Chapter 33

After the Lantern Festival, the first spring rain of the year arrived. The sound of the drizzle started before dawn, and by daybreak, the raindrops were dripping from the eaves, forming streams on the ground.

When Su Ci woke up, the discomfort in her body was gone, but she felt a bit cold. She wrapped herself in a blanket and leaned on the windowsill facing the courtyard, peeking through a small gap in the window. She didn’t feel anything unusual last night, but thinking about meeting again today made her feel a bit strange. It added a sense of unnaturalness.

There were shadows moving in the eastern courtyard, and after a while, a young eunuch came out carrying a copper basin for washing. At the same time, her hall door creaked open, and Aunt Zhang and a young maid came in with washing supplies.

Su Ci put on the pale green dress with leaf patterns and the white fox fur cloak she had chosen yesterday. She rubbed her face with some cream and applied a bit of the osmanthus oil that Aunt Zhang enthusiastically recommended to her temples. After finally getting herself ready and dealing with Aunt Zhang, she opened the door to find Yang Yanzong already waiting for her under the corridor. He wore a black leather-sleeved jacket and a dark green tight-fitting military uniform. His body was as straight as a spear, his face calm and reserved, and his eyes sharp. As soon as the door moved, his gaze quickly shifted to her.

Through the misty rain, their eyes met for a moment. In the red corridor shaped like the character “回,” they stood on opposite sides of the eastern and western annexes. After seeing each other, Su Ci blinked, and they walked around the corridor to meet and head towards the palace gate.

In the drizzle, Yang Yanzong held an oil-paper umbrella. The rain was light, and the people carrying umbrellas in front and behind kept a slight distance, making it convenient to talk. Yang Yanzong glanced at her. Her porcelain-white face was nestled in the fluffy white fox fur, making her face look even smaller, her lips red and teeth white, her hair black as a crow. He asked in a low voice, “Does your body still hurt?”

Yesterday was rushed, and many things couldn’t be taken care of.

Su Ci: “…”

She wanted to laugh. This question sounded like a classic line from a romance novel after the main characters had been intimate. Yang Yanzong’s voice naturally had a faint indifference, and his expression was the same, making it feel very different. But she didn’t dare to laugh, as the question was a bit awkward. She glanced at him, coughed twice, and said thoughtfully, “It’s fine. It didn’t take long anyway.”

She said it without much thought, just to indicate she wasn’t uncomfortable. But as soon as she finished, she realized what she had said and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Indeed, people shouldn’t feel awkward, as it makes them say the wrong things!

Yang Yanzong’s face darkened, but Su Ci’s big eyes immediately looked at him, her eyebrows curved with a smile. “Brother Yang.” Don’t be angry!

He snorted coldly, deciding to let it go for now, but thought to himself, “Just wait!”

However, after this little incident, their strange atmosphere disappeared, and they returned to normal.

They were heading to Shangyang Palace. Deqing Palace and Shangyang Palace were very close, but some imperial paths could only be used by the emperor’s carriage. Everyone else had to take a detour, making a big circle.

Strolling along the stone path, they wound their way up the red corridor, following it until they reached the vicinity of the Canglong Gate. They exchanged a few words along the way, mostly Su Ci talking and Yang Yanzong responding with brief “Mm” sounds. As they walked, Aunt Xu, who was leading the way, paused and glanced toward the Canglong Gate outside the corridor. Her expression remained unchanged, but her eyes seemed to hold something subtle.

Yang Yanzong and Su Ci followed her gaze. They saw a young man passing through the palace gate, heading towards the inner palace.

Su Ci, feeling curious, asked, “Who is that?”

Aunt Xu had already looked away and replied calmly, “That is Prince Qian.”

Su Ci suddenly understood. So, it was Prince Qian!

Prince Qian might be unfamiliar to some, but his son was more well-known. It was previously mentioned that the old emperor’s intended heir was the young son of Prince Qian, born to the niece of Empress Kun. This child, now seven years old, was still being raised in Changqiu Palace.

Of course, for Su Ci, the focus wasn’t on the child but on Prince Qian himself.

At first glance, Su Ci was quite impressed. Wow, Prince Qian was indeed a fine-looking man!

Tall and slender, with a high and thin frame, fair skin, and dark eyebrows, he had an elegant demeanor, like a young man stepping out of a watercolor painting of Jiangnan’s misty rain. Dressed in a beautiful blue satin robe with a white base and a wide belt, he walked through the large square of Canglong Gate, approaching them through the misty rain.

Su Ci had never seen someone like him before—extremely handsome, with an exceptional temperament. The key was the faint melancholy in his eyes, making associating him with power and ambition impossible. Instead, at first glance, one would instinctively believe he didn’t want to send his son to the palace.

“Indeed, it’s Prince Qian. He must be here to visit his young son.”

Su Ci said, “I originally thought Prince Qian would be much older.” She didn’t expect him to be so young.

“Prince Qian has two sons. The eldest was born to his first wife, and the youngest to his second wife.”

Prince Qian was accompanied by a young boy, about ten years old, who resembled him. This must be his eldest son. The father and son were visiting the younger son and brother, who had been taken into the palace as an infant. As Prince Qian passed by under the red corridor, he recognized Aunt Xu and nodded. Aunt Xu lowered her eyes and returned the greeting.

Up close, Prince Qian was even more pleasing to the eye. His fair skin was flawless, and his elegant, melancholic aura was powerful. He was the most refined man Su Ci had ever seen, unmatched by anyone else.

Su Ci didn’t show it, but her eyes darted around. She hadn’t forgotten that Yang Yanzong was standing next to her. As his fiancée, she couldn’t be too obvious, so she admired Prince Qian discreetly.

However, Su Ci didn’t realize that when someone is in a great mood, they tend to radiate. Yang Yanzong, with his keen observation skills, noticed this. He glanced at her and saw her eyes shining even brighter than before. She seemed to have looked away, but her peripheral vision was still focused on Prince Qian.

Yang Yanzong was furious. He had never met a woman like her! He suddenly realized that even though they had been intimate, she hadn’t changed at all. He remembered the first time Su Ci saw Ji Yuanhao; she had hidden in the grass, watching him for a long time.

Yang Yanzong grabbed her and dragged her forward. She looked at him in surprise, only to see him glaring at her, his eyes almost spitting fire.

Su Ci was puzzled. “What’s wrong?” Why was he angry again?

Yang Yanzong snorted heavily, thinking she wouldn’t behave until they were married.

…

They walked down the red corridor through the large square of Canglong Gate. The wind was strong, blowing their clothes and shoes, but no one complained. Shangyang Palace was just ahead, and they could already see the large red and gold pillars under the eaves. At this moment, both Yang Yanzong and Su Ci put aside their inexplicable and angry emotions. Their faces tightened in unison.

Su Ci had told Yang Yanzong yesterday that the old emperor’s wound needed to be stitched. It could have been done a few days ago, but the emperor’s condition was different from others. Usually, a wound would still hurt for a while after being stitched, but could anyone dare to tell the emperor that? Su Ci decided not to say anything and waited until the wound was almost healed. In other words, the emperor’s treatment was nearing its end.

The matter of her and Yang Yanzong entering the palace would soon reach a final conclusion. If it weren’t for this, they wouldn’t have been so urgent yesterday, and Su Ci wouldn’t have agreed to his request so quickly. The turning point was right in front of them. Whether it would be good or bad, whether they could return home safely, depended on today!

Healing the emperor wasn’t the end. In ancient times, there was a saying that both thunder and rain were the emperor’s grace. Especially now with the complicated situation and Yang Yanzong’s sensitive status.

Su Ci took a deep breath and looked at Yang Yanzong. This man was silent and reserved, like a frozen river in winter. From the moment he saw the treasure roof of Shangyang Palace, he had been agitated.

Aunt Xu led the way up the steps, with the two following a few steps behind. As they put away their umbrellas, Yang Yanzong’s sharp eyes glanced over, and he quickly whispered, “Don’t panic, stay calm.”

Su Ci nodded quickly. Aunt Xu had already turned around, handing her umbrella to the young eunuch who had come to meet them. Su Ci did the same.

The three of them turned and walked towards the main hall. In the rain, they wore high wooden clogs. Aunt Xu, somehow, made no sound as she walked on the hard marble corridor, but Su Ci couldn’t manage that. No matter how carefully she walked, she still made some noise.

Entering the hall felt like the room had dimmed by two degrees. Su Ci couldn’t tell if it was just her imagination, but the scent of dragon musk seemed particularly strong today, making her feel dizzy.

The old emperor had just finished court and had changed into his regular clothes. He was sitting on a gilded chair on the jade steps, leaning back with one hand on the wide armrest.

Yang Yanzong entered with her, but neither Aunt Xu nor the young eunuch at the door seemed to notice them.

Su Ci licked her lips, feeling a bit nervous. It was enough to scare someone to death. She kept her thoughts to herself, not daring to show any emotion. Since the old emperor didn’t move, she followed Aunt Xu up the jade steps. Sun Shiping brought up a large gilded tray covered with white linen, filled with scissors, curved needles, needle holders, tweezers, and other tools, and all were new and exquisite. Over the past month, her medical instruments had been upgraded significantly, though she wasn’t sure if they would remain hers afterward.

A line of young eunuchs followed Sun Shiping, carrying copper basins and soap. Su Ci washed her hands and dried them. A palace servant carefully lifted the blanket covering the old emperor’s leg wound. Su Ci carefully cut open the yellow outer pants, snipped the black silk thread, and used tweezers to pull it out quickly. She glanced at the old emperor’s face. Removing the stitches was somewhat painful, but he refused to take any anesthetic.

The old emperor slowly turned a string of dark brown agarwood beads in his hand, his movements unhurried. When Su Ci removed the stitches, his actions didn’t pause, and his deep-set eyes remained inscrutable.

Su Ci quickly looked away, focusing entirely on her task. The emperor had three wounds, but Su Ci’s skills were excellent. The incisions were small, and she removed the stitches quickly, finishing in about a minute. A bit of blood oozed from the stitch marks. She wiped it with a cotton cloth, and soon the bleeding stopped.

Seeing Su Ci put down her tools and wash her hands, Sun Shiping asked, “Miss Su, don’t you need to apply some medicine?”

“No need. It’s just a small surface wound. If it’s not necessary, it’s better to use less medicine to reduce resistance.”

Su Ci finished washing her hands and quietly stepped down from the jade steps. Sun Shiping and the palace servants were about to help the old emperor change clothes in the inner hall, but the emperor raised his hand to stop them. He turned his gaze to Su Ci and Yang Yanzong, who stood silently near the hall door.

Su Ci licked her lips. Here it comes!
Today’s main event has finally arrived!

No one knew if it would turn into a storm and whether they could emerge unscathed and seize the opportunity amidst the chaos. This thought flashed through Yang Yanzong’s mind. He lowered his eyes slightly, but his military-trained posture remained as straight as a spear. Silently, he was tense to the extreme.

Inside the grand hall, the atmosphere subtly changed. The keenly observant Sun Shiping and Aunt Xu immediately noticed the shift. Their expressions tightened as they silently retreated to their designated positions, heads bowed.

The emperor spoke to Su Ci first. At this moment, he was relatively kind to her. With his wounds healing well, he wanted to keep this skilled doctor by his side as a precaution. Although Su Ci being a woman was a bit troublesome, it wasn’t a big deal for the emperor. He had already selected a few suitable young men from the royal family and had chosen one with his imperial pen.

“Doctor Su, your skills surpass those of the imperial physicians,” the old emperor said gently. “You are at the right age for marriage…”

Here it comes!
As expected!
Fortunately, they were prepared!

Su Ci immediately raised her head, babbling before the emperor could continue. “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty! I dare not take credit. I already have a fiancé.”

She pretended to be shy and glanced at Yang Yanzong. Their eyes met briefly before she turned back to the emperor. “My father arranged my marriage to General Yang years ago, and the wedding is set for this month.” She smiled. “Your Majesty, General Yang and I are about to get married.”

“Oh?”

The old emperor, of course, knew this. He replied nonchalantly, “About to get married means not yet married, doesn’t it?” He didn’t even glance at Yang Yanzong.

Even high-ranking officials didn’t matter much to him, let alone a fourth-rank military officer from outside the capital.

To the emperor, Yang Yanzong was a minor figure. But this minor figure had single-handedly thwarted his plans to dismantle the three major princely estates in Wuchuan. Moreover, he had even united the three estates, causing a significant shift in the court’s power dynamics, making the emperor wary and unable to act freely.

In the old emperor’s eyes, Yang Yanzong was already a dead man. So he didn’t even spare him a glance.

“You have healed me, a great merit indeed. Shouldn’t such merit be rewarded?! Therefore…”

Su Ci almost clapped her hands in her mind. She knew this would happen!

Su Ci tried to hold back her emotions. She thought it would be difficult, but with her adrenaline surging, her face was already flushed without much effort. Her heart was pounding, her cheeks blushing, and she put on a shy and embarrassed expression. But seeing the old emperor about to grant a marriage decree without hesitation, she hurriedly exclaimed, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please don’t!”

“Your servant, your servant girl,” Su Ci ‘shyly’ turned her head, meeting Yang Yanzong’s deep gaze. He must have understood the old emperor’s intentions very well because she saw a deep, stormy vortex in his eyes.

Su Ci’s heart raced, and she bit her lip. Whether they could get through today safely depended on what happened next!

“Your servant girl and General Yang have already been intimate!! ” she shouted loudly and hurriedly bowed her head. “Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty, but, but…”

The old emperor fell silent. He raised his half-lowered eyelids, his sharp gaze like arrows, making Su Ci’s heart tremble. If she were an ordinary girl, she would have collapsed and been unable to speak. But despite her heart trembling, her mouth remained quick: “As the saying goes, ‘At home, follow your father; after marriage, follow your husband.’ Moreover, Your Majesty’s recovery, besides the divine protection, was mainly due to penicillin. The extraction of penicillin was entirely thanks to General Yang’s efforts in finding the mustard brine! It wasn’t all my doing.”

She lowered her voice, but it was still clear in the vast hall: “I grew up in the inner chambers, unfamiliar with external affairs, only knowing that a husband is the head of the wife. If Your Majesty wants to reward merit, just credit General Yang!”

If Yang Yanzong couldn’t leave today, the Su and Yang families wouldn’t last long in this precarious court situation. If things went wrong, her whole family would follow. In such a volatile and unpredictable situation, only someone as capable and fierce as Yang Yanzong could save both families. So, under the old emperor’s heavy pressure and gaze, she quickly finished speaking and added, “If Your Majesty doesn’t mind, I am willing to be listed in the Imperial Medical Institute, ready to be summoned at any time.”

This was all nonsense. No matter how good her medical skills were, the emperor wouldn’t use her after today.

The vast palace fell into instant silence, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. All the palace servants and eunuchs hunched their shoulders, wishing they could disappear.

Su Ci remained as quiet as a chicken. She had set up the ladder; now, it was up to Yang Yanzong!

Her heart was beating too fast; she could hardly stand it.

The old emperor’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, making her break out in a cold sweat. Then he suddenly looked up, his sharp eyes falling on Yang Yanzong!

Yang Yanzong swept his sleeve and knelt on one knee with a loud “thud”!

No one spoke.

The silence was like death, lasting for a long moment. The old emperor laughed, a cold, mocking laugh. He didn’t believe this was Su Ci’s idea. His sharp, eagle-like gaze swept over Yang Yanzong inch by inch. Feeling cornered and with his goodwill rejected, he decided to overturn his original plan!

Yang Yanzong remained motionless, his eyes lowered under the emperor’s scrutiny. The aura he had been concealing was no longer restrained. As a general who had fought on the battlefield, he exuded a bloody and imposing presence, and Yang Yanzong was among the best. This was a highly ambitious man. And he wasn’t hiding his ambition at this moment!

The old emperor laughed, a chilling laugh that echoed through the vast hall, sending shivers down one’s spine.

The old emperor suddenly sat up straight. “Yang Yanzong, Pacification Commissioner of the West and General of Mingwei, since you have rendered meritorious service twice, I hereby promote you to Senior General of the Left Guard and Deputy Commander of the Palace Guards!”

The position of Senior General of the Left Guard and Deputy Commander of the Palace Guards was a high-ranking one, just below the Six Ministries’ ministers. It was a leap into the top echelon of the nation. However, the emperor’s trusted aides had always held this position, leading the charge in dealing with the princely estates. The previous holder of this position had recently passed away during the emperor’s severe illness. This position had a very high attrition rate, and those who held it were always the emperor’s confidants. But Yang Yanzong was not the emperor’s confidant. He was a man of the Sixth Prince’s estate, the Sixth Prince’s trusted aide. This unusual background, placed in such a critical position, instantly separated Yang Yanzong from the Sixth Prince’s estate. The old emperor wanted Yang Yanzong to become his sword – to cut through the three major princely estates without hesitation!!

Su Ci broke out in a cold sweat. At this juncture, being the sword to charge directly at the three major princely estates could not end well!

Moreover, Yang Yanzong’s roots were in the Sixth Prince’s estate. Forcibly separating him and turning the sword against the Sixth Prince’s estate would severely weaken it, opening a gap for the old emperor. But Yang Yanzong, as the sword, would also be bloodied and broken, left with no support from either side, destined to die. But the old emperor didn’t care at all!

The emperor’s power was overwhelming, his authority over life and death absolute, his commands like clouds and rain, and no one dared to disobey. Yet Yang Yanzong did not comply. Amidst the storm and whirlpool, he stood straight, unmoving, his indifferent voice steady as water, without a trace of fear.

Facing the emperor’s overwhelming authority, he bowed, stood straight, and said, “Your Majesty, I am willing to serve as Deputy Commander of the Left Guard and Commander of the Western Command.”

“The Sixth Prince contends for it, and Your Majesty grants it.”

The position of Deputy Commander of the Left Guard, though seemingly similar to Deputy Commander of the Palace Guards, had entirely different functions. The former was not held by the emperor’s confidants but was a position contested by various factions. The previous Deputy Commander of the Left Guard had just stepped down, and the Sixth Prince’s estate was actively working to place their own person in the position.

The Commander of the Western Command was different from the Senior General of the Left Guard. It was the highest military officer of a province, while the Deputy Commander of the Left Guard was a capital official.

Yang Yanzong was originally the Pacification Commissioner of the West, and this area was his stronghold, where his influence was deeply rooted.

Yang Yanzong sneered inwardly. He could be a blade, but not like this!

The emperor could immediately release him and Su Ci from the palace or simply reward them with wealth. Naturally, the Sixth Prince wouldn’t let it go so easily. He could incite the Sixth Prince to come to the palace and fight for it. After a tug-of-war, the emperor would give him another high-ranking, powerful position that wouldn’t offend the Sixth Prince.

Yang Yanzong could be a blade, but only a hidden blade!

Outwardly, he would stay in the Sixth Prince’s estate and might even get a rapid promotion. But secretly, he would follow the emperor’s orders!

In the dim hall, with the cold wind howling, he suddenly looked up and stared straight at the third step of the jade stairs!

From the moment he entered the palace, he knew he was walking a tightrope over a cliff. With the previous events in Wuchuan, whether or not they could heal the emperor, Su Ci might still have a chance, but he had none!

Yang Yanzong had guessed the emperor’s intentions and today’s situation. He had carefully considered how to respond, seize a chance for survival, and take risks for opportunities. This was a high-stakes gamble!

The old emperor needed a blade to break the united front of the three princely estates quickly, and he was too old. This injury had greatly weakened him. Even though the emperor tried to hide it and rarely let him and Su Ci enter the hall together, Yang Yanzong still keenly noticed that the emperor’s hand sometimes trembled involuntarily. At this moment, the old emperor must deeply feel his age and the urgency of time. He must be very anxious and desperate.

And for him, he no longer wanted to place all his bets on the Sixth Prince’s estate. Yang Yanzong, though defying the emperor’s will, had proposed a highly feasible retreat for self-preservation. And he clearly fits the role of a highly lethal blade. This was a crisis gamble, like walking a tightrope over a cliff. A slight misstep would mean instant death, shattered bones, and blood splattered three feet. But if he won the gamble, he would survive the crisis, seize the opportunity, and achieve great success, making significant progress.

Su Ci was sweating for him. She didn’t dare to look up at the emperor.

On the throne, the old emperor’s expression was bleak. He squinted at Yang Yanzong like a storm about to break. For a long moment, he didn’t say a word. In the grand hall, a pin drop could be heard. Everyone’s heart was in their throat!