Memories of the PalaceCh30 - It Ain’t Easy Being Zhen

From the desk of Assistant Su Ao

His Majesty’s Daily Records y0FAdj

Year 3 of His Majesty’s Reign

13th day of the 9th month

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

Mao shi Hour – His Majesty the Emperor is still exempt from morning court in order to properly recover, but His Majesty insisted on doing strength training exercises.

Sen shi Hour – The Emperor was missing for approximately two and a half hours. Found him in the garden napping. MuNqDk

You shi Hour – His Majesty refused to see any of his Wives, despite Huang Guifei’s insistence on tending to His Majesty. His Majesty appears unwell and has told several staff who tried to dress and undress him to fu expletive off.

In better news, the Emperor did appear to have a better appetite, as they ordered several extravagant dishes from the kitchen.

Year 3 of His Majesty’s Reign

14th day of the 9th month

Si shi Hour – His Majesty visited His Family’s Empress but would not let this servant inside to record details, but loud arguing was heard.

The Emperor escaped this humble servant’s sight for the remainder of the day.

Year 3 of His Majesty’s Reign

15th day of the 9th month rf0B6y

Mao shi Hour – The Emperor has requested this servant to fetch the finest wine from the West.

Chen shi Hour – His Majesty rejected the wine from the West, now wants peach wine. The Emperor also requests an audience with former Minister Ping Feng.

Si shi Hour – His Majesty has rejected the peach wine, wanting the wine from the West again. Ping Feng arrives.

—– EzimwK

“Mmm…Su Ao, Zhen is feeling peckish instead.” After examining his nails, Li Changyu waved his hand at the beta, “Return the wine and fetch me some tea and snacks.”

Su Ao’s shoulders visibly dropped. Li Changyu had been putting the eunuch through the ringer – in order to get him off his ass, Li Changyu kept sending Su Ao on stupid errands since they inhabited Jin Xiyan’s body. At first it was for survival, because the man would most likely tell he wasn’t the Emperor, but now…

Now it was just funny.

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“Y-Yes, Your Majesty.” Su Ao dipped down into a bow. “I will let Young Lord Ping in and go to the kitchen right away.” 1QybkO

Li Changyu stood up and brushed his hair back. He had to put on his best act, because if anyone could spot him besides his family members, it would be Ping Feng. He drew himself up tall and imagined a stick shoved so far up his ass it kept his posture correct.

His Shixiong came in looking drastically different from his straight-laced Minister robes. In long, elegant, sky blue robes, he was a perfect image of a leisurely Childe of a nobleman. It was a stark change from the rough and tumble Martial Brother he grew up with.

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Ping Feng came forward and cupped his hands to him, bowing forward, “Your Majesty.”

“Sh–” Li Changyu caught himself and covered his mistake with a cough, “Uh–Young Lord Ping, thank you for responding quickly to Zhen’s summons.” s24glO

“This humble subject deeply appreciates His Majesty’s gratitude, though it is undeserved. When the Emperor summons, it is a subject’s duty to respond.”

Ugh, what a kiss ass. Li Changyu suppressed the instinct to roll his eyes and took a breath before responding.

“Yes, yes…Zhen appreciates loyal subjects.” Li Changyu strode across the floor with his chin up and hands clasped behind his back. He paced in a slow, relaxed gait in front of Ping Feng. “Does this subject know why Zhen requires your presence?”

Ping Feng’s brow twitched, but he kept his eyes down respectfully. “This one would not assume to know His Majesty’s mind.” gvlU0o

“Zhen will be frank. His Highness the Empress has already shared the intelligence you both have gathered about this supposed threat from a group with an eagle tattoo.” Li Changyu stopped in front of Ping Feng but did not look directly at him, but kept him in sight at the corner of his eye. “Zhen had to demote Young Lord Ping in order to play into the hand of whoever’s working in the shadows, but Zhen has a plan of subterfuge of his own.”

“Your Majesty…?”

It was reasonable for Ping Feng to be a bit confused. Up until now, Jin Xiyan had only disagreed with Li Changyu. Li Changyu had purposefully kept the information from Jin Xiyan, which Ping Feng knew. This sort of turn about, especially being so open about it, is something that perhaps an Emperor wouldn’t do.

“You have never fought in any battles outside, and those beyond the Imperial City would never have noticed you as a Minister. Zhen has been told about your exceptional skill as a guard, and that you are well versed in the way of deception. Because of this, Zhen will send you on a mission to infiltrate the ranks of the men with eagle tattoos. You are to gather information and send it to a fake contact that is actually one of His Highness’ Brothers.” HVorUv

Li Changyu pivoted and walked to Jin Xiyan’s desk and plucked a scroll and two pieces of paper that rested on top of it. He stepped up to Ping Feng and held out the items to him.

“This is a scroll that provides more details for your mission and this is a copy of the tattoo that they wear, along with papers for a forged identity.” He took the items back for a second, “Unless this subject wants to decline Zhen’s mission?”

Ping Feng’s bewilderment was obvious on his face. He lifted his hands to take the items, and for a brief moment, they made eye contact. Ping Feng quickly dropped his gaze and lowered his head.

“Not to question Zhen’s superior intellect, but…this subject admits his ignorance.” Ping Feng frowned, “I put His Highness in jeopardy, how can His Majesty entrust such an important task to me?” RiAUXz

There was a glimmer of remorse in Ping Feng’s eyes and the string of Li Changyu’s heart pulled hard. His Shixiong must feel guilty, though he had nothing to feel bad for. It may be against proper behavior, but Li Changyu stretched a hand out and clasped one of Ping Feng’s shoulders, the muscles of which bunched immediately under his touch.

“Li Changyu told Zhen that he does not suspect you at all.” Li Changyu let out a long exhale. “Which is why, in order to use you for a greater purpose, you had to stop being a Minister. There is reason to be suspicious of Third Uncle – thus Zhen had to trap him somehow.”

As Ping Feng remained silent, Li Changyu continued. “We–er, you–still have allies in the Ministry of War. Royal Third Uncle does not.”

Dawning finally registered on Ping Feng’s face, his eyebrows lifting high. “You want my colleagues to spy on him?” NOE X4

Li Changyu gave a sharp, decisive nod. “Precisely. Now,” he made a dismissive gesture, “Spend a few days to get ready and be in touch with Shen Pei by bird. They will have more information as well.”

She and Li Changyu had met – frequently in fact – in secret since he switched bodies with Jin Xiyan. They devised this plan together, and she would be the best to break it all down to Ping Feng. It was vital to get a man recruited in for real, because the kidnapped men who incriminated Li Changyu all vanished once again. He had a sinking feeling that the men were dead. With no one to interrogate about what happened, their best bet was to get a man inside to figure out the group’s motives. This would also help clear the kidnapped men of any crimes or wrong doing, which was important to Li Changyu too.

Chrysanthemum Garden.

Ping Feng left with the same amount of grand humility that he came in. It was very weird, being some divine being for others to admire and scorn. Since becoming Jin Xiyan, his days were spent being surrounded by people but segregated, both physically and by people’s interactions with him. Even when it appeared he was alone, there was always a Shadow Guard lurking about until Li Changyu gave them the slip.

Both left him feeling lonely, which was strange because Li Changyu had incredibly less people interacting with him while trapped in the Phoenix Palace. Well…Shen Pei, Bowen, and Meimei made it less isolating. With a sigh, Li Changyu prepared for Su Ao to pop back up again. Hm2 9O

“Three…two…”

“Your Majesty, your snacks are ready!”

One. Li Changyu plastered on a neutral look instead of a smile before the beta approached. He held a tray of small goodies, and when Li Changyu examined them, an idea struck him.

“Su Ao, we are going to share these with the Grand Empress Dowager.” Li Changyu didn’t wait for Su Ao to respond and turned around to make his leave. The treats gave him a perfect excuse to go visit Royal Grandmother in order to question her about the necklace. X2uyUh

His poor, abused eunuch scrambled to keep up with his pace as they walked towards the Inner Court. Li Changyu strode past Maple Hall, which Prince Zhao Lanhu was just entering. He didn’t want to stop and get side tracked, but he waved at the Prince. Zhao Lanhu’s slim brow furrowed and he paused in his step when he looked back at him. The Prince returned a small, stilted wave of his own, but looked a little confused.

Shit. Li Changyu looked down at his hand. Does Jin Xiyan even wave hello? He made a hasty turn and continued down the winding marble path to the Grand Empress Dowager’s abode, the Palace of the Clear Mind. A servant woman carrying a set of sheets walked by, her head bowed. She lifted her gaze when he drew near and she did a double take. Quickly she stepped in front of Li Changyu, her body bent forward in a bow.

“Your Majesty,” she said in a heavily accented voice. He recognized it as a Tatar one and instinctively spoke to her in that language.

“Where is Royal Grandmother?” he asked. She raised her head and the wide, pale eyed stare that she gave back at Li Changyu matched Su Ao’s who gawked beside him. He arched a brow and repeated himself again, “Where is the Grand Empress Dowager?” nrwEOU

“S-s-she…” the servant stammered in her native tongue, “Her Highness is in her st-study, Your Majesty.”

Li Changyu nodded and proceeded inside through Her Highness’ main hall. Several of her servants not-so-subtly looked at him, their necks craning for a peek. Being familiar with her Palace, it only took a moment to cut through to her study that was a separate structure from her main rooms.

Grand Empress Dowager Zhang Yunqing was leisurely feeding one of her birds, her cupped palm inside the cage where the tiny thing perched on her thumb to nip at the seeds and fruit. It chirped loudly when he came in and fluttered its wings before leaping away to a high branch inside the cage. Royal Grandmother turned her head and the hard, icy look on her face aged her quite a bit. Taken aback, Li Changyu even shuffled half a step away on instinct. He’d never been on the brunt end of a look like that from her before.

“Your Majesty,” she greeted flatly. She tilted her hand to drop the contents into a small dish inside and shut the cage. The servant closest to her presented a cloth which she took and wiped her hands with. RZbYJ1

Li Changyu perked up a little and came forward, “Hello, Royal Grandmother. How are you doing on this fine day?”

Her sidelong look was just as scathing as her next words. “Why is Your Majesty making this one suffer trivialities? Is there not more pressing affairs concerning the state – and your Wife.”

Oof. The only person that could probably get away with talking to Jin Xiyan like that was his Grandmother. Li Changyu felt like he shrunk back down to his original size by how small she made him feel. He rubbed the back of his neck as he tried to gather his thoughts. It’s not surprising she is aware of what’s been going on. She has loyal eyes and ears everywhere.

“I–this Royal Grandson appreciates his Grandmother’s concern over Zhen’s affairs. Please know that an investigation is underway, and that these things will be thoroughly investigated.” Her only response was to sniff loudly and look down at a painting on her desk that was halfway finished. Li Changyu continued, “In fact, Zhen requires Royal Grandmother’s assistance on one such matter.” J05u1m

“Oh?”

Li Changyu came closer and held out the necklace to her. She gave it a passing glance before her attention really turned to him. She furrowed her brows and glared up at him.

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“Why do you have that?” she asked in a hiss.

“It would help Zhen to know more about how you got this,” he explained. ORJ9bI

She turned up her nose and flicked her wrist at a servant. He began grinding her ink and she looked back down, avoiding him. “Small trinkets are hardly a reason for concern in matters of the state. How could such a thing be involved in this dilemma?”

“It involves the Harem, which is a direct concern for Zh–”

She reached for her brush and dipped it in the finished ink to sweep the bristles in long, smooth strokes along the paper. “If His Majesty wanted to butt into the Harem, then this Grandmother advises His Majesty to return that gift and concern himself more about managing the Harem itself.”

It was disconcerting, being shut out by Zhang Yunqing, because he never expected her to be this brutal to a Grandchild. It was like he was stuck on an island unable to reach her across a vast ocean. VSsABc

Strangely, Li Changyu felt the need to defend himself, “Zhen has already written an edict for Zhen’s omega Wives to be put on heat suppressants until this matter is taken care of. There will be no distractions, and the Harem will not be disrupted.”

“Hmm?” She paused, her head tilting ever so slightly. “For once, an actually wise decision.”

He frowned. No wonder Jin Xiyan doesn’t like to disappoint her, or avoids her altogether… Like many of the others in Jin Xiyan’s circle, he felt cut off from them, and Li Changyu had a sneaking suspicion it wasn’t just because he was in Jin Xiyan’s body. Welp, I won’t get anywhere here. Not with this face, at least. Li Changyu would need his actual body to do the questioning.

A familiar cry came from behind them, “Your Highness!” 15SKnA

They turned at the exact same time and Meimei stumbled in. Li Changyu almost gave himself away by reaching out to help her, but he caught himself and stayed still. Meimei’s eyes bulged when they saw him and she immediately fell to her knees.

“This servant apologies for interrupting His Majesty and Her Highness!” She sucked in large gulps of air as she panted, her face flushed, “My Master the Empress is in trouble!”

Royal Grandmother moved to stand but he put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. He also cut her off when she opened her mouth.

“Zhen will go,” he said in a no nonsense tone, effectively stopping any sort of argument that might occur. Then under his breath as he brushed past Meimei, Su Ao, and the other servants towards the door. iqTJEI

“Just what trouble have you gotten yourself into, Your Majesty?”