The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 2)

Chapter 15 - Gaining Power

Although Ye Jingkuan had already hurried off to Mount Longhu under the cover of night, the journey was long and arduous. If they were to wait until Celestial Master Zhang returned, who knows what might happen to the Crown Prince by then.

Before they discovered the medicinal powder, the imperial physicians were at a complete loss regarding the poison afflicting the Crown Prince. The poison was a rare one from Shu, unfamiliar to those in the northern regions, leaving the Imperial Medical Institute helpless and frustrated.

Moreover, not only had Song Chuyi saved the Crown Prince this time, but she had also managed to pull down Empress Dowager Rongxian, who had been eyeing her with hostility for a long time.

Once, Empress Dowager Rongxian, her grandmother, had been her worst nightmare. Since childhood, she noticed that her imperial grandmother harbored not only a lack of affection for her parents but even outright disdain. Harboring resentment toward the Emperor and Empress, Empress Dowager Rongxian was equally cold and dismissive toward her brother and her.

Every visit to the Changning Palace felt like an interminable torment, facing the empress dowager's cold, frost-like expression, stirring a mixture of fear and hatred within them. When she was nine, a major incident occurred in her maternal family: her uncle, in charge of horse breeding in Shaanxi, died. Later, he was denounced by the then-governor of Shaanxi for allegedly selling warhorses privately to the Tatars...

She no longer remembers how the matter was resolved, but the scene of her mother hurling the so-called evidence in Changning Palace, met by the empress dowager's sneering, twisted face, remains seared in her memory. Holding her cousin Wang Jinshi, who was a few years older, the empress dowager's gaze at her mother and herself was full of hatred, her words chilling: "The fate of  Duke Cheng family yesterday is the fate of your Lu family today... I'm awaiting your downfall."

Princess Rongcheng returned from her memories, her earlier lively spirit slightly dampened. With a complex mixture of emotions, she stroked Song Chuyi's hair, then took off a dazzling seven-star gold bracelet inlaid with pearls and placed it on Song Chuyi's wrist. "This was given to me by my mother before; take it and wear it."

Song Chuyi dared not refuse. Though still somewhat uncomfortable with this sudden kindness, she respectfully thanked Princess Rongcheng, then followed the princess's maid out of the room.

As soon as she stepped out, she saw Zhou Weizhao approaching with a group, treading through the snow. She paused to bow, but Zhou Weizhao waved his hand to stop her.

Ye Jingchuan, peeking from behind him, grinned at her. "I heard they're roasting meat over at Qixia Pavilion, and the kitchen just delivered a leg of lamb and half a venison. We're here to invite you to join us."

Last time, Ye Jingchuan had insisted on accompanying them back to the capital under the pretense of "providing escort." He'd even managed to squeeze a meal at the Song residence. Seeing him now, Song Chuyi frowned, unable to hold back. "Don't you have anything better to do?"

Before she could finish, Ye Jingchuan practically jumped, as if she'd stepped on his tail. Frantically, he gestured for her to keep quiet. "My sister-in-law's still inside; if she hears this, she'll tell my brother. And once he knows, I won't be able to sneak out. You usually seem so sharp; how are you being so dense now?"

Zhou Weizhao, amused, lightly slapped him on the shoulder and signaled Song Chuyi to join them. Then he teased Ye Jingchuan, "It's high time you found something to occupy yourself, so you won't keep hanging around at the Marquis Changning's residence."

Ye Jingchuan scratched his nose, somewhat embarrassed. He'd just thought that, with Zhou Weizhao recuperating and lacking company, and finding other companions too troublesome, he recalled how entertaining Song Chuyi was. After learning she was headed to Tongzhou, he'd hoped for more excitement and waited early to see her. Now, teased by Zhou Weizhao, he felt a bit awkward and quickly ran off, leaving Zhou Weizhao and Song Chuyi behind.

Zhou Weizhao chuckled softly, looking back to see Song Chuyi carefully following behind, her steps measured. Feeling his spirits lift, he asked quietly, "I heard Lianyi gave birth to a baby girl?"

At the mention of An An, Song Chuyi's mouth curved into a soft smile. "Yes, fortunately. Though her health hasn't been the best, both mother and daughter are safe."

Zhou Weizhao sidestepped a puddle, his smile warm. "When's the full moon banquet? I'd love to attend. My master is still in the capital, and maybe I could persuade him to draw a talisman for An An. I hear she's already been given the name?"

Caught off guard by his suggestion, Song Chuyi laughed. Talismans from Celestial Master Zhang were rare treasures, yet Zhou Weizhao made it sound as casual as getting one from a street vendor. If Celestial Master Zhang heard, he'd probably spit out blood in indignation.

"Has all the residual poison been cleared from Your Highness's body?" Song Chuyi asked, looking at Zhou Weizhao with concern. "Honestly, things weren't so dire that you had to personally test the poison. According to our original plan, a eunuch could have tested it just as effectively..."

Risking one's life, breaking through and starting anew—she had never seen anyone gamble with their life so decisively. And with someone of his status, it was an act of extreme boldness.

Zhou Weizhao's jade-white face became even paler because he had just recovered from a serious illness. Today, he happened to be wearing moon-white clothes, and the light blue color made him look even more extraordinary.

He nodded calmly. "Yes, it's mostly cleared. I owe thanks to you, really—tracing things back to the Yun family's pouch led the physicians to a breakthrough, barely managing to prevent both my father and me from succumbing to the poison before my master could arrive."

"Why do you trust me so much?" Song Chuyi sighed, watching him. She couldn't understand how he could trust someone so easily. "If I'd deceived you and that poison wasn't the same as the Crown Prince's, you would've been in grave danger."

Zhou Weizhao was indeed frighteningly intelligent, orchestrating the forces of the Chen family, the King of Zhennan's estate, as well as Ye Jingkuan and the Song family, each move tightly linked to the next. Most terrifyingly, he anticipated every reaction of Emperor Jianzhang. Even having lived a whole extra lifetime, Song Chuyi could only look on in awe... Yet, he was simultaneously so trusting it was unbelievable—what if the Song family's loyalty was feigned? What if the poison was fake?

Zhou Weizhao tilted his head to look at her, seeming puzzled by her question. "You and I have no grievances. In your dream, I died long ago and never wronged you. Why would you deceive me?"

He paused, regarding her with mild confusion. "I've always thought you only harbored resentment toward those who wronged you in that dream. Is that not the case?"

Song Chuyi found herself unable to refute his words. If only the world were truly as simple as: you don't harm me, and I won't harm you—then life would be so much more peaceful and straightforward.