The Wei Family Seeks the Empress's Protection

On the morning of the Mid-Autumn Festival, in Fengyi Palace.

The empress was having a senior palace maid cut fabric for clothes for the Eighth Prince, Di Chenzhe.

"Mother, do I look good in this?" Di Chenzhe, who had lived in the cold palace for years and had never had a chance to wear such fine silks and satins, looked a little awkwardly at the empress sitting beside him, her expression loving.

Empress Zhang smiled. "Mm, you look good. You're a handsome boy, Chenzhe, so you'd look good in anything. Xiuyan, have an outfit made for the Eighth Prince from this bolt of silk too."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Mother, can I really attend the Mid-Autumn banquet?" Di Chenzhe looked at the empress cautiously as he walked to her side, his small figure somewhat thin.

"Of course you can." Empress Zhang picked up a pastry and handed it to him, saying gently, "You're the emperor's son too. Now that you've left the cold palace, you can naturally attend palace banquets and take lessons in the imperial study, just like the other princes."

Only then did Di Chenzhe nod, still a little dazed, and accept the pastry she offered. "...Oh, I understand."

Seeing how innocent he was, Empress Zhang's smile deepened. "Mm, good boy."

Suddenly, a palace maid came in to report.

"Your Majesty, someone from Yaohua Hall is here."

At this, Empress Zhang frowned. If she didn't need a favor from the princess, she really didn't want to see that prickly princess.

"Is it Di Qingyu?"

"No." The palace maid shook her head. "It's Chunzhi, the palace maid who serves the Sixth Princess."

Only then did Empress Zhang's brow ease somewhat. "Let her in."

"Yes."

Chunzhi soon entered. "This servant pays her respects to Your Majesty."

Empress Zhang sat in the seat of honor, her lips twitching as she looked at her without expression. "Dispense with the formalities."

Chunzhi inclined her head. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, our princess fell ill and coughed up blood last night. The imperial physicians have already examined her, but she still hasn't woken up. I'm afraid she'll have to miss today's Mid-Autumn banquet."

"She's ill again?" Empress Zhang's eyes held curiosity. "I only saw her a few days ago. How did she fall ill again when she was perfectly well?"

The emperor had poured so many precious medicinal herbs into her care, yet she could still cough up blood and fall ill. It seemed she truly was fated to have a short life.

"Yes, our princess has been unconscious all night." Chunzhi looked worried. "This servant thought that even if the princess woke up, she would be too weak to attend, so I took the liberty of informing Your Majesty, so that you could make arrangements."

At this, Empress Zhang nodded, looking slightly worried. "Very well. In that case, Qingyu had better rest and recover. I'll have someone give you some tonics in a little while. Take them back for Qingyu to build up her strength."

"Yes. This servant thanks Your Majesty on the princess's behalf."

After Chunzhi left, Empress Zhang lowered her eyes, pondering something. Di Chenzhe, who was silently eating his pastry beside her, had also taken in what had been said. His sixth imperial sister really was in poor health.

Soon, someone else came to Fengyi Palace for an audience.

"I pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty live for thousands upon thousands of years." The visitor was Jieyu Wei, Wei Xin, who had previously begged Di Qingyu to save the Wei Family.

"Dispense with the formalities. Sit, Jieyu Wei." Empress Zhang looked down at Wei Xin, who had come of her own accord to pay her respects alone for the first time. Her lips curved slightly, and her expression grew gentle. "What brings you here for a visit today?"

Wei Xin glanced at the palace maids and eunuchs around them, looking hesitant. "Your Majesty, there is something I would like to discuss with you in private. I wonder if Your Majesty could..."

Her meaning was clear.

Empress Zhang's eyes flickered. Then she curled her lips and glanced at Di Chenzhe, who was reading beside her, and sent him away with a smile. "Chenzhe, go and play with Xiuyan for now. I have something to deal with."

Though young, Di Chenzhe was very good at reading the room. He knew he wasn't meant to hear what came next, so he nodded obediently.

"All right, Mother. I wish you well. I'll go now."

The other palace maids and eunuchs left as well.

Wei Xin lifted the hem of her robe and dropped to her knees, looking grief-stricken and frantic. "I beg Your Majesty to save my father's life!"

"Oh? What makes you say that, Jieyu Wei?" Empress Zhang remained seated, perfectly composed.

Wei Xin then told the empress much the same account of the Wei Family's troubles that she had given Di Qingyu before. To show her loyalty, she even told her that she had sought Di Qingyu's help.

"A few days ago, I was so desperate that I grasped at any cure and went to beg the Sixth Princess first. The Sixth Princess demanded the loyalty of everyone in the Wei Family and promised my father that she would save us. I thought she would have some good plan, but instead she first urged my father to submit his resignation three times, angering the emperor. Then last night, she alerted the Du Family through a foolish scheme that harmed herself nearly as much as the enemy. My father deeply regrets it and has now told me to hurry here and seek Your Majesty's help. As long as Your Majesty is willing to save the Wei Family, we will gladly lay down our lives for you and the Second Prince from now on!"

Empress Zhang frowned at once. "You say Di Qingyu wanted the loyalty of your Wei Family, and that her injury last night had something to do with the Du Family?"

What did a princess want with the loyalty of court officials? Or was she restless too, wanting to stir up the treacherous winds and clouds of the court?

Wei Xin raised her head and repeatedly assured her, "Yes. I wouldn't dare speak a single false word. I even know that the Sixth Princess coughed up blood and fell ill last night not because of a relapse of her old illness, but because she put herself in the game and deliberately set a trap for the Du Family. She wanted the emperor to deal with them on account of her injury. But a scheme like that is sure to beat the grass and startle the snake. How would the emperor deal with the minister of punishments just because she was injured once? Besides, the minister of punishments is the empress dowager's own nephew."

Having said that, Wei Xin grew extremely agitated and kowtowed again. "Your Majesty, I'm telling you all this to show my loyalty. I've already betrayed the Sixth Princess. Throughout the harem and the court, only Your Majesty can help us."

Empress Zhang narrowed her eyes, a faint gleam in them. She did not agree, instead pressing for details.

"Then do you know what Di Qingyu's plan was last night?"

Wei Xin shook her head. "The Sixth Princess only said a few words about it. She doesn't fully trust me yet." After a pause, she hurriedly added with excitement, "But if Your Majesty wishes to know, I can continue to stay by the Sixth Princess's side and gather information for you."

Glancing at her worried expression and bruised forehead, Empress Zhang curved her red lips, rose, and personally helped Wei Xin up.

"Dear sister, get up. Why speak as though we were strangers?"

Hearing this, Wei Xin understood that she had secured a place on the empress's boat.