A Single Tie Of Long Hair Seals A Lifelong Commitment - Chapter 63.2

Xie Wenjun raised a hand to assist her. “Wuan Marquis Madam, dispense with the formalities. I intruded without notice, so I did not ask the servants to announce me. Is Madam on your way to the palace?”

Yan Nian said, “I received an imperial decree from the palace summoning Liangyu for an audience. I thought Liangyu was still at the Imperial Mausoleum, so I intended to go to the palace on her behalf. I didn’t expect the housekeeper to say Liangyu returned to the manor yesterday and developed a fever again in the middle of the night. So, I hurried over to check on her.”

Xie Wenjun said, “A’Li is out of danger, but she has not woken up yet.”

Yan Nian said, “Then let her sleep a little longer. Liangyu, she hasn’t had a peaceful night’s sleep in a long time. I will visit her again after returning from the palace.”

Chen Huai’an seemed happy to see the burly man kneeling on the ground. She let go of Yan Nian’s hand, took small steps to Jing He’s side, and squatted down, tilting her head to look at his face. Discovering that it was indeed the person she was looking for, she childishly called out, “Jing He…”

Jing He hunched his body even more, his head nearly touching the ground.

The sound of his weeping was forcibly suppressed in his throat.

Chen Huai’an had only recently learned to speak. Her teeth hadn’t fully grown in yet, and her articulation was babyish. Only a few close people could discern her indistinct words.

She couldn’t understand why Jing He no longer paid attention to her, just as she couldn’t understand why so many people rode away on horseback with a person she called “A’Die” (Daddy) and never returned.

Then, she saw the eagle-and-cloud patterned short saber in Jing He’s hand.

“A’Die…”

A rush of bitterness surged in Jing He’s throat. He prostrated himself on the stone steps outside Liangyuan’s gate, weeping and heavily knocking his head against the ground towards Yan Nian. “Young Madam, this General is guilty! Kill me! I beg you, Young Madam, kill this General…”

Yan Nian had to enter the palace and could not ruin her appearance and composure before the Emperor. She fiercely held back some emotions, only letting out a soft sigh. “Lin Jun’s death is not your fault. No one blames you. I do not blame you, and An’er and Liangyu will also not blame you. Eldest Princess, please forgive me for not managing my family affairs properly.”

Xie Wenjun said, “He is a loyal and righteous man, a person of deep sentiment.”

Yan Nian said, “Thank you, Eldest Princess, for your understanding.”

Chen Huai’an raised her tender little hand, wanting to wipe the tear streaks from Jing He’s face.

Yan Nian said, “An’er, come here. Jing He, stop kneeling. You should also rest for a few days. Don’t worry about military affairs for now; I will speak with Liangyu.”

“Young Madam…” Jing He’s eyes darkened. He lowered his head and said, “Yes, this General understands.”

He braced himself on the ground and stood up.

He didn’t know how long he had been kneeling by the door. His knees were shaking, swaying left and right. Two young pages came up to support him. It took great effort for him to stand steady. He dragged his numb legs and excused himself.

Xie Wenjun asked Yan Nian, “Who was it that came to deliver the imperial message?”

Yan Nian said, “A man in a blue cloth robe. He looked unfamiliar.”

Palace eunuchs wore different clothing based on their rank. A blue cloth robe was the everyday attire worn by the lowest-ranking errand eunuchs, a robe without any embroidered patterns.

If Xie Yuan had summoned Chen Liangyu to the palace, a higher-ranking Grand Eunuch from the Hall of Political Guidance would certainly have been sent to deliver the message. Sending only a low-ranking eunuch in a blue cloth robe could only mean that the summons came from the Nanyuan Palace.

The Nanyuan Palace was the residence of the former Emperor Xuanyuan, now the retired Emperor.

Xie Wenjun was slightly startled. Since the incident of Prince Qi’s rebellion, she had not seen the retired Emperor again.

On her two returns to the palace, she had deliberately avoided the Nanyuan Palace.

How long could she avoid him?

In a moment of misjudgment, the throne changed hands.

But she herself could not say whether it was a moment of misjudgment or a long-planned scheme. Father and daughter would eventually have to meet. Perhaps after that meeting, the last vestiges of their father-daughter affection would be completely consumed.

The current imperial power in the Great Lin Dynasty is also delicate.

The succession of imperial power began with Prince Qi’s forced entry into the palace. Xie Yuan was entrusted with the critical task of ascending the throne. His enthronement after executing the rebels was logical. However, with the retired Emperor still alive, there has been constant debate in court about whether the throne should be returned to him. To resolve the disputes and cease the hostilities, Xie Yuan always travels to the Nanyuan Palace to discuss all matters of state, major and minor, with the retired Emperor before issuing decrees.

This move temporarily stabilized the minds of both the new and old factions in the court. Temporary stability is easy; maintaining balance, however, is difficult. There cannot be two suns in the sky, nor two masters for the people. Xie Wenjun had already anticipated that there would eventually be another power struggle in the palace.

Just like the unavoidable compromises the aristocratic families of the Great Lin Dynasty made regarding the Agricultural Affairs Office, the current balance is actually very fragile. They can coexist peacefully only when the forces are equally matched. Should one become stronger and the other weaker in the future, the balance will inevitably be lost.

If improperly handled, what kind of bloody chaos would the court and the land face then?

The carriage swayed. Yan Nian slightly turned her head to look at Xie Wenjun, who had invited her to share a ride to the palace, and she bit back her words several times.

Yan Nian was not very surprised by the Eldest Princess’s visit to the Xuanping Marquis Manor. Xie Wenjun had been close to Chen Liangyu even when she was very young. Yan Nian was merely slightly curious: why would Xie Wenjun emerge from Liangyuan so early in the morning, looking as if she had just washed and dressed?

Liangyuan only had Chen Liangyu’s bedroom and a study filled with many weapons, plus two small rooms for the maids and pages. Where had Xie Wenjun stayed last night? And what was the reason for the red mark on her neck?

Yan Nian, being a wife herself, naturally knew the cause of that red mark. The excuse of an insect bite clearly would not convince her.

Xie Wenjun asked, “Does Madam have something to say to me?”

Yan Nian said, “This Madam did not know of Your Highness’s visit and failed to prepare a suitable residence. Where did Your Highness stay last night? Did Liangyu neglect you?”

Satisfied with the residence or satisfied with something else?

Though Yan Nian felt utterly confused, she did not delve any deeper. Chen Liangyu had been suppressing her feelings for a long time. If someone could stay by her side now, it might relieve her a little.

She was only afraid that Chen Liangyu, under extreme suppression, might do something reckless and unrestrained.

The palace had not yet issued a decree of ennoblement, nor had they entrusted the Northern Region’s Marshal Seal to Chen Liangyu. Yan Nian had guessed several times but could not figure out whether the obstacle came from the Hall of Political Guidance or the Nanyuan Palace. If Chen Liangyu were to give anyone a handle to use against her at this moment, it would not be good for her.

Yan Nian turned her gaze towards the window. Yongdu was enveloped in a clear sky, and a few birds occasionally flitted over the low tile eaves of the common houses.

“The weather was like this on the day Liangyu carried her elder brother back. Initially, everyone behind her back said she was so calm that she seemed heartless. That day, she knelt by the edge of the Tianqian River, holding her elder brother’s corpse, and cried with heart-wrenching grief. She almost couldn’t recover. If she has acted inappropriately toward the Eldest Princess, I hope Your Highness will remember her sorrow and not hold it against her.”

Xie Wenjun quietly turned her head.

The carriage was silent for a moment. Xie Wenjun lifted a corner of the curtain. “Rong Jun.”

Rong Jun turned his horse around from the front. “Your servant is here.”

Xie Wenjun asked, “Who is the chief envoy of the Dongyin delegation? Have they made any moves?”

Rong Jun replied, “The chief envoy’s name is You Jingbo, the Dongyin Privy Councilor and Grand Scholar. After being left in the guesthouse for a long time, they presented some items to the Emperor and the retired Emperor yesterday. They were mostly porcelain and kingfisher feather jewelry, nothing too rare.”

Xie Wenjun let the curtain fall.

In the instant the light dimmed, Yan Nian clearly saw the bottom of Xie Wenjun’s deep eyes turn exceptionally cold.