Langhua: The Codependence of a Prince and His General

Deal

First of all, that meant going to meet Her Majesty the Empress of his own volition for the first time.

Xuanyuan Lang took a deep breath of the air outside the prison and caught the guards stealing glances at him. When he followed their gazes, he realized that he would need to get a change of clothes before he could meet the Empress.

His mind was occupied as he hurried back to Benevolence Palace and put on a clean set of robes. He just about knew how to get to Phoenix Palace, but how was he supposed to request an audience? What reason should he use? What should he say?

All of his panicked thoughts amounted to nothing when the eunuch outside Phoenix Palace bowed and let him in with a simple, "Welcome, Your Highness the Seventh Prince. We've been expecting you."

Huh?

Xuanyuan Lang stepped into the main hall of the Empress' palace and froze when all the occupants turned to look at him, save one.

His mother was kneeling in the center of the room, her back turned against him and the entrance. She did not react even when the eunuch announced his arrival.

"Mother...?" Now that he thought about it, Benevolence Palace had been unnaturally quiet just now.

"Aren't you here to retrieve your mother, Seventh Prince?" said the Empress from her gilded throne, sounding bemused. "Why do you look surprised to see her?"

Belatedly, Xuanyuan Lang remembered his manners. He bowed. "Your son greets you, Your Majesty the Empress."

"As you were. In any case, you came just in time. Your mother and I had just concluded a wonderful conversation." The Empress turned to her right. "Xueyan, prepare seats for Her Highness Concubine Liang and His Highness the Seventh Prince."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Mother." Xuanyuan Lang ran over to help Concubine Liang up as she moved. He put his hands around her, but when she straightened herself, she imperceptibly shifted away from his support.

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress." Concubine Liang's tone was even, revealing nothing. "Qilang, don't forget your manners."

Xuanyuan Lang stammered his thanks as well. They were given seats at the Empress' left, chairs with intricately-carved redwood backs and soft silk seats. He could not feel comfortable sitting in them, especially not when he saw how his mother's legs seemed to be trembling ever so slightly.

His concern did not evade the Empress' eyes.

"I envy you, sister, for having such a filial son." The Empress gave them a smile that did not reach her eyes. "You have raised him well."

"Your praise will go to his head, Your Majesty. He is but a foolish, excitable boy, still wet behind the ears." Concubine Liang met the Empress' gaze. "Besides, you are the mistress of the imperial harem and the mother of the kingdom. Qilang is your son as well."

"So he is." The Empress chuckled. "It's been a while, Seventh Prince. You've grown splendidly since I last saw you. Your First Brother Chen has spoken highly of you."

Xuanyuan Lang felt his ears burn. He could not tell if the Empress was being sarcastic. "You flatter me, Your Majesty. And First Brother is too kind."

"He would refuse to admit that, I'm sure." The Empress rested her hands on her lap, looking down at them from her throne in a way that reminded Xuanyuan Lang irrepressibly of the Emperor. They had been married for a long time, after all. "So, what business do you have with me?"

Xuanyuan Lang forced a smile. "Does a son need a reason to meet his mother?"

The Empress' half-curved lips dropped immediately. "Spare me the flattery, boy. You're a terrible liar."

The temperature in the hall fell a few notches. Xuanyuan Lang resisted the urge to pull his robes closer to his body. This was the Empress he remembered. She was like a tigress calmly reminding them that just because she hid her claws sometimes, it did not mean she did not have them.

Xuanyuan Lang would do well not to test her patience.

"It's about the case His Majesty appointed me to investigate, Your Majesty." He bowed his head in deference. "We found some clues and... would like to request your assistance. We think that the true culprit may have ties to the imperial harem."

"It seems your faith in the late General Hua's innocence is as firm as the rumors claimed." The Empress crossed her fingers, the quiet rustling of her sleeves deafeningly loud in the silent hall. "And why should I help you?"

"Because—" Xuanyuan Lang bit his lip and made a leap of faith. "The verdict might be of benefit to you, Your Majesty. Against... the Noble Consort."

Another soft chuckle. "That's more like it. I see that once you stop wasting time, you don't mince your words at all. Just like your mother."

Xuanyuan Lang turned to look at Concubine Liang in surprise. She kept her eyes fixed on the Empress.

The Empress' smile was back and wider than ever, which was not saying much. It still did not move any of the tiny wrinkles around her eyes. "Your mother has already offered me her loyalty in exchange for my assistance with this case. Usually, I wouldn't accept so easily, but since our Lord Lin is involved in this too, I'll give you an allowance this time. We have come to an agreement, haven't we? Concubine Liang."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"But it seems your son has grown into his wings. That means I can't unilaterally take your words and stance to be his, can I?"

For the first time since Xuanyuan Lang entered the hall, he heard an edge of instability in his mother's voice. "No, Your Majesty, we—"

The Empress held up a manicured hand, and Concubine Liang's words were cut off as though she had been choked.

"I told you, you can't keep coddling him. He's old enough to make his own decisions. After all, he came here of his own accord. Don't you agree, Seventh Prince?"

Xuanyuan Lang's breath caught in his throat when the Empress turned her sharp gaze onto him. He could barely find his voice. "...Yes, Your Majesty."

"Good." The Empress' gaze softened, and Xuanyuan Lang could breathe again. "If you don't mind, sister, I would like to talk to the Seventh Prince alone."

Concubine Liang's body stiffened, showing that she very much did mind. After Xuanyuan Lang gave her a reassuring look, however, she sighed. "I understand, Your Majesty. Qilang, I'll go get lunch ready."

So don't take too long. Her implicit concern warmed Xuanyuan Lang's heart and lingered even after she left the hall.

"Such is the purity of a mother's love," the Empress said in a tone he could not decipher. "Nevertheless, it is time for her to loosen her grip slightly. Whether you fly or fall should be up to you now. I see you understand that yourself, Seventh Prince."

Xuanyuan Lang could not deny that. "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Very well. In that case, I shall address you in your own personal capacity. Since you have come to offer me your support, Seventh Prince, I don't see why I should refuse. But what do you want in return?

"Lord Lin Junli requested permission to search the harem and my testimony to clear General Hua's name. Your mother asked for protection against any possible retaliation from the Noble Consort's faction—to a reasonable degree, of course. What about you?

"What do you want?"

Xuanyuan Lang hesitated. He had not expected this question. What else was there? "I—"

Then he remembered that flash in Hua Yuheng's eyes, and he knew.