Ju Noble Consort bumped into a pillar in Qianqing Palace.
It was a major incident, and the news was suppressed within the Imperial Medical Academy, with almost all those in the know having their mouths sealed.
But that didn’t stop it from being delivered to Chang Yan’s presence, with the story being personally recounted by Wen Zhiyun.
A bloodbath triggered by a bowl of porridge.
Or perhaps in the seesaw between love and power, Ju Noble Consort sacrificed the former to protect the latter.
In the process, a living life got caught in between.
It was hard to describe what he felt. In Chang Yan’s childhood years, he only remembered Ju Noble Consort haughtily passing by, sparing no effort to show off the favoritism she gained, but she couldn’t even get a reaction from the cold and aloof Yan Empress, so she left unhappily in the end.
Now, the cold and indifferent woman had turned into dry bones, while the haughty one had also closed her eyes. Neither of them managed to accompany that man until his old age, and neither managed to enjoy good fortune.
“Ju Noble Consort's death could very possibly wipe the slate clean regarding what the Ju family has done, the Tian family might even shift the guilt onto the Eldest Prince...” Chang Yan analyzed in the most rational manner.
Wen Zhiyun, carrying a small medicine box, interrupted him, “Who said Ju Noble Consort is dead?”
The hall fell silent for a moment.
In storybooks and operas, those who bumped pillars ultimately died in the end.
“Don't be misled by these dramatic works. What she injured by bumping her head was her forehead. It looked terrifying with all that blood flowing, but the actual damage was far less severe than being hit at the back of the head.” Wen Zhiyun rarely assumed his elder brother persona and rapped the table, “After repeated diagnoses and treatments by the Imperial Medical Academy, currently Ju Noble Consort is in a coma, whether she can regain consciousness requires further observation.”
But her life is not at risk, at least her pulse has not weakened so far.
“Also...” Wen Zhiyun hesitated, “I asked Steward Wu, he stretched out his hand to stop her when he discovered the situation, which is why Ju Noble Consort only fell into a coma.”
If he had used a little more force, or if no one was there to stop her, the resulting injury would have been much more tragic.
The hall fell silent again.
Chang Yan sat there in a daze, subconsciously comparing the cold and arrogant figures of the two women, and let out a bitter laugh in the end.
“Although she and I cannot coexist, I sincerely admire her from the bottom of my heart.” There was a hint of sadness in the youth’s tone, “I admire her courage to fight and scheme, as well as sacrifice. Looking at things from her perspective, surviving is indeed better.”
Why choose death?
After falling into a coma, she obtained guilt, kept the Ju family safe, and preserved relationships.
In the future when the Eldest Prince ascends the throne, she would enjoy limitless glory and honor as the Empress Dowager.
Allowing herself to die a dignified death would have been the most cowardly approach.
In storybooks, compromising for the sake of self-preservation by marrying one’s beloved as a concubine, then withering away in the end, or being murdered, becoming an eternally innocent figure in the Emperor’s heart as well as a poignant love story circulated among the commoners.
But when applied to the person involved, when situated within the cruel inner palace and power struggles, as the cherished daughter carefully nurtured by her clan, resigning oneself to awaiting death passively would have been the most useless and foolish course of action.
Just as what Ju Noble Consort said to Steward Wu, she profoundly understood the significance of women to the clan, as well as the connection between power and the future. In her youth she could have compromised and become a concubine for the sake of love, and in her maturity she was capable of ruthlessness and scheming for the sake of her clan and selfishness.
She was not a kind and innocent damsel. She enjoyed her clan’s protection previously, and later in life she returned the favor by protecting her clan.
She made meticulous calculations when it came to producing an heir, with even love factored into her schemes, sacrificing the minimal amount in exchange for maximum gain.
Even as an adversary, one couldn’t help but sing praises of her.
“I’m not trying to complain about anything. Mother will always remain so pure and beautiful in my heart.” Chang Yan took a deep breath, “It’s just that as her child, I would rather she tenaciously and vibrantly cling on to life like this.”
Rather than leaving this world prematurely amidst coldness.
“Even if it means relying on the reputation of a girl from an eminent clan to forcibly prop up the inadequate Eldest Prince?” Wen Zhiyun softly asked.
Chang Yan laughed lightly beside him, “Then do you know why, despite enjoying favor higher than the heavens, Ju Noble Consort only gave birth to one Eldest Prince?”
Which woman in the inner palace was an unsullied lily? Someone as uncompetitive as the Yan Empress had long become bones bleached by the wind.
The ones who survived were all those outstanding in scheming and strategy, who had either participated in or witnessed all kinds of plots.
At its root, the inner palace simply could not accommodate favoritism or biases.
Tracing it further back, they were merely a pair of lovers who unfortunately ended up becoming emperor and imperial concubine.
“So as the Emperor, one cannot have a woman he truly loves, he cannot have a sweetheart to cherish.” Wen Zhiyun said hoarsely as his eyes reddened, “Xiaowu, are you going to follow this path as well?”
Chang Yan laughed by the side.
Ever since he returned from the imperial examinations to this cold and gloomy palace, he had never thought about leaving again.
Though unlike his father, he would never favor any particular person on his own, as his heart had already been filled by the family members he encountered in his childhood.
“Rest assured.” The teenager's hands were held behind his back as he steered the topic back on track, “Given that Ju Noble Consort still lives, it shows that the Ju family and the Eldest Prince have new plans. It so happens that Lady Fang has not much time left with the Second Prince, exciting times lie ahead for Yongjing.”
His face was lit up in anticipation for the show.
According to previous discussions among the brothers, the Fifth Prince would indeed keep to the background and take the position of winner with the most relaxed method.
However...
There was pity in Wen Zhiyun's eyes, he wanted to speak yet held back, and eventually swallowed the words down.
“What’s the matter with Fourth Brother?” Chang Yan perceived something amiss, “Could there be anything else to say?”
“No, nothing...” Wen Zhiyun denied vehemently, “The Imperial Medical Academy still has medicine waiting to be prepared, I have to go back now.”
His actions could be described as flustered as he hurried off with fast steps, even forgetting to sneak close to the walls. He simply darted out of the Western Third Court like that.
Although it was late into the night, it was still rather conspicuous.
Chang Yan’s eyebrows were slightly knitted together. He could only send the guards to quietly tidy things up, to avoid discovery by others.
The cold late night, with the bright moon hanging high.
The guard had been gone for a long time after leaving, it was as if some trouble cropped up.
These two...something seemed rather odd with them.
Chang Yan knitted his brows again as he paced about in the courtyard, leaning against the door frame to listen for sounds.
Finally, noises traveled in from outside.
Before he could even relax his eyebrows, he heard the leader of the Imperial Guards bow with bent waist, “Fifth Highness, His Majesty awaits you in the Chengdian Palace, please proceed there.”
