Chapter 103: Envoy (2)

(1/3) Five days later, the Xiongnu envoys arrived. The Crown Prince Jiang Yun and the Sixth Prince Jiang Yun went outside the city to welcome them.

The Emperor personally hosted a banquet for the Xiongnu envoys, attended by several high-ranking ministers and several princes. Because Zhang Bitong had offended the Emperor last time, Jiang Xuan was not among the princes invited to this banquet.

When Zhang Bitong learned of this, she flew into a rage in her chambers.

"Your Ladyship, please calm your anger."

"What is there for me to calm? It must be the Empress and the Crown Prince causing mischief behind the scenes, making the Emperor cold-shoulder Xuan'er. This is utterly outrageous." Zhang Bitong slammed her hand on the table.

"Mother Consort," Jiang Xuan walked in and said to Zhang Bitong, "Your son pays his respects to Mother Consort."

"Why bother paying respects to me? Why don't you go to the scene and see if there is anything requiring your help? If there is, it would let your Imperial Father see your efforts."

"The banquet has already begun. Since Imperial Father does not require Xuan'er to be present, then Xuan'er will..."

"Xuan'er, what am I to say to you?" Zhang Bitong said earnestly, "Xuan'er, you are besieged on all sides right now, and you still refuse to listen to your mother's words?"

"Mother Consort exaggerates. Your son is perfectly fine."

"Perfectly fine? Do you know who it was that stopped you from welcoming the Xiongnu envoys last time? And who was it that kept you from attending the banquet? Do you realize that Mother and you have lost all face? Now the entire court, even the imperial harem, knows you are a prince completely neglected by the Emperor. Who caused all this? The Empress and the Crown Prince. And yet you still speak so fondly of brotherly affection and blood ties. Look at what happened before—Princess Xihe was pushed into the water, and it was her own Fourth Brother who did it. Now, just when you finally earned your Imperial Father's trust, the Crown Prince and the Empress are doing everything to suppress you. Can you still believe in brotherhood in this palace?"

Jiang Xuan remained silent.

I suppose Jiang Xuan would not completely sever his brotherly bond with Jiang Yun over this matter, but perhaps he, like me, is curious as to why Jiang Yun suddenly changed.

"Mother Consort, your son has no desire to contend for these things."

"Even if you do not contend, others will not necessarily refrain from contending with you. Look—the moment you show a bit of promise, someone is eager to bring you down immediately. If you will not consider yourself, at least consider your mother. Look at my position in the harem now—even those noble ladies and attendants do not regard me with any respect."

Jiang Xuan lowered his head slightly and said nothing.

Jiang Xuan had no wish to contend for these things, yet Zhang Bitong insisted on forcing him to compete for the Emperor's favor against the other princes. It was truly asking too much of him.

Jiang Xuan had saved me several times before, so I stepped forward and said, "Your Ladyship need not be angry. Why not let this servant accompany the Ninth Prince to that place to have a look? If there is anything requiring help, this servant will also urge the Ninth Prince along."

"Hmm, you are usually quite quick-witted. Perhaps you might spot a good opportunity. Xuan'er, do not linger here. Go quickly with Little Xiao to have a look. You are a prince after all—I do not believe they dare stop you."

"Mother Consort..."

"Ninth Prince, please!"

Jiang Xuan glanced at me, then said, "Your son takes his leave."

"Good, go, go!"

I followed behind Jiang Xuan out of Cuiwei Palace, when Jiang Xuan suddenly turned around and looked at me, saying, "Little Xiao, you have quite the nerve!"

"This servant would not dare!" I quickly knelt down.

"You dared to make a decision on your own and force this prince to go to the banquet?"

"This servant only acted as a temporary measure. This servant knew the Ninth Prince could not bear to refuse Her Ladyship, yet did not wish to go before the Emperor. This servant could only take the liberty of speaking to Her Ladyship in that manner. I beg the Ninth Prince not to hold it against me."

"Little Xiao," Jiang Xuan suddenly drew close, looking down at me from above.

I raised my head slightly to look at him, and Jiang Xuan directly lifted my chin with his hand. "So you mean to say, you were considering things on this prince's behalf?"

"This servant would not dare claim any merit."

Jiang Xuan withdrew his hand and said, "Since there is nothing to do anyway, we might as well go join the festivities."

"Eh?"

"Come! Otherwise, how will you report back when you return?"

"Yes!" I rose and followed Jiang Xuan's steps, but on the way, Jiang Xuan spoke again. "Little Xiao, in your view, has Third Brother been trying to push me away these past few times?"

(2/3) "This servant would not know. This servant dares not speak carelessly."

"Actually, these past few days I have encountered Third Brother several times, but he has ignored me completely and simply walked away. Because of Fourth Brother's matter, Third Brother may have genuinely taken offense at me."

I said, "But that day, the Ninth Prince did not testify against the Fourth Prince, and the Fourth Prince's banishment to Qingzhou was the Emperor's decision. It had nothing to do with the Ninth Prince."

Jiang Xuan gave a faint smile and said, "If everything and everyone in this world followed the principle of reason alone, how could there be so much trouble and strife?"

I pressed my lips together and said nothing. That was precisely the reasoning behind Jiang Xuan's reluctance to contend with others—for many things, even if you fight for them, you may not be able to settle who is right and who is wrong.

"As for you..."

"Hmm?"

"Ninth Brother," a clear voice called out. Jiang Chen arrived in resplendent attire, wearing a smile.

"Sixth Brother."

"This servant pays respects to the Sixth Prince."

"Brothers truly share a connection—I was just about to go find you!" Jiang Chen approached, his expression warm, though there was a slight hint of wine on his breath.

"What does Sixth Brother wish to see me about?"

"I have been feeling guilty about what happened today. So I took the excuse of being tipsy to leave, precisely to find you. Imperial Father is in excellent spirits right now, conversing merrily with the Xiongnu envoys. So I thought I would take this opportunity to bring you over."

"Thank you for your kindness, Sixth Brother, but I think I will not go."

"Are you still angry at your Sixth Brother?"

"Would not dare."

"Then come along. Besides, if you truly did not wish to go, why would you have come this way? Since you are already here, let's go."

"What about Third Brother—"

"Oh, I may be tipsy, but he is truly drunk. He spilled wine all over himself and has already retired to change his clothes." Jiang Chen chuckled as he spoke. "You know Third Brother cannot hold his liquor—he is not even a match for the two of us brothers!"

At these words, Jiang Xuan's expression softened somewhat.

"Come now, we are all Imperial Father's sons—how could he not value us? Let the Xiongnu envoys see the majesty of our imperial house. You were the top scorer in the archery and horsemanship grand ceremony."

Jiang Xuan no longer declined, and was about to follow Jiang Chen.

I hurriedly said, "This servant will first return to Cuiwei Palace to report—"

"Wait here," Jiang Xuan said instead. I was taken aback, and then he added, "I am also afraid that if I drink too much, there will be no one to attend to me."

"Yes!"

"Ninth Brother, why be so modest? Let us go quickly."

As Jiang Chen spoke, he pulled Jiang Xuan along to the banquet.

I could still hear the sound of strings and flutes in the distance, so I quietly retreated a few steps.

Since Jiang Xuan had told me to wait here, I could only wait here. But there was no one around, and standing here all alone like a fool was hardly ideal.

I looked left and right, and suddenly caught sight of a furtive figure, so I followed. From behind, it looked like a eunuch, but after he turned past a rockery, I lost sight of him.

Perhaps it was nothing after all. But as I turned around, I suddenly heard a few bursts of laughter. Hearing laughter here was no great matter, but this laughter struck me as oddly familiar.

It lasted only a moment, however, and then fell silent again. I judged the direction of the sound and walked over slowly. Ahead was a row of rooms, all pitch dark with no lamps lit.

I crept along the corridor on light feet, but it seemed I heard nothing more.

Perhaps I had misheard. I thought to leave, when suddenly I heard a moan of "ah." This was the second time I had heard that voice, and I was even more certain I had not misheard.

It was Xiao Ruo's voice.

(3/3) Why would Xiao Ruo be here?

I was so startled I could not speak.

That voice was unmistakably—unmistakably—

For some reason, I felt an urgent need to know who the other person was. I hid in the shadows, uncertain how long I would have to wait. But it was only a moment before the door opened. A man walked out with his head lowered.

I had not yet seen who he was, but after only a few steps, the man raised his head high and straightened his clothes.

It was Jiang Yun!

So Jiang Yun had indeed carried on an illicit affair with Xiao Ruo.

"Who's there?" Jiang Yun suddenly shouted. I thought he had discovered me. But then, to my surprise, I saw a dark figure flash across the night sky. Damn it—besides me, had that dark figure also witnessed what had just happened?

Xiao Ruo came rushing out in alarm, her clothes not yet properly arranged.

"Your Highness, what happened?"

"Leave quickly!"

Xiao Ruo nodded and hurried away.

Before long, Di Xiao arrived with the Imperial Guard and asked, "Your Highness, what has happened?"

"I was drunk and resting here for a moment, but I noticed someone watching from the shadows. I fear someone may be plotting against this Crown Prince. Go at once and investigate whether there are any suspicious persons."

"Yes! You, go that way. The rest of you, come with me this way," Di Xiao ordered.

"Yes!"

I watched as Di Xiao led two men straight toward me. I could not let Di Xiao catch sight of me—otherwise, even if I had done nothing, appearing here at this moment would leave me utterly unable to explain myself.

This matter concerned the dignity of the imperial house and the safety of Jiang Yun. I did not think Jiang Yun would take the risk of letting me go.

I could only flee before Di Xiao reached me.

But as I fled, I failed to notice a stone behind me, and my foot twisted, sending me falling backward. I thought to myself, this is it. Once I hit the ground, the noise would surely alert Di Xiao and bring him running.

I no longer cared about the pain of the fall; I only felt that today my luck had truly hit rock bottom.

But my body did not crash heavily to the ground. Instead, an arm caught me, steadying me firmly on my feet.

I looked over in panic. That face—it was so familiar.

I gathered my thoughts for a moment, and suddenly remembered who it was.

"It's—it's you?" I was greatly startled and quickly broke free.

This was the uninvited guest I had encountered when I was soaking in the hot springs in the mountains with Jiang Xuan.

Realizing I had spoken out of turn, I immediately lowered my head, not daring to let him see me clearly.

That day I had not been dressed, my hair loose and disheveled—he must have realized long ago that I was a woman. But now, in the palace, with the lamplight dim, and me dressed in eunuch's clothes, disguised as a man, perhaps he had not recognized me or remembered who I was.

"There's movement over there!" Di Xiao's voice came, and I was startled once more.

But the man before me pushed me behind him, then stood with his hands clasped behind his back, perfectly composed, facing Di Xiao head-on.

When Di Xiao and the two guards arrived, they saw exactly this—the man, and me behind him.

Before Di Xiao could speak, Jiang Yun had already rushed over. When he saw the man before him, he froze in astonishment and said, "Your Highness the Prince? Why are you here?"

I jerked my head up to look at the man's back. He—he was the Xiongnu Prince?