Chapter 78

On the way back to the manor. 

No one spoke; the carriage was so quiet that only the sound of their breathing could be heard.

Yet, Yiling’s ears were noisy, as if the fireworks by the river were still bursting above the carriage roof.

So much so that when Xie Hengzhi suddenly said something, she didn’t catch it.

A moment later, she asked, “What did you just say?”

Xie Hengzhi looked at her for a moment before repeating, “Were you happy today?”

It was a simple question, but Yiling didn’t know how to answer.

The noise in her ears subsided slightly before she spoke.

“It was average,” Yiling said. “It’s not as lively as a proper Lantern Festival.”

“Oh.”

Xie Hengzhi responded lightly, not looking at her but instead gazing out the carriage window.

“But today was exclusively yours.”

Bang.

Fireworks seemed to explode again in her ears.

Yiling couldn’t resist turning her head to glance at Xie Hengzhi, wanting to ask him what he meant by that.

But she saw his composed expression, as if he had merely made an offhand remark.

So Yiling pretended she hadn’t heard and didn’t respond.

However, once she returned to Linfeng Yuan, she dismissed the servants, shut the door, and drifted onto her bed.

When she closed her eyes, the fireworks ran wild in her mind.

When she opened them, the ceiling seemed to light up with countless lanterns.

Perhaps it was because she had experienced many storms or had been influenced by those around her, but Yiling’s ability to conceal her feelings was growing.

The next morning at breakfast, neither Mama Cao nor Mallow could detect the waves of emotion she was hiding.

Even when Mallow was still relishing last night’s fireworks and describing them in detail to Mama Cao, Yiling didn’t so much as lift her gaze.

That was until Xie Hengzhi walked in.

Yiling, who had been eating leisurely, suddenly buried her head and started eating quickly the moment she sensed his approach.

After a while, she suddenly spoke. “The steward has finished sorting the gift you prepared for the Crown Princess.”

Was she just trying to find something to say?

Yiling responded with a simple “Oh,” then added, “Let’s send it to Her Highness in a few days.”

“Send it today.”

“Hm?”

Yiling looked up. “But there are still several days until Her Highness’s birthday.”

“No matter.”

Xie Hengzhi took a sip of porridge and continued, “The Eastern Palace has already received numerous gifts these days. If you send yours early, it will bring her joy sooner.”

That made sense.

By the afternoon, the Xie family’s carriage had stopped outside the palace gates.

Yiling tidied her appearance and walked to the Eastern Palace on foot.

She came frequently enough that the palace staff recognized her and quickly went inside to announce her arrival.

Before long, Aunt Feng Yu emerged.

After greeting Yiling with a bow, she smiled and said, “Mrs. Xie, the queen is currently speaking with Her Highness. Please wait for a while.”

This was Yiling’s first time running into the queen during a visit to the Eastern Palace.

Based on her understanding of Shen Shufang, she figured she wouldn’t get to exchange many words with the queen. So she obediently waited outside.

Inside the main hall of the Eastern Palace.

Half an hour had passed since Feng Yu had come in to deliver the message, but the queen showed no signs of leaving.

Neither did she instruct for Yiling to be brought in.

Thus, Yiling was still waiting outside.

Though spring had arrived, the wind could still be quite cold. Who knew if she was dressed warmly enough today?

Shen Shufang thought about this as she frequently glanced toward the window.

The queen, sipping tea, noticed and coughed lightly, setting her teacup on the table.

Shen Shufang snapped out of her thoughts, thinking the queen was finally about to leave. She immediately stood, preparing to bid her farewell.

To her surprise, the queen merely glanced around the hall before saying, “I heard that the Marchioness of Lian Kanghou sent you an original piece by Zheng Qingshi. I’ve never seen one before. Since I have some time now, bring it out for me to admire.”

Feigning refinement, huh? Can you even understand it?

Shen Shufang knew full well the queen was deliberately keeping Yiling waiting as a way to humiliate Xie Hengzhi.

But if she was dissatisfied with Xie Hengzhi, she should take it up with him directly. Why take it out on Yiling?

Shen Shufang took a deep breath, suppressing her irritation.

“As you wish.”

She unrolled the scroll before the queen, who held her tea as she studied each stroke with exaggerated care, seemingly lost in the painting’s details.

After a long time, Shen Shufang couldn’t hold back anymore and gently reminded her, “Mother, Mrs. Xie is still waiting outside.”

The queen tilted her head, took a sip of tea, and didn’t even glance away from the painting.

“What’s the rush? Let her wait.”

“…”

Shen Shufang bit her tongue and endured.

Another half an hour passed before the queen finally rose to her feet.

“The Crown Prince is inspecting the Yulin Army today. I shall go have a look.”

Before leaving, she turned back to Shen Shufang and said, “The Eastern Palace is, after all, the Eastern Palace. Not just anyone should be allowed to come and go as they please. As the Crown Princess, you must uphold decorum. Don’t let others think this place is a marketplace.”

It took a moment before Shen Shufang could squeeze out a response.

“…Understood.”

Once the queen departed, Shen Shufang immediately brought Yiling inside.

“You didn’t freeze out there, did you?” She asked. “Mother had many matters to discuss with me today, so I was delayed.”

Yiling naturally didn’t dare complain.

If the queen wanted her to wait, could she possibly refuse?

Besides, she hadn’t felt cold, as Feng Yu had taken good care of her. The only problem was that waiting idly for an hour had been rather boring.

So as soon as they sat down, Yiling presented her prepared gift.

Because of the Crown Prince’s influence, Shen Shufang had received an abundance of birthday gifts lately. Yet only Yiling’s offering brought her genuine joy.

The items weren’t the most exquisite, but there were plenty of them.

Shen Shufang opened them one by one, grinning from ear to ear.

It was clear Yiling had practically emptied the Xie family estate.

Smiling, she asked, “You’ve sent so many wonderful things. Won’t Master Xie have something to say about this?”

“You’re the Crown Princess; how could he possibly object?”

Yiling added, “In fact, it was he who specifically instructed me to deliver these early so you could enjoy them sooner.”

Shen Shufang’s smile stiffened slightly, though not enough for anyone to notice.

“Master Xie is thoughtful indeed.”

She quickly took a sip of tea to mask her expression.

Why had Xie Hengzhi insisted on sending the gifts ahead of time? Could it be that he sensed a shift in the political landscape and was trying to curry favor with the queen?

That didn’t seem like his usual behavior…

A faint unease crept into Shen Shufang’s heart as she glanced at Yiling. Her clear, bright eyes betrayed no hidden agenda.

Convinced she was overthinking, Shen Shufang continued chatting with Yiling for a while and even showed her the new turtles she had recently acquired.

When the sky darkened and the palace gates were about to close, Yiling had to take her leave.

Shen Shufang stood beneath the eaves of the main hall, watching her depart, a sudden sense of foreboding rising within her.

She understood that the queen’s actions today were merely a warning to Xie Hengzhi.

If Xie Hengzhi chose to humble himself, all would be well. Otherwise, the queen would not let him off lightly.

A scapegoat’s fate seemed inevitable.

The only question was to what extent her mother-in-law would take things.

Thinking of this, Shen Shufang suddenly called out to Yiling.

“Does Your Grace have further instructions?”

Yiling turned back, bathed in the evening glow.

Shen Shufang gazed at her steadily before personally descending the steps.

“I’ve received so many gifts from you today; I can’t let you leave empty-handed,” she said, removing a bracelet from her wrist. “Take this with you.”

Yiling immediately shook her head.

“It is Your Grace’s birthday. It’s only right to accept gifts, but there’s no reason to return them.”

“This has been my habit since I was young. Every year on my birthday, when I receive gifts, I always prepare return gifts,” Shen Shufang replied. “I didn’t expect your gift to arrive today, and I didn’t have time to prepare anything. I hope you won’t dislike it.”

Yiling looked down at the gold bracelet. It was simple and not particularly ornate, but she remembered that Shen Shufang wore it almost every day.

Normally, Shen Shufang often gave her things—some valuable, others just novel or amusing—and Yiling always accepted them. Later, she would return the gesture with a gift in kind.

But this time, Shen Shufang was giving her a piece of jewelry she wore personally. This sentiment carried far more weight.

However, looking into Shen Shufang’s eyes, Yiling couldn’t bring herself to refuse.

“Then I thank Your Grace,” Yiling said with a smile.

“There’s no need to be so formal between us,” Shen Shufang waved her off. “Hurry back. It’s getting dark.”

This time, Yiling truly had to leave; otherwise, she wouldn’t make it back before the palace gates were locked.

Shen Shufang watched Yiling walk into the sunset and let out a deep sigh.

If this famed “gifted scholar” truly lived up to her reputation, it would be one thing.

But Shen Shufang had long seen through her; Yiling didn’t have much scholarly talent, not nearly as much as herself.

Whenever they discussed poetry, Yiling would evade the topic. Earlier, she had barely glanced at the authentic Zheng Qingshi calligraphy displayed in the hall, showing no interest whatsoever.

Lacking academic knowledge and far from being a cunning strategist, could such a frail woman truly protect herself if faced with danger?

The bracelet was a keepsake from Shen Shufang’s grandmother, given to her when she came of age. Any member of the Shen family would recognize it at a glance.

She thought, if anything untoward were to happen, she hoped this bracelet could provide some help to Yiling.

Of course, she still hoped this was just her overthinking.

Yiling didn’t take much to heart about the queen leaving her waiting alone for hours. However, shortly after leaving the palace, a minor incident occurred.

While riding in a Xie family carriage, she encountered the queen’s aunt in a narrow alleyway.

Unlike Xie Hengzhi, who was often brash, Yiling immediately instructed the driver to pull over and make way. She also planned to step down and pay her respects.

But before she could move, a maid from the other side approached and ordered them to make way instead.

The queen’s aunt didn’t even open the window of her carriage, which bore the family crest, and passed by arrogantly.

Yiling wasn’t someone who cared much about appearances.

However, the behavior of these noblewomen often had deep ties to court politics.

Reflecting on the cold treatment she had received earlier at the Eastern Palace, Yiling began to sense something was amiss.

Upon returning to the Xie residence, she headed straight to the study.

Only Dao Yu stood guard outside tonight. A light was on inside, and Xie Hengzhi’s silhouette was visible.

“Are you here to see the Lord?”

Yiling peered through the window for a moment and nodded.

“Is he free right now?”

Dao Yu said she would go in and check.

But as soon as she opened the door, Xie Hengzhi’s voice called out.

“Come in.”

As Yiling entered, she quietly observed Xie Hengzhi.

He was seated at his desk, working on something.

Yiling, unsure how to start, casually asked, “What are you busy with?”

To her surprise, Xie Hengzhi actually answered.

“Travel permits,” he said as he stamped one. “Sometimes, my men need to travel incognito for assignments. These permits will allow them to fill in names and dates as needed, ensuring smooth passage.”

After speaking, he placed the permits into a black box, locked it, and stored it in the desk drawer. Then he looked up and asked, “What brings you here?”

“Oh…” Yiling clasped her hands behind her back and quietly asked, “Have you been out of favor with the Eastern Palace recently?”

Xie Hengzhi raised an eyebrow. “Why do you say that?”

Yiling briefly recounted the day’s events.

Xie Hengzhi’s gaze darkened, but he replied, “The crown prince is currently in high favor with His Majesty. It’s only natural for the queen’s family to feel a little triumphant. Don’t let it bother you.”

Triumphant or not, was there any need to disregard someone like him, Xie Hengzhi, so blatantly?

Clearly, he had fallen out of favor but was unwilling to admit it.

Yiling nodded and said, “I see.”

Xie Hengzhi asked, “What do you see?”

Yiling touched her nose and replied, “…That I should keep a low profile from now on.”

Xie Hengzhi was momentarily speechless.

Remembering her past antics—cutting down ancestral tablets, breaking others’ legs—he finally said, “…That’s probably a good idea.”

That night.

After reviewing the Yulin Army, the crown prince did not return to the Eastern Palace but went to the Kunning Palace, where the queen resided.

The two shared dinner and spoke at length.

Most of the time, the queen spoke while the crown prince listened, as had been the case for the past twenty years.

But tonight’s discussion revolved entirely around the Yulin Army.

When it grew late, the queen finally said, “It’s late. You should return now; you have to continue training the guards tomorrow.”

The Crown Prince furrowed his brow and said, “The Yulin Army has been training day and night recently, sleeping no more than two or three hours a night. I was thinking of letting them rest tomorrow.”  

“You’ve grown soft-hearted for the soldiers, have you?”  

The queen seemed to find this amusing, her lips curling into a smile, but her eyes turned cold.  
“Power is inherently painful. If you’re always thinking of making others comfortable, how will you ever wield it?”  

The Crown Prince lowered his eyes at her words.  

“I understand, Mother.”  

“Enough, go back now.”  

As the Crown Prince rose and walked away, the queen watched his departing figure with dissatisfaction.  

She had raised him herself, teaching him everything he needed to know, yet he remained so soft-hearted. 

Not a trace of her own ruthlessness in him.  

Still, her son had firmly secured his position as heir, and there was no longer any threat to his status.  

Thinking of this, the queen took a leisurely sip of warmed wine before rising to her chambers to change clothes.  

Seated before her dressing table, as the palace maid removed her hair ornaments, the queen looked into the bronze mirror and asked, “What has Xiao Mi been up to lately?”  

“We’re keeping watch, silently and without a trace,” the maid replied. “With Xiao Mi’s skills, there is nothing for Your Majesty to worry about.”  

The queen picked up a gold hairpin, lightly scratching her scalp, a satisfied smile forming on her lips.  

But before the smile reached her eyes, a eunuch hurriedly entered the room.  

The queen glanced at him. “What’s the matter?”  

The eunuch bowed and approached her side, speaking in a low voice, “Your Majesty, it seems there are rumors spreading in the palace.”  

The queen scoffed softly. “Rumors in the palace are nothing new. Is it worth alarming me?”  

The eunuch, however, looked around cautiously, ensuring no one else was present, before leaning closer to the queen and whispering, “This time, the rumors concern the Crown Prince.”  

The queen’s expression grew stern instantly.  

Her gaze turned sharp as she asked, “What are they saying?”  

“They’re saying…” The eunuch’s voice dropped even lower, “They’re saying the Crown Prince isn’t the real Crown Prince… that he was swapped at birth.”  

The bronze mirror reflected the queen’s face with crystal clarity.  

Even in the dim candlelight, the shock in her eyes was unmistakable.