Chapter Ninety: A Late-Night Conversation

“Has the Fourth Sister already gone to bed?”

That night, as Silver Bell had just come out of the hall, she saw Shen Liyu standing at the door on tiptoe, all in stealth.

“Eighth Miss.” Compared with Shen Tangyu, Silver Bell had quite a good impression of Shen Liyu, that proper, well-behaved young girl. “My lady has just gone to sleep. Did Eighth Miss need something?”

“Nothing really. I just could not sleep. Since Fourth Sister has gone to bed, I will come again tomorrow.” Shen Liyu smiled, though the smile looked rather strained.

The tides in the palace shifted quickly. Shen Fuyu had been confined by the Empress Dowager, yet the Emperor had not spoken in her defense. Everyone assumed that she and the Empress had fought to a draw today, both suffering defeat and losing favor.

And now that Noble Consort Shu held authority over the inner palace, there were naturally many who hurried once more to curry favor.

“Eighth Miss need not worry. My lady is quite well,” Silver Bell said with a smile. “What my lady thinks is not something we can easily guess. It is getting late; Eighth Miss should return early and rest.”

Only today had Silver Bell truly witnessed Shen Fuyu’s capabilities, and so she had likewise put away her tiny trace of concern. After being scolded by Shen Fuyu for so long, she had gradually understood quite a bit. Seeing that my lady was sleeping so soundly, she supposed there was nothing serious.

Just as she was about to leave, the gates of the Crescent Moon Palace suddenly opened, and Qin Zhiyi hurried in. She was startled, and even Shen Liyu, who had not yet left, froze there in alarm.

“This servant greets the Emperor.” Silver Bell quickly pulled Shen Liyu down to kneel. “Your Majesty, my lady has just fallen asleep.”

Shen Liyu knelt on the ground as well, not daring to lift her head, but inwardly she was somewhat surprised. Fourth Sister was truly favored. With such a great commotion today, everyone had said that the Emperor had grown tired of Fourth Sister too, yet unexpectedly he had come tonight.

“I will go in and take a look. Do not make a fuss,” Qin Zhiyi said, his mood seeming rather poor, and with a dark face he strode straight inside.

Shen Fuyu was sprawled across the bed, snoring soundly, wholly unaware that Qin Zhiyi had already come to her side.

Qin Zhiyi glanced at her, then sat down on the edge of the bed, remaining silent for a long while.

From the moment he had left the Phoenix Soaring Palace, Qin Zhiyi had been turning things over in his heart. He thought of the Great Xuan and the Cloudscape, thought of what Jing Lanxi had said earlier. It seemed that however hard he tried, there was still no result; however much he struggled, he remained where he was.

He was weary of it, and sick of it.

His mind was in a tangle, but when he came to himself, he had already reached the gates of the Crescent Moon Palace. Looking at the traces of rice paste still clinging where the banners had been affixed, Qin Zhiyi’s heart seemed to grow suddenly quiet. Only then did he remember that within the palace there was such a place, where at least for a moment he could forget everything.

A pity that Shen Fuyu was already asleep.

Qin Zhiyi found the situation a little strange. At some point, he had come to regard Shen Fuyu as an important presence by his side. This woman was detestable, yet candid; in the face of trouble she was also more mature than he was. Things she could take up and lay down with ease were often things he himself could not handle with such magnanimity. She seemed like the family member he had always envisioned in his heart. Suddenly, he even thought that if Shen Fuyu were to be a mother, perhaps she would make a good one.

“Your Majesty, are you secretly speaking ill of me in your heart?”

Out of the silence came this abrupt line, and Qin Zhiyi jumped, springing up at once. How had she woken up!

The atmosphere was ruined in an instant!

“I just came from the Empress’s place,” Qin Zhiyi said, masking his embarrassment. “No good words would ever come out of your mouth anyway!”

“Isn’t that nonsense? If a dog’s mouth could spit ivory, what would we need elephants for?” Shen Fuyu had been sleeping in a haze, but instinct told her there was someone beside her. When she opened her eyes, sure enough she saw him. Sitting up, she put her hands on her hips. “If Your Majesty is not in the Phoenix Soaring Palace, what brings you to my place?”

She had slept ten nights in the same bed as Qin Zhiyi; on nine of those mornings she had woken up on the floor. Today, at last, she could sleep in a bed, and now that was to be taken away too?

“Would I even be able to favor her?” Qin Zhiyi did not want to admit it, but in truth he had been at his wits’ end, and had come here seeking some peace of mind. “Once we are done talking, I will naturally leave.”

“Oh.” Shen Fuyu did not care about what happened between him and Jing Lanxi.

She was so sleepy.

“Since I’m here, why are you still sleeping?” Qin Zhiyi looked at Shen Fuyu, who seemed on the verge of nodding off again, and felt a flash of irritation.

“Even if the heavens themselves came down, a person would still have to sleep.” Shen Fuyu frowned, clicking her tongue in annoyance. “If you have something to say, then just say it. Why are you putting on airs of nobility in front of me?”

“…”

He had his pride!

Qin Zhiyi looked at her coldly and said, “I made a deal with the Empress.”

“Mm.” Shen Fuyu’s voice was hoarse, and she gave a perfunctory nod.

“I got back from her the token of the Dragon Shadow Guards, which had originally been given as part of the betrothal gift, along with those Dragon Shadow Guards themselves.”

Shen Fuyu looked up at him and said, “What is that?”

“...They are the imperial family’s secret guards. They originally came into my hands only after Father Emperor passed away. Back when I sought the hand of the Cloudscape Princess, that was the one thing that could ensure I married her.”

“As a show of sincerity, and also as protection for the Empress, it had always been kept by her. Though the Dragon Shadow Guards are not many in number, with them I would have more people at my disposal.”

Shen Fuyu became a little more alert. Seeing Qin Zhiyi discussing serious matters with her, she thought for a moment and said, “For example, gathering intelligence, shadowing people in secret, searching for evidence, killing someone quietly like this?”

“That is one way to put it,” Qin Zhiyi said.

“That really is a good thing.” Shen Fuyu rubbed her chin. Even if there were not many, they could still be used to keep watch over the ministers, and that would at least improve this current situation where every step was difficult. But... “The Empress must have set conditions too.”

“She said she wants a crown prince,” Qin Zhiyi said. “But...”

“But Your Majesty cannot do it, so you cannot give her one.” Shen Fuyu analyzed the matter with an air of great seriousness.

“Tsk!”

“Just joking!” Shen Fuyu smiled. “Your Majesty is so stingy!”

“Why think so much about it? If she wants it, then give it to her!” Shen Fuyu did not think there was anything wrong with that; after all, it was a deal. “Besides, for something as important as the Dragon Shadow Guards, trading it for a child is not impossible.”

“If you do not want a child with Cloudscape blood to ascend the throne, then once you are strong enough in the future, you can always find another excuse to depose the crown prince. You will not only ever have one son anyway. Why worry about this?”

“I do not know how to explain it to you,” Qin Zhiyi said. He felt that he was truly indecisive. In truth, just as Shen Fuyu said, he could certainly depose the crown prince in the future, yet he could not bring himself to do it. Jing Lanxi mixed with other men, and even now he felt sick at the thought like a child; in the future, when he thought of deposing his own son...

“Your Majesty, if you feel burdened in your heart, then simply do as I do,” Shen Fuyu said, shaking her head as she looked at Qin Zhiyi. Truly, he was still young. “Find someone to serve the Empress. In any case, that child is not yours. In the future, just pin it on whichever adulterer belongs to her, and wouldn’t that solve it?”

“Would what I do be very cruel?”

“Which ruler through the ages has not achieved both merit and fame upon countless white bones?” Shen Fuyu felt nothing of the sort. The more complicated a matter was, the harder it was to judge by right and wrong. The world was never pure black and white, but a mingling of both. “You are far too childish. At your age, how can you still be thinking like this?”