289: Enjoying flowers

Li Xuan watched her retreating figure, his chest heaving violently as if a fire were burning within, yet he could not say a single word.

He knew Jiang Yan was right, but the sense of powerlessness from the suppression of the national fortune, the anxiety over the court situation, and the fear of the future had ultimately caused him to lose his reason, leaving him with no choice but to vent his anger on those closest to him.

Only a mess remained on the floor of the hall, along with the lingering scent of tea. The fragrance, originally elegant, was now mixed with Dragons Saliva Incense, becoming somewhat pungent.

Li Xuan stood where he was, the unventable anxiety and frustration surging within him, nearly drowning him—he was the Son of Heaven of Tianqi, yet he couldn't even protect his own national fortune, and didn't even know where to direct his anger.

"Someone, come!"

Li Xuan suddenly roared, his voice cracking slightly due to his intense emotions:

"Order the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to fully cooperate with the State Preceptor starting immediately. Even if they have to dig three feet into the ground, they must find the thieves who are eroding the national fortune as quickly as possible! If they still fail to produce results, I will certainly not show mercy!"

The eunuchs outside the hall were already trembling with fear. Hearing the summons, they tremulously responded with 'By your command' and hurriedly retreated, their footsteps frantic.

Li Xuan slumped back onto the dragon throne, gazing at the empty doorway. The fire in his eyes gradually faded, leaving only deep exhaustion and bewilderment.

Ever since he learned the national fortune was being suppressed, he felt as if nothing was going his way. The ministers in the court had their own agendas, border generals frequently submitted reports requesting reinforcements, and even the harem rarely found peace. This increasingly made him feel that all recent misfortunes stemmed from the national fortune, making him more anxious and irritable.

Minglan Palace.

Just as Jiang Yan returned to her bedchamber, a maid stepped forward to take her cloak. Seeing the tea stains on her skirt, they all showed looks of concern, but no one dared to ask more.

Jiang Yan raised her hand to tidy her slightly messy hair. The sunset-colored palace attire she had changed into at Yunlan Hall swayed gently with her movements, the soft fabric outlining her curvaceous waist and revealing her slender figure. However, those eyes that were usually full of charm were now brimming with sorrow and resentment.

"The mother of a nation, reduced to being Your Majesty's punching bag."

She whispered softly to the bronze mirror, her voice filled with grievance.

Since marrying Li Xuan, she had risen from Crown Princess to Queen. While it seemed infinitely glorious, only she knew that in this deep palace, she was not happy.

Before she could finish her sentence, a palace maid's cautious report came from outside the door:

"Your Grace, the Eldest Princess has sent someone with a message. She says the peonies in Danying Palace are in full bloom and invites you to admire the flowers today. She wonders if Your Grace is free?"

Jiang Yan's eyes flickered. Suppressing the grievance in her heart, she rose and walked slowly to the window, pushing open half of a carved lattice window.

The sunlight outside was perfect, golden rays spilling onto the pomegranate trees in the courtyard, their leaves glistening. In the Imperial Garden not far away, the peonies were in full bloom, a riot of purple and red. As a warm breeze brushed past, petals drifted down gently, a scene of peace and prosperity that almost made her forget the grievance she suffered at Yunlan.

"Admiring flowers... very well."

She sighed softly. At least in Danying Palace, there would be someone to talk to, and she wouldn't have to face the oppressive atmosphere of the hall. She turned back and said:

"Go and reply that I will certainly keep the appointment this afternoon."

"Yes, Your Grace."

The palace maid complied and, as she turned to leave, thoughtfully drew the curtains by the window wider to let in more sunlight.

Jiang Yan stood by the window, gazing at the scenery in the courtyard, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the carvings on the window frame.

She knew that Li Xuan's irritability was not entirely misplaced anger; the pressure of the declining national fortune and the turbulence of the court were suffocating him. But while she understood, the grievance of being used as a punching bag did not dissipate easily.

She only hoped that the peonies in Danying Palace would truly help her relax... Afternoon, the Imperial Dynasty of the Tianqi Dynasty, Danying Palace.

The peonies in Danying Palace bloomed even more vibrantly than those in the Imperial Garden. The courtyard was almost filled with peonies of various colors: fiery red, rosy pink, and snowy white. Their overlapping petals and layered stamens were as brilliant as steamed clouds.

As the warm breeze brushed past, the petals trembled gently. Occasionally, a few petals drifted down with the wind, spreading over the bluestone path like fragmented brocade, resembling a colorful velvet carpet.

Stepping on them felt soft, accompanied by a faint floral fragrance.

Jiang Yan arrived by sedan chair. As she stepped onto the scattered petals and entered the courtyard, she saw Li Danying sitting by the railing.

The Eldest Princess wore a plain-colored ruqun today, with several elegant orchids embroidered on the hem. Her pale hands held a half-open white peony bud, and her hair was adorned only with a plain silver hairpin, without any other complex decorations. This made her already pure and beautiful face look even more gentle and quiet, though a faint weariness was hidden between her brows, as if she hadn't rested well for a long time.

Hearing the footsteps, Li Danying slowly rose while supporting herself on the railing. Her fingertips lightly brushed past a white peony in full bloom by the couch, and dew on the petals slid down her finger. Her tone was as gentle as flowing water:

"Imperial Sister-in-law is here."

She stepped aside to make room and gestured for Jiang Yan to sit:

"Please sit. A few days ago, I obtained some high-quality Spiritual Tea brought to Tianqi by merchants from the Dayue Dynasty. It's said to have a calming effect. I've just brewed it; Imperial Sister-in-law, please have a taste."

The palace maids had already added a seat by the stone table and spread a soft brocade cushion.

As Jiang Yan took her seat, her gaze unconsciously swept over the surroundings—Danying Palace had always been elegant and secluded, and in the past, there weren't many guards. But now, it was different.

Under the corridors and in the corners of the courtyard, armored guards could be seen, several times more than usual. Even the palace servants standing under the corridors were somewhat cautious and restrained, keeping their breathing very light.

She picked up the teacup handed to her by a palace maid. Her fingertips touched the cool porcelain wall. The tea inside was clear, with a few tender green tea leaves floating, emitting a faint fragrance.

Jiang Yan blew on it gently and said softly:

"These peonies bloom so beautifully, even more vibrant than those in the Imperial Garden. It seems the Eldest Princess must have spent a lot of effort caring for them."

Hearing this, Li Danying curled her lips in self-deprecation, her gaze slowly falling onto her slightly bulging lower abdomen. A clear curve could already be seen there; it was the child in her womb.

When mentioning the child, her tone softened a bit, but also gained a hint of helplessness:

"No matter how beautiful, they are just trapped in this cold courtyard. No matter how vibrantly they bloom, they cannot leave these palace walls."

She looked up at Jiang Yan, her eyes filled with envy:

"Unlike Imperial Sister-in-law, who can freely enter and leave the various palaces, not like me, trapped in this Danying Palace day after day, finding it hard even to go out for a walk."

Jiang Yan's heart twitched slightly, as if caught on some soft spot by a wisteria vine hanging from the eaves, and her breathing hitched for a moment.

Her fingertips pinched the rim of the celadon teacup, the icy touch of the glaze passing through her thin calluses, barely suppressing the inexplicable bitterness in her heart.

She had been married to the Emperor of Tianqi, Li Xuan, for over thirty years, and she had known this Eldest Princess, Li Danying, for just as long.

She still remembered that back then, Li Danying was the most radiant woman in Tianqi. With just a Hong Mei pinned at her temple, she could outshine the entire capital. When she smiled, her eyes and brows were filled with light, making even the peonies in the Imperial Garden pale in comparison.

Later, she was married off to the Zhou Dynasty for a political alliance, becoming a consort to the Emperor of Great Zhou. The stories that followed were all wrapped in the shifting sands of fate, turning into the sighs and gossip of others.

The Ruler of Great Zhou passed away, leaving her a lonely widow. Later, she was brought back to Tianqi by Li Xuan and remarried to the Bei Batian. After finally finding stability for ten years, she was liquidated by the Dynasty because her husband conspired with Sect forces.

Now she had stepped back into this familiar palace once more, but her womb already carried the child of the New City Lord, Situ Jun. This tumultuous life was something even the palace maids most skilled at spinning stories in the palace walls wouldn't dare to speculate on easily.

But at this moment, this charming woman who had undergone three marriages and was often secretly discussed as being "fickle," was sitting by the pavilion railing. A few tiny peony petals clung to her plain white skirt, and even the action of raising her hand to brush away the fallen flowers revealed a hint of sorrow from being trapped in this small space.

To see her beloved once was actually harder than climbing to heaven.