Chapter 400

Chapter 400: Hongmen Banquet

The same palace guard stepped forward with the same refusal as last time, saying in a low voice: “Official Yu, I’m very sorry.”

“His Majesty is unwell today and will see no one.”

[Why is it always my shift whenever Official Yu gets turned away?] The guard felt miserable but had no one to complain to.

“Unwell?” Yu Zhi Yi murmured, then spoke calmly: “I also know some medicine. Perhaps I can treat His Majesty; please announce me.”

The guard hesitated, nodded, and said: “Then… please wait.”

Before long he came back with an apologetic look, saying: “Forgive me, Official Yu. His Majesty does not wish to see anyone right now.”

Yu Zhi Yi’s heart sank. [Just when big changes are coming to the Capital City, the Emperor also falls ill? Could the upheaval in the Great Sheng Empire be tied to his sickness? If that’s true, I can’t step in.]

“Thank you for your trouble,” she said.

“You’re too polite, Official Yu,” the guard replied.

Yu Zhi Yi turned and left the palace for home.

Prince Xiao Yao’s Manor.

After Prince Xiao Yao’s second paralysis, he insisted the Empress Dowager send him back to his manor. The Empress Dowager couldn’t sway him. She arranged for attendants to care for him and sent gifts every few days, doting on him even more than before.

But Prince Xiao Yao felt no joy. [What disabled person could really be happy?] Worse, while he was sunk in gloom, Yu Zhi Yi kept rising step by step. His Imperial Elder Brother didn’t care about his feelings at all. Knowing he hated that woman to the bone, the Emperor still favored and promoted her.

Resentment filled him. He hated Yu Zhi Yi. He hated the Emperor. He even came to hate the Empress Dowager.

Just then, a hunch-backed old man walked out from behind the screen. He leaned on a strange-looking cane, and up close there was a faint, odd smell about him.

Prince Xiao Yao’s cold, gloomy eyes suddenly lit up. He struggled to rise, but could only lift his neck a little as he called out in surprise: “Sir Mu!”

A few days earlier, Sir Mu had appeared out of nowhere. Calling himself a medical cultivator-one who entered the Dao through medicine-he claimed he could cure Prince Xiao Yao. The prince had been excited yet doubtful.

Sir Mu then gave a demonstration. At the prince’s order, they brought in a man with a grave wound-flesh split open to the bone. Under Sir Mu’s hands, the wound knit itself shut in less than a quarter of an hour. The man had been found by the prince’s own Shadow Guards, so there was no trick.

Watching that gash close before his eyes, Prince Xiao Yao’s dead heart stirred back to life. He saw hope.

Over the next few days, that hope only grew. Under Sir Mu’s treatment, feeling slowly returned to his waist. It spread like a web, stretching toward his back and down his legs. He still could not stand, but he could already see the day he would.

As the sensation grew, the dark rage he had buried began to rise again. Even so, he still had reason and lingering affection for his elder brother and mother-until the day he heard that You Bing Yue had gone through every hardship to bring a great healer to save him, only for the Emperor to throw her into prison. The promised rank of National Scholar for that expert was canceled for no clear reason, and the healer wasn’t used at all.

Prince Xiao Yao clenched his fists and said with a cold laugh: “Imperial Elder Brother, you really are something.”

His hatred for the Emperor sharpened, dragging the Empress Dowager into it as well. Even the kindly aunt the Empress Dowager sent to comfort him he now treated as a spy and a test.

…

In the blink of an eye, the day of the flower-viewing banquet arrived.

Holding her invitation, Yu Zhi Yi went to the Plum Grove Villa outside the city. Built by the Imperial Family to cultivate plum blossoms, the villa held vast groves of trees, their flowers waving in the wind-blooming bravely in the bitter cold. Each grove had been trimmed into a different shape. From the ground the patterns were hard to see, but from up high, great, beautiful designs unfolded across the land.

When Yu Zhi Yi arrived, many guests were already there. Her entrance made the lively atmosphere freeze for a beat as heads turned. Some stared with curiosity, some with scorn, some with probing looks. Among all those different gazes, she even felt a few faint, admiring ones.

Ignoring them, Yu Zhi Yi walked up to the head seat and dipped a slight bow, saying with composure: “Greetings to the Eldest Princess.”

Draped in splendor, the Eldest Princess sat at the place of honor. Seeing Yu Zhi Yi’s straight back and the way she didn’t bend and curtsey like other women, the princess only nodded a little, lifted a brow, and said with a smile edged in frost: “I’ve heard that Official Yu is unmatched in talent and pride. Today proves the name is not empty; no wonder my Imperial Elder Brother favors you so.”

Yu Zhi Yi acted as if she didn’t hear the sarcasm, smiling as she replied: “Not as good as the Eldest Princess, whose noble birth wins His Majesty’s special favor.”

The Eldest Princess’s smile faded. She never believed this Official Yu had any real gift for divination; in her mind, Yu Zhi Yi had simply bewitched the Emperor with her looks. She hadn’t expected the woman to dare suggest that the princess herself relied on her imperial brother’s skirts.

What was wrong with that? She had an Emperor for an elder brother. They weren’t of the same mother and father, but they were still siblings. Why shouldn’t she lean on him? It wasn’t shameful.

She said with a thin smile: “Official Yu does have a sharp tongue.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Yu Zhi Yi answered lightly, still smiling. “But Eldest Princess, have you heard the saying: trouble comes from the mouth?”

The noble ladies nearby all flinched. They had been watching for fun, but now their hearts shook. Second Miss Yu was too bold-how could she dare to spar with the Eldest Princess in public? Even if the princess wasn’t the current Emperor’s real sister, she was still the Late Emperor’s daughter-royalty through and through. How strong must Yu Zhi Yi’s backing be to talk like this?

Madam Yao and Marchioness Wu’an exchanged a quick look, worry in both pairs of eyes. They trusted Yu Zhi Yi’s abilities and knew the Emperor valued her, but she was still challenging a princess.

Steadying herself, Madam Yao put on a warm smile, ready to smooth things over.

The Eldest Princess slammed her teacup hard onto the table and snapped, eyes blazing: “Insolent! You dare to curse this princess!”

Yu Zhi Yi sighed helplessly and said in an even voice: “If I were cursing you, it wouldn’t be only a bit of blood.”

“Outrageous!” the Eldest Princess burst out, rising to her feet in fury.

The noble ladies shrank back, trembling. This clash was terrifying.

“Princess, Yi’er didn’t mean it!” cried Madam Yao at once, while Marchioness Wu’an pleaded: “Princess, please calm your anger!”

At that very moment, a sudden accident struck.

The Eldest Princess screamed. Everyone turned toward the sound, pupils tightening.

Blood was running from her mouth.