By evening, when Huang Yu returned to the palace, he brought word of the many confessions forced from Princess Weichang’s two personal maids before their deaths. For instance, on the tenth day of the sixth month, Chen Zhuo had indeed gone to Chongjing Garden. However, he had only led his servants in a single circuit around the grounds to search for something before falling into a heated argument with the Princess and departing. After his departure, the Princess was so heartbroken that she drank herself into a stupor and summoned a musician. That musician, it was said, did not leave until the following morning. Furthermore, news arrived that the physician from the Marquis of Changping’s estate, who had initially examined the Princess, had drowned after falling into a pond.
Ah Jiao watched as Liu Che’s expression grew increasingly grim. She quietly retreated a few steps toward the wall to avoid the impending fallout. Sure enough, with a resounding *clatter*, Liu Che flipped over a perfectly good desk. He immediately issued an edict: on the grounds of "disrespect and lack of filial piety," Liu Qing was stripped of her title as Grand Princess and demoted to a standard Princess.
Outside Yunguang Hall, Wei Zifu pleaded bitterly, dressed in plain white robes with her hair ornaments removed. Yet Liu Che remained ensconced within the hall, refusing to see her.
On the fifth day of the tenth month, the three-day washing ceremony for the legitimate imperial grandson was held. Inner consorts, court officials, and titled ladies all went to the Crown Prince’s palace to offer congratulations. Liu Che, wearing a smile, led Ah Jiao there to demonstrate the importance he placed on the child.
Ah Jiao looked at the neglected Lady Shi and her son, Liu Jin, sighing inwardly at how quickly fortunes could shift. Wei Zifu appeared haggard; she had likely exhausted herself over the past few days worrying for Liu Qing.
During this time, Ah Jiao took the opportunity to exchange a letter with Lin Gao, instructing him to begin scouting for a suitable shop location within the city.
Because of the scandal surrounding Liu Qing, Yan Zheng feared provoking the Empress and did not dare mention the matter of his mother entering the palace for an audience. Ah Jiao found this quite regrettable.
By the tenth day of the tenth month, the palace had begun preparations for the Xiayuan Festival. Legend had it that the fifteenth day of the tenth month was the birthday of Yu the Great, the god of water management. Thus, people offered sacrifices to the Water Official on this day to pray for peace and safety.
Liu Che was a diligent emperor who did not slacken even during festivals. He spent his time handling government affairs either in Wenshi Hall or Yunguang Hall.
Today, Liu Che was granting an audience to his ministers in Wenshi Hall. Ah Jiao was currently curled up on a daybed, accompanied by several young palace maids as they played the Leaf Game. She had become obsessed with the game during her time in Changmen Palace. Back then, out of sheer boredom, she would often play for an entire day. When her luck was poor, she could lose tens of thousands of coins in a single sitting, which was why the maids of Changmen Palace always loved to gather around her.
However, after nearly twenty years of honing her skills in Changmen, she was now confident she could wipe the floor with any maid in Yunguang Hall.
After a few rounds, Zhong Yu, a subordinate official of the City God, appeared in the hall, his form concealed from mortal eyes. Ah Jiao feigned a yawn and claimed she was tired, dismissing all her attendants.
Zhong Yu smiled. "You’re living quite the comfortable life, little immortal official. How is Lord Yun He? Has there been anything unusual?"
Ah Jiao patted her stomach and laughed. "Don't worry, Lord Yun He is doing just fine in my belly. It’s snowing outside now, so I can’t even step out the door."
Zhong Yu froze, his brush hovering in mid-air. After a long silence, he asked, "What did you say?"
Ah Jiao giggled. "I said, Lord Yun He is doing very well in my belly."
As if struck by lightning, Zhong Yu paced around Ah Jiao several times before suddenly slapping his thigh. "What are you talking about? You actually think Lord Yun He is in your belly?"
Ah Jiao was stunned. "Is he not?"
"No! Who told you Lord Yun He was in your belly? You’ve actually gone and lost him! What on earth have you been looking after all these days?"
Ah Jiao’s eyes went wide, and she began to stutter slightly. "L-L-Lord Yun He said so! He said... he said he would be reincarnated into my womb!"
Zhong Yu stumbled back two steps. Ah Jiao continued, "Back then in the Shanglin Forest, when I first met Liu Che, Lord Yun He cast a spell and told me to go find him, and then he could be conceived in my womb. Then he disappeared!" Her voice began to tremble. "He... he’s gone?"
Zhong Yu, however, let out a sigh of relief. "You didn't know? Did Lord Yun He not tell you before he left?"
The young woman shook her head like a rattle.
Zhong Yu explained, "That day in Shanglin, I discovered a pregnant woman and told Lord Yun He. He said he would let you know and then leave. He didn't tell you?"
"No..." Ah Jiao was on the verge of tears. "If he’s not in my belly, then what is this 'pregnancy pulse' all about?" *Could I really be carrying Liu Che’s child?* For a moment, Ah Jiao was overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions.
"What pregnancy pulse? Isn't that just a fake?" Zhong Yu looked bewildered.
Ah Jiao was even more confused. "Huh?"
Zhong Yu spoke up. "The spell Lord Yun He cast on you was a technique to simulate a pregnancy pulse for a certain period. You aren't pregnant at all. I ran over the other day to ask me to reinforce the spell; I thought you knew! I even extended it for a few extra days for you."
"I... I didn't know... Lord Yun He didn't say anything." Ah Jiao felt as though her life had become a tragedy.
"I thought you were faking a pregnancy for some scheme. So you really didn't know? Oh boy, what are you going to do now?" Zhong Yu sounded a bit gleeful at her misfortune.
Ah Jiao remained silent for a long time before saying, "Lord Yun He is the most unreliable immortal I have ever met in my life."
Zhong Yu didn't dare nod in agreement; after all, a low-level clerk like him had never actually interacted with Lord Yun He before.
Ah Jiao took a deep breath and asked, "Then where is Lord Yun He now?"
Zhong Yu pointed toward the nearby Jiuhua Hall. "I saw you two acting so friendly, I thought you knew. To think you actually thought he was in your stomach."
Ah Jiao was speechless.
***
A fake pregnancy was a major crisis in the palace. The mere thought of it gave Ah Jiao a massive headache. She discussed with Zhong Yu whether she should simply abandon the identity of "Chen Wan" and switch to a new one, but Zhong Yu informed her that the spell on her body had to reach the three-month mark before it could be cast again. This meant she had to keep up the charade for another month or so before "dying."
Ah Jiao could only gloomily agree. She then told Zhong Yu about the strange phenomenon of Wei Qing returning from the dead. Zhong Yu acknowledged it with little concern, saying he would look into it.
By the time the sacrificial rites for the Xiayuan Festival were completed, Ah Jiao was still feeling listless during the evening banquet.
Liu Che withdrew his gaze from the beauties dancing gracefully in the hall and asked tenderly, "You have been unhappy for several days now. What is wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Ah Jiao sighed. "It’s nothing. I just feel constantly tired."
The Xiayuan Festival was not a major holiday, so the banquet's songs and dances were relatively casual, though they still focused on prayers and blessings. She watched Li Yan, who was dressed in green robes and simple shoes, shifting her dance steps in the center of the hall. Ah Jiao thought to herself that even a prayer dance was performed with a touch of seductive elegance by this woman. No wonder Liu Che had been staring for so long.
*Empress Xiaowu!* Ah Jiao felt she had wasted twenty years harboring a grudge against Wei Zifu, only for no one to come out on top in the end.
But Lin Gao had said that Li Yan was the woman Liu Che truly loved. Hearing that still made her feel uncomfortable—even accepting in the underworld that Wei Zifu would accompany him to the Capital of Shadows in the future hadn't made her feel this miserable.
A large hand touched her forehead, and then Liu Che said, "It is cold in winter; make sure you haven't caught a chill. Should I call a female physician to check on you? Lady Qin should be on duty in the palace. She was raised as a physician here and later married the Imperial Physician Grand Master Qin. She was on leave before, so you haven't met her. She specializes in women's health and oversees all the palace's female physicians. Do you want her to take a look?"
*Then I definitely can't be seen!* Ah Jiao shook her head repeatedly and smiled. "It’s fine. Didn't those other physicians say it? It’s normal for a pregnant woman to be irritable. There’s no need for alarm."
Liu Che had no choice but to drop the matter, turning back to watch the performance.
The banquet was more than halfway through. Out of twelve dances, Li Yan had participated in two, one of which was a solo. It seemed that as Wei Qing’s health gradually improved, Liu Ying was beginning to make his moves again.
Liu Che had drunk several cups of wine and felt bloated, so he temporarily left his seat to relieve himself in a side hall. A young eunuch guided the Emperor to a side chamber. Upon opening the door and passing through three layers of curtains, they suddenly saw a woman changing her clothes. She was disheveled, exposing half of a fragrant shoulder.
The woman hurriedly picked up her clothes from the floor to cover herself and knelt.
The young eunuch also knelt, crying out that he deserved death for leading His Majesty to the wrong place.
Liu Che glanced at the two of them. "Rise. I remember you... Li Yan. Why are you here?"
Li Yan’s face was flushed with shame as she said softly, "In response to Your Majesty, this place was set aside by the Music Bureau for us to change. I did not expect Your Majesty... I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness." As she spoke, she crawled forward a few steps and knelt again, revealing her slender, graceful neck and half of her beautiful back.
Liu Che was already slightly tipsy, and his mind wavered. If he only reached out his hand, he could touch the woman’s delicate skin. And he did indeed reach out.
Li Yan looked at the shadows on the floor, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upward. However, though the shadows overlapped, she felt no warmth at all.
Liu Che withdrew his hand and murmured, "The Consort is only a few months along; the imperial heir is not yet stable. If there is a commotion, I fear it might harm the child. Let us wait... another two or three months, until the pregnancy is secure..." His voice was soft, and it was unclear who he was speaking to.
Li Yan submissively bowed her head even lower.
Liu Che kicked the eunuch who was still kneeling, ordering him to assist him into the inner chamber of the side hall.
Hearing the sounds from within, Li Yan’s face burned like a sunset, and she even forgot to finish dressing.
When Liu Che emerged from the inner chamber, the eunuch was clumsy while helping him dress. Li Yan slightly adjusted her own clothes and stepped forward to take the garments from the eunuch’s hands.
Liu Che looked down at the woman tying his belt, catching a whiff of a lingering fragrance. He asked, "What incense is this? It is quite novel."
Li Yan replied, "This is a new incense issued by the Inner Palace called 'Yuan Ruyi'."
"'Yuan Ruyi' (May Your Wishes Be Fulfilled)... a fine name! The Consort cannot use incense while pregnant, so I haven't smelled this yet. This scent is quiet and elegant; it suits you well."
Li Yan smiled shyly, looking very moving. Liu Che reached out and removed a jade hairpin from her head. In an instant, her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall. Li Yan’s body trembled slightly as she looked up, only to find that the Emperor had already walked away.
"Your Majesty!" she called out softly.
Liu Che gripped the jade hairpin and left without looking back. Returning to the banquet, he saw that Ah Jiao was not in her seat. Frowning, he asked Wei Zifu, "Where is the Consort?"
Wei Zifu replied, "Sister said the hall was too stuffy and went out for some fresh air. I have already sent a female physician to follow her."
Liu Che felt a strange sensation in his heart, and the jade hairpin in his hand seemed to lose its appeal. "I will go look for her." Liu Ying watched the Emperor with a frown, thinking that his plan had likely failed.
Yang De-yi hurried to follow. Liu Che frowned and asked, "Where were you just now?"
Yang De-yi suspected the Emperor had encountered something, so he said, "Someone from Wenshi Hall came to find me, saying a few tiles fell from a side hall and accidentally struck a palace servant."
Liu Che gave a grunt of acknowledgment. "That eunuch from just now—send him to the Silkworm House prison."
Yang De-yi’s expression remained unchanged as he complied.
Ah Jiao was standing by a railing, positioned to the left while the previous side hall was to the right. Liu Che felt relieved and walked over. "What is it? Are you unwell?"
Ah Jiao covered her chest. "The smell of wine in the room was just too heavy; it made me feel nauseous. I feel better after being out in the wind for a while."
Liu Che patted her back rhythmically and said gently, "Then I will stand with you for a while to clear your head." The wind cut like a cold knife, and Ah Jiao huddled her body. Seeing this, Liu Che pulled her into his arms, wrapping her inside his heavy cloak.
Ah Jiao caught a faint, elegant scent on the man and her hand brushed against something thin and hard. She reached for it. Liu Che panicked and quickly grabbed her hand. Recalling what she had just overheard, Ah Jiao feigned confusion. "What is this? It’s quite uncomfortable."
As she spoke, she pulled the cloak open, revealing a small section of a jade hairpin tucked into the man’s belt. Liu Che laughed sheepishly. "The servants must have been careless. Throw it away."
Ah Jiao pressed the hairpin into Liu Che’s hand. "This hairpin looks valuable; you should keep it. Or give it to someone as a reward." Having said that, she wrapped herself back up in the cloak.
Liu Che stood there, unsure whether to keep the hairpin or throw it away. Feeling frustrated, he simply placed it on a nearby short pillar and grumbled, "Whoever finds it can have it. Let’s go back to Yunguang Hall; the banquet is boring anyway." He then led Ah Jiao back.
The Emperor left the banquet early, but the festivities continued. Li Yan waited until the group had departed before stepping out from the shadows. She picked up the jade hairpin from the pillar and tucked it back into her hair.
***
Enjoying the story? Rate this novel:
The Han Dynasty Empress is a Ghost | Chapter 103 | A Tangled Web of Lies | Novela.app | Novela.app
