After the Sage accidentally fell and injured himself in Penglai Hall, a subtle change came over the atmosphere throughout Daming Palace.
Once, the brother and sister had been inseparable. Even with half the palace city between them, the Princess would travel all that way to share a meal with her brother. Yet after the Sage's fall, she never once visited him herself, merely sending close attendants morning and evening to inquire after him.
She had often moved through the palace lightly dressed and with few attendants. Now she restored the full ceremonial escort appropriate to her station. Her personal guards never left her side, and two attendants carrying a bow and quiver always followed behind. Only after Li Yuanying's injuries healed and his face returned to normal did she stop by briefly, exchanging a few lukewarm pleasantries.
Rumors inevitably spread among the palace servants: the feng shui of Penglai Hall, where the Noble Consort's jade had shattered in death, seemed unfavorable to her descendants as well.
Once her violent emotions subsided, Baozhu gradually realized there were suspicious aspects to their confrontation that day. Chang Lanfang was over seventy and had little time left. Once the sole witness died, the truth would be buried underground. Li Yuanying had no need to detonate this hidden danger early. With his shrewdness, if he truly wanted to tell her the truth about their mother's death, inventing a seamless explanation would have been easy.
He seemed to have deliberately let her notice the flaws, bringing about this rupture. But why?
Imperial power was indivisible. Since ancient times, emperor and heir had been a pair of opposing forces. The empire's continuity required a successor, yet the transfer of power was exquisitely delicate, like walking a tightrope high above the ground, demanding constant care to maintain balance.