Chapter 17: No Longer Caring

Everyone in the Wen family carried the fierce spirit of warriors in their blood.

Wen Changying was no exception.

The chill in her eyes forced Consort Mei to swallow her anger.

Consort Mei sneered. “I would like to see how long you can keep acting so arrogantly!”

Wen Changying released her and let her stagger backward.

“My arrogance is built upon the Wen family’s outstanding military achievements. It is the confidence my forefathers and parents earned through bloodshed and battle.”

“Whether Xie Genghe exists or not, I am still myself.”

Consort Mei might not have been willing to admit it, but Wen Changying was right.

She could act so boldly because the imperial family needed to appease the spirits of the Wen clan’s fallen heroes.

Had Wen Zaiye not caused so much trouble, Wen Changying could, in truth, have been even more brazen.

The soldiers who had fought and died one after another for the Bian Dynasty were all watching to see what fate befell the Wen family.

The imperial family could never allow those loyal men to lose heart.

“In any case, the Crown Prince has cast you aside. No matter how pleased with yourself you are, you will have to guard that pride of yours alone for the rest of your life.”

“Wen Changying, you had better keep that confidence forever!”

With that, Consort Mei left with Taohong, looking rather disheveled.

She had failed to witness Wen Changying’s humiliation this time, but there would always be another opportunity.

Wen Changying turned and helped up Magpie, whose legs had gone weak.

“Didn’t I tell you not to argue with them?”

“Whatever else she may be, Zhu Meimei is still an imperial consort—and, strictly speaking, your elder.”

Magpie pressed her lips together. “I simply could not stand by and watch Consort Mei bully you.”

“She was once your friend, too. When she married into the Eastern Palace, you prepared so many gifts for her. In the end, she became the one who bullied you most openly. Your Highness, this palace is terrifying.”

Everyone who entered it had to shed a layer of skin.

No matter how steadfast they were, they would eventually be worn down until their nature changed.

The once frank and fiery Consort Mei had become this way, and so had the bright, beautiful consort who had once been so radiant.

“It no longer matters.”

Wen Changying thought of how many relatives and friends she had once possessed.

Yet after marrying into the Eastern Palace, the people around her had departed one after another.

Zhu Meimei had not been the first, and she would not be the last.

Wen Changying had long since stopped caring.

She walked over to the guards. “Has Cheng Yu returned?”

“Not yet, Crown Princess.”

Cheng Yu had left with Xie Genghe and had been gone for three days. Speculation had already begun throughout the palace.

Wen Changying’s expression remained unchanged. “When she returns, find the deed to the Embroidery Court and deliver it to Weiyang Palace.”

The guard stood stunned, but by the time he recovered, Wen Changying had already returned inside.

At dusk, Xie Genghe came back.

He hurried toward the Hall of Receiving Grace, travel-worn and dusty, but stopped the moment he reached the entrance.

“Bi Gui, prepare hot water.”

Cheng Yu had been accompanying him all along. After seeing her, the guard took the initiative to report what had happened to the Embroidery Court.

Xie Genghe, who had been about to leave, paused.

His dark eyes deepened. “What did you say she intends to give away?”

The guard repeated himself with some trepidation. “Her Highness said she wants to give the Embroidery Court to Consort Mei of Weiyang Palace.”

It was the birthday gift he had given A-Ying.

Its significance was extraordinary.

Did she mean to discard even the past?

Bi Gui noticed that the Crown Prince’s face had turned faintly pale and hurried forward to remind him, “Your Highness, you should wash first.”

“You can ask the Crown Princess when you see her.”

Xie Genghe moved, but his steps were heavy. He remained alone in the bathing chamber for two hours.

When he emerged, night had already deepened.

Not a single lamp remained lit in the Hall of Receiving Grace.

“Let us go. I will sleep in the study.”

The next day, Wen Changying learned of Xie Genghe’s return as soon as she awoke.

Cheng Yu had come in person once more to confirm whether the Embroidery Court was truly to be given away.

“Your Highness, may I ask why?”

Cheng Yu loved wearing clothes from the Embroidery Court and changed into a new outfit almost every fortnight.

When it had still belonged to the Eastern Palace, a single word from the Crown Prince was enough for her to have several new garments made.

If it were transferred to Consort Mei, it would be difficult for her to wear clothes from the Embroidery Court again.

The craftsmanship of so many first-rate embroiderers—it would be such a waste.

“I am tired of it. I am weary of it. I cannot bear to look at anything that displeases me.”

Wen Changying raised her eyes. “Is that reason sufficient?”

Cheng Yu hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping herself.

In the end, she went to deliver the deed.

The wintersweet in the courtyard had blossomed, its pink and white flowers bright and lovely.

Wen Changying gazed at it for a long, long while before suddenly asking, “Magpie, this wintersweet tree is seven years old now, is it not?”

Magpie’s eyelid twitched. A foreboding feeling rose within her.

“Have it cut down as well.”

Magpie was so frightened that she dropped to her knees. “Your Highness, only a few months ago you said we should wait until next year, when the branches had grown sturdy, and hang a swing chair from them.”

“Besides, there is wine buried beneath it. You and the Crown Prince planted it together. If we cut it down, he…”

Wen Changying fell silent.

Then she turned abruptly. “Look how frightened you are. If you like it so much, leave it.”

In any case, she would not be living in the Eastern Palace for much longer.

Magpie scrambled to her feet, unable to shake the feeling that her mistress had fallen ill.

Her worried expression was impossible to conceal from Wen Changying.

Nor did Wen Changying wish to explain.

The more she said, the more it would seem that she was merely trying to hide something.

That afternoon, Wen Changying took a short nap.

When she awoke, Magpie was nowhere to be seen.

She asked the guards standing watch, “When did Magpie leave?”

Their eyes shifted evasively. “Some time ago.”

Wen Changying’s expression turned cold and severe. “How long exactly?”

“A—about an hour.”

In other words, Magpie had left as soon as Wen Changying fell asleep.

And she still had not returned?

Uneasy, Wen Changying pointed to two men. “Go and find her.”

The two guards exchanged glances but did not move an inch.

Seeing this, Wen Changying drew the sword from one of their belts.

“If I truly wanted to escape, do you think the dozen or so men here could stop me?”

The soldiers of the Wen family had always been fearless. On the battlefield, every one of them fought as though staking his life against death itself.

Her words jolted the two guards back to their senses.

“Yes. We will go at once.”

It was not long before they returned carrying Magpie, who was drenched from head to toe and had nearly drowned.

Wen Changying’s face changed drastically.

“Fetch an imperial physician! Go!”

The guards hurried out. When one of them returned, his face was filled with helpless sympathy.

“The Crown Prince summoned all the imperial physicians to examine the Empress Dowager. The Imperial Medical Bureau has only junior apprentices left to dispense medicine.”

“Then go to the Empress Dowager’s Palace of Benevolence and bring one here. What use does she have for so many physicians? Send one over to treat Magpie!”

Wen Changying snarled, her hands clenched tightly.

The guard lowered his head. “I went there, but I was stopped outside.”

Looking at Magpie’s pallid face, Wen Changying was frantic with worry.

She seized the guard by the collar. “Did you really go? Did Cheng Yu deliberately order you to delay, hoping to kill Magpie?”

The guard hurriedly dropped to his knees.

“I would never dare deceive the Crown Princess! Your Highness, there truly are no physicians available!”

“Can you not see Xie Genghe? Can you not see Bi Gui? Or Cheng Yu? As long as you find one of them, surely you can bring an imperial physician here!”

Wen Changying’s desperate pleas received no response.

She drew a deep breath, looking suddenly powerless. “Then have that apprentice prepare some medicine.”

The guard stared blankly. “What medicine? The Imperial Medical Bureau has issued no prescription. They will not dispense anything without one…”

“Something to dispel chills and dampness, invigorate the blood, remove stasis, replenish the qi, nourish the blood—anything!”

Wen Changying’s voice rose sharply. “So long as it keeps Magpie alive, I would feed her rat poison without blinking if that were all he could prescribe!”

The guard was so frightened that he knelt again.

Wen Changying felt she could scarcely bear it another moment without drawing a blade and killing someone.

She turned away irritably. “If you cannot bring a physician, and you cannot obtain medicine, then fetch hot water, braziers, and thick quilts. You can at least manage that, can you not?”

The guard hurried off to carry out her orders.

Wen Changying quickly placed Magpie on the bed, then rushed from room to room, covering her with every quilt she could find.

As she clasped Magpie’s icy hands and feet, Wen Changying’s heart seemed to miss a beat.