Empress Feng had not closed her eyes all night.
She sat by the window waiting.
No matter how the palace maids tried to persuade her, she refused to rest.
After Furong’s appearance today, she had been deeply unsettled. On top of that, Xiao Yunting had been summoned away by Emperor Yongchang. The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she became.
Until she saw Xiao Yunting with her own eyes, there was no way she could sleep.
Seeing that they could not persuade her, the maids helplessly draped a thin blanket over her shoulders and opened the incense burner, adding a handful of lily incense chips.
The fragrance slowly filled the room.
Not long afterward, the curtain outside was lifted. A young palace maid reported softly: “Your Grace, His Highness has arrived.”
Amitabha Buddha! He finally came!
Jingchun let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly whispered into Empress Feng’s ear: “Your Majesty, His Highness is here.”
Empress Feng immediately perked up and sat straighter.
As soon as Xiao Yunting entered, she urgently asked: “Yunting, why did His Majesty summon you? What happened?”
Sitting opposite her, Xiao Yunting quickly reassured her. “Nothing happened, Grandmother. Grandfather merely told me some stories from the past and a few old anecdotes.”
He briefly summarized the conversation.
Then he added: “Grandfather probably remembered many old memories after seeing that palace maid. He also asked about my marriage.”
Was that all?
Empress Feng looked somewhat distracted.
After a moment, she could not help saying: “I truly never expected that he wouldn’t take Furong as a consort in the end.”
Yet this did not make her feel better.
Instead, it made her feel even more frightened.
Because it proved that Emperor Yongchang’s feelings for the late Noble Consort Xiao Liu had been genuine and profound.
Xiao Yunting immediately understood what she was thinking. “Grandmother…”
But before he could comfort her, Empress Feng laughed first. “It’s fine, it’s fine. This is actually a good thing. It means he doesn’t care about other women at all. At his age, not taking new consorts and not fathering new princes is good news for us.”
After saying this, she asked: “When are you leaving?”
Xiao Yunting took a sip of tea and replied gravely: “Immediately.”
So soon?!
Empress Feng was startled. “That urgent?”
Then she immediately understood. How could it not be urgent?
This concerned Lu Ting.
The Crown Princess’s father. Xiao Yunting’s maternal grandfather.
Gathering herself, she nodded. “Fine. Go. Don’t worry. Leave your royal mother’s safety in the palace to me. I absolutely won’t let that beast do anything reckless!”
In the end, between her son and her grandson, Empress Feng had chosen her grandson.
There was nothing surprising about that.
What had the Crown Prince done over the years?
With his status, he should have walked the proper path openly and honorably.
Instead, he constantly resorted to underhanded schemes and dark tricks.
Emperor Yongchang hated such things the most.
The Crown Prince himself had gradually pushed his own situation into an increasingly hopeless state.
Xiao Yunting thanked Empress Feng.
Then he turned and went to visit the Crown Princess.
When Crown Princess Lu saw her son, her face filled with gentle warmth. In truth, she felt guilty.
Over the years, she had never really been able to help Xiao Yunting.
Everything a mother should have done, she had failed to do.
Yet Xiao Yunting remained so filial.
Taking his hand, she lowered her voice. “Yunting, it is your royal mother who has wronged you.”
“The Lu family and I have only burdened you. Otherwise, your path would have been smoother and steadier.”
Xiao Yunting dissolved her guilt with just a few words. “Royal Mother, why do you still say such things? No one understands your circumstances better than I do. You safely brought me into this world, and you endured years of separation from me. I know how difficult and painful all of that was.”
Then he said seriously: “On this trip, I will definitely bring Grandfather and the rest of the family back safely. You needn’t worry. If anything happens, go to Great-Aunt and Grandmother. Rest assured. They will both protect you.”
At a time like this, not causing trouble was already the greatest help she could give him.
The Crown Princess nodded firmly. “All right. Your mother will wait. I’ll wait for you properly and safely.”
Xiao Yunting smiled in relief.
After making his preparations, he set out at dawn with Qingfeng and Lanyue to bid farewell to Emperor Yongchang.
The emperor studied him for a moment before smiling. “Good. Go.”
“See more of the world. Meet all kinds of people. It will do you good. But first, go bid farewell to the Empress Dowager.”
It was proper etiquette.
Xiao Yunting immediately acknowledged the order and headed to the Empress Dowager Tian’s palace.
Empress Dowager Tian was sorting prayer beads.
She knew and understood everything that had happened in the palace.
The commotion from the previous night had surprised even her.
Seeing Xiao Yunting now, she smiled kindly. “I’ve heard everything. I don’t have much to say. The Ren family was a foolish family, greedy for reputation and profit. How could they possibly have harbored good intentions?”
“Go without worries.” She nodded. “May your banner be raised in victory and may you return soon.”
Xiao Yunting respectfully kowtowed in thanks.
He had only just stepped out of the Empress Dowager’s palace gates when he heard someone calling behind him.
Stopping, he raised an eyebrow.
Tian Jinglan had caught up to him.
After gracefully offering a proper salute, she accepted a tray from a palace maid and presented it to him.
“Your Highness, this is a pillow I personally made. It helps calm the mind and improve sleep.I’ve heard that Her Highness the Crown Princess has suffered from headaches for many years. Perhaps this pillow may be of some help.”
She spoke openly and honestly, without the slightest attempt to hide her intentions.
Even the gift was presented openly in front of the Empress Dowager’s attendants.
As a result, Xiao Yunting had no reasonable excuse to refuse it.
After silently looking at Tian Jinglan for a moment, he said: “Thank you.”
Then he signaled Qingfeng to accept the pillow.
Nodding toward her, he added: “My thanks, Miss Tian.”
Tian Jinglan hurriedly shook her head. After hesitating for a moment and seeing that Xiao Yunting was eager to leave, she finally called out to him again.
Though somewhat impatient, Xiao Yunting still asked as politely as possible: “What is it, Miss Tian? Is there something else?”
As though she had not noticed his impatience at all, Tian Jinglan twisted her fingers together. After a long silence, she finally said: “Your Highness, perhaps you should investigate Ruixiang in the Crown Princess’s palace.”
Ruixiang?
Xiao Yunting immediately frowned. “What do you mean?”
Ruixiang was the Crown Princess’s trusted confidante. After the Crown Princess lost favor, Ruixiang had remained by her side for years without ever abandoning her.
Not only did the Crown Princess trust her completely, even Xiao Yunting himself treated Ruixiang with considerable respect.
Tian Jinglan shook her head meaningfully. “Your Highness, people change. And the palace is a dye vat that stains everyone. Think about it. Who was Zhang Bin? Everyone knew he was the Crown Prince’s confidant. That day, would the Crown Princess truly have hanged herself merely because of a few provocative words from Zhang Bin?”
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