The empress was gentle on the outside but strong inside, not adept at scheming, and after suffering several cold shoulders, the imperial couple gradually became estranged.
Yan Xiaohan initially paid no attention to the palace intrigues until last year’s year-end, when the princess suddenly developed smallpox with severe symptoms, nearly dying. The empress fell seriously ill because of this.
After hearing about it, Yan Xiaohan investigated privately and unexpectedly discovered a palace maid in the empress’s palace who was secretly passing messages to other concubines.
Under interrogation, the maid confessed to wiping the princess’s hands with a handkerchief brought from outside. When her testimony was presented, Emperor Changzhi was furious but ultimately just sent the concubine to the Cold Palace.
From then on, Yan Xiaohan understood what kind of life the empress was living in the palace. Without a strong family backing, the empress naturally became a target for other concubines to provoke.
Not long after, that concubine inexplicably hanged herself in the Cold Palace. Subsequently, Yan Xiaohan would spend some time each month checking on the empress’s situation. He was not deliberately secretive and didn’t mind others asking – he was legitimately family with Fu Shen, so supporting Fu Shen’s sister was naturally justified.
Needless to say, with just this action, the empress’s life in the palace immediately improved.
Concubine Xue’s father was one of the four Jiangnan scholars who participated in the Yanying Hall discussions. She was also the most favored among the concubines.
Yan Xiaohan asked the eunuch and learned that the empress was just melancholic, with no other plans. He abandoned the idea of preemptive prevention, only instructing the servants to be more careful and avoid being schemed against.
However, the world is unpredictable. On the twelfth day of the second month, during the Flower Festival, the palace was suddenly in chaos. It was said that Concubine Xue was bumped in the garden and unfortunately miscarried.
The palace maid who bumped into Concubine Xue was from the empress’s palace. During interrogation, she remained silent, performed a kowtow to the empress, and then immediately threw herself against a palace pillar, dying on the spot.
Now the empress had no way to clear herself. Emperor Changzhi was furious but, considering their marital relationship, did not severely punish her. He only ordered the empress to be confined for a month to reflect, with palace affairs temporarily managed by the Virtuous Concubine.
Emperor Changzhi might not be unaware that the empress was likely framed, but he didn’t need the truth. The Xue family was backed by the Jiangnan scholarly families – half of the new dynasty – and the emperor still hoped these people would serve him. The empress’s family, the Fu family, was now just an empty shell. Comparing the two, the choice was clear. For the greater good, he could only choose to sacrifice the empress.
However, he forgot that there was a “Fu family person” in the court who did not bear the Fu surname.
On the fourteenth day of the second month, the day after the empress was confined, Concubine Xue was dragged into the Cold Palace by someone. She was gagged with a handkerchief, her hair disheveled, and thrown into an empty room by two strong eunuchs.
This was the residence of the concubine who had previously harmed the princess. After her death, palace maids and eunuchs rarely entered. Concubine Xue was thrown onto the cold, dirty ground, her delicate skin immediately smeared with mud, looking utterly miserable.
Raised delicately since childhood, she had never suffered such humiliation. Frightened and scared, tears began to fall.
In her blurry vision, someone seemed to block the light. Moments later, a pair of black boots stopped before her eyes, and a young male voice asked: “Is it her?”
The eunuch who captured her had a fierce expression but was extraordinarily respectful: “Yes, sir, it is Xue.”
The man gave a low “mm” and walked past her. With a sweep of his brocade robe, he sat before Xue and ordered the servants: “Help her up and remove the cloth from her mouth.”
The cloth was pulled from Xue’s mouth, and she gasped continuously.
Enduring the pain, she sat up. When she clearly saw the person sitting before her, she couldn’t help but be stunned.
She had seen few men in her life, but each was young, handsome, and striking. This man was the most outstanding and beautiful she had ever seen from childhood to adulthood.
His features were calm and serene, with a gentle demeanor even when not smiling. Noticing Xue’s gaze fixed on him, he curved his eyes slightly and asked, “Do you know who I am?”
Xue suddenly realized her impropriety and hastily lowered her head, stammering, “No… I do not.”
“I am Yan, commissioned to lead the Forbidden Army, and I have some acquaintance with your father, Minister Xue.”
The words “Yan” and “Forbidden Army” were like a bucket of cold water poured over her head. Her heart instantly froze, with only two words echoing in her mind: It’s over.
Since the princess’s near-fatal incident last year, the palace concubines had become more restrained, showing more fear towards the empress – not out of respect, but terror of the person who backed her and eliminated those who had harmed the princess.
Yan Xiaohan, a key confidant of the emperor and leader of the Forbidden Army.
The initial amazement faded, replaced by pure terror. Xue retreated in panic, trembling, “What do you want…”
“Noble Concubine,” he asked casually, “Don’t you know why I’m here?”
“I don’t know!” Xue tried to appear composed, her voice sharp but hollow, “An outsider intruding into the palace is a capital offense. How dare you touch me? Aren’t you afraid of the emperor’s punishment?”
Yan Xiaohan responded, “I am commissioned to protect the palace and cannot ignore a malicious woman deceiving the court. This is my duty. You should know who I am, and understand that even your father would not be spared.”
Xue trembled, “I… I am the emperor’s concubine. This is not your concern… I want to see the emperor!”
Yan Xiaohan sneered, “I address you as ‘Noble Concubine’, but do you really think you are one?”
Though smiling, his eyes were filled with killing intent. “Plotting against the empress, scheming to harm the heir – do you think you’ll leave this palace alive today?”
“…You’re the empress’s man. Why are you helping her?” Xue finally broke into tears, shouting incoherently, “Whatever she gave you, I can give you more! You—”
“Because her surname is Fu,” Yan Xiaohan cut her off lightly. “You framed the empress during the Flower Festival, deliberately provoking my taboo. You’re seeking death.”
The Flower Festival? What does that have to do with anything?
Confused, Xue looked around.
Among the eunuchs, one from the north suddenly understood: Ah, wasn’t this the day the lord married the Jingning Marquis last year?
The Fu Marquis was now missing, and the empress was his only sister. No wonder Lord Yan was so angry. Xue was truly unlucky to have fallen into his hands.
Since coming to Jiangnan, Yan Xiaohan had killed fewer people, but when he did act, he became even more cruel. This was merely a release of his own pain, ensuring those who provoked him would not escape.
A eunuch approached with white silk, softly saying, “Noble Concubine, please.”
Xue stared at Yan Xiaohan in disbelief, her eyes wild. He looked away, staring at a cluster of white flowers.
When she didn’t move, the eunuch spoke with a strange tone, “If the Noble Concubine refuses to act, we’ll have to help you on your way.”
