Chapter 20 - 1#
Escaping! The Bird in the Cage Has Escaped!!!…#
Selection’s over.
More than a hundred noble sons and daughters, guided by palace servants, left the palace one by one and returned to their homes.
Closing the door of their homes, their family members curiously asked: “What was the ‘final interview’ His Majesty mentioned like?”
“Which noble son or daughter did His Majesty choose as the Empress? Were you chosen?”
“Why hasn’t the imperial decree come down from the palace? After sending you out, there’s no news?”
A series of questions came down, and the people in the selection opened their mouths, wanting to say something several times.
They only lived in the palace for ten days or so, and didn’t even see His Majesty’s face.
Today was indeed the “final interview,” but there was no formal procedure.
His Majesty held on to that personal attendant and wouldn’t let go, and the selection was also done by the attendant’s point of view.
As for what His Majesty said about appointing five Empresses, it was too shocking. They didn’t know whether it was true or false.
Anyway…
“The imperial will is difficult to fathom, better to wait for the imperial decree.”
Unlike others, Bian Mingyu was brave.
He returned home and ran to find his father, gesticulating as he told everything from the beginning to the end on the selection.
“His Majesty brought Young Master Yanzhi to the selection.”
“At first, it was five by five to go to the main hall for an interview. Later, for some reason, His Majesty grabbed Yanzhi and made him choose.”
“When we were lining up, His Majesty even pinched Yanzhi’s face and whispered a lot to him.”
“As a result, I don’t know what Yanzhi said, His Majesty’s face turned black, like he was struck by lightning…”
Lord Bian hurriedly interrupted him: “Mingyu, be careful with your words!”
“Yes.” Bian Mingyu shut his mouth.
Before long, he leaned closer to his father again and asked in a small voice: “Dad, do you think His Majesty will eventually let someone become the Empress? Could it be Yanzhi?”
Lord Bian thought for a long while and finally said: “Hard to say.”
“Dad, you thought for a long time and only thought of these three words?”
“His Majesty strives for perfection in everything. The court ministers and military generals are all one in ten thousand, Peerless talents. This selection, His Majesty must also have the intention of choosing a perfect person as the Empress.”
Lord Bian sighed: “Unfortunately, Young Master Yanzhi’s background is not prominent, and his talent is mediocre…”
Bian Mingyu interrupted: “I think Yanzhi is quite good, gentle and polite.”
“Shut up quickly. If you dare to praise Young Master Yanzhi, tomorrow it will reach His Majesty’s ears, and His Majesty will mistakenly think you are interested in Young Master Yanzhi and catch you in the purification room too.”
“Oh.” Bian Mingyu hurriedly covered his mouth.
“His Majesty has always acted decisively. Whether it’s internal affairs or external wars, his decisions are always clear and accurate, yet he is confused and unclear in Young Master Yanzhi’s affairs.”
“I think today’s selection, His Majesty was just competing and playing with Young Master Yanzhi, wanting to force Young Master Yanzhi to give in. Young Master Yanzhi is soft outside but firm inside, so he naturally refused.”
“I’m afraid His Majesty is also troubled at this moment…”
While talking, there was an attendant reporting outside the room.
“Lord, someone is coming from the palace. His Majesty is summoning you to the palace.”
“Okay, report to His Majesty that I will go immediately.”
Lord Bian hurriedly got up, brushed his clothes, and said to Bian Mingyu: “Anyway, your failure is a happy event for our family. Don’t go out and show off for a while, stay at home obediently.”
“I know.” Bian Mingyu nodded, “Dad, I bet you one tael of silver that Yanzhi will definitely be…”
“Alright, don’t say anymore.”
Lord Bian looked at him deeply, changed into his official uniform, and went out.
The carriage had been prepared and was waiting outside the door.
Lord Bian stepped on the footstool and bent down to get into the carriage: “To the palace.”
A quarter of an hour later, the carriage stopped outside the palace gate. Lord Bian got off, lifted his robe, and walked hurriedly toward the Taiji Hall.
On the palace path, several familiar court ministers were also hurrying forward. Seeing their colleagues, they shared information and found out that all were summoned by His Majesty, so they went together.
Another quarter of an hour later, a group of people arrived at the Taiji Hall.
The hall doors were wide open—
Only to see His Majesty sitting on the high platform with his arms crossed and legs crossed, closing his eyes to rest.
Lord Bian paid attention, and His Majesty’s side was empty, with no one else.
Young Master Yanzhi, who always accompanied His Majesty, was not here today.
After taking one look, he withdrew his gaze and bowed along with several colleagues: “Your ministers pay respects to Your Majesty.”
Xiao Cuan on the high platform heard the movement, opened his eyes, and looked at them with dark eyes: “Rise, be seated.”
“Thank Your Majesty.”
“I—”
The ministers were about to sit down when they suddenly heard His Majesty speak. They hurriedly stood up and stood properly, waiting for His Majesty’s decree.
But the Emperor only started, and then said nothing more.
The hall was in a dead silence.
The Emperor lowered his eyes, like a sleeping tiger, looking at the imperial desk and jade steps in a daze.
The ministers exchanged a secret look, no one dared to sit down arbitrarily, and they could only maintain a humble posture of waiting for the decree.
For a long, long time—
Xiao Cuan finally spoke, his voice low and raspy: “In today’s selection, I have already selected the candidates for the Empress. Summing you into the palace is to let you discuss the matters of the grand wedding, draft the imperial decree for the Empress, and organize the grand wedding ceremony.”
Hearing this, several close ministers hurriedly knelt and bowed: “Your ministers obey the command and will do our best!”
“Mm.” Xiao Cuan nodded. “You will discuss here. Ask me about the grand wedding ceremony. It saves having to pass memorials and review memorials back and forth.”
“Yes.”
A minister asked bravely: “Pardon me, Your Majesty, which family’s son or daughter has caught Your Majesty’s eye?”
“I…” Xiao Cuan paused, “haven’t decided yet. You discuss the process first.”
Just now he said “already selected,” and now he says “haven’t decided yet.”
His Majesty is clearly contradicting himself.
But several ministers exchanged a look, no one dared to point it out, and they could only answer vaguely.
Lord Bian asked: “Winter is coming, I wonder if Your Majesty intends to appoint the Empress before the New Year or after…”
“Before the New Year.” Xiao Cuan didn’t hesitate. “The sooner the better.”
“Yes.”
In the outer hall, Xiao Cuan and the close ministers were discussing the appointment of the Empress.
In the inner hall, Yanzhi climbed down from the couch, put on his clothes, shoes, and socks, and walked behind the door.
In ten years, this was the first time he had disobeyed His Majesty’s order, said “no” to His Majesty, and also given a heavy kick to His Majesty’s chest.
After regaining his senses, he was afraid of making His Majesty angry, and afraid that His Majesty would bully him even more.
But His Majesty didn’t.
His Majesty just gave a heavy kick to the couch, as if to return that kick to him, and then slammed the door and went out.
Through the door, Yanzhi could also hear the voice of His Majesty talking to the close ministers.
He heard His Majesty say he wanted to appoint an Empress and heard His Majesty say the sooner the better.
This was naturally the best.
Just as His Majesty had said before, when newcomers enter the palace, and there is an Empress and Noble Consort, His Majesty wouldn’t always focus on him, and he would “lose favor.”
As long as His Majesty no longer paid attention to him, he would have a chance to escape from the palace.
Yanzhi pinched the corner of his clothes, and the small fire burning in his heart burned even brighter.
Just then, he suddenly heard a minister reporting outside—
“Replying to Your Majesty, according to the ancestral system, whenever there is a great joy in the palace, a group of aged palace servants will be released to demonstrate Your Majesty’s kindness.”
Yanzhi’s eyes lit up and he raised his head suddenly.
He took two quick steps forward, leaned on the door, and tried to hear more clearly.
“I remember the last time palace servants were released was when Your Majesty first ascended the throne.”
“The world is settled, and all seas are peaceful. Not long ago, I also wanted to memorialize, asking Your Majesty to allow palace servants to leave the palace. But because of busy affairs, it was put aside.”
“Now Your Majesty is appointing an Empress, which is even more joyful. Why not take this opportunity to organize this matter together?”
Xiao Cuan didn’t think much and only said: “Let the lower officials organize the roster of palace servants. All palace servants over forty years old will be given a deed of manumission and a silver ingot on the day of the grand wedding ceremony and be released from the palace.”
“Yes.”
In the inner hall, hearing this, Yanzhi was almost jumping for joy!
Although he was not yet forty years old, he had a deed of manumission!
Therefore, he only had to wait until the day of the grand wedding ceremony to leave the palace!
However…
Yanzhi, for some reason, was dazed for a moment, and stepped on the trouser leg that was a bit too long. He lunged forward and leaned on the door, and actually pushed the door open.
“Ah…”
Yanzhi fell on the ground, flat on his face.
Xiao Cuan stood up suddenly, clenched his fists, remained silent for a moment, but sat down again.
He turned his head away, not wanting to look at Yanzhi.
Instead, Lord Bian and several other adults regained their senses, hurriedly stepped forward, and helped him up.
“Young Master Yanzhi, are you alright?”
“I’m fine, thank you, Lords.”
Yanzhi thanked them and then gathered his courage, ran to the center of the hall, and knelt before His Majesty.
Xiao Cuan frowned and looked at him coldly.
“Your Majesty…” Yanzhi raised his head with a serious face. “Can the matter of organizing the roster of palace servants be handed over to me?”
Xiao Cuan’s frown deepened: “What did you say?”
“Can the work of organizing the roster of palace servants be handed over to me?”
If another official organized the roster, when he escaped from the palace, His Majesty would definitely vent his anger on that person.
Yanzhi really wanted to go out, but he didn’t want to harm people, let alone have someone convicted because of him.
Therefore, this work must be his!
He organized the roster himself, and escaped from the palace by taking the opportunity. His Majesty couldn’t vent his anger on others.
Even if he was caught and punished in the future, he would be the only one to bear it.
Yanzhi knelt properly, looking at Xiao Cuan sincerely, and following the seamless words of the ministers: “I have organized the selection roster for Your Majesty. Now that the selection is over, I am idle and also want to contribute to the grand wedding ceremony.”
But hearing this, Xiao Cuan’s face became even gloomier.
“Say it again.”
“I also want to contribute to the grand wedding ceremony!”
Xiao Cuan stood up suddenly, took two or three steps down the jade steps, grabbed his arm, and lifted him from the ground.
“Say. It. A. Gain.”
“I…”
Xiao Cuan looked at him steadily and gritted his teeth: “You really want to see me appoint an Empress so much? You really want to see me marry someone else so much?”
Yanzhi never understood why His Majesty was angry.
It was clearly His Majesty himself who said he wanted to appoint an Empress, and it was clearly His Majesty himself who said he wanted to get married.
Why pinch him again?
“I…” Yanzhi had red eyes, “I didn’t, I just wanted to find something to do…”
Xiao Cuan paused and his hand movement lightened a bit.
In a daze, Yanzhi seemed to understand something and said in a small voice: “Your Majesty is busy with the grand wedding ceremony. I just don’t want to be alone, thinking too much, so I want to find some copying work to do… just like copying the selection roster for Your Majesty…”
Xiao Cuan looked at the teardrops about to fall, finally let go of his hand, and released him.
But whether this matter was allowed or not, he didn’t say in the end.
Xiao Cuan only said: “Go back, don’t make a scene here.”
“Yes…”
Yanzhi bowed to him and then to the ministers, and finally lowered his head and walked slowly back to the inner hall.
After being scolded by His Majesty, his sadness was almost overflowing.
Xiao Cuan stared at his thin back for a while, until he closed the door, before suddenly regaining his senses and turning his head away.
*
Whether intentionally or not.
His Majesty and the ministers discussed the appointment of the Empress until very late.
Yanzhi finished washing, nestled in the quilt, and carefully thought about the wording.
He had to think of a way to beg His Majesty again.
Anyway, he must seize this opportunity.
Yanzhi lay on the couch, counting his fingers, whispering, and seriously rehearsing.
“I beg Your Majesty to hand over the work of organizing the roster to me. I am a palace servant like them, and I want to see them off… Your Majesty is about to appoint an Empress, and I am really bored, so I want to find something to do. I have no other intentions…”
Just then, the curtains before the couch were suddenly pulled open from the outside.
A tall shadow was cast down.
Yanzhi instinctively raised his head, only to see His Majesty had taken off his outer robe, wearing his inner garment, standing before the couch.
“Your… Your Majesty!”
Yanzhi called out, hurriedly pulled back the quilt, and climbed up from the couch.
But Xiao Cuan didn’t pay any attention to him, glanced at him, and lay down on the outer side of the couch.
Yanzhi moved forward and said cautiously: “Your Majesty, I still want to copy the roster of palace servants who are leaving the palace, okay? I am idle in the hall and really have nothing to do…”
Xiao Cuan crossed his arms and lay flat on the couch, closing his eyes to rest, still not paying any attention to him.
“The lords around Your Majesty all have things to do. I also want to find something to do, so it doesn’t seem like I am so useless.”
“Moreover, Your Majesty also said that when the newcomers enter the palace, I will soon lose favor, so I want to…”
Suddenly, Xiao Cuan opened his eyes suddenly, rolled over and sat up, pulled open the curtains with both hands, and turned over to get off the couch.
“Your Majesty…”
Yanzhi was startled, thinking his muttering had annoyed His Majesty, and he was leaving.