He knew well enough that with Duke of Anguo’s overbearing nature, he wouldn’t let Shangguan Xi or that girl off so easily.
Emperor Kangwu fiddled with the jade prayer beads in his hand, wondering how best to handle the situation. Should he give in to the Duke’s wishes, sacrificing the pawn to save the chariot and quell the storm? The "pawn," of course, was Yan Weichi.
Once everyone had settled, Emperor Kangwu asked, "What is the meaning of this? So many people? The Duke’s Mansion, the Marquis Pingyi’s Estate, and even Princess Mingyang are here?"
Princess Mingyang stepped forward, her voice wheedling, "Your little sister pays her respects, Your Majesty."
Emperor Kangwu and Prince Changxin had sworn brotherhood in their youth. As the younger sister of Prince Changxin, Princess Mingyang’s self-reference was not considered presumptuous.
Emperor Kangwu nodded slightly and smiled. "Mingyang, it has been a while since you entered the palace. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager…"
Before the Emperor could finish, the impatient Duke of Anguo interrupted. "Your Majesty, reminiscences can wait. I have come to the palace today to expose the crime of Marquis Pingyi, who dared to swap the bride! The beauty you selected for the Crown Prince was clearly the noble Second Miss, Yan Qingshu, yet the Marquis, Yan Hanshan, dared to substitute her with his lowly-born daughter, Yan Weichi. This is an act of deception against the Emperor—a crime punishable by death!"
In this world, no one save for the Duke of Anguo dared to interrupt Emperor Kangwu. The Emperor, seemingly accustomed to his arrogance, merely frowned in disgust without reprimanding him.
Emperor Kangwu looked at Yan Qingshu, who was hiding behind her mother, and then at Yan Weichi, who stood beside Yan Hanshan. "Yan Hanshan, what is the meaning of this?"
Yan Hanshan spoke in a rush, "Your Majesty, please spare me! I had no intention of substituting anyone. It is just that my daughter Weichi is beyond discipline; she grew jealous of her sister’s good fortune and, catching me off guard, snuck into the prison to take Qingshu’s place."
*Is he trying to pin all the blame on Yan Weichi?*
Yan Weichi’s lips twitched, and just as she was about to speak, the Duke of Anguo interjected, "Nonsense! I have investigated this thoroughly. Yan Weichi has lived on a farm outside the city since she was six and has never returned to the capital. How would she know of this news, or when to show up to take her place? If you hadn’t brought her back, I doubt she would even know the way home!"
Yan Weichi nodded with satisfaction. For once, the Duke of Anguo had actually said something sensible.
Yan Hanshan’s brow furrowed, unable to refute this. He turned his anger toward Yan Weichi, berating her, "You wretched creature! Speak! How did you find out your sister was meeting the Crown Prince, and how did you manage to impersonate her?"
Yan Hanshan blinked at Yan Weichi, signaling her to take the blame upon herself. Princess Mingyang, seeing this, added, "That’s right, Weichi. Just confess. His Majesty will take your youth and ignorance into account and deal with you leniently."
*Before anything is even decided, they want me to plead guilty?*
Yan Weichi rolled her eyes and said in a clear voice, "Your Majesty, what the Duke of Anguo says is true. I was indeed forcibly dragged back by my father and sent to the jail in place of the Crown Prince!"
The moment these words left her mouth, everyone froze. The Duke of Anguo seemed surprised by how readily she had confessed. Yan Hanshan was stunned—why had she gone back on her word? They had agreed she would shoulder the blame!
"You… you… what nonsense are you spouting?!" Yan Hanshan rushed toward her, hand raised to strike her face.
However, Yan Weichi continued, "But even so, my father has committed no crime of deception. Wasn’t this all done in accordance with your decree, Your Majesty?"
Emperor Kangwu paused, confused. "My decree?"
The Duke of Anguo retorted, "Lies! The Emperor’s marriage decree was always for the Marquis’s legitimate daughter. Since when did it involve you? Look at yourself!"
Yan Weichi remained unfazed by the Duke’s hostility. She opened her eyes wide and asked, "Duke, what did you say? Whom did His Majesty bestow in marriage?"
"The legitimate daughter of the Marquis! Did I say it wrong?" The Duke puffed out his beard, his face ferocious.
Yan Weichi smiled. "Of course not. You are a Duke; you couldn’t possibly remember incorrectly. It is naturally the… legitimate daughter of the Marquis!"
"Then kneel and confess! Impersonation is a crime worthy of death!" The Duke was eager to see her dead.
Yan Weichi chuckled. "His Majesty said 'the legitimate daughter,' but the Marquis’s estate has more than one. I, too, am a legitimate daughter of the house."
Princess Mingyang, unable to hold her tongue, glared at her. "I couldn't have given birth to a disobedient brat like you."
Ignoring her, Yan Weichi asked the Emperor, "Your Majesty, may I ask, when was this marriage bestowed?"
Emperor Kangwu frowned, trying to recall.
The Duke of Anguo spoke up, "I remember this clearly. It was on the Crown Prince’s coming-of-age day. Yan Qingshu was still very young then, so it was only mentioned in passing."
"Wrong!" Yan Weichi immediately cut in.
"Wrong? How so?" The Duke frowned at her. Emperor Kangwu also looked puzzled.
"Your Majesty," Yan Weichi continued, "if my memory serves, you only mentioned it years ago. But the actual decree was issued fifteen years ago, when Princess Mingyang married into the Marquis’s estate."
Emperor Kangwu paused, reflecting on the past, and realized the truth. Back then, Princess Mingyang had been obsessed with Yan Hanshan and insisted on marrying him, much to the anger of her brother, Prince Changxin. As the Marquis held no real power, the marriage was considered a step down for the Princess. Moreover, the Marquis already had a wife, creating a scandal. To appease Prince Changxin, Emperor Kangwu had issued a decree bestowing the Marquis’s legitimate daughter upon his favorite son, Shangguan Xi.
Emperor Kangwu nodded. "You are correct. There should be a record of this."
Yan Weichi smiled. "Exactly. Fifteen years ago, my second sister wasn't even born yet. Back then, there was only one legitimate daughter in the house—me. If His Majesty didn't bestow me in marriage, then who else could it be?"
***
*So… that seems to be correct.*
After all, the original decree didn't specify a name, as Princess Mingyang hadn't even conceived yet. The Emperor’s intent had been that if the Princess had a daughter, she would be the Crown Princess; if not, they would wait for the next child. The favor was meant for the Princess, but the decree simply read "the legitimate daughter."
Princess Mingyang was furious. "You little slut, you’re really good at gilding your own lily! His Majesty granted that decree for the sake of my brother, what does it have to do with you?"
Yan Weichi retorted, "Princess Mingyang, when you married into the house, my mother was the mistress. You entered later; in the eyes of the commoners, that makes you a concubine! If I am not the legitimate daughter, is your yet-to-be-conceived belly the legitimate daughter?"
Princess Mingyang froze, stunned by the audacity of the rebuttal.
Before she could lash out again, Yan Weichi added, "You and your daughter are truly alike. If someone else doesn't want something, you don't want it either. But the moment someone else wants it, you fight to the death for it. Fine, fine. It’s just the position of Crown Princess. It’s not as if the Crown Prince can only have one woman. If my sister wants it, she can marry in too. Two women for one husband—we’ll see who has the better means!"
Princess Mingyang was silenced. She wasn't afraid of Yan Weichi, but she didn't want her daughter to marry the Crown Prince. Everyone knew Shangguan Xi was afflicted with the Cold Gu Poison and might not live long. Furthermore, he had no maternal family support and was isolated in the capital, in a more awkward position than any other prince. The throne of Dali would never be his. If Yan Weichi wanted to be a widow, let her.
Princess Mingyang huffed and ceased her protest.
Yan Hanshan, seeing this, quickly scrambled, "Yes, yes, quite right! Princess Mingyang hadn't conceived then. I was so flattered by the decree that I naturally assumed it referred to my daughter Weichi, which is why I sent her to the jail yesterday to leave a bloodline for the Crown Prince…"
"You just said something completely different!" the Duke roared.
"Oh, my dear Duke, I am old, and with such a major event occurring suddenly, I am a bit confused! Fortunately, my daughter remembered. I am sure this is recorded in the imperial logs; we need only check the decree."
The Duke was panting with rage. What was the point of checking? The decree wouldn't have had a name; it only said "legitimate daughter"!
Seeing the Duke fall silent, Emperor Kangwu breathed a sigh of relief and nodded approvingly at Yan Weichi. She gave him a playful wink, which left him stunned before he let out a resigned chuckle.
*This girl comes from the countryside and her status is a bit low for Chujing,* he thought. *But precisely because of that, she has no ties to the Duke or the Prince. Having her by his side will put my mind at ease. Besides, she is quite clever.*
"Yan Weichi," the Emperor continued, "since you have already shared the name and bed of the Crown Prince, tomorrow morning I shall announce your title as Crown Princess to the court. As for the wedding, we shall choose an auspicious date when the Crown Prince’s health improves…"
"Your Majesty…" The Duke was dissatisfied again, interrupting once more.
Yan Weichi interjected, "Duke, why are you so rude, constantly interrupting people?"
"You! You wretch, didn't you interrupt me as well?"
"Oh, well, I have no manners to begin with. What of it? I was raised without a mother’s guidance, after all!"
Yan Weichi’s unapologetic attitude left the Duke fuming and Yan Hanshan speechless.
Yan Weichi laughed. "Come now, why are you so quick to anger? The world is full of all sorts of people. But our poor Crown Prince, he can only be 'all sorts' but not 'sensual'—why are you hounding a man who can’t be sensual? You’re just making yourself miserable for nothing!"
The crowd went quiet again. The words were strange, but everyone seemed to grasp the implication. *He can only be "all sorts" but not "sensual"…*
***
Emperor Kangwu shook his head with a faint smile. Yan Hanshan shot Yan Weichi a look of disgust. The Duke, however, looked thoughtful.
*The girl is right,* he mused. *If the Crown Prince is impotent, he will have no heirs. How can an heirless Prince inherit the throne? Fighting with the Emperor over a cripple isn't worth it. It might even damage the Emperor’s favor for the Second Prince.*
"Hmph," the Duke snorted. "Your Majesty, I am feeling unwell. I shall take my leave!"
He walked off without waiting for a response. Emperor Kangwu, used to his arrogance, waved his hand to dismiss the rest.
***
As Yan Weichi exited the palace, she saw the Young Lord of Prince Xiaoyao, Yu Feiyan, dismounting his horse, sword in hand and looking furious. He had intended to help her, but was surprised to see the entire family from the Marquis’s estate already there, and Yan Weichi perfectly unscathed.
His intense stare made her uncomfortable. She looked down at herself, then back at him. "Do we… know each other?"
Yu Feiyan composed himself. "Forgive my rudeness."
Yan Hanshan stepped forward. "Young master, you are…?"
"Yu Feiyan, Young Lord of Prince Xiaoyao," he replied.
Yan Hanshan’s face broke into a sycophantic smile. "Ah, the Young Lord! Forgive my lack of recognition. Qingshu, come pay your respects."
Yan Qingshu approached reluctantly. Yu Feiyan was handsome, but he was only the heir to a prince without real power—not worth her effort. "I am Qingshu. Greetings, Young Lord."
Yu Feiyan nodded briefly and looked back at Yan Weichi. Confirmed she was alright, he said, "I have an audience with the Emperor. I shall not keep you, Marquis. Farewell."
As he strode away, Princess Mingyang walked over and sneered at Yan Weichi. "I never would have guessed that in just a few years, you’d become such a flirt. One Prince isn't enough, and now you’ve stolen the soul of the Young Lord of Prince Xiaoyao. You are truly something else!"
Yan Weichi was speechless. It was a single encounter; how could that be flirting? Clearly, the Princess wanted to ruin her reputation.
"You are too kind, Princess," Yan Weichi replied with a fake smile. "It is all thanks to your excellent upbringing!"
"What does this have to do with me?!"
"You are the mistress of the house! My legitimate mother! Any success I have is a result of your teachings. Don't be so modest!"
Yan Weichi walked toward Yan Hanshan, hands on her hips. "Father, pay up!"
Yan Hanshan rolled his eyes. "What money? Don't you get your monthly allowance?"
"Are you trying to welsh on our deal?"
"Before we entered the palace, I told you to take the blame in exchange for the money. You didn't do it. So, the deal is void!"
Yan Weichi smirked. "Old trees have tough bark, and old men have thick skins, it seems."
"How dare you!"
"Father," Yan Weichi said, curling her lips, "I have a very peculiar temper. Simply put, I treat people according to how they treat me. Since you want to play dirty, let’s just wait and see."
She walked away without looking back, leaving Yan Hanshan with a lingering sense of unease.
Princess Mingyang walked over. "What were you two whispering about?"
When told, she frowned. "The girl is odd. Last time I saw her, she was timid and small-minded. How did she become so bold?"
Yan Qingshu added, "She probably thinks she's something special just because she’s married to a failure."
"Hush, Qingshu! Do not speak so recklessly!" Yan Hanshan scolded.
Yan Hanshan watched Yan Weichi walk away. "The girl is truly strange. I must have her investigated."
***
It wasn't just Yan Hanshan who wanted to investigate; the Duke of Anguo had similar thoughts. After leaving the palace, he was summoned to the Empress's Phoenix Hall.
After hearing the report, the Empress frowned. "Is Shangguan Xi truly impotent?"
The Duke sighed. "If he is, we needn't press him so hard. The Emperor loves him; if we push too far, it might damage the relationship between the Emperor and you, and in turn, affect the Second Prince."
"You are right," the Empress agreed. "He has been in the army for ten years; he may well have been injured."
"Exactly. And with the Cold Gu Poison, who knows what it might have done? But to be safe, I will have someone test him."
"If it is true," the Empress mused, "then the bloodline of the Holy Medical Tribe is truly severed, and there will be no more Holy Maiden, right?"
The Duke scoffed. "Let it be. We have none, and neither do the other states. The idea that whoever gains the Holy Maiden gains the world is nonsense. To rule, one needs strength!"
"With you by my side, I have nothing to fear," the Empress smiled.
***
Meanwhile, back at the Crown Prince’s mansion, Yan Weichi was learning more about Shangguan Xi from an elderly servant. The woman, her temples graying, bowed respectfully. "This servant pays her respects to the Crown Princess."
Yan Weichi blinked. "Who are you? There were no servants here yesterday."
The woman smiled. "I am a servant from the Prince Xiaoyao’s estate. I arrived with the Young Lord. He heard the Crown Prince had returned and was without help, so he sent me and a few others to assist. You may call me Nurse Zhang."
*The Young Lord? The young general I saw at the palace gate?* He really was a kind person.
"That is wonderful," Yan Weichi laughed. "I was exhausted cleaning the courtyard yesterday. How many people did you bring?"
Nurse Zhang held up two fingers. "My husband and I. Two in total."
Yan Weichi’s smile froze.