"It’s not just the clans who want to place people by my side. Right now, I’m in a precarious position. I must take precautions first," Xiao Song said.
Even if soone tried to place people with Xiao Song, he could refuse, but refusal at that ti might lead to misunderstandings. Power always cos with suspicion, so Xiao Song had to make his stance clear from the start.
Xiao Song saw she was still frowning and smiled, "It’s just being impeached by the Imperial Censorate, and besides, it’s not a big deal—just a punishnt of one month’s salary at most."
Xiao Song had good private relationships with several imperial censors. Although the matter had spread throughout Chang’an, the Imperial Censorate could not feign ignorance. However, they could moderate their words slightly to make them less harsh. Among the founders of the empire, half were henpecked. Fang Xuanling had even been beaten by his wife, Lu. The Emperor had seen and understood much about these matters. Most likely, he would just reluctantly smile at this and lightly punish him to satisfy the public.
The next day.
During the court session, as Xiao Song had predicted, the Emperor only scolded him a bit and fined him one month’s salary, instructing him to reflect on his actions.
After that, the entrance to the Xiao residence regained its usual tranquility, and others who had similar ideas also temporarily backed off.
Chang’an had only seen two snowfalls this winter. After the new year passed, Xiao Song had so free ti. With Ran Yan’s pregnancy becoming stable, he would take her out every few days to relax.
Today, being his day off, Xiao Song went with her to Qujiang to enjoy the greenery and, incidentally, to offer prayers in a temple.
The carriage smoothly traveled on the paved road, and Ran Yan lay on the thick mattress without feeling any jolts.
"I’ve heard that it’s good for pregnant won to walk up to an hour a day, but not more. When we climb the mountain later, I will carry you, and you’re not allowed to refuse," Xiao Song said as he handed her a slice of peach.
Ran Yan had no choice. Xiao Song’s ’heard’ must have co from listening to all the doctors at the Imperial dical Bureau.
Four months into the pregnancy, Xiao Song almost took over all her diet and rest schedules, strictly controlling what she ate and when she rested.
Xiao Song never showed a nervous deanor, but Ran Yan could still feel it. It was normal for Ran Yan to be pregnant at seventeen; most won in Tang Dynasty had children before they were twenty. However, death during childbirth wasn’t rare, and so it’s said that giving birth was like passing through the Ghost Gate. Moreover, as Xiao Song had welcod his first child in his late twenties, he naturally placed great importance on it. Even when Ran Yan said they could resu marital relations in the fourth month, he never pursued it.
"Mm," Ran Yan understood his feelings, so she agreed without hesitation.
After she finished half a peach, she suddenly rembered sothing, "What’s the state of affairs with the Crown Prince and Prince Wei?"
Xiao Song wiped his hands and said, "The matter has been temporarily set aside. It’s said that the Emperor had a sincere talk with Sang Suiyuan, who hasn’t pursued it further."
Ran Yan found it strange. Sang Chen was a person who once committed to sothing, even if there were insurmountable obstacles ahead, he would stubbornly push forward. She wondered what thod Li Shimin used to persuade him.
"The day before yesterday, the Emperor appointed Xuanling as the ’Lesser ntor to the Crown Prince,’" Xiao Song continued, taking a sip from the tea cup handed to him by Wan Lu.
Did the Emperor have no intention of deposing the Crown Prince? Even though it had co to calling ministers at night to discuss, Ran Yan didn’t believe it was a rash act by Li Shimin.
Seeing her expression, Xiao Song set down his tea cup, sat on the edge of the bed, and said, "The day before yesterday at the Palace, Tuli Khan’s brother constrained Tuli’s son to ambush the Palace at night, killing dozens of guards. This was a rebellion. The court was shaken, and everyone speculated whether the act was prompted by a khan of the Turkic. Until this is clarified, the position of the heir can’t be casually disturbed, as it may easily lead to national unrest."
Fang Xuanling had once refused the position of ’Lesser ntor to the Crown Prince’ at the beginning of the Zhenguan era, but he took it now only because Great Tang needed to calm the situation regarding the deposition.
Ran Yan had heard about this incident from Ge Lan, but her information wasn’t as detailed as Xiao Song’s.
"And what about Princess Baling?" Ran Yan initially planned to enter the palace to clarify the situation and seize the opportunity for revenge, but unfortunately, after she had understood the general situation inside, she beca pregnant. Thus, she had to temporarily stop, not wanting to involve her child in such matters, but she couldn’t help but guard against the princess.
"You still rember the grudge," Xiao Song said with a smile, lying beside her. "The Emperor has already issued a decree, ordering her to marry Chai Lingwu in June. After the marriage, she must continue to reflect on her actions within the residence and is forbidden to take even half a step outside, unless summoned by decree."
"Why would that be?" Ran Yan is not a murderer, and although she was pleased with the princess’ retribution, she was also puzzled. The people who died at the Princess’ Courtyard were unregistered, and Xiao Song had covered up the signs of the attack on the manor with the appearance of a Pill Furnace explosion; a post-marriage confinent without a specified duration seems overly harsh.
"When we were in Lanling, didn’t I have Bai Yi hand over a piece of evidence to Imperial Censor Ma Zhou? It was evidence that the Princess of Baling forced n to be her playthings, and it included the case of the County Princess Wenxi," Xiao Song said.
The County Princess Wenxi was the only offspring of the hidden Crown Prince, and although Li Shimin hasn’t treated her well over the years, his deep-seated guilt towards his brother would not allow him to overlook her mishaps. But the Princess of Baling forcing her husband, Chai Xuanyi, to consu opium, leading to a murder case and the tragic death of the County Princess Wenxi, was akin to indirectly killing her, sothing Li Shimin couldn’t tolerate.
Xiao Song habitually struck at the most vital spot, directly hitting Li Shimin’s sore point, and each sighting of the Princess of Baling could potentially sting him again. Therefore, as long as Li Shimin remained in power, her chances of turning her fate around were slim, likely making the confinent indefinite.
Ran Yan snapped back to reality and turned her head, only to find Xiao Song asleep next to her just as the carriage ca to a stop.
Wan Lu ca in, and Ran Yan gestured for her to keep quiet.
Thus, with the carriage parked at the foot of the mountain where Ci’en Temple was located, Ran Yan accompanied him in sleep for a while longer.
It was not until the faint sound of bells reached them that Xiao Song opened his eyes and asked groggily, "Have we arrived?"
"Yes," Ran Yan replied.
Xiao Song rubbed his head, got up, and drew back the curtain to look outside, marveling, "I slept for that long!"
Outside, the sunlight was blinding; it was almost noon.
Wan Lu and Ge Lan ca in to help the couple tidy up their appearances.
Xiao Song simply retied his hair and went out first, helping Ran Yan down from the carriage after she was ready.
The distant bell still rang, and Ran Yan looked at Ci’en Temple not far away, wondering, "Where is that bell sound coming from?"
"Lady, have you forgotten? Qingyin Temple is nearby," Wan Lu replied.
Of course, Huan Kong was at Qingyin Temple. Ran Yan said, "My lord, it has been a long ti since I saw little master Huan Kong. How about we take a detour there on our way back to visit her?"
"Sure," Xiao Song replied with a smile.
As they reached the foot of the mountain, Ran Yan felt uneasy. The incense at Ci’en Temple was thriving, and the constant stream of pilgrims going up and down the mountain made her uncomfortable about having Xiao Song carry her up, but faced with the several hundred steps, she dared not climb them herself.
"My lord, we better go back. As long as our hearts are sincere, the Buddha can feel it," Ran Yan advised.
Without further discussion, Xiao Song simply picked her up and started walking uphill. Their intimate action, combined with Xiao Song’s handso countenance, imdiately made them the center of attention.
The surrounding pilgrims cast sidelong glances, so shaking their heads secretly, others covering their mouths to laugh. Ran Yan calmly buried her face in Xiao Song’s chest, since no one there knew her anyway.
Almost as soon as she thought that, a clear voice revealed their identities, "Lord Xiangwu! Lady Ran!"
This voice, Ran Yan listened, sounded very familiar... it was that rabbit. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote your recomndation ticket and monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian). Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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