Liu Jingyi initially intended to meet the person sent by the Dowager Marchioness of Anguo with the demeanor of a virtuous wife, but she became interested after meeting them. This was because the person brought a message: the Dowager Marchioness had a secret recipe for conceiving a child. If the Crown Princess was interested, the Dowager Marchioness would be going to Antai Temple to burn incense in three days.

 

Upon hearing this, Liu Jingyi said calmly, "If my great-aunt is sincere, she should send the recipe directly. Acting in such a secretive manner, if someone finds out, they might think we are plotting something."

 

The messenger smiled and said, "It is, after all, a secret recipe and concerns the Crown Princess' health. The Dowager Marchioness did not dare to send it directly to the Eastern Palace."

 

Liu Jingyi said nothing more and had the messenger escorted out.

 

As the messenger was leaving, they added, "The Dowager Marchioness said that if the Crown Princess does go, she will also present you with a grand gift."

 

Seeing the situation, Liu Jingyi understood that the messenger was not just a simple courier, and the claim of not being in mourning attire was likely untrue. This person was undoubtedly a trusted confidant of the Dowager Marchioness. However, she was curious about what the Dowager Marchioness truly wanted by going through such lengths to meet her.

 

Of course, the most important point was that she was very interested in the secret recipe for conceiving a child mentioned by the Dowager Marchioness.

 

Liu Jingyi could certainly go directly to Antai Temple in three days, but that night, she still took the time to wash and dress up. She then sent Little Snowball to the wet nurse and had someone summon Xiao Jin.

 

Under the lamplight, Liu Jingyi softly smiled and mentioned her desire to go to Antai Temple to pray for Little Snowball's safety.

 

Xiao Jin, understanding her concerns, said, "That's fine. Consider it a way to relax."

 

Liu Jingyi softly agreed, and the two quietly had their dinner.

 

Normally, Xiao Jin would stay the night with the Crown Princess, but with everything that happened recently, he simply wasn't in the mood. Whether it was the Crown Princess or the other concubines, he just wanted some time alone.

 

Moreover, he recently ordered an in-depth investigation into the families of Liu Jingyi's palace maids and those around Lady Xu. He had a feeling that once he thoroughly understood the relationships among these people, the truth behind Liu Jingyi's premature labor would come to light.

 

Therefore, during this period, he intended to keep his distance from the women in the inner court, including Liu Jingyi and Lady Xu. He also planned to take this opportunity to thoroughly clean up the inner court of the Eastern Palace.

 

Xiao Jin looked at Liu Jingyi and said, "Little Snowball needs you right now. Take good care of her. I'll go to the study to review the memorials."

 

Liu Jingyi was slightly taken aback, her face turning a bit pale. Under her wide, soft sleeves, her fingers dug into her palms. The pain helped her maintain a calm expression as she said, "The weather is getting colder, and the nights are damp. Please take care of yourself, Crown Prince."

 

Xiao Jin nodded at her, thinking that she was, after all, the Crown Princess and deserved some respect. So he added, "Once I finish my work tomorrow, I'll join you and Little Snowball for a meal."

 

Liu Jingyi felt a flicker of joy in her heart and gave a faint smile, "Alright."

 

Her status ensured that, even during such a sensitive period, she was different from the others.

 

After Xiao Jin left, Liu Jingyi sat quietly.

 

The palace maid who served her closely stepped forward and trimmed the lamp wick, causing the room to brighten suddenly.

 

Liu Jingyi said, "Bring Little Snowball back from the wet nurse."

 

The maid responded softly and left.

 

Initially, Liu Jingyi felt some resistance to meeting the Dowager Marchioness, but now she was curious to see what cards the old woman had to play that could possibly sway her.

 

On the day Liu Jingyi went to Antai Temple, the sky was very overcast.

 

Not long after she left the Eastern Palace, it began to snow. The snowflakes were large, indicating that it would likely snow for a long time.

 

The palace staff advised Liu Jingyi, saying that the weather was too cold and suggesting that she return and go another day.

 

Liu Jingyi thought for a moment and said, "It's said that I'm going to pray for the child's blessing. If I turn back now, wouldn't it show a lack of sincerity? Let's go." Besides, if she went today and the Dowager Marchioness didn't dare to come, then the Dowager Marchioness would no longer have the right to act as an elder in front of her.

 

Seeing that they couldn't persuade her, the palace staff didn't dare to say more and accompanied Liu Jingyi.

 

The snowy weather had its advantages; there were far fewer people at the temple than usual.

 

The Crown Princess' visit was announced in advance by the palace staff, and the Abbot of Antai Temple already gathered people to wait at the temple gate to welcome the distinguished guest.

 

Liu Jingyi's prayers and incense offerings were sincere. The main hall of the temple was large and empty, with cold wind blowing from behind. She closed her eyes, stood straight, and remained motionless.

 

Seeing this, the Abbot softly chanted "Amitabha."

 

After Liu Jingyi finished her prayers, the abbot personally placed her lit incense in the censer, chanted a few more words, and then left. Liu Jingyi went to a guest room to warm up for a while.

 

After waiting in the guest room for a while, the Dowager Marchioness of Anguo came to see her.

 

The Dowager Marchioness of Anguo came with only one maidservant and no one else.

 

Liu Jingyi also had all the palace staff leave the guest room, leaving only herself and the Dowager Marchioness inside.

 

The Dowager Marchioness seemed to have had a rough time recently, looking much more haggard.

 

However, her eyes were still bright and piercing.

 

Liu Jingyi looked at her with a faint smile and said, "Great-aunt, please speak directly."

 

Hearing this, the Dowager Marchioness did not beat around the bush. She said bluntly, "I know why the Crown Princess is here, but the secret recipe for conceiving a child is a fabrication. I hope the Crown Princess will forgive me."

 

Liu Jingyi's expression darkened, and she angrily said, "How dare you deceive me?"

 

The Dowager Marchioness, looking weathered, replied, "I did deceive the Crown Princess regarding this matter, but I truly have something important to discuss with you."

 

Liu Jingyi let out a cold laugh, "Does my great-aunt think I can be humiliated at will? If you have something to say, keep it to yourself and slowly tell it to yourself."

 

With that, she stood up and turned to leave, but the Dowager Marchioness quickly blocked her path. Her agile movements were not at all like those of an elderly woman. As Liu Jingyi raised an eyebrow, the Dowager Marchioness quickly lowered her voice and said, "Forgive me, Crown Princess. What I have to say is of great importance. Consort Lan and Prince Li have ulterior motives."

 

"What?" Liu Jingyi looked astonished.

 

The Dowager Marchioness closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face, and said, "I have irrefutable evidence. However, due to being in mourning, I cannot enter the palace to meet the Empress and speak the truth directly. That is why I devised this method to meet the Crown Princess."

 

Liu Jingyi's heart wavered, and she sternly said, "Great-aunt, you can eat indiscriminately, but you cannot speak recklessly. If you dare to spout nonsense today, I will be the first to not forgive you."

 

The Dowager Marchioness wept, "How could I dare to falsely accuse Consort Lan and Prince Li? But keeping this matter bottled up inside is a disservice to the Empress and the Crown Prince, and even more so to my late father."

 

***

 

When Liu Jingyi returned to the Eastern Palace from Antai Temple, she saw how exhausted Xiao Jin looked and said nothing.

 

The next day, she entered the palace to see the Empress and relayed everything the Dowager Marchioness had told her.

 

"What did you say?" The Empress, having harbored a grudge against Consort Lan since the last incident, did not immediately believe Liu Jingyi's words, but suspicion arose in her heart.

 

Liu Jingyi, with a look of disbelief, said, "At first, I couldn't believe it either. But then the Dowager Marchioness said that Consort Lan indeed harbors ill intentions towards you, Mother Empress." She then recounted the Dowager Marchioness' words, explaining that Old Master Gu, Gu Xian, was driven to death by Consort Lan's father, Gu Yan.

 

The reason was that Gu Yan, in a drunken state, went to Gu Xian and caused a ruckus. He felt that Gu Xian was overly partial to the eldest branch of the family. Gu Yan believed that since he also had a daughter who was a consort and a grandson who was a prince, he deserved more recognition.

 

But he had nothing and was completely overshadowed by the eldest branch, which he found unacceptable.

 

Old Master Gu died from the anger caused by those words.

 

The Empress abruptly stood up upon hearing this and said, "How is that possible?"

 

Liu Jingyi replied, "The matter is indeed shocking, and I cannot be certain. But according to my great-aunt, Consort Lan is aware of this. The time when Consort Lan suddenly returned home due to illness was actually when the second branch of the Gu family wanted to discuss this matter with her."

 

"My great-aunt said that Consort Lan and Prince Li outwardly support the Crown Prince, but privately they are not convinced. However, since you and the Crown Prince are highly regarded by the Emperor, and my grandfather and his faction are also favored in the court, Consort Lan and Prince Li have no choice but to feign submission to lull you and the Crown Prince into a false sense of security."

 

"I dare not fully believe my great-aunt's words, but I also dare not hide this from you, Mother Empress. I hope you will investigate this matter," Liu Jingyi said, glancing at the Empress's expression with a sorrowful look. "The Crown Prince values Prince Li. If this is a misunderstanding, it would be best to clear it up as soon as possible. What I fear is..."

 

She did not finish her sentence, but her concern was evident.

 

The Empress said, "I will get to the bottom of this."

 

If Consort Lan had indeed been hiding things from her, then she truly underestimated both Consort Lan and Xiao Shan.

 

Liu Jingyi breathed a sigh of relief. After a moment of hesitation, she added, "Mother Empress, I have an unreasonable request. I hope you will grant it."

 

The Empress looked at her with slightly cold eyes and said, "Speak."

 

Liu Jingyi's face showed worry, and she spoke with a tearful voice, "The Crown Prince has always disliked hearing me speak of Consort Lan and Prince Li having ulterior motives. Last time, he almost stopped paying attention to me because of it. If this matter turns out to be a misunderstanding, and the Crown Prince finds out that I was the one who spoke to you, Mother Empress, I fear our relationship will be irreparably damaged. I hope you can keep this a secret for me."

 

The Empress said, "I thought it was something serious. Don't worry, this matter has nothing to do with you. Just keep an eye on the Crown Prince; I will handle everything else."

 

Liu Jingyi's face lit up with joy, and she said, "Thank you, Mother Empress."

 

The Empress patted her hand and said, "Good child."

 

When Liu Jingyi left the Empress' palace, it was still early in the day.

 

Sitting in the sedan chair, Liu Jingyi wasn't concerned about whether Consort Lan and Xiao Shan truly had ulterior motives. She had delivered the message, and it was up to the Empress to investigate. All she needed to do was wait for the results.

 

Now, her thoughts turned to something else the Dowager Marchioness had said. Before leaving, the Dowager Marchioness mentioned that although she didn't have a secret recipe for conceiving a child, she was skilled in perfumery. She claimed to have a way to make Xiao Jin spend more nights in Liu Jingyi's quarters.

 

"As long as you can keep him with you, having a child is only a matter of time."

 

"If the Crown Princess needs it, send someone to inform me after the New Year. In the meantime, take good care of your health."

 

Liu Jingyi pondered this. She heard stories about people who constantly wore fragrant scents, making their presence soothing and pleasant. Could it be that the Dowager Marchioness possessed such a technique?

 

***

 

Since it was already the twelfth lunar month, the Emperor's longevity celebration was set for the first day of the New Year. Although the Emperor said there was no need for a grand celebration, the first day of the New Year marked the beginning of the year, and even without a longevity celebration, it was still a day to be celebrated properly.

 

Therefore, although the Empress received the information from Liu Jingyi, she restrained herself and did not summon Consort Lan to the palace for a confrontation as she did previously.

 

If this matter turned out to be true, she would gather all the evidence and present it to Xiao Jin, letting him see for himself the true nature of Consort Lan and Xiao Shan.

 

Everything would be dealt with after the Emperor's longevity celebration.

 

Since returning from the Rining Hunting Grounds, Xiao Shan had been recuperating from his injuries.

 

Even after his wounds healed, he neither attended court nor went to the Ministry of Justice.

 

As the year-end approached, the Emperor subtly hinted to Xiao Shan that it was time for him to make an appearance in court.

 

Receiving the hint, Xiao Shan thought about the scar on his chest that had fully healed. It indeed wouldn't look good if he continued to avoid court. So, he attended court on the day before the year-end sealing.

 

The year-end sealing signified that the entire nation would begin preparing for the New Year. Everyone wanted to have a peaceful celebration, and even officials who usually disagreed refrained from arguing at this time.

 

They could save their energy for the following year.

 

The Emperor, enjoying the rare quiet, quickly ended the court session.

 

After the court session, Xiao Shan wandered over to the Ministry of Justice.

 

Seeing him, Xiao Rong raised an eyebrow and said, "Third Brother, aren't you injured? Why haven't you gone back to rest?"

 

To be honest, he initially found it quite unsettling not seeing Xiao Shan around these past few days. He constantly felt as if a pair of eyes were watching him from the shadows, causing him to frequently glance towards the door, fearing that Xiao Shan might suddenly jump in.

 

However, human adaptability was remarkable. It didn't take long for him to get used to Xiao Shan's absence.

 

It was incredibly comfortable and relaxing.

 

Because Xiao Shan previously reported the misconduct of officials in the Ministry of Justice to the Emperor, he was not well-liked by the Six Ministries, especially the officials in the Ministry of Justice. However, they still maintained basic courtesy.

 

Xiao Rong, having been tormented by Xiao Shan for a while, found himself sadly lowering his expectations. He actually thought that this level of interaction was not too bad.

 

Just as he and the officials of the Ministry of Justice were starting to feel that this arrangement was quite manageable, his nightmare came true—Xiao Shan really did jump in through the door.

 

In that instant, Xiao Rong had only one thought: Why didn't Xiao Shan stay home and continue resting? He felt an overwhelming urge to stab him.

 

Having not seen Xiao Rong for a long time, Xiao Shan couldn't tell if his brother was expressing concern or being sarcastic. So, he said, "I was worried that if I didn't show up for a long time, Eldest Brother and the esteemed officials of the Ministry of Justice might forget about me. After all, we will still be working together after the New Year."

 

The other officials of the Ministry of Justice gave dry chuckles and quickly distanced themselves from the two.

 

Seeing Xiao Shan's lack of tact, Xiao Rong's mood soured instantly. He felt as if this year was going to be unbearable.

 

Just the sight of Xiao Shan gave him a stomachache and made him lose his appetite.