Chapter 72: Male Favorite
The New Year brought with it the lights of a thousand homes and the warmth of family reunions. But there were places no lantern could reach, chilling cages untouched by any warmth.
In a remote, small room, a person huddled in a corner, wrapped in a tattered quilt to ward off the bone-chilling cold.
On the table sat a bowl of spoiled rice containing a single piece of fatty meat. It was now frozen solid, a layer of frost coating its surface.
CREAK!
The dilapidated door let out a grating creak as wind and snow raged outside, pouring in as a figure appeared in the doorway.
The wooden door groaned again as it was shut, plunging the room into darkness. Yet, each was keenly aware of the other’s presence.
"Xie Wan."
The deliberately suppressed voice named the person in the room. It was none other than Consort Hui, who had been stripped of her title and reduced to a commoner.
Xie Wan’s consciousness was fading, but she was forcing herself to remain on guard. At the sound of the voice, clarity returned to her in a sudden flash, like the last flare of a dying candle.
She opened and closed her mouth a few times but failed to speak the person’s name. Tears streamed down her face. After a long moment, a single, hoarse sentence escaped her dry throat: "They killed Lin’er."
Xiao Lin. That was the name she had chosen for her child.
But she had never once been able to call him by that name openly. And now, he had been murdered!
Xie Wan struggled to her feet, only to fall heavily back to the ground. She was too weak to stand. She all but crawled to the figure, grabbing the hem of their robes. "Avenge... our... child..."
"Alright."
The person bent down, scooped Xie Wan off the floor, and carried her away in silence.
In the vast Imperial Palace, the disappearance of a single person was hardly noticeable, especially one who had already been trampled into the dust.
But if this person, who seemed as insignificant as dust, was in fact being watched the entire time, then it was all too unfortunate.
An Imperial Concubine was unimportant. A commoner, even more so.
But this person was the mother of the story’s hero—and the future Empress Dowager.
’Xiao Yang had killed the male protagonist but spared his mother. It certainly wasn’t out of kindness.’
No one saw Xie Wan disappear, but the fact remained that she was gone. Someone had rescued her.
’Doesn’t this make things more interesting?’
’Have the protagonist’s so-called hidden forces finally shown themselves?’
Of course, Xiao Yang wasn’t one for intricate schemes, so she gave a simple order: "Leak this news to the Empress Dowager."
’The Empress Dowager has been on edge lately. This will give her something to occupy her time.’
Xiao Yang had no immediate plans to kill the Empress Dowager, but it was annoying how the woman constantly provoked her.
As for which of them harbored treacherous ambitions and coveted the Imperial Power, Xiao Yang couldn’t care less.
’Scheming is useless. The only thing that counts as true ability is killing me to my face. Unfortunately for them, they don’t have that ability yet.’
’How do other Emperors celebrate the New Year?’
’Rejoicing with their officials? Or perhaps spending their nights in revelry, bonding with their concubines?’
’But Xiao Yang had no concubines...’
Fortunately, Lin Yi was quick on the uptake. In just two days, he managed to find two handsome men from respectable families to bring into the palace.
"Your humble servants, Jiang Shuhuai and Zhao Qiuchi, pay our respects to Your Majesty."
Xiao Yang held a file with information on both men. Jiang Shuhuai was the son of a musician and was proficient in a wide array of instruments. Zhao Qiuchi was the son of an opera troupe owner. Having grown up in that environment, he loved to sing opera. With his striking looks, he usually played the female lead roles.
Jiang Shuhuai had refined, handsome features and a scholarly air about him, looking every bit the dashing scholar. Zhao Qiuchi, on the other hand, had a more androgynous beauty. The upward tilt of his eyes held a seductive charm, giving his handsome face a unique allure.
Lin Yi made sure to emphasize that both men had entered the palace to serve Her Majesty voluntarily. Furthermore, their parents were still alive and their families had modest businesses, which made them easy to control; they wouldn’t dare to act against Her Majesty.
Xiao Yang glanced at their expressions. She couldn’t detect much enthusiasm, but they didn’t seem reluctant, either.
Lin Yi had someone bring out a zither. Jiang Shuhuai, taking the cue, sat before it, raised his hands, and began to play.
As the music began, Zhao Qiuchi, having composed himself, slowly began to sing.
Lin Yi watched the two men nervously, occasionally stealing glances at Her Majesty’s face. But Xiao Yang’s expression remained impassive from start to finish, offering no clue as to whether she was pleased or not.
Lin Yi’s heart was in his throat, terrified that he had failed in his task.
Fortunately, Xiao Yang decided to keep them in the end.
"They can stay for now."
Lin Yi let out a huge sigh of relief. "Your servant obeys."
’Xiao Yang was thoroughly unimpressed. The two were actually quite decent—good-looking and artistic. They were perfectly suitable as male companions, but they held no appeal for her.’
’She was attracted to power, and she yearned to conquer and be conquered.’
’If a man lacked the charm to even make her heart stir, she would never settle for less and compromise.’
’Still, they would make good shields to keep in the palace. And as a bonus, it would be a small treat for the little palace maids—give them some eye candy.’
-----
「In the Heavenly Prison」
Prince Kang and his consort, Lu Qian, huddled closely together.
Although they had been thrown in here on Her Majesty’s orders, they hadn’t been charged with any specific crime, so no one had tortured them.
Given their special status, the jailers had put them in the driest cell available and had even provided them with bedding.
Even so, it was torture for the pair. When had they ever endured such hardship?
But no one pleaded their case. The Emperor not only refused to release them but had even sent Prince Jing to seize their assets.
Lu Qian shivered uncontrollably. She thought she might have caught a chill. If they stayed here any longer, she was afraid she might die.
"Husband, when will we get out of here?"
"Is there anyone who can save us?"
"Will Her Majesty let us go?"
Prince Kang was exhausted as well. He had spent the past two days trying to console Lu Qian, but now he could barely fend for himself and had no patience left.
"Prince Jing wouldn’t lie to us. I heard he and his father have Her Majesty’s complete trust. His words carry great weight with the Emperor."
Lu Qian was full of regret. "We never should have come."
The Empress Dowager had sent them an edict out of the blue, telling them to return for the New Year’s celebration.
Yan Hill was pleasant, but it was nowhere near as bustling as the Capital City. Lu Qian had longed to visit the capital for ages.
Ever since the day Rong Yin became the Regent King, the matter had been a thorn in her heart. For six long years, she had seethed with resentment every time she thought of it.
Why should that bastard get to be a Prince, while her own son was repeatedly denied the title of Princely Heir?
’It had to be that bastard’s doing.’
That was why she had wanted to come—to persuade the Empress Dowager to have the Little Emperor issue a decree granting her son the title of Princely Heir.
But who could have imagined that just after they arrived, after making a single appearance, the Little Emperor would have them thrown into the Heavenly Prison?
In Yan Hill, Prince Kang was the most venerated member of the Imperial Family, a local tyrant who held absolute power. All the surrounding officials treated him with reverence and fear.
She was used to flaunting her husband’s authority, believing herself to be among the most revered people in the land, someone everyone had to show respect to. She never imagined that upon arriving in the Capital City, her husband wouldn’t even be able to get out of the Heavenly Prison.
She regretted it terribly. If she had known, she would have just stayed in Yan Hill. Why had she come all this way just to suffer?
Footsteps echoed from the corridor. A passing jailer saw the newcomer and hurriedly bowed. "Your Highness."
Prince Kang, thinking it was Prince Jing, quickly looked over. But the moment he saw the visitor’s face, his own expression twisted with dark loathing. "You abomination!"