Before Jiang Xingyan could show any surprise, a palace matron came over from the side.
“Miss Jiang, the Empress requests your presence.”
Xia Feng, worried that her mistress might not recognize the woman, hurried forward and greeted her warmly: “Why, it’s Matron Guizhi! It’s been so long—how have you been keeping?”
As she spoke, she pulled out a pouch and handed it over.
But this time, Matron Guizhi stepped back, a look of embarrassment on her face.
“I’ve often been looked after by Miss Jiang, but today the Empress has summoned her for something, so I absolutely cannot let Miss Jiang spend her money again.”
Behind her, Jiang Xingyan understood—this was likely the matron Huo Ci often ran into in the back palace when their souls were calling to each other.
She stepped forward herself and pressed the pouch into Matron Guizhi’s hands: “Matron, why be so formal with me? Are you trying to distance yourself from Xingyan? If I only gave gifts when I needed a favor from you, wouldn’t that make me the kind of person who only comes around when she wants something?”
Matron Guizhi was flattered and surprised.
The former Miss Jiang had also been very polite, but not this familiar—she had always kept a respectful distance from the palace maids, and even her own personal servant girls had never gotten close to her.
Now she seemed more easygoing and lively, which made people feel fond of her.
“Miss Jiang is too kind.”
Matron Guizhi could no longer refuse and had to accept, then led Jiang Xingyan toward the back palace.
Yun Chunfeng and Xiaoya waited for her in the carriage.
Xiaoya shook her head from side to side, eating the candy Yun Chunfeng had given her, feeling even more justified in her behavior.
She didn’t care who her father was—as long as her mother liked him and he was good to her mother, that was enough.
Yun Chunfeng pinched her little hair bun affectionately. At this moment, he still felt as if he were dreaming.
Xiaoya was actually his daughter—his and the young lady’s. It made him wild with joy.
But when he thought of the suffering and hardship the young lady had endured when giving birth to Xiaoya, and how Xiaoya had been tormented in various ways and nearly drowned in the past, his heart filled with a bloodthirsty rage—he wished he could chop Huo Li-shi into ten thousand pieces!
He took out a banknote worth a million taels, held it between his index and middle fingers, and muttered an incantation: “May Huo Li-shi be plagued by nightmares every day, never knowing peace!”
Before he finished speaking, the banknote vanished into thin air.
Yun Chunfeng curved his lips. Hopefully it was his second senior brother, Daoist Feiguang, who received it—he was especially good at tormenting people.
“Dad, what are you smirking about?”
That milky, childish “Dad” melted Yun Chunfeng’s heart, and his smile grew even wider.
He rubbed his forehead against Xiaoya’s: “Dad is getting revenge for you and the young lady.”
At those words, Xiaoya suddenly pressed his hand down with a serious face.
“Dad, if you kill someone, you should run. Don’t drag Xiaoya and Mom into it.”
Yun Chunfeng’s smile froze at the corners of his mouth.
No—I’m your father! Is that any way to talk to me?
———
Jiang Xingyan followed Matron Guizhi all the way to Kunning Palace.
Xia Feng was about to follow her mistress inside when Matron Guizhi stopped her.
“By the Empress’s decree, she wishes to see Miss Jiang alone. Don’t worry—it’s just a few private words.”
Xia Feng looked at Jiang Xingyan, and after confirming that her mistress gave her a slight nod, she stood respectfully at the door to wait.
Jiang Xingyan stepped into Kunning Palace and was led by the palace maids to the East Warm Chamber.
Her heart was pounding.
The East Warm Chamber was where the Empress usually rested—for a commoner like her to just walk in seemed inappropriate.
She quickened her pace to catch up with the palace maid ahead and said softly: “This commoner’s status is lowly and I fear I might offend the Empress. Perhaps I should wait at the door.”
Before the palace maid could answer, a lazy voice drifted out from the East Warm Chamber: “Miss Jiang, there’s no need to be so formal. Make yourself comfortable. You and I have some acquaintance, so I’ll get straight to the point. I’ve called you here today simply to ask you to persuade General Huo. Regarding the matter of the imperial marriage decree, it would be best for him to agree.”
As the words faded, the layered curtains of the East Warm Chamber were drawn back one by one, revealing the elegant and noble Empress, dressed in a goose-yellow brocade casual robe embroidered with phoenixes among peonies, her hair casually pinned with several eight-treasure hairpins.
She was not as stiff and formal as usual, not projecting the full dignity of the mother of the nation—she seemed more approachable and amiable, making one feel at ease.
Jiang Xingyan kept her manners, not daring to look around, and replied neither humbly nor arrogantly: “This commoner has no more ties with General Huo. I’m afraid I cannot comply.”
The Empress chuckled softly: “You could use that excuse on others who don’t know the full story, but between us who know each other well, there’s no need to be so cold. Anyone with eyes can see how deeply General Huo cares for you. He will definitely listen to what you say.”
Jiang Xingyan straightened up and bowed to the Empress once more: “Your Majesty, forgive this commoner for speaking boldly. Marriage is a lifelong matter for a woman—even a princess must be cautious. Even if one forces a marriage with someone one loves who does not love them back, there will only be endless pain and suffering ahead. I beg Your Majesty to reconsider.”
The Empress was silent for a long while, then chuckled softly: “Born into the royal family, and as the eldest daughter of my Mu family—how can I be judged by the standards of ordinary women? Love, affection—before the absolute interests of the family, none of it matters. Miss Jiang, Shi’an is not the kind of sheltered girl who is trapped by love. The deeper meaning behind His Majesty’s decree for General Huo is not something outsiders can understand. I only need you to go see General Huo in the prison tonight, make him understand the situation and know when to advance and when to retreat, and not put His Majesty in a difficult position.”
Jiang Xingyan pondered for a moment.
When Huo Ci’s soul was in her body, he had used the Empress’s name to revitalize her family’s shops.
This was a debt of gratitude that should be repaid.
“Since that is the case, this commoner dares to ask Your Majesty to permit Yun Ge’er to accompany me.”
The Empress smiled helplessly: “Won’t that hurt him too much?”
Jiang Xingyan said firmly: “If I go alone, it will give him hope—make him think he still has a chance. That not only goes against Your Majesty’s purpose, but would also hurt him the most.”
The Empress sighed: “Guizhi will give you a token with my seal. You may bring whoever you want in—it’s all up to you.”
“Understood. This commoner will deliver the message to General Huo. I take my leave.”
The Empress nodded and had the palace maid who had brought her in lead her out again.
Matron Guizhi handed the token to Jiang Xingyan: “Thank you for making the trip, Miss Jiang.”
Jiang Xingyan smiled: “Matron, you’re too kind. Xingyan should be thanking the Empress for giving me the chance to cut through this tangled mess quickly.”
She put the token away, curtsied to Matron Guizhi in farewell, and had just passed through the Kunning Gate when someone suddenly called out to her.
“Jiang Xingyan, wait.”
Jiang Xingyan turned in confusion and saw Princess Shi’an walking toward her, fidgeting with a handkerchief in her hands.
She didn’t know what this was about, but she couldn’t neglect propriety, so she curtsied: “This commoner greets Princess Shi’an.”
“Alright, alright—from now on you don’t need to bow when you see me.”
Xiao Shi’an’s eyes darted about, not daring to meet Jiang Xingyan’s gaze.
Jiang Xingyan found it rather amusing: “May I ask what Princess wishes to tell this commoner?”
Xiao Shi’an glanced left and right, confirming that besides their two personal maids, no one else was nearby, then quickly said: “I misunderstood you before—that was my fault. I apologize to you.”
She spoke so fast that Jiang Xingyan didn’t catch it clearly and instinctively asked: “What?”
Xiao Shi’an’s cheeks suddenly flushed red. She stamped her foot, gritted her teeth, and raised her voice considerably, almost shouting:
“This princess misunderstood you before and said wild things to you—it was my fault! This princess apologizes to you! Now you heard it clearly, right! Hmph!”
