The Love-Brained Empress (12) Qin Jingzhou’s very public “close dealings” with Prince Lu—getting along instantly and suspiciously well—were, in truth, all for one purpose: to secure a reliable pillar of support for the children he would be leaving behind once he departed the capital.
The emperor was a textbook foolish ruler. Among the civil officials, military commanders, imperial clansmen, and nobles surrounding him, it wasn’t that everyone shared his level of intelligence—but there truly weren’t many clear-headed people either.
Setting ulterior motives aside, what sensible person would willingly board a doomed, sinking ship?
It had been less than ten years since the death of the wise and martial Emperor Taizong. The imperial clan and nobility had not yet rotted to the core.
Prince Lu—Emperor Taizong’s most doted-upon youngest son—possessed insight, eloquence, and methods that made the emperor look like a foot-washing maidservant by comparison… appearance aside. Naturally, Prince Lu had gathered around him a large group of clansmen and nobles who despised the emperor’s conduct but had the means and confidence to stand their ground.
In short, Prince Lu was fully capable of blocking pressure from the emperor and the Qi family, and of helping watch over Qin Jingzhou’s cheap children.
And after several interactions, Qin Jingzhou genuinely found him easy to get along with. This was a friend he intended to keep.
With leading troops out of the capital now all but settled, the only remaining question was how much flesh he could tear off the emperor and the Qi family before leaving.
Since he had already guessed the emperor, the Qi family, and Prince Jing’s poisonous scheme, he naturally intended to return the courtesy—using his foreknowledge of the plot to force all three parties to face the truth once more.
For example: the Noble Consort and Prince Jing were having an affair, and the emperor himself was under Prince Jing’s wife’s skirts.
Qin Jingzhou wrote a personal letter, informing Prince Lu of the emperor and Prince Jing’s… complicated fate, and asked how Prince Lu planned to operate. Whatever happened, he wanted to be there to watch.
Thanks to the original host’s memories, Qin Jingzhou’s handwriting was nearly identical to the original’s.
After sealing the letter, he sent it off via a trusted aide. Turning back to his children, who were barely suppressing their laughter, he asked, “Surprised?”
Second Miss Xiao smiled as she served tea. Third Miss Xiao plopped down beside her father. “Originally, I should feel sorry for Eldest Sister—she really is wholeheartedly devoted to the emperor. But then I think about what she’d do if she knew the emperor…”
Qin Jingzhou finished it for her. “…is this casual.”
Third Miss Xiao blinked. “If she knew the emperor was this casual, wouldn’t she still forgive him the moment he coaxed her?”
Xiao Dalang, his injured leg suspended, asked, “I heard she’s learned to be a little more considerate of the family’s difficulties?”
Third Miss Xiao snorted. “I don’t know what kind of bewitching potion the emperor fed her. She’s a bit better than before, but only to the extent that she can listen when Father talks.”
Second Miss Xiao stepped forward with the tea tray. “I’ll keep a close eye on her.” She turned to her elder brother. “If anything happens, discuss it with Brother. And if it gets bad… send word to Prince Lu, then retreat back to our old estate outside the capital.”
Qin Jingzhou smiled and praised her. “That’s exactly right. Before I leave the capital, I’ll also inform the clan elders.”
…
Prince Lu reacted quickly.
He already knew the Noble Consort and Prince Jing were entangled—if the Noble Consort hadn’t entered the palace, she would probably have married Prince Jing. But the emperor and Prince Jing’s wife… well, though he wasn’t a woman, when he thought of the emperor’s peerless looks, and how Prince Jing’s true heart was clearly with the Noble Consort, he could almost understand Prince Jing’s wife’s choice.
Understanding aside, Prince Lu had no intention of holding back when it came to using this information.
His father, Emperor Taizong, had left him many people in the palace—and they were still useful.
Very quickly, he learned that Prince Jing used a secret passage to enter the palace to meet the Noble Consort, roughly once every three days. As for Prince Jing’s wife and the emperor, they could only meet during palace banquets.
Perfect timing: three days later was the Noble Consort’s birthday. The emperor ordered the Imperial Household Department to hold a grand banquet just for her, inviting all of her natal family into the palace—everyone gathering together for a good time.
To be fair, if Duke Cheng’en hadn’t warned him in advance, based on the eunuchs’ and maids’ reports alone, Prince Lu would never have detected even the slightest flirtation between Prince Jing’s wife and the emperor.
But if he wanted to provoke the emperor, the Qi family, and Prince Jing, circumstantial hints weren’t enough. He needed hard proof.
Prince Lu had people watching for days with no results, so he wrote to Duke Cheng’en asking for advice.
Meanwhile, Qin Jingzhou had already declined Prince Jing’s dinner invitations three times in a row. He wanted the emperor and Prince Jing to feel awkward around each other—it would make it much easier for him to fleece Prince Jing properly.
Prince Jing’s stance was obvious: he wanted Duke Cheng’en and the emperor to fall out, and he also wanted Duke Cheng’en gone as soon as possible. For that, he was willing to pay a price.
Once he and Prince Lu exposed the fact that Prince Jing and the emperor were mutually gifting each other “green hats,” Prince Jing would certainly raise his benefits package significantly to win him over. After all, Qin Jingzhou appearing friendly with Prince Jing alone was already a massive provocation to the emperor.
After some thought, Qin Jingzhou decided he had to personally step in—personally provoke the emperor and the Noble Consort, pushing them to seek their own safe harbors after taking a blow.
After coordinating timing with Prince Lu, he submitted a memorial requesting an audience with Empress Xiao—deliberately choosing a day when concubines’ natal families were allowed into the palace.
…
Recently, the Noble Consort had been in a foul mood.
The emperor was busy appeasing the empress while stuffing sand into the southern expedition force. Prince Jing was doing much the same.
Both men were busy with “important matters,” and the Noble Consort didn’t want to disturb them.
She wasn’t clueless—otherwise she wouldn’t have made it this far. But her anger needed an outlet, and she quite naturally chose Prince Jing’s wife.
Prince Jing’s wife, however, was no soft persimmon. When the Noble Consort provoked her, she struck back—by targeting the emperor instead.
The verbal daggers exchanged between the Noble Consort and Prince Jing’s wife were sharp enough that even the eunuchs and maids waiting outside could sense it.
Several of those servants were Prince Lu’s people. They exchanged knowing looks, then used an excuse to fetch items and spread word of the Noble Consort and Prince Jing’s wife clashing head-on.
Thus, Qin Jingzhou was conveniently intercepted by Prince Lu’s men near the privy. Returning to the eastern side chamber of Kunning Palace, he said to Empress Xiao, “Isn’t it fun when the Noble Consort suffers? Come—let’s go watch the excitement.”
Empress Xiao wasn’t truly brain-dead. She understood perfectly why the emperor had been accompanying her these days.
So when her father requested to visit her alone, without her sisters, she felt both relieved and anxious—relieved that her father still cared, anxious that he was about to lecture her.
To her surprise, once he arrived, he quietly drank tea, not even bothering with polite chatter.
Her heart sank.
When he returned from the privy and said he was taking her to see a show, her premonition only worsened.
Just then, a meeting ended at the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Qin Jingzhou led his visibly worried eldest daughter toward the Noble Consort’s residence.
Along the way, they indeed ran into Prince Jing, who had received the news and was forced to come placate the Noble Consort.
Qin Jingzhou cupped his hands. “I hear the Empress and the Noble Consort often bicker. I’m rather curious how young ladies quarrel.”
Prince Jing knew Duke Cheng’en was here to stir trouble. But at most, he’d only scold Langhuan verbally. If Prince Jing involved himself, the consequences would be unpredictable. “The Noble Consort didn’t intend it. The Empress should be more magnanimous.”
Qin Jingzhou said pointedly, “Mutual poisoning attempts, with neither succeeding… that does require magnanimity.”
What could Prince Jing even say to that?
He could only reply vaguely, “That’s all in the past.”
Qin Jingzhou nodded. “True enough.” Then he asked casually, “You don’t take this route when escorting your wife back to your residence, do you?”
Prince Jing immediately tensed. “What do you mean by that?”
Qin Jingzhou turned to a eunuch. “Go invite the Noble Consort out. I just saw Prince Jing’s wife heading straight for Chang Le Palace.”
Prince Jing hadn’t reacted yet when Empress Xiao covered her face and cried out, “No!”
Qin Jingzhou grabbed his eldest daughter’s wrist. “You must go.”
Just then, the Noble Consort stepped out, her face flushed with anger. “Let’s go! All of us!”
They hurried to Chang Le Palace. One look at the eunuchs and guards at the gate told everyone everything they needed to know.
The Noble Consort, furious, charged ahead, shoving the guarding eunuch aside and barging in.
Prince Lu was currently a deputy commander of the imperial guards. The guards—already instructed—deliberately did not stop her.
Qin Jingzhou pulled his daughter along behind her. Prince Jing frowned and hurried after them.
Inside, everyone froze.
They had indeed… caught them in the act.
The Noble Consort’s eyes were bloodshot. She grabbed Prince Jing’s wife by the collar and slapped her hard, then immediately demanded of the emperor, “How could you do this to me?! Why her of all people?! Any other woman—I wouldn’t stop you!”
Before his beloved Noble Consort, the empress who entered moments later in tears, and the inscrutable Duke Cheng’en and Prince Jing, even the emperor couldn’t shamelessly say something like “she came onto me, so I went along with it.” He could only explain, “I… was momentarily confused.” He spread his arms and pulled the Noble Consort into his embrace.
Prince Jing’s wife, having taken the slap, was completely stunned.
Seeing Prince Jing’s expression darken like a storm cloud, Qin Jingzhou had no intention of letting him or the Noble Consort off lightly. “Hasn’t the Noble Consort targeted the Empress all these years because the Empress discovered your lingering affair with Prince Jing?”
The emperor’s face changed instantly. “What?” He shoved the Noble Consort away, teeth clenched. “Explain. What is going on?”
The Noble Consort pounded his chest. “You heartless bastard! If you hadn’t seized me by force, I wouldn’t have entered the palace—I would have married my cousin! If not for you, my heart wouldn’t be so chaotic, so miserable! What if I still have feelings for my cousin? I’m still your… concubine! No matter how much you favor me, I’m still a concubine!”
Tears streamed down her face.
For a moment, the emperor couldn’t even find words to refute her.
Prince Jing was equally stunned, equally speechless.
Qin Jingzhou: …Isn’t this just the gender-swapped version of “I sleep with her but I’ll marry you”? A classic scumbag. Looking at the emperor, Prince Jing, and the stunned Prince Jing’s wife, he thought: You four are perfectly matched. Truly deserve to be locked together. So he spoke, offering sincere advice: “Prince Jing, this marriage can’t go on, can it? Why not divorce cleanly? My eldest son and Second Miss Xiao both look radiant after their divorces.” He turned to the emperor. “Your Majesty, once Prince Jing divorces his wife, you can’t just leave her hanging. You should bring her into the palace to attend you.”
“No!” Empress Xiao sobbed. Furious and heartbroken, she didn’t pull her hand from her father’s grasp, only asked, “Are you really my father? Why are you helping outsiders?”
Qin Jingzhou replied calmly, “Can you handle the Noble Consort on your own? Wouldn’t it be good to bring Prince Jing’s wife into the palace to help you?”
Empress Xiao stared, tears trembling at the corners of her eyes. “…!”
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