Chapter 382

"Who is that young female Daoist priest?"

"I've seen her before. She's Zhu Baili, the King of Jing's daughter."

"It's her!"

The officials' wives looked up at the stone steps.

Under everyone's gaze, the Empress gently took Baili's wrist and calmly walked down the steps, as if leading her own daughter. Baili's pale neck was long and graceful, clear and pure, like a mythical deer emerging from a fairy tale.

On the stone steps, only Consort Xue remained, her face dark and sullen.

The Empress stopped in front of the concubines, who lowered their heads. Along with the titled ladies and officials' wives behind them, they parted like a tide, clearing a path.

As the crowd parted, Wuyun, the cat, jumped back into Baili's arms. The Empress released her hand and teased, "How strange! This little creature isn't even this affectionate with me. How did it take to you so quickly, as if you've known each other forever? Does it have a spirit, knowing that you are favored by Heaven?"

The Empress's voice grew louder and louder, as if speaking not just to Baili, but to everyone. "Since that's the case, you must visit Kuning Palace more often from now on, so that Heaven may bless my Kuning Palace even more!"

Baili, holding Wuyun, bowed her head in salute. "Yes, Your Majesty!"

The Empress looked at the Supervisor of the Imperial Palace beside her, her face calm. "Supervisor, is everything alright?"

The Supervisor of the Imperial Palace still had a gash-like bloodstain on his face. He hurriedly bowed and said, "There is no problem when Your Majesty herself speaks!"

The Empress smiled and said to Baili, "Come, let's go pick mulberries!"

She walked through the concubines, officials' wives, and female Daoist priests with Baili, not sparing a glance for anyone.

Zhu Lingyun stood in the crowd, silently watching Baili pass by her.

She wanted to push through the crowd and get closer, to remind Baili not to forget to bring her along. But the Jie Fan guards were already at the edge of the crowd, like a wall, forcing her back with their gazes.

Several times she wanted to call out, but the palace maid, holding the Empress's golden staff, shook it, and the clattering sound reminded everyone to be silent. She could only slowly swallow the word "Sister" that was on her lips.

Baili didn't even spare her a glance.

Zhu Lingyun suddenly wondered if, in the past, her sister would have surely found a way to bring her along. She would have given her all the delicious food and sheltered her from the wind and rain.

If only Xuanzhen hadn't been there!

The Empress's procession departed first, followed by the concubines, then the titled ladies, and finally, the female Daoist priests of Yang Palace.

Zhu Lingyun could only follow at the very end of the procession, her gaze catching faint glimpses of Baili's back through the gaps in the crowd.

What's done is done.

Among the officials' wives, Qi Zhaoning suddenly fell silent. Qi Zhaoyun turned to look at her. "Why are you suddenly so downcast?"

Qi Zhaoning asked out of the blue, "She's the princess from the 'Four Dreams of Bianliang,' isn't she?"

Qi Zhaoyun said helplessly, "Princess Baili is Princess Baili, not some princess from the 'Four Dreams of Bianliang.' Don't get too carried away by stories!"

Qi Zhaoning said nothing. She stared fixedly as Baili walked towards her, then passed by.

She looked at the other woman's clear, unadorned face and recalled her straight figure as she had just walked through the crowd and onto the main hall. She murmured to herself, "No wonder the storytellers who saw them wrote them into their tales! If I were writing this story, I would also find them a perfect match; they are the same kind of person at heart."

Qi Zhaoyun wondered, "What are you talking about?"

Qi Zhaoning turned to Qi Zhaoyun, her eyes betraying complex thoughts. "Sister, Chen Ji lied to me. Him leading the princess's horse was absolutely not just for social etiquette; there's affection between them! He didn't go to Tianbao Pavilion for me either. Did you see the wooden hairpin on Zhu Baili's head? I guess Chen Ji went for her, which is why he only bought a plain silver hairpin!"

Qi Zhaoyun sighed. "Can you be so certain just from seeing them once? What if you're wrong?"

Qi Zhaoning said firmly, "I won't be wrong. It must be true!"

Qi Zhaoyun tried to comfort her. "Even if it's as you imagine, Princess Baili is now in Jingyang Palace. There's no longer any possibility between them, so why bother?"

Qi Zhaoning suddenly laughed. "Yes, what if there's affection? Since childhood, there's nothing Qi Zhaoning has ever wanted that she hasn't obtained!"

Qi Zhaoyun murmured, "What if there's affection..."

Qi Zhaoning noticed her sister's low spirits and immediately asked curiously, "Sister, how are things between you and Huang Que?"

Qi Zhaoyun whispered, "Grandfather wants him to become a live-in son-in-law, but he refuses."

Qi Zhaoning raised an eyebrow. "Why won't he? Our Qi family wouldn't disgrace him!"

Qi Zhaoyun looked at the distant sky. "I don't blame him."

The Empress and Baili entered the mulberry garden. For some reason, Baili suddenly felt at ease beside her.

The Empress smiled broadly. "Thank you so much today. If not for your heavenly favor, this dirty water would surely have been thrown onto me."

Baili lowered her head slightly. "Your Majesty, please don't mention it. It was merely my duty."

The Empress asked curiously, "Just now, how did you manage to perform the Nine Yin-Yang?"

Baili pondered before explaining, "After I moved into Jingyang Palace, an immortal once appeared to me in a dream. Just now, seeing Your Majesty in danger, I dared to try it."

The Empress observed her expression, knowing she was lying, but didn't mind.

Who in this world doesn't have secrets?

The Empress said with a smile, "You are quite brave, walking so boldly into the main hall without even considering the Jie Fan guards! What if you had been stopped? What if you had been accused of great disrespect? Perhaps Consort Xue now regrets it; today she planned everything, but she never accounted for a small female Daoist priest from Jingyang Palace like you!"

Baili remained silent.

She was not as brave as others thought. She merely knew that someone, having sailed here in a small boat, must have weathered great storms and endured much hardship.

Then she, too, should do something.

The Empress stood beneath a mulberry tree, looking up as sunlight filtered through the leaves onto her face. "Today, when I saw you ascend the stone steps, I felt a moment of dizziness, as if I were seeing your father for the first time more than twenty years ago at Zhengyang Gate."

Baili was startled.

From the Empress's words, it seemed she had a deep friendship with her father, King Jing, yet Baili had never heard anyone mention it before.

Yu Jin, hearing this from behind them, immediately handed over a golden picking hook and reminded, "Your Majesty, it's time to pick mulberries."

The Empress ignored her, continuing to sigh with emotion. "You two don't actually resemble each other, and your temperaments are different, yet just now, I inexplicably felt a moment of daze."

Yu Jin's expression changed. She turned around and dismissed the palace maids. "Go pick mulberries over there. Do not approach without my permission!"

The Empress continued, "That year, when he returned from quelling the rebellion in the south, a group of us girls waited by Zhengyang Gate! I remember I wore a white hairpin that day; it was when I was at my most beautiful! But in the blink of an eye, he is gone, and I, too, am growing old!"

Baili said nothing, for these words were not truly meant for her.

The Empress caressed the mulberry tree. "Look, there's the character 'Jing' carved on this tree. I secretly carved it when I was a foolish child. Now the bark has grown over it and it's blurred. I started coming to the First Silkworm Altar to pick mulberries with my mother when I was fifteen. I came every year. Back then, I watched others offer sacrifices to the Silkworm God, but now it's my turn! Year after year, the First Silkworm Altar remains the same, only the people who come to pick mulberries are different!"

At this point, the Empress gently caressed Baili's cheek. "How truly pitiful! How could they be so heartless as to cast you into a place like Jingyang Palace! Those 'great men' only see empires and nations, only their grand ideals and ambitions. Every day, they sacrifice one person or another. They don't love others, nor do they even love themselves!"

Baili lowered her eyelids.

The Empress smiled softly. "Don't worry, I will look after you from now on! I probably cannot help your father be exonerated, but saving you from some hardships is not difficult. From now on, you and I can keep each other company in the deep palace. Kuning Palace is not far from Jingyang Palace!"

Baili whispered, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

At this moment, Lin Chaoqing approached quickly. Yu Jin stopped him about ten paces away. "What is it? Speak!"

Lin Chaoqing bowed and cupped his fists. "Reporting to Your Majesty, the libationer of the First Silkworm Altar has died of poison. This humble official is incompetent and failed to discover any clues sooner..."

The Empress showed no concern, speaking unhurriedly. "Sir Lin, there's no need to panic. How could someone daring enough to do this not have prepared thoroughly? They surely made their move only after meticulous planning! Rest assured, I didn't expect you to find any real evidence anyway!"

Lin Chaoqing said gravely, "This humble official is ashamed! I will imprison the others in the Imperial Prison and not release them. This will also serve as a warning to others of what fate awaits those who slander you, deterring them from rash actions!"

The Empress smiled. "Why bother? They are all just pawns, acting against their will. I don't wish to create needless bloodshed. Let them all go."

Lin Chaoqing stated firmly, "Your Majesty, you cannot. Even if you wish to spare their lives, Grand Secretary Nei and Sir Wu Xiu would not agree!"

The Empress said, losing interest, "Since my word doesn't count, then do as you wish!"

Lin Chaoqing was stunned. "Your Majesty, that's not what this humble official meant!"

The Empress waved her sleeve. "You may withdraw!"

Once Lin Chaoqing had left, she smiled and said to Baili, "You see, even as Empress, there are many things beyond my control! And it's not just me; His Majesty is the same!"

Baili softly asked, "The Crown Prince is already the heir. Why would Consort Xue be so eager to harm you further?"

The Empress smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind Baili's ear. "Living in Jingyang Palace, hidden from the world, you probably don't know that the Crown Prince's situation is not very good right now. Consort Xue must be anxious! And since His Majesty has distanced himself from me, she wants to seize this opportunity to eliminate the Crown Prince's only rival!"

The Empress said lightly, "But in the end, she couldn't fathom His Majesty's true intentions! His Majesty is weary of the power of maternal relatives. The more he distances himself from me, the more hopeless the Crown Prince's position becomes." Baili listened and learned silently.

The Empress patted her head. "Why bother learning such boring things? Let's return to the palace!"

Baili looked puzzled. "Your Majesty hasn't picked mulberries yet!"

The Empress said mischievously, "I'm tired of acting. I won't pretend anymore this year! I don't have the power to reduce taxes or improve the people's livelihoods anyway. Are they going to blame this year's poor harvest entirely on me?"

Baili was astonished.

The Empress pulled Baili and walked out. "Don't worry, everyone expects me to be furious right now. Even if I'm a little lazy, no one will say anything!"

Noon.

Chen Ji stood in front of the First Silkworm Altar gate, quietly waiting, absently stroking the plain silver hairpin hidden in a crevice of his arm guard.

Earlier, he had heard a commotion from within the First Silkworm Altar, then saw the Jie Fan guards escorting over thirty eunuchs from the altar away, and carrying out a body covered in white cloth.

What happened? Was someone plotting rebellion, or deliberately disrupting the ceremony? The Jie Fan guards remained tight-lipped.

Just then, the clattering sound of the Empress's golden staff came closer, and the sacrificial ceremony, originally scheduled to end at Shen time (3-5 PM), concluded early!

Chen Ji stepped back to the side of the road, watching the Empress emerge from the main gate and board the phoenix palanquin waiting outside.

Boarding the palanquin with her were Baili and Wuyun.

Chen Ji watched their backs as they boarded the carriage, pondering for a long time but unable to understand how the Empress and Baili had become so close in just one morning.

Wuyun suddenly meowed.

Chen Ji's brow furrowed, then smoothed out again. It was good that nothing was wrong.

But now that Baili was with the Empress, how could he give her the silver hairpin? It seemed he would have to wait.

As he pondered, the palace maids lowered the rolled curtains around the phoenix palanquin to block outside gazes. The procession began to move slowly. Chen Ji was about to mount his horse to escort them when he heard someone call from behind, "Chen Ji."

He reluctantly turned around. "Third Miss Qi!"

Qi Zhaoning smiled and walked closer. "We've known each other for so long, why won't you call me Zhaoning?"

Chen Ji cupped his hands. "Does Third Miss Qi have something to instruct me?"

Qi Zhaoning held out her hand. "Give it to me!"

Chen Ji was stunned. "What?"

Qi Zhaoning brought her palm closer to his face and said, blinking, "My sister and I saw your carriage at Tianbao Pavilion the other day. Don't pretend!"

He shook his head. "I apologize, Third Miss Qi. I merely went to Tianbao Pavilion that day to check on my family's business. I didn't buy anything!"

Tianbao Pavilion was originally promised to him by the Liang family on the day of his betrothal, so there was no problem with him saying that.

However, just then, Qi Zhenzhuo suddenly reached for Chen Ji's arm guard. "Master, don't be so reserved! I've seen you touching that hairpin the whole way!"

Chen Ji reversed his hand and seized Qi Zhenzhuo's wrist, calmly meeting his gaze. Qi Zhenzhuo said awkwardly, "Isn't that hairpin hidden in your arm guard? The young lady has already asked you for it, Master, why are you still being so modest!"

He genuinely thought the hairpin was for Qi Zhaoning, so he didn't understand why Chen Ji's expression had changed.

From a distance, Li Xuan called out loudly, "Chen Ji, Qi Zhenzhuo, quickly mount your horses and escort Her Majesty the Empress back to the palace!"

Chen Ji turned to leave, but Qi Zhaoning suddenly said, "Your coachman told me that day that you went to Tianbao Pavilion to choose a gift for me today. Give it to me quickly!"

Chen Ji suddenly realized that when he went to Tianbao Pavilion that day, the Qi sisters had spoken with Sicao Gui, and the excuse he had used to mislead Sicao Gui had been taken seriously by them.

Qi Zhaoning teased, "What? Is your coachman lying to me again? If so, I'll have to confront him."

Chen Ji deliberated for a long time, finally pulling the plain silver hairpin from the crevice in his arm guard. "I did indeed buy a hairpin for Third Miss Qi, but seeing what the capital's officials' wives are wearing today, all glittering with jewels, this plain silver hairpin really doesn't seem presentable! Perhaps Third Miss Qi should wait for me to go back to Tianbao Pavilion and exchange it for a better one, which I can send to the Qi residence tomorrow..."

Qi Zhaoning interrupted him, taking the plain silver hairpin from his hand. "It's fine. I like anything you give me!"

Chen Ji was about to say something else when he heard Li Xuan urge again, "Hurry, the procession is getting far."

He took a deep breath, turned, and mounted his horse.

Qi Zhaoning lowered her head, looking at the plain silver hairpin in her hand, her thumb rubbing hard over the eight characters "Year after year" and "Years and years" carved by the artisan.

She clutched the hairpin tightly in her hand, looking up at Chen Ji's receding figure as he rode away. The hairpin pricked her palm, drawing blood.