Beneath the crimson bricks and green tiles of the Qingfeng Hall lay a small courtyard, surrounded by a profusion of white chrysanthemums in full bloom, their delicate petals catching the early autumn sunlight. The air was still fragrant with the crispness of the season, and amidst the lush greenery, the white flowers stood out strikingly. Though not large, the courtyard exuded a subtle elegance that blended seamlessly with the breeze. A towering tree stood at its center, its shadow spreading over nearly half of the yard. An old-fashioned swing hung from the thick trunk, swaying gently in the autumn wind. Beneath the tree, on a finely woven soft couch, lay a woman in imperial attire. Her eyes were half-closed, her expression serene. The faintly rounded curve of her belly revealed that she was with child. Two palace maids stood quietly behind her, heads lowered, breathing softly, careful not to disturb their mistress's peaceful slumber.
A woman dressed in purple imperial robes, clearly of a higher rank than the others, hurriedly entered the courtyard. She approached the woman on the couch and, after a moment's hesitation, spoke:
"Your Highness, Madam Lou has entered the palace through the North Gate with the imperial token."
The news of Madam Lou's arrival had reached the palace the moment she appeared at the gate, and with her husband, the Prime Minister, recently imprisoned, it was clear her visit was not without purpose. The woman on the couch, previously languid, suddenly opened her eyes, sitting upright with a swift motion.
"Go and meet her at once. Bring her here to Qingfeng Hall, but be discreet—ensure no one else sees her."
"Yes." The maid, Fuling, bowed slightly and quickly turned to leave.
As Qingfeng rose to her feet, her attendants immediately stepped forward to assist her, but she waved them away, signaling them to leave. Her gaze was fixed on the courtyard gate, and her hands clasped tightly together without her noticing.
Moments later, Fuling led Madam Lou into the Qingfeng Hall. The moment she entered, Qingfeng rushed forward.
"Sister!"
The moment Madam Lou entered the courtyard, her sharp eyes immediately found Qingfeng. Qingfeng still appeared the same as always—slender, her pregnant belly now more pronounced.
"Follow me," Qingfeng said, taking her hand and leading her inside.
As they entered the inner room, Qingfeng gave a subtle glance to Fuling, who, understanding immediately, gently closed the door and exited quietly.
"Sister, how are you?" Qingfeng asked, her voice full of concern. Her sister's eyes were slightly swollen, and her complexion pale. She had always been gentle and frail; how could she bear such a change?
Holding Madam Lou's hand tightly, Qingfeng was visibly agitated.
With a gentle smile, Madam Lou reassured her, "I am fine."
Qingfeng, convinced her sister was hiding her sorrow, sighed and spoke softly, "You don't have to worry too much about Brother-in-law's case. Although Emperor Yan Hongtian is a tyrant, he is not a fool. Brother-in-law, as a minister of the state, has always been his right hand. This case is suspicious, and it would be wise to wait and see how things develop."
From Emperor Yan's behavior last night, it seemed he was not enraged or troubled by the matter. Qingfeng couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to it.
Madam Lou shook her head resolutely and replied coldly, "I can wait, but Xiyan's health cannot. If he stays in that prison any longer, even if the case is cleared, his life will be forfeit. This time, I do not wish to sit idly by."
Qingfeng was stunned. She had never seen such determination in her sister's eyes before. Was it Lou Xiyan who had changed her?
After seeing the conviction in her eyes, Qingfeng stopped trying to dissuade her and directly asked, "What is your plan? What do you want me to do?"
Since her sister had come to find her, she must have a plan.
Madam Lou glanced at Qingfeng's slightly swollen belly, but the words she was about to speak caught in her throat. After a brief pause, she said, "I know life in the palace is difficult for you. Whatever I ask, you need only do your best. If it's impossible, then so be it. The most important thing is that you protect yourself."
Qingfeng's heart warmed, and she kept holding her sister's hand, smiling brightly. "You don't need to worry about me. I'll be careful. Tell me what you need, and I will do it."
She had once sworn to repay anyone who had done her a kindness, and anyone who had wronged her, she would surely take revenge on. Over the past months, Lou Xiyan had helped her countless times, and she had not forgotten. Whatever her sister asked of her today, she would do it!
Madam Lou leaned in and whispered something in Qingfeng's ear.
Qingfeng's eyes widened in surprise. She had initially thought her sister wanted her to intercede with Emperor Yan, but instead, she was proposing...
Qingfeng stared at her sister's sharp gaze. She couldn't believe the plan she had devised. This was certainly not the gentle, naive sister she had known.
Madam Lou asked softly, "Can you do it?"
After regaining her composure, Qingfeng nodded firmly. "I will make it happen."
"Thank you," Madam Lou said, rising from her seat. "I'll leave now. Take care of yourself."
Qingfeng stood up immediately, wrapping her arms around her sister's shoulders, giving her a brief but tight hug. With a determined expression, she let go. "Take care of yourself too."
The two shared a smile, and no more words were needed.
In the study of the Lou residence, the atmosphere was tense.
"The rebel has produced seven letters. Five bear the seal of the master, and two bear the seal of the lady. Most of the content directs the rebels to recruit soldiers for rebellion."
Though the noon sun blazed outside, the atmosphere in the study was chilling. The woman in the master's seat looked icy, and every word spoken by Mo Bai only made her expression colder.
"Have the handwriting and notes been verified?"
Mo Bai answered in a low voice, "They've been checked. The handwriting does not match the master's or the lady's, but the officials, led by Li Hongmin, the Minister of Personnel, and Yang Zexi, the Censor-in-Chief, insist that the rebellion is a serious crime against the state. They argue that there can be no leniency, and they are pushing to have the lady imprisoned immediately."
Madam Lou took a deep breath, sipping from the tea cup, trying to calm the anger bubbling inside her. She looked at Jing Sa and asked, "What news from the Ministry of Justice?"
"Lord Shan has accelerated the interrogation of the prisoners, but both of them insist that the master is the mastermind."
"Crash!" The teacup was slammed down onto the low table, and Madam Lou's hand trembled with fury. It felt as if everything was turning against her. Annoyed, she waved her hand and said, "Leave me. I need some time alone."
"Yes." Mo Bai and Jing Sa silently withdrew.
The quiet study was filled with the sound of tea dripping onto the floor. Madam Lou rubbed her temples, exhaustion written on her face.
Bai Yi passed by the study door but hesitated before entering. He was still unsure whether this was the moment when she felt the most helpless and vulnerable. Just then, her weary voice came from within.
"Bai Yi, sit with me for a while."
Bai Yi responded with an "oh" and walked into the study, sitting beside her. He did not rush to speak. After a while, Madam Lou, still silent, closed her eyes, as if speaking to herself, or perhaps with hidden meaning, said, "I've witnessed countless times the greed and shamelessness of human nature. I once prided myself on my righteousness and purity, but in this moment, I find myself lost. Is it principles that matter most, or the people we hold dear? If we act ruthlessly to achieve our goals, what makes us different from them?"
Her words left a deep impact on Bai Yi. Was she wavering?
Bai Yi, still sensing something was off, hesitated for a moment before responding. "Sister Ling, the imperial court is a treacherous place. Sometimes, you may not wish harm on others, but that doesn't mean they won't wish it on you. More often than not, for their own benefit, no one cares about the life or death of others. This is the world of the imperial court, the very place where the Lou Prime Minister lives."
It was also the place where Bai Yi lived, but he would never have said that last sentence.
Madam Lou suddenly opened her eyes and stared at Bai Yi coldly. "Do you really think so?"
Her piercing gaze made Bai Yi's heart race. He quickly reined in his emotions and replied as normally as he could, "If you truly wish to save him, sacrifices will be necessary."
Madam Lou looked at him silently for a long time before finally sighing softly. "Perhaps, you are right."
It was only when her gaze shifted that Bai Yi, with a sigh of relief, realized that her reaction had been exactly what he wanted. That brief moment had shaken him more than he expected.
"I went to see Xiyan today. The prison was full of dust and suffocating. His old illness flared up again, and
he could barely speak." A shadow flickered in Madam Lou's eyes as she spoke of her husband, her voice filled with unspeakable bitterness.