Wei Linxia also had concerns that had persisted since marrying into the royal family. When Xi Linxuan was the crown prince, he was confined to a wheelchair and not favored by the court’s nobles. Now, having ascended the throne and left the wheelchair behind, many officials would likely offer their daughters to him.
She and Xi Linxuan were childhood sweethearts who had shared both hardships and joys, but that was only for a few short years. The future held many uncertainties.
She understood Xi Linxuan’s intentions in establishing her as crown princess to reassure her, but how could her heart be at peace? It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Xi Linxuan, but the fading of beauty was an unchanging truth in the palace.
The newly enthroned Xi Linxuan was busy, often returning late at night and leaving before dawn. They barely exchanged words, but his presence beside her brought comfort.
When Xi Linxuan began rewarding merits, Wei Linxia remembered Li Weiheng. It had been four years since the Old Empress Dowager arranged their marriage, and they were still not wed. She seized the opportunity during the merit rewards to discuss their marriage with Xi Linxuan. When she brought it up, he raised an eyebrow and said, “If I hadn’t remembered, she would have become an old maid. Her sister Shi Bi already has two children. Let Wang Qing have double happiness.”
“Double happiness? Did you arrange another marriage for him?” Wei Linxia frowned, having promised Li Weiheng she wouldn’t let him suffer.
“Promotion, wealth, and a wedding – where are your thoughts wandering?” Xi Linxuan laughed. “Besides, we received great help from the King of Huo this time. We must consider the King of Huo’s face as well.”
“Even if not for them, we must consider the Old Empress Dowager,” Wei Linxia said, her gaze drifting over Xi Linxuan’s body. Where was he injured? The Retired Emperor had led troops on the battlefield since youth; how could Xi Linxuan withstand a blow from him?
“What are you looking at?” Xi Linxuan noticed her gaze.
“How Your Majesty seems to have been working too hard and appears to have lost weight,” Wei Linxia deflected.
Someone glanced around the hall, indifferent to the palace servants standing stiffly like wooden posts.
“Good days, good days. When you come, I must kneel and bow, giving you an advantage for nothing while only exchanging pleasantries. How boring. Wei Chenbi, I’m here to tell you something, a big matter.” She sat by Xi Qi’s bed, examining the infant: “Little prince, I am Tai Qing, a Taoist nun.”
“A big matter? What big matter?” Wei Linxia asked, bewildered by this sudden appearance of Tai Qing.
“It’s someone who claims to be my father, insisting on sending me to be a concubine to Xi Linxuan,” Tai Qing replied.
Tai Qing’s abrupt words only added to Wei Linxia’s confusion.
“Oh,” Wei Linxia said.
Tai Qing glared: “Xi Linxuan, whom you treasure, is far inferior to Wei Chenli in my eyes.”
Her words were as straightforward as years ago.
“Then you must first tell me who this father who popped out is?” Wei Linxia asked.
“Remember the person who left a silver ingot in our small wooden house? It’s him. During my wanderings, he suddenly appeared one day, holding a portrait almost identical to my appearance, claiming it was my mother and saying the senior monks at the temple confirmed it. He dragged me to the North Army Marquis’s residence, as if a celestial master had appeared.” Tai Qing said disdainfully.
Wei Linxia recalled that person, who seemed to have a face full of grief when seeing Tai Qing. The North Army Marquis was an official in charge of the capital’s imperial guards, and though only third-rank, his importance could not be underestimated.
“If you find it untrustworthy, why stay there?” Wei Linxia asked.
Tai Qing snorted, “Isn’t it for you? I don’t want Wei Chenli’s only sister to die. He rages at the memorial tablet at night, saying the emperor forced his wife to death and wants revenge by placing the emperor’s least favorite son on the throne. Who else could be less favored than Xi Linxuan? If successful, fine. If not, wouldn’t you and Xi Linxuan be chopped into meat paste? By staying, I can at least give you a heads up and prevent you from becoming wronged ghosts.”
“So this time, the North Army Marquis is a great meritorious official and loyal, sending his daughter into the palace,” Wei Linxia said with a smile, quickly calculating in her mind. If what Tai Qing said was true, wasn’t this the person she saw in the study when she went to request following Xi Linxuan northward? If he had planned this long ago, his thoughts and efforts were truly remarkable, even deceiving the Emperor Emeritus.
This person was dangerous. Able to help Xi Linxuan force the palace, he could naturally…
“Are you crazy? A loyal official? He’s a treacherous official, a big treacherous official. Just tell Xi Linxuan not to marry me, or we’ll have unfinished business.” Tai Qing sighed, looking sympathetically at Wei Linxia. “However, even if I’m unwilling, there are many infatuated women waiting to compete with you for a man and the empress position. Take care of yourself and don’t be soft-hearted. I’m leaving.”
Before Wei Linxia could say goodbye, Tai Qing disappeared as mysteriously as she arrived, leaving Wei Linxia frustrated behind the floating gauze curtain. How should she tell Xi Linxuan about this? Would it disrupt his plans? She knew that being compliant to meritorious officials was beneficial, especially since this North Army Marquis was a first-class meritorious official.
If she refused him, there might be a crisis. She absolutely did not want to experience that bloody night again. Seeing the eastern sky turning white, Wei Linxia decided to speak directly to Xi Linxuan.
“Tai Qing came yesterday. She said if you agree to marry her, she won’t let you have peace.” Xi Linxuan, finally free, smiled and played with his son. Without looking up, he replied, “Are we at peace now? One more won’t matter.”
“Qiushui!”
“Come here, I’ll whisper something to you.” Wei Linxia walked over and sat on his lap as he whispered in her ear. The more he spoke, the wider her eyes became.
“How could this be?” Wei Linxia was surprised. The North Army Marquis Zhao Chengru indeed could not be kept.
“So, we might as well go along with the plan.” Xi Linxuan wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his head on her shoulder. “We’ll probably need your and Tai Qing’s help.”
“Mm, as long as it doesn’t implicate Tai Qing.” Wei Linxia was relieved and began planning another matter.
Within two days, Xi Linxuan issued an imperial decree to take the North Army Marquis’s daughter Zhao Qing as a noble concubine. Wei Linxia thought about how angry Tai Qing might be when she arrives in the palace.
Sure enough, when Tai Qing arrived at the inner palace, she seemed soft as dough, but her eyebrows were raised, and her eyes burned with intensity. Wei Linxia sarcastically welcomed Zhao Guifei in front of the palace servants, criticized her for not showing respect, held her hand, and continued with insincere praise before departing.
That night, the newly entered Zhao Guifei was neglected as the empress prioritized the prince’s health.
In the bed curtains, Wei Linxia smiled at her son sleeping peacefully. “Starting tomorrow, let the wet nurses take care of him.”
The new father, already lying down, replied, “Let them take him.”
“How can that be? He’s so small.” Wei Linxia quickly objected, not trusting others with him.
“Then put him outside to sleep alone.”
Wei Linxia turned in confusion: “What’s wrong?”
“In the way!” the father, who had cherished his son just days before, said through gritted teeth.
He didn’t cry or fuss, so what was the problem? Wei Linxia gently touched her son’s face, lying sideways and lightly holding his small hand to know if anything happened.
