Chapter 19: The Prince’s Grand Entrance

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“Your Highness, after an entire night of investigation, this is all we’ve uncovered. It’s not much different from last time. That Miss Xu must have survived a great calamity and changed her ways—which is understandable,” said Lingdang, who hadn’t slept all night. The Xu family was easy to investigate, but the Princess Dowager’s residence was quite challenging.

Surviving life and death and having a change of temperament seemed reasonable, yet Yin Sumo felt something was off. Unable to make sense of it, he dropped the matter for the moment. “What about that Princess?”

Lingdang immediately perked up. “Your Highness, speaking of that Princess, she is…”

“Enough, get to the point!”

Lingdang looked aggrieved. “Your Highness, this can’t be brief.”

“Then be concise. I have no time for nonsense!” Yin Sumo fed the parrot while teasing Lingdang.

“Yes, yes… That Princess Nian Zhao, guess who she really is. Her name is Feng Yuer. She used to be as close as sisters to Princess He Zhao, and they resembled each other somewhat. Her father was a deputy general under the Loyal and Brave Marquis. After Princess He Zhao died, the Princess Dowager adopted Feng Yuer as her foster daughter and doted on her. She even petitioned the Emperor to grant her the princess title Nian Zhao, meaning ‘in remembrance of He Zhao.’ However, according to my investigation, the relationship between Princess He Zhao and the Princess Dowager wasn’t as close as people thought. The Princess Dowager was cold and distant toward her only daughter, Princess He Zhao, since childhood…”

Lingdang rattled off the details while Yin Sumo listened with furrowed brows.

“Your Highness, don’t you find it strange? She dislikes her own biological daughter but lavishes kindness on someone who looks like her after her death. If Princess He Zhao knew this from the underworld… And that Nian Zhao herself shamelessly enjoys it and even got involved with the Prince of Departure. Outwardly she’s obedient and sweet, but behind the scenes, she’s ruthless. Several of her maids have mysteriously died. No wonder Miss Xu said she’s unworthy of the name Zhao…”

Yin Sumo set aside the bird’s food, straightened his robe, and said, “I remember there is still a box of muscle-regenerating cakes in the residence. Bring it along. We shall enter the palace!”

Tonight, there would be a grand spectacle.

“Enter the palace? Your Highness, isn’t the palace banquet still some time away…” Lingdang hesitated, but when the lord speaks, it’s as if the wind becomes rain.

Yin Sumo, walking ahead, suddenly stopped and looked himself over. “Is this attire too dull? Come, change!”

Lingdang followed with suspicion. When had his lord ever cared about such things?

Seeing Yin Sumo seriously pick out and try on three different robes before being satisfied, Lingdang was completely unsettled.

“Your Highness… Why such formality today?”

The blue-purple robe with white fur trim suited him perfectly. Then again, his lord was handsome by nature; any outfit was handsome, but a bit of grooming made him utterly irresistible—sure to captivate many young ladies.

Yin Sumo toyed with a string of jade beads and smiled, “Today… there’s a great show to watch!”

“A show? Which troupe has been invited to the palace? What play?”

Lingdang’s curiosity was piqued. What kind of spectacle could put his lord in such a good mood?

“Today’s play is called… ‘Breaking the Lovers Apart.’ Have you brought the items?” After speaking, he strode off.

Lingdang hurried to catch up. “Brought them. Your Highness, what are these for? Is it for that Miss Xu?”

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“Mind your tongue!”

Yin Sumo strode on with his hands behind his back.

“Your Highness, do you really fancy Miss Xu?” Lingdang was excited; who doesn’t love gossip?

“If you keep prattling, you’ll be sent to Uncle Ji for a beating!”

Lingdang immediately fell silent.

The palace banquet was still some time away. Zhaojiao accompanied the Empress in waiting.

The Empress was already adorned in rich splendor and regal grace. After sitting, she glanced at Zhaojiao. “Have you been waiting long?”

Not really, only about an hour.

Zhaojiao bowed and said with a touch of ingratiation, “It is my fortune to wait upon Your Majesty.”

“Your words are sweet. Come closer; let me see… Are your wounds better? Your face is no longer swollen. Sigh…”

Zhaojiao stepped forward as instructed. “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am much improved.”

The Empress nodded and hinted that Zhaojiao should endure the situation. If the Empress Dowager did not believe her and refused to intervene, even she could not protect the Princess from accusations.

Zhaojiao understood the Empress was testing her resolve, fearing she might waver. She hadn’t slept well last night; the Empress likely hadn’t either.

Tears welled in Zhaojiao’s eyes, and she knelt in panic. “Your Majesty, although I come from humble origins and cannot compare to the Princess, the Princess is still unjust. She assaulted me without cause and threatened my life if I tried to leave the palace. Your Majesty, I was once a concubine daughter in my family, but through this palace entry, my legitimate mother recognized me as her true daughter. I entered the palace bearing my family’s hopes. If I leave without cause…”

Zhaojiao’s heartfelt plea revealed her predicament to the Empress just enough to show she had no way out. She also let the Empress glimpse a hint of ambition. She wanted to establish herself in the family through this opportunity and would not give up easily.

The Empress’s eyes flickered, her brow relaxed slightly, evidently pleased.

“This Nian Zhao is truly overbearing… What are you waiting for? Help her up!”

As the Empress was speaking, palace attendants reported that Yin Wang and the Third Prince had arrived.

“Those two brothers meeting together? Let them in quickly.”

Yin Sumo had run into Yin Jiusu at the palace gate. Yin Jiusu was curious why Yin Sumo had come to Fengxiang Palace and understood the situation instantly upon seeing Zhaojiao.

“Mother, you have a favored guest here. No wonder Sixth Brother keeps coming to you.”

Yin Jiusu lounged carelessly, eyes fixed on Zhaojiao.

He paused in surprise.

“Whoa, what happened to your face? It was fine yesterday.”

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The Empress looked at her son with some concern and gave him a warning glance to speak less.

Yin Jiusu obediently shut his mouth.

“Since Yin Wang has arrived, you take her over later. I need to visit the Empress Dowager.”

The Empress felt it improper to accompany Zhaojiao herself; Yin Wang’s arrival was timely.

“As you command.”

The Empress smiled with hidden meaning and rose. “There’s no rush; it’s still early. You may sit a while before going. If you need anything, just ask them. Jiusu, come with me to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.”

“Mother…” Yin Jiusu wanted to stay and watch the fun.

The Empress shot him a look, and he reluctantly followed.

“Mother, it’s not appropriate for a single man and woman to be alone. Perhaps I should…”

Outside the main hall, the Third Prince couldn’t help but glance back.

The Empress gave him a stern look and lightly tapped his forehead in frustration. “What business is it of yours whether they’re suitable? When will you learn to be sensible? Sixth Brother just returned and was granted a title of Prince. And you? You only cause your mother worry!”

“Whether one is granted a title depends on Father. How can I influence that? Things are fine now. Though I have no title, I live outside the palace,” Yin Jiusu shrugged, indifferent.

“Is that the same? You are of my bloodline. Why can others be made princes, but you remain untitled past the age? You don’t care, but I can’t swallow this bitterness… Don’t think I don’t know—it’s all because Yin Ling is whispering in the Emperor’s ear…”

“Mother!”

Yin Jiusu quickly called out, “You always tell me to be cautious with words, yet today you…”

His royal aunt was not to be trifled with; when furious, she even dared scold the Emperor.

After the hosts of Fengxiang Palace had left, only two guests remained, creating a rather peculiar atmosphere.

“The snow has stopped today. It’s your first time entering the palace. I will show you around, then perhaps we’ll attend the banquet?”

Yin Sumo and Zhaojiao both understood the Empress’s intentions perfectly—she wished to use Zhaojiao without taking too much risk herself, so she pushed Yin Sumo to the forefront.

“Everything will follow Yin Wang’s arrangements.”

Revisiting old places, they wondered if they might see a different scene this time.