Chapter 3
Chapter 3
The Empress was a seasoned schemer, and Wen Miaoyi, whom I had yet to meet, was another hidden threat.
I had only just entered the Eastern Palace and had not even found my footing, yet enemies were already closing in on me from both sides.
After turning it over in my mind, I decided to start with Qin Shuyu.
Back when she lived in the inner chambers, she had been spoiled by her father and brothers into a certain innocence. At heart, she was not a bad person.
After her family was ruined and she fell from heaven into hell, she must have spent her days and nights in fear. That was why she had done something as shameless as stealing another woman’s husband on his wedding night.
After all, only by clinging to the Crown Prince, that final straw, would she have any chance of turning things around.
With that in mind, I directly assigned her a courtyard of her own and even bestowed two maids for her to command.
Deng Yuchen was determined to protect Qin Shuyu and keep her from having too much contact with me.
He was afraid I would resent her for what had happened on our wedding night.
One evening over dinner, I pointed at a plate of hibiscus and hawthorn cakes on the table and casually instructed, “Chenzhu, send these cakes over for Miss Yunyan to try. I remember she likes them.”
Deng Yuchen looked rather surprised. “My beloved consort even knows Yunyan’s preferences?”
I pressed my lips together. “Listen to you. Miss Yunyan and I are old acquaintances too. Of course I know a thing or two about what she likes. What is so strange about that?”
Chenzhu chimed in, “Her Highness is kindhearted. Whenever she has something good, she always thinks to set aside a share for Miss Yunyan. The new embroidery patterns that arrived a few days ago, Her Highness even had the Embroidery Department send them over so Miss Yunyan could choose first.”
“Enough. Since when was it your place to speak? Leave us.”
I cut Chenzhu off sternly, then smiled at Deng Yuchen. “I know Miss Yunyan’s character better than anyone. She is not one to stir up trouble. Even for the sake of our old ties, I am willing to look after her.”
Deng Yuchen was deeply moved. “I never imagined my beloved consort would have such breadth of heart. It seems I underestimated you.”
“Since the two of you are old acquaintances, have her come pay her respects more often. You young women can spend time together and pass the hours.”
That was exactly what I had been waiting for.
My smile grew even gentler. “That would be perfect.”
After all, if one was to be the Heir Apparent’s woman, how could she spend her whole life shut away in the rear courtyard, seeing no one?
Having received Deng Yuchen’s order, Qin Shuyu came to pay her respects the very next day.
Only, from the look in her eyes, she was still somewhat reluctant.
That was only natural. Once, we had both been daughters of noble houses. Now one of us sat above as the mistress.
The other knelt on the floor as a servant.
It would have been strange if she felt at peace with it.
Once she finished kowtowing, I gave Chenzhu a look. “Miss Yunyan, do get up. I said last time that there is no need to kneel and bow when you see me in the future.”
The fragrant tea and pastries were all of the finest quality. I treated Qin Shuyu exactly as I had back when we were still unmarried girls.
There was no belittling, no humiliation.
I spoke only of ordinary household matters and chose topics that interested her.
By the time she left, she was no longer as tense as when she had first arrived.
The second time, and the third, I continued to treat her as usual.
By the fifth visit, the time was ripe. I gave her a set of writing treasures.
She stared at the set, and her eyes suddenly reddened.
“This was the coming-of-age gift my elder brother gave me years ago. He said I loved reading and writing most, and that one day I would surely become a renowned woman of letters, famous throughout the realm.”
Qin Shuyu held the box in her hands and broke into choking sobs.
At that moment, all her longing for her family burst forth.
“Brother, Shu’er misses you so much… so much.”
If Father had not embezzled silver, Qin Manor would never have been seized.
Her mother would not have coughed blood and died of illness. Her elder brother would not have been beheaded and displayed before the public.
She would still be the most innocent, carefree young lady of the Duke’s Manor.
Reading beneath the moonlight, waiting for the boy she had grown up with to come and marry her.
But now, her home was gone. Her family was gone.
The boy who had once been hers had married someone else.
And she could only change her face and name, surviving in disgrace under his protection.
“Mother, Brother, Shu’er misses you so much.”
Her sobs grew louder and louder, as though she meant to pour out every grievance she had ever suffered.
When she choked on another sob, I stepped forward with tears in my eyes and wiped her cheeks with my handkerchief.
“The dead are gone. If Madam Qin has a spirit in heaven, she would not want to see you ruin your health over her.”
“Only by living on can there be hope.”
Qin Shuyu gripped my hand, moved and ashamed all at once.
“In the past, I judged Your Highness with a petty heart and misunderstood you. I even did many wrong things that hurt you.”
“Only now do I understand that Your Highness has the kindest heart under heaven. You can still treat me as you did before.”
With a thud, Qin Shuyu dropped to her knees. “Shu’er is here to apologize to Elder Sister.”
As she spoke, she was about to knock her head against the floor.
I hurriedly pulled Qin Shuyu up. “Since you call me Elder Sister, that means you regard me as family. Why be so distant?
“As for what happened before, you merely chose what benefited you most. Were I in your place, I would have done the same. You only need to remember this: from now on, I will protect you as I would my own younger sister.”
Qin Shuyu wept bitterly and insisted on kowtowing to me no matter what.
“Shu’er owns nothing and has no way to repay you. From this day forward, I am willing to follow Your Highness’s lead in all things. If I ever betray you, may the entire clan of Lady Qin be denied rebirth and suffer heavenly punishment through every lifetime.”
Swearing on herself was one thing. That remained open to question.
But swearing on her entire clan did inspire a measure of trust.
I helped Qin Shuyu up once more. “Dear sister, I do not need you to follow my lead in everything. I want you to be with the person you love and live without worry from now on.”
“Elder Sister, toward the Crown Prince, I…”
I cut Qin Shuyu off. “You and His Highness were childhood sweethearts to begin with. If not for all these troubles, you would have become his wife long ago.”
“To be honest with you, little sister, I love the Crown Prince deeply. But the Crown Prince is the Heir Apparent. How could he have only one woman? That is why I would rather the person he treats sincerely be you. At the very least, he would truly be happy.”
My words left Qin Shuyu too ashamed to show her face.
She admired me even more, practically ready to prostrate herself in worship.
The timing was right. I changed the subject and spoke of a few amusing things, coaxing her from tears into laughter.
After seeing Qin Shuyu off, I finally let out a breath.
Winning over a noble girl who had fallen on hard times was not difficult.
One only had to treat her as before, set aside past grudges, and give her the respect she deserved.
Then, amid the upheaval of her life, take care of her and peel away her defenses little by little.
Finally, move her with an old keepsake from her family.
That fragile wall would come crashing down.
Of course, if from now on she truly could follow my lead in all things,
then I would do as I said and treat her like a younger sister.
As for what I had just said about loving the Crown Prince deeply, that was pure nonsense, only a suitable excuse for my actions.
I only regarded Deng Yuchen as my superior. I had never felt anything between a man and a woman for him.
Love, affection, all of that. What was any of it compared to the solid reality of power?