“Mr. Gong, do you know why they arrested you?”
The old man sat in his own carriage, head tilted back with eyes closed. “I have some idea.”
“Does it have to do with…
the Yide Empress?”
Seeing the old man and girl fall silent, Jiang Yinyue had her answer. Mr. Gong publicizing the Yide Empress’s life story would lead rumor-mongers to connect it to Empress Dong. The two empresses had once been childhood friends before falling out, with whispers that Empress Dong had orchestrated the Yide Empress’s tragedy.
“Why risk telling the Yide Empress’s biography, Mr. Gong?”
Just for the draw?
The old man was about to explain when his body lurched forward with the carriage’s abrupt stop, nearly tumbling out.
Cui Shihan reined in the galloping horse with one hand and steadied Jiang Yinyue’s shoulder with the other, glaring coldly at the Purple Sandalwood Carriage approaching from the long street ahead.
The ornate carriage, pulled by a pair of horses, sped on the rain-slicked bluestone road without slowing, forcing the trio to retreat.
The pair of Sweat-Blooded Steeds exuded pressure, lording over the receding old horse.
Pedestrians scattered, ducking into shops or alleys, peering out curiously.
Prefect Lin, seated in the Purple Sandalwood Carriage, nodded toward the man opposite him and exited the carriage first. “Gong Fei, you relied on fabricated anecdotes about the Yide Empress to drum up hype for personal gain. Do you know your wrong?”
As a former historian after all, Mr. Gong was not intimidated by the prefect’s presence. He declared loudly, “This old man does indeed tell some wild histories of the nobility, but there was not a single false word in my accounts of the Yide Empress. They were all her good deeds from life. I have a clear conscience!”
“Defaming the current empress, and you have a clear conscience?”
“This old man has never defamed Her Majesty the Empress!”
Prefect Lin pointed angrily at the old man. “Sophistry!”
Cui Shihan did not rise. She said coldly, “I was present for Mr. Gong’s storytelling about my elder sister. I can vouch for him. He never defamed Her Majesty the Empress. If Prefect Lin insists on arresting him, take me as well.”
“This official understands the County Princess’s feelings, but each matter stands on its own.”
Behind the paired carriages, another group of bailiffs arrived in succession, while those who had chased the shabby carriage panted as they caught up.
The three found themselves surrounded from front and back.
Prefect Lin was about to order Gong Fei’s capture when a clear, resonant voice suddenly sounded from within the Purple Sandalwood Carriage.
“Have them withdraw.”
Prefect Lin did not dare disobey, but before he could issue the order, the bailiffs who heard the Crown Prince’s command immediately retreated.
Wei Xichen sat quietly in the carriage, holding a piece of Mutton-Fat White Jade in the hand resting on his knee. It was a coming-of-age gift from Grand Tutor Cui.
That day, the old man had chuckled hoarsely with a sigh. “A gentleman is like jade. May Your Highness be as warm and smooth as jade, benevolent and just.”
No matter how great the grievances of the Cui Clan, they could not oppose the imperial family. Grand Tutor Cui’s gift of jade was a gesture of goodwill, implying that the Cui Clan’s edges had been smoothed.
Wei Xichen had always worn this jade at his waist.
As long as Gong Fei’s accounts of the Yide Empress did not overstep propriety, he would not interfere—but only if they did not harm his mother’s reputation.
Originally, he had instructed Prefect Lin Yu to investigate the matter to confirm if Gong Fei was praising one while stepping on another for hype. But Lin Yu either failed to grasp his intent or was too eager to perform, mobilizing a large force to make the arrest.
Gong Fei’s deep voice came from outside the carriage. “Since Your Highness is here, this retired historian Gong Fei has words to say! The Yide Empress showed kindness to this subject. Back then, when this subject compiled the histories of the previous emperor’s rampant selection of consorts, angering Your Majesty and nearly costing this subject his head, it was the Yide Empress who spoke on this subject’s behalf, preserving this subject’s life. This subject praises the Yide Empress’s good deeds out of gratitude, with no suspicion of slandering others. I beseech Your Highness to see clearly!”
The previous emperor’s rampant consort selections were no secret. Wei Xichen had heard of this historian case. He lifted the crystal bead curtain and looked toward Gong Fei, who knelt before the carriage.
The past between the Yide Empress and his own mother had been twisted into all sorts of tales. Killing one to warn a hundred could silence the gossip once and for all.
Killing Gong Fei would be like pinching an ant to death, but…
His gaze involuntarily shifted to Jiang Yinyue, who stood beside Gong Fei.
The words “act impetuously” branded deeply into the old wound at his heart.
And that phrase “May Your Highness be as warm and smooth as jade, benevolent and just” echoed in his ears as well.
“Men, escort Mr. Gong out of the city to live in seclusion.” He looked toward Gong Fei, whose forehead touched the ground. “In the future, do not profit from wild histories of the nobility. It causes trouble for others.”
Prefect Lin was stunned. It ended just like that? Even if Gong Fei had not slandered Empress Dong, he had dragged Her Majesty into a storm, damaging the imperial dignity.
Moreover, how could a subject bandy about the private affairs of palace consorts!
That was the reason he had dared mobilize such a force to make an arrest and claim credit. Yet the Crown Prince merely issued a minor punishment?
The accompanying guards stepped forward, helping Gong Fei to his feet as they passed Cui Shihan, whose jaw was tense.
The girl clenched her fists and sneered, “Then may Your Highness make an exception and allow Mr. Gong to tell this subject’s daughter alone about my elder sister’s life?”
“That is a private matter. No need for This Prince to make exceptions.”
Wei Xichen dropped the bead curtain. In the flickering gap of crystal light, he stared in one direction.
In his half-obscured view, that woman turned her back.
He slowly withdrew his gaze. His heart ached more sharply, but he continued to rub the white jade in his hand, drawing warmth from it.
Fu Zhongcai, waiting at the side, said nothing, but in the end felt His Highness was too soft-hearted. Killing one to warn a hundred was a rare chance to quash all criticism of Her Majesty the Empress.
Jiang Yinyue watched as three guards led Gong Fei away. They were probably taking the old man home to pack his belongings and leave Yangzhou overnight.
Gong Fei was advanced in years, his legs unsteady. He limped onto the shabby carriage, as if entering an invisible golden cage.
He bowed silently in farewell to Cui Shihan.
The Yide Empress’s stories could probably only go so far.
The sound of wheels rolling came from behind. Cui Shihan grabbed Jiang Yinyue’s hand and left without looking back.
The girl was still young after all, not yet tempered to indifference toward honor and disgrace. In her impulsiveness, she had been somewhat rude.
As she mounted her horse, she tilted her head to feel the cool rain silk.
An inexplicable gloom.
A pair of small hands suddenly wrapped around her waist, like the best of girlfriends nestling against her back. A soft voice carried understanding. “When I’m in a bad mood, I hold my breath underwater until my chest feels tight and suffocated. All worries get left behind.”
Cui Shihan leaned back into Jiang Yinyue’s arms. Her petite frame relaxed. She closed her eyes and smiled, murmuring like a sigh, “Getting water up your nose is unpleasant.”
“Surface before that happens.”
Cui Shihan pursed her lips. “Childish.”
“Want to try?”
“No way.”
Half a shichen later, the two girls soaked in the bathing chamber pool of the County Princess Mansion.
Jiang Yinyue had originally wanted to find a bathhouse for hot springs, but Cui Shihan said the mansion had a pool carved from warm jade.
Several maids attended at the pool’s edge, serving tea and water, peeling and slicing fruit. A zither player performed soothing tunes.
Jiang Yinyue had not enjoyed such luxury in a long time.
She took the cool towel handed by a maid and draped it over her forehead, lounging lazily against the warm jade wall. She did not forget to tease, “Want to try?”
Cui Shihan’s face showed disgust, but she waved the maids away and dove into the bath, holding her breath without surfacing for a long time.
Jiang Yinyue did not rush to “rescue” her. She popped a fresh fruit into her mouth. Amid a splash, she narrowed her dark almond eyes.
Water droplets streamed in strings from her pointed chin. Cui Shihan wiped her face and dove again, repeating until she finally draped herself over the pool edge, chest heaving.
Her mood seemed improved.
“I’ve been a stand-in for my elder sister since childhood. The County Princess title was granted by Your Majesty out of guilt toward her. Outsiders always mock me, saying I’m a wooden doll my parents made to summon her soul, or that I’ll take over her duties and enter the palace to continue the Cui Clan’s favor.”
Jiang Yinyue said nothing, silently listening to the girl’s heartfelt words.
Cui Shihan draped one hand over her face, hiding the loss in her eyes. “But I still like my elder sister. I like hearing about her past from others. So contradictory.”
“You’re not a stand-in.”
“What?”
“Grand Tutor Cui sent you to Yangzhou to shield you from gossip, so you wouldn’t lose yourself amid all the chatter.”
Comforted by a woman not much older, the self-important Cui Shihan huffed and dove in again to hold her breath. If not for their compatible temperaments, she would never have shown her vulnerable side.
Jiang Yinyue did not stop her. She immersed herself in the steam alone, thinking of her own father. She was the leaky little padded jacket in his words, useless, but every step he took considered her.
No father was unworthy of mention—unless one hated him.
Those were words she had said to Wei Qin, but clearly, Cui Shihan did not hate her father.
At that moment, a maid entered the bathing chamber and spoke to Cui Shihan about a table at the Huaiyang Restaurant that had failed to show today.
Cui Shihan surfaced. Her mood was poor at just the right time. Perfect.
Moments later, Cui Shihan rode horseback, carrying Jiang Yinyue to the restaurant.
Neither was a secluded lady of the inner chambers, nor did they care much for gossip. Even without attendants, the two remained poised.
A winding path through a small bamboo grove mossy with green, swallows darting through like beak probes. Amid vibrant spring, wisps of cooking smoke detained the guests.
Jiang Yinyue and Cui Shihan sat deep in the bamboo grove, listening to the babbling stream, savoring authentic Huaiyang dishes, chatting and laughing until the lamps lit at dusk.
Before leaving, Jiang Yinyue wanted to pack some dishes she favored.
Cui Shihan teased, “To take back and show filial piety to your husband’s family?”
“Filial piety is too serious. I just found the food tasty and wanted to share with the family.”
Family… Cui Shihan did not hurry to leave. She leaned back in her bamboo chair with interest, more casual than the other diners. “Do you know Master Wei’s tastes?”
Teased to her face, Jiang Yinyue felt her cheeks heat but did not want to lose momentum. The girl before her exuded carefree wildness, easily putting one on the defensive.
But Jiang Yinyue disliked being passive.
“My husband’s tastes are naturally clear to me, though inconvenient to share.”
She did not actually know Wei Qin’s preferences, but her contrived reason passed without flaw in her calm tone.
Cui Shihan could not help smiling and waved her hand. “Don’t misunderstand. I have no intent to probe Master Wei’s preferences.”
Jiang Yinyue shrugged. “Does the County Princess know my husband?”