can only say I'm sorry, there's no going back. Besides, you already have Xiao'er."

Lin Suyang trembled and looked down at Qin Xiao, whose big, round eyes were darting around. Sensing her mother's gaze, little Qin Xiao immediately chuckled and reached out to grab Lin Suyang's hair.

Lin Suyang closed his eyes. Yes, with Xiao'er, there was no going back.

"Yan'er will return with Prince Yin at the coronation ceremony two months from now. Go and see him then," Lin Cheng said in a low voice.

At this moment, the door to the Imperial Study was pushed open, and An Zhen walked in and bowed to Lin Suyang, saying, "His Majesty invites the Empress and Lord Lin to move to Qingxiang Palace for a meal."

Lin Suyang said, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch An." Then he carried Qin Xiao and left. Lin Cheng shook his head and followed behind Lin Suyang.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was somewhat awkward. Lin Suyang remained silent, focusing solely on his food, while Qin Hao appeared extremely enthusiastic. As he served food to Lin Suyang, he said to Lin Cheng, "Minister Lin, there's no need to be so polite. Suyang dislikes extravagance, and I also find this way of dining more comfortable and casual. Minister Lin, please make yourself at home."

Lin Cheng quickly bowed his head to Qin Hao and said, "Your Majesty, I am humbled. Thank you for the banquet."

"By the way, it's a rare occasion for Minister Lin and the Empress to meet today, we should celebrate properly. Someone come here." Qin Hao clapped his hands and called out, and then a young eunuch came in carrying a tray. A palace maid took the jade wine pot from the tray and carefully poured some wine for Qin Hao. She moved it next to Lin Suyang and tried to pour some into her cup, but Qin Hao stopped her with a hand. "Your Majesty should not drink alcohol, go and pour some for Minister Lin."

The palace maid bowed and filled Lin Cheng's cup. Lin Cheng looked at the beautiful painting reflecting the carved patterns on the palace ceiling reflected in the cup, a glint of light flashed in his eyes, then he put on a smiling face, picked up the cup and said to Qin Hao, "In that case, I shall dare to invite Your Majesty to drink a cup."

Qin Hao smiled faintly, picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp, then tilted the glass and waved it at Lin Cheng.

"Your Majesty has a good capacity for alcohol," Lin Cheng praised, and also downed his drink in one gulp.

Lin Suyang paused, her chopsticks in hand, her mind racing, but her face remained impassive. After eating listlessly for a while, she stopped and said to Qin Hao, "I am feeling unwell and would like to take my leave."

Qin Hao immediately said, "Is the Empress feeling unwell? I will go and summon the imperial physician."

Lin Suyang quickly said, "Your Majesty need not trouble yourself. I am just too tired. I will rest for a while."

"Then Your Majesty should rest early." After Lin Suyang left, Qin Hao dismissed the palace servants and said to Lin Cheng, "I told you long ago that I never broke my word. Do you believe me now?"

Volume Four, Palace Intrigue, Chapter 116: Open and Covert Struggles (Part Two)

Qin Hao poured himself a cup of wine and said, "I have fulfilled the conditions proposed by Minister Lin, but I wonder if Minister Lin has prepared for my conditions?"

After thinking for a moment, Lin Cheng also poured himself a cup of wine and held it in his hand, then raised it to Qin Hao and said, "Your subject will do his best for Your Majesty."

Qin Hao clapped his hands and laughed, "Good, with Minister Lin's words, I can rest assured." He raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp.

After a pause, Lin Cheng lowered his eyes and asked calmly, "Your Majesty, how will you treat...the Empress in the future?"

Given Yang'er's personality, if it weren't for her child, no amount of pressure would have made her stay. Now, Emperor Hong is probably deeply in love with her, and if Yang'er still thinks about someone else or plans to leave one day, who knows what he might do.

"What can I do?" Qin Hao toyed with his wine cup and said self-deprecatingly, "It's your daughter's ability that's impressive. I didn't know your Lin family could cause such a stir in the court, and even have such a seductive power to control people's hearts. Tell me, what else can I do?"

Seeing that Lin Cheng showed no smugness but instead frowned, Qin Hao continued, "Don't worry, I will never let her suffer the slightest grievance, even if I am worthless in her heart." He tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup, feeling the bitter and spicy taste fill his mouth.

"Empress Dowager Fengxiang and Consort Qi should be making a move soon, right?" Lin Cheng changed the subject.

"It's not that I'll actually take action, but it's true that they'll be coming to Qingxiang Palace to cause trouble soon. I've already sent people to keep a close watch on the situation there, and I think they're preparing for the day of the Empress's investiture ceremony."

"I am not afraid of the two women, but what is hateful is that old woman Fengxiang has been scheming behind my father's back for so many years. Not only has she been secretly winning over ministers, but she has also encouraged Wang Cheng to recruit soldiers and train assassins. If she continues for a few more years, she may even dare to usurp the throne. If such a woman is not eliminated as soon as possible, my Great Qin Dynasty will be in danger."

That night, Qin Hao drank a lot of alcohol, and while drinking, he still talked about serious matters with Lin Cheng. Lin Cheng couldn't figure out whether this Emperor Hong was being genuine or doing it on purpose. In any case, he spoke to Qin Hao in a half-hearted tone, going around in circles, and neither of them managed to get the information they wanted.

After Lin Cheng left, Qin Hao remained alone, continuing to drink until he was completely drunk. Lin Suyang, who was in the palace soothing little Qin Xiao to sleep, heard Yanzi's reply. He showed little reaction, his hand continuing to pat the child without pausing. This made Yanzi, standing nearby, think that her mistress truly didn't want to deal with the Emperor. Anxious, she turned to go find Eunuch An to discuss the matter, but was suddenly stopped.

Lin Suyang told her to have someone help the Emperor over. A moment later, she came in, her face pale, saying the Emperor refused to be helped. He staggered to his feet, saying he wanted to return to Mingchen Palace. Before he could even stand properly, he bumped into a pillar. The guards tried to help him up, but he refused them all. Yanzi added that the Emperor's forehead was still bleeding. Eunuch An had sent her to fetch the Empress to examine him. The Emperor's wound needed bandaging.

Lin Suyang frowned. He looked down at Qin Xiao, who was already fast asleep. Then he put on a robe and walked towards the outer hall. Yanzi breathed a sigh of relief and followed closely behind.

Upon arriving at the side hall, they found Qin Hao slumped unconscious on the table. All the palace maids and guards were kneeling on the ground. An Zhen was frantic with worry. Seeing Lin Suyang enter, she rushed forward and said, "Your Majesty, His Majesty…"

Lin Suyang walked over and carefully examined the wound on Qin Hao's forehead. After confirming that it was nothing serious, she reached out and gently took his arm, saying, "Come, Your Majesty. Let's return to the palace together." She then turned and gave An Zhen a meaningful look. An Zhen hurriedly came over and helped Qin Hao to the back of the palace with Lin Suyang.

After everyone had left, Lin Suyang took a clean white cloth, moistened it, and wiped the dust off Qin Hao's forehead. Then she poured some wound powder onto the wound. Just as she was about to get up, the person lying on the ground grabbed her hand.

Lin Suyang looked down and saw Qin Hao staring intently at her with bright, clear eyes. There wasn't a trace of alcohol in his deep, intelligent gaze. Lin Suyang already knew he was doing it on purpose. How could a king possibly be so unladylike, drunk in front of everyone, and acting like a child?

Not revealing one's weaknesses to anyone is one of the essential lessons for an emperor, judging from Qin Hao's consistent style. The situation just now would never have happened, so there must be some reason behind it. "Why?" Lin Suyang asked疑惑地, what could possibly happen in the palace that would make the usually composed Qin Hao put on such a performance?

"Of course it's for you and the child." Qin Hao let go of her hand and sat up on the bed.

"You mean... Consort Qi?" Lin Suyang wasn't stupid. At present, the only person in the harem who posed a threat to her and Qin Xiao was Consort Qi, who had given birth to a son and a daughter for the Qin family.

Qin Hao nodded and said, "Consort Qi is one, but the most important one is Empress Dowager Fengxiang." He then recounted to Lin Suyang the ins and outs of how Empress Dowager Fengxiang and Consort Qi had allied themselves with the Qin family, as well as their ever-growing ambitions. Lin Suyang was astonished by the woman's cunning, and her heart grew heavier. If this was the case, setting aside Consort Qi's resentment towards Qin Hao for passing the crown prince position to his second son, Qin Xiao, the fact that she had used the jade silk dress—obtained at the cost of her own brother's life—as the empress's wedding gown, was enough to make her hold a grudge against him for a long time.

Now that Lin Suyang understood the intentions of Consort Qi and Empress Dowager Fengxiang, he realized just how great the difficulties he was about to face were.