Chapter 107

Qi Fangfei followed the mama and soon arrived at Yan Ming’s main courtyard.

The mama stopped and bowed to her. “Please wait a moment, Miss Qi. I will inform the Prince.”

Qi Fangfei nodded. “Thank you.”

The mama went inside to report and quickly returned. “Miss Qi, please come in.”

Qi Fangfei nodded and walked through the spacious courtyard, up the stone steps, and into the room.

A strong smell of herbal medicine filled the air. Four maids stood in the room, two in the inner chamber and two in the outer chamber, along with a young eunuch attending to Yan Ming.

Qi Fangfei looked towards the inner chamber. Yan Ming was lying on the bed, having just taken his medicine. The young eunuch, holding an empty bowl, respectfully greeted Qi Fangfei and then discreetly left.

Qi Fangfei’s gaze fell on Yan Ming, her brows furrowing.

Usually gentle and composed, Yan Ming now looked weak, with a gloomy and oppressive aura that made one feel uncomfortable.

“Your Highness,” Qi Fangfei stepped closer, stopping seven steps away from the bed. “How are your injuries?”

Yan Ming turned his head, forcing a smile on his pale face. “I’m fine. Thank you for visiting me.”

“I don’t deserve your thanks.”

“Fangfei,” Yan Ming’s voice was hoarse, tinged with self-mockery. “Only you still care about me, willing to risk offending Yan Donghuang to visit me. In my heart—”

Qi Fangfei interrupted him. “Your Highness, please call me Miss Qi.”

Yan Ming’s voice faltered, his smile freezing. He slowly raised his head, his pale face darkening. “Why? Don’t you like me calling you affectionately?”

Qi Fangfei replied calmly, “We are not yet married.”

Yan Ming clenched the bedding, his lips pressed tightly together. After a long pause, he nodded slightly. “Fine, then we’ll change it after we marry.”

Qi Fangfei was silent for a moment before stating her purpose. “The Crown Princess wants me to be her companion reader.”

“Companion reader?” Yan Ming’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You agreed?”

Qi Fangfei countered, “Do you think I should agree?”

“Yan Donghuang has been on the battlefield for years, reading military books. Why does she need a companion reader?” Yan Ming sneered. “She clearly wants to win you over and take you away from me.”

Qi Fangfei shook her head slowly. “The Crown Princess wants me to become a female official.”

Yan Ming’s expression darkened as he grasped her meaning. “You want to go?”

“I do,” Qi Fangfei nodded, her face showing a hint of longing. “I’ve read extensively since childhood, always regretting that I was born a woman and couldn’t take the imperial exams like men. For a woman, such a wish is nearly impossible. The Crown Princess is giving me this opportunity, and I have no reason to refuse.”

As she finished speaking, the room, warmed by a brazier, seemed to plunge into icy coldness. The air was colder than outside, chilling to the bone.

Yan Ming’s face turned pale, his hand gripping the bedding turning white.

Did Yan Donghuang not only take the throne that should have been his but also want the Qi family’s support?

Was she afraid that after marrying Qi Fangfei, Grand Tutor Qi would side with him?

Despicable, cunning, and vicious.

“Since you’ve decided, why discuss it with me?” He struggled to keep his voice calm. “You and Yan Donghuang are both ambitious, wanting power, right?”

Qi Fangfei said nothing, just looked at him quietly.

Yan Ming glared at her. “Didn’t your mother teach you that women should be virtuous, support their husbands, and raise their children?”

“Your Highness, I am also a scholar,” Qi Fangfei said calmly. “My mother taught me well, but some principles aren’t solely learned from her. The ancient sages’ books also teach many life lessons.”

Yan Ming sneered. “So, your books taught you to act like men, seeking power and profit?”

Regretting his sharp words, Yan Ming’s eyes darkened. He didn’t want to speak so harshly. Years of maintaining a gentle and magnanimous image were undone in days, but he couldn’t control himself.

Yan Donghuang had pushed him too far. He couldn’t maintain his composure any longer.

Qi Fangfei initially felt apologetic but now felt a sense of calm and relief. Though she couldn’t arrogantly think a prince was unworthy of her. Yan Ming’s demeanor today was vastly different from before. She realized the Grand Princess was right. They were indeed incompatible.

She bowed. “I shouldn’t have disturbed you, Your Highness, but some decisions should be known to you. If you can’t accept it, I apologize.”

Pausing, she added, “I want to explain myself. I’ve read extensively and understand the principles in books. I admire all scholars who, when entering service, are loyal and patriotic, full of passion and ambition. Though some lose their way over time, it doesn’t mean their initial intentions were wrong.”

Yan Ming remained silent, his expression dark and grim.

Qi Fangfei continued respectfully, “I can’t guarantee I’ll stay true to my principles, but with this opportunity, I want to follow my heart and do what’s right for Yong Dynasty. Rest well, Your Highness. I will take my leave.”

She bowed again and left. Her slender, upright figure exuded grace and dignity.

Bang!

Yan Ming angrily swept the tea cup and several books off the table. The violent movement aggravated his injuries, causing him to black out and break into a cold sweat.

The maids, pale with fear, knelt, not daring to breathe.

Yan Ming, in pain, clung to the bed, his voice filled with hatred. “Yan Donghuang, I will never reconcile with you!”

Chapter 108

Busy times pass quickly. The entire twelfth lunar month was tumultuous. In the first half, besides the Crown Prince being deposed and the Emperor unexpectedly appointing a Crown Princess, which caused widespread opposition among the officials, the most shocking events were the investigations and confiscations of the Chu family and the Pingyang Marquis’s residence.

One family was executed, and another was imprisoned.

The Pingyang Marquis’s residence was accused of poisoning the heir apparent, and they were ultimately sentenced to death. In the latter half of the month, the officials cooperated well in governance. To ensure that both the ruler and ministers could enjoy a good festival, Yan Donghuang completed all urgent matters by the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth month, and the official holiday began on the twenty-eighth.

Due to the Emperor’s illness, the officials were allowed to stay home with their families on New Year’s Eve instead of attending the palace.

Among the seven generals of the Qingluan Army, Mu Yunfan was sent on a mission, while the other six generals took turns on duty.

From the twenty-eighth to the thirtieth, Feng Yaoguang, Gu Chiran, and Qin Yang were on duty. From the first to the third day of the new year, Xie Yunjian, Xiao Qingwu, and Xiao Nanfeng took over.

Both inside and outside the palace, everything was organized in an orderly manner.

Sheng Jing’an spent an unforgettable seven days at the Grand Princess’s residence. On the morning of the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth month, the old madam of the Sheng family personally arrived at the Grand Princess’s residence to request a meeting with the Grand Princess. She was very humble, no longer as arrogant as before, and only begged to see Shenh Jing’an.

Yan Donghuang, showing great mercy, ordered Sheng Jing’an to be brought out. The old madam almost didn’t recognize her son at first sight.

Sheng Jing’an had lost a lot of weight, and he had dark circles under his eyes, a pale and haggard face, and a despondent and wooden demeanor as if he were a different person.

The old madam was shocked and pained, almost fainting. Seeing one of Sheng Jing’an’s hands bandaged and clearly injured made her anxious and made her want to take him home. But even though she invoked her late husband, Sheng Jing’an’s engagement to Yan Donghuang, and even resorted to emotional pleas, it was all in vain under the heavy guard of the Grand Princess’s residence.

Yan Donghuang was heartless and ignored her requests. After meeting the old madam, Sheng Jing’an was taken back to the residence to learn the rules with the other four male concubines.

As for how long they had to learn the rules, Yan Donghuang didn’t say, and the matron in charge of teaching didn’t ask. Oh, and Yan Donghuang specially selected two matrons from the palace to teach them the rules of being male concubines in rotation.

Yan Donghuang believed that no matter how rebellious someone was, they could be tamed by the two matrons.

After returning home, the old madam became increasingly angry and resentful. In her helplessness, she thought of going to the palace to file a complaint.

“Jing’an is engaged to her. Even if Yan Donghuang is now the heir apparent, how can she insult her fiancé like this?” The old madam was furious and worried. “I must go to the palace and ask the Emperor what Yan Donghuang intends to do!”

She thought that as the old madam of the Duke’s residence, the Emperor would give her face. Little did she know that seeing the Emperor had become nearly impossible since Yan Donghuang took over the regency.

By the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth month, Sheng Jing’an couldn’t endure it any longer and realized that Yan Donghuang was determined to punish him, and he had no power to resist. So he requested a meeting, showing weakness and begging for mercy.

When he saw Yan Donghuang, Sheng Jing’an was pale and stiff, his lips cracked, and his eyes devoid of emotion. He no longer looked at Yan Donghuang with the high-handed reproach or the intimacy of an engaged couple… though the sincerity of that intimacy was always questionable.
At this moment, there was a sense of finality and resignation to absolute power, compromise, patience, and submission.

It reminded one of the tragic heroes in stories who endure humiliation for survival.

“I am no match for you. I cannot resist or struggle against military power or maintain my pride.” Sheng Jing’an looked down at the green bricks on the ground. “Although I don’t know why you suddenly hate me, I still have my mother to care for and the Duke’s residence to support…”

He closed his eyes and knelt. “Crown Princess, I submit. Please spare me.”

Yan Donghuang sat in her chair, listening to his self-pitying words and his tone of forced submission. Her smile was cold and mocking.

“If you lack courage, just admit it. There’s no need to use the Duke’s residence and your mother as excuses,” Yan Donghuang said indifferently. “Besides, since your father’s death, the Duke’s residence is no longer what it was.”

Sheng Jing’an’s face turned ashen, and he looked at Yan Donghuang in shock. “What… what do you mean?”

Yan Donghuang looked at him coldly.

Sheng Jing’an shook his head, his voice trembling with panic. “The Emperor said… the Emperor personally said that I could inherit the Duke’s title…”

Without military power or a career, if he couldn’t even inherit the title, what would be left of the Sheng family?

“That was because you were engaged to me, and my achievements were enough to help you inherit the Duke’s title,” Yan Donghuang sneered, her expression disdainful. “Do you think you have the qualifications to be a Duke on your own?”

Sheng Jing’an angrily retorted, “The Emperor’s words are golden—”

“Sheng Jing’an, aren’t you curious why I suddenly hate you?” Yan Donghuang’s voice turned cold, her gaze sharp as a blade. “Your mother invited me to the Duke’s residence that day to poison me, didn’t she?”

Sheng Jing’an’s pupils contracted, and his face turned pale as he looked at Yan Donghuang in disbelief, shock and fear in his eyes.

“What… what are you saying?” His voice trembled. “You are the Grand Princess and the Crown Princess, and you were once my fiancée. How could I poison you? Donghuang, how could I poison you? If this is why you hate me, I swear… I swear it’s a lie. Someone framed me… Please, believe me; I never had such a malicious thought…”

Yan Donghuang looked at him silently, her gaze cold and clear. She said nothing, but her knowing and mocking look made Sheng Jing’an’s defense seem weak and powerless.

Sheng Jing’an felt as if he had been struck by lightning, collapsing to his knees.

“You intended to poison me, though you were afraid and knew that poisoning a princess is a capital crime. But the lure of great benefits clouded your judgment,” Yan Donghuang said, standing up and walking to him, looking down at him. “You thought the Emperor would soon die, and if I died, the person you supported would ascend the throne. You, who poisoned your fiancée, would gain merit and inherit the Duke’s title, basking in glory and prestige?”

“I didn’t!” Sheng Jing’an stood up, gritting his teeth and almost losing control as he shouted, “Crown Princess, you just want to break off the engagement, don’t you? Why go to such lengths to frame me? I agree to break off the engagement, okay?! I agree to everything!”

“Of course not,” Yan Donghuang’s voice was cold and hard. “A marriage decreed by the Emperor cannot be dissolved at your whim.”

Sheng Jing’an froze, his face as pale as paper. “Then what do you want?”