131 Trust

Zhang Bitong did not say anything more to me; she walked ahead with Yunqing and returned to the Cuiwei Palace.

I followed behind, not daring to speak.

After returning to the Cuiwei Palace and tidying up a few things, I packed my small belongings and headed out. The weather, which had been fine earlier, suddenly turned to thunder and lightning, followed by a heavy downpour. Just as I was about to go back to fetch an umbrella, I happened to run into Jiang Xuan. Looking at his posture, he seemed to have been standing there for a while, likely waiting specifically for me.

"This servant greets the Ninth Prince." I bowed.

"Rise."

"Thank you, Ninth Prince."

Jiang Xuan walked over, holding an umbrella, and moved to shield me.

"Ninth Prince, it is fine for me; you should keep the umbrella for yourself."

Jiang Xuan ignored me, reaching out to grab my shoulder and pulling me firmly under his umbrella.

I could not resist him and said, "Many thanks, Ninth Prince. But if others were to see this, I fear..."

"In such a heavy rain, there are few people running about outside."

I shrank my neck and said, "True, true. I’m afraid of being struck by lightning."

"..."

The umbrella was not large, and half of my shoulder remained exposed. When Jiang Xuan pulled me again, I was pressed even closer to him.

Just as I felt incredibly awkward, Jiang Xuan said, "I know about what happened earlier."

"Ninth Prince, you need not worry about the Consort. The palace’s Bureau of Ceremonial can simply dispatch another servant to her side."

Jiang Xuan’s face suddenly darkened. "Do you think I am worried that this Cuiwei Palace cannot function without you? You hold yourself in too high regard."

I paused, then followed his lead: "It is true, I overestimated myself. Indeed, the one thing this palace has no shortage of is servants."

"You..." Jiang Xuan’s face darkened further. "I went through the trouble of coming to escort you, and this is how you speak?"

I was even more stunned, but I had to continue playing along. "Yes, this servant spoke wrongly. I beg the Ninth Prince not to take offense."

"You, little Xiaozi..." Jiang Xuan furrowed his brows, seemingly so frustrated by me that he couldn't find words.

Having spent time with Jiang Xuan, I had come to understand his temperament. Like all high-ranking nobles, he needed to be humored; only then would he be pleased.

I offered a conciliatory smile. "Ninth Prince, this servant is clumsy with words and has angered you again. Do you have other matters to attend to? If not, please accompany me on this trip. It is this servant who is begging for your company."

Hearing this, Jiang Xuan’s expression softened.

"Remember, it is you who begged me."

I nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, it is this servant who begged the Ninth Prince. You have given me great face; you are truly the best master in the world."

"Flatterer!"

On the way, I asked Jiang Xuan, "Ninth Prince, I only learned today that the Emperor issued an imperial decree forbidding anyone from disturbing the Consort Xian’s residence. No wonder her place of spiritual cultivation is set within the Huayang Palace, where she remains with the two princes."

Jiang Xuan explained, "When Consort Xian first decided to take up Buddhist practice, no one knew why. She had borne two princes for His Majesty and was known for her virtue and kindness, deeply favored by the Emperor. His Majesty could not change her decision, yet he worried about the Fourth and Sixth Brothers—the Sixth brother was merely an infant then. Thus, the Emperor devised this compromise: allowing the Consort to see her children at any time while still permitting her to focus on her Buddhist studies."

I nodded, then mused, "Hearing you say this, since she has the Emperor’s favor and her two children—one of whom was just born—why would she suddenly decide to take up the veil?"

Jiang Xuan shook his head. "I do not know the specific reasons. Not only do I not know, but most people in the palace are unaware as well. However, it is rumored that when she gave birth to the Sixth Prince, she suffered a difficult labor and nearly lost both her life and the child’s."

...

By now, I knew most of the story regarding Consort Xian, though the most crucial parts remained a mystery. If Jiang Xuan claimed he didn't know, he truly didn't.

Upon reaching the gates of Huayang Palace, I asked, "Ninth Prince, do you intend to go inside to find the Sixth Prince?"

Jiang Xuan looked up at the palace gate and shook his head. "I will not go in. Be careful in there; the Sixth Brother will likely help you."

"Do not worry, Ninth Prince, I will be fine."

I stepped onto the stairs but slipped. My waist was suddenly gripped, and my other hand was caught by Jiang Xuan.

His hand was very warm.

I quickly pulled away. "My thanks, Ninth Prince."

"Watch your step. You aren't blind, are you?"

"Yes, sir!"

I walked up the steps and turned back to see Jiang Xuan already leaving. Only then did I notice that most of his clothes were soaked through. He had been so focused on pulling me close that he had neglected himself.

I turned and carried my belongings into the Huayang Palace. After walking for a while, I saw Jiang Chen and Long Zhan talking as they walked.

"This servant greets the Sixth Prince and Lord Long!"

"Rise," Jiang Chen said. "Although there is no shortage of servants in Huayang Palace, very few are permitted into that inner courtyard. Since the Third Sister-in-law has entrusted you alone with her care, you will inevitably have a difficult time."

Jiang Chen’s words were heartening. I stood up and said, "You are too kind, Sixth Prince. Serving my master is my duty; I will naturally give my all."

"Good. Not only give your all, but be extremely careful. What the Third Sister-in-law carries now is the Emperor's eldest grandson."

"Yes, this servant understands."

Jiang Chen turned to Long Zhan. "Lord Long, the matters we discussed are settled. Do you have anything else to add?"

Long Zhan replied, "I have already made everything clear to the Sixth Prince. Please attend to your affairs, Sixth Prince; I shall go to inspect the security deployments around the courtyard."

"Please do, Lord Long!"

"Come," Long Zhan said to me indifferently. I followed him along the corridor to the courtyard where Han Feiyue and Consort Xian resided.

Before the courtyard, Long Zhan stopped; logically, he was not allowed to enter.

Long Zhan said to me, "From now on, I leave Feiyue in your care."

I nodded. "Rest assured, Lord Long. Lady Feiyue is a good person; I will do my best to take care of her."

"With you here, I am at ease. But you must also be vigilant. It is the eldest grandson she carries, and I do not know if this place is truly safe."

I understood his concern. "Lord Long, do not worry too much. You came this time under the Emperor’s orders to deploy guards for her, didn't you? Plus, this is the Sixth Prince's palace, and there are many guards here as well. It should be perfectly secure."

"Although I am the one deploying them, I cannot remain here myself."

"Lord Long must, of course, protect the Emperor; I understand. By the way, was it you who carried Lady Feiyue into the room earlier?"

Fortunately, the situation had been too urgent at the time to dwell on it.

Long Zhan nodded. "I happened to be passing by with my men when I saw the eunuchs from Huayang Palace running out in a panic. Only after asking did I realize what had happened, so I had to go in and carry her to the room."

I smiled. "Lord Long, you are truly cold on the outside but warm on the inside. Who says you don't care about Lady Feiyue?"

Long Zhan frowned. "If it were anyone else, I would have done the same. There is nothing special about it."

"But she is the Crown Princess, after all?"

"Little Xiaozi!"

I realized I had joked too much, so I immediately straightened my expression. "I have spoken out of turn. This will not happen again."

"Enough. Go inside quickly. It’s raining hard; run." Long Zhan patted my shoulder.

"Understood."

I ran into the courtyard, knocked on the door, and only entered after hearing Han Feiyue’s silent permission.

"This servant greets the Crown Princess." I knelt.

Han Feiyue was standing by the window, her gaze seemingly fixed on the spot where Long Zhan and I had just been standing.

"Rise." Han Feiyue turned slightly and walked to the bed to lie down.

I set my things aside and saw the medicine on the table. I said, "My Lady, I will go decoct your medicine."

"Hmm."

I crouched in the kitchen for over an hour, finally finishing the pregnancy-stabilizing decoction. I poured a bowl and brought it into her room.

"My Lady, it is time for your medicine."

Han Feiyue just leaned against the bed, not even looking at me. "I won't drink it."

Hey, I had gone through all the trouble of brewing it, and now she wouldn't drink?

I stepped forward. "My Lady, this is medicine to stabilize the pregnancy. The imperial physician said your condition is unstable and you must take it."

"I said I won't drink it—did you not hear me?" Han Feiyue flicked her sleeve, and the bowl of medicine splashed onto the ground, scalding not only my hands but also my feet.

The medicine was scalding; my fingers immediately turned red and burned with a sharp pain.

Han Feiyue noticed this; her expression softened with a hint of guilt. "I told you I wouldn't drink it; why did you hold it so close? Your hands—hurry and tend to them."

"I am fine, My Lady. But this is not good. You are carrying a child; you must consider him."

Han Feiyue laughed self-deprecatingly. "It is precisely because of this child that I do not want to drink anything."

"My Lady, there is no one else here, so I will be bold enough to speak. If you truly did not care for this child, why would you remain here instead of leaving? When you were at the Eastern Palace, you already suspected that the incident was a frame-up. If you had just softened your stance and spoken a few gentle words, you could have kept your position as Crown Princess and remained there. But you didn't. You came here and refuse to return—it is because you care for this child, and you fear that those who framed you will not let this child enter the world alive."

"You..." As if I had hit the mark, her eyes flickered. "What do you know?"

I picked up the shards from the floor. "The matter is settled, My Lady. I know you are filled with reluctance and grievances, but one must look ahead. No matter how you feel, it is clear the Crown Prince protects you, the Emperor protects you, and the Empress Dowager protects you even more. You may not want to be the Crown Princess, but the child is innocent—the child is a piece of your own flesh!"

When I stood up, I saw Han Feiyue staring at me intently. She said, "Little Xiaozi, logically, I should dislike you. He is so cold to me yet treats you, a little eunuch, so differently. But having met you a few times, I know you are indeed different. Do you know why, out of everyone, I chose you?"

"This servant does not know." In truth, I knew a little bit, but not everything.

Han Feiyue said, "Because I do not trust many people in this palace. The Empress Dowager treats me well, but she is elderly and should not be dragged into my affairs. So I could only find you, because I trust you. Not just because he trusts you, but because I trust you too. With you here, I am at ease."

I hadn't spent much time with Han Feiyue, but I knew she was a person who loved and hated deeply and acted with integrity. She didn't dislike me, and from the bottom of my heart, I liked her character. I had always felt a sense of pity for her situation. Now that she had expressed her trust in me, I felt an inexplicable weight settle upon my shoulders.

For the sake of that single word "trust," I knew I would do everything in my power to protect her and the child.

"You are too kind, My Lady. I am honored. The Emperor has already issued a decree; even if only to save my own head, I will take good care of you. Since you have made up your mind, I will go and pour another bowl of medicine. Remember, My Lady, though the medicine is bitter, it is a remedy."

"Yes, go."