Chapter Thirty-Two: Beforehand

The Second Prince, Wei Han, fixed a deep gaze upon Wei Baohua, his eyes clouded with a heavy gloom. In a low voice, he said, “How can you be so sure that no one will pursue the matter? Everyone knows how the Empress Dowager cherishes her like a rare treasure—if something were to happen to her, do you really think the Empress Dowager would let it go?”

Wei Baohua thought he was frightened and softened her tone to coax him. “Second Brother, I’m not asking you to act directly. You’d only be orchestrating things from behind the scenes. You know so many idle sons of nobility—just offer them a few benefits, and there will be plenty willing to do your bidding. Besides, even if they do investigate, as long as you leave no evidence, the Empress Dowager can’t do anything to you.”

Wei Han let out a cold laugh. “You’re that confident? I hardly see how ruining the reputation of Princess Kangping could possibly benefit you. Don’t tell me it’s simply to vent your anger—if that’s really all, there’s no need for such measures. I could just go teach her a lesson right now, for your sake.”

He made as if to leave, but Wei Baohua grabbed his arm, annoyed. “What good would that do? Wouldn’t I still be dragged into it? Why don’t you ever think before you act? I’ll admit, there’s a reason I want to ruin her name. You know well that I’ve always admired Zhao Jingshen. But the Zhao family seems intent on arranging a marriage with Princess Kangping—they even had Zhao Jingshen himself fetch her from the palace. In what way am I inferior to her? Why should the Zhao family choose her over me? I can’t accept it. I want to see, if her reputation is destroyed, whether Zhao Jingshen would still want her.”

Wei Han could hardly understand her reasoning. He had long known that his younger sister, spoiled by the Empress, had grown willful. He’d dirtied his own name to preserve himself, to avoid being used by the Empress and the Crown Prince, yet this foolish sister never listened—and now her thoughts were growing ever more extreme.

“There’s been no concrete news yet. The Zhao family and Kangping are relatives to begin with; it’s not unusual for him to fetch her personally. If they truly intended to marry her, they wouldn’t have left her alone all these years. You’re reading too much into this.”

Still, Wei Han tried to dissuade her. He’d never met Princess Kangping nor inquired much about her, but recent rumors had reached his ears—she was not a girl to be trifled with, and he didn’t want Wei Baohua making such an enemy.

“Will you help me or not? Haven’t you met Wei Baofu? A girl like her—even if Zhao Jingshen isn’t interested now, he surely will be in the future. As long as she’s around, I’ll never be at ease. If you still care for me as your own sister, help me see this through. Don’t waste words on pointless lectures.”

Wei Baohua’s eyes glittered with a hint of mania, and Wei Han felt a chill run through him. In the end, he said nothing more. “I’ll help you this once, but only this once. Your second brother is no great talent—don’t expect anything of me in the future. I want to live a good life and perhaps one day bring our mother out of the palace.”

With that, he left without a backward glance. Wei Baohua heard nothing else—she cared only that her second brother had agreed, and her face broke out into a self-satisfied smile. She was eager to see just how much fortune Wei Baofu truly possessed, and whether she could weather this storm.

Wei Baofu, of course, knew nothing of this plot against her. She soon received another letter from the Marquis Yongyi’s household, this time penned by the old Marchioness herself, inviting her to visit. Wei Baofu gave the invitation little thought.

She folded the letter and placed it back in its envelope, addressing Linglong in an unhurried voice, “I’ll write a reply in a moment—send someone to deliver it to the Marquis’s residence.”

Linglong accepted the letter but hesitated, then asked, “Does Your Ladyship not intend to visit the Marquis’s family? I thought, since the old Marchioness has sent so many invitations in earnest, she surely wishes to make amends.”

Wei Baofu smiled. “There’s no need to guess at her motives. Who do you think I’m closer to—the old Marchioness or my grandmother?”

Without pause, Linglong answered, “Naturally, you’re far closer to the Empress Dowager, Your Ladyship. You were raised at her knee; without her care, who knows what your life would have been?”

“That settles it. Since you know, why bring it up? Regardless of the old Marchioness’s sincerity, it’s true they ignored me all these years, true they never cared whether I lived or died. I don’t know if they had their reasons, but I do know that there’s real discord between her and Grandmother. If the old Marchioness truly wished me well, she should first pay her respects to Grandmother.”

Linglong came to a sudden understanding. Her mistress valued the Empress Dowager above all others. Seeing that Linglong had grasped her point, Wei Baofu continued, “No matter what, I’ll always side with Grandmother. Their grievances are none of my concern, but I can’t help outsiders at Grandmother’s expense. Others may not understand, but I know well enough the bitterness in Grandmother’s heart.”

In truth, Wei Baofu knew the old Marchioness harbored resentment toward her grandmother—perhaps even hatred, and she had certainly suffered much. But it couldn’t be helped. Wei Baofu was fiercely loyal to her own; even if her loved ones were at fault, she would always choose to shield them.

“When you send the letter, take some restorative herbs from my storeroom and send them as well. She’s still an elder, after all, and we ought to show respect.” The fact was, Wei Baofu knew that the Marquis’s family, too, had suffered innocently. Even though Consort Shu had entered the palace, the Zhao men had lost their former glory—surely the Emperor had suppressed them on purpose.

“I understand. When shall we set out for the hot springs estate, and whom will you take?” With Madam Qian growing older, Linglong had gradually taken over many affairs.

“We’ll leave tomorrow. The Emperor has already agreed, and I can use this as an excuse to refuse the Marquis’s invitation. I’ll just take you and Pearl—no need for anyone else.”

Linglong was delighted; as long as she could remain at her mistress’s side, she was content.

For several days, the Empress Dowager had been unsettled by the letters from the Marquis’s residence. When she saw Madam Feng return, she feigned indifference and asked, “What has Baofu decided? After all, that’s her maternal grandmother—it’s only right she should want to meet her.”

Madam Feng found it amusing; the Empress Dowager’s anxiety was plain—she feared the Zhao family would steal her granddaughter away.

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I asked Linglong myself. Our lady is most filial—she said if the old Marchioness wishes to see her, she must first pay her respects to you, and only if you agree will she go. I’ve always said, no maternal grandmother could ever be more important than one’s own grandmother. Our lady values you above all.”

The Empress Dowager’s heart, uneasy for days, finally settled. She replied awkwardly, “I only worry because Baofu, for all her cool demeanor, is soft-hearted at core. My sister-in-law is a persuasive one—if she were to sway her, and Baofu’s heart left me, what would I do?”

Madam Feng understood at once and spoke gently. “Don’t think that way, Your Majesty. The bond between you and the princess is irreplaceable. If our lady could be so easily led astray, she wouldn’t have achieved what she has today. Do rest easy.”

The Empress Dowager smiled wryly. “I can only be honest with you. How could I truly be at ease? No matter what, that’s her own grandmother. I can’t stop them from meeting—just as with the Fourth Prince, in the end, for Baofu’s sake, I had to bow my head. I’ve come to accept that—sometimes, one must yield.”

No one knew better than Madam Feng the depth of the sisters-in-law’s old grievances. In their youth, the Empress Dowager had indeed made her sister-in-law suffer many slights, but such matters, within a family, never endangered lives. Later, upon entering the palace, though she enjoyed the late Emperor’s favor, she remained childless for years—the bitterness of those nights only Madam Feng, her closest confidante, could truly understand. The Empress Dowager had once wished to treat the Emperor well, but from childhood he had trusted no one. Though raised by her, he’d long known the truth of his parentage. What foster mother wouldn’t feel chilled by a child’s constant suspicion? In the end, she’d had a child of her own—Prince Lian, for whom she’d yearned for years. How could the Emperor compare?

Though the old Marchioness had tried to mediate, suffering many wrongs, the rift was not solely the Empress Dowager’s fault. The estrangement between mother and son was, perhaps, fated.

“Do you plan to summon the old Marchioness first?” Madam Feng asked calmly. For the sake of her descendants, the Empress Dowager was willing to endure much; she nodded with a faint smile.

“What does it matter if I see her first? She’ll still have to kneel and pay her respects. My sister-in-law simply doesn’t understand—I have no intention of growing close to them; what happens next will depend on what Baofu wants. In any case, I won’t let her be troubled.”

Madam Feng offered no objection. She had seen much over the years; now, so long as the princess was well, the Empress Dowager would be content. “Tomorrow, the princess is leaving for the hot springs. She’ll likely stay several days, but she’ll dine with you tonight. Is there anything you’d like her to know?”

The Empress Dowager sighed. “I’d like to give her some advice, but Baofu is too clever—what need is there for me to say much? Still, I’ll remind her a few times. I worry there may be hidden dangers at the hot springs estate; I only hope the Emperor has matured and won’t stoop to petty tricks.”

The Emperor, even as a boy, had loved playing his little games—they never did real harm, but often left the Empress Dowager embarrassed, deepening her unease toward her foster son.

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. The Emperor knows little of the princess—he merely thinks she’s a clever girl, nothing more. He’s far too busy now to meddle—don’t trouble yourself.”

The Empress Dowager shook her head. “Better safe than sorry. Baofu’s guards stand out too much—let me send some of my own people along. There’s no harm in extra hands; they may come in useful.”

With that, the arrangements were settled.