By the clear pond, all kinds of chrysanthemums were set out in full display.
“Crown Princess Consort, these are the newly arrived green chrysanthemums, do you like them?” The matron led the way, smiling broadly as she introduced pot after pot of blooming flowers.
“They are beautiful.” Lin Yuanjin said with a smile, her gaze sweeping over the flowers before her, yet her mind was not on them.
The Emperor already knew that the Crown Prince had been frequently summoning the imperial physicians over the past few months, yet Empress Cui seemed completely unaware. Yesterday, when Lin Yuanjin saw the Crown Prince, she could not discern anything either, so she did not know whether his illness was unstable, or something that could not be brought to light.
What kind of illness was it, that the Crown Prince would even send a substitute to attend an audience with the Emperor and Empress?
“This subject’s daughter, Cui Xinyi, greets Crown Princess Consort.” A female voice sounded from the side.
Lin Yuanjin’s train of thought was abruptly interrupted. She turned slightly and saw, among the flowers, a young woman in a maiden’s hairstyle bowing in greeting. She had a delicate oval face, phoenix eyes, and a high nose bridge. Though her head was slightly lowered, her back was straight.
She bore some resemblance to Empress Cui.
“Rise.” Lin Yuanjin’s brows curved like a crescent moon, her gaze clear and without the slightest hostility or gloom. Smiling, she asked, “Have you come to see me for something?”
Of course she knew who Cui Xinyi was.
Cui Xinyi was the Empress’s niece, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Cui family. She had once served as a princess’s study companion, and had grown up childhood sweethearts with the Crown Prince.
Before the imperial decree of marriage, almost everyone had thought that Cui Xinyi would become the Crown Prince’s principal consort.
Presumably, once the decree was issued, she had heard quite a bit of gossip.
“I have been rude, this subject’s daughter… only wished to see what kind of person the Crown Prince’s principal consort is.” Cui Xinyi raised her head, her eyes filled with myriad emotions. There was a faint glimmer of tears as she looked at Lin Yuanjin. “You are very different from your elder sister.”
And also somewhat different from the rumors.
If Lin Weiyin had become the Crown Princess Consort, she would probably have lifted her chin and engaged in a sharp exchange of words within just a few sentences.
“This subject’s daughter does not dare contend with Your Highness for favor. I only wish to accompany Crown Prince gege at his side, to have a place for myself will suffice.” Cui Xinyi clenched her teeth and, as she spoke, knelt down.
She had no other choice but to come seek Lin Yuanjin. At the banquet earlier, she had hidden to one side and naturally heard that her aunt’s proposal to establish her as the Crown Prince’s secondary consort had been rejected by the Emperor.
Lin Yuanjin widened her eyes in surprise, truly unaccustomed to someone of the same age giving her such a grand bow. With a wave of her hand, she immediately had the palace maids beside her help Cui Xinyi up, but they could not lift her at once.
“I do not intend to obstruct your wish, nor do I mind whether the Eastern Palace gains one or two more women.” Lin Yuanjin rested her chin on her hand, her gaze troubled as she said with a hint of distress, “But this matter is not for me to decide.”
Cui Xinyi’s whole body stiffened. The strength in her struggle loosened, and only then was she helped to her feet. She looked at her in confusion. “You do not like Crown Prince gege? You do not mind if there is another woman by his side?”
The trees were lush, and artificial rockeries stood layered. Behind them, the figure of a young man suddenly stopped. He raised a hand to halt the people behind him, remaining in place with lowered eyes, quietly listening to the movement ahead.
“What of liking, and what of not liking?” Lin Yuanjin asked in return, smiling as she said, “Now that I am the Crown Princess Consort, I must fulfill the duties of the Crown Princess Consort, is that not so?”
The palace was full of eyes and ears everywhere; even if she did not like it, she would not say so in front of everyone.
“You came before me openly, without concealment, dignified and proper. If you were to enter the Eastern Palace, you likely would not harm me out of comparison or jealousy. Compared to others, I like you, and thus I would rather you enter the palace.”
In this matter, her opinion did not matter.
Lin Yuanjin, in order not to offend others and to keep trouble from reaching herself, always chose pleasant words no matter whom she spoke to, first placing the high hat upon them. Even though, in her view, Cui Xinyi entering the Eastern Palace would only be a tragedy.
To seek true feelings from the Crown Prince—one could, but it was not recommended.
Cui Xinyi looked into Lin Yuanjin’s eyes filled with smiling warmth, listening to those words so straightforward, like a child’s undisguised liking. She only felt as if she had been immersed in warm spring water.
Even knowing that these might merely be polite words, she still unconsciously wanted to believe the person before her, and could not help but begin to look forward to the days of entering the Eastern Palace.
“Many thanks to Crown Princess Consort for your kind words.” Cui Xinyi gave another bow. Her smile did not rise, and her gaze suddenly fell upon the Crown Prince slowly walking out from beneath the shade of the trees. Seeing the one in her heart approach, her whole body stiffened. “Crown Prince gege.”
Lin Yuanjin immediately turned around. Seeing Cui Yiyu approach, before she could even perform a salute, he had already helped her up. “No need for formalities.”
“Xinyi, Mother Empress is looking for you on some matter.” He looked at Cui Xinyi and, before she could speak, used the matter to press back the words she was about to say.
“…Yes.” Cui Xinyi vaguely sensed that he did not wish to speak with her here. Lowering her eyes, she completed her salute and then turned to leave.
Only as she was leaving, she still could not help but look back. Yet she saw Lin Yuanjin’s eyes bright and sparkling, her smile like blossoming flowers, her gaze filled entirely with the young man before her. Even her fingertips seemed to carry joy, unable to take in the surrounding flourishing blooms.
Yes… how could she not like him?
Cui Xinyi lowered her eyes and quietly followed the palace attendants away.
Only after confirming that she had left did Cui Yiyu finally at ease withdraw his gaze.
Although he knew of the relationship between the Crown Prince and Cui Xinyi, he feared revealing flaws and truly did not dare to engage with her too much.
Even the Empress, the Crown Prince’s birth mother, could not see through his disguise. Lin Yuanjin before him claimed not to know, yet gave Cui Yiyu the feeling that she seemed to see through it at first glance every time.
“Since you like green chrysanthemums, have people move two pots to your room.” Cui Yiyu noticed the smile on the matron’s face beside them and spoke as if casually. Then he looked at Lin Yuanjin and said faintly, “I still have matters to attend to. Let us return to the residence together.”
“Alright.” Lin Yuanjin agreed, and even the way she looked at the flowers changed slightly.
The two returned along the path they had come.
However, Lin Yuanjin, who had just recovered from a serious illness, did not look well. Sitting in the carriage, she felt extremely unwell. By the third time her head knocked against the window, Cui Yiyu held her head and placed it onto his lap.
“Rest for a while, we will arrive soon.” Cui Yiyu’s hand pressed several acupoints on her neck. Lowering his lashes, he saw the complete trust in Lin Yuanjin’s eyes, just like the days when he had saved her life before. In a low voice, he said, “When you wake, forget it.”
Crown Princess Consort.
Lin Yuanjin obediently closed her eyes and said nothing, only feeling that the journey did not seem so long.
The carriage was spacious and comfortable, the soft cushions carrying the scent of incense. Yet in her hazy state, she found herself missing the shabby carriage from the mountain road back to the capital from Longlin Temple.
As soon as the carriage stopped, Lin Yuanjin had to sit up, and as if nothing had happened, she was supported by the hand as she stepped down from the carriage, returning to her usual demeanor.
Upon entering the Crown Prince’s residence, Cui Yiyu did not delay. He first sent people with the two pots of green chrysanthemums to escort Lin Yuanjin back to her room.
He then dismissed everyone behind him and headed toward the back garden. Winding through the rockery, he found a fake mountain, entered it, shifted some stones, and suddenly a narrow path appeared on the ground. Entering and coming out again, he no longer wore the Crown Prince’s attire, instead covering his face with black cloth and dressed in black.
After returning to his usual attire, Cui Yiyu then held the Empress’s letter and, familiar with the route, avoided others’ eyes and ears as he headed toward the Crown Prince’s Jingqing Courtyard.
Jingqing Courtyard was not large, and there were few furnishings. In previous years, it had been used for calming the mind and cultivating the Dao.
Now, as soon as one stepped in, a strong bitter smell of medicine could be detected.
“One or two of you are all useless! Get out of here!”
From inside came the Crown Prince’s furious shouting, followed immediately by the crisp sound of porcelain bottles and bowls shattering. The door was suddenly flung open, and two imperial physicians, no longer young, walked out with worried expressions, sighing repeatedly.
Cui Yiyu avoided them, lowered his head, and slipped into the room. Turning a blind eye to the mess on the floor, he bent his knee and knelt, speaking in a low voice, “Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress has sent a letter.”
The Crown Prince wore only inner garments, his legs spread as he sat on the wooden bed. He seemed to be burning with anger, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins, his hostility heavy, his breathing uneven. Too lazy to respond, he remained silent for a long while before finally looking at the person before him who had entered without a sound, and stretched out his hand. “Give it.”
“What happened in the palace today?”
Cui Yiyu lowered his eyes and calmly recounted the words from the banquet, not missing a single detail. When he reached the part where the Emperor asked about the imperial physicians in the Crown Prince’s residence, a porcelain bottle suddenly smashed straight at his face. The shards that burst apart sliced open the corner of his eye.
In but an instant, blood slid down along that cut.
The glaring bright red stood out starkly against the youth’s pale face. His expression was indifferent; the bead of blood slid down his cheek, leaving behind a faint red trace, like a blood tear.
“It must be that old fellow surnamed Pei. The Second Prince is born of his younger sister, so he opposes me all day long!” The Crown Prince gritted his teeth as he spoke. His eyes split with fury as he saw a certain word on the letter, as if a sore spot had been struck. His gaze darkened. “Since he privately sought an audience with Father Emperor, he is openly making things difficult for me. He must have discovered something.”
The Second Prince was born of Noble Consort Pei and was only three years younger than him. He had already been conferred a princely title.
The Emperor was advanced in years; at such a time, everything was sensitive. One misstep could implicate several lives. Such cunning veteran officials were the most cautious—if not absolutely certain, they would not act rashly.
The Crown Prince’s gaze slowly shifted outward. With killing intent, his eyes fixed firmly on the two elderly imperial physicians in the courtyard outside the door. “Someone has betrayed me.”
“Shall this subordinate deal with them?” Cui Yiyu asked calmly.
“There are plenty of people who can handle this matter; there’s no need for you.” The Crown Prince gave a cold snort. Seeing the bloodstain on his face, he frowned. “Why didn’t you dodge?”
“I did not dare.” Cui Yiyu’s voice was flat and without ripple, like a pool of dead water.
“Your face is not just your own face. Remember that in the future.” The Crown Prince cast him an impatient glance. “Later, go to the storeroom and get some medicine to apply. Hide it in front of others, don’t leave a scar.”
“Yes.” Cui Yiyu lowered his head in acknowledgment.
“These imperial physicians are useless.” The Crown Prince lowered his voice. “Have the hidden agents search among the common people for any highly respected physicians, or those with extraordinary skill. Be sure to keep it low-key; it must not be discovered.”
“Understood.” Cui Yiyu’s reply was concise, as if he were a tool that could not think, only answer.
The Crown Prince’s scrutinizing gaze moved back and forth over him, before finally falling again onto the letter in his hand. As if casually, he asked in a low voice, “Previously, when I sent you to rescue the Crown Princess Consort, did she recognize you?”
“The Crown Princess Consort was gravely injured and near death at the time. Her vision was blurred, her speech hoarse and difficult; she did not converse with this subordinate, and only knew that this subordinate had been sent by Your Highness.” Cui Yiyu’s lowered gaze tightened slightly, yet his voice did not change in the slightest.
This was the first time he had lied to the Crown Prince.
Not only for himself, but also for the Crown Princess Consort’s life.
The Crown Princess Consort had done nothing wrong, yet as long as she was connected to him, misfortune would befall her.
“Since Father Emperor has grown suspicious, before a reliable physician is found, it is inconvenient for me to go out.” The Crown Prince gave a hum, unclear whether he believed it or not, and only continued, “These few days, pay attention. Help me stabilize the Crown Princess Consort. She may be naïve, but she is not foolish. Do not arouse her suspicion.”
As he spoke, the Crown Prince lifted his eyes, his smile strange and inscrutable. He shook the letter in his hand, on which was clearly written Empress Cui’s method to eliminate future troubles once and for all.
“Remember, it was I who preserved your life from the Empress’s hands.”
