Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 40

It was already noon by the time they returned to the princess’s residence. Yun Zishu instructed Matron Ren, “Go and tell the kitchen to add a few more dishes for lunch today.”

“Yes.”

Arriving at Qifeng Hall, Leng Yue and the others stepped forward to serve her as she washed up. Yun Zishu kept thinking about what had happened in the Imperial Treasure Pavilion and couldn’t help but be a little distracted.

Who is the boss behind the Royal Treasure Pavilion? Why is he so kind to her?

Both she and Yun Zirou were princesses of the royal family, but the shopkeeper’s attitude was obviously different towards them… Apart from her mother, Yun Zishu couldn’t think of any other reason.

“Your Highness, lunch has been prepared by the kitchen.” Matron Ren walked in and respectfully reported and also brought back unexpected news: “The cook said that Miss Li gave her one tael of silver today to buy a roast chicken from the kitchen.”

Yun Zishu leaned against the brocade couch and smiled faintly. “Can’t stand it anymore?”

Matron Ren didn’t speak but quietly waited for further instructions.

“Don’t pay attention to her. If she has money, let her buy it.” Yun Zishu said indifferently, “It just so happens that I’m a little short on money these days, and I haven’t had time to send out the monthly salary. Let the people in the kitchen earn a little extra for their household expenses.”

Matron Ren understood and nodded in agreement, “As Your Highness wishes.”

After saying that, she walked out.

Leng Yue made tea for Yun Zishu. “What does Your Highness think of Miss Li’s behavior?”

A cold, mocking smile flickered across Yun Zishu’s lips. “Aren’t she and Xiao Yunheng madly in love? This princess wants to see if their love can withstand this test.”

Li Xue had committed such a grave mistake, yet Mrs. Xiao and Xiao Yunheng could forgive her and pretend that nothing had happened. She wanted to see if they could still be as loving as before after they had experienced an ordinary couple’s life.

Yun Zishu had long expected that after Li Xue came out of the Dark Shadow Pavilion, Madam Xiao would not pursue her fault, and Xiao Yunheng would soon forget the mistakes she had made. After all, Li Xue was best at pretending to be weak. As long as she put on that pitiful look, men would soften their hearts at a glance.

Besides, it is said that a concubine is better than a wife, and the concubine is not as enticing as a forbidden woman.

Regardless of whether Xiao Yunheng and Yun Zishu had feelings for each other, in the Xiao family’s inner courtyard, Yun Zishu, the princess who was bestowed in marriage by the royal family, could not have a higher status in Xiao Yunheng’s heart than a weak and frail concubine like Li Xue.

With a wife standing in between them, Xiao Yunheng always compared the two, and the more he compared, the more he pitied the beautiful concubine who looked so delicate.

But now that they were in the princess’s mansion, they were left alone and spent every day together, getting to know each other intimately and even experiencing the ordinary husband-and-wife feelings of “sharing weal and woe” that were common among the people.

Yun Zishu has already done her best for them. Whether they can withstand the test in the end depends on whether their love is as strong as gold.

……

It was an hour later when Si Cang arrived at the princess’s estate.

He was still wearing a long black robe embroidered with subtle patterns, which accentuated his tall, slender, and sharp figure. The cold and aloof aura between his brows remained, intimidating, like an icy mountain.

But as soon as he saw Yun Zishu, it was as if ice and snow had met the sun. Si Cang’s expression visibly softened and became much warmer. “Your Highness.”

Yun Zishu hummed in acknowledgement and said, “I asked you to join me for a meal and inquire about something.”

Si Cang lowered his gaze. “What does Your Highness wish to ask?”

‘Do you know who is the owner of the Royal Treasure Pavilion?”

Si Cang was silent for a moment, then said, “Why is Your Highness asking about this?”

“I passed by the Imperial Treasure Pavilion today, and the owner of the shop gave me a set of phoenix coronet hairpins.” Yun Zishu walked into the hall and sat down in front of the Eight Immortals table. “To be precise, it wasn’t exactly a gift… In short, his attitude towards me was somewhat strange.”

Si Cang sat down beside her and said lightly, “This subordinate will investigate.”

Yun Zishu looked up. “You don’t know?”

Si Cang shook his head.

Yun Zishu pondered, “To be able to open such a large jewelry pavilion in the imperial city, it shows that the family behind it is not small, at least not afraid of the royal family and dignitaries. In this way, we can probably deduce something. But if we truly investigate, it may not be easy to find out.”

Throughout the entire Great Yong, there are only a few merchant families of notable reputation. However, each of them had substantial influence and intricate, inseparable connections with the powerful nobles in the court. It may be a little difficult to determine which family it is.

Yun Zishu thought for a moment and finally asked, “Do you think it’s possible that it’s the Ji family?”

The Ji family was her mother’s family. They had little contact with her over the years, but she was aware that her mother came from a merchant family.

Moreover, the Ji family happened to be one of the wealthiest merchant families in the Great Yong Dynasty. They had once been related to the royal family through marriage and could be considered relatives of the royal family. It wouldn’t have been unusual for them to open a jewelry store in the imperial city in their early years.

This is also one of the reasons why the noble ladies of the aristocratic families looked down on her.

Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—though merchants had wealth, they were considered the lowest class in the society.

The queen was from a merchant family, which the royal family found shameful, and the powerful families looked down upon it. As a result, her status as the legitimate daughter was also undervalued. In addition, her mother died early, and her father did not favor her. Who would still take her seriously?

Previously, Yun Zishu had suspected that her father simply disliked her mother’s background and, unwilling to bear the reputation of being ungrateful and unrighteous, found it necessary to eliminate her, ensuring she ‘died accidentally’.

But Yun Zishu always found it strange.

If the Emperor simply just couldn’t accept the Empress’s background, then the Empress was already gone, and Yun Zishu was just an insignificant daughter. He only needed to act like a loving father to maintain the illusion that he was deeply in love with the Empress. Why did he insist on ensuring her death?

Why couldn’t he even tolerate the daughter of a deceased empress?

“It’s not the Ji family.” Si Cang’s voice was as steady as ever, without any emotional fluctuations. “I will go and investigate when I have time.”

Yun Zishu hummed in acknowledgement and temporarily put the matter aside.

“I met the Eighth Princess and the Princess Baozhu when I went out today, and I learned that Consort Wu’s birthday is approaching.” Her voice was calm and leisurely, as if making small talk. “Si Cang, I want to take this opportunity to enter the palace and see the Empress Dowager.”

“See the Empress Dowager?” Si Cang looked up.

“Yes.” Yun Zishu nodded, her expression thoughtful. “I always feel that the Empress Dowager is hiding some secret, which may be related to me.”

Si Cang was silent for a moment, and his voice was low and deep. “The Empress Dowager indeed holds a secret.”

Yun Zishu was slightly surprised. “You know?”

“Yes.” Si Cang nodded slowly. “Does Your Highness remember that this subordinate previously mentioned holding the emperor’s secret?”

Yun Zishu’s hand, which was picking up food with her chopsticks, paused. A thought flashed through her mind, and she blurted out, “Is the secret of the Emperor related to the Empress Dowager?”

“Yes.”

Yun Zishu looked at him. “Is it also related to me?”

“Yes.”

Yun Zishu’s heart stirred. As if thinking of something, she continued to ask, “Is it related to the Feng family?”

Si Cang’s voice was very steady. “Yes.”

Yun Zishu fell silent. It seemed that Si Cang knew everything.

“This subordinate only learned of it by chance,” Si Cang said, his eyes falling on her face. It was unclear whether he was explaining or worried that she would misunderstand that he had deliberately concealed it. “If Your Highness wishes to know, I can tell you everything, or Your Highness can go to see the Empress Dowager and have her tell you herself.”

Yun Zishu put down her chopsticks, picked up the teacup beside her, and took a sip. “Speak.”