Chapter 122: Questions

Time never showed mercy, and her health having been injured years before, now, Su Ya's face had already begun to show wrinkles. Jiang Changbai sighed, and said, "We've heard that Qin Zhixun only entered Shejin's court this year. We saw her before the Palace Banquet, and looking at her features, she appears more like someone from the Great Li. You must have met the guards that follow by her side, yet you don't remember their names."

The implication in Jiang Changbai's words was clear. Though Qin Zhixun had come from Shejin, she wasn't from the same place as Su Ya. Even if they met, there wouldn't be the joy of meeting someone from her homeland. As for the guards who followed by her side, the distance between them was as sharp as night and day, and they would be even less familiar with Su Ya.

But Su Ya continued to kowtow, and said, "Even if Qin-daren truly is from the Great Li, this subject still wishes to meet her."

Su Ya's life in the Great Li in these years was far from what Liang Jiwen's had been like. At the time, though Liang Jiwen struggled without support in the Great Li, at least she could leave the Palace when she wished, and was close friends with Bi Yushuang.

But in these past eight years, Su Ya had truly remained within the Palace, not having taken even a step outside. Even during the Lantern Festival's carnival, she could only stand atop the Palace walls, and stare at the joy of the common people in the capital at a lonely distance.

As for Tao Li and He Miao, though they were Shejinese like her, they had never met her. After all, in their impressions of her, Su Ya was that venom-tongued, arrogant, cruel princess. They'd only managed to flee Su Ya's domain of control with great hardship, and naturally they wanted to remain as far from her as possible.

"…"

Only silence replied to Su Ya. Jiang Changbai looked at her from on high, and suddenly smiled to herself.

In the end, she'd become an aloof, apathetic Emperor. Actually, allowing Su Ya and that Envoy of Shejin meet each other wasn't utterly unreasonable; having resided in a foreign land for so many years, longing for her homeland was natural. But Qin Zhixun's behaviour had been so truly bizarre that caution didn't permit Jiang Changbai to simply allow anyone to interact with Qin Zhixun.

More than that, recently, the frequency of Cheng Xuan'ge's reports had grown lower and lower, going from once per month, to once every other month, and now, her reports back were already once every three months.

And, during the day of the Palace Banquet, Jiang Changbai had asked Qin Zhixun about Cheng Xuan'ge, and Qin Zhixun had only said, "Cheng-daren is well."

But Jiang Changbai felt that matters weren't so simple; after all, according to the agreement from back then, Cheng Xuan'ge ought to send a report at least once every two months. She was the spy that Jiang Changbai had placed by Liang Jiwen's side, and Liang Jiwen ought to know that.

Not only that, Jiang Changbai was equally aware of the matter of Qin Zhixun waiting painstakingly before the Regent's residence day after day these past few days. Adding onto that her sudden cry of Song Juguang's name during the Palace Banquet, things were even more suspect.

And it was precisely because of this that Jiang Changbai had specially arranged for the errand at the great barracks in the outskirts of the city early the next morning to be handled by Song Juguang. It would make her return to the Regent's residence for the night today, and it would give Qin Zhixun a chance to meet her.

Better to allow the river to flow freely than to block it; in comparison to Su Ya, Jiang Changbai was naturally more at ease about Song Juguang.

"Please."

Su Ya's voice cut off Jiang Changbai's line of thought, her begging piteous. Tear tracks had dried on Su Ya's face, and they grew wet once more. As a woman as well, Jiang Changbai finally found it unbearable, and she could only sigh, and say, "For now, wait for two days, and if there aren't any unforeseen events, We will have Sheng Yunxing take you to meet the Shijin Envoy. In the coming days, make preparations; if there's anything you wish to ask, or anything you wish Qin Zhixun to take back for you, explain it all. You may leave now."

"Thanks to Bixia—thanks to Bixia. This subject will take leave." Having heard her words, light flashed in Su Ya's gaze. Repeating her heartfelt thanks, she finally left the imperial study.

But Jiang Changbai's actions hadn't been entirely compassionate; she had her own plans as well. Song Juguang would return to her residence today, and Qin Zhixun would finally see her. Regardless of what the relationship between the two was, or what they discussed, Jiang Changbai would know the rough shape of it tomorrow—even if Song Juguang intended to hide it from her.

So, even if there were unforeseen events, they wouldn't be until two days later. And, if Qin Zhixun didn't have any ill intentions, then it wouldn't be unreasonable for Su Ya to meet her. After all, Jiang Changbai didn't wish to be as stone-hearted an emperor as the Tai Emperor had been—that was what she detested the most.

Jiang Changbai's previous role model had been the Great Li's Founding Emperor. She had pulled together troops from a world in chaos, and starting with small conflicts and then increasing, had single-handedly created the Great Li, and had become the female emperor who'd split the heavens and the earth. And it was exactly because of the Founding Emperor's feats that Jiang Changbai had had a legacy, and had become the second female emperor of the Great Li.

But in the past few years, she'd had a different view. Rather than wanting to become an emperor like the Founding Emperor, it would be better to become herself—to make the future generations venerate her as Emperor, and not only as a copy of a previous person's political views. After all, with the inheritance of the decades, the Great Li had long since become a different Great Li than the one the Founding Emperor had established.

As she thought, Jiang Changbai rose from the xumi seat. Qing Huai, who was on duty, hurried to drape a cloak over her shoulders, but Jiang Changbai took the lamp from her hands, and said, "We will walk alone."

Qing Huai bowed her head and made a sound of assent, raising the other lamp, and slowly followed ten metres behind her.

It was only in the past few years that she'd returned to this position. That time when Song Juguang had come looking for Jiang Changbai in the imperial study and not found her, she'd pressured Qing Huai for Jiang Changbai's whereabouts. At the time, Qing Huai hadn't dared to be disobedient towards Song Juguang, and could only reveal where the Emperor had gone.

But after that, Jiang Changbai couldn't tolerate her. The two eunuchs of equal status who had followed behind the emperor in the past had, with Jiang Changbai, become two palace maids of equal status.

Naturally one was Xun Zhu,and the other was Qing Huai. But after that day, in reality, of the palace maids, only Xun Zhu remained. Though Qing Huai retained her original rank, besides when Xun Zhu was sent out of the Palace, she never waited on Jiang Changbai personally.

Things had only changed for the better after lightning burnt down the great hall that year. With things no longer deathly tense between the Emperor and the Regent, her status of "messenger pigeon" was no longer so embarrassing. But even so, it was only after Song Juguang had happened to ask "why is it only Xun Zhu alone who waits before your majesty?" that Qing Huai had returned to her original position.

The truth was, Qing Huai didn't know what exactly she'd done wrong back then, either, but in the end, she'd finally recognised who her master was.

Of course, Jiang Changbai wasn't aware of the twisting thoughts in Qing Huai's mind, and even if she'd known, she wouldn't have had the mind to care. She merely minded herself, heading towards the Yangxin Hall, lantern held aloft, allowing the moonlight above her to pour over her, a sudden frustration roiling in her.

The path that, the past few days, Song Juguang had always walked with her now only had her.

But Song Juguang wasn't willing to remain outside the Imperial Palace for too long, and early the next morning, she hurriedly completed her assignment in the great barracks in the outskirts of the city, and before lunch, returned to the Palace. When she entered the imperial study, Jiang Changbai was reading through memorials.

Her cinnabar brush was poised over the memorial; perhaps because it had hung there too long, ink splattered on the fine xuan paper, feathering out. Suddenly hearing familiar footsteps arise from the corridor, the corners of her lips unconsciously curved.

"With Bixia so diligent, it truly is the fortune of the Great Li's common people," Song Juguang said as she drew the curtains; in response to this, Xun Zhu, gaze lowered, silently withdrew.

Jiang Changbai set her brush aside, her gaze sweeping over the tips of Song Juguang's still-muddied boots, and said jestingly, "Yet A Guang shies from her duties, and has left me to face a mountain of memorials alone."

Song Juguang shrugged, and said, "Ah, this minister wished to share Bixia's burdens, but unfortunately, this minister is truly too slow-witted, and can't understand a word of government affairs."

Song Juguang didn't sit on the low bed, but rather automatically sat down in the taishi chair by Jiang Changbai's side. No one was shocked by this; after all, for the past four or five years, they'd always interacted like that.

It wasn't that no one was curious about their relationship. It was rumoured in the Palace that the Regent stayed, night after night, in the Palace, and not in some side hall, but rather in the Emperor's bed in the Yangxin Hall. The black, silken hair which no martial cap could restrain splayed across the gilded pillow; the Empress' quarters had been empty for a decade, and those who held positions in the Empress' quarters meditated day after day on the previous regime.

Even among the folk stories told among the people would occasionally imply the topic.

They both knew of this matter, but neither wished to reach out and deal with "rumours". They both felt that baseless rumours were important, but such a thing truly had occurred, so if the common people wished to discuss it, then let them.

Jiang Changbai didn't return to reading memorials as quickly she usually would, but rather gazed at Song Juguang. Under her stare, Song Juguang's mind prickled, and she said with a smile, "Does Bixia wish to ask about Qin Zhixun?"

Jiang Changbai nodded, and said, tone teasing, "Qin Zhixun arrived in the Great Li from far away, and then stood wait outside your Regent's residence for three days; even if I were more cut off from news, I'd know that."

Yet Song Juguang pursed her lips, and responded, "Since Bixia has known from early on that Qin-daren was waiting outside the Regent's residence for this minister, why would you refuse to allow this minister to leave the Palace? Unless…"

Jiang Changbai seemed to have thought of something, and a faint flush rose on her face. But she was still thinking of her questions, and said, quickly and resolutely, "You know what I wanted to say wasn't that."

"Ah, but this minister didn't even say anything," Song Juguang said, shrugging, the smile on her face growing deeper, "could it be that Bixia truly was jealous?"

Hearing that, the blush on Jiang Changbai's face deepened, and she snatched up something at random from the desk, tossing it at Song Juguang. Song Juguang reached out, as if careless, and the seal fell firmly into her hand.

"Bixia, don't you be worried; this minister is loyal to you," Song Juguang said as she grabbed Jiang Changbai's hand, leading it to her heart.

Yet Jiang Changbai seemed not to be satisfied by this, and exerted herself, throwing her hand off, and forcing her expression to be grave, said, "Quit spouting nonsense; what did she come speak to you about?"

Seeing the hurt on Jiang Changbai's face, Song Juguang knew there wasn't any way to fool her, and so Song Juguang could only sit properly back in the taishi chair, and put on a conflicted expression.

Song Juguang's mind was equally conflicted; she felt that Jiang Changbai ought to know of the matter of the jade pendant, but she didn't know how to explain it to her. After all, Jiang Changbai didn't even know she knew magic; if she had to explain it, it would implicate even more lies.

These past few years, though the relationship between the two of them had deepened, even a more indestructible relationship couldn't withstand so many lies. Song Juguang clung this comfort, and prepared to continue concealing this lie.

After all, Qin Zhixun wouldn't necessarily tell Liang Jiwen about the particulars of the pendant, and perhaps Qin Zhixun's coming to the Great Li as Envoy this time was merely because she wished to stay here, like Su Ya.

Having thought that, Song Juguang said, "Qin Zhixun spoke cryptically and impenetrably; this minister isn't quite certain what she was saying, either. This minister had never met her before, but she tugged at this minister, not willing to leave, insisting that this minister looked like her older sister. But as you know, this minister's entire family perished in the chaos eighteen years ago; how could I have a younger sister from Shejin?"

But the interrogation in Jiang Changbai's gaze didn't disappear once she finished speaking. Jiang Changbai knew Song Juguang, and she knew this expression of Song Juguang's—knew that what she said wasn't true. The hand that laid on the taishi chair unconsciously curled, and Jiang Changbai slowly spoke, asking, "Is that truly all? A Guang, think carefully; if you're lying, We won't forgive you easily."

Jiang Changbai spoke incredibly earnestly. Song Juguang felt her heart tremble, and hesitation flashed across her expression; she nearly opened her mouth, but she didn't know how to speak.

Just then, as the two were deadlocked, Xun Zhu, who had been standing guard outside the hall, hurried in to report, "Bixia, the Director of the Board of Rites, Sheng-daren, requests an audience."

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