Fifty-six. Do you wish to pluck the stars?

"What is this?"
In the Weiyang Palace, the Empress Dowager pointed to the exquisite jade box, her tone tinged with a hint of dissatisfaction.
Pei Xiunian looked at the Empress Dowager, clad in a loose silk brocade dress, and replied calmly,
"I thought to preserve them with qi, but my skills proved lacking; I made a mistake, and the grapes dried naturally on the journey. I am ashamed. Please do not blame me, Aunt Meng."
The Empress Dowager had not expected Pei Xiunian to spin such a tale. For a moment, she felt both amused and annoyed, but decided not to fuss. She casually picked one and placed it in her mouth before speaking:
"Do you know why I summoned you today?"
Pei Xiunian took a seat opposite the Empress Dowager, speculating,
"I heard the princes have returned to the Forbidden City. Perhaps a court session is imminent? Is Aunt Meng wishing to discuss who we should strike down first?"
"You certainly have heavy ambitions..."
The Empress Dowager glanced at him sidelong. Having such a capable nephew was a blessing.
But... if he revealed too much ambition, she would have to be wary. Still, as she held his weakness firmly, she need not worry about him turning against her; his competence was only an asset.
With this thought, the Empress Dowager continued,
"Aside from the upcoming court session, His Majesty intends to move against the noble families' pill workshops. The affairs of the families are far too entangled; best not to wade into those muddy waters if you can avoid it..."
"Too late!"
A flicker of surprise crossed Pei Xiunian's eyes. He sighed,
"Today, I was ordered to the Divine Machine Battalion and happened upon the matter. I even persuaded Yu Liancheng to withdraw, and then came to see Aunt Meng after agreeing to launch an investigation through the Inspectorate."
The Empress Dowager pressed her lips together, frowning,
"But just this morning, I promised His Majesty not to employ the Inspectorate or the Censorate. So he had already..."
Already anticipated this?
No, a sharp glint appeared in Pei Xiunian's eyes. This was no coincidence. Since it was Emperor Zhaoning’s maneuver, it was yet another move against her.
But what he could not fathom was why, after his apparent submission, Emperor Zhaoning still sought to use him as a pawn?
Neither military achievements nor the matter of the pill refining was sufficient explanation.
Had he long suspected him? If so, there must be some crucial piece of information between himself and the Emperor that he had yet to grasp—or perhaps had misunderstood entirely.
The Empress Dowager weighed the gravity of this information, then gazed at Pei Xiunian with concern:

"Let me see, did you suffer any harm today?"
Pei Xiunian waved his hand,
"My heart-shield was untouched. I happened to encounter the Deputy Fatekeeper of the Astral Bureau; with her intervention, I came through unscathed."
Silence lingered for a while. The Empress Dowager stroked her sleeve and asked,
"Will you tell me in detail what happened at the Divine Machine Battalion today?"
The incident would soon be reported and slandered by the Astral Bureau, so there was no need to hide anything. Pei Xiunian recounted the day’s events honestly and thoroughly.
After listening quietly, the Empress Dowager murmured,
"So, without the Deputy Fatekeeper, both the Divine Machine Battalion and the pill workshop might have vanished from Great Zhou today?"
Pei Xiunian raised his hand,
"And myself as well, had I been struck through the heart-shield..."
The Empress Dowager understood his meaning. With so many eyes on the scene, the heart-shield would not go unnoticed. If it had been revealed, their private connection would be irreparably exposed.
Was this a test from Emperor Zhaoning?
But... without the heart-shield, Pei Xiunian would have been doomed.
And why had Emperor Zhaoning specifically informed her of this matter?
He could not possibly know Pei Xiunian was not the Third Prince, so was this a way to intimidate her, even at the cost of royal blood?
Or was he simply desperate to refine another batch of pills? In that case, had her support for Pei Xiunian implicated him?
But Emperor Zhaoning was still in his prime; why so eager to favor the Second Prince and fear the rise of the Third?
The Emperor’s time was far from over, and her support could not wholly control the Third Prince’s actions; indeed, Pei Xiunian now deliberately seemed to side more with the Emperor...
Yet Emperor Zhaoning remained so wary...
The Empress Dowager sighed inwardly. The Emperor’s motives were elusive. What he truly desired was yet unclear. She said quietly,
"All in all, the outcome is not unfavorable. Though you have one foot in the mire, it’s not too late. As long as you keep exchanging the Divine Machine Battalion for the pill workshop, you can preserve yourself."
Pei Xiunian countered,
"What if I refuse to abandon the Divine Machine Battalion? Can my military achievements silence the noble families’ criticisms?"
The Empress Dowager shook her head,
"Though your military merits are great, rewards are ultimately at the court’s discretion. The noble families may refuse to acknowledge them. If possible, they would prefer to bind you with a marriage alliance..."

Another political marriage...
Pei Xiunian frowned at the prospect. Marriage with daughters of high officials still seemed negotiable.
But an alliance with the noble families... would surely turn him into a puppet for their political schemes.
Pei Xiunian munched on the raisins he’d brought, then said,
"I still have a false engagement with the Princess of Qingqiu. She can never appear in Great Zhou, so it’s a dead end—no witnesses. The noble families must fear Qingqiu raising troops again, no? There may still be room to maneuver."
The Empress Dowager uttered a thoughtful "Hmm," her expression tinged with doubt,
"Why are you so determined to keep the Divine Machine Battalion?"
Pei Xiunian sighed, not bothering with any evasions, but spoke with melancholy,
"In the court, there are few with whom one can speak sincerely—Father is so, siblings likewise. People are colder than machines. With the situation so precarious, I must seek aid without worrying about consequences, however insignificant. Even the smallest variable matters."
The Empress Dowager regarded him—so handsome and elegant, in the prime of youth—yet he showed such an expression. To speak so openly before her, did it mean he had finally lowered his guard?
But she only wished to use him...
If she now told him, "You may trust Aunt," perhaps he would become entirely hers.
As a demoness of the evil sect, winning hearts was second nature; why should she care for a single lie?
Yet the words stuck in her throat, unable to be spoken.
She draped a sable cloak over Pei Xiunian’s shoulders, gently comforting him,
"Such is life in the imperial family. Great Zhou has stood for centuries; the royal conflicts recorded in history are always fierce."
"I heard Blind Li was once of the royal house, had his eyes gouged out and cast into the world... Now he’s renowned across the land. Those who once plotted against him, all their deeds are dust."
"Do not show such an expression, child. You are not yet at your limit. The Emperor’s intentions remain unclear, but he will not stop here. We must first understand what he wants, and why he acts thus."
Pei Xiunian looked at the Empress Dowager, her gaze gentle. He pointed beyond the window, toward a distant mountain bathed in moonlight, and softly asked,
"Do you wish to pluck the stars?"
The Empress Dowager’s brows rose. Who was Pei Xiunian’s question for—himself, her, or the Emperor?
She followed his gesture out the window, toward the towering Renhuang Mountain. The bronze furnace atop it shimmered under the moon. On that peak, perhaps the Emperor’s secrets were buried.