As night deepened, the quiet palace showed no sign of danger, yet a conspiracy was silently being unravelled.
In the study, the underfloor heating burned warmly, ensuring comfort. Yebusu and Sose had already fallen asleep, well taken care of by Da Yuer.
"Princess, would you like to eat something?" Sumala asked softly. "These are snacks from the study, not from outside."
Da Yuer casually picked up a piece and slowly ate it, her eyes fixed on the snowflakes dancing under the palace eaves in the dim light. "Princess, aren't you afraid?" Sumala asked gently.
"Of course I'm afraid, but something feels too strange," Da Yuer replied, her voice calm but thoughtful. "Don't you think Sonin seems too calm? A few days ago, he even told me out of nowhere that he stayed behind to protect us."
"Princess, do you mean…?" Sumala hesitated, "Did His Majesty foresee all this?"
"Probably." Da Yuer nodded slightly. "When Sonin saw Tung Tulai, he was so surprised, but Tung Tulai said he was worried that Sonin's men might fight against his. Clearly, they weren't in sync."
Sumala was puzzled. "Princess, I don't understand."
Da Yuer took another bite of the snack and murmured, "Neither do I."
"But we'll be fine, right?" Sumala asked with a trace of hope in her voice.
Da Yuer picked up another piece of the snack and nodded firmly. "We'll be fine. Aunt, Sister, and the girls will all be safe."
Sumala breathed a sigh of relief and then asked, "Princess, do you know this Tung Tulai? Can he be trusted?"
Da Yuer brushed the crumbs off her hands and asked for tea. As she took a sip, she recalled, "If I remember correctly, the late Emperor's primary consort, Lady Tunggiya, who was the birth mother of Li Qinwang, was Tung Tulai's paternal aunt. Their Tunggiya clan is a prominent family from Liaodong and was one of the key supporters who helped the late Emperor rise to power. Daisan and Tung Tulai… if you trace the connections, they can be considered distant cousins. Tung Tulai once served under Yoto, but later he was assigned to lead the Han Banners of the Plain Blue Banner. Back then, after His Majesty finished organizing the Mongol Banners, he started organizing the Han Banners and transferred him there. I've heard his name before, but this is the first time I've seen him in person."
Sumala blinked in amazement. "Princess, how do you know everything? I'm with you every day, yet I don't know half of these things."
Da Yuer chuckled and said, "Didn't you spend some time with my sister embroidering the imperial robe? Be honest, even now, you don't come every day—you just love to slack off."
Sumala giggled sheepishly, then asked, "But why do all those men willingly tell you these things? Aren't women forbidden from interfering in politics? Even Her Majesty has mentioned it several times."
Da Yuer shrugged, unconcerned. "I'm not interfering. They're all alive and well—am I not even allowed to know what's going on?"
At that moment, a noise came from outside, and both Da Yuer and Sumala tensed.
Sumala quickly locked the door and, together with Da Yuer, pushed a desk against it. Although Da Yuer was confident that she wouldn't be in any real danger, she knew better than to let her guard down completely.
It was hard to tell how much time had passed. The northern wind howled outside when suddenly there was a knock on the door, followed by Sonin's voice: "Your Highness Zhuang Fei, everything is fine now."
The door opened, and a gust of cold wind rushed in. Standing there was Tung Tulai, now clad in armour, looking nothing like the man they had seen earlier. A sword hung at his side as he bowed respectfully to Zhuang Fei. "Please rest assured, Your Highness, the inner palace is completely under my control."
"Were there any casualties?" Da Yuer asked coldly.
"A few died," Tung Tulai replied.
Da Yuer stepped out of the study and, with a frosty tone, instructed, "Clean up the blood. Don't let it stain the palace paths and frighten the little princesses."
Sumala followed closely, carrying a cloak and draping it over Da Yuer's shoulders as they made their way back to the inner palace.
In the inner palace, only the lights of Yanqing Palace and Qingning Palace remained lit. Da Yuer glanced at the dark and silent Linzhi Palace, her eyes filled with disdain for Nam Jung.
"Princess?" Sumala whispered softly.
"Go and tell Her Highness Shu Fei that everything is fine now," Da Yuer instructed before heading straight to Qingning Palace. She knocked on the door, and a nervous voice immediately called out from inside, "Who is it?"
"It's me," Da Yuer replied firmly. "Aunt, it's all over. Open the door."
In Linzhi Palace, Lixin, who had been dozing off by the window, was startled awake. When she looked up, she saw Bumbutai entering Qingning Palace alone. Panicking, she rushed to Nam Jung's side and whispered the news. Nam Jung, alarmed, immediately got up and burned all the hidden letters and the medicinal powder Hooge had given her in a charcoal brazier.
Inside Qingning Palace, the children slept soundly at the edge of the kang. Da Yuer carefully checked on her daughters one by one, and only then did her heart finally settle at ease.
Jeje and Hairanju looked at her in surprise. Before long, Sumala also arrived and reported that everything was well at Her Highness Shu Fei's place. Baoqing pulled her aside and asked anxiously, "What exactly happened?"
Da Yuer turned to her aunt and said, "The lockdown in the palace hasn't been lifted yet. Tomorrow during the day, I want to see Daisan. Aunt, do you want to come with me to meet him?"
"Meet Daisan?" Jeje frowned, pondered for a moment, and asked, "Does this have something to do with Yoto?"
"I'm not sure," Da Yuer replied. "I plan to have Li Qinwang investigate. The New Year is approaching—we can't let the people feel anxious and uneasy. It's best for the palace to remain peaceful. When His Majesty returns, he will make the final decision. Matters of life and death are not for us to decide."
She stepped forward and gently touched Hairanju's belly. "Sister, were you frightened?"
Hairanju shook her head softly. "No, as long as you're here, I'm not afraid of anything."
Jeje glanced out the window. When Da Yuer had come in earlier, she was covered in snow, and for a brief moment, Jeje was transported back to eleven years ago. She remembered that little girl rolling around in the snow outside, peeking timidly at the door, afraid of being scolded.
But those days were gone forever. Jeje did not feel regret—her Yuer had grown up and could now protect her.
"Go and see Daisan. I won't go," Jeje said. "It's time for Daisan to seriously consider the weight of the Emperor's harem now."
"Yes," Da Yuer agreed, supporting Hairanju as she said, "It's getting crowded here. Sister, let's go back and rest—I'll sleep with you tonight."
Hairanju's soft, delicate brows arched slightly as she smiled warmly. "Just don't kick my belly in your sleep."
Da Yuer protested, "When have I ever slept that badly?"
They left together, and soon the lights of Guanju Palace lit up. Midnight had passed, and before long, the dawn would break.
Adai ordered the palace maids to bring hot water, her face still pale from the fright. She asked, "Your Majesty, will you sleep now?"
"Of course," Jeje replied calmly. "There's nothing to fear anymore. I'm going to sleep well."
The next morning, while Hairanju was still asleep, Da Yuer left quietly. She returned to the study and waited until the sun had fully risen. Daisan finally arrived—but he hadn't entered through the main gate of the palace. Tung Tulai had brought him in discreetly through the side door of the kitchen.
The aging man, no longer able to withstand such shocks, appeared with dark circles under his eyes.
"Your Highness?" Li Qinwang looked at Da Yuer in astonishment. The first time he had met this younger sister-in-law, she had still been a child.
"So early, have you had breakfast yet, Second Brother?" Da Yuer asked politely, her face adorned with a gentle smile.
"Your Highness…" Li Qinwang's heart was filled with unease. Suddenly, he steeled himself and knelt down. "Your Highness, I deserve death. I... I still haven't found Yoto."
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