Chapter 8: The Empress Dowager and Her Substitute Young Lover 8

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“Xiao Su?”
Their eyes met.
Clearly, something had dawned on them.
Qin Ziyan cleared his throat and cautiously said, “...I vaguely remember, she had already...”
As he spoke, his expression grew complicated.
Wei Yan clenched the hairpin tightly in his hand.
“So what?”
The man lifted his gaze; sunlight broke through the clouds outside, streaming through the windowpane and bathing him in light. Determination etched deeply in his brow.
Qin Ziyan coughed again, took several steps forward, leaning close to Wei Yan, only to be pushed away with a slap.
“Stay away from me.”
Tsk.
You’re angry now.
Qin Ziyan: “...”
This ancestor.
What’s he pretending for?
They’d grown up together; who didn’t know what he was hiding in his pants?
He grew a bit more serious: “A Yan, this is a person you really need to give up on.”
Wei Yan lifted his eyes; his phoenix-like gaze darkened, no trace of the playful smile he showed before Hua Yue.
Qin Ziyan sighed, speaking a fact known to both: “She entered the palace two years ago, married to your great-grandfather.”
Silence.
Wei Yan’s expression stiffened.
“In other words, you’d have to call her... Great-Grandmother?”
Wei Yan narrowed his eyes.
The hairpin in his palm gripped even tighter.
No wonder...
She said, “Do you really not know who I am?”
Recalling her expression when she said that, Wei Yan fell into thought.
“Oh no!” Qin Ziyan suddenly clapped his hands. “Do you remember what she said?”
Their eyes met once again.
They spoke simultaneously.
“She said her husband is dead.”
“She said she liked him because he was old and died early.”
Qin Ziyan: “...”
“You—”
“No, are you out of your mind? Who’s her husband? The current emperor, still very much alive. Why would she say he’s dead? Could it be...”
Qin Ziyan’s speculation frightened himself as he spoke.
“Yeah, why would she say he’s dead, and I actually heard it.” Wei Yan stood, a smile creeping onto his devilish face.
“So?”
“That proves she might know my identity. And that I’m valuable to her.”
“Is that the point? To me, you’re just being completely narcissistic. She’s a sheltered lady; how could she possibly know you?”
Wei Yan: “...”

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“Exactly, how could she know you? You act like a madman all day. I bet even the Seventh Prince hasn’t seen your true face in ages.”
Wei Yan said nothing.
“No, she suddenly appeared before you...” Qin Ziyan felt he’d caught the key point, his brows furrowed tighter.
“The real issue now is the Seventh Prince! She’s Wei He’s foster mother, your enemy. If she really knows your identity, it’s over.”
“Should we kill her to silence her?” Qin Ziyan made a throat-cutting gesture.
Wei Yan’s face darkened: “Kill who?”
Qin Ziyan was speechless: “No, you know his identity and still like him?”
“So what?” Wei Yan repeated.
Qin Ziyan: “...Don’t forget your purpose coming to the capital.”
Wei Yan sipped his tea lightly, a mischievous curve on his lips: “Haven’t seen my great-grandfather in a long time; I miss him deeply.”
“...”
You left the capital at four years old. Miss him my foot.
“Wait, where are you going?”
“To the palace.”
“Ah?”
Qin Ziyan was left dumbfounded, standing in place.
“You’re crazy!!!”
“You’re basically going to your death, don’t you know that?”
He shouted on the spot, utterly frantic.
After all these years, it turns out this ancestor is still the kind to risk everything for a woman.
No way!
He had to find reinforcements!
...
...
Jianjia Palace.
“Consort Gui, Consort Gui, our lady has already gone to rest. You can’t enter!”
Lü Guifei’s personal maid, Ji Qin, desperately tried to stop Hua Yue.
“How dare you stop me?”
Hua Yue’s beautiful, delicate eyes lifted slightly, sweeping over Ji Qin who stood before her with arms wide open. Though she smiled, it sent chills down the spine.
Ji Qin’s heart trembled, hesitating subconsciously.
Just that moment’s pause, Hua Yue sneered and pushed her aside, storming into the palace.
Ji Qin: “Consort Gui! You—”
“Step aside!”
Qing Li shoved past her with a thud, rolling his eyes.
Ji Qin: “...”
This master-servant duo!
She was so angry her face turned purple, yet dared not say a word.
Currently, everyone knew the palace was ruled by Consort Xiao and the Seventh Prince Wei He.
Once the emperor passes, one of them would ascend the throne, the other becoming the most honored Empress Dowager in the land.

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By then, people like them would have no choice but to live at their mercy.
But for now, her mistress was still Consort Lü.
Stopping her was a dilemma no matter what.
Inside Jianjia Palace, the air was rich with the scent of ink and books, scrolls hanging everywhere. Hua Yue entered and saw a middle-aged woman sitting at a desk, absorbed in painting.
Consort Lü lifted her eyes calmly. “Ji Qin, you may leave now.”
Ji Qin hesitated: “But...”
Consort Lü glanced at her with a warning: “Leave.”
“Yes.”
As Ji Qin left, she glanced at Qing Li.
Qing Li snorted, “Why look at me? Our lady didn’t ask me to leave.”
Ji Qin: “...”
Her face twisted with frustration.
“Qing Li.” Hua Yue called softly.
Qing Li stepped forward carrying a tray. On it was a jade bowl filled with dark, steaming medicinal soup.
Hua Yue was unforgiving; her son had even tried to assassinate her.
A debt of blood must be repaid by the mother, it was only right.
Her smile perfectly matching that of a devilish consort, her tone leisurely: “Sister, I left the palace today and the Ninth Prince specially sent me some gifts. I quite like them. Hearing you were unwell today, I immediately had Qing Li bring some millennium lingzhi from my own storehouse to brew for you.”
“Qing Li?”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Qing Li bowed slightly, holding out the medicine. “Consort Lü, please.”
Consort Lü, born Lü Yuan, daughter of the current prime minister, was famed for her talent and elegance, simple and poised, naturally not escaping the emperor’s favor.
Of course, it was partly orchestrated by the prime minister’s household.
Now, twenty years later, fine wrinkles touched her eyes, but she remained as graceful as ever.
Expressionless, she glanced at the medicine Qing Li offered, lips parting slightly: “Thank you, sister. But I just took some medicine...”
Before she could finish, Hua Yue smiled: “Don’t worry, sister, your body is too frail; a little extra nourishment won’t hurt.”
Consort Lü’s smile didn’t fade: “...Sister,”
Hua Yue, eager to rest, cut short the conversation, her smile dimming slightly, a subtle threat in her voice:
“Or would you prefer I feed it to you myself?”
“Fine by me. Today, the Ninth Prince’s gift was delivered right before my eyes. You two are always so close to me, sigh.”
Consort Lü didn’t say a full sentence for a while, her eyes narrowing as she put down her brush.
“Xiao Su! Don’t cross the line.”
Hua Yue relaxed: “Finally dropping the act?”
“Then drink it.”
“Qing Li.” Hua Yue flicked her chin. Qing Li, quick-witted, immediately dropped the tray and moved to pour the medicine into Consort Lü’s mouth.
Consort Lü: “...Are you mad?”
“Yes.”
Hua Yue grinned brightly.