Chapter Thirty-Five: The Kind Aunt (Double Chapter)

What an astonishingly beautiful woman, charming as peach and plum blossoms.

Pei Xiunian had considered the possibility that the Empress Dowager might seek him out in person, but he had never imagined that this woman, still surrounded by loyal partisans, would so grandly appear in his own bedchamber.

And she had come after nightfall.

And... so breathtakingly lovely.

This, too, was beyond Pei Xiunian’s expectations. Judging by the span of years, no matter how skillful her methods, the Empress Dowager could not possibly guarantee perpetual youth. Even if she maintained herself with great care, it was difficult to believe she could appear so radiant, like a matron in the prime of her youth—so lush and vibrant that one could almost imagine dew would bead at a mere touch.

Did this mean that the Empress Dowager herself possessed cultivation? Perhaps her abilities were not just considerable, but truly profound?

Yet there had been no rumors, not even a whisper of such a thing; speculation was pointless.

Pei Xiunian’s gaze slid over those long legs clad in pale silk stockings, raised elegantly, and met the Empress Dowager’s eyes. Though he was standing and she seated, he still felt the haughty, condescending aura emanating from her gaze.

Such unassailable majesty, set upon a face of stunning allure, lent her a strange and dangerous beauty.

“Why... is it that you were bold enough to speak outside the hall, but now that you see me in person, you dare not say a word?”

Seeing Pei Xiunian unmoved, the Empress Dowager folded her arms, shooting him a sidelong glance, her tone tinted with displeasure.

Pei Xiunian finally ceased his scrutiny, folded his hands, and bowed deeply.

“Your grandson pays respects to Royal Grandmother. As for what I said earlier, it was merely an excuse born of fatigue. Royal Grandmother need not take it to heart.”

“Oh?” The Empress Dowager arched a brow, her eyes gleaming with suspicion as she continued,

“What business took you from the palace today, that you are so weary you would begrudge your Royal Grandmother even a single meeting?”

Without hesitation, Pei Xiunian took a cypress chessboard from his universe pouch, answering openly,

“I played chess today with the Grand Astrologer of the Heavenly Observatory. He gifted me this chessboard.”

The Empress Dowager was ready to scoff—after all, the Grand Astrologer, though residing in the Tower of Heaven, was not easily approachable. Not even the Emperor himself was assured an audience, let alone a prince. And as for a gifted chessboard? Absurd—surely he'd bought a set off a street vendor and was passing it off as a gift. The Grand Astrologer always used the plainest of boards...

Yet when her gaze fell upon the chessboard, the Empress Dowager could no longer maintain her composure.

Her eyes flickered with unease as she took the cypress board in her delicate hand. The moment her fingers touched the surface, she saw within it three hundred sixty-one stars settled upon the board, the nineteen intersecting lines crossing like wild hills, connecting stars and moon in a continuous flow.

There was only one such chessboard in the world—the Grand Astrologer’s own “Watching the Tide.”

This was indeed his board, and, no more than an hour ago, it had recognized a new master.

A jolt of fear exploded in the Empress Dowager’s heart. This board, which even the Grand Astrologer had not bestowed upon his designated successor, Young Astrologer Luo Xiaoning—how had he come to give it freely to a prince he’d never met?

What exactly was the Grand Astrologer plotting in secret?

Moreover, the board had never before acknowledged a master—why would it do so for Pei Xiunian?

She glanced sidelong at him, knowing she could glean nothing from that dignified countenance. Nor did she wish to ask why the Grand Astrologer had chosen to give him the board—Xiunnian could not possibly know. But perhaps… this was for the best.

Strange, why should I be thinking on his behalf? she mused.

The Empress Dowager casually returned the chessboard to Pei Xiunian, brushed her sleeve, and said with deliberate slowness,

“So, you consider playing chess far more important than seeing me. Alas…”

Pei Xiunian pursed his lips, explaining,

“There is little amusement to be found in the palace, so I sought something to occupy my time. I went to the Heavenly Observatory merely to find a diversion for the coming period of confinement. Now, at least I have a chessboard and some reward for my trouble.”

Though he spoke thus, he scoffed inwardly. At least with a chessboard, he could pass the time. But with you?

Could you be played with, as one plays a game of chess?

“Confinement?” The Empress Dowager caught the scent of serious matters and pursued, “Why has His Majesty decreed that you be confined?”

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Though her inquiry was simple, it carried deep pride, a sense that “such trifles could be settled by a single word from me.”

Pei Xiunian kept his gaze calm, replying,

“To receive punishment for one’s faults is only right and proper. There’s no need to trouble Royal Grandmother with the details—they are unseemly.”

A true man, living beneath heaven—how could he allow himself to be courted over such trivialities?

He countered at once, “May I ask, what brings Royal Grandmother to seek me out tonight?”

The Empress Dowager snorted coldly, coming straight to the point:

“I merely wished to extend my regards to a great minister of our Zhou Dynasty over the matter of Qingqiu. Is that so improper?”

“Of course not.”

Pei Xiunian waved his hands, personally pouring a cup of freshly boiled tea and setting it before her. Then he said,

“Such courtesies are of little urgency and could be performed at any time. Yet now it is late. With such a precious body as yours, if word were to spread of your visiting my chambers, there would be no end of gossip…”

The Empress Dowager was momentarily taken aback. This boy was annoyingly adept—all the right points, perfectly blocked. Forced to change tack, she lowered her gaze with a sigh, as if lost in reminiscence,

“In those days, your mother and I cared nothing for the opinions of others; we called each other sisters, and our bond was so close…”

At this, she let down her elegantly crossed legs, covered her face with one hand, and reached for the tea with the other, chiding,

“Who would have thought that now, the son of my dearest friend would speak to me of ‘propriety’? Given my relationship with your mother, you ought to call me Aunt Meng.”

Pei Xiunian stepped forward at once, gently stopping her hand, his voice soft,

“Aunt Meng, be careful—the tea is hot.”

A faint smile played about Pei Xiunian’s lips. The Art of War says: “Show humility, but provoke arrogance.”

He sat beside the Empress Dowager. There was a subtle fragrance about her—not the heavy scent of rouge and powder, but something light and elegant, just right at close distance.

As he cooled her tea, he spoke gently,

“The matter of propriety is not for my sake, but for yours, Aunt. If the opposing factions were to seize on this, I am but a solitary man; it does not matter for me, but your reputation could suffer, and that would be a loss for all. Please, do not take it to heart.”

The Empress Dowager felt a chill—she’d fallen into his trap! For a moment, she could find nothing to say, accepting the cup from his hand and taking a delicate sip before changing the subject.

“Since your return from Hangzhou, do you truly have nothing to say to me?”

Pei Xiunian knew he could not dodge this topic forever. He replied,

“I must thank Your Majesty for saving my life, but first, I must discover who wishes me harm, or I will find no peace.”

There was a hint of cunning in Pei Xiunian’s upturned gaze as he continued,

“That is also why I would rather endure confinement. The enemy remains in the shadows. Even the Forbidden City of our Zhou Dynasty is not necessarily safe—the factional struggles at court, the fight for succession—Aunt, do you have any idea who it might be?”

The Empress Dowager, unnerved by his probing gaze, retorted,

“I merely sent someone to protect you. How should I know who seeks your life?”

Pei Xiunian felt his prelude had been sufficient. Now was the time to strike at her most vulnerable point.

He asked directly,

“Since Mother’s passing, I’ve not seen Aunt Meng once. Why have you only now thought of me?”

The Empress Dowager lowered her lashes, cradling the warm cup in both hands, and murmured,

“After your mother left us, I could not openly look after you. With my status, to stand by you would have made you a target for many. At that time, the best protection was to stay away.”

“But this autumn, you left the mountains—the world outside is dangerous. Naturally, I arranged for someone to protect you. Now, seeing you grown and capable, I am much relieved. Yet you still doubt me… It breaks your Aunt Meng’s heart.”

Pei Xiunian listened, but of course did not wholly believe her. If she truly meant what she said, he could never have killed the Third Prince and taken his place. A youngster like Xiao Qin might slip up, but a master strategist would not have left any opening.

As he stroked the Empress Dowager’s slender jade hand in comfort, several theories, each with varying likelihoods, flickered through his mind:

First, perhaps the Empress Dowager, seeing Pei Xiunian’s rise, had only recently stationed Zhao Congrong to protect him, seeking to fully control him and aid the Third Prince’s succession—her aim, to secure her own power.

Second, a variation: the rescue by Zhao Congrong was a play she herself directed, designed to make Pei Xiunian dependent upon her. For a prince with no allies at court, such timely aid would not be soon forgotten.

Third, the least likely: the Empress Dowager already knew his true identity, and all of this was her deliberate design.

This last suspicion stemmed from the fact that Pei Xiunian could not believe a prince’s entourage, aside from Xiao Qin, would lack any covert protection from powerful court experts. On that day, his desperate actions had been a gamble for his life; he’d hardly imagined he could truly kill the Third Prince. Yet it had succeeded…

Overall, Pei Xiunian saw the second possibility as most probable. The Empress Dowager, after ruling for so many years, could not be a woman of indecision.

Thoughts flashed by in an instant. In truth, only a couple of seconds had passed; meanwhile, he was taking full advantage, earnestly saying,

“If Aunt Meng is willing to openly support me, then I will serve you with all my might. Yet the matter of the assassination still troubles me, giving me restless nights…”

The Empress Dowager understood his meaning. She patted his hand, her voice gentle,

“To hear such sincere words from you gladdens me immensely. As for the assassination, I will spare no effort in investigating. Furthermore, you need not fear while in the palace…”

As she spoke, she drew from her voluminous robe a translucent jade talisman hung on a red cord, pressing it into Pei Xiunian’s hand.

“This is a heart-warding amulet I acquired by chance. If you carry it with you, it will protect you—should you be attacked, it will automatically shield you. With this, you need not live in constant fear.”

Pei Xiunian thanked her earnestly, returning the amulet to his universe pouch. He examined it quietly with his Celestial Sight—whether it truly had any effect was yet to be seen, but it posed no danger, nor did it contain any hidden mechanisms for spying or eavesdropping.

The Empress Dowager turned to him again, her voice soft,

“Now then, you must attend the next court assembly in person. That way, I can advocate for you and see that you are properly rewarded for your merits.”

The meaning was clear: she wished to publicly announce their alliance—truly drawing him into the Empress Dowager’s faction.

Thus, Pei Xiunian would have found his patron; the Empress Dowager’s party would gain the backing of the imperial bloodline, their reach extending at last to the throne itself. This would ignite a storm at the heart of Zhou’s imperial court.

Pei Xiunian agreed readily, watching as the beautiful noblewoman rose with poise. He heard her laugh contentedly,

“Do not disappoint your aunt. It grows late; I will not disturb your rest further. In future, if you are troubled, you may always come to Weiyang Palace to consult me…”

At the threshold, she paused, turning back with a trace of a young matron’s dreamy charm, biting her lip as she said,

“Oh… except for one matter—the marriage. Last time His Majesty suggested arranging a betrothal for you. I refused. Those officials only wish to bind you with their daughters—I will not let that happen, you need not worry!”

Pei Xiunian nodded, quietly watching the Empress Dowager depart. He made no effort to keep her with talk of lingering for a late supper.

Conversations with those whom one cannot truly trust are simply too exhausting.

Pei Xiunian leaned back on his couch, hands behind his head. Perhaps he had been influenced by the Grand Astrologer, for now he saw everything as a chess match.

This conversation with the Empress Dowager had been a great game, and on the surface, he had won handsomely.

He had only one goal: to gain the support of a faction, to ensure he was not left utterly powerless.

Now, not only had the head of a great faction openly supported him, but she had come to seek him out herself.

This was not at all the dependence on the Empress Dowager he had envisioned—it was a reversal of roles.

It was like learning a skill: whether you begged to be taught, or your teacher was eager to instruct you. The former would always hold something back; the latter, in treating you as a treasure, would spare nothing.

The heart-warding amulet in his hand was the clearest proof of the Empress Dowager’s intentions.

Had he clung shamelessly to her from the start, he would have received nothing—he would not even have held onto the talismans exposing Prince Qi’s crimes.

Those two talismans in his possession would soon spark a scandal that would rock the court. Once accusations flew, Prince Qi would surely strike back. Thus, it was safest to keep the talismans in his own hands.

With that thought, Pei Xiunian drew forth the letter from Prince Qi he had long since put away, and broke the red wax seal emblazoned in gold.