Chapter 308: The Wishful Abacus

Su Wan got into the carriage, and a figure quickly darted in after her.

Qi Sixteenth, unable to care about propriety, said urgently, “Young Lady, someone outside is spreading a rumor that the Empress’s youngest son did not die in infancy but was lost among the common people and is now hiding in the capital.”

Su Wan’s expression turned cold and grim, instantly grasping Princess Yongfu’s intentions.

First, Princess Yongfu wants to muddy the waters. That way, everyone will be too preoccupied to deal with anything else and will certainly focus first on relocating Gu Jingyun. Who would have the time or energy to track down the one spreading the rumors? Princess Yongfu has minimized her own risk!

Second, the news that the Empress’s youngest son is still alive is bound to cause a huge uproar. All factions will be mobilized, each trying to be the first to track down Gu Jingyun’s whereabouts.

Princess Yongfu, by having control over Gu Jingyun’s movements, can increase her leverage in negotiations and seek greater benefits for herself.

Su Wan let out a cold laugh. Unfortunately, Princess Yongfu had miscalculated.

Since it couldn’t be concealed, they might as well face it head-on. Rather than resist, it would be better to take advantage of the situation and have Gu Jingyun acknowledge his ancestry and return to his rightful place by the Empress’s side.

“Sixteenth, go ahead of me and submit my nameplate to the palace,” Su Wan ordered without delay, racing against time.

“Yes, Young Lady.” Qi Sixteenth swiftly departed.

The carriage sped toward the imperial palace and came to a halt at the palace gates, where a palace maid serving the Empress happened to arrive at the same time.

“Commandery Princess,” the maid greeted Su Wan with a respectful bow. “Her Majesty the Empress is waiting for you in her chambers.”

“Thank you for making the trip, Auntie.” Su Wan returned the politeness and entered the palace in a sedan chair.

The sedan chair stopped in front of Weiyang Palace. The maid lifted the curtain and extended her arm.

Su Wan took her arm for support as she stepped down. The maid did not announce her arrival but led Su Wan directly inside.

The Empress was lying on the bed. Upon hearing the commotion, she sat up with the help of her maids and leaned against the headboard, covering her mouth as she coughed.

“Your Majesty, are you unwell?” Su Wan asked, noticing her violent cough and pale complexion, utterly devoid of color. She quickly stepped closer and took the Empress’s pulse.

Her brows furrowed slightly. After the Empress’s coughing subsided, she asked her to open her mouth. The throat was red and swollen, with a thick white coating on the tongue—classic symptoms of pharyngitis. “What medicine did the imperial doctor prescribe?”

The maid handed the prescription to Su Wan.

Su Wan looked it over. The prescribed medicine was appropriate for the condition, but the dosage was too mild.

She asked the maid for a brush and ink and adjusted the dosage accordingly.

“The imperial doctor’s prescription is too conservative. It’s not aimed at quick results, only at avoiding mistakes. I’ve increased the dosage,” 

Su Wan said as she handed the revised prescription to the maid.

The maid looked to the Empress.

“Follow Wanwan’s prescription,” the Empress said after a few coughs. Her throat was sore, and her voice had grown hoarse. “Wanwan, I’ve heard rumors circulating in the capital… that my youngest son is still alive and has entered the city?”

Su Wan glanced around.

At the Empress’s signal, all the palace maids quietly withdrew, leaving only the two of them and the maid-in-waiting.

“Was he truly alive or not, Your Majesty, are you saying you didn’t know?” Su Wan probed carefully.

The imperial palace was heavily guarded. Without someone covering for it, it would have been impossible to smuggle a living prince out of the palace.

This place was full of people who would devour others without spitting out the bones. To go to such great lengths—risking life and limb—to smuggle someone out of the palace seemed hardly worth it. If one had the means to steal away a prince, it would have been far easier to silence him without a trace.

Su Wan suspected it had been the Empress herself who had arranged for the child to be sent out of the palace.

As for the reason, most likely, it had been to protect the young prince.

The Empress’s gaze dimmed, and sorrow crept into her expression.

The Eldest Princess appeared neutral on the surface, standing with no one, but in truth, she was aligned with the Empress and the Prince Regent.

Back then, it was only because she had pleaded with the Eldest Princess for help that her most trusted aide had been able to successfully smuggle the young prince out of the palace.

Now that things had developed to this point, and Su Wan was the Prince Regent’s own daughter, there was nothing that couldn’t be said.

“I don’t know if he’s still alive,” the Empress said. “All these years, there’s been no word of him. If he were safe and well, my people should have sent word back by now.”

The Empress had been deceiving herself all these years, not daring to think too deeply about it, choosing instead to believe they simply couldn’t contact her.

Now, hearing the news so suddenly, she couldn’t help but hope it was true.

“He’s alive,” Su Wan said firmly. Seeing the Empress’s startled gaze, she repeated with unwavering certainty, “He is alive.”

The Empress sat up abruptly, emotions surging in her eyes, unable to suppress her excitement. “You know where he is?”

“He’s at the Gu residence,” Su Wan said, gently pressing down on the Empress, who was about to rise. “My second younger brother, he is your child.”

Tears streamed down the Empress’s cheeks as her fingers clutched Su Wan’s hand tightly. “You… you’re not lying to me?”

“This is a matter of fate,” Su Wan said softly. “My mother-in-law’s second son died in infancy. On the road, she found a child of about the same age and raised him as her own. All these years, she has treated him like her own flesh and blood. Jingyun became her emotional anchor. She never knew that Jingyun was your son.”

Su Wan explained the entire sequence of events to the Empress in detail. Half an hour later, she took a sip of water to soothe her dry throat before continuing, “The reason we never told you was because my father and Huaizhi planned to support him for the throne after His Majesty’s passing. Revealing his identity too early would have brought immense danger and trouble.”

The Empress’s eyes were red and swollen from crying, but there was no trace of blame in them, only gratitude.

She was grateful that Mother Gu had found her child, raised him with care, and taught him well, paving the way for his future.

“Jingyun…” the Empress murmured. “As in, when the tiger roars, a valley wind rises; when the dragon soars, auspicious clouds gather… that Jingyun?”

She was referring to the phrase that meant: when a tiger roars, a cool mountain wind stirs; when a dragon rises, propitious clouds appear.

The Empress spoke with heartfelt sincerity, “It’s a good name.”

“Yes,” Su Wan replied with a gentle smile. “It suits his identity well. Your Majesty, I’ll bring Jingyun into the palace tomorrow. I’ll return first to discuss it with Huaizhi and my mother-in-law, and prepare Jingyun for the truth.”

The Empress said, “Very well. I’ll send someone to fetch him tomorrow.”

“Jingyun’s identity won’t stay hidden for long. Once he acknowledges his ancestry, His Majesty…” Su Wan gently grasped the Empress’s hand in return. “You must make arrangements quickly, prolonged delay invites trouble.”

The Empress nodded. “I’ll summon the Eldest Princess shortly.”

Su Wan suddenly said, “The Eldest Princess has a snow lotus in her possession.”

The Empress suddenly understood. “Yes, I invited you into the palace to treat my illness, and the prescription happens to be missing one ingredient. It’s the snow lotus.”

The two of them exchanged a knowing smile.

Su Wan didn’t linger. The matter was too important. She needed to return to the residence and discuss it with Gu Huaizhi as soon as possible.

——

Guangyuan Marquis Manor.

Princess Yongfu sat at the edge of the bed, gazing blankly at the Marquis of Guangyuan. Her fingers traced the lines of his brow and eyes. Never before had she felt, as she did in this moment, that she possessed him completely—without fear that he might one day abandon her.

Yu Fei returned from outside and, seeing Princess Yongfu staring dazedly at the marquis, paused in her steps before stepping forward and reporting, “Your Highness, the news has been spread. Several factions are already searching for the young prince.”

Princess Yongfu’s lips curved slightly. “Keep a close watch on their movements at all times.”

Yu Fei acknowledged the order, then asked uneasily, “Your Highness, why not pass the news to the Empress Dowager today?”

“What I want is more than just survival,” Princess Yongfu said coldly, a flicker of murderous intent in her eyes. “If she wants the whereabouts of the young prince, then let her trade Su Wan and Tang Nuan’s lives for it.”

Yu Fei’s expression shifted slightly, but she dared not say more.

Princess Yongfu cast a glance toward the encroaching twilight, then looked down at her dirtied white dress. “Prepare the bath. I wish to bathe.”

Yu Fei hurried to instruct the servants to ready hot water and took out a clean set of clothing, placing it in the bathing chamber.

Princess Yongfu finished bathing in the cleansing chamber.

Yu Fei helped her into her undergarments and supported her as they walked out.

As Princess Yongfu made her way toward the bronze mirror, she had barely taken a few steps when she suddenly collapsed to the ground.