Due to the critical illness of the
Emperor Qi, it was naturally impossible to transfer him back.
However, a large group of imperial physicians was called from the capital to diagnose and treat him overnight.
The Crown Prince and the concubines were all attending to the emperor's illness, but Cocunbine Shu went to Xiao Shuang's camp for some reason. It seemed like they were discussing something.
On Xiao Jin and Chu Shao's side, they were currently waiting in the mansion built by Prince Shen near the hunting grounds.
Xiao Qing was in front, holding a palace lamp and searching for something in the study.
Xiao Qing held the lamp and tears welled up in her eyes in the candlelight. "Third Brother, before Father left, did he tell you the exact location of the hidden letter?"
"No," Xiao Jin replied.
Xiao Jin recalled the situation earlier. "At that time, Auntie was by the side, and Uncle Shen didn't dare to say too much. He only asked me to take good care of you."
"He mentioned in passing that there is a secret chamber through the study in the mansion, and the things are in a box."
"But where is the secret chamber?" Xiao Qing was on the verge of tears.
Xiao Jin fell silent.
Prince Shen is your father, not mine.
You're asking me, but I also want to ask you.
Chu Shao stood on the side, but instead of rushing to find the secret chamber, she used the light of the palace lamp to observe the objects placed on the table and bookshelf.
While observing, she smiled and said to Xiao Jin, "I think there are quite a few vases in this study."
Xiao Jin also noticed this. "We can try and see if we can lift these vases."
The hidden chambers in online novels are usually mystical.
Prince Shen placed so many vases as decorations in the study, and they appeared smooth and well-maintained, indicating that they were valuable antiques.
In that case, he must have liked collecting antique vases. Perhaps the key to opening the secret chamber was hidden under one of the vases.
Chu Shao and Xiao Qing tried to lift the vases.
The vases were not particularly large, and their necks and bodies were of moderate length.
Xiao Qing could barely lift them by tiptoeing.
They tried many vases, but when Xiao Qing tried to lift a vase with intricate patterns and a wide mouth, she exerted all her strength but couldn't move it.
Xiao Jin and Chu Shao exchanged glances, knowing that Xiao Qing must have found the mechanism.
Chu Shao understood and came to the side of the vase, reaching out and turning it around.
As Chu Shao rotated the vase, the bookshelf on the right side of the study gradually moved to the other side, revealing a hidden passage without light.
The design of the mechanism was extremely simple.
Through the secret passage, the three of them could directly see the hidden chamber Prince Shen mentioned and the things placed inside.
Prince Shen had many things stored in the hidden chamber: a portrait of the late Empress, the phoenix crown and red wedding veil worn on the wedding day, and some aged wine brought back from a certain place.
There was even a pair of iron racks in the corner, covered with a layer of soft and shiny tiger fur.
Xiao Jin guessed that considering Prince Shen's fear of tigers, the tiger fur was probably a gift from the Fifth Prince.
Chu Shao swept her eyes across the entire hidden chamber but couldn't find the box that Prince Shen mentioned.
Staring at Xiao Qing, she smiled and asked, "Why would he keep so many irrelevant things in the secret chamber?"
Prince Shen had already been captured and couldn't answer Chu Shao's question.
Xiao Qing could only lower her head and explain softly, "Father is sentimental. Although these things are not considered valuable, they are his cherished possessions."
Xiao Jin nodded.
She knew very well that Prince Shen was sentimental.
If he wasn't sentimental, perhaps he wouldn't have implicated the Empress, his former lover, before he died.
Chu Shao pointed at the shelves filled with books and asked, "Are these also your father's cherished possessions?"
Xiao Qing knew that Prince Shen only learned about Emperor Taizong's amorous nature but didn't inherit the scholarly aura he had when he was immersed in the study.
Her voice became even softer as she answered, "Father never liked reading books. Those were Mother's belongings."
Xiao Jin looked at the neatly arranged pile of books and thought that Prince Shen might have hidden the box in the bookshelf.
He was truly clever.
With so many books, who knew if he could find it himself.
Chu Shao and Xiao Jin had similar thoughts.
Thinking this, Chu Shao took out a match from her sleeve and lit the candles in the hidden chamber.
They searched through each book, from the bottom to the top.
Until they thoroughly explored the gaps between the books, Chu Shao shook her head at Xiao Jin. "Your Highness, there are only books inside, no boxes or anything."
Xiao Jin remembered what Prince Shen said before he was captured: "The things are in the box."
But looking around the entire hidden chamber, they hadn't found any boxes or objects resembling boxes.
Not even something similar to a box.
Xiao Jin looked at the shelf filled with books and suddenly realized something. "Although there are no boxes in this hidden chamber, there are things resembling boxes."
Xiao Qing stared blankly at Xiao Jin, not understanding.
Chu Shao pondered Xiao Jin's words and understood the meaning behind them.
"Books."
The thing in the secret chamber that most resembles a box is the book inside the cabinet.
Realizing this, Chu Shao searched through the cabinet again and found a book that seemed promising.
The book appeared to be a regular book on the surface, but it was hollow and had no thickness inside.
In modern terms, it would be considered a prop in a movie or a decorative item at home.
Xiao Jin took the item handed to her by Chu Shao and was surprised at how innovative and unconventional Prince Shen's thinking was.
He had created something that looked like a book but was almost indistinguishable from an actual book.
The security measures couldn't be described as effective, only misleading his allies and being somewhat unnecessary.
After venting their frustrations, Xiao Jin opened the wooden book and found a stack of thick letters inside.
Without even looking, they knew the letters were written in traditional characters.
Considering Chu Shao's extensive search for a box, she must have been exhausted by now.
Xiao Jin decided to read through the letters herself.
However, as she began flipping through a few pages, she heard a mechanical voice in her mind saying, "Congratulations, host. Since you have already obtained the 'Secret of the Fifth Prince,' 'Testimony of Prince Shen,' and the important prop 'Golden Hairpin made by Xiao Shuang,' and now you have obtained the 'Secret Chamber Letters,' you have fulfilled the conditions to unlock the reward."
This didn't make any sense.
Xiao Jin felt a headache coming on and lowered her head, looking at the striking paragraph in the letter: "On the twenty-first day of the twelfth month of the third year of Qiming, in conjunction with the Empress and a Concubine Shu, kill Fengxuan."
The signature was the name of the Empress.
Xiao Jin vaguely remembered that the Empress was the one who suffered previously, but who was the Concubine Shu?
Could it be...?
Thinking of a possibility, Xiao Jin took a deep breath and asked the system in her mind, "What is the reward?"
The system replied, "It is Fengxuan's memories."
In Fengxuan's memories...
From her birth until she grew into a young lady, Fengxuan always felt that the Emperor looked at her with a worried expression.
One day, she stood by the Taiye Pond, observing the flowers, the clouds, and the beautiful spring scenery.
Suddenly, she felt someone's gaze fixed on her.
So Fengxuan left the pond that had once experienced strange phenomena and ran forward, ignoring the translucent figure of Xiao Jin behind her.
She kept running, all the way to the bright yellow robes, and said to the old Emperor, "Father, I went to play at the Taiye Pond today, but I always felt like someone was floating in the air, watching me."
The old Emperor looked at Fengxuan and sighed, "Perhaps it was the dragon protecting you on that day."
Fengxuan didn't believe in dragons.
She always felt that the palace attendants had mistaken something on the day of her birth.
There should be no dragon beneath the pond but a thousand-year-old turtle, protecting her for a long and healthy life.
When the old Emperor spoke of the phenomena caused by Fengxuan, his clouded eyes revealed a hint of worry.
At first, Xiao Jin didn't understand, but later she understood.
As Feng Fengxuan older, it became evident that she had great talent in governing the country.
She stood tall before the Confucian scholars, confidently discussing every policy and demonstrating a thorough understanding.
She even interjected with her own insights, "Master, why can't women enter the court as officials?
The learned gentleman from Qingping County is a woman, and the valiant general from Yao Country is also a woman.
Moreover, I've heard that the favored Zhuque in the Qi Country is also a woman."
The Master remained silent.
The eyes of the crown princes and imperial brothers beside them, however, became more intriguing as they looked at Fengxuan.
Fengxuan felt puzzled about many things, but what puzzled her the most was why the old emperor wanted to send her to the Qi Country, to become a cocunbine to the emperor who could be her father.
Fengxuan asked, "Father, why?"
The old emperor didn't speak, he just looked at his daughter and reached out his thin and withered hand to touch her hair. "Feng'er, it's because Father won't be able to protect you anymore when he's gone."
Life and death are unpredictable, just like life itself.
Fengxuan knew that she was not a hidden dragon at the bottom of the pond nor a phoenix that could fly to the heavens, so she chose to accept.
She heard that the Emperor Qi was promiscuous, not only constructing three palaces and six courtyards in the palace but also frequently seeking beautiful women outside the palace.
Whether it was playing the qin or composing poetry, Fengxuan didn't know.
Clearly, Fengxuan hadn't formed a clear perception of her own appearance yet.
So, on that day, when the old emperor asked her to come out from behind the screen, she walked with her head down for a long time, looking at the cloud patterns and totems beneath her feet, and remained silent for a long time.
Fengxuan didn't speak, and the people who looked at her also didn't speak.
She didn't speak because she didn't want to.
They didn't speak because when they saw women like Fengxuan, they couldn't find the words to say.
The old emperor looked at the Emperor Qi, who seemed a little absent-minded, and coughed before saying, "My precious pearl has always been mischievous and naughty, which might trouble you. But I am already old and afraid that her brothers will mistreat her in the future. Qi and Qu formed a friendship a hundred years ago. If you don't mind, you can bestow her any position you wish and send her off."
The old emperor's words seemed to show that he didn't seek any position.
However, Xiao Jin, who was listening, knew that the other party was testing what position Emperor Taizong would give to Fengxuan.
Emperor Taizong was known for his love of beautiful women.
After regaining his senses, a hint of joy appeared on his eyebrows. "Your precious pearl, naturally, I will treasure and respect her. I will give her..."
"Father."
A clear and indifferent voice interrupted Emperor Taizong's words.
The people of Qu Country were extremely surprised.
It seemed that the people of Qi Country were fierce, daring to interrupt the emperor's words.
And looking at the expression of the Emperor Qi, he didn't seem displeased at all.
Xiao Jin, who was present, of course, knew who this audacious person was.
Following the source of the voice, she saw someone dressed in flaming red attire.
That person was in the prime of their life, with no ornaments or jewels on their forehead, revealing a clean and radiant expanse of white.
Under the gaze of several pairs of eyes, Princess Zhao Yang slowly stood up, bowed, and without even glancing at her own Fengxuan, she said, "I believe that there is a position that Father can bestow upon Princess Fengxuan."
"Fengxuan can become my adopted sister."
....
Fengxuan always knew that fate was unpredictable, but she never expected that because of the words of that Zhuque, she could go from being a concubine to a princess.
And she even changed her surname, she no longer had the surname Qin, but changed it to Xiao.
Sharing the same surname as that Zhuque.
The Qi palace was as magnificent and boring as Qu palace, with identical steps, green trees, and flowers that bloomed and withered.
Fengxuan still liked to wander around Taiye Pond and occasionally visit the study.
She would hide behind the pillars in the study, tiptoeing to catch a glimpse of the figure of that Zhuque, dazzling and elegantly standing tall.
Although this person seemed difficult to approach, just looking at that figure, it didn't seem too menacing.
But this thought lasted only for a moment.
Fengxuan soon realized that when the Zhuque stood up to discuss strategies, regardless of their rank among the princes and princesses, they all lowered their heads and dared not look at her.
It turned out that this Zhuque not only looked beautiful but was also fierce, and everyone was afraid of her.
Fengxuan silently reminded herself that Princess Zhao Yang was not an easy person to get along with, and if she wanted to live peacefully and smoothly, she must stay away from this fearsome bird.
But as she turned around, she saw the face of Princess Zhao Yang and met her gaze.
Princess Zhao Yang was young and beautiful, but the gaze she cast on people, with lowered eyes, seemed somewhat indifferent and carried a hint of arrogance.
Always looking down from above, as if assessing something.
Fengxuan imitated the princes and princesses of Qi Country, lowering her head, attempting to avoid that gaze.
However, the lower she bowed her head, the more carefully Princess Zhao Yang looked at her.
She thought, what kind of person is this, who stares at others so intently upon first meeting?
Just as she was thinking this, Fengxuan realized that, in fact, Princess Zhao Yang had already seen her for the second time.
The second time Princess Zhao Yang saw Fengxuan, there was a phoenix with its head buried in its wings in front of her, followed by a group of palace maids and princes and princesses.
Princess Zhao Yang smiled in the warm spring light and asked a seemingly joking question, "What is your name?"
Fengxuan raised her head in slight surprise.
Princess Zhao Yang, didn't she just mention her name at the banquet yesterday?
Princess Zhao Yang thought Fengxuan was a foolish phoenix, so she patiently asked again, "Your name."
"Qin... Xiao Fengxuan."
"Which phoenix, which Xuan?"
"The phoenix on the stage, the Xuan of beautiful jade."
Princess Zhao Yang furrowed her brows slightly, "Since it carries the meaning of beautiful jade, why not choose the characters 'Jin' or 'Yu'? You should choose a lesser jade-like Xuan."
Fengxuan remained silent.
She felt that this Zhuque probably didn't understand human emotions, otherwise, how could she ask such a piercing question?
After a moment of silence, Princess Zhao Yang also remained silent.
The spring light in the study was excellent, elongating Fengxuan's shadow and making it slender and graceful.
Princess Zhao Yang pointed to a magnificent palace in the distance, "This palace is where I reside."
Fengxuan still didn't say anything.
Princess Zhao Yang looked at her, "If you want to study in the future, go there and find me. I can accompany you in your studies."
The younger princes and princesses behind Princess Zhao Yang were already dumbfounded.
The haughty Zhao Yang princess, who always held herself in high regard, wanted to be a study companion for someone else?
Xiao Jin wasn't surprised, after all, she knew Xiao Shuang's methods well, always unyielding and full of tricks.
She glanced at the group of princes and princesses, but did not see the figure of the young Emperor Qi among them.
It seems that at this time, the Emperor Qi probably didn't have the qualifications to go to the study.
Let's see....
Fengxuan also thought the same, let's see.
Life was just like this, it wouldn't get any better, nor would it get any worse.
She was originally supposed to become the emperor's concubine in Qi Country, but because of that Zhuque's words, she became a princess.
Similarly, as a princess from another country, not of royal blood, she was not qualified to go to the study and listen to the lectures of the scholars.
But Princess Zhao Yang allowed her to go, and no one would say anything about it.
Fengxuan thought her life was not bad. She didn't end up being sent to a hostile country as a political marriage, nor did she receive cold looks as soon as she entered the Qi palace, not even being given a separate room to stay in.
She knew that she could preserve her life peacefully and safely because of that Princess Zhao Yang.
So Fengxuan decided to please Zhao Yang.
On the first day, risking falling into the lake, Fengxuan took her palace maids to Taiye Pond and caught several brocade carps to offer to Princess Zhao Yang.
However, Princess Zhao Yang was painting and ignored her.
On the second day, while attending classes in the study, Fengxuan secretly painted several portraits of Princess Zhao Yang and presented them by lighting a lamp before that Zhuque could sleep.
Princess Zhao Yang took just one look and asked, "Who is this?"
On the third day, the fourth day...After many days, Fengxuan gave up her plan to please Princess Zhao Yang.
She felt that the Zhuque of Qi Country was capricious, and no matter how hard she tried, she wouldn't succeed in pleasing her.
Fengxuan was tired.
She didn't want to please Zhao Yang anymore.
But Princess Zhao Yang still allowed her to go to the study, observe books, draw those peculiar paintings, wander around Taiye Pond, and live in the splendid palace.
Princess Zhao Yang didn't care about anything, but she allowed everything.
Fengxuan didn't understand the reason behind this.
Until one day, the seventh prince, who had befriended Fengxuan, ate a string of candied haws she gave him and said, "Imperial sister, from what you said, I feel that in Princess Zhao Yang's heart, you are similar to something."
Fengxuan asked curiously, "What is it?"
The prince ate the candied haw and said with a smile, "Air."
That's right.
She didn't care, but allowed, what else could it be if not air?
After realizing this fact, Fengxuan felt a bit lost for some reason.
She thought that Princess Zhao Yang valued her to some extent and treated her well because she had a decent appearance and understood people's feelings.
But in the end, it turned out that none of that mattered.The truth proved that Princess Zhao Yang only treated her as fresh air, an interesting pet.
That night, Fengxuan tossed and turned, listening to the sound of rain outside, unable to fall asleep.
When she woke up the next day, Princess Zhao Yang combed her hair into a bun as usual.
Taking advantage of Princess Zhao Yang combing her hair, Fengxuan, who still had a glimmer of hope in her heart, decided to test Princess Zhao Yang again and asked, "Sister?"
Princess Zhao Yang held the wooden comb and gently passed it through her ink-black hair.
She replied, "I'm here."
"Sister, can I go to the Dali Temple tomorrow to see the monks reciting sutras? I heard that their kasayas are golden, and they have a snow-colored crane in the backyard."
"You can."But there were classes in the study tomorrow.
Fengxuan didn't expect this to be allowed either.
She was dissatisfied and asked again, "Sister, can I grow some morning glories and evening primroses on the platform? But I heard that these flowers have short lives and are considered ominous. No one in the palace knows how to grow them."
"You can."
Fengxuan widened her eyes. This was also allowed?
Fengxuan asked many ignorant questions, but Princess Zhao Yang's answers were always "You can" or "If you want to."
In the end, Fengxuan couldn't bear it any longer.
She stared at Princess Zhao Yang's eyes and asked with a smile, "Sister, when you become the emperor in the future, can I be your empress?"
This time, Princess Zhao Yang looked at Fengxuan and remained silent for a long time.
Fengxuan felt satisfied.
Finally, there was something that Princess Zhao Yang couldn't do and wouldn't allow.
However, just as Fengxuan was feeling relieved, Princess Zhao Yang put down the wooden comb, took a few steps forward, and leaned close to Fengxuan.
Fengxuan looked at Princess Zhao Yang's cold, aloof brows and eyes, and suddenly felt nervous.
Princess Zhaoyang was right in front of her, and her heart was beating rapidly.
She didn't know what Princess Zhao Yang was going to do, nor did she understand why she held her breath.
When Fengxuan regretted it to the core...
Princess Zhao Yang raised her hand and gently pressed her cool palm against Fengxuan's smooth forehead, softly asking, "Is it because this palace has indulged you too much over the years that you've fallen ill like this?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Translator's note: Finally, so Xiao Shuang cp is Princess Qi Yun. Well, it's destined to be a tragic love story, like Nan Jin and Shen Ronglian. Sigh...
TO BE CONTINUE...