The father sat up, moving the child, who had been sleeping in the middle of the bed, closer. He took out a handkerchief, folded it, and tied it over the child’s eyes: “Father does this for your own good, to prevent you from getting a stye.”
Wei Linxia’s face turned slightly red. “Xi Qiushui, you…”
Xi Linxuan lay down in the space the child had vacated and embraced Wei Linxia, saying, “Don’t you know that I can’t sleep well without being in this embrace?”
In a daze, Wei Linxia felt like she was raising two children.
As spring approached, the weather in Yan Jing grew warmer. However, turmoil brewed in the inner palace. The palace staff knew Empress Wei and Consort Zhao were not on good terms. Consort Zhao, bolstered by her father’s influence as a general, was arrogant. While Empress Wei initially showed restraint, she eventually asserted her position as the primary empress. The constant conflicts annoyed the Emperor, who stopped visiting the inner palace and often slept alone in the Taiji Hall.
During the silk-spinning ceremony, Consort Zhao publicly humiliated Empress Wei, leading to her reprimand and confinement by the Emperor. Consort Zhao then threatened suicide, prompting the Emperor to summon her father to calm her down.
Chapter 54
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This was Wei Linxia’s fourth time seeing Zhao Chengru, whose countenance was as expressionless as ever.
Before his arrival, Wei Linxia had been persuading Tai Qing about maintaining harmony in the inner palace, reminding her that they grew up together like sisters and shouldn’t fall out over this matter. She emphasized following parental orders, even if unwilling to enter the palace. Tai Qing then threw a teacup, criticizing Wei Linxia for prioritizing her husband’s throne over their sisterly bond, forcing her into this human prison.
As Wei Linxia remained silent, a palace maid entered to announce that Master Zhao requested an audience.
He arrived, paid his respects, and Wei Linxia nodded in return. Tai Qing leaned back in her chair, let out a “hmph,” and ignored her “father.”
Wei Linxia ordered tea, chatted briefly, then excused herself, wanting to leave quickly but maintaining her composure.
Taking a deep breath, she looked at the sky – blue, not turning blood-red.
That evening, as the sky began to redden, Xi Linxuan issued two decrees: Northern Army General Zhao Chengru, who entered the palace with weapons intending harm, would be executed according to law. Consort Zhao, who attempted to poison the Empress but accidentally poisoned her own father, would be sentenced to death and granted three feet of white silk.
An uneasy atmosphere permeated the palace.
Xi Linxuan dined with Wei Linxia and brought along a female official whose charm was evident despite her elegant attire.
“What a strong fishy smell. How can one eat?” the female official grimaced at the elaborate dishes.
“Don’t be anxious. What I promised you will certainly be fulfilled,” Xi Linxuan replied with a smile.
“Betrayal isn’t exclusive to you. You should be more worried about me betraying you,” the official said, turning to Wei Linxia. “Shen Bi, let’s eat.”
Wei Linxia felt confused by their conversation. After the meal, Xi Linxuan called Feng Shou to escort the female official to the Southern Quarters.
“Do you have an agreement with Tai Qing?” Wei Linxia asked after the woman left.
“She wants to find Shen Qi, and I’m just letting her take care of the Grand Emperor for a while,” Xi Linxuan answered calmly.
“Take care of the Grand Emperor? You want Tai Qing to acknowledge her ancestry? This seems ill-timed,” Wei Linxia remarked, concerned that even an innocent person could be slandered if the truth got out.
Xi Linxuan stared at the swirling tea leaves. “How could the Grand Emperor accept a traitor’s daughter?” A subtle smile played on his lips. “Zhao Chengru treated her as an illegitimate child, bringing her to the inner palace to make the imperial family lose face with incestuous relationships. But he wronged his wife; the child was indeed his.”
Years ago, his wife died in the taoist temple where Tai Qing grew up, leaving a blood letter.
Wei Linxia’s hands clenched, trembling: “So you… you had Tai Qing kill him…”
She wasn’t mourning Zhao Chengru’s innocence but was shocked by Xi Linxuan’s calm in telling her this. Tai Qing was like a sister to her, and yet he did this.
“This is for Tai Qing’s good. Better to live high up than be killed as a traitor’s daughter. Shen…”
“Xi Qiushui, you’ve gone too far,” Wei Linxia suddenly stood and pushed through the curtain into the inner room.
He had told her Tai Qing was a child from the Grand Emperor’s past indiscretion, which was why they staged this performance. But in the end, he had deceived not just Tai Qing but her as well.
How would she face Tai Qing in the future? Was this palace so terrifying that they could no longer be honest with each other?
“You’ll understand eventually, Shen Bi. Rest early. I have many matters to handle,” Xi Linxuan did not enter, speaking only through the curtain, his voice without emotion.
Wei Linxia remained silent, her heart racing as if it might burst. A faint, lingering bloody smell seemed to drift endlessly through the palace. Wei Linxia had a knot in her heart over this matter, with Xi Linxuan unwilling to provide a clear explanation.
However, Wei Linxia did not stay angry for long, not because she had let it go, but because Xi Linxuan’s health was deteriorating. She often heard his suppressed gasps at night, and after sharing a bed for many years, she could not miss such sounds.
“Qiushui? Are you asleep?” Wei Linxia listened carefully to Xi Linxuan’s movements.
No response.
Wei Linxia carefully got up and, in the soft candlelight, gently began to untie Xi Linxuan’s middle garment. Feng Shou had mentioned that the imperial physician would come to the palace to treat him soon, but why was there still no improvement? It made her anxious.
Just as she opened the collar, Wei Linxia was unexpectedly pulled down onto his warm chest. Xi Linxuan, smiling with open eyes, grabbed her hands over his heart: “While I’m still asleep, feel free to do whatever you want.”
“Hmm, I won’t be polite, but how can I not be polite when you’re holding my hands?” Wei Linxia replied.
“Reciprocity: I’ll be impolite to you first, then you can do the same.” Xi Linxuan turned over, changing their positions. Taking this opportunity, Wei Linxia peeked down his collar and discovered there was another layer underneath.
Something was indeed not right; wearing two layers of middle garments in this weather was peculiar.
“Everything should follow a proper order,” Wei Linxia decided not to argue, wrapping her arms around his waist and slowly moving her hand on his back. If there was a wound, it should be bandaged, and she should feel the medicinal cloth even through two layers of garments.
Behind the clothing, the back should be smooth. Wei Linxia’s heart sank. If the injury was not on the back, it must be on the front, and neither possibility was good.
“This is about who’s stronger,” he said, leaning down to seal Wei Linxia’s mouth before she could respond.
Wei Linxia began coughing, quickly moving her hands to Xi Linxuan’s front, but still finding nothing. What was going on?
Pushing Xi Linxuan away, Wei Linxia pretended to drink water and glanced at their son on the bed, thinking that she would have to strip him completely to discover the truth. Returning to the bed, Xi Linxuan propped his head with one hand: “Caught a chill? Why are you coughing?”
“It’s nothing, just a sudden itchy throat. I’m tired; let’s sleep.” Wei Linxia lay down, pondering Xi Linxuan.
“How can we sleep like this…”
“Just try to sleep.”
