Chapter Twenty-Six: Sisters

Since her rebirth, Wei Baofu had often pondered the purpose of her existence in this life. When her parents were still alive, she had guessed perhaps Heaven was compensating her for the regrets of her past life, bestowing upon her happiness she had never known before—yet that happiness was so fleeting.

Unlike other infants, she carried memories from birth, recalling even the earliest days with remarkable clarity. In her mind, her mother often cradled her, humming unfamiliar tunes and telling tales she had never heard before.

Though their days were simple, her heart was never empty. In her memories, her mother, Zhao Yunnuan, was a wise and resilient woman. Outwardly, her father seemed to dominate the household, but in truth, her mother always found a way to have her say, gently guiding her father to compromise.

Her aunt, Zhao Yunyun, was a contradictory soul. She often appeared frail and sickly, as if death might claim her at any moment, yet when alone with her mother, she revealed a different side. She would long for freedom from the confines of the Marquis Yongyi’s residence, yearning to travel and see the great mountains and rivers, speaking her mind without restraint. Wei Baofu envied the bond between her mother and aunt, for her aunt was only truly herself in her mother’s presence.

She could never understand why her aunt, who was not truly gravely ill, chose to present such a weak facade to others. At first, Wei Baofu thought her aunt simply refused to marry, but later she realized it was not so simple. Regardless, the affection between these sisters was as close as if they were one person.

On the way home, Wei Baofu replayed the few childhood memories she possessed. Her aunt had once promised to stay by her mother’s side forever, saying they had come into this world together and should never be separated.

Later, her father died in a tragic accident. Her mother wept day and night holding her, but remained strong before others. Just days before news of her mother’s death reached them, her mother and aunt had quarreled in her mother’s room, where Wei Baofu happened to be sleeping.

She did not know what had transpired, only recalling her mother’s words: she would never confine her aunt for her own sake. Wei Baofu had pretended to sleep, hoping to overhear more, but her mother discovered her, and the conversation ended. She had often regretted opening her eyes too soon, wondering if she might have learned more had she waited.

Seeing her mistress so pensive, Pearl dared not disturb her. Though curious about Lady Shu’s intentions, she asked nothing; if her mistress wished to share, she would, and if not, questioning would be useless.

Upon returning to the side hall of the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, Linglong waited anxiously. Seeing them arrive, she breathed a sigh of relief, hurried forward to remove Wei Baofu’s cloak, and said with concern, “Mistress, your hands are so cold. Let’s have a hot bath and some ginger tea—I’ve prepared everything.”

Though her mind was elsewhere, Wei Baofu smiled and nodded. “You’ve all worked hard today. Just prepare the bath, then rest; there’s no need to tidy up until tomorrow.” She was always considerate of those around her.

Pearl smiled. “Mistress, don’t worry about us. We can sleep a bit longer tomorrow. It’s no trouble.” Wei Baofu said no more; their primary duty was to serve her, and if she fussed too much, these loyal girls would only feel she was keeping them at a distance.

Soaking in the warm water, Wei Baofu felt her body and soul relax. Yet her thoughts drifted to Lady Shu’s words. She could not understand why Lady Shu so desperately coveted the throne. Then, unbidden, she thought of the Fourth Prince’s eyes—a subtle idea stirring in her mind. Suddenly, she stood up.

A memory flashed: before her father’s death, her mother frequently suffered from nausea and, with joy, had told her that there would soon be good news. At the time, she’d thought nothing of it. After her father’s passing, the matter slipped her mind. Could it be that her mother was already pregnant then?

Wei Baofu dared not pursue the thought. If her mother had truly been with child, what would the Emperor have done if he’d found out? Exposed to the cold air, she shivered and regained her composure.

She felt uneasy, afraid to imagine what her mother might have endured. Forcing herself to calm down, she reminded herself that all this was speculation and that she must seek the truth—perhaps she should visit the imperial mausoleum. It was said that her mother’s personal maid still kept vigil there; surely that woman would know something.

Restless and unable to sleep, Wei Baofu’s mind churned with wild conjectures. Fortunately, the next day held no pressing duties, allowing her some rest.

Yet she was not the only one in the palace plagued by unrest. After the family banquet, the Empress’s mood grew dark and stormy. She summoned the Crown Prince to Kunning Palace, but he found an excuse not to come.

The Empress fumed all night, her anger lingering into the morning. Embroidery, her maid, tried to soothe her. “Your Majesty, please don’t let anger harm your health. What’s done is done; you should focus on solutions. Worrying will do no good.”

The Empress understood this well enough. “Look at the Crown Prince now—so lacking in responsibility. If His Majesty truly deposes him, what will become of me?”

All she possessed was as fleeting as the reflection of flowers in water—a single ripple could take everything from her. Her patience was wearing thin.

“If I’d known Lady Kangping would cause such trouble, I’d never have let her return so easily. Send for the Crown Prince again. I want to know how much more silver he owes.”

Embroidery hesitated. “Your Majesty, I hear the Crown Prince’s expenses have been enormous lately. I suspect you’ll have to cover the debt.”

The Empress stiffened and hurled her comb to the floor in exasperation. “Cover the debt? With what? You know how little private money I have. Not only does my son not support his mother, he expects me to clean up after him! What kind of useless son is this?”

Embroidery well knew the Empress’s love of money. With no imperial favor, no natal family to rely on, and an increasingly unreliable son, the Empress’s only security lay in tightly guarding her silver.

She picked up the comb and, seeing there were no other attendants present, spoke in a low voice, “Last night, the Crown Prince’s eunuch told me he owes Lady Kangping twenty-six thousand taels. If paid double, that’s over fifty thousand. The Eastern Palace can scrape together only twenty thousand at most—the rest must come from you. The Crown Prince is afraid of your anger; that’s why he hasn’t come.”

The Empress felt as if struck by lightning. “Why would Lady Kangping have so much silver at her disposal? She’s just an orphaned girl! And if the Crown Prince gives her the money, won’t she be repaid a hundredfold when he ascends the throne? Where am I supposed to find this silver?”

To the Empress, this sum was vast—all she had. She might rule the inner palace, but her room for maneuver was limited; everything had to go through proper channels. What could she possibly do?

“Don’t the Crown Prince’s advisers or retainers have any solutions? Must the money come from me? I can hardly move within the palace as it is. Without silver, how can I help him at all?”

Embroidery sighed. “Please, Your Majesty, don’t be angry. At this point, if we don’t pay, the Crown Prince’s reputation will be ruined. It’s a direct imperial order—defying it is tantamount to defying the Emperor. Both Lady Shu and Consort Yao are watching the Crown Prince like hawks. One misstep and he could lose his position.”

The Empress looked utterly defeated. She understood all too well—what else could she do? The Crown Prince was her only son. Listlessly, she said, “Go speak to him yourself. If he wants the money, he must come see me at once.”

Embroidery breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the Empress agreed to pay, some hardship for the Crown Prince was only fitting. This time, the Crown Prince arrived promptly, wasting no words—he fell to his knees and earnestly admitted his fault.

The Empress sneered at the sight. She hated to admit her son’s inferiority but could not deny reality. With a face full of disdain, she said, “Don’t put on such a pitiful act. If you weren’t my own son, I wouldn’t care if you died in the street. This time, I’ll let it go—but if you ever act on your own and only come crawling to me when trouble arises, I’ll leave you to your fate.”

The Crown Prince dared not protest, only nodded respectfully. His obedience irritated the Empress further. She rubbed her temples, weary, and said, “Paying this debt will drain us both. It’s time to find you a wife who can truly support you. I’ll choose the Crown Princess; don’t let lust cloud your judgment. As for those useless women in the Eastern Palace, dismiss them all.”

The Crown Prince’s expression darkened. “Mother, the Eastern Palace’s concubines are of low rank. If the Crown Princess cannot tolerate them, how will she manage the three thousand beauties in the harem when I ascend the throne?”

The Empress hurled her teacup at him. “How did I give birth to such a fool? Without powerful allies, you can’t even hold onto the position of Crown Prince, let alone ascend the throne. You’re courting disaster, truly beyond hope.”

Rubbing his bruised forehead, the Crown Prince dared not show his anger. He wanted to leave, but the silver was not yet in hand—if he left, his mother might truly abandon him. So he stood his ground.

The Empress, watching his useless demeanor, was furious, though she knew her anger was pointless. If she had any other sons, she would have cast him out long ago. “Enough. If you won’t listen to me, then from now on, don’t call me Mother—I’ll wash my hands of you.”

The Crown Prince pleaded, “Mother, please don’t say that. I’ll obey you in all things from now on. I’ll dismiss those women, and you may choose the Crown Princess. The silver—when can you give it to me?”