Chapter 195: Grievance

Emperor Taian glanced at Princess Yi'an.

In front of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, Princess Yi'an lacked the arrogance she had displayed when returning to the Marquis of Wei's manor. She immediately spoke obediently, "Imperial Grandmother, I shall return to my room to change. Please continue your chat with Father Imperial Majesty."

Once Princess Yi'an had withdrawn, the Empress Dowager asked with a smile, "Does His Majesty have something on his mind?"

A look of difficulty surfaced on Emperor Taian's face.

The Empress Dowager sat up straight and signaled for the palace maid, who was gently massaging her legs, to withdraw. "Is there something His Majesty cannot tell this old woman?"

Emperor Taian pressed his fist against his lips and coughed. "If I say it, I fear Mother Imperial Majesty will strike me."

The Empress Dowager gave him a sidelong glance. "How old are you now, still acting cheeky in front of me?"

"Then promise not to be angry, and your son will speak."

"Speak then." The Empress Dowager smiled, but her heart sank.

Based on her understanding of her son, this manner of speaking meant that whatever he was about to say was likely to trouble her, though it would not have much impact on the imperial court.

Having laid the groundwork, Emperor Taian spoke: "This matter concerns Yi'an."

The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow. "It concerns Yi'an?"

"Mother has heard about Princess Yuliu being injured in the Fragrant Garden, hasn't she?"

"I have heard of it. Why, is Princess Yuliu looking to cause trouble for Yi'an?"

"It is not so much looking for trouble. After Princess Yuliu lost her memory, her temperament changed somewhat. That day, by a stroke of chance, she had contact with Yang Zhe..."

After listening to Emperor Taian's explanation, the Empress Dowager remained silent for a long while.

Emperor Taian cautiously observed her reaction. "Mother, are you angry with your son?"

The Empress Dowager's eyelids trembled, and her voice sounded much older. "For the sake of the empire and the state, how could I be angry with you? It is just that, why did His Majesty not mention this first? After all, this is a life-altering matter for Yi'an."

Emperor Taian showed a distressed expression. "Princess Yuliu even struck a pillar right in front of me; I truly could not restrain her antics. If something truly happened, Yuliu would certainly defect to Great Qi, or use the opportunity to make outrageous demands, forcing us to bear even greater losses."

The Empress Dowager sneered. "Can she really seek death?"

Emperor Taian's eyes flickered.

Mother was truly enraged for Yi'an's sake.

"Even if it is fake, with her making such a continuous scene, the story of princesses from two nations fighting over a husband will spread wider and wider. It will become a topic of constant discussion among the common people, which would also harm Yi'an. Don't you agree, Mother?"

The Empress Dowager pursed her lips, a cold breath escaping her nostrils.

"Rest assured, Mother. Your son will certainly find Yi'an a husband even more outstanding than Yang Zhe." Emperor Taian picked up a lychee from the glass fruit plate, peeled it, and fed it to the Empress Dowager's lips.

The Empress Dowager turned her face slightly away and said indifferently, "This old woman is getting on in years; I cannot eat things that are too sweet. His Majesty should eat it."

Emperor Taian held the translucent, plump lychee flesh for a moment before sheepishly stuffing it into his mouth.

"Since Mother does not like things too sweet, I will have someone send some water chestnuts and lotus seeds later."

The Empress Dowager gave an "hm," which served as a way of not completely bruising her son's dignity.

"Then please rest first. Your son will return to handle some matters." As Emperor Taian left the Palace of Benevolence, the bright sunlight fell sparsely upon his face, yet it could not dispel the coldness deep within his eyes.

The rift between him and his mother had, after all, been planted.

He had expected this, yet he had no choice but to do it.

Thinking of the stacks of memorials regarding Northern Qi piled on his desk, Emperor Taian sighed softly and quickened his pace.

Inside the Palace of Benevolence, the Empress Dowager remained expressionless, motionless for a long time.

An old nanny beside her advised, "Your Majesty, please do not take it to heart. His Majesty is the most filial of all."

The Empress Dowager looked at the trusted nanny who had followed her for most of her life. "You also think that I should not have bruised His Majesty's dignity just now?"

"When encountering such matters, His Majesty is also in a difficult position—" the old nanny advised in a gentle voice.

"Yes, I know he is in a difficult position." The Empress Dowager reached out and pinched a bright red lychee; the somewhat rough skin rubbed against her palm, which remained soft despite her age. "But no matter how difficult it is, he should have told me first."

If she showed no displeasure today, then in the future, to the Emperor, she would be nothing more than an elderly mother kept solely for the purpose of him performing his filial piety.

Nothing more.

"Go and call Yi'an here."

The old nanny complied and walked to the door to quietly instruct the palace maids.

Before long, Princess Yi'an walked in with light steps, smiling before she even spoke. "Imperial Grandmother was looking for me?"

The Empress Dowager beckoned. "Come, sit by my side."

Princess Yi'an walked over and sat down. The Empress Dowager patted her hand. "Yi'an, I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

Looking at Princess Yi'an's smiling face, the Empress Dowager felt even more stifled. It took several attempts to open her mouth and speak of the matter between Princess Lingque and Yang Zhe.

Princess Yi'an looked as if struck by lightning. "What did you say, Imperial Grandmother? Yang Zhe has become Princess Lingque's consort?"

"Yi'an, His Majesty had no choice but to do so. You must understand his difficulties—"

"Impossible! I don't believe it, I don't believe it!" Princess Yi'an shook her head, stepping backward, before turning and running outside.

"Yi'an!"

The Empress Dowager stood up, but Princess Yi'an had already vanished from sight. She could only order the servants to send word to intercept Princess Yi'an and prevent her from leaving the palace gates.

Princess Yi'an ran all the way back to her room in one breath, crying and kicking at the tables, chairs, and beds, venting her explosive emotions.

Under the intentional suppression of the Imperial Family, the news of the top scholar changing from the consort of a Great Zhou princess to the consort of Princess Yuliu did not spread widely, but it was quickly known to everyone within the circles of officials and nobles.

Han Baocheng dragged Yang Zhe and the others out to drink. By the end, he was teary-eyed, grabbing Yang Zhe's hand to apologize. "Brother Yang, it is all my fault. If I hadn't called you over that day, you wouldn't have fallen into the hands of that foreign enchantress."

Wen Feng gave a light cough to remind him, "Brother Han, you've had too much to drink."

The matter had already settled; calling Princess Lingque an enchantress was nothing but stabbing Yang Zhe in the heart.

"I am truly distressed. I haven't been able to sleep these past two days."

Yang Zhe smiled. "Brother Han, there is no need for this. Even if it hadn't happened that day, there would have been other times to meet. What is meant to happen cannot be avoided."

"Are you truly not distressed?" Han Baocheng stared wide-eyed at his calm and composed friend.

Yang Zhe lowered his eyes, his slender fingers resting on the white porcelain wine cup. His tone was as light as smoke scattered by the wind. "I am not that distressed."

"Brother Yang—"

Wen Feng raised a hand and placed it on Han Baocheng's shoulder. "Brother Han, let's just drink."

When Lin Hao heard about this, she was strolling in the garden. The matter of opening the Fragrant Dew shop had already been put on the agenda. In addition to the common rose dew and osmanthus dew found on the market, she wanted to see what other flowers were suitable for making fragrant dew.

She froze for a long time after hearing the news, looked around, and walked toward the perimeter wall.

This change was too great; she had to discuss it with Qi Shuo.

"Miss, are you looking for the Master?" Baozhu asked, following behind.

"Mhm." Lin Hao wiped her hands on her skirt and leaped up.

First, she would see if Qi Shuo was there.

Gripping the top of the wall with both hands, she poked her head over.

On the other side of the wall, a young man dressed in a plain cyan robe curled his lips, a look of pleasant surprise hidden in his eyes.

"What a coincidence, I was just looking," Lin Hao gave a dry laugh.

Qi Shuo reached out his hand. "Be careful coming down."

Lin Hao jumped down to him with agility.

(End of Chapter)