Chapter 4: The Empress Wrongly Blamed the Crown Princess

Upon hearing Lin Yue’s inner thoughts, the Empress Dowager disregarded the injury on her forehead and hurried straight to the Fengyi Palace with Lin Yue in tow.

The reason was simple: the Empress’s family, the Duke of Jin’s estate, was a renowned household of loyal ministers and brave generals. Their sons and nephews were all exceptional military strategists. This current campaign, led by the Empress’s own brother, Xu Changdong, and her son, Xiao Jingyun, was progressing with flawless victories, which was why the people in the capital felt so at ease.

Inside the Fengyi Palace, the Empress had heard rumors about her sister-in-law’s conduct. She had only planned this banquet out of familial duty to the Empress Dowager. She had just instructed her head matron to add a few dishes without fuss and was preparing to take a nap when a voice suddenly rang out from outside: "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has arrived! Her Highness the Princess of Ding has arrived!"

Startled, the Empress scrambled off her daybed, forgetting even to put on her shoes. It was only when her personal attendant, Matron Zhang, entered that she was helped into her attire and supported as she hurried out.

"Why would the Empress Dowager come?" the Empress muttered to herself.

Matron Zhang whispered, "From afar, it looked as though the Empress Dowager was not in the best of moods."

The Empress frowned, wondering if the Empress Dowager had heard of her perceived slight toward Lin Yue and was coming to hold her accountable. But she had only just given the orders—could the news have traveled that fast? Besides, she had often heard the Empress Dowager criticize Lin Yue in the past; why would she suddenly be acting as her protector?

When the Empress went out to greet them, she saw the Empress Dowager holding Lin Yue’s hand, looking as close as a mother and daughter.

*Oh no,* the Empress thought. Then, the Empress Dowager’s eager voice reached her ears: "This is your sister-in-law, the daughter of the Duke of Jin, Xu Zhiman."

The Empress felt a moment of speechlessness—there had been no need to be quite so specific.

Lin Yue stepped forward to pay her respects, thinking, *Such a gentle and elegant Empress. Her smile is so radiant and her bearing so dignified; she truly is the mother of the nation. It is a pity, though...*

The Empress Dowager’s brow furrowed. *A pity about what?*

The Empress was stunned, her eyebrows arching slightly. Had she just heard that? Was that Lin Yue speaking?

Lin Yue then spoke aloud: "I should have come to pay my respects sooner, but since the Prince is away from the capital, I dared not move about freely. I hope you will forgive me, sister-in-law."

Hearing the polite formality, the Empress stared intently at Lin Yue’s lips, confirming the words had indeed come from her. She smiled, "We are all family; there is no need for such formalities. Come, let us go inside to talk."

The three entered the inner hall. The Empress helped the Empress Dowager sit, served tea personally, and then took her own seat. Seeing such a sensible, filial, and considerate display, Lin Yue’s eyelids twitched.

*Although we are both daughters-in-law, since the Empress has already done all the work, I suppose I don’t have to get up and do it again, right? Forget it, I’ll just play the fool for now.*

The Empress Dowager: "..."
The Empress: "..." She was certain now; the voice she had heard outside was indeed Lin Yue’s inner thoughts.

How could this be? Was Lin Yue some kind of supernatural being? For a moment, the Empress felt an urge to flee. Suddenly, the Empress Dowager grasped her hand, making the Empress jump.

The Empress Dowager was surprised by her reaction and asked, "Empress, what is the matter?"

Seeing the Empress Dowager’s calm expression, it seemed she hadn't heard anything. Was it only the Empress who could hear it? Was this a special ability granted to the mother of the nation?

The Empress swallowed hard and hurriedly explained, "Please forgive me, Mother. I was just looking at my sister-in-law, wondering if she has grown accustomed to the palace since she has never been here before."

The Empress Dowager said, "We are all family. What is there to be unaccustomed to?"

"True," the Empress replied sheepishly, offering Lin Yue a well-meaning smile, though her heart was filled with a pale, helpless dread.

Lin Yue wondered curiously, *I never heard that the Empress was ill. The Crown Prince, however, is truly ill, and he dies on the spot after an acute attack.*

The Empress Dowager’s hand trembled, spilling tea onto her hand, but she dared not move, desperate to hear more. The Empress was utterly shocked, her pupils dilated; she kept her head down for fear that Lin Yue would notice something amiss.

Just as she was wondering how the Crown Prince could be ill, she heard Lin Yue’s inner voice continue: *And the little Imperial Grandson—it is precisely because the Crown Prince’s health is poor that the child is so frail. Yet the Empress blames the Crown Princess, never realizing that the person who loves her son most is his own wife. In the end, the Crown Prince dies, and the Crown Princess follows him in death. Oh, what a pair of star-crossed lovers.*

System: *Regarding the health of the Crown Prince and the Imperial Grandson, if you save them, it will be a merit of great magnitude.*

Lin Yue: *I want to save them, of course! Didn’t you say that the greater the influence and the stronger the sense of justice a person has, the more merit I gain? The Crown Prince is the heir to the Great Wei; his influence is off the charts! And the little Imperial Grandson—he is to be the future Emperor. Though he is short-lived, his influence should be significant too. Besides, I cannot let the Great Wei Dynasty fall into the hands of a scum like Xiao Huaiqing. But how do I save them?*

The Empress’s fingers dug into the chair so hard her nails broke, yet she didn't even notice. *My son and grandson are both going to die, and the throne will fall to Xiao Huaiqing?*

*Ahhh, this is unbearable!*

The Empress Dowager sat frozen, holding her teacup like a statue. *Even though my grandson will eventually inherit the throne, how can I bear to watch my eldest son’s line be wiped out?*

System: *Do good deeds for the people as soon as possible. Once you accumulate enough merit, you can exchange it for life-saving pills for the Crown Prince and body-strengthening pills for the Imperial Grandson. If all goes well, their lives will be saved.*

Lin Yue sighed: *I am trapped in the palace right now; I can’t even set up a porridge kitchen.*

System: *Do not be discouraged, Host, or it will affect the conversion of merit and may result in negative energy.*

Lin Yue: "..."

"Cough, cough." The Empress Dowager coughed. At this moment, her heart was a tempest of shifting thoughts and deep, calculating schemes.

However, when she looked at Lin Yue, she wore a kind smile: "Have a good meal with your sister-in-law tonight. If you aren't used to living in the palace, we won't force you."

Though the Empress was shocked, she no longer felt fear toward Lin Yue; instead, she was filled with gratitude and fondness. She quickly chimed in, "Yes, exactly! Your sister-in-law is very easygoing. In the future, sister-in-law, don't be a stranger. Come and go as you please, stay as long as you..."

The Empress suddenly stopped herself. *Can I ask her not to stay for now?*

Fortunately, the Empress Dowager interrupted, "Enough, your sister-in-law hasn't eaten since entering the palace."

The Empress stood up quickly, "Yes, yes, I shall go arrange it at once."

As she stood, Lin Yue noticed her fingernail was bleeding and cried out, "Sister-in-law, your hand..."

The Empress glanced at it; her nail had broken and was bleeding. She smiled, "It is nothing. The nail polish I just applied has faded; I’ll go wash it off."

With that, she hurried away.

Once outside the hall, the Empress whispered to Matron Zhang, "Go and summon Imperial Physician Lin, who usually treats the Crown Prince. Remember, do it quietly."

Thinking the Empress was unwell, Matron Zhang hurried to the Imperial Medical Academy. At the same time, the Empress ordered the Imperial Kitchen to bring out all their signature dishes, vowing to replace the head chef if the dinner was not up to standard.

Terrified, the chefs prepared their finest work. The news soon reached the Emperor, Xiao Jingxian, who asked his head eunuch, Zhou Dahai, "Who is the Empress hosting in the palace today?"

Zhou Dahai replied, "I hear it is the Princess of Ding, but the Empress Dowager is there as well."

Xiao Jingxian remarked, "Mother rarely dines at Fengyi Palace. It seems she is giving the Princess of Ding much face. Tell the Imperial Kitchen not to prepare a separate dinner; I shall head over shortly."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Dahai immediately sent a young eunuch to deliver the message.