Chapter 16
Edward Quan ·
Crown Prince Zhao Yi bowed to the floor repeatedly too.
“Father, Mother has always been kind and virtuous. She could never do such a thing!”
“There must be a misunderstanding. Please investigate!”
One cried, the other argued. Their words worked together seamlessly, shedding every responsibility in moments.
The emperor watched with disappointment and fury. Anger seemed to coil in his eyes, ready to erupt.
But he didn’t rage immediately.
Slowly, his gaze turned to Father.
“Minister Qin, what do you think?”
The study went silent.
Every eye settled on Father.
Cold sweat dotted his forehead, but he retained the composure of a veteran minister. He stepped forward and knelt.
“My daughter is ignorant. She wore an ill-reputed object unwittingly. I ask Your Majesty to punish her.”
He paused.
“But she did not intend this. She was drawn in and used.”
“As for Her Majesty…”
His hand tightened. At last, he bowed deeply.
“I dare not presume to judge.”
His words protected me and deftly drew our family out of the whirlpool.
He knew that when imperial power and the Eastern Palace collided, one mistaken word could crush anyone between them.
The emperor watched him for a long time, then exhaled heavily. His face showed the exhaustion of a ruler forced to choose.
He waved.
“Rise, all of you.”
His gaze fell cold as night frost on the empress.
“Three months’ confinement in Phoenix Palace. Reflect behind closed doors.”
“The crown prince has failed in supervision. A year’s stipend withheld. Examine yourself strictly. There must be no recurrence.”
His voice wasn’t loud, but every word fell heavily on the stone. No one dared breathe deeply.
“As for this jade…”
He turned to me.
“It is inauspicious, Qin Yue. I will take it away for you.”
After a pause, he continued.
“Select the finest set of South Sea pearls from my private treasury and grant it to the Seventh Prince’s future consort. Let it dispel this ill fortune and show the imperial family’s regard.”
The room stirred.
The empress and Zhao Yi went white as paper.
Father looked stunned.
Only I understood clearly.
The emperor had chosen.
He wouldn’t pursue it to the end. That would tear apart imperial dignity and shake the Eastern Palace.
But neither would he indulge them completely.
Three months confined. A year’s stipend lost. A warning.
My gift was reassurance.
For our family.
For me.
And an unspoken message to the man behind me—Zhao Heng.
The emperor hadn’t overturned the board.
He had tilted the balance.
There was General Li too. Retired, yet still carrying old military authority and prestige enough to make the court wary.
I had won this round.
I hadn’t removed the empress, but I had planted a thorn in the emperor’s heart.
Doubt.
Of her.
Of the crown prince.
Once the first crack appeared, the others would spread.
Enough.
As I left the study, Zhao Yi blocked me in the long corridor.
His eyes were bloodshot, a beast cornered at a precipice.
“Qin Yue.”
He ground out my name.
“It was you, wasn’t it?”
“You trapped Mother. Trapped me!”
I looked at the face I had once valued as my life.
Only cold disgust remained.
I smiled.
“What do you mean, Your Highness? I truly don’t understand.”
“You don’t?”
He stepped closer and reached for me.
“You vicious woman!”
“I must have been blind!”
Before his hand touched me, another seized it.
Eunuch Li.
He had appeared behind us unnoticed.
His usual pleasant smile remained. His eyes were ice.
“His Majesty instructed us, Your Highness.”
“The future consort has been frightened and needs rest.”
“No one is to disturb her.”
Zhao Yi looked from him to me.
At last, he jerked his hand away, his eyes venomous.
“Fine.”
“You’re very clever, Qin Yue.”
“We’ll see.”
He flung the words behind him and swept away.