Chapter 12: A One-Month Deadline

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Before anyone could react, Duan Tingbai twisted around and leaped straight into the lotus pond in the depths of winter.

Snow had fallen a few days earlier, and the palace attendants had already cleared the ice. Even so, the water at this time of year was cold enough to pierce bone.

Wen Changying turned at once, meeting the Empress Dowager’s and Cheng Yu’s sharp, accusing gazes.

The flush had not yet faded from her face. It lent her the appearance of spring brushing softly across her cheeks, inviting all manner of speculation.

The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes. “I could have sworn I saw a man.”

“Your Majesty must have been mistaken.” Wen Changying showed not the slightest trace of panic.

“You think I just arrived?”

The Empress Dowager gave a cold laugh. “I was drinking with Lady Cheng, and merely came out to dispel the wine’s effects. From a distance, I saw you grappling with that man.”

“If one of your own people had not suddenly called out to warn you, would I have allowed your lover to leap into the lake and escape?”

As she spoke, the Empress Dowager glanced around. Her eyes fell upon the magpie perched at the corner of the pavilion.

“Was it you?”

The magpie dropped to her knees in fright, too terrified to make a sound.

Cheng Yu explained, “I consider myself fairly familiar with Magpie’s voice. I fear that was not her just now.”

Wen Changying herself had no idea who the person was. She had assumed it was someone behind Cheng Yu and the Empress Dowager.

But whoever it had been, they had warned her and helped her.

She was just about to gloss over the matter when Song Qingyan frightened herself into stepping out timidly.

“Your subject, Song Qingyan, pays her respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

At last, the Empress Dowager identified her.

After a moment’s thought, she asked, “The family of the Commandant of Cavalry, Lang?”

Song Qingyan kept her head lowered, not daring to look around.

Fortunately, she had only shouted a single rebuke. Though the Empress Dowager was somewhat irritated, she merely said, “Since you were acting out of concern for palace laws and regulations, I shall not pursue the matter.”

Then she turned back to Wen Changying. “Crown Princess, do you have anything else to say?”

Wen Changying lowered her eyes. “Since Your Majesty has already decided to find me guilty, why bother asking?”

“How dare you!”

The Empress Dowager was easily provoked by her. “You were caught meeting a strange man in secret, yet you show not the slightest shame or remorse?”

“Wen! Where exactly have you placed the dignity of the imperial family?”

Wen Changying raised her voice. “If Your Majesty believes I have disgraced the imperial family, why not write a decree of divorce on the Crown Prince’s behalf and cast me aside?”

The commotion finally grew loud enough to draw attention.

Guests who had come outside to sober themselves after drinking could not help turning to look.

Who would not want to hear a little of an imperial scandal?

The Empress Dowager was so enraged that, for a moment, she could not speak.

She had never liked Wen Changying. If she had not feared creating a rift with He’er, why would she have tolerated her until now?

“Very well! Very well indeed!”

The Empress Dowager’s face darkened. “Then we shall argue this before the Crown Prince! I would like to see whether He’er can still tolerate a shameless harlot like you!”

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Wen Changying’s expression darkened in an instant.

She stepped toward the Empress Dowager, the imposing presence inherited from her military family pressing down like a weight. Even her voice carried a chilling edge.

“From the moment Your Majesty appeared, you were eager to condemn me for meeting another man in secret. When have you ever given me a chance to explain?”

“If I truly were a harlot, why would I need to meet him secretly here? I could simply bring him before the Crown Prince and enjoy myself openly. Would that not be an even greater humiliation to the imperial family?”

Her words were so shocking that they defied all convention.

The Empress Dowager’s complexion changed dramatically.

Yet Wen Changying continued advancing.

“Xie Genghe can come and go with other women, and I become a harlot merely for exchanging a few words with a man? As a woman yourself, does Your Majesty truly believe that is fair?”

The Empress Dowager’s legs gave way.

Fortunately, Cheng Yu caught her from behind.

Trembling, she pointed at Wen Changying. “You… you!”

“So those are your true feelings?”

Xie Genghe slowly emerged from the other end of the pavilion.

The dark cloak over his shoulders billowed in the wind, bringing with it an inexplicable chill.

“A-Ying, answer me.”

Wen Changying steadied herself. “And what if they are?”

“Does the Crown Prince intend to divorce me?”

Xie Genghe said nothing. He merely walked to Wen Changying’s side.

“Is Cheng Yu what troubles you?”

When Wen Changying did not answer, he removed his cloak and draped it around her.

“I promise you this: from now on, I will not meet with her alone again. Will that satisfy you?”

No.

Not at all.

If Xie Genghe had truly been capable of doing so, how could Cheng Yu have tormented her like a thorn in her flesh for five years?

Wen Changying closed her eyes briefly. “One month.”

Xie Genghe’s brows drew together, seemingly displeased.

“You cannot even manage a full month.”

“A-Ying may as well wager on me once.”

“Fine.” Wen Changying smiled. “If you fail, then give me my divorce decree without hesitation.”

Xie Genghe’s dark eyes burned brightly. “I will not give you that opportunity.”

Beside them, Cheng Yu’s face had gone faintly pale. The hand she had clenched at her side betrayed the turmoil within her.

The Empress Dowager was even more bewildered. “He’er, you do not intend to pursue this? She just said—”

“Grandmother!”

Xie Genghe cut her off directly. “Bi Gui came to deliver something earlier. He slipped by accident and fell into the lake.”

“He has already been rescued.”

At some point, Bi Gui had indeed jumped into the water.

Palace guards stood on both banks, hauling him out.

Bi Gui was drenched from head to toe and kept sneezing.

“Your Majesty… it was this servant’s fault for losing his footing and alarming you.”

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“This servant deserves ten thousand deaths. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!”

What was there left for the Empress Dowager not to understand?

She glared at Xie Genghe with exasperation. “You will be ruined by that woman sooner or later!”

Xie Genghe’s expression did not change. “Your grandson would gladly accept such a fate.”

The Empress Dowager stormed away.

Cheng Yu remained behind.

As the chief female official of the Eastern Palace, she naturally had to handle the aftermath.

“Miss Song, I hope you will keep what happened today buried in your heart.”

She spoke with a pleasant smile, yet Song Qingyan inexplicably felt a chill run down her back.

Like a frightened quail, Song Qingyan nodded repeatedly without daring to make a sound.

Once everyone had dispersed, Xie Genghe took Wen Changying’s hand and led her toward Cheng’en Hall.

His voice was gentle, yet certain.

“The man just now was Duan Tingbai of the Hanlin Academy, wasn’t he?”

As Crown Prince, he naturally had his ways of confirming such things.

Wen Changying had never intended to conceal it from him. “He is A-Ye’s tutor and adviser.”

At that, Xie Genghe understood everything.

“You should not have met him in private.”

“Why?” Wen Changying asked sarcastically. “Did the Crown Prince actually take Grandmother’s words to heart? Are you worried that I might be unfaithful?”

Xie Genghe chuckled. He took the hand warmer from her grasp and tossed it aside.

Then his large hand closed firmly around hers.

“I have spoiled A-Ying this much. Could he possibly take proper care of you?”

“When trouble comes, he will likely run faster than a rabbit. Just now, he left you to deal with everything alone. I cannot lose to a man like that.”

Wen Changying deliberately provoked him. “Is that so?”

The air of absolute control vanished from Xie Genghe.

He approached her through clenched teeth and bit her once on the lips.

“Stop saying things I do not want to hear.”

Wen Changying simply fell silent.

After all, there were not many things she could say at present that Xie Genghe would like to hear.

The few remaining words were better left unsaid.

The two of them returned to the Eastern Palace in silence.

Only when they stepped into the light of the hall did Xie Genghe suddenly notice that Wen Changying’s face and the backs of her hands were covered in red welts.

Her eyes were unfocused as well. She had merely forced herself to endure until he brought her back to the Eastern Palace.

“A-Ying!”

Wen Changying’s body went limp, and she fainted into Xie Genghe’s arms.

Xie Genghe gave a bitter smile.

“No wonder you were so agreeable tonight.”