Chapter 30: Then I’ll Leave??

Consort Lin had heard early that morning that her son and daughter-in-law had arrived at the palace. Overjoyed, she had the imperial kitchen prepare a table full of dishes that her daughter-in-law favored. She planned to let them finish their meal before taking her daughter-in-law to select from the jewelry she had recently been hoarding—a perfect arrangement.

However, once her son and daughter-in-law finally arrived, she noticed that neither of them seemed to have much of an appetite.

"What is the matter?" Consort Lin asked. "Did you suffer some slight at Shoukang Palace?"

Yu Qingqing replied, "No, we went to the Songyue Hall. The Empress Dowager was in high spirits and was not angry with us at all."

"I suspected as much," Consort Lin said. "Then it must be Lin Yue, that woman your uncle took in to ward off bad luck. Coming from such a lowly background, she surely lacks upbringing."

Yu Qingqing said in surprise, "Mother, you must not say such things. The Empress Dowager is very fond of the Imperial Aunt, and the Crown Princess was there keeping her company as well."

Xiao Huailuo added, "Master Zhang, though he does not serve in court, is recognized by our Great Wei as the State Preceptor. Since he personally chose her as a wife for our uncle, we should not speak ill of her family status. Be careful not to displease Father."

"Why are you so anxious?" Consort Lin retorted. "I have been in this palace for twenty years; what have I not seen? Furthermore, I have blessed the royal family with a son and a daughter; my position is not as precarious as you think. Since you both speak so highly of her, I shall go and meet her later. I hear the Empress has been visiting quite often, likely to curry favor with the Empress Dowager. That woman is cunning and never stirs without a motive."

Xiao Huailuo fell silent. Yu Qingqing did the same.

"Enough talk, eat your fill. Later, Qingqing will come with me to pick out some jewelry, and Huailuo, you go pay your respects to your father. After all, you are his own son; he still holds you dear."

Xiao Huailuo nodded, though his mind was already drifting toward how he might slip away to the Eastern Palace to see Chen Wanying. After the meal, the couple went their separate ways.

Not long after, the Crown Princess arrived to take Yu Qingqing to the Eastern Palace, ostensibly for the two sisters-in-law to have a chat. In reality, she wanted Yu Qingqing to see the true face of Lady Chen so that she might win back Xiao Huailuo and live a proper life with her husband.

Once they reached the Eastern Palace, the Crown Princess made an excuse to fetch something and quickly found the Crown Prince in private.

"I just returned from Songyue Hall and heard the Imperial Aunt say that you and your wife have been pretending to be a loving couple. She also said that your end is tragic—that you are both burned alive. She claimed there was genuine affection between you, though you only realized it at the very end. That Lady Chen has been trying to seduce you, hasn't she? Since your health has improved, why not go and play along with her?"

The Crown Prince was shocked. "Play along? How? I don't want to lose my virtue!"

The Crown Princess burst into laughter, then pinched the soft flesh at his waist. "Oh, how grand! You’re thinking about losing your virtue!"

"Xiao Huaiyuan, if you don't behave, I shall ignore you forever."

The Crown Prince quickly embraced her, whispering coaxingly, "I spoke out of turn. I apologize. You were the one who asked for my help, yet you are so fierce. You really must give me a little sweetness in return. Don't go to Jinghui tonight; let the wet nurse handle him. Shall we retire early?"

He spoke with his warm breath against her ear, taking the opportunity to nip at her lobe. The Crown Princess felt both embarrassed and annoyed, but remembering how long it had been since they had been intimate, she nodded bashfully.

The Crown Prince said happily, "That’s more like it. I shall head to the Orchid Chamber in the Eastern Palace. Lady Chen has eyes there; she will surely come. Just bring the younger sister-in-law along."

The Crown Princess nodded, and after watching the Crown Prince depart, she immediately returned to Yu Qingqing.

"Let’s not sit here any longer. Let’s go for a walk. You rarely come to the Eastern Palace; I haven't shown you around properly."

Yu Qingqing thought a walk might be good; perhaps she would run into Lady Chen. They had met at many banquets before they were married. Even then, she had felt Lady Chen’s gaze was critical and her words filled with irony. It was only after she married Xiao Huailuo that she realized Xiao Huailuo was in love with Lady Chen, and that Lady Chen had been targeting her all along. Since Xiao Huailuo loved her, he would have married her if he could, but it was clear that Lady Chen had simply been teasing him while loathing her. That woman was truly wicked.

The two walked and stopped along the way. As they approached the small garden of the Eastern Palace, they saw a young eunuch keeping watch from a distance.

"That is Luli, Lady Chen’s eunuch," the Crown Princess remarked. She called out, "Luli, what are you doing lurking about here?"

Seeing it was the Crown Princess, Luli said nervously, "Reporting to the Crown Princess, it is nothing. My mistress is inside tending to the orchids, and I am here waiting for her."

The Crown Princess feigned anger. "She is in there alone, what are you keeping watch for? Is the Crown Prince inside as well? I knew it; I never see anyone here, but today they just couldn't help themselves. Hmph!"

Yu Qingqing quickly pulled at the Crown Princess. "Is it wise for us to just storm in? Lady Chen is still the Crown Prince’s concubine, after all."

The Crown Princess lowered her voice. "Are you foolish? If you can win back your own man, you must. Would you rather sit by and watch him be used by someone else?"

Yu Qingqing was stunned. The logic held, but what did it have to do with her? "Then... shall I leave?"

The Crown Princess grabbed her. "Leave? Where would you go? Come with me and see. With you there, the Crown Prince will have to save face for me. When you need me in the future, I will help you too."

Without further ado, she dragged Yu Qingqing into the small bamboo grove. Lady Chen’s eunuch was quickly detained by the Crown Princess’s guards.

Behind the lush green bamboo, a paved path appeared, leading to a secluded, fenced-in courtyard with a plaque reading *Orchid Chamber*. Through the open window, they could see the scene inside: the Crown Prince sat by the table sipping tea, while Lady Chen sat silkily upon his lap, her arms around his neck.

"I have been so lovesick for Your Highness that I could not sleep," she murmured. "To meet again like this must be Heaven taking pity on me and sending you to me. Your Highness... I have been in the palace for a year now..."

As she spoke, she began to gracefully shed her garments.

Yu Qingqing was terrified and grabbed the Crown Princess’s hand. "Sister-in-law, please don't go in. If we ruin this, the Crown Prince will be furious!"

The Crown Princess was already seething. If the Crown Prince truly developed feelings for Lady Chen, she would regret it forever. "No, I must go in and tear that little vixen apart!"

Yu Qingqing panicked. If Xiao Huailuo found out, he would surely think she had intentionally brought the Crown Princess here. She covered the Crown Princess’s mouth and dragged her to a secluded spot.

"Sister-in-law, please, calm down. Think about it: you can deal with Lady Chen whenever you like, why must it be today? I am your guest. If you storm in now to settle scores with the Crown Prince, what will become of me? People will think I stirred up trouble between you two. You must consider me!"

The Crown Princess paused, suddenly realizing she had brought Yu Qingqing here to witness Lady Chen’s true colors; why was she the one acting so impulsively?

"Then let us move to another spot," she said. "Let us see the truth of the matter, and then I shall handle it."

Yu Qingqing let out a sigh of relief. "Very well, but we must be quiet. I do not want the Crown Prince to hold a grudge against me."

The Crown Princess nodded and led Yu Qingqing around to the back window.