Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Truth

Ling Zetian seemed not to have anticipated such an outcome; he was momentarily stunned but said nothing in response.

“I do not understand why Your Majesty still refuses to depose me as Empress and let me leave. If you are concerned that removing me would stir up controversy in court, I can remain for a while longer—but you must promise me one condition.”

“What condition?” Ling Zetian pressed his lips together; his gaze dimmed somewhat. He knew Feng Qiuji did not wish to stay in the palace, yet he was reluctant to let her go. The matter of court opinion was merely an excuse—he simply could not find a reason to keep her, yet he did not want her to leave so easily.

“Give me an extra hundred thousand taels of silver each month.” If there was an opportunity to take advantage, she would seize it—this was Feng Qiuji’s style. After all, he was the Emperor; if she didn’t exploit the chance now, when would she?

“Oh, I agree.” That mattered little to him.

“Your Majesty called me out—what is it you wish to discuss?”

“I saw that you had not returned to Chao Yun Palace so late, so I came in person to ask you to go back and sleep.”

“…” Feng Qiuji was speechless. Did he mean he wanted her to stay with him? “Then let’s add another fifty thousand taels per month, Your Majesty.”

“Don’t you think you’re being excessive?”

“Not in the least.”

And so, Feng Qiuji followed Ling Zetian back to Chao Yun Palace. She had expected Qin Ruyan would have already taken up residence there, and had been troubled about where she would stay. She had planned to spend the night in Anuo’s Jinxiu Palace and think about it tomorrow, but had not expected the Emperor to personally summon her back—she felt both surprised and honored.

Why had he come himself? If he simply wanted her to return, he could have sent a young eunuch with a message. Feng Qiuji eyed Ling Zetian suspiciously, wondering if he had some ulterior motive.

In truth, Qin Ruyan had only expressed her desire to enter the palace as his consort, but Ling Zetian suspected she had other intentions; it was certainly not love that motivated her. He cared little, so long as she did not stir up trouble—he had no wish to meddle further.

On the night of the grand wedding, Feng Qiuji was absent. Ling Zetian drank heavily, then went to Qin Ruyan’s palace, where he spent the night fully clothed. Years ago, he had promised to make Qin Ruyan his Empress, but she was no longer the woman she once was, and he felt nothing for her now, so he did not wish to speak to her further.

The past was the past; no matter how much one tried, it could never be recaptured.

Listening intently, he heard Feng Qiuji’s steady breathing beside him—she had clearly fallen asleep.

Ling Zetian turned on his side. In the darkness, her presence was palpable—her breath, faint as fragrant grass, unsettled him. Reaching out, he drew her into his arms. Holding her soft, warm body, Ling Zetian finally felt at ease.

He did not know when he had grown so accustomed to Feng Qiuji; perhaps it was from those days living together. Now, when she was absent, he felt unsettled and somewhat lost.

He had lived a tranquil and privileged life since childhood. Upon his father’s death, he ascended the throne. Such peacefulness could be dull at times, but Feng Qiuji’s arrival brought a different energy. He liked seeing her lively and playful—her presence made life feel less burdensome; being with her was relaxing.

Meanwhile, in Mu Chu Palace, Qin Ruyan sat alone in her empty chamber.

She still loved Ling Zetian; after all, since his appearance, he had been her pillar. Yet, after years apart, her feelings had faded. Though she had entered the palace, Ling Zetian no longer cared for her, even avoided her. She knew all this well and mocked herself—how foolish to persist in one-sided affection. Ling Zetian was no longer the man he once was, and she too was no longer the Qin Ruyan of old.

“Lady Qin, the Empress Dowager requests your presence,” a young palace maid announced, bowing as she entered.

“So late?” Qin Ruyan knew well the hour, and was surprised.

“Yes, the Empress Dowager’s eunuch is waiting outside.”

So be it. She had intended to visit the Empress Dowager; now the request had come first. Straightening her attire, Qin Ruyan prepared to ask the Empress Dowager some questions.

In Changxin Palace, though night had fallen, lanterns still shone brightly.

The Empress Dowager had dismissed all attendants and waited alone for Qin Ruyan’s arrival.

“I wonder what instruction the Empress Dowager has for me tonight,” Qin Ruyan said as she entered, seeing no others present, dispensing with formalities.

“Sit,” the Empress Dowager smiled lightly. “You must be Qin Rushui’s younger sister.”

“I am.”

“I hear His Majesty has been close to you since childhood. It seems it was rather late for you to enter the palace.”

“Heh,” Qin Ruyan gave a cold laugh. “You overthink, Your Majesty. I suspect you summoned me tonight for other reasons.”

“What do you know?” The Empress Dowager, seeing her frankness, dispensed with pretense.

“Do you wish to hear?” Qin Ruyan gazed into her beautiful phoenix eyes and began slowly, “Yan Wuying and Qin Rushui were both killed by you, because your true identity is that of a princess from Yun Kingdom.”

A flash of surprise crossed the Empress Dowager’s eyes; that identity had not been mentioned for years, so long she had nearly forgotten it herself.

“After much investigation, I learned that at sixteen, you entered the palace, but you were first encountered by the late Emperor during his incognito travels outside the palace, then brought in and greatly favored.” Qin Ruyan paused, glanced at the Empress Dowager, and continued, “At that time, you cleverly schemed, using your beauty to captivate the Emperor. All this was merely a means to infiltrate the Ling Dynasty’s palace—if I’m not mistaken, you deceived him after a night of indulgence. The late Emperor, with many consorts already, would not mind one more or one less. Thus, you were brought into the palace and granted the title of consort.”

Consort was not a low rank—in fact, it was quite high. For someone with no family background, brought in from outside as a commoner, it required considerable effort to achieve. Moreover, she bore the Emperor no sons or daughters, yet remained highly favored. Such a feat could not be accomplished by an ordinary woman.

“Yun Kingdom lies in the northwest of Ling Dynasty, remote and bordering the vast desert to the north. Resources were scarce, and the people suffered. Dissatisfaction with the royal family led to several upheavals, with heavy losses and near ruin. As a vassal state, Yun Kingdom had to pay tribute every year to Ling Dynasty to show loyalty. You, Princess Lan Yu, seeing this situation, set your sights on the prosperous Ling Dynasty. Yet, as a woman, even if you became a general, Yun Kingdom’s strength could not match Ling Dynasty’s. Thus, your only option was to infiltrate the palace.”

“Once inside, you kept watch over Ling Dynasty’s wars with neighboring states, hoping to unite them against Ling Dynasty and seize territory to relieve Yun Kingdom’s plight. But as these states prospered under Ling Dynasty’s protection, none wished to rebel, leaving you troubled and uncertain.”

“Haha,” the Empress Dowager showed no anger at these words, but instead appeared pleased, regarding Qin Ruyan with admiration. “Continue.”

“When the late Emperor lived, you seduced many court officials like a courtesan, selling your body and reveling with powerful ministers night after night, all to cultivate your own faction. You used this as leverage to threaten them into obedience, so many officials followed your lead.” Qin Ruyan had uncovered these truths through great effort, even sneaking into certain ministers’ homes at night, risking her life and forcing confessions at knifepoint.

“Smart—so I underestimated Qin Rushui’s clever sister,” the Empress Dowager praised. She had never expected anyone to uncover these truths, which she had buried for years, intending to take them to her grave. Now, they were spoken aloud by another.

“Later, Yan Wuying rose swiftly, earning the title of general in his youth. You tried to seduce him, hoping to gain a formidable commander, but Yan Wuying was upright and stubborn, immune to your charms, and rebuked you as a wanton woman. He planned to unite the ministers who had succumbed to you and report your actions to the Emperor.”

Qin Ruyan’s account was accurate; indeed, the Empress Dowager had desperately tried to win over Yan Wuying, but he refused, deeming her motives sinister. He intended to expose her deeds to the Emperor.

At that time, Yun Kingdom was embroiled in rebellion; peasants killed the royal family, proclaimed themselves kings, and invaded Ling Dynasty’s borders. You were devastated by the deaths of your kin, and Yan Wuying was sent to suppress the uprising, returning victorious. You blamed him for your losses, even though he had not slain your family, and resolved to make him pay. Thus, you enlisted Feng Xingxiang—井信m去妇南层熟右烟场左偷王由偷扑的早鑫全粼拉官芜组自卜部下公煌毓干黔全穷