After Emperor An woke, though the Crown Prince still held court, the previously one-sided tide in the court began to shift.
The next day, Emperor An, despite his frail health, attended court. In front of the assembled civil and military officials, he wept bitterly, confessing his past folly of being deceived by villains and failing to see the truth. He publicly exonerated He Wenzhuo, decreeing the posthumous restoration of the He family’s honor and confirming Xiao Yan’s succession to the title. This curbed the rumors of Emperor An’s cruelty.
Dragging his ailing body, Emperor An knelt in the Imperial Ancestral Temple for three days in self-reflection. He personally welcomed He Wenzhuo’s spirit tablet into the temple for veneration and showered the newly titled Duke Dingguo, Xiao Yan, with lavish rewards. The boxes carried into Jiyun Lane, a testament to the emperor’s astonishing favor, subtly shifted the public’s narrative that Emperor An had mistreated meritorious vassals and lacked virtue.
When Qian Qiyue and Zhou Yuchang came to visit Tang Ning, they happened to meet Wang Hanlin’s daughter at the lane’s entrance.
Tang Ning, having just seen off a group of visitors, showed surprise upon seeing them. “Why are you all here together?”
“I ran into Yuchang on the way, and we met Miss Wang, so we came together,” Qian Qiyue said, casual and familiar with Tang Ning.
Wang Yuzhen was a bit reserved. She had only met Tang Ning once at the palace banquet. Though they had gotten along well, they weren’t particularly close, and she felt a little embarrassed running into Qian Qiyue and Zhou Yuchang.
“Before, you said I could come to your residence to borrow books. I hope I’m not intruding by visiting today,” Wang Yuzhen said.
Tang Ning blinked, then stepped forward. “Not at all! I was just thinking you’d forgotten and was about to send someone to invite you.”
She took Wang Yuzhen’s hand. “Didn’t we agree you’d call me Tang Ning, not ‘Princess’? Have you forgotten, Yuzhen?”
Seeing Tang Ning’s warmth, Wang Yuzhen relaxed, her smile growing more genuine. “Tang Sister.”
Tang Ning smiled brightly. “Sister Qiyue, Sister Zhou, let’s go inside. The weather’s turned chilly, don’t catch a cold.”
Once inside the residence, Tang Ning led them toward Jiuxiao Courtyard. Qian Qiyue couldn’t help but ask, “Tang Ning, when we arrived, we saw the Fan family’s carriage at the lane’s entrance. And those you just saw off, were they from Prince Lu’s mansion? Why are they all here?”
Tang Ning smiled. “His Majesty granted my marriage to Brother Xiao. They said they came to offer congratulations.”
Qian Qiyue frowned. “Your betrothal was announced days ago, and they’re only now sending gifts? Those noble families, and even old Princess Lu, suffered losses at your and Xiao Yan’s hands before. They might not have good intentions.”
After a pause, she lowered her voice. “Do you know what’s being said outside? Some claim Xiao Yan’s efforts to clear the He family’s name weren’t selfless. They say the palace rewards have been endless, and the carriages delivering gifts to Jiyun Lane haven’t stopped. Before, the capital was full of talk about the emperor’s cruelty, but in just a few days, the tone has shifted.”
Zhou Yuchang, whom Tang Ning hadn’t seen in a while, looked healthier, her cheeks rounder, perhaps due to her upcoming wedding. Her complexion was rosy, her eyes bright, but Qian Qiyue’s words made her worry.
“Qiyue’s right. Yesterday, when I went with Mother to the silver shop, I overheard people saying the Duke Dingguo’s mansion is now piled with gold and silver. They said if the He family knew their descendants would rise so high after their clan’s destruction, their deaths were worth it.”
“When His Majesty fainted from kneeling in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, some in the streets began saying it was merely an oversight on his part. But they claim Duke Dingguo’s actions are too reckless and disrespectful…”
Zhou Yuchang wanted to say the imperial family was skilled at putting on a show, and Emperor An’s display was too effective at swaying hearts. Before, many had blamed the emperor and pitied He Wenzhuo, but now they turned to criticize Xiao Yan.
She wanted to warn Tang Ning to be cautious, but with the Hanlin family’s daughter standing nearby, she hesitated. Zhou Yuchang wasn’t close to Miss Wang, and such disrespectful words couldn’t be spoken lightly.
To her surprise, Wang Yuzhen stopped suddenly. “Sister Tang, I actually came today because of this.”
She hesitated, recalling how Qian Qiyue had fiercely protected Tang Ning at the palace banquet and how Zhou Yuchang spoke openly, unlikely to spread her words. Lowering her voice, she said, “These past few days, when my father was on duty at the yamen, he often heard talk of Duke Dingguo’s wealth. They say the culprits of the past have been dealt with, the He family has been exonerated, and His Majesty has compensated the duke. Yet, they claim Duke Dingguo and the Crown Prince are monopolizing court power, refusing to relinquish the tiger tally…”
“A few days ago, when I visited relatives, I heard similar talk among their guests. It seemed like casual women’s chatter, but it was pointed, not just rumors.”
Well-versed in literature from a young age, Wang Yuzhen was sharp. Ordinary women’s gossip was usually about family matters, no one dared lightly discuss the imperial family or powerful vassals.
She had heard from her father about the rights and wrongs of Emperor An and the He family, and at the palace banquet, she saw clearly that the emperor had lost the trust of his vassals and the people’s hearts.
Yet, in just a few days, the public’s tone had shifted. Wang Yuzhen didn’t believe for a moment that there wasn’t someone orchestrating this, splashing dirty water on Xiao Yan’s name.
She hesitated before continuing, “Sister Tang, I don’t understand court politics, but I’ve discussed this with my father and read about many historical figures. Flowers draped in silk and oil boiled in fire are not good omens.”
“You need to be careful.”
Tang Ning was surprised.
She wasn’t shocked that Qian Qiyue and Zhou Yuchang would tell her this. She and Qian Qiyue shared a childhood bond and were very close, so Qiyue naturally cared for her.
Madam Wenxinhou and her aunt were close friends. Though Marquis Wenxin kept his distance, Tang Ning and Zhou Yuchang had a good personal relationship.
But for Wang Yuzhen to warn her was unexpected.
Curious, Tang Ning asked, “Does Lord Wang know you’re telling me this?”
Wang Yuzhen hesitated, then shook her head honestly. “My father is just a Hanlin official, not high-ranking. He avoids trouble and only mentioned this in passing at home. I was worried after hearing it.”
She fidgeted with her handkerchief, a trace of unease on her face.
At the palace banquet, Tang Ning had helped her, and she greatly admired this forthright, protective princess who dared to advocate for women’s education. She had come under the pretense of borrowing books to warn Tang Ning, fearing she was unaware of the rumors. But now, she worried Tang Ning might think her presumptuous.
They had only just met, unlike Qian Qiyue and Zhou Yuchang, who were closer to Tang Ning. Her sudden visit might seem rude, and if Tang Ning thought she was overstepping or had ulterior motives…
Wang Yuzhen lowered her eyes, mumbling, “I forgot that Sister Qian and the others would hear these rumors and come to warn you. I might have overstepped…”
Seeing her regretful expression, Tang Ning quickly said, “Not at all! Qiyue and the others are them, and you are you. You came specially to warn me out of kindness, how could I think you’re meddling?”
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You can read ahead to chapterr 770 (100+ extra chapters) here
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