Ch 13: When the Wild Goose Returns

The Empress experienced a disturbance in her pregnancy and even began bleeding through her skirt.

Everyone was terrified.

Emperor Wen He, in a panic, rushed to her side, calling out “Empress” over and over as he tried to help her sit down.

The Empress, furious and disgusted by the smell of the room, cast a vicious glare at Su Ruqing and insisted on returning to Huafeng Palace.

All eyes were on the Empress and the unborn child in her belly—no one spared a glance for Su Ruqing, who sat huddled in the corner of the bed.

Su Ruche took the opportunity while everyone had left to quietly enter the room.

She looked at her dazed and broken sister lying on the bed, and scenes of their many years of closeness as sisters flashed through her mind.

She walked slowly to the bedside and softly called, “Sister.”

Su Ruqing, disheveled, clutched the blanket tightly around herself.

Her hair was a mess, her hairpin broken and hanging askew. Her makeup was ruined, her face covered in tears.

She lifted her head and looked at Su Ruche, voice hoarse: “Why?”

“I did it for your own good,” Su Ruche said gently, sitting on the edge of the bed and wiping her sister’s tears with a handkerchief.

Su Ruqing shoved her away violently and slapped her hard across the face.

Su Ruche touched her cheek, then calmly sat upright again and straightened her pristine new clothes.

With a cheerful tone, she said, “I want to be Princess Zhan too.”

Su Ruqing was stunned, her voice trembling: “You’ve only seen Prince Zhan once—you didn’t even speak to him!”

“So what? Didn’t you also fall for Prince Zhan after seeing him just once, casting aside the pride of a county princess and the modesty of a woman—crying, chasing, using every tactic—becoming a joke among the daughters of the capital?
I never understood why you were like that until the day, thanks to you, I met Prince Zhan. Then I understood what it meant to fall for someone at first sight. Seems we truly are sisters—with such similar taste.”

Su Ruqing was shaking with rage, her entire body trembling.

“If I helped you get rid of the Princess Huachao,” Su Ruche continued, “I’d just have to go through the trouble of dealing with you again to win Prince Zhan. But now, by making you His Majesty’s consort, you’ll live out your life in luxury and honor. Isn’t that a wonderful ending?
I did it for your sake—to help you choose the best path.”

She smiled innocently.

“You’re shameless!”

The physical pain on Su Ruqing’s body was nothing compared to the pain in her heart.
To be betrayed by the one she trusted most—it pierced her deeper than a thousand arrows.

After pain came hatred.

Clutching the brocade quilt, Su Ruqing glared at Su Ruche and rasped, “You think you’ll get away with this?
Even if it kills me, I’ll make sure the world knows what you’ve done!”

Su Ruche chuckled and asked lightly, “And who would believe you?”

“First, you once clung to Prince Zhan relentlessly, using every underhanded method and shaming your own dignity.
Now that you know Prince Zhan is set to marry Princess Huachao, and you can’t be Princess Zhan, you suddenly want to climb into the emperor’s bed. No one would be surprised.”

“Second, it was you who asked Nanny Su for the Passion Smoke.
Chun Chi is your maid.
These things can be checked. None of it has anything to do with me.”

“Third, I told the Empress that you resented her for ruining your match with Prince Zhan and wanted revenge—
wanted her, while pregnant, to know the pain of losing the one she loved. Think the Empress won’t believe that?
You did say she was selfish and ignored sisterly bonds, didn’t you?”

“Fourth, if you tell our parents—
we’re both their daughters. What makes you so sure they’ll believe you over me?
I remember Mother often saying, ‘Your sister is younger. You must yield to her.’”

“Fifth, what truth can you speak of?
That we helped Princess Huachao sneak into the emperor’s bed?
Such a plot against His Majesty is a serious crime.
And besides… with things as they are, do you think the Princess will admit it?”

“Sixth, if you plan to make a public fuss—
what will you say?
That you were… violated by His Majesty?”

Su Ruche’s voice dropped low: “Sister, do you want to die?”

Su Ruqing shivered.

The chill reached her bones.

Su Ruche’s words were like blades, cutting her bit by bit.

From flesh, to bone, to marrow.

Leaving her bloodied and torn.

After a long while, Su Ruqing slowly closed her eyes.

Su Ruche bent over and gently hugged her, smiling: “Have you thought about what comes next, Sister? Probably not. But I couldn’t bear to see you suffer, so I’ve thought it all through for you. His Majesty will think you seduced him deliberately. And they say men fall for this sort of thing.

You’re beautiful, Sister. If you show a little care, winning his favor shouldn’t be hard.

Besides, as long as Father remains Prince Xingyuan, no one in this palace would dare mistreat you.

As for the Empress… just apologize.
You’re sisters—she’ll only be angry for a while.”

Su Ruqing said nothing. It was unclear if she was even listening.

“Today is my coming-of-age ceremony,” Su Ruche said cheerfully. “The other ladies are waiting for me.
I won’t keep you company any longer.”

She waved her hand and ordered,
“Chun Chi, Qiu Wan—take good care of your mistress. Don’t let my dear sister catch a chill.”

Chun Chi and Qiu Wan bowed their heads and acknowledged the command.

Su Ruche rose and walked out.

Her lips still carried a smile, and in her mind appeared the face of Duan Wucuo.

Her sister said she’d only seen him once. That wasn’t true.

She had seen him three times.

The first time, in the palace, when she first felt her heart stir.

The second time, at the viewing pavilion, when she climbed the stone steps toward him and stood behind him, gazing at his back.

The third time… was today.

Just past noon, Su Ruche went to report it a second time.

“Prince Zhan, my sister wants to take Princess Huachao and sneak into His Majesty’s bed.
No matter how I tried to dissuade her, she wouldn’t listen.
The Princess is young and naive—she’s been fooled!”

He replied, “No matter.
His Majesty has been resting in the side hall recently.”

Prince Zhan smiled at her—the first time he’d ever smiled at her—and it completely scattered her senses.

Watching Su Ruche walk away, Su Ruqing’s tear-filled eyes slowly lost their confusion and pain.

She gripped the blanket tightly, snapping her fingernails.
Blood seeped into the brocade, but she didn’t even notice.

After a while, she turned her gaze toward Chun Chi.

Chun Chi kept her head bowed low, trembling and crying as she said,
“It was County Princess Zhenshan who threatened me with Dong’er’s life… I didn’t dare beg for mercy. Please punish me…”

“You must’ve been forced. Good girl, I don’t blame you.”

Chun Chi looked up in shock, unable to believe what she had just heard.

Su Ruqing slowly smiled.
The madness in her eyes spread freely, like thorned vines growing wildly in every dark corner of her heart.

—

In the wardrobe next door, Qing Yan had her ear pressed to the wall, straining to hear. She vaguely made out that the Empress had suffered a complication in her pregnancy and was summoning the imperial physician.

After a fresh wave of commotion, the people in the neighboring room seemed to have gradually dispersed.

She heard Su Ruche had been there—and had left.

But the sisters hadn’t spoken loudly, so Qing Yan couldn’t make out their words.

Not knowing whether any palace staff still lingered outside, she didn’t dare to leave rashly.

She peeked up at Duan Wucuo.

He was already looking down at her.

She quickly looked away, pretending she hadn’t seen him.

But Duan Wucuo simply opened the wardrobe door wide. Light flooded in, scorching Qing Yan’s eyes like fire.

She shut them tight at once.

Duan Wucuo stepped out. When she didn’t follow, he turned back and asked,
“Does the princess plan to live in the wardrobe?”

Qing Yan shook her head and slowly opened her eyes, which were misted with tears, soaking her violet pupils and making them look lighter than usual.

Duan Wucuo stared at her eyes a moment longer, then swept his gaze toward the closed window.

The afternoon sun was cut into slices by the window lattice, casting patterns on the floor.

Still, it was only indoor light.

Qing Yan rubbed her eyes to ease the burning.

Then she asked in a quiet voice,
“So… we’re just walking out the main entrance, just like that?”

“There’s no back door, and no dog hole for the princess to crawl through.”

Qing Yan furrowed her brows, just about to retort—
When footsteps approached, she darted back into the wardrobe in a flash.

“Come back here!” she whispered, waving to Duan Wucuo.

But he completely ignored her.

A gorgeously dressed noblewoman hurried in. She didn’t seem surprised to see Duan Wucuo.

Qing Yan recognized that face—she’d seen her once in Chang’an Hall. This must be one of His Majesty’s consorts.

No need to guess—it was Consort Shu.

“Your Highness.”
Consort Shu lowered her eyes and knelt respectfully before Duan Wucuo.

Qing Yan’s eyes widened.

How could a consort kneel to a prince?

And Duan Wucuo didn’t even offer courtesy in return. With a casual, “You may rise,” it was clear this was their usual dynamic.

Qing Yan’s heart pounded—
Could it be… the rumors about Prince Zhan and Consort Shu weren’t about an affair, but coercion?
Was he forcing her…?

Consort Shu rose and looked toward the wardrobe.
With one door open and one closed, Qing Yan was half-hidden, hand on the handle as if she’d been about to shut it.

She felt terribly awkward and forced down her curiosity, stepping out of the wardrobe.

Duan Wucuo glanced at her and said to Consort Shu, “Escort her out.”

“Yes.”

Consort Shu approached Qing Yan and spoke kindly, “Princess, this way please.”

Qing Yan smiled politely and nodded, following her.

As she passed Duan Wucuo, she quickened her pace noticeably.

Outside Jinghua Palace, Qing Yan spotted Wen Xi waiting in the distance.
She stopped Consort Shu from escorting her further and walked off on her own, taking graceful steps just as Wen Xi had taught her.

Consort Shu remained at the roadside, watching her go with a quiet sigh.

Wen Xi came forward, shook out the cloak over her arm, and draped it over Qing Yan, even adjusting the hood for her.

Mistress and maid walked onward together, composed and unhurried.

Wen Xi asked in a low voice, “Are you alright?”

Qing Yan murmured, “Mm,” and said no more.

Wen Xi didn’t press. The palace wasn’t the place for open talk—this would have to wait.

Once they boarded the carriage and sat down, Qing Yan spoke:

“I think it was County Princess Zhenshan who set up her own sister.”

The palace was already abuzz with the news:
The Empress had rushed into Jinghua Palace, only to find the emperor and County Princess Zhenxian disheveled on the same bed. She had been so enraged that it triggered her pregnancy complications.

Wen Xi had been waiting outside and knew the rough outlines, but the details had eluded her.
Now, hearing Qing Yan’s take, it did seem the most plausible explanation.

As for why Zhenshan would harm her sister—Wen Xi didn’t know.

And neither did Qing Yan.

After a pause, Qing Yan suddenly said,
“I guess I won’t be marrying the emperor after all…”

When Xi’s heart sank, unease creeping in.

…

The carriage rocked—this road ahead was anything but smooth.

All this struggling… was only for a smoother path.

The secret of impersonating the princess weighed on her constantly, leaving her no peace.

Qing Yan blinked slowly, then cautiously peeked at Wen Xi’s expression.

She reached out and tugged Wen Xi’s sleeve, saying sweetly,
“Sister Wen Xi, if anyone ever gets suspicious—
please make me a beggar’s chicken with rat poison inside.

Let me die early, under the princess’s name.
Then no one would ever suspect anything.”

Wen Xi’s heart trembled violently.
She snapped, “You really don’t want to live right, do you?!”

Qing Yan flinched, shoulders trembling, shrinking away.

She was terrified of Wen Xi’s scolding.

Wen Xi suppressed her anger and softened her tone:“You’re going to impersonate this princess properly. Don’t you dare entertain such thoughts again!”

Qing Yan hugged her knees and nodded hard.

A while later, Wen Xi’s face was still dark.

Qing Yan cautiously tugged her sleeve again.

When Wen Xi looked over, Qing Yan immediately lifted the corners of her mouth, dimples deepening as she smiled sweetly:

“Sister Wen Xi, so… do we get beggar’s chicken for dinner tonight?”

Wen Xi, exasperated, grabbed a red bean pastry from the tray beside her and stuffed it into Qing Yan’s mouth.

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