Chapter 105: The Successor to the Former Empress

After Qin Yi and Chu Jinyao left the emperor’s bedchamber, Consort Lian didn’t dare to stay any longer either. She used her health as an excuse and also took her leave. After that, the Empress dismissed everyone and spent a long time crying to the emperor.

 

The aftermath played out exactly as Chu Jinyao had anticipated. The emperor issued a gag order, forbidding anyone from mentioning the events of that day. Shortly afterward, Consort Lian received a large number of rewards, the meaning of which was obvious.

 

When the news reached the Eastern Palace, even the palace maids, Linglong and Jiegeng, couldn’t contain their anger. “Your Highness, the Crown Prince prepared so much evidence this time. With witnesses and material proof, yet the Emperor still refuses to hold anyone accountable?”

 

It was said that of the three major failures in life, the gravest was having no heir. This demonstrated just how important offspring were to families, especially the imperial family where heirs were few. In an ordinary noble household, if the lady of the house dared to harm an heir, no matter how strong her family’s backing, she would not escape the fate of a life spent in a temple. Yet the Empress, the highest-ranking woman in the nation, was once again let off lightly.

 

From Consort Lian to the palace maids of the Eastern Palace, every person aware of the truth was furious. Jiegeng, unable to contain her indignation, muttered under her breath to vent her frustration, seeking a small sense of balance: “The Emperor must have been misled by treacherous people. Time will reveal the truth. She has shown her true colors this time. Given more time, the Emperor will surely see through her and recognize her for what she is.”

 

The other palace maids showed expressions of agreement. They had all grown up under the rule of the imperial power, and to them, the idea that the Emperor could do no wrong was an absolute truth. Even after joining the palace and witnessing unfairness up close, they still firmly believed that the Emperor was simply deceived and would one day discern the truth and punish the evildoers, clearing the name of the Crown Prince and their lady.

 

Chu Jinyao had once thought the same way. But as someone who had risen from a poor farmer’s daughter to a noble lady and later the Crown Princess, perhaps because of Qin Yi’s influence, Chu Jinyao gradually learned to look further ahead.

 

For instance, this time, the Emperor clearly believed that everything had been orchestrated by the Empress, yet he still refrained from scolding her. Was it simply because he couldn’t bear to punish his beloved wife, or was it a matter of maintaining a delicate balance?

 

The thought sent chills down Chu Jinyao’s spine.

 

The Empress was the mother of Prince Lu. Qin Yi’s actions this time had been swift and lethal, like thunder in a silent sky. In just a few days, without the Empress’s subordinates realizing what was happening, he had already dealt them a crushing blow. Such effectiveness, when viewed from outside the Eastern Palace’s perspective, was actually quite terrifying.

 

Even if the Emperor himself had wanted to achieve the same, it would have been nearly impossible to carry out such a swift and silent operation without alarming anyone.

 

The Emperor had been distant from governance for a long time, but he was still the Emperor.

 

After Jiegeng had ranted for a while, she noticed that Chu Jinyao’s expression hadn’t improved. In fact, she seemed even more solemn, which startled Jiegeng. “Your Highness, did I say something wrong?”

 

Chu Jinyao snapped out of her thoughts, noticing that the palace maids were still chattering, denouncing the Empress and hoping the Emperor would eventually see reason. Chu Jinyao smiled faintly but shook her head, neither confirming nor denying their sentiments. “The Emperor does not want this matter discussed, so you mustn’t talk about it anymore—not even in private.”

 

Chu Jinyao had been Crown Princess for quite some time, and the maids had become more respectful of her. Gone were the days when they would act casually in front of her. Seeing her stern demeanor, they quickly silenced themselves and bowed their heads in response. “Understood, Your Highness.”

 

The concerns weighing on Chu Jinyao’s mind were far removed from what these palace maids could comprehend. After she gave them a light reprimand, she dismissed them. Despite being upset by the Emperor’s actions, Qin Yi had too many duties to allow personal feelings to get in the way. After escorting Chu Jinyao back to her chambers, he didn’t even sit down to drink a cup of water before heading out again. It wasn’t until the sky darkened that Qin Yi returned.

 

The temporary palace’s restrictions weren’t as strict as the capital’s, making interactions with officials easier. As a result, both Qin Yi and the two other princes were busier at the palace than they were in the capital. As Qin Yi walked back under the moonlight, he saw Chu Jinyao standing at the palace gate with a lantern in hand, waiting for him.

 

His steps paused briefly before quickening. “Why are you out here?”

 

“Your Highness, you’re back later than usual today. I was worried and decided to wait for you.”

 

Qin Yi didn’t know what to say. The palace didn’t have strict curfews, so his social engagements had increased, making it difficult for him to return on time for meals. He sighed softly. “How long have you been waiting?”

 

“Not long,” Chu Jinyao lied. She had been worried about Qin Yi’s emotional state since the incident with the Emperor, so she couldn’t sit still indoors. Instead, she chose to wait for him outside, even though the summer night air was cool.

 

When Qin Yi touched her cool arms, a complicated feeling arose within him. “Next time, if I’m late, just send someone to find me. There’s no need for you to stand outside in the cold. If you’re that worried, you can have one of the maids watch for me instead.”

 

“How could that be the same? I’m your wife,” Chu Jinyao replied as they entered the room. The palace maids, well-trained, brought fresh snacks and fruit trays, then silently retreated. Chu Jinyao personally poured a cup of tea, tested the temperature with her hand, and handed it to Qin Yi. “Your Highness, I asked them to prepare this tea especially for you. It’s perfect after drinking wine.”

 

Qin Yi accepted the cup and gently stirred the tea. After a moment, Chu Jinyao asked softly, “Your Highness, are you still angry about what happened earlier today?”

 

Only then did Qin Yi realize that Chu Jinyao had been worrying about him all day. He didn’t know whether to laugh or be frustrated. “You… I’m fine. I had expected this, so it didn’t surprise me.”

 

Chu Jinyao sighed. “Your Highness, were we too hasty this time? I shouldn’t have pushed you a few days ago. Although the Empress had indeed poisoned me, I didn’t wear the clothing in the end. It was just a false alarm. I should have kept calm and waited for the right moment.”

 

Chu Jinyao vaguely sensed the Emperor’s changing attitude. Her anger toward the Empress had quickly turned into worry. She even wondered if Qin Yi had only intervened to vent her anger and that exposing the Empress’s crimes had made the Emperor wary. Perhaps she had been too reckless.

 

“If I had to endure something like this, then what’s the point of being the Crown Prince?” Qin Yi’s tone was indifferent, as if discussing something utterly mundane. “You are the Crown Princess, and the only people you should be dealing with are those you can subdue. No one should ever dare to bully you. Even if it were someone more untouchable than the Empress, if they dared to harm you, I’d make sure they paid twice over.”

 

Qin Yi was always sharp, and he had already noticed Chu Jinyao’s thoughts. To him, her worries were baseless. If someone dared to harm his wife, their status was irrelevant; they would pay. If the Emperor hadn’t been around, the Empress would have faced far worse today.

 

Moreover, Qin Yi said pointedly, “This is merely the beginning of the shift in power, something inevitable.”

 

Chu Jinyao immediately understood. Seeing her expression, Qin Yi was quite pleased. “You’re learning quickly. Looks like I haven’t wasted my time as your teacher.”

 

Chu Jinyao gave him a playful glare. “What teacher? What kind of tutor spends all night in their student’s room?”

 

Qin Yi smiled meaningfully and stood up, pulling Chu Jinyao into his arms. “Well, that depends. Why don’t I take you to bed and explain it more thoroughly?”

 

“You…” Chu Jinyao blushed deeply. “Ridiculous! I’m being serious, and you’re acting like this!”

 

“Like what?” Qin Yi teased.

 

Chu Jinyao shot him a sharp glare, and Qin Yi finally behaved himself a little. She was focused on the serious matters of court and decided to ignore his teasing, trying her best to steer the conversation back. “Your Highness, about today… will it end like this?”

 

“You mean the Empress?” Qin Yi scoffed. “I never expected that foolish Emperor to do anything meaningful. I wasn’t wrong about him. He believes the Empress is responsible, and that’s all that matters. Whether or not she’s punished is just a formality.”

 

Qin Yi’s words seemed disrespectful, but Chu Jinyao found herself unable to argue. She thought for a moment and realized he was right. The Emperor already believed the Empress was responsible for harming the royal heirs, causing miscarriages, and plotting against other concubines. The Empress had lost the Emperor’s favor. Whether she faced immediate punishment or not was just a matter of formalities.

 

Moreover, Chu Jinyao thought back to her own experiences in Marquis Changxing Mansion, where the Old Lady didn’t feel the need to punish her sister right away. That punishment had only been delayed, but it would come. Similarly, the Emperor might not punish the Empress now, but that didn’t mean she would escape unscathed forever.

 

The Emperor might still have affection for the Empress, which made him reluctant to punish her. But as time went on, how could he ignore the fact that this woman had been harming his other children for years? Eventually, the weight of her crimes would grow too great to bear.

 

Whether or not the Emperor could continue treating the Empress with indifference, without harboring any resentment, would only become clear with time. Chu Jinyao realized she had grown more mature over the years. No longer did she fixate on immediate punishment or whether the Empress had been dealt with. The long-term consequences, and what these actions signified, were more critical.

 

The Emperor used to place full trust in Qin Yi, not minding that his heir was growing stronger. But now, he had begun to show a hint of vigilance, like a hawk watching its prey.

 

Qin Yi and Chu Jinyao tacitly avoided discussing this matter further. Though the Emperor hadn’t punished the Empress, it didn’t mean she was free from consequences. The palace was full of rivalries, and even the Emperor’s will wasn’t always enough to protect someone from the intricate web of intrigues.

 

What would happen once the other concubines learned about the Empress’s schemes? They would not easily let her go. Even if the Emperor chose not to punish her, concubines like Noble Consort Shu and Noble Consort Li would not sit idly by.

 

Chu Jinyao was already contemplating how to “accidentally” let Noble Consort Shu find out about the Empress’s deeds. The Emperor’s gag order forbade anyone from discussing the matter, but if Noble Consort Shu uncovered the truth herself, who could be blamed?

 

Still, all of this scheming about the Emperor and the Empress was secondary. Chu Jinyao’s real concern lay with Qin Yi’s emotional state. The Empress had made the fatal mistake of mentioning the late Empress, Qin Yi’s mother, and had even used her sister’s death as a weapon to secure her position. When Chu Jinyao saw the scene, she had been sickened and furious, but what about Qin Yi?

 

“Your Highness,” Chu Jinyao said carefully, trying to comfort him. “The Empress has always been shameless. If she doesn’t care about harming her own children, how could she care about the ethics of family? The Emperor is the Son of Heaven, and though he has to maintain decorum in public, it doesn’t mean he’s right in every decision.”

 

“I know,” Qin Yi responded, tightening his hold on her. His chin rested against her hair, and his voice was steady but full of emotion. “I’ve experienced this many times over the past ten years. I stopped hoping for anything different a long time ago. I’ve already let go. I only feel sorry for my mother.”

 

The late Empress, Empress Wenxiao, had passed away in the eighth year of Jianxing, when Qin Yi was only five years old. For most children, the age of five or six is the happiest time, full of carefree joy. But for Qin Yi, that happiness ended abruptly.

 

Empress Wenxiao had always been frail. After giving birth to Qin Yi, her health had deteriorated further. That spring, she had fallen ill once again. Everyone, from the Imperial Physicians to the Emperor, believed it was just a minor ailment and that she would recover with some rest and medicine.

 

Five-year-old Qin Yi had been an unruly child, running around the palace causing mischief. The only person he would calm down for was his mother. On that fateful day, he had gone to visit her, as usual, only to witness a shocking scene in her chambers: his father, the Emperor, together with his aunt, who was disheveled and tear-streaked.

 

Empress Wenxiao had always been a proud and dignified woman, nothing like her charming and coquettish younger sister. While Empress Wenxiao embodied the stately grace of a proper Empress, her sister was the exact opposite—sweet-tongued, pampered, and accustomed to getting whatever she desired, even if it belonged to someone else.

 

Despite Empress Wenxiao’s misgivings, she had always indulged her younger sister’s whims. But who could have guessed that her dear sister would set her sights on the Emperor, her own brother-in-law?

 

Empress Wenxiao had been so overcome with anger that she demanded her sister be disciplined. But even then, Empress Wenxiao’s concern had been for her sister’s future. An illicit affair, especially without a proper marriage, could lead to execution by drowning if it became known. Empress Wenxiao had wanted to save her sister from that fate. But what she hadn’t known was that her sister was already two months pregnant.

 

It wasn’t just the sister who knew— Empress Wenxiao’s parents, brothers, and even her husband, the Emperor, were all aware of the situation. They had been keeping it from her. Empress Wenxiao had been the only one left in the dark, the one making sacrifices for her family, unaware of their betrayal.

 

The news had been too much for her. She collapsed, and her health took a sharp turn for the worse.

 

This tragedy unfolded before Qin Yi’s very eyes. By April, Empress Wenxiao was on her deathbed, her family members and the Emperor visiting her regularly, but Empress Wenxiao knew they were simply waiting for her to die. Her sister’s pregnancy could no longer be hidden.

 

By the end of April, Qin Yi knelt at his mother’s bedside, watching her slip into her final sleep. She never woke up again. Three days later, the Emperor, in a show of respect, posthumously honored her with the title “Grand Empress Wenxiao,” which included the words “Wen” (cultured) and “Xiao” (filial), signifying the highest of honors. All of the capital’s noblewomen admired the Empress for the grand respect she had received, her legacy of glory even in death.

 

Yes, “glory in death”—because by June, the Emperor had married the younger sister in Wenxiao’s place, under the pretense of grieving too much for the late Empress. The two sisters had shared the same husband, making the Qi family, Empress Wenxiao’s family, the only one in history to have produced two Empresses in succession. Truly, a grand honor.

 

From that day forward, Qin Yi had severed ties with his maternal family. He had also stopped calling the Emperor his father.

 

For Qin Yi, his childhood was marred by betrayal. Though he had grown into a powerful, commanding figure, those experiences had shaped him deeply. His relationships with people had always been cold, guarded. He could never fully trust anyone, never open up without the fear of being hurt. It was only after meeting Chu Jinyao that his life started to change.

 

Whenever the memory of Empress Wenxiao resurfaced, it brought nothing but pain for Qin Yi. Over time, he had forbidden anyone from mentioning her. But tonight, perhaps because Chu Jinyao was with him, the pain was not as sharp as it usually was. He even found himself curious about something.

 

“When the Emperor questioned you earlier,” Qin Yi asked softly, “why didn’t you just call her ‘Mother’? It would’ve made things easier. Successful people don’t get caught up in small details like titles. One word wouldn’t change anything. Why were you so stubborn?”

 

“Because I didn’t want to,” Chu Jinyao’s voice was muffled, but her tone was straightforward and firm. “I don’t want to stand on the same side as the Emperor and Empress. The people you like, I may not necessarily like. But the ones you dislike, I will always dislike too.”

 

“You know that might make things harder for you in the future, right? She could retaliate even more fiercely next time.”

 

“What difference does it make? She’s never going to treat me well, no matter what.” After a pause, Chu Jinyao noticed Qin Yi’s silence and gently nudged him. “Your Highness?”

 

“Nothing,” Qin Yi replied, his gaze deep and reflective, as if stirred by an unseen undercurrent. He suddenly thought that if his mother, Empress Wenxiao, were still alive, she would have been pleased with Chu Jinyao.

 

Ever since that spring in the eighth year of Jianxing, his life had felt hollow, from the age of five until he turned seventeen. It wasn’t until a military campaign at the border, when he sustained his worst injury, that things began to change. When he woke from that injury, the first thing he saw was the face of the woman who would change his life.

 

From the moment he told her, “Don’t cry,” everything had shifted.