Night fell on Jindu. Mid-spring. The peach blossoms in Zhaoyang Palace were in full bloom, vibrant and uninhibited, just like the Empress who had planted them.
Murong Jin stood beneath the trees, her robes blending with the blossoms in the moonlight. She had been confined for over a month. Ministers were calling for her deposition. But from Wuchuan, there was only silence.
"Your Majesty." Ning Bi approached.
"What is it?"
"The little prince won't sleep." Ning Bi sighed. The scars on her cheek were fading, but still visible.
Murong Jin laughed. "Ever since he came back from the Fourth Prince's manor, he's been restless. Maybe I should send him back to let his uncle deal with him."
"Could you bear to?" Ning Bi teased, following her inside.
"Why not?"
Ning Bi was stumped. What mother could bear to be separated from her child?
Murong Jin looked away. "It was a last resort. The palace is full of hidden dangers. I'm afraid one day, a moment of carelessness will cost him his life."
Ning Bi sighed. As long as he was the only son, he was safe. But if other consorts bore sons…
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. Heaven protects the good."
Outside, Xue Liulan dropped from the eaves, listening.
"Go to sleep, or I'll send you back to your Fourth Uncle," Murong Jin crooned, her silhouette on the window paper soft and tender.
He watched, entranced.
Suddenly, the door opened. She stepped out, meeting his gaze.
"Why don't you come in?" She closed the door. "Fourth Brother's illness is serious. Visit him more often."
"I know."
"The medicine from the Physician Saint will arrive soon. Don't worry. And Sixth Brother has married Qiwu. I've had the Court of the Imperial Clan add her name to the registry."
"Mm."
She paused. "I've looked at last year's accounts. Watch Guo Shangzhong. He's emptying the treasury. Even if you're playing the fool with Guo Lingyu, the state coffers can't take it."
"I'll be careful." He frowned. Something was wrong. She was giving him instructions.
"Why not have Guo Shangzhong take charge of Qi'er's safety?"
His hands clenched behind his back. "Why?"
"Guo Lingyu has no children. If she kills me and raises Qi'er, she secures her position as Empress Dowager. And if anything happens to him on Guo Shangzhong's watch, he loses face." She analyzed it calmly, like a bystander.
"Or he could steal the guard himself." Xue Liulan took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to shake her. He knew what she was thinking.
She rolled her eyes. "You're the Emperor. Can't you protect your own son?"
"Even an Emperor has things he cannot do." He looked at her, his eyes filled with a sorrow that caught her off guard.
"Like keeping you here," he said, his hand on her shoulder. She was thinner. "You've decided to leave."
"I…" The words stuck in her throat. When did leaving become so hard?
"Tell me. What do I have to do to make you stay?"
She tilted her head, then laughed. "Depose Guo Lingyu. Raid Guo Shangzhong's home. Execute his nine generations and display his body for three days. Can you do that, Xue Liulan?"
He froze, calculating.
She smiled. She didn't mean it. He didn't have the power yet. It would take time to uproot the old fox.
"Give me ten days. I will do it."
"You?" She stared at him. No trace of a joke. Even his lazy smile was gone, replaced by resolve.
"How?"
"I'll depose her tomorrow. In seven days, I'll recall the Fifteen, join forces with Suyi's Windless Blades, and storm the Guo residence. I can't take him alone, but we can swarm him."
"The Fifteen together… yes, few could survive." She nodded. "But it's a temporary fix. You don't know all his allies. The corruption will remain."
"I only want you to stay," he said simply. "The cases can be investigated later. The officials can be purged later."
But her departure was imminent.
She laughed. "When did you become so emotional?"
He smiled wryly. "If you aren't by my side, what is the point of being a wise ruler?"
"To be revered by the people. To go down in history."
He pulled her into his arms, crushing her against his chest.
"I only need you to remember me."
She stiffened, then wrapped her arms around his waist. "But how could I bear to let you become a tyrant cursed by thousands? My husband is a hero."
She pulled back, looking him in the eye. "It's only temporary. I'll be back before my confinement ends."
He shook his head slowly. He couldn't let her go. He knew her. She was never safe.
"Qi'er is here. Even if I didn't care for you, I couldn't leave my son."
"Where are you going?"
"Wuchuan. To find the Divine Physician on the Snow Mountain and cure Ning Bi's face." She smiled. "And to deliver her to He Chengjian."
"I can summon Chong Hua to Jindu." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
She laughed. "And let Guo Lingyu benefit too?"
He stared at her. Such petty thoughts? Then he remembered Ning Bi's words. She is a woman, with a woman's heart.
"Speaking of which, you were ruthless this time." He grinned, a little gloating. At least he wouldn't have to deal with Guo Lingyu's whining for a while.
Thinking of Guo Lingyu weeping over her scars, Murong Jin felt a surge of cheer.
"What are you laughing at?" He tapped her forehead.
Her eyes danced. "Xue Liulan, be careful."
"Why?"
"One day, I might just kill you out of jealousy." She drew a finger across his collarbone like a knife.
He laughed, taking her hand and wrapping her in his warm gaze.
"If that day comes, I will welcome the blade."