Cold Encounter with a Madman - Chapter 20

The current Emperor killed her husband to seize the throne.

The Empress’s voice was neither warm nor cold, as if she were speaking on a whim. Xun Qi looked up slowly after hearing her.

The Empress was barely thirty years old. She had one son, who was named Crown Prince the moment he was born. After the death of Emperor Hui, he had entrusted the empire to her; it was said that he had cherished her deeply.

Xun Qi had heard rumors of the Empress. The Sima clan had long been a prominent family in the capital. After she ascended the throne, with the support of her older brother, her position remained secure.

The curtains fluttered lightly in the breeze.

The Empress rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the young girl, and slowly curled her lips. This faint smile softened the cold, sharp contours of her face. “You have grown into such a beauty.”

Xun Qi was surprised by the Emperor’s praise, and her small face flushed. Beside her, Yan Zhi’an looked up at the heavens in silence. There was no need to ask; the princess in the palace was a living target.

“Come here.” The Empress beckoned to Xun Qi, her gaze much softer than Yan Zhi’an’s.

Xun Qi felt suspicious and did not dare to approach, so she could only glance secretly at her mother.

“Go on,” Yan Zhi’an said softly.

Only then did Xun Qi dare to step forward, her face still flushed. She had learned a verse: “When the Son of Heaven is enraged, a million corpses are laid to waste.” This verse vividly portrayed the majesty of an Emperor.

As the girl moved, the gentleness in the Empress’s eyes was replaced by earnestness. Looking at her daughter, now within arm’s reach, she held her hand. In this moment, her heart was full.

This was her daughter, in whose body her own blood flowed!

Years ago, Emperor Hui had killed his brother to seize the throne. She had been powerless to stop it. Knowing that Emperor Hui would not spare the bloodline of his brother, she had been forced to use the chaos of the palace coup to have a trusted subordinate spirit her away.

Yet, after that separation, she had lost all contact. No matter how hard she looked, she could find not a single clue.

She gently stroked her daughter’s black hair, her heart filled with tenderness. “Since returning, have you been settling in well?”

The Empress’s words left Xun Qi confused. This was a very strange question. What did her ability to settle in have to do with the Emperor?

She blinked in bewilderment, and Yan Zhi’an spoke up, “Your Majesty, why have you left the palace?”

“Do you know how this princess was discovered?” The Empress regained her composure, released Xun Qi’s soft, small hand, and continued, “She was a gift presented to me by the royal family.”

Yan Zhi’an’s hands, hanging at her sides, moved abruptly. “I assumed it was your own doing, Your Majesty.”

“Do you think I have nothing better to do?” The Empress looked repulsed. “It was Prince Ji who brought her into the palace.”

Prince Ji was the younger uncle of both Emperor Ming and Emperor Hui. He was only forty, in the prime of his life. If not for his pressure, she would never have sent her daughter to the Yan family.

Hearing this, Yan Zhi’an also displayed a look of disgust, appearing inexplicably stern. “Then we shall acknowledge it for now and see what games they are playing.”

Hearing this, Xun Qi’s eyes widened in shock. The next moment, Yan Zhi’an pulled her back and said to the Emperor, “Your Majesty, I shall return to the manor now.”

“Very well.” The Empress watched the young girl deeply, her eyes filled with reluctance.

Yan Zhi’an acted as if she had not seen it and led Xun Qi out of the pavilion.

The two boarded the carriage. The Empress followed them out of the pavilion, watching the carriage from afar, her heart filled with loneliness.

By the time they returned to the Left Chancellor’s manor, it was dusk. Chen Qingrong was waiting at the entrance with her staff. Seeing the carriage approach from afar, a hint of joy appeared on her face.

They had been gone for more than three months, and she had missed them somewhat. She loved and feared this daughter of hers in equal measure. Yan Zhi’an had achieved fame at a young age and possessed a noble spirit, while she herself was of a leisurely temperament; they truly had nothing to talk about.

The carriage stopped. Xun Qi stepped down first and then turned to support Yan Zhi’an as she alighted. Chen Qingrong walked over with a smile, “You have finally returned.”

The next sentence was, “The capital is in an uproar.”

Xun Qi had heard rumors that the Emperor’s daughter had returned. She did not understand why the return of the Emperor’s daughter had caused such a commotion.

She asked her mother, “Why is there such a huge stir just because the princess has returned?”

“You do not understand. This princess and the Crown Prince do not share the same father,” Chen Qingrong said, pointing out the crux of the matter. Looking beneath the brilliance, hidden shadows lay deep, ready to devour people alive.

“Not the same father?” Xun Qi’s eyes trembled. “Is the Emperor remarried?”

Chen Qingrong felt awkward. Yan Zhi’an looked at her mother with a deadpan expression. Chen Qingrong grew afraid, “Don’t look at me like that. I was just speaking casually. She is fourteen now; it is time to tell her.”

“I will tell her,” Yan Zhi’an said, her head aching. Her mother’s words made the Emperor sound like a plaything, but the reality was far from that.

She knew better than anyone how the Empress had ascended the throne.

“Xun Qi, go back, change your clothes, and come back for dinner. After dinner, I will explain it to you in detail.” Yan Zhi’an raised her hand to touch her forehead, her stern eyes sparkling. “Go on.”

Xun Qi left as instructed.

Yan Zhi’an looked toward her mother, “What has happened in the capital?”

Chen Qingrong took her daughter into the room to speak in detail.

Yan Zhi’an had used the pretext of taking her daughter home to have her recorded in the family genealogy. After she left, the capital had been quiet for the rest of the year, but things changed on New Year’s Eve.

According to custom, on New Year’s Eve, the Emperor hosts a banquet for high-ranking officials; officials below the third rank do not need to attend. Yan Zhi’an was worried, so Chen Qingrong had been summoned by the Emperor to attend the banquet in the palace. This was a gesture of imperial favor.

That night, Prince Ji was also there. He brought a young girl into the palace and produced evidence, claiming she was the daughter of Emperor Ming and also the Emperor’s own daughter.

Emperor Ming had been dead for thirteen years. He had died without an heir, which was why Emperor Hui had ascended the throne. Now that his daughter had returned, the legitimacy of Emperor Hui’s line appeared questionable.

Chen Qingrong said, “The frightening part is that this princess came from the countryside. She is illiterate and knows no court etiquette. Do you know? The moment she entered, everyone else laughed. How should I put it? Her clothes were shabby, and she wore them in such an absurd manner.”

“Prince Ji’s move was a slap to the Emperor’s face,” Yan Zhi’an said, her eyes shifting. “Prince Ji’s move is to prevent the Emperor from returning the throne to Emperor Ming’s line. Prince Ji simply does not want the next throne to be inherited by a woman. That is why he brought a girl from the countryside to impersonate a princess.”

“Impersonate?” Chen Qingrong was frightened and covered her heart, nearly unable to breathe. “So it is a fake.”

“A fake; Mother, do not spread this,” Yan Zhi’an said calmly. “Next time you see the princess, treat her with respect. The Yan family will not participate in factional struggles.”

Prince Ji currently supported the Crown Prince and was desperate to pull the Empress down so the Crown Prince could ascend sooner. After all, this empire belonged to the Li family, and he was not content with the Sima family in control.

Chen Qingrong was full of worry, but seeing her daughter safe, she felt relieved.

Half an hour later, Xun Qi changed into new clothes and came to eat. She wore a red dress, which made Chen Qingrong very happy. “Your mother does not like wearing red, but I love seeing you young people in red. Let me tell you, I am going to a Spring Banquet in a few days; I will take you with me.”

“Wonderful!” Xun Qi was also delighted. If she went out, she would not have to practice calligraphy.

The grandmother and granddaughter were both very happy—one smiling gently, the other beaming. Suddenly, Yan Zhi’an interrupted their conversation, “Absolutely not. Xun Qi, have you finished practicing your calligraphy?”

Here we go again… Xun Qi felt miserable, grabbing her grandmother’s hand to complain, “Grandmother, do you know? She forces me to practice calligraphy every day…”

Chen Qingrong decisively covered her mouth and said, “My dear, I am afraid of her too. Stop talking.”

Xun Qi did not understand. “Madam, you are her mother.” Was this turning the world upside down?

“What does it matter if I am her mother? She controls me. What can I do? I will go to the banquet myself and not take you.” Chen Qingrong felt guilty and apologetic toward Xun Qi, “You are on your own. I cannot help you.”

Xun Qi: “…”

She looked helplessly at Yan Zhi’an, acting thick-skinned to curry favor, “Mother, I want to go out and play.”

Hearing the word “Mother,” Yan Zhi’an felt a wave of sadness rise in her heart. She looked just as helplessly at that childish face. “Your wanting to play is your own business; it has nothing to do with me. I need a qualified successor. If you are qualified, you may go to the ends of the earth.”

Xun Qi lost her spirit and looked back at Chen Qingrong in pain, save me, save me!

Chen Qingrong looked helplessly into the void, I saw nothing!

After dinner, Chen Qingrong fled, fearing that if she was a step too slow, she would be caught and scolded by her daughter.

Watching her mother flee, Xun Qi was suffocated for a long time and could not utter a word. Finally, unwilling to give up, she looked at Yan Zhi’an again, “Mother, this behavior of yours is turning the world upside down.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Yan Zhi’an grabbed her ear, “What did you say, little thing? She likes to play; when have I ever controlled her? I only control you. Are you trying to turn the world upside down?”

“Ouch, stop pulling! I was wrong!” Xun Qi’s speed in admitting her mistake was very fast; she spoke up immediately without hesitation.

Yan Zhi’an released her hand and exchanged a glance with the maid. The maids immediately withdrew and closed the door.

“Let me tell you about the matter of the daughter of Emperor Ming, Princess Zhaohui.” Yan Zhi’an’s voice sounded lazy, not quite serious. “You saw it; the two characters ‘Zhaohui’ prove Emperor Ming’s love for her. She is the Emperor’s eldest daughter of the primary consort, and also Emperor Ming’s only heir.”

“First Emperor Ming, then Emperor Hui; so how did the Crown Prince become the son of the Emperor and Emperor Hui?” Xun Qi was puzzled. “Did the older brother die, and the wife marry the younger brother?”

Even the writers of storybooks would not dare to write this.

Yan Zhi’an sighed and spoke with her head in her hands, “Emperor Hui forced a palace coup, killed his older brother, and seized his wife.”

Xun Qi: “…”

“Was he insane?” She felt the world had turned upside down. Was this not the killing the brother to take the wife from the plays?

“He was insane.” Yan Zhi’an’s gaze was somewhat ethereal. She could not help but think: if Emperor Ming were alive today, Xun Qi would be the noble eldest princess. Why would she need to hide and become her daughter, spending all her effort to become the successor of the Yan family?

She reached out to stroke Xun Qi’s forehead, her gaze softening. “After Emperor Hui ascended the throne, he disregarded the opposition of the world, made the current Emperor his Empress, and later she gave birth to the Crown Prince.”

When the Crown Prince was one year old, the then-Empress Sima quietly launched a palace coup, killed her husband to seize the throne, and used ruthless means to ascend to the imperial position.

But these things could not be told to Xun Qi.

She could only say, “When the Crown Prince was one year old, Emperor Hui contracted a cold and passed away. The Crown Prince was young, so the Emperor established herself. The name of the reign remained the same, and once the Crown Prince reached adulthood, she would return the throne to him.”