That night, the Empress of the Dongyi Kingdom secretly sent someone through a hidden passage to meet the Regent Prince of the Yan Kingdom. Truth be told, even though the Dongyi Empress had made up her mind, she was still restless, pacing back and forth in her bedchamber, troubled and uneasy...
Today, at the royal court, the court officials were arguing fiercely. Some said that the Yan Kingdom should indeed station troops, as this way they could counterbalance Zhou, making it relatively safer for Dongyi Kingdom.
Otherwise, with only Zhouâs troops stationed... one nation would dominate, and Dongyi would merely be manipulated by Zhou. Now, with Zhou and Yan wagering on nations, both countries will inevitably want to use Dongyi to make trouble for Yan; when the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman gains.
Others said that Yanâs backstabbing betrayal of allies was no longer a new narrative. The Regent Prince of Yan claimed that if Zhou intervened, Dongyi would perceive it as Zhou using them as a fallback. However, in reality, if Yan stationed troops in Dongyi, and lost the wager, they might take Dongyi as their fallback, especially since Zhouâs national strength now is stronger than Yan, making Zhou more likely to win.
The Dongyi Empress was in turmoil, torn between her son and the whole of Dongyi.
The personal maid beside the Dongyi Empress saw her restless and panicked demeanor, gestured for all the attendants to leave, then followed behind the Empress, whispering softly, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty! You mustnât panic!"
Under the flickering candlelight, the Empressâs pallid face was full of anxiety and helplessness. She strained to control her trembling hands, clenching her garment tightly: "If the Seventh Prince wasnât being held firmly by the Emperor of Zhou, I naturally wouldnât panic. But now, the Seventh Prince is in Zhouâs hands and has taken the mother-child venom! Now Yan also covets Dongyi eagerly; Iâve riskily sent someone to contact the Regent Prince. If Zhou finds out... I fear it will harm the Seventh Prince."
"Your Majesty, youâre worried to the point of confusion!" the personal maid whispered to the Empress, "Didnât you also mention that Zhou fears something happening to the Seventh Prince? Zhou uses the Seventh Prince to restrain you, the future Empress Dowager of Dongyi, knowing that without the Seventh Prince you wouldnât be under their control!"
"Thatâs true in words, but heâs my son..." The Empressâs eyes welled up with tears, "I fear heâll suffer grievances, that Zhou wonât dare to kill him but would torment him!"
"The maid thinks the Emperor of Zhou doesnât seem like such a person!" the personal maid comforted the Empress.
"She uses the mother-child venom on my son, so what character is there to speak of? Moreover... we secretly contacted the Regent Prince of Yan; if Zhou discovers it, wouldnât they want to teach me a lesson?" The Empressâs distress deepened as she tightly clenched the handkerchief.
"Rest assured, Your Majesty; you arranged for the Regent Prince of Yan to stay at the Peaceful Kingâs residence; the secret passage between the Imperial Palace and the Peaceful Kingâs residence is unknown to others, and the person sent is Your Majestyâs trusted confidantâit certainly wouldnât be discovered by Zhou. Even if caught, they would deny it to death and prefer suicide. Without any evidence... Zhou wonât target the Seventh Prince. Although you, Your Majesty, are currently passive, Zhou people understand the rabid rabbit kicks the eagle, and wouldnât rashly trouble the Seventh Prince without evidence!"
For someone as intelligent as the Dongyi Empress, this logic is clear, but understanding is one thingâthe matter concerning her flesh and blood as a mother... unless her son is placed right before her, how could she remain composed?
"Your Majesty..." an attendant in black quietly slipped inside from the outside, respectfully approached the Empress and said, "The Regent Prince of Yan has come himself!"
The Empressâs palm tightened, showing an incredulous expression: "What?"
The attendant bowed deeper: "Servant met this Regent Prince of Yan through the hidden passage; this Regent Prince seemed to know servant would use the hidden passage to find him, and just as if aware Your Majesty would send someone to seek him tonight, he changed clothes, and asked servant to bring him to meet Your Majesty personally!"
The Empress loosened her grip on her garment. This Regent Prince of Yan is indeed clever. She steadied herself and said, "Then invite him in!"
The Empressâs personal maid also said, "Maid dispatched people to guard here, ensuring Zhou people donât come near."
"Go ahead!" the Empress nodded in response, exhaled a long breath, took on the Empressâs demeanor, walked to the main seat, sat down with grace and poise, and looked toward the courtroom entrance.
Xiao Rongyan wore a black cloak over a crow-blue straight robe, belted with white jade, and only after stepping through the hall door did he remove the hood, his features obscured by the mask turned golden in the bright candlelight. His aura was imposing enough to be awe-inspiring.
The palace doors sealed shut; Xiao Rongyan now greeted the Dongyi Empress: "Meet the Empress."
"I heard the Regent Prince of Yan desired to see me personally; I wonder what this is about?" the Empress gestured for Xiao Rongyan to sit.
Xiao Rongyan nodded and sat at the position below the Empress, smiling: "Today the Empress sent someone to find me, yet... I dislike transmitting words through intermediaries, hence came personally."
"Today, in the royal court, the Regent Prince stated that stationing troops is a bottom line, while allowing our Dongyi officials a good discussion, and to provide Yan with a response tomorrow; this implies... giving me and the new Emperor one night to negotiate with the Regent Prince?" The Dongyi Empress gazed at Xiao Rongyan, "The Regent Prince might as well speak bluntly! Now that the Dongyi Imperial Palace is under Zhouâs control, lengthy discussions are not safe."
Xiao Rongyan rubbed his thumbâs white jade ring, probing the Dongyi Empress with a smile: "The Seventh Prince... is he well?"
The Empress suddenly clenched the armrests, feigning calmness with a smile: "Today, didnât the Regent Prince already meet him?"
At that moment, the Empressâs personal maid served hot tea, respectfully poised the tea for the Empress and Xiao Rongyan before gracefully withdrawing.
Xiao Rongyan unfastened the mask, casually set it aside, revealed his true face, and observed the Dongyi Empressâs reactions under the lamplight with peripheral vision, yet speaking unaffectedly in a gentle voice: "The Seventh Princeâs facial injury is just so convenient; returning to inherit the throne... yet injured his throat, marked his visage; if masked, just having a similar age child impersonate, wouldnât even Dongyiâs court officials discern true from false?"
The Empress noticed Xiao Rongyanâs face bore no scars, instead he was... exceedingly handsome, with a prominent nose and thin lips, his eye rims high and broad, features sharp and defined as though etched by knife and chisel, full of masculine vigor, his eyes deep as water, seemingly able to penetrate hearts and discern everything with sharp insight, unfathomable.