Volume Three: A Hundred Things Changed with the Spring Breeze
The Emperor’s Fury
Kill!!
Emperor Qin Junlan stormed out of Fengqing Palace in a rage. She couldn’t understand why, even to this day, the Empress Dowager still protected the Grand Chancellor. Did she really need to be killed by this uncle before she could distinguish right from wrong, black from white?
“Your Majesty, shall we set off for Qixia Palace?” Li Yue, seeing her angry face, wanted to suggest going to Liu Qianxun’s place to calm down.
“Go to Jueming Division!”
“As you command.”
Qin Junlan strode forward, brushing her sleeves, and encountered Yun Jin, who was about to pay her respects. Seeing that Qin Junlan seemed displeased, she stepped forward and bowed, “This humble sister pays respects to Imperial Elder Sister.”
“No need for formalities. I’m leaving first. You go see Mother Empress,” Qin Junlan said in a cold tone, causing Yun Jin’s heart to chill. Could it be that she had another argument with the Empress Dowager? Was it about Liu Qianxun? These days, Yun Jin often thought about Liu Qianxun, and for some reason, she always felt uneasy about her presence.
Perhaps she should go meet her mother’s adopted daughter, the number one beauty of Qinghe, now the Princess of Qinghe County.
The entire imperial palace was shaped like a dragon’s body, with the dragon’s head facing east, also known as the Tiangang main position, representing the supreme position of the Son of Heaven. The sleeping palaces of the Empress Dowager and other noble members of the imperial family stretched along the dragon’s body. Qixia Palace was located at the position of the dragon’s front claw. The Jueming Division, being a place of gloom and darkness, was in the southwest corner, specifically for imprisoning those who violated the palace’s criminal laws.
After the turmoil at Fengqing Palace, Yi Hongchuan and other main culprits were imprisoned in the Jueming Division. The gloomy dungeon was somewhat damp. As soon as one entered, a cold wind assailed them. Looking up, one couldn’t see the sky; looking down, one couldn’t see the bottom. All cells were sealed on four sides, with only a square opening in the willow door for passing food.
When Qin Junlan saw Yi Hongchuan, he was already in a state of defeat, in a sorry condition. His white prison uniform was disheveled, with his hair bun hanging messily on his shoulders. As the cell door opened, a beam of faint light shot in. He couldn’t open his eyes due to the light, only feeling that the person before him blended with the halo of light. Even without seeing clearly, he knew from the powerful aura that Qin Junlan had arrived.
“How is the Grand Chancellor faring here?” Qin Junlan looked down from above, her ice-cold eyes inspiring fear.
“Has Your Majesty come to send me on my final journey?”
“You are, after all, my own uncle. For me to personally send you off is a special honor bestowed upon you.”
“Hahaha, then I should thank Your Majesty. I truly never imagined that you, a milk-drinking baby, would now have such abundant power, making the whole world submit to you. Even Second Sister is willing to step out of the loquat forest for you.” Yi Hongchuan spoke with resentment. If it weren’t for Yi Qingyu’s sudden appearance, how could his army have been so utterly defeated, everything turning to nothing?
He thought his plan was ingenious, yet he didn’t know it had long been seen through by Qin Junlan. Such a mediocre and incompetent person like him wasn’t even considered a worthy opponent in Qin Junlan’s eyes. If it weren’t for leveraging the Empress Dowager’s status and the court’s power back then, how could someone of his ability have become the Grand Chancellor?
“Yi Hongchuan, my empire can no longer accommodate you.”
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“Your Majesty’s anger is understandable, but what would you do if your own mother had a part in harming you?” Yi Hongchuan raised an eyebrow, revealing a sinister smile. He wanted to reveal the Empress Dowager’s secret. Even if he couldn’t escape punishment, he wouldn’t let Qin Junlan have peace.
He waited for Qin Junlan’s expression of shock, grief, and despair. However, Qin Junlan merely let out a cold laugh and leaned slightly forward, “Is this what you used to threaten Mother Empress, to beg for my mercy?”
“What? You know?” Yi Hongchuan looked at her in disbelief.
“When I was on my southern tour to Yuzhou, didn’t you go to pay respects to Mother Empress, intending to use her to eliminate Liu Qianxun, and incidentally help you get rid of me? Is this all the tricks you have? I think you should take these to your grave!” Qin Junlan turned resolutely, and two guards behind her stepped forward holding white silk.
“What are you trying to do? Qin Junlan, I am your Uncle Qin, your elder. You will face divine retribution!” As he spoke, the guards wrapped the white silk around his neck, each standing on one side, holding the ends of the silk, looking at Qin Junlan, awaiting the imperial order.
“Divine retribution… I am the divine, who dares to punish me! Kill!” With a fierce shout, Qin Junlan appeared like the King of Hell, the faint light in her cold eyes like a sharp sword, her gloomy pupils reflecting Yi Hongchuan’s terrified gaze.
“Your Majesty, spare me… This subject…” The white silk turned into fine threads, tightening around his neck more and more. His face began to redden and distort, his eyeballs bulging out, gradually losing the strength to breathe, unable to even make a sound.
Until the last moment, his eyes were fixed straight on Qin Junlan. Throughout the entire process, Qin Junlan remained expressionless, her eyelids not even twitching, with even a hint of a wicked smile at the corner of her mouth. Only after confirming that Yi Hongchuan had breathed his last did Qin Junlan turn to leave. Her gaze remained ice-cold throughout, even the gloomy air of the death prison could not match her coldness in the slightest.
Those who offend her, die! Those who oppose her power, die! Those who shake her empire, die! Qin Junlan wanted the entire world to know what it means that the imperial authority cannot be offended. Even those with blood relations to her, even an uncle who doted on and tolerated her as a child, cannot cross the boundary between ruler and subject.
The glazed tiles of Qixia Palace shone exceptionally brilliantly under the setting sun. The rosy clouds scattered down, with wisps of mist surrounding Qixia Palace. Yun Jin raised her eyes to look at those imposing characters, which were indeed written by Qin Junlan’s hand. She had once wondered why someone was renovating this palace; it turned out she had planned this long ago.
“The Princess Consort has arrived. Why don’t you hurry and tell your mistress to come out and welcome her?” Huairou, Yun Jin’s personal maid, called out to the palace maids.
The palace maid hurriedly bowed to Yun Jin, “Greetings to the Wise Princess Consort. This slave will immediately inform the County Princess.”
“No need, I’ll go in myself. Huairou, the County Princess has just entered the imperial palace. How can you shout like this in her palace? What kind of etiquette is this?” Yun Jin reprimanded Huairou for her rashness. She had never liked to use her status to pressure others and always treated servants with leniency.
“Yes, this slave acknowledges her fault.” Huairou pouted. She was just worried that once this Liu Qianxun entered the palace, she would steal her mistress’s limelight. After all, in terms of talent, virtue, and reputation, no one could compare to the Princess Consort. Now that a County Princess of Qinghe had suddenly arrived, who knew what troubles she might bring in the future? If it led to a struggle for favor and palace intrigue, wouldn’t the Princess Consort be at a disadvantage?
But Yun Jin had always been indifferent to such matters. Even though she held an unparalleled position in the palace, she had never engaged in conflicts with others. She was the daughter of the Cheng Wangfei, the niece of the Empress Dowager, the wife of the Wise King, and moreover, the cousin of the Emperor. Such favor was incomparable to anyone else.
Hearing the palace maid’s announcement, Liu Qianxun hurried out to welcome her. Her rank and background were lower than Yun Jin’s, so she still needed to perform the palace etiquette when seeing her.
“Not knowing the Wise Princess Consort was coming, I failed to welcome you from afar. Please forgive me, Princess Consort.” Liu Qianxun and everyone in the palace bowed.
Yun Jin stepped forward and affectionately helped her up, smiling gracefully, “You are Mother Consort’s adopted daughter. You and I are of the same branch, we should address each other as sisters.”
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Her voice was like the gentle chirping of an oriole, seemingly able to express all the gentleness in the world, making one’s heart suddenly brighten. Liu Qianxun raised her eyes to meet hers, and Yun Jin’s heart skipped a beat. How had she not noticed before the familiar spirit between her brows? It seemed somewhat similar to her own, arousing a strange feeling in her heart.
This was the Wise Princess Consort Yun Jin, a generation of wise princess of the Ji Dynasty, whose reputation had spread far and wide, serving as a model for all women in the world and an exemplar for the imperial family. She was virtuous and elegant, conducted herself with proper measure, handled the affairs of the inner palace in an orderly manner, and was deeply loved by the Empress Dowager.
Yun Jin… Liu Qianxun’s gaze remained fixed on her, as if examining, or perhaps speculating about something. However, from her complex and unclear eyes, no peculiarities could be discerned.
“Greetings, Sister Jin’er.” Liu Qianxun changed her form of address, drawing closer to her. Yun Jin nodded slightly, quite in the manner of an elder sister, “From now on, I’ll call you Little Sister Xun’er.”
“May I ask what brings Sister here today?” Liu Qianxun’s use of “Sister” came out very naturally, which suddenly made Yun Jin feel a bit unaccustomed, but she still responded gracefully and at ease: “The palace rules are strict, and etiquette must be thoroughly observed. I’ve come to visit you and also to advise you on some matters of etiquette and protocol, hoping to assist you.”
“Please instruct me, Sister.”
“Firstly, your primary duty upon entering the palace should have been to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. However, recently, the Empress Dowager has been troubled by family matters and is not in the mood to see you. You should wait until everything has settled before going to pay your respects.”
“Xun’er understands.”
“Secondly, although the Imperial Sister is a female emperor and there are no consorts in the inner palace, there will still be open and hidden conflicts among the various departments of the inner palace. As the saying goes, ‘It’s easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark.’ Sometimes, affairs of the court can also affect the inner palace. You must remember to be cautious in everything.” Yun Jin explained the palace matters to Liu Qianxun in great detail.
In fact, even if she hadn’t come to inform her, Liu Qianxun would have quickly obtained intelligence. The imperial palace didn’t seem so unfathomable in her eyes; rather, everything was quite clear. She only needed a map of the palace and a chart of personnel relationships to sort out the daily entanglements.
What people pursue is nothing more than fame, propriety, and emotion. With a bit of observation, it’s not difficult to discern some people’s intentions. However, Yun Jin was somewhat elusive. What kind of thoughts were hidden beneath her too-perfect exterior, Liu Qianxun couldn’t yet see through. She always felt that Yun Jin wasn’t simple. But this didn’t affect her having a good impression of Yun Jin at first sight, and an inexplicable sense of closeness.
“Xun’er will carefully remember your teachings.” Liu Qianxun was accustomed to hiding her emotions. For her, remaining impassive was a form of safety, and moreover, a form of protection – she was like this with everyone.
Liu Qianxun’s air of indifference and Yun Jin’s serene demeanor were surrounded by a halo in the sunset’s glow. Qin Junlan arrived, treading on the rosy clouds. She had shed her dragon robe, a subtle orchid fragrance enveloping her entire body. Her brocade and purple silk attire was elegant without being vulgar, accentuating her majestic figure to the utmost beauty.
“Jin’er is here too.” Qin Junlan, having shed her imperial aura, was incomparably beautiful. Yun Jin didn’t dare to meet her gaze, always losing courage at such moments. “This humble sister came specially to visit Little Sister Xun’er. Now that Your Majesty has arrived, Jin’er will take her leave first.”
“How is it that when I wasn’t here, you were chatting happily, but as soon as I arrive, you want to leave?” Qin Junlan showed displeasure, also deliberately teasing Yun Jin.
“Your Majesty has been tired all day, and surely wants to rest well with Little Sister. Jin’er will come to visit another time. This humble sister takes her leave.”
“Sister Yun Jin…” Liu Qianxun approached her, once again looking at her with deep meaning. Her eyes, as calm as water, began to clear, and finally, she revealed a faint smile, “Qixia Palace is sparsely populated and elegant. If you don’t mind, Sister, you can come visit often.”
“Of course.” Yun Jin also smiled faintly. Just as she was about to turn and leave, she saw the head eunuch of Fengqing Palace hurrying towards them from outside the door, for some unknown reason.
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“Wise Princess Consort, Wise Princess Consort.” He looked extremely urgent, almost tripping over himself. The old eunuch, unaware that Qin Junlan was present, hurriedly knelt down in panic.
“What’s the cause for such alarm?” Qin Junlan immediately darkened her face.
“Your Majesty, Wise Princess Consort, the Empress Dowager has fainted…”
“What?” Yun Jin asked anxiously, “What happened? Has the Imperial Physician been summoned?”
“Yes… yes…” The old eunuch trembled as he looked at Qin Junlan, not daring to answer. Yun Jin was puzzled, vaguely feeling that something major had occurred.
Qin Junlan’s smile had completely disappeared, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly, seeming to smile yet not smile, making it impossible to discern her thoughts. “Because I killed Yi Hongchuan and ordered the execution of other members of the Yi family suspected of treason.”
“Uncle is dead?” Yun Jin was utterly shocked. Although she knew this was inevitable, when she heard Qin Junlan say these words, she couldn’t help but shudder.