Cold Encounter with a Madman - Chapter 1

Last night’s heavy snowfall, with pear-blossom-like snowflakes weighing down the branches, had dotted the landscape with crimson plum blossoms, the only vivid color in the world.

Yan Zhi’an walked along the Chuilong Path, her sky-blue robe dusted with large patches of snow. As she stepped beneath the corridor, she brushed the snow from her shoulders.

The hand that swept away the snow was bony and distinct, almost as pale as the snow itself.

The court official Huo Si stepped forward to bow. “Her Majesty has been waiting for the Left Chancellor for quite some time.”

Brushing off the last of the snow, Yan Zhi’an raised her head, her entire being steeped in the scent of books that seemed to emanate from the scrolls around her. She met Huo Si’s uneasy gaze and asked, “What has Her Majesty been fussing about now?”

Empress Sima Shenrong, eight years after the death of her husband, Emperor Hui, had declared herself empress with the support of the Yan clan of Jinling, establishing their son as the crown prince.

“I’m not entirely sure either,” Huo Si replied with a bitter smile. “Three days ago, the Ministry of Justice presented a case, and Her Majesty has been berating them for three days straight.”

“What case?” A flicker of confusion crossed Yan Zhi’an’s icy expression. “Why is she scolding the Ministry of Justice?”

Huo Si was equally puzzled. “She’s angry that the Ministry acted without discerning right from wrong before resorting to punishment.”

Outside the hall, the snow fell heavily, blanketing the vermilion palace in white, as if a beauty had draped herself in fine silk, concealing her brilliance and leaving only solemnity behind.

“If the Ministry of Justice doesn’t administer punishment, what purpose does it serve?” Yan Zhi’an frowned in bewilderment, glancing back at the snow-covered palace. “Did the Ministry lay a hand on someone she holds dear?”

Huo Si chuckled. “You know better than anyone whether Her Majesty has someone she holds dear.”

The Yan clan of Jinling had enjoyed generations of wealth, excelling in prospecting and mining. Just five years ago, during a period of upheaval, Yan Zhi’an seized the position of clan head from her grandfather and sent the rest of the Yan family back to Jinling. Since then, she had become the new head of the Jinling Yan clan.

The Yan family had accumulated wealth over centuries, yet by Yan Zhi’an’s generation, she was the only one with the talent for prospecting and mining. None of the other descendants possessed such a gift. Years ago, when the empress was still a queen, she had drawn Yan Zhi’an into the court, where her talents gradually shone.

Having known the empress for many years, Yan Zhi’an was well-acquainted with her affairs.

There truly was no one the empress held dear in that way.

“How old is the person in question?” Yan Zhi’an inquired.

Huo Si leaned in discreetly and whispered, “Thirteen years old.”

A mere child, then nothing to do with matters of the heart. So who could it be, to provoke the empress into berating the Ministry of Justice for three whole days?

Puzzled, Yan Zhi’an stepped into the hall.

Inside, the charcoal fire burned brightly, and wisps of blue smoke rose from the incense burner, curling like floating clouds. The empress stood before the burner, pouring all the incense in her hand into it.

Seeing this, Yan Zhi’an halted ten steps away. “Your Majesty.”

“You’re here!” The empress beamed with delight, tossing the incense box to a maid and happily taking Yan Zhi’an’s hand. “Come, I have something to discuss with you.”

The empress, now in her thirties and having reigned for eight years, ran her fingers over the bamboo pattern on Yan Zhi’an’s sleeve before clasping her hand warmly. The earlier chill in the air seemed to vanish completely.

Her exuberance made Yan Zhi’an uneasy. In all these years, she had never seen such unbridled joy on the empress’s face as if she had obtained a treasure.

A treasure so precious it could drive one to madness.

Gently, Yan Zhi’an withdrew her hand from the empress’s grasp. “Your Majesty, please speak plainly.”

“Have some tea first,” the empress evaded, instructing Huo Si to prepare tea before guiding Yan Zhi’an to sit.

The maids in the hall withdrew, leaving the two seated opposite each other as the blue smoke drifted lazily between them.

Huo Si entered to serve tea, stealing a glance at the Empress. Unlike yesterday’s despondency, Her Majesty now appeared quite cheerful evidently, the Left Chancellor had the ability to bring a smile to the Empress’s face.

Yan Zhi’an gazed at the tea before her, narrowing her eyes slightly. Why is Her Majesty so happy? Has something happened?

Without touching the tea, she cut straight to the point: “Your Majesty, if there is something you wish to command, I will certainly carry it out for you.”

Having served in the court for many years, Yan Zhi’an was no longer the naive young girl she once was. She was the only one in the entire dynasty who knew the secret of how the Empress had murdered her husband to seize the throne.

“Have some tea first,” the Empress replied with a gentle smile, her tone soft and soothing.

Yan Zhi’an frowned, her peach-blossom eyes calm as she looked at the Empress she respected. “If Your Majesty does not speak, I shall return to my office to attend to urgent matters.”

“Stay!” The smile vanished from the Empress’s lips, her anger barely contained as she swiftly reached out and pressed Yan Zhi’an’s hand. “I have a daughter,” she declared firmly.

“With Emperor Ming?” Yan Zhi’an had already guessed.

Thirteen years ago, Emperor Hui had killed his own elder brother, Emperor Ming, and taken his sister-in-law as his empress. At that time, Empress Sima Shenrong had already given birth to a daughter.

When Emperor Hui ascended the throne, he announced to the world that the young princess had passed away, following her father, Emperor Ming, to the grave.

With the elder brother having no heirs, the younger brother’s succession was naturally accepted by the imperial clan.

The Empress nodded, a flicker of sorrow crossing her eyes in an instant. Recalling Huo Si’s words, Yan Zhi’an suddenly understood, the daughter had been found.

“If Your Majesty wishes to acknowledge her, the imperial clan will not recognize her. It would be better to first adopt her as a foster daughter,” Yan Zhi’an suggested, having already considered the best course of action.

The current Empress was Emperor Hui’s consort. If Emperor Ming’s daughter were to suddenly appear, not only would it threaten the Crown Prince’s position, but the imperial clan would also refuse to acknowledge her.

Moreover, the Empress had only been on the throne for eight years, and the imperial clan still held significant power. If not handled properly, they would eliminate the princess first.

It would be far better to adopt her as a foster daughter.

In the solemn hall, the Empress curled her lips slightly and, under Yan Zhi’an’s gaze, shook her head gently. “I wish for you to acknowledge her.”

“I acknowledge her?” Yan Zhi’an rose in shock, the bamboo patterns on her sleeves trembling with the movement. She stared at the monarch she had served for years, swallowing her anger and maintaining a calm demeanor. “Your Majesty, I am unmarried and childless. How could I possibly acknowledge her?”

The Empress gazed into Yan Zhi’an’s cool, penetrating eyes and felt a pang of unease. “I once asked you, and you said you had no intention of marrying in this lifetime. In that case, why not raise the future heir for me? In time, you will be the Imperial Tutor, and the status of the Yan clan of Jinling will rise to new heights because of you.”

Yan Zhi’an swayed slightly. “Your Majesty, have you gone mad, or have I? I have no fondness for children in this life. I beg your pardon, but I cannot raise Her Highness the Princess.”

“Yan Zhi’an!” The Empress stood and took a step closer, her voice icy. “Right now, the Yan clan of Jinling sees you as an enemy, making things difficult for you at every turn. In ten years, when I abdicate, she will be the Empress. By then, you will be the Imperial Tutor, wielding power over the entire court.”

“Your Majesty, only a madman would stake their entire life on a child,” Yan Zhi’an retorted, her voice losing its earlier calm. “Your Majesty, you must understand what it would mean if I, an unmarried woman, were to acknowledge her.”

“It would mean she is a bastard. I wouldn’t mind, but she would be ridiculed. Or should I marry someone right now to find her a father?”

The Empress was left speechless. She watched as Yan Zhi’an’s bright, star-like eyes turned cold. “I wish for her to follow you and learn the ways of governing the nation. As my adopted daughter, how should I teach her? Every rustle of grass, every scheme and conspiracy, if I acknowledge her, it would be like feeding her poison.”

“Given my current circumstances, I cannot recognize her. The daughter of the late Emperor Ming, the son of Emperor Hui, it would cause an uproar in the court. How would the imperial clansmen who support the Crown Prince ever accept it? But you are different, Yan Zhi’an. You can raise her and educate her as the future head of the Yan family. You are her best teacher.”

Yan Zhi’an smiled bitterly. “Your servant thanks Your Majesty for the high praise.”

“You agree?” the Empress pressed urgently, promising, “Rest assured, in the future, the Yan family will become the foremost noble house of our dynasty, and you, Yan Zhi’an, will be recorded in the annals of history.”

“Indeed, I should be recorded, how many can claim to have an illegitimate child?” Yan Zhi’an couldn’t resist a sarcastic remark, her calm gaze as icy as the snow outside. “For the sake of the future heir, I am sacrificing half my lifetime’s reputation.”

“Yan Zhi’an, you should consider this: in the future, she will be your support. She will honor and respect you.” The Empress took a deep breath and suddenly laughed, assuring her, “Give me five years. In five years, I will restore your reputation. Your name, Yan Zhi’an, will shine like the sun and moon, and your achievements will be as vast as heaven and earth.”

Five years? Yan Zhi’an fell into deep thought. Could she truly nurture a qualified heir to the throne? That remained an unknown.

Outside the hall, the snowstorm raged, and the majestic, cold palace lay hidden beneath the white snow. Yan Zhi’an stepped out of the hall, facing the wind and snow, and calmly took a step forward.

The Empress said, “She is in the Ministry of Justice prison. You will understand the case once you go.”

Braving the heavy snow, Yan Zhi’an made her way to the Ministry of Justice.

Upon arriving, the Minister of Justice was waiting at the entrance, shivering from the cold. As soon as he saw her figure emerge, he hurried over. “Left Chancellor, Left Chancellor, you’ve finally arrived.”

The snow outside was cold, but the entrance to the Ministry of Justice was even colder, with a chilling aura pressing against her face.

Yan Zhi’an shook the snow off her cloak and asked, “What happened?”

“That young woman, Xun Qi, beat a physician to death,” the Minister of Justice replied, trembling so much he could barely stand. Seeing the Left Chancellor in her official robes, standing tall and composed, he instinctively stopped shaking and continued, “After killing the physician, she also wrecked his shop. The Ministry of Justice arrested her, only to find out she’s mute completely unable to speak.”

“Unable to speak?” Yan Zhi’an couldn’t help but glance sideways, suddenly feeling as if she had been thrown into a pit of fire. Five years not too long, but how was she to teach her?

The Minister of Justice looked troubled. “I summoned a physician, and her vocal cords are fine. She simply refuses to speak.” He pursed his lips. “She’s as stubborn as they come.”

“You’re alive only by the grace of Her Majesty,” Yan Zhi’an remarked sarcastically.

With that, she entered the prison. The Minister of Justice eagerly followed, saying, “Since she arrived, she hasn’t uttered a word. I’ve been at my wits’ end.”

Inside the prison, lanterns were placed every ten steps, but they did little to dispel the bone-chilling cold.

Reaching the innermost cell, she pushed the door open. A wave of warmth greeted her, but she paid it no mind and strode inside. “I will take her with me.”

“As you command,” the Minister of Justice replied, relieved. This girl was nothing but a hot potato. The Empress had berated him for an entire hour, each insult more creative than the last.

Yan Zhi’an approached the wooden plank bed, gazing intently at the child beneath the covers. The slender face held a trace of beauty, and upon closer inspection, the brows and eyes bore some resemblance to the Empress. Indeed, if she were to adopt her as a daughter, it would not escape the notice of those old foxes.

She removed her cloak, lifted the blanket, and wrapped the thick garment around the young girl’s body, then lifted her into her arms.

Outside, the heavy snow continued to fall, and the wind blurred her vision.

In Yan Zhi’an’s calm eyes, an endless sorrow surfaced. The future crown prince, nay, the future ruler. In five years, I hope I can fulfill Her Majesty’s wish and mold you into a worthy heir.

Despite the raging snowstorm, her expression remained gentle as she held the girl and stepped onto the pristine snow-covered ground.

Xun Qi, for the next five years, I will be your mother.

You are thirteen, and I am twenty-seven.