Chapter 12 Return to the Capital
Winter passed and spring arrived. The Emperor's illness grew heavier until he could barely manage court affairs.
The Fourth Prince received the heavy charge and was named Crown Prince, taking on the duty of regent.
At that time Elder Sister and I sat on a small boat in Jiangnan.
"Lan'er, I miss you dearly. If you are willing to return to the capital I will send people at once to bring you back."
After I finished reading the Crown Prince's letter I leaned toward Elder Sister at the railing and lowered my voice.
"Elder Sister, are we still not returning? Are you not afraid the position of Empress will be taken by someone else?"
These days I had gradually understood Elder Sister's plan.
After rebirth, Elder Sister aimed straight for the position of Empress. Dealing with the Yun family had merely been convenient.
Elder Sister pressed my forehead. "You little girl. The wind is strong. Be careful not to strain your tongue."
I giggled, completely unconcerned.
Elder Sister glanced at Shen Xingzhi rowing hard. "Why rush? Only when the whole world knows that position has been reserved for me will I sit on it securely."
With that she rose, sat at the desk, and wrote a serious reply.
Another month passed and the Emperor passed away.
The Fourth Prince ascended the throne smoothly.
The new Emperor's enthronement brought celebration across the land.
Even the confined Second Prince was released, granted the title Prince Rui, and ordered to depart at once for his fief with his family.
The court seethed with hidden currents. The harem remained empty and cold.
The new Emperor showed no haste to fill the harem. Not a single concubine entered.
After the harem stayed vacant for a full month the ministers grew anxious. They submitted petitions daily urging the Emperor to select beauties, even appealing to the Empress Dowager.
The Emperor always promised sincerely yet took no action.
Before long all kinds of rumors spread through the court and rear palace.
Some claimed the Emperor suffered a hidden illness. Others said he preferred men. A few even whispered he was a woman disguised as a man. The Empress Dowager had deceived the late Emperor to secure her own power.
With rumors running wild the Empress Dowager could sit still no longer. She cornered the Emperor in the imperial study.
After a long private talk she finally relaxed.
Fortunately the Emperor had no major problem. He had simply fallen in love with a wild girl of no background. Afraid that crowning her hastily would fail to silence the gossip, he had left the harem empty.
Yet now the Emperor himself was nearly drowned by criticism.
After careful thought the Empress Dowager decided to give the wild girl a proper background.
It happened that Prince Rong's mansion had lost its only daughter. She therefore registered the girl under Prince Rong's name.
Thus while Elder Sister and I listened to music in Jiangnan, people from Prince Rong's mansion arrived. They respectfully addressed Elder Sister as Young Miss.
This time Elder Sister did not refuse. She returned to the capital as Huo Lanxin, Eldest Young Miss of Prince Rong's mansion.