The grand empress dowager is now under house arrest inside her hall. Well, this verdict is kind of a light one for a grave crime as to kill the emperor. She's just staying mostly in her hall after all so there are not many changes in her life from now on.
Yes, this is very frustrating for our protagonists' side but what can they do? They still have to consider what the high-ranking eunuchs suggest. Since she served as the ruler in the empire when her son died until Emperor Yin Renshu got the throne, she still has the privilege to be treated nicely. Plus she's already old so they can't give her a heavy punishment.
The only changes she'll face from now on are that her hall is highly guarded, she's not allowed to leave her hall, and no guests are allowed to visit her. Not even her court lady or any of her personal maids. Not even the empress dowager.
As for the empress dowager, she didn't receive any punishments. She said that the grand empress dowager is only using her and is threatening her life to join her schemes. Since they don't have evidence against her, not even the grand empress dowager denies any of her accusations, they let her go.
The empress dowager is only forced to pledge her loyalty to the Dynasty and never go against it.
Why does it feel like it went way too smooth?" Emperor Yin Renshu has his eyebrows knitted like there's something wrong going on. "Or I am just being paranoid?"
"It didn't go too easy on me and Liu Chen though." Princess Yin Xiulan commented with her gaze in a distance.
"That's...." The emperor blinks twice. He can't think of anything to say. He admits that was insensitive of him. To all of them, it was Princess Yin Xiulan who suffered the most. "Never mind."
Sect Leader Zhao came closer to the two of them and gives the princess and the emperor a pat on the head just like in the old times. "It's been a rough time for you. You should make sure to take a rest, okay? Don't think too much. Your minds need a break too."
The sun is about to rise yet Zhao Yangguang, Wang Junjie Princess Yin Xiulan, and Emperor Yin Renshu are still wide awake. They're having a little break in the Lotus Hall. And with the sect leader around, of course, jasmine tea is part of the relaxation.
Sect Leader Zhao sips on his teacup, finishing it in one go before he rises up from his seat. "Now that everything's fine now, I believe you three can manage from here. If you have some spare time, visit us in Wan Moli Hua Palace. I'll prepare your favorite cookies and of course, jasmine tea."
Remembering the good old days, he can't help but to smile and feel a little lonely. But just by looking at how they grew up in such adults, he could never be more proud of them.
Wang Junjie also rises from his seat and taps the sect leader's shoulder. "Let's go now before you claim them as your children again."
Sect Leader Zhao snorted upon hearing this matter again from the sect elder. "I thought you're going to comfort me or something."
"But it's still too early." Emperor Yin Renshu tries to retain them for a little longer. "At least stay for breakfast, shizun, shifu."
Their shizun just gives them a gentle smile as he waves his hand. "I know you're very tired from all this mess. We can't afford to bother you any further. Just don't forget to visit us sometime."
"I'll go call Wenyan." Princess Yin Xiulan was about to rise from her seat but the sect leader stopped her.
"There's no need. We'll go to them ourselves. I think I know where he is." A playful smile appears on his lips and he looks a little cheerful.
He has a place in mind where he might find the prince. "Come on, Ah-Jie!"
The sect leader is right. Prince Yin Wenyan is in the imperial garden by the lake. He's sitting under the old willow tree, staring at the rising sun, with Xu Zhengming's head leaning on his shoulder.
The two were having a chat but Xu Zhengming fell asleep.
Basically, this silly eunuch just wanted to tell how he was doing in Wan Moli Hua Place when the prince is gone. He complained how long Prince Yin Wenyan returned to get him, and that his blood is slowly turning into jasmine tea. He also shared how kind everyone is to him, and that this certain song of the sect leader is disturbing.
It's like they've been separated for so long, and the stories to tell are piling up, forming a mountain.
Xu Zhengming won't just shut up and he did almost all the talking, which Prince Yin Wenyan won't get tired of listening. He missed him too even though it's just a few days, and he'd love to hear his voice. After all, he wanted to say got delivered, Xu Zhengming also asked what happened to him while he's away. He's been wondering about his situation and condition as he waited in Wan Moli Hua Palace.
Since the eunuch wants to know, Prince Yin Wenyan told him about his journey. To avoid confusion and possible misunderstanding, there are some things he chose to just leave unsaid. And then the funny thing here is that Xu Zhengming felt sleepy while listening to the prince's adventures.
The prince noticed it and asked Eunuch Xu to go back to his quarters or perhaps to the Lotus Hall to rest but the other refused. He still wanted to talk, even denying the fact that he's sleepy. And so, Prince Yin Wenyan let it be and continued speaking.
After just a few moments, Xu Zhengming isn't responding anymore. Just as the prince was about to check on him, Eunuch Xu's head fell on his broad shoulder; he fell asleep!
Prince Yin Wenyan could only smile as he looked at the other's sleeping face. Tiredness is evident in him. He pushed himself too much.
"Look at you, so stubborn."
And then they remained like that until the sun rays start to lighten up the dark sky.
The steps of the sect leader and sect elder are quiet but the prince still noticed the presence of the approaching persons. As expected from a well-trained cultivator.
"Shizun! Shifu!" Prince Yin Wenyan was about to stand but he's hesitant to move. Afraid that he'll wake the deep sleeper, Eunuch Xu.
Zhao Yangguang gestured the prince to remain where he is and stop moving. He also put his forefinger close to his lips. He also doesn't want Xu Zhengming to wake up.
The sect leader crouched when he got close enough. He can't keep himself from chuckling when he sees that his little Ming'er is drooling. "He had it tough as well." The sect leader took his white handkerchief embroidered with jasmines on one of its corners and wipes the drool on Xu Zhengming's jaw. He then folds it properly and puts it on the silly eunuch's hand.
The fact that the prince didn't expect them or anyone to see him like this, he can't help himself from feeling a little uneasiness.
"Shizun, why are you here? You and Wang-shifu should rest too."
These two Daoist helped a lot, and they must be tired as well. As the one who receives the favor, Prince Yin Wenyan would like to show his gratitude through hospitality.
But this concern of his got ignored and changed the direction of the conversation. "I just got the feeling that you'd be here." Zhao Yangguang gives him a sweet smile, almost looking like teasing his former disciple. "The person you mentioned in your letters before... Was it Ming'er?" The letters that Sect Leader Zhao is talking about are the ones that the prince sent to him, asking for some love advice.
Prince Yin Wenyan's ears start to get reddish. Good thing, it's still dark so it's not that obvious. In a low voice, almost whispering, he replied to the sect leader bashfully. "Yes."
"We've only been together for a few days and from what I observed, he's a little dense but he never forgets the favors you did to him." Sect Leader brushes the lock of hair that somehow covers Xu Zhengming's face.
He sees this eunuch as his own child not because of guilt for what happened to Xu Lin. It's just Xu Zhengming isn't that hard to love and there's something about him that everyone is drawn into.
"Did you know, he kowtowed before me because he really wants to go with us here? When the news of coronating a new emperor came knocking into our doors, I can see his pure concern and worries." He turns his head slightly to look at the prince's eyes. "He cares for you."
The last thing that his shizun said made the butterflies in his stomach flap their wings. Prince Yin Wenyan is pleased to know that his eunuch is worried for him. However, this feeling didn't last long when he realized something. A weak smile draws on the prince's lips, saying, "I see. I apologize to shizun for disrespectfully asking you about his presence when you first arrived to save us."
Eunuch Xu is indeed worried for the emperor but who exactly is he worried for? The real one? Or his mere majesty's double? He's eager to dive into the dangers and go through the space of uncertainty. Just who among them is he willing to risk his life for?
"There's no need to apologize. I just wish that you all will eventually recover from this mess as soon as possible." Zhao Yangguang pats Prince Yin Wenyan and Eunuch Xu on the head before he rises from his crouching position and took a step back. "Wenyan, we need to go. Take care of my Ming'er."
"Xu Zhengming isn't yours." The sect elder is quick to reprove the sect leader, causing the latter to frown real quick.
Zhao Yangguang hurried to turn his head to his subordinate with pouty lips. "Why are you... never mind." He gave up. Wang Junjie is always like this. He's been rebuking him since their last three disciples came into his life.
He turns his attention back to Prince Yin Wenyan and changed the subject. "Anyway, visit us in Wan Moli Hua Palace if you have the time. For now, we can't bother you any longer so we're going home."
"Thank you so much and I apologize for the troubles, shizun, Wang-shifu."
"Don't mention it. You know we'll always help you as much as we could." Wang Junjie said in a plainspoken manner as usual. He might seem to be cold but he also cares for their former disciples.
"We will visit as much as we could."
Remembering how happy the sect leader was when he came to Wan Moli Hua Palace, he could tell that he misses the old times too. Just like him and his siblings.
The sect leader just gave him a smile, and the sect elder, on the other hand, just nods before they mounted their swords and left the imperial palace.
The chilly breeze blew and it made Xu Zhengming shiver in his sleep. He snuggled closer to Prince Yin Wenyan, unconsciously trying to keep himself warm. This eunuch is sleeping so soundly that the soft laughter of the prince didn't wake him up.
"We really need to go now."
The prince carefully took him in his arms, carrying him like a fragile treasure.
Meanwhile, inside the Lotus Hall, Princess Yin Xiulan and Emperor Yin Renshu stayed awake. They're still discussing some things even though they had a hard time these past few days. It's just they can't sleep. There are too many thoughts running inside their minds.
"The empress is still missing. After all these days, we didn't have any clues on how to find her." The princess opens the topic.
Truth to be told, she really thinks that the grand empress dowager still got it too easy. If they managed to find the empress and have her testimony used against their grandmother, maybe she'll be banished in the imperial palace.
"Should we interrogate the grand empress dowager? I really think she's the one who hid her. Or at least knows something about her disappearance."
Emperor Yin Renshu lazily leans on the backrest of his chair. Hearing that they still need to find Empress Xue Chi, he suddenly felt the tiredness he didn't have just earlier. "Do we still need to find her?"
His Majesty thinks that this is only just additional work. They got the throne back, the mastermind is revealed, and the authority is wholly theirs. They need nothing else to have a brand new start. Why do they have to bother themselves looking for the empress?
The eyebrows of the princess rise on their own. Disbelief is evident in her face. "Do we need not find her? She's your wife!"
"..."
Wife... they're just married because the grand empress dowager wants him to. He never really had a feeling towards her. Not even a little intimacy is shown.
It's clear that he doesn't love her even a bit, and it would only make him feel bad because he can see that the empress was really trying to win his favor little by little. However, there's no way he'll be able to give what she's asking, especially now that someone just made a special space in his majesty's heart.
"Can't we just have another empress?" His majesty suggested.
For example, Xu Zhengming. He'll be the first male empress by then!
"Yes, maybe." Princess Yin Xiulan also noticed that her brother isn't really interested in Empress Xue Chi. Being married for years and didn't even have a child yet, it's not hard to believe that they lack intimacy. "Then the imperial noble consort will be coronated as the new empress."
It's on the written rules of the Dynasty regarding the royal positions. That's the tradition they've followed for eight generations.
"Pshh... I'd like to have a new one. Someone who's not in the harem yet." Perhaps his personal eunuch? Not a bad idea, right? Well, at least for this emperor.
Princess Yin Xiulan blinks twice, even tilted her head a bit. Now, this is getting interesting. Who would have thought that there's actually someone who can capture his majesty's heart? This very emperor who doesn't seem to be interested in any ladies in his harem!
"You have someone you like?"
"It's not like that... It's..." His pride made him deny at first. But if this isn't 'like' he's feeling right now towards this silly eunuch of his, then what is it? In the end, he let go of his heavy pride. "Yes. I have someone I like."
"Oh? Who is it?" Since they are seated in the opposite directions of this round table, the princess leans her arm on the table and gets closer to her brother. "I might be able to help."
"It's..." Emperor Yin Renshu is hesitant to tell his sister about it. Knowing her, she might make fun of him. And on the other hand, maybe she really could help him in this matter. "It's Eu---"
He got interrupted when they heard a strange knock on the door of the Lotus Hall. They look at each other for a while, wondering what it could be. But of course, they'll never know if they won't open it, right?
Princess Yin Xiulan rises from her seat and comes closer to the door to slide it open. It's Prince Yin Wenyan, carrying a man in white robes in his arms.
"Wenyan! And Eunuch Xu?" The princess made a funny face and casually gives her brother a thumbs up. Prince Yin Wenyan finds it ridiculous but chuckles anyway.
"What happened to him?" Emperor Yin Renshu hurried to their side when he confirmed it's Eunuch Xu unconscious in his brother's arms.
His brother noticed this concern so he's quick to tell the other that nothing bad is happening as of now. "There's no need to worry. He's just asleep. Lower your voices." He walks across the room, towards the bed behind the screen, and carefully lays Eunuch Xu down.
He really is a deep sleeper, still asleep despite all the noises around them. Since the sun has just risen, a lot of servants saw him carrying this eunuch. Some started murmuring, some giggled, and some didn't manage to control their shock.
"He still has the signs of the poison. His canine teeth might not be showing themselves easily but they're not back to normal yet. I'm afraid his thirst for blood can still be triggered." The prince wears a serious face as he's looking at this sleeping beau. "We need to find the cure. Another Yueguang Hua perhaps?"
"I agree with Wenyan." Emperor Yin Renshu exclaimed. "Finding a cure for Eunuch Xu is more important than finding the Empress."
Only by then did the prince remember. "That reminds me. The empress is still missing."
"I can't believe you two forgot about your empress." The princess just shakes her head out of disbelief. "That matter aside, aren't we going to make Wenyan's identity public yet?"
Prince Yin Wenyan was about to speak but the emperor speaks first. "There's no need. Wenyan can act as Emperor Yin Renshu as usual. I am leaving the imperial palace so there won't be any conflicts about us being seen at the same time anymore."