Spring arrives and the land smiles

Qingyan came out of the private room in the annex, and Su Niang arrived shortly after.

"Sister Su, my friend will be bothering me for a while longer, please take good care of her." As old friends, Qingyan didn't stand on ceremony with Su Niang.

"Don't worry, little sister, I'm here with you." Su Niang readily agreed.

Qingyan thought for a moment and said, "Sister Su, there are some things I should tell you, but I really have something I can't say. I hope you will understand." Recently, Lan Zhen was seriously injured outside the palace. After much consideration, Qingyan decided that the only safest and most reliable place outside the palace was Zhenxiu Tower, so she placed him there. However, for Su Niang, some things are better left unknown than known.

"Sister knows, so I'm at ease." After learning about Qingyan's identity, Su Niang understood Qingyan's actions very well.

"Then I'll come see you again in a few days, sister." Qingyan said a brief goodbye and returned to the palace.

Upon entering Caiyi Palace, Yunxuan's personal attendant requested an audience, and Qingyan followed him to Bolanzhai.

"How badly are you injured?" Yunxuan asked.

"The wounds are so deep that you can see the bone." Qingyan could only see Lan Zhen's completely mangled wounds flash before her eyes, a shocking sight.

Yunxuan asked in surprise, "I heard that His Highness Prince Zhao is brave enough to fight ten thousand men, so why did a few small fry make him look so pathetic?"

“It’s Hai Tu. He’s pinning all the blame on Lan Zhen.” Qing Yan gritted her teeth.

"It seems Haitu is desperate." Yunxuan chuckled.

With that topic settled, Yunxuan changed his tone: "Ningyuan sent someone to report that he has received General Ning and that he will return to Shengjing after a day of rest."

"Really." Qingyan was overjoyed, her eyes brimming with intense and passionate longing.

"Yan'er, your excitement is too obvious. Aren't you afraid I'll get jealous?" Yunxuan said with a faint smile.

With a sudden change of heart, Qingyan's lips curved into a charming smile, and she coquettishly said to Yunxuan, "Why don't you go out for three or five days and see if I'll be just as excited when you come back?"

Yunxuan nodded seriously, pretending to be serious: "It's worth a try."

"In that case, Vice Minister of Revenue Sun Zhoutian will be on his usual tax inspection tour in three days, and you should go with him." I'll teach you to be so pretentious.

"Yan'er has found her old love and no longer wants a new one," Yunxuan said, feigning sadness.

“You guessed right.” Qingyan raised her eyebrows and laughed with Yunxuan.

After the laughter subsided, Qingyan composed herself and said, "Even though I'm with Sun Zhoutian, I mustn't let him see through my act."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Yunxuan nodded.

The pregnancy misunderstanding a few days ago gave Consort Cheng an excuse to curry favor. Her brother, Minister of Revenue Cheng Xueli, also strongly supported the Shangguan family in court. This obvious allegiance to the princess's faction gave Qingyan a headache. The drowning incident ten years ago was said to be related to Consort Cheng, and Li Chengyi, the Ministry of Revenue official whom Minister Cheng had personally promoted, was also a man of Prince Jin. Was his apparent surrender genuine or feigned?

Yunxuan knew the situation was complicated, and he became even more cautious.

"Yunxuan, there's something I want to discuss with you." The thought of being pregnant gave Qingyan a headache.

Before Yunxuan could say anything, Qingyan recounted the entire conversation they had had in the Jingxin Hall a few days ago.

"Therefore, whether I have a child or not, I cannot keep it." Qingyan's last sentence seemed like a closing statement.

“Yan’er seems to have already made a plan,” Yunxuan replied.

"I'm thinking, shouldn't I get revenge for the drowning incident ten years ago?"

He also wanted to test whether Cheng Jia's defection was genuine or feigned.

The next morning, when Qingyan came out of Bolanzhai, she couldn't help but hear gossip about how favored the Fu family's son-in-law was, even staying at Bolanzhai while pregnant. It seemed that the young couple were exceptionally loving.

Hearing such gossip, Qingyan rubbed her forehead in exasperation. In particular, she couldn't help but laugh out loud when she heard Zhuier's vivid description.

“Princess, although they deserve to be punished for gossiping, you still need to take care of your health. The imperial physician advised you to rest more and not to overexert yourself.” As she said the last part, Zhui’er’s face turned as red as a tomato.

"Zhui'er, you're a young lady, who taught you this?" Qingyan found it amusing.

"Well, well, that's what Eunuch Li keeps repeating." Asked this, Zhui'er's face turned even redder.

Li Chun, the head eunuch of Xuanhua Palace, was an old man that Qingyan brought from Chuyou Pavilion. He had served Qingyan since childhood and was extremely loyal to her. People who have served in the palace for decades are all shrewd, and these words were probably not just casual remarks. As a palace attendant, he was inconvenient and probably wanted Zhui'er to remind Qingyan to take care of her health, so he intentionally or unintentionally let Zhui'er overhear these words.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Zhui'er didn't know the reason for this, and Qingyan couldn't say more.

But thinking about it carefully, ever since Ning left the capital, it seems that I have never left Yunxuan. Either I let him stay overnight in Caiyi Palace, or I stay overnight in Bolanzhai. It's impossible not to make people misunderstand.

These days, I've grown closer and closer to Yunxuan. What started as a conscious response to Yunxuan out of a lingering emotional debt has now become a habit. For example, last night, even though I didn't need to stay overnight, I naturally stayed at Bolanzhai without any intention, purpose, or ulterior motive. I simply stayed because I wanted to.

Yes, it was just that natural to want to stay, to spend time with him, to see his ever-present doting smile in the courtyard in the early morning, so I stayed.

Shen Qingyan, you don't mean to say you've fallen for him, do you?

The thought in her mind startled Qingyan.

Today is the last day of the blessing ceremony, and according to custom, the Crown Prince leads everyone in completing this final ritual on behalf of the Emperor. After settling Ina in, Qingyan, dressed in her finest attire, stood before the ceremony.

After the incense burning, water purification, obstacle removal, almsgiving, blessing, and Dharma propagation were all completed, Master Randeng began distributing offerings to everyone. The offerings were limited, with only one set per palace, distributed according to rank. Qingyan naturally received a substantial set.

After the tributes were distributed and everyone dispersed, Qingyan did not return to Xuanhua Palace. Instead, she asked Consort Cheng to stay behind under the pretext of learning needlework from her.

"I have long heard that Your Highness's skills in embroidering dragons and phoenixes are unparalleled in the harem. I wonder if Your Highness could teach me a thing or two, so that I may fulfill my duties as a mother to the child in my womb." The sun was shining brightly today, and Qingyan invited Your Highness to stroll in the Imperial Garden.

"Your Highness is too kind. If Your Highness wishes to learn, I will gladly impart all my knowledge. However, I fear that my meager skills are not worthy of Your Highness's attention," Consort Cheng said sincerely.

As they chatted, they arrived at Weiyang Lake, the place where Qingyan had fallen into the water that day.

Following the winding bridge, the two entered the pavilion in the middle of the lake and sat down on the stone benches.

"Zhui'er, show Her Majesty the 'Hundred Years Old' embroidery I made." Qingyan asked Zhui'er to hand over an embroidery pattern.

Consort Cheng examined it carefully, then handed it back to Zhui'er, praising it with admiration: "Princess, your embroidery is exquisite. The stitches are meticulous and neat, the lines are well-spaced, the colors are rich and harmonious, and the image is lifelike. It is a top-quality piece."

"Really?" Qingyan smiled and personally poured a cup of tea for Consort Cheng, who was flattered.

Qingyan saw all her expressions and movements; they didn't seem pretentious but rather like she was trying to please.

She knew her own embroidery skills well; in fact, everyone in the harem knew them. This "Hundred Years Old" painting was indeed a top-quality piece, just as Consort Cheng had said, but she hadn't embroidered it; the embroiderer herself was currently praising it to the skies.

Consort Cheng was exceptional in both beauty and talent, one of which was embroidery. Her embroidery pieces all shared a common feature: a hidden golden cross in the center. This golden thread was specially crafted for her by the Longqing Emperor, making it unique and one of a kind.

This painting depicting a woman's centenary was a congratulatory gift from Consort Cheng a few days ago, presented to her as a gift to celebrate her pregnancy.

Back then, Consort Cheng, who had only been in the palace for a year, was merely a talented woman. Her innocent and charming nature endeared her to many. Pregnant with the emperor's child, she was promoted to Jieyu within two years, enjoying unparalleled favor in the harem. However, her good fortune was short-lived; less than three months later, the child died in the womb. After this incident, Emperor Longqing doted on her even more, and she soon became pregnant again. Less than three months later, she was promoted to Zhaoyi, ranking first among the nine concubines, enjoying immense glory. Unfortunately, she also lost the child. The pain of losing three children caused Consort Cheng to remain silent for two years. Later, at Emperor Longqing's birthday banquet, she regained his favor with a song, "Words of Longing," and soon became pregnant again, rising to the rank of Consort. Sadly, she lost the child again. Remembering her three previous miscarriages, Emperor Longqing promoted her to Guifei, ranking first among the four consorts.

At that time, Emperor Longqing had only two sons and one daughter. One son was blind and the other was mentally challenged. Only his daughter could carry on his bloodline. Consort Cheng then turned her attention to the usually gentle Empress Shangguan, which led to the incident of Qingyan falling into the water.

Today, it seems history is about to repeat itself.

"Your Majesty seems to have misjudged today." Qingyan smiled faintly, took the embroidery from Zhuier's hand, and stroked the hidden gold cross in the center of the embroidery with her fingertips.

Consort Cheng's expression began to look unnatural.

"This is Her Majesty's masterpiece, how come Her Majesty didn't recognize it?" Qingyan asked deliberately.

"Your Majesty, I am truly old and did not realize that I have made a fool of myself in front of you." Seeing that Qingyan was intentionally pointing it out, Consort Cheng was no longer at a loss and instead met Qingyan's probing gaze.

This was beyond Qingyan's expectations.

The implication is: Cheng Jia has truly and sincerely surrendered; will you accept him or not?

Qingyan smiled inwardly.

"Qingyan is naughty, I hope Your Highness will forgive her." Qingyan picked up her teacup and bowed to Consort Cheng. Consort Cheng quickly returned the bow and drank the fragrant tea with Qingyan.

“The other day, Princess Ina from Guici Kingdom came to attend the Dharma assembly at Haihui Temple and brought me some incense powder unique to the Western Regions. Its fragrance is strong but not greasy, and sweet but not vulgar. I thought it was good, so I saved it for the Imperial Concubine.” Zhuier handed over an exquisite brocade box at the right time.

Consort Cheng quickly took it, examined it carefully, and smelled it. It was indeed quite different from the perfumes and powders from the Central Plains. She nodded, quite pleased with it.

But at that very moment, for some unknown reason, Consort Cheng suddenly raised her hand that had taken the face powder, and the powder was all over Qingyan's face and body. Qingyan was so frightened that she stood up from the stone bench and took several steps back. In the end, she lost her balance and fell to the ground.

Everyone was immediately terrified.

"Princess!" Zhui'er was the first to react, exclaiming in surprise as she rushed to Qingyan's side.

At this moment, Qingyan was clutching her stomach in pain, blood staining the hem of her skirt: "Quickly call Physician Wang."

Chaos erupted as Qin Mian, who had been waiting outside the pavilion in the middle of the lake, rushed over, picked up Qingyan without waiting for orders, and headed towards Caiyi Palace, with eunuchs and maids following behind in a flurry. Inside the pavilion, Consort Cheng remained frozen in shock, as if she had been terrified.

"Mulan, what did I just do?" Consort Cheng asked her personal maid in a daze.

Mulan was also terrified by her mistress's actions: "Your Majesty, this servant... this servant doesn't know either."

Consort Cheng stared blankly at her hands, the powder box in her hand had rolled to the side. What had just happened to her? Why did her hand suddenly feel a pain? Why did her hand move as if it didn't obey her and throw the powder box at the Princess?

Inside the Caiyi Palace, chaos reigned, with only the Imperial Son-in-Law Fu Yunxuan calmly waiting by the bedside for the Imperial Physician Wang's diagnosis.

"How is it?" Yunxuan asked.

"Princess's pregnancy was already unstable, and I'm afraid... I'm afraid it won't be able to be saved," the royal physician Wang replied truthfully.

Qingyan listened from inside the bed curtains, secretly smiling to herself. When she went to see Lan Zhen the other day, she had asked him about the effects of the medicine and learned that it would last for a month at most. Calculating the days, it should be about time.

"What?" A daunting aura emanated from the doorway as the Longqing Emperor strode to Qingyan's bedside.

Upon seeing the emperor, Yunxuan drew back the bed curtains for the Longqing Emperor, revealing Qingyan's pale face behind them.

"How is the princess doing now?"

"Your Majesty, the princess's pulse is deep and weak, large and long, with a hollow and wiry pulse, which is a leather pulse. I'm afraid the princess's pregnancy cannot be saved," the imperial physician Wang replied tremblingly.

"What's going on?" Emperor Longqing asked the crowd behind him with a stern face.

Qingyan struggled to get up, but was stopped by the Longqing Emperor.

"Father." Qingyan's face was contorted with fragility and sickness as she cried out in heartbreaking grief.

The Longqing Emperor's face was filled with rage: "What exactly happened?" He pointed at Zhui'er beside him, his face ashen: "Tell me."

Zhui'er knelt down in fear and recounted the events at the Lake Pavilion in detail, describing Consort Cheng's behavior as particularly despicable for the sake of her master.

Qingyan squeezed out a few tears from the corner of her eye, looking pitiful.

"Miaoru?" The Longqing Emperor was calling out Consort Cheng's maiden name.

Emperor Longqing gazed at Qingyan, his heart clenching. He knew perfectly well why Qingyan had miscarried today; she had likely heeded the hint he'd given her in the Jingxin Palace that day, yet she still harbored resentment towards him, her father, for sacrificing his most beloved concubine for her unborn child. Emperor Longqing sighed almost imperceptibly, his gaze towards Qingyan now filled with more guilt than scrutiny.

"Rest well, and your father will give you justice." Emperor Longqing gave a few more instructions to everyone to serve him carefully before leaving Xuanhua Palace.

Is this a promise to compensate her? Qingyan sneered inwardly.

After the Longqing Emperor left, Yunxuan dismissed the servants, leaving only the two of them in the room.

"Yan'er, your acting skills are comparable to Xiao Taohong's!" Yunxuan said with a smile. Xiao Taohong was the leading actress of Chunhui Troupe, the top of the four major opera troupes in the capital. Not only was she beautiful, but her singing, recitation, acting and acrobatics skills were also superb.

"Oh, Yunxuan seems to have a deep impression of Xiao Taohong." Qing Yanyue raised her eyebrows slightly, deliberately misunderstanding his words.

Yunxuan neither got angry nor argued, but said calmly, "Last year, Xiao Taohong performed in the palace. I'm sure I'm not the only one who remembers her."

"Yes, I can't argue with you." Qingyan smiled charmingly. "What do you think Father Emperor will do with her as a Noble Consort?"

"At the very least, he'll be relegated to the cold palace," Yunxuan said in a low voice.

"Then, one can only choose between the previous dynasty and the harem, or starting a family."