Chapter 188: Discord

Chapter 188: Discord

"Oh? What is it?" Xiao Sheng asked curiously.

"I can't say. Huayang made me promise to keep it a secret," Jiang Hui winked at Xiao Sheng.

"Alright, then I won't ask," Xiao Sheng didn’t press further and smiled, letting the topic go.

After the meal, they didn't take the sedan chair but walked from Liangyi Hall to Fengyi Palace, a perfect time for a digestif stroll.

Xiao Sheng brought up the Second Princess's visit earlier that day, expressing her willingness to marry into the Huns, and sighed softly, "Yan'er has grown up."

It was unclear whether he was lamenting the Second Princess's profound understanding or her tactic of advancing by retreating.

Jiang Hui knew he had no intention of sending his biological daughter for marriage. Thus, she softly suggested, "Your Majesty, if you intend to use this opportunity to send the Fifth Prince back to the Huns, I will feign illness tomorrow to help facilitate it from Yufu Palace."

Xiao Sheng did not immediately respond. Holding her hand, they walked a bit further before he said, "Hui'er, the Huyan and Xubu clans currently hold the greatest power among the Huns. The Huyan Chanyu is increasingly wary of the Xubu clan but still relies on them. Meanwhile, the Luandi clan, from which Shu Fei's mother hails, is now secluding themselves south of E'kun Mountain, far from the Central Plains and even the Hunnic royal court. The Fifth Prince is still young. If we hastily send him back now, even with the support of Shu Fei's mother's clan, the Yan clan, it might be difficult for him to make an impact."

Hearing this, Jiang Hui suddenly said, "There's an old saying, 'unite or divide, separate and conquer.' Since Your Majesty has shared all this with me, you must already have a plan."

Xiao Sheng gently squeezed Jiang Hui's hand, speaking softly, "Hui'er is indeed intelligent."

But he did not continue, falling silent instead.

The weather was already warming up. They should have left for Qingning Mountain Villa at the end of April, but the Hunnic matter delayed them, and they were still in the palace in May. The evening breeze, coming from the direction of Taiye Pool, carried moisture and traces of early lotus fragrance.

Rou Fei, standing by Taiye Pool, saw the Emperor and Empress walking together from afar. She quickly knelt to greet them and only stood up after they turned the corner and disappeared. Her usually charming and smiling face momentarily showed a rare mix of admiration, loss, and realization.

"My lady? Shall we go back now?" Rou Fei's chief palace maid asked. They had just come from Gao Zhao Yi's Fuyang Palace and were planning to sit by Taiye Pool.

But Rou Fei hadn't heard her, still somewhat dazed, murmuring, "His Majesty..."

"My lady? Would you like to sit in the Moon Viewing Pavilion?" the maid asked again.

Rou Fei came back to her senses, shaking her head slightly and said softly, "No need."

She concealed her earlier expression, her eyes harboring well-hidden resentment, and whispered, "That Doctor Yan in Fuyang Palace... did you see clearly?"

*

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The Hun envoy's request for a Great Zhou princess was naturally on behalf of the Chanyu, yet His Majesty feigned ignorance, intending to marry the princess to the leader of the Xubu clan.

The Huns kidnapped Xuelian not wanting the emperor's most outstanding son to live healthily. Despite the risk, they dared not openly confront, claiming the Xubu mistakenly thought the party trespassed into their territory, and even sent envoys to apologize. Under such circumstances, Great Zhou's willingness to marry off a princess already signifies moving past the issue, leaving no room for the Huns to further comment.

After marrying the princess, the Xubu clan would continue to face the suspicion of the Huyan clan and possibly harbor other intentions, or perhaps, reinforce their existing ones.

After all, the Huyan clan seized the throne from the Lüandi clan with the help of the Xubu.

If one looks further, the Huns would also understand the implication.

But understanding is one thing, and action another. Even if both the Hun Chanyu and the Xubu see through this divide-and-conquer strategy, what then? Since annexing the Western Qiang, the Huns have expanded their territory, along with the internal strife and ambitions among their tribes.

As long as the Xubu act in their tribe's interest, they will not miss this opportunity.

Even if the Xubu are utterly loyal, it depends on whether the Huyan clan and the other tribes believe it.

This is a blatant strategy.

To achieve this, the princess sent as a peace offering must have enough resilience, a healthy physique, and a clear enough mind. As for loyalty to Great Zhou, that is the least important – once she is married off, facing covetous foreign tribes, she can only rely on Great Zhou.

Once the princess is married to the Xubu, she will naturally stir the undercurrents between the Huyan and Xubu clans. By the time the Fifth Prince grows up, having established herself there over time, she can support the Fifth Prince and the Consort, allowing the Lüandi to interfere further and muddy the waters.

Jiang Hui, understanding, softly said, "I will summon the daughter of the Jun Prince tomorrow."

Early the next morning, as the first light of dawn faintly appeared, the palace lanterns in the corridor flickered dimly, and candles were lit all around. Sheng An, having fastened his robe, bowed and entered the inner chamber, standing outside the bed curtain and whispering, "Your Majesty, it's time to rise."

He called out three times.

Hearing this, Jiang Hui sat up and looked beside her, seeing that Xiao Sheng was still with his eyes closed, seemingly unheard.

"Your Majesty?"

The Emperor was usually disciplined and seldom lingered in bed. Jiang Hui's voice was gentle, tinged with worry that Xiao Sheng might have caught a cold, and she reached out to touch his forehead.

His forehead was warm, not indicative of illness.

Just as she was about to withdraw her hand, it was grasped.

"Your Majesty, are you awake?" Jiang Hui asked softly.

Her hand was moved to cover the Emperor's eyes, tickled by his eyelashes.

The Emperor was clearly awake.

Jiang Hui let him hold her hand, smiling, "Your Majesty, if you don't get up now, Sheng An will come to lift the curtains."

The person still lying down laughed softly, released her hand, and sat up.

The curtain was lifted, and after both of them had freshened up and eaten some pastries, the Emperor prepared to go to the Taiji Hall for the morning court session.

Jiang Hui stood in the corridor, adjusting Xiao Sheng's sleeves and fastening his sword at his waist, then watched him board the imperial carriage and leave Fengyi Palace.

Next to the imperial carriage, clad in scarlet robes, Sheng An followed, with other attendants trailing behind. An Jing, bringing up the rear, only returned to Jiang Hui's side after everyone had left the Fengyi Palace. He bowed and asked, "Empress, what can this servant do for you?"

"An Jing," Jiang Hui gazed at his round, chubby face and softly asked, "Has His Majesty been feeling tired lately?"

An Jing, with his head lowered, replied apologetically, "Empress, I dare not speak out of turn."

"I'm asking you to speak. Just answer honestly, and if His Majesty asks you, reply truthfully," Jiang Hui said calmly, her tone not angry but enough to make An Jing sweat.

Hesitating for a moment, An Jing finally said with his head even lower, "To report to the Empress, His Majesty works tirelessly on state affairs daily, and with the increasingly hot weather, he might be suffering from summer fatigue."

"Summer fatigue?" Jiang Hui murmured, nodding to dismiss him, "I understand."

After An Jing left, she instructed Qiu Kui, "After I meet with the daughter of the Jun Prince, go to the Medical Bureau to fetch some Yuhua incense, and ask Doctor Liu to come as well."

"Yes," Qiu Kui replied softly, her expression solemn.

"This matter should only be known to you and Wan Song," Jiang Hui continued.

"Understood," Qiu Kui answered gravely.