However, Huai Xinmei was no longer to be found on the continent; she had long since boarded a ship to Penglai Island, drifting across the sea toward Taoyuan Fairyland’s Penglai.
And soon after, she had secured a place for herself there.
Dawn was just breaking.
Yan Wanqing was still nursing when Yan Hongzhao, her complexion betraying no surprise, walked in with dew all over her.
The cold dew was heavy in the early morning, and she had ridden into the palace wearing only a thin robe, her hair sparkling with droplets.
Cong Ge immediately instructed a palace maid to fetch a dry, soft towel for her to wipe herself off.
"Is elder sister awake?" asked Yan Hongzhao.
Accepting the towel, Cong Ge nodded: "She is in the midst of nursing the little prince right now. What brings you here so early today, Fifth Miss?"
Yan Hongzhao was feeling frustrated and impatient, not wishing to discuss such matters with her older sister.
But their mother had said all their brains combined were not as good as their sister’s, and since it concerned her, they had to ask for her opinion.
After the Qin Family’s affair came to light, many of Qin Jun’s students had jointly presented a petition, and some had even secretly organized to oppose elder sister becoming the Crown Princess Consort. Rumor had it the movement was gaining momentum, and if the Crown Prince insisted on establishing elder sister as consort, they would rebel.
"Fifth Miss, the Crown Princess Consort calls for you to come inside," a maid from the inner chamber called out.
Yan Hongzhao quickly got up and walked over.
Cong Ge stood still, holding the damp towel with a slight frown, feeling inexplicably uneasy.
The inner chamber was warm, filled with a sweet scent of milk.
At that moment, the nurse had just picked up the little prince, who appeared to be sleeping soundly, his little hand scratching at the air.
"Coming so early today, have you encountered something?" Yan Wanqing propped herself up slightly, took a cushion, and sat up against it.
Her clothing was still undone, exposing much of her fair skin and leaving one unsure where to direct their gaze.
Yan Hongzhao walked ahead two steps, sat on the chair beside the bed, and pulled up the bedding to cover her.
"Qin Jun’s students are planning a rebellion," she said.
Yan Wanqing, upon hearing this, remained expressionless.
"They oppose making me the consort, do they?" To target her, these people truly knew no bounds, even considering rebellion.
In Yan Hongzhao’s eyes lurked a darkness: "This rabble, with their nonsense, has somehow amassed a force of thousands. During morning court, I plan to ask the Crown Prince to sanction a campaign against them."
"...I’m afraid it won’t be so simple to quell." Under tyranny, there will always be those with courage.
It might not just be a mere uprising by then.
Yan Wanqing pondered.
Recently, Xiao Pingfeng’s actions had differed greatly from before, causing grievances throughout the Imperial Court. Now Qin Jun, playing the victim, pressured Xiao Pingfeng into withdrawing his Grand Tutor position, giving rise to this tumult among those seeking to feign peace.
"If one crackdown doesn’t work, then we’ll do it twice, three times. I refuse to believe all these people have such unwavering conviction!" Yan Hongzhao said, her lips pursed.
Yan Wanqing shook her head repeatedly after listening, "Absolutely not. Have you forgotten that the King of the Chu Kingdom is still in Dawei?"
"What you mean is..."
"If it were merely a simple opposition to me as the empress, it could be regarded as a gathering of troublemakers, but if you were really sent to suppress it, it would be considered an uprising and rebellion. What do you think Chu Qi would do?"
Internal unrest within Dawei would be an all too perfect scenario for him.
By then, he could easily collaborate overtly with the Qin State, and make his move against Dawei. That would truly be a situation of being attacked from all sides.
One could only say that Xiao Pingfeng, out of anger over Qin Erya causing her early labor, lost his measure and thus failed to consider all consequences, resulting in today’s situation.
"Chu Qi is currently in Dawei. If he wants to cause trouble, why can’t we just detain him directly and threaten the Chu Kingdom not to act rashly?" Yan Hongzhao asked, puzzled.
Still not considering the whole picture, the thoughts of a child.
Yan Wanqing stretched out her hand and gently stroked her hair, "If things could really be that simple, why didn’t the Crown Prince detain the King and Princess Wuyang on the very first day he arrived?"
"I don’t understand." This time, Yan Hongzhao was truly confused.
"I traveled with this person for a while when I was young. He is full of tricks, and saying he has more than one hidey-hole is no exaggeration," she narrowed her eyes, as if reminiscing, "Princess Wuyang is probably no longer in the palace, right?"
"Princess Wuyang was sent back to the Chu Kingdom just a few days after she made a mistake," Yan Hongzhao suddenly realized.
"In the art of kingly tactics, you must consider ten steps, or even dozens of steps ahead with every move. What’s more, we can’t be certain that Chu Qi staying in the Traveling Palace is truly the King of the Chu Kingdom. Once action begins, it provides the Chu Kingdom with the best excuse for invasion." By then, the damage would truly be irreparable.
Internal troubles combined with outside aggression.
To describe her and Xiao Pingfeng right now, there was truly no more appropriate phrase.
"So what do we do now? Just let those bastards slander you? I can’t swallow this humiliation no matter what." Yan Hongzhao frowned, "If sister thinks the Imperial Court’s suppression title won’t work, then I will take our brothers and directly wipe out those scholars’ nest, once and for all."
"Have you ever heard that the one who tied the bell must be the one to untie it?" Yan Wanqing, helpless in her heart about this sister who loved the thrill of battle, said, "You don’t need to take action, you just need to help me pass a message to Qin Jun."
"Sister, you want to meet that old fogey?" Yan Hongzhao’s eyelids twitched, "That’s not right, definitely not right, the Qin Family is full of ruthless and venomous people, who devour without spitting out the bones. Qin Erya even had the Poisonous Insect Poison placed on herself, overturning my previous understanding of her."
"Talking nonsense again, the Qin Family is a family with a long scholarly tradition."
"They’re just a bunch of lunatics!" Yan Hongzhao retorted stubbornly, "I disagree, and moreover, the Crown Prince certainly wouldn’t allow sister to contact that old fogey Qin Jun."
"... I’m aware of what you’re saying. Qin Jun is an official who has served for three dynasties; his moves in the struggle against the Crown Prince, even if they harm himself significantly, have been remarkable. To be demoted and yet able lead the scholars of the world to denounce me and even rebel, it’s undeniable that he really has some skills. But if I don’t meet him, and it really comes to the point of suppression, then it’s the common people who will suffer hardships." Yan Wanqing sighed deeply.
Ever since her father died, she once swore not to think of the world’s people.
But now, in this position, she had to consider them again.
If the people of the world suffered, the person who would be pushed to the forefront would be Xiao Pingfeng.
She didn’t want him to be cursed by thousands.
A person like him, should always be on a pedestal, admired by thousands, and remembered through the ages.
"So Hongzhao, I must see Qin Jun."
"That old fogey may not agree to meet sister..."
"He will," Yan Wanqing stated with certainty, "For Qin Erya, he will definitely meet me."