Even after being denied entry, the gathered officials still refused to disperse. One man even risked committing an offense against the throne and shouted, “Your Majesty! Has your illness clouded your judgment?! How can you abandon ten border cities for no reason at all? What of the soldiers who risked their lives for our dynasty? What of the heroic dead who spilled their blood upon those battlefields, Your Majesty?!”
Even Feng Xuanzhen could not help being moved by those words. He too had fought upon that land and watched soldiers who had marched beside him from the imperial capital leave for the frontier and never return. Behind the success of one general lay the bones of ten thousand men. Yet now, in his imperial brother’s eyes, perhaps all of those lives could not compare with a single backward glance from the man he called his empress. The thought left Feng Xuanzhen strangely lost.
He could hear such words himself and pretend he had heard nothing. But if they reached his imperial brother’s ears, then even knowing perfectly well that loyal advice was often unpleasant to hear, Feng Xuanyi would probably still have no choice but to “deal with it.”
“Thirty strokes of the cane and three months’ salary withheld. Have him stay home and recover from his injuries. He need not attend court for the time being.” Feng Xuanzhen’s brows were drawn tightly together as he rubbed his throbbing temples with both hands and gave the order to Mo Yan, who stood nearby waiting upon him.
Calculating the days, his imperial brother should arrive within the next few days. If Feng Xuanyi returned to court and personally heard these officials contradicting and questioning him so recklessly, the punishment would probably involve considerably more than thirty strokes and three months without salary.
Feng Xuanyi’s departure from the palace could not be made public. It was a substitution scheme he and Feng Xuanzhen had staged together. They might have deceived everyone beneath heaven, but they could never deceive those who were deliberately watching.
One wave had yet to settle before another arose. While the outer court had descended into chaos, the inner palace was hardly idle. After waiting day after day without receiving any imperial favor, the consorts who hoped to distinguish themselves by showing concern while His Majesty was supposedly ill were all turned away by Mo Yan, unable even to gain admission. Unease and agitation spread throughout the harem. His Majesty was unwell and the empress had once again “shut himself away.” With the harem lacking its head, Noble Lord Han Ruifeng, one of the Four Lords, effectively held sway.
At present, the upper consort tier was nearly empty. Among the women there was only Consort Shen, while among the Four Lords of equivalent standing, Han Ruifeng was likewise the only one. Consort Shen had held her position for years, remained childless, and had long since lost the splendor she once enjoyed in Prince Rong’s residence. Han Ruifeng was different. He was a rising favorite whose honors had never ceased and whose imperial favor had continued without interruption. Apart from the current Empress Yu, no one else had risen so quickly within the palace. With the Six Palaces currently without a true master, everyone naturally understood which direction the wind was blowing.
Unfortunately, unless one reached the very highest position, gossip and cutting remarks were impossible to avoid. Others might possess less rank and status, but no one could control their mouths or their contempt. Liu Yin was exactly such a person, forever cold and seemingly disdainful of everyone. Without warning, he could stab someone with a single sentence and make certain the recipient remembered it well.
“How are things in the outer court?” Now elevated above most others in both position and status, Han Ruifeng had moved out of Yonghe Palace and into Luoxiao Palace, once occupied by Consort Meng, becoming master of an entire palace in his own right. With nothing better to do, he idly tended a newly cultivated Bihai begonia sent over from the imperial flower gardens.
“Answering Master, the ministers have been arguing without end. After morning court, they even caused a disturbance outside the imperial study, but the imperial physicians stopped them from entering and they could not see His Majesty. Lord Zhang became particularly careless with his words and said several things accusing His Majesty of being muddleheaded. His Majesty was furious and ordered Lord Zhang given thirty strokes of the cane, fined three months of salary, and sent home to reflect upon his conduct.”
“His Majesty?” Han Ruifeng gave a faint, mocking scoff, leaving the young attendant utterly confused. “Everything beneath heaven belongs to His Majesty. If His Majesty wants to give something to someone, then he gives it. If he wants to do something, then he does it. Since when is it their place to chatter endlessly about it? Still, Lord Zhang has certainly done his duty. Have someone take my specially prepared wound salve to him later and tell him to recover properly.”
“Yes.” The attendant hesitated before answering and carrying out Han Ruifeng’s order, though confusion filled his mind. His master was openly comforting someone whom the emperor himself had personally punished. Was that not essentially opposing His Majesty?
Since you can disregard everything for his sake, then don’t blame me for seeking a path of retreat simply so I can survive.
“Has Qing Zhu been behaving himself in the palace?” Suddenly remembering the man he had so kindly kept beside him despite the complete lack of gratitude in return, Han Ruifeng asked with unexpected interest.
“Answering Master, everything has been arranged according to your instructions. He performs only insignificant chores each day, but his food, clothing, and other provisions are given according to the allotment of the palace stewards.” The attendant became even more confused as he spoke. Setting everything else aside, perhaps his master simply wanted to support an idle person inside the palace, but this man was far too presumptuous and showed far too little respect for his superior. Aside from the most basic greetings and bows, Qing Zhu behaved like a mute in front of Han Ruifeng. Even when Han Ruifeng personally questioned him, he often refused to say a word. Strangest of all, no matter how audacious Qing Zhu became, Han Ruifeng ignored it and even allowed him to continue. Some people claimed Han Ruifeng was remembering the close friendship they had shared back in Prince Rong’s residence. But if they had truly been such close friends, why would Qing Zhu treat him this way?
The servants beside Han Ruifeng had been replaced batch after batch. After so long, Qing Zhu was the only one who had remained at his side throughout, making the entire situation even more difficult to understand.
Han Ruifeng dismissed all the palace attendants from the room and stopped tending the flowers. He stood tall beside the window, dressed in expensive robes and adorned with precious hairpins and jeweled ornaments, no longer resembling the unnoticed figure he had once been. As a ray of sunlight slanted through the window, one suddenly realized that Han Ruifeng was undeniably beautiful. Had Nalan Xuan never existed, perhaps the title of greatest beauty in the palace would have belonged to him.
His unreadable gaze seemed capable of freezing even the warm sunlight in an instant, sinister and cold, carrying a sharp chill that somehow still seemed unreal. Feng Xuanyi’s whereabouts had never been made public, yet Han Ruifeng was unexpectedly one of the few people who knew.
At that moment, another unexpected person who knew the truth arrived without invitation—and clearly without friendly intentions. “It seems this humble subject has come at a poor time. Noble Lord Han appears to be in rather low spirits. Should I make a trip to the Imperial Medical Bureau on your behalf? Perhaps if His Majesty becomes worried about you, not only will his own illness suddenly improve, he may rush over at once to personally inquire after Noble Lord Han’s health. What a tremendous service that would be to everyone beneath heaven.”
Liu Yin walked directly into the room. Although he was technically a guest in another person’s palace, he behaved as though he had entered his own quarters. Familiar with the place, he simply took the main seat, lifted the tea from the table, and drank. He even remembered to praise Noble Lord Han’s palace for possessing nothing but the finest things, saying that even the tea was wonderfully refreshing.
Han Ruifeng showed no displeasure. Seeing the palace attendant finally rush breathlessly into the room, he raised a hand to stop the explanation before it began and instead ordered, “Package some of this year’s newly presented Longjing tea and send it to Yonghe Palace so Noble Attendant Liu can enjoy something fresh.”
“Then I truly must thank Noble Lord Han for the generous gift.” Liu Yin spoke the words, yet his expression showed no particular gratitude. He seemed to have taken root in the chair and did not even rise while offering thanks despite the difference in their ranks, utterly overturning the newly transferred Luoxiao Palace attendant’s understanding of hierarchy and propriety.
“Noble Attendant Liu, what brings you here?” Han Ruifeng remained beside the window, bathed in sunlight. He lazily narrowed his eyes as though thoroughly enjoying himself, yet at the same time seemed to be observing Liu Yin without leaving the slightest trace.