Hong'an Xiangzhuang - 8

Hong'an Xiangzhuang - 8

The midday sun shone through the fine bamboo blinds of the Imperial Study, casting a pale golden glow.

A wisp of smoke rose from the Xuande incense burner on the desk, disappearing silently near the beam.

Yun Yixia stood with her eyes lowered, her manners impeccable.

Zhao Yunxian walked behind the desk and pulled out a thin piece of paper from a stack of documents.

"I have recently heard some rumors that Princess Kang has another unknown identity."

Dust particles tumbled and floated within the grating, creating a dangerous and stagnant atmosphere.

"Your Majesty, I am foolish and dull!"

Yun Yixia's eyelashes trembled in the shadow of the pearl tassels, their movements as graceful as butterfly wings glistening with dew.

Her breathing rhythm remained unchanged, and her nails dug fiercely into her palms as she held her hands hidden in her wide sleeves.

"Stupid?"

Zhao Yunxian leaned forward slightly, gently pushed the note across the smooth table, and stopped it in front of Yun Yixia.

"Zhao Yun, Master Zhao... how could he be a dull-witted person?"

He spoke slowly and deliberately, revealing her identity with just a few words on the note.

"Anyone who tries to conceal their identity from the emperor..." Yun Yixia lowered her eyes, "is utterly foolish!"

Her gaze fell on the note, her mind unusually clear, calmer than ever before.

"I have also heard that during the war between the northern border and the Khitan, Zhao Dongjia sent a batch of generous supplies, as well as intelligence about the Khitan."

Zhao Yunxian chuckled softly, leaned back in his chair, tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, and fixed his gaze on Yun Yixia.

"Your Majesty, what do you desire?"

The gentle and submissive demeanor that belonged to a princess receded like the tide, replaced by a clear and sharp edge.

She raised her eyes, her gaze passing through the beaded tassels, and looked directly at the emperor for the first time.

“If I were to say…” Zhao Yunxian curled his lips into a smile, “that 80% of all the profits from the Zhao family’s shops would go to my private treasury?”

"Your Majesty, does Prince Kang know that his deputy generals are your spies?" Yun Yixia raised her eyebrows slightly. "For example, Xue Ning."

Of the few who knew her identity that day, Zhao Yunkang wouldn't tell the emperor; Ma De's family was near the northern border garrison; Liang Qiu seemed like a playboy, but was actually loyal to Prince Kang; Xu Zhihao was stubborn and would never betray him, even if it meant death.

Only Xue Ning indulged in wine, women, wealth, and power, his desires were deep and insatiable.

Yun Yixia showed no outward expression, but inwardly she was furious.

Now that the emperor covets the wealth represented by the identity of "Zhao Yun," the difficulty for her to escape is comparable to ascending to heaven.

The royal family is a bottomless abyss. Once you step in, no one knows where you will slide into.

"Brilliant!" Zhao Yunxian clapped his hands. "Then guess whether Prince Kang will be able to keep the identity of 'Zhao Yun'?"

“No!” Yun Yixia answered decisively, “As long as the surname is ‘Zhao’, he will always prioritize Daqing.”

If the Great Qing Dynasty were to fall and a new emperor were to take over... a merchant is still a merchant; with money, one can go anywhere.

Yun Yixia was unwilling to let her country and family fall apart unless absolutely necessary.

"oh?"

Zhao Yunxian understood Yun Yixia's subtext, his eyes flashing with a complex emotion, not expecting her to be able to counterattack so calmly.

He feared the wealth of the Zhao family's shop and allied with the northern border army. With money and soldiers, they could rebel at any time.

Throughout history, there have been numerous instances of royal brothers killing each other, which must be guarded against.

"If Your Majesty is not at ease, perhaps this marriage can be dissolved."

Yun Yixia calmly stated her purpose, letting the Emperor know that joining the royal family was not her wish, and that she was prepared to leave at any time.

Just as Zhao Yunxian was about to speak, a series of footsteps and a slightly hurried announcement came from outside the study.

"Your Majesty, Prince Kang is requesting an audience outside the palace!"

"Announce."

A hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes as he looked at Yun Yixia, trying to discern from her expression whether she had made prior arrangements.

The woman's surprise was very genuine, and his initial suspicion slowly subsided.

The curtain was lifted, and Zhao Yunkang walked in, his steps crisp and efficient like a soldier's, a subtle gloom settling between his brows.

His gaze swept quickly over Yun Yixia, and seeing that she was safe and sound, he breathed a barely perceptible sigh of relief before turning to his elder brother behind the imperial desk.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty!"

Hearing that the Princess Consort had been summoned to the Imperial Study by her brother and had not left for a long time, I was worried about her and came to escort her.

Please forgive my intrusion, Your Majesty!

His tone was respectful, but it subtly revealed a hint of tension and dissatisfaction.

"The Princess and I were just chatting about everyday matters when we got late, which has made you come all this way."

Zhao Yunxian's gaze swept over the couple twice.

interesting!

The two had not been married long, and Yun Yixia was eager to leave the royal family.

King Kang first defended her in front of his mother, and then rushed to him to find her.

They're keeping a close eye on things!

Is his younger brother concerned about Yun Yixia or Zhao Yun?

None of the three spoke, each waiting for someone else to break the deadlock.

"Your Majesty, I still have some miscellaneous matters to attend to at my residence, so I will not disturb Your Majesty's handling of state affairs. I will take my leave with the Princess Consort."

Zhao Yunkang didn't want to waste time here, so he lowered his eyes to hide his emotions.

Go!

Zhao Yunxian waved his hand, and Yun Yixia bowed to the emperor and took her leave.

As she turned around, her eyes met Zhao Yunxian's for a fleeting moment.

The emperor's eyes were deep and unfathomable, while hers were cold and wary; neither of them had a good impression of the other.

The two walked out of the imperial study one after the other. The afternoon sun shone on the palace road, making it gleam white and somewhat dazzling.

The palanquin was large enough to carry two people. The curtains were drawn to block out the outside world, and they returned to the Kang Prince's Mansion in silence.

Zhao Yunkang had been waiting for Yun Yixia to speak, but she remained silent with her eyes closed, and he didn't know where to begin asking her questions.

"You...don't you want to say anything to me?"

He followed her all the way back to Qinfang Garden, and seeing that she was still silent, he couldn't hold back any longer.

"Your Highness, I am very tired today and do not want to say anything."

Yun Yixia's smile never faltered; her manners were impeccable, and no one could find fault with her.

"Then...you should get some rest!"

"promise!"

The moon gate of Qinfangyuan is made of nanmu wood, with a dark red lacquer finish and auspicious cloud patterns. The threshold is also quite high.

As Zhao Yunkang watched the wooden door slowly close in front of him, he noticed the pattern on the door panel for the first time. A pang of sadness welled up in his heart, and he felt a rare sense of grievance.

Just now, she stood inside the gate, her magnificent crown and robes standing out starkly against the backdrop of a few slender bamboo stalks in the courtyard, their vibrant colors appearing somewhat jarring and lonely.

Seeing that her wife was in a bad mood, Bai Wei immediately ordered the servants to boil water and light medicinal incense in the bath room.

The entire courtyard was orderly. Yun Yixia didn't say a word, but it was like a tiger entering a monkey park. The maids and old women were so frightened that they shrank back and shut their mouths.

Bai Wei gives an instruction, and they act accordingly.

“My lady, I’ve sent the old women away from Qinfang Garden, and the maids have been assigned to do needlework and embroidery.”

Bai Wei looked at her wife with concern. She rarely saw her so angry, which meant that someone was about to suffer.

"Does the Emperor know who 'Zhao Yun' is?" Yun Yixia splashed a spoonful of hot water on herself. "Shaoyao, send a message to Ayun, telling her to take advantage of the Emperor's inaction and immediately dismantle the Zhao family's shops, breaking them up into smaller units."

"promise!"

Knowing that Li Yun was staying in Xijing City, Shaoyao called two guards and went out.

Such a momentous event could not be communicated by carrier pigeon; if it failed, thousands of shops would be ruined.

"Hibiscus, come closer!"

"promise!"

Yun Yixia whispered in Mu Jin's ear, and Mu Jin's eyes grew brighter and brighter as she listened. Finally, she slapped the wooden bucket with delight and flew out of the Kang Prince's Mansion.

"My wife...why won't you let me go?"

Bai Wei gently washed her wife's hair; usually, it was Shaoyao who did the washing.

"Do not leave the palace until the Khitans have completely left Xijing!"

Yun Yixia rubbed her throbbing temples. Today had been too "exciting." She was exhausted, but also full of fighting spirit.

Imperial power is supreme!

It is indeed troublesome to set up, but that doesn't mean that the golden chair can't be changed to someone else.

Zhao Yunxian wanted to control the Zhao family's shops, hoping to make her work for the emperor's private treasury for free...

Dream on!!!

In modern society, if a boss is incompetent, you change bosses; in ancient society, if an emperor is incompetent, you change emperors.

She, Yun Yixia, is rebellious by nature and never admits defeat!

"My wife, am I too cowardly?"

Bai Wei was both moved and ashamed. She really didn't dare to step out of the Kang Prince's Mansion, and even leaving Qinfang Garden required her to muster up her courage.

"Bai Wei, you've been slashed so deeply that the bone is visible. How long will it take for your wound to heal?"

Yun Yixia emerged from the bathtub, her agitated emotions calmed considerably. She changed into soft everyday clothes, wrapped herself in a cloak, and returned to her room to make tea.

"It takes anywhere from three months to five months."

Bai Wei's breath hitched, and she instantly understood what her wife meant.

Why go out when the wound hasn't healed yet?

"My wife, you are so good to me!"

"Mmm! I accept your compliment!" Yun Yixia tapped Bai Wei's forehead with her finger. "Go and get some tea and snacks for your wife!"

"promise!"

Bai Wei lifted her skirt and ran out to get tea and snacks, feeling more relaxed than ever before.

Unlike the relaxed atmosphere in Qinfangyuan, Zhao Yunkang sat in his study with a sullen face, chugging down a pot of cold tea, but his temper didn't subside.

"Why doesn't that kid Zhao Yuankai ever learn his lesson?"

"The first time they provoked them, the old women were injured to varying degrees; the second time they provoked them, Granny Chen died... Can't you see that yet?"

"Today he went to the Empress Dowager to complain, but he had no evidence whatsoever..."

Zhao Yunkang slammed his hand on the table, making a loud bang. Ma De covered half his face with a feather fan and looked at him meaningfully.

"Uncle Ma?"

"Hey~ I'm here!"

"Say something!"

Zhao Yunkang felt uneasy under the strategist's gaze, let out a long sigh, and realized that his emotions were indeed somewhat unstable.

“I’d like to ask the General!” Ma De lightly waved his feather fan, “Are you unhappy that the Crown Prince complained to the Empress Dowager, or are you worried that the Princess Consort will have a grudge against you because of this?”

"I……"

Zhao Yunkang remained silent for a long time, then shook his head, his mind a jumbled mess, unable to figure it out for the moment.

"Uncle Ma, today the Emperor summoned Yun Yixia. I wonder what they discussed in the Imperial Study?"

"Didn't the princess say anything?"

When Ma De saw the general change the subject, he smiled knowingly and didn't press the matter further.

When it comes to love... it takes the person involved to truly understand it.

“She didn’t say!” Zhao Yunkang said hesitantly. “I feel like she’s angry.”

After leaving Baoci Palace, Yun Yixia looked alright, but felt a little annoyed.

Emerging from the Imperial Study, she seemed shrouded in thick dark clouds, exuding a faint aura of murderous intent.

"General, you might as well ask..."

"General, General, the Empress Dowager's decree has been delivered to Qinfang Garden."

Luo Yu reported from outside the study, his tone urgent.