Chapter 7: Seduction

“What are you doing here?”
His tone was cold.

Yan Ling rubbed her eyes and, as if casually, flipped through the book scroll.
“I accidentally fell asleep.
I thought you weren’t coming back tonight.”

Xie Chongqing glanced at her calmly.
“I originally didn’t plan to come back.”

Qingtao very sensibly withdrew and closed the door behind her.

“Tomorrow, when Father Emperor returns to the palace, it will take at least half a day on the road.
With all the complicated formalities added on, Shaoshi should escort me back to the palace in the evening.”

She tilted her head up.
Her fair, snow-bright face looked unusually obedient, enough to make one think that the sharp clashes of the past few days had all been an illusion.

Xie Chongqing slowly turned the thumb ring on his finger and did not answer at once.

Yan Ling waited for his reply.
As time passed, the confusion in her eyes deepened.

“What is it?”

Xie Chongqing’s voice was flat, without the slightest ripple.
“I’m afraid Your Highness cannot leave for the time being.”

“Why?”
Yan Ling rose abruptly, her expression darkening at once.

“This is also for Your Highness’s own good.”
Xie Chongqing did not explain.
If he told Yan Ling that His Majesty was critically ill, she would definitely return at all costs.

The palace defenses had not relaxed.
His Majesty remained unconscious.
In court, Prince Hui and Prince Ji confronted each other in open rivalry.
In the inner palace, Consort Yu and the Empress were locked in a silent struggle.

At Qixia Mountain, his moment of softness in saving her had two reasons.
One was in repayment for the brief guidance he had once received in his youth from the late head of the Wang clan.
The other was the secret edict in her possession.

Yan Ling’s maternal grandfather was tyrannical and willful, ruling his retainers and advisers with an iron hand.
Xie Chongqing’s political views ran contrary to his, and in his youth he had been repeatedly suppressed.
In the end, he simply withdrew to the mountains of Ji County, no longer involving himself in court affairs.

However, the head of the Huan clan had summoned him into service several times and promoted him repeatedly.
As a result, the Huan clan from top to bottom—and even Prince Hui—trusted him deeply.

Xie Chongqing had no reason to invite trouble upon himself.

“The timing is truly unfortunate.
The capital’s defenses have been reinforced, with additional patrols.
Your Highness will likely have to wait a few more days.”

But clearly, these words were not enough to convince Yan Ling.

Yan Ling did not intend to press him further.
After all, they stood on opposing sides, and the fact that Xie Chongqing had saved her life once was already no easy thing.

“Then I won’t trouble Shaoshi any longer.
Please send me to the Wang residence tonight.”
Her tone was firm.

She had not originally planned to seek out the Wang clan.
After all, she was not certain her uncle would help her.
But at present, she had no better option.

If Father Emperor were truly returning to the palace, his health must have improved.
How could he possibly allow Yan Hong to control Jiankang’s city defenses—
Especially when those defenses were clearly aimed at her?

Xie Chongqing had dared to send her back before because he believed the two of them held “leverage” over each other.
Now that he had so decisively gone back on it, that leverage was clearly no longer enough to threaten him.

Something had happened to Father Emperor.

No matter how bad Yan Ling’s temper was, when it came to matters of true importance, she softened her stance.
“These past days have troubled Shaoshi greatly.
I know Shaoshi is also in a difficult position.
Shaoshi saved Yan Ling’s life, yet Yan Ling has been ignorant and troublesome time and again.
I hope Shaoshi will not lower himself to argue with me.”

Xie Chongqing’s thumb brushed back and forth over the ring.
He could not help finding it a little amusing.
So now she knew fear—why hadn’t she been afraid earlier, when she was all claws and fangs?

Even so, he still refused her.
“No.”

Once rejected, Yan Ling could no longer sit still and immediately revealed her true colors.

“Xie Chongqing, you’re stopping me like this—
Did something happen to Father Emperor?”

Her voice trembled faintly as she questioned him, unable to restrain herself.

“Your Highness is overthinking it.
There’s no such thing.”
He remained indifferent, answering only when asked, with no intention of explaining further.

Yan Ling was so angry that her chest tightened, her heart churning uncomfortably.

“Why is Yan Hong holding the capital’s defenses?
If my father were truly fine, how could he allow this?
Xie Chongqing, I want to go to the Wang residence.”
Her resolve was unmistakable.

Xie Chongqing raised his voice and summoned someone into the room.
Qingtao stepped forward silently and placed a hand on Yan Ling’s shoulder.
Yan Ling felt a force that brooked no refusal, pressing her straight back into the wheelchair, unable to move.

“What are you doing?”
Her voice broke in disbelief.

Xie Chongqing looked down at her from above.
“Your Highness, stay here in peace.
When the time is right, I will naturally send Your Highness back.”

As soon as he finished speaking, pain flared at Yan Ling’s neck.
Her consciousness was gradually stripped away, and darkness swallowed her vision.

“Send her back.
Without my permission, she is not to leave the room.”

Qingtao responded carefully and pushed Yan Ling back to Zhuqing Courtyard.
Xie Chongqing discreetly stationed additional guards around the courtyard.

When Yan Ling awoke, it was already the next day.
Bright daylight streamed in through the lattice window.
Dust motes danced chaotically within the beams of light.
She stared blankly and could not help reaching out to touch them.

Qingtao entered with the meal tray and saw her like this.
“Madam is awake.
Please have something to eat.”

Yan Ling suddenly sat up.
“Where is Xie Chongqing?”

“The household head is not here.”

Yan Ling hurriedly got out of bed, but a sharp pain in her ankle made her legs give way.
Qingtao quickly supported her and helped her back into the wheelchair.
Yan Ling felt weak all over.
It was all because her body was too delicate—now she could not even walk.

“Madam should stop exerting herself.
Rest and recover is the best course,” Qingtao urged.

Yan Ling sat there dazed for a while, then finally closed her eyes helplessly.

Qingtao opened the food box and took out a plate of sliced perch, a plate of golden-thread rolls, a bowl of plum-blossom noodle soup, and a lamb biro pastry.

Yan Ling had little appetite and ate only a small amount.

After the meal, she asked if she could go out for a walk.
Qingtao looked troubled, hesitating as if wanting to speak but stopping herself.

“Forget it.”
Yan Ling set down her chopsticks, her face unable to hide its sorrow.

She, who had originally placed no hope in Gongsun Zhi, found that hope rekindled once more—
Hoping that one day, Gongsun Zhi might truly find Fu Li.

Fu Li.

Yan Ling silently repeated the name in her heart.
She pulled a thin cord from around her neck.
Hanging from it was a fish-shaped jade pendant, translucent and warm in color.
If she was missing, he must be very worried too.

…

Jiankang Palace.
Bright yellow gauze curtains hung down, faintly revealing a figure lying behind them.
A gentle and dignified figure sat by the bed, personally serving the medicine.

The emperor on the bed was ashen-faced, his breathing weak.
Below, numerous princes, princesses, and high-ranking officials knelt prostrate on the tiled floor.

Empress Huan wiped the medicine from Emperor Yonghe’s lips.
“His Majesty is gravely ill.
Prince Hui shall temporarily manage state affairs, with Lord Xie assisting as regent.”

Yan Hong straightened slightly, confidence written across his face.
He cupped his hands and bowed.
“This son receives the decree.”

“Your Majesty the Empress.”
Consort Yu entered the hall, calling out as she came.
She wore a rose-red palace robe embroidered with phoenix patterns, her high coiffure ornate, her figure graceful and alluring.

Empress Huan’s expression cooled at once.
“What are you doing here?
Who allowed you to enter?”

“Your Majesty is quite domineering,” Consort Yu replied lightly.
“You guard His Majesty alone and do not allow this concubine to see him—that I can accept.
But in my foolish opinion, since His Majesty has yet to name an heir, it is not appropriate for Prince Hui alone to shoulder state affairs.
Why not have Prince Ji and Prince Hui govern together, with the Minister of Works and the Chancellor jointly assisting?”

The expressions of Empress Huan and Yan Hong both turned unpleasant.

The head of the Yu clan was the current Chancellor, and naturally echoed her words.
With the Grand Marshal absent from court, Empress Huan did not dare offend the Yu clan too deeply.

“Then let Prince Ji assist in governance together with Lord Xie and the Chancellor.”
The empress phrased it differently, avoiding the words “jointly governing.”
Even so, Consort Yu was still somewhat dissatisfied.

The empress dismissed the others, leaving only the regents and the acting princes behind.
“Physician Xun, give me a straight answer.
Can His Majesty still… live?”

Physician Xun sighed.
“This… this old servant will do his utmost.
At present, we can only rely on medicine to delay matters.
The true illness lies in the heart.
We must retrieve the Twelfth Prince as soon as possible.”

Consort Yu theatrically lifted her wide sleeve, half-covering her face as she sobbed softly.

Prince Hui and Empress Huan exchanged a glance, each harboring their own calculations.

Outside the hall, Yan Hong hurried after Xie Chongqing.
“Lord Xie.”

Xie Chongqing stopped.
Yan Hong spoke as he walked.
“I intend to withdraw everyone stationed at Qixia Mountain.”

“His Majesty is unconscious.
Wouldn’t this give others grounds for criticism, Your Highness?”

“I already have my plan.
This time, Father Emperor’s grave illness was all caused by the Twelfth Prince provoking the White Tiger into a violent attack, after which he fled in fear of punishment.”

He had already begun referring to himself as gu.

Xie Chongqing frowned at him, clearly disapproving.
“Your Highness is acting too rashly.”

“I can’t wait any longer.
If he’s still alive, every extra day reduces my chances of ascending the throne.”

Yan Ling was far too favored.
Her late mother had been a noble daughter of the Langya Wang clan.
Though the Wang clan had grown distant from the imperial house, they were still the foremost great clan of Jin—a top-tier aristocratic family.

Such clans had no family affection, only利益.
He did not dare gamble on whether the Wang clan would support Yan Ling.

He had to eliminate any possibility of Yan Ling’s return.

Even so, Xie Chongqing still disagreed.
If Yan Hong wanted to court disaster himself, that was one thing—but not to drag him into it.
“What Your Highness truly fears is the Twelfth Prince posing a threat to you.
What if he has no desire for the throne?”

“If he’s dead, then there’s no threat—and no desire either.”
Yan Hong spoke urgently, not grasping the deeper meaning of Xie Chongqing’s words.

After parting with Yan Hong, Xie Chongqing made a trip to the Imperial Medical Bureau.

“Physician Xun.”
He made a deep bow.
Physician Xun hurriedly returned the salute.
“Does Lord Xie seek this old man for some urgent matter?”

“Can His Majesty still awaken now—
Even briefly?”

Physician Xun considered for a moment and answered tactfully.
“This old man can only do his utmost.
For now, His Majesty should still be able to hear.”

Xie Chongqing nodded.
“In that case, it would be good to have Chief Eunuch Liu speak daily by His Majesty’s bedside, mentioning that the Twelfth Prince is still alive.
It may have some effect.”

Physician Xun was delighted.
“My lord’s words make perfect sense.”

Xie Chongqing smiled faintly.
“Then I will await Physician Xun’s good news.”

…

That evening, the night was clear and spotless, the moonlight like silver.

Qingtao reported Yan Ling’s condition of the day in detail.

“Madam ate very little.
This servant tried to persuade her, but Madam said she had no appetite.
She barely moved all day and said she wanted to go out for a walk.
My lord, one day like this may be fine, but if it continues day after day…”

Xie Chongqing said,
“I’ll go see her.”

He arrived at Zhuqing Courtyard.
The room was lit, and the silhouette on the lattice window was graceful and slender—slowly… undressing.

Her narrow shoulders were delicate and fragrant, her neck long and graceful.
She gathered her dark hair to the front and untied her undergarments.

The sound of water rippled through the room.
Xie Chongqing instinctively averted his gaze.
Qingtao felt a little guilty.
“Madam should be bathing.”

He said nothing more and turned his back.
Only when the sound of water ceased did he step forward and knock on the door.
“Your Highness.”

“Come in.”
The voice inside did not pause—soft yet crisp.

Xie Chongqing pushed the door open.
The maid attending Yan Ling withdrew of her own accord.
With no preparation at all, his gaze fell upon her, his eyes instantly sharpening.

Yan Ling was not properly dressed.
She wore only a fox-fur cloak.
Though the fur was thick, large swathes of smooth, snow-white skin were still exposed.
Her beautifully shaped jade feet rested lightly on the ground.

She sat there in her wheelchair, her temples still slightly damp.
Water droplets slid down her hair, leaving a faint trail across her chest before disappearing into her collar.

“It’s so late, Shaoshi.
What brings you here?”
She clutched her collar with both hands as she spoke, trying to find a flicker of unsteadiness in his eyes.

“Your Highness should put your clothes on first,”
Xie Chongqing said calmly, though his brows knit.
It was as if his gaze had brushed against something it should not have seen, and he immediately looked away.

“This is my room.
I’m about to sleep.
If Shaoshi is not here to tell me you’re sending me back to the palace, then there’s no need to waste time.”

Her voice was inexplicably soft—
So soft that even her anger sounded like she was coquettishly pleading, giving rise to the illusion that she was easy to bully.

Only then did Xie Chongqing look back at her.
At just that moment, Yan Ling’s hand at her collar—whether intentionally or not—slipped.
The cloak slid from one shoulder, revealing skin as smooth and fine as white jade.
Lower still, gentle curves rose and fell, half-hidden, half-revealed.

In an instant, the entire room seemed to fill with fragrance.