Yu Bianfu showed a look of surprise at Wenyuan’s blood-covered appearance before quickly hiding her emotions behind a polite smile.

“Grand Duke, I am also reluctant to act in such a rude manner, but it can’t be helped since I am here on the direct orders of the Empress Dowager,” Bianfu said sweetly. The Grand Duke’s brow furrowed.

“The Empress Dowager?”

“Her Highness was keen to see her grandson, and sent me to escort him to her palace,” Bianfu explained. She glanced at Wenyuan. “Though I can see that I came at a bad time.”

The Grand Duke let out an angry huff and stormed off, gesturing over his shoulder at Housekeeper Wang. The Housekeeper quickly shouted for a servant to bring the doctor, and Kayla slowly let out the breath she had been holding. The nonstop fear that had started that morning wasn’t easing up, now that the person who would be killing her in a horrible way was standing before her.

Housekeeper Wang scuttled to her side, helping Kayla onto a chair. She winced as pain flared up in her wounds from the movement, avoiding meeting Bianfu’s eyes again as the General looked at Kayla intently.

Just what the hell is with the protagonists and staring at people? Kayla wiped away the tears that had left streaks across her face during the beating. In addition to the pain, she also now wanted to throw up. The doctor hurried in, nervously moving around Bianfu when she didn’t budge from where she stood smack in the middle of the door.

“Does the General intend to watch me undress?” Kayla asked. To her chagrin, her voice shook while she said it. Yu Bianfu let out a short laugh.

“No. Please pardon me, young lord.” Yu Bianfu stepped out of the doorway, allowing Wang to close the door. The doctor’s healing magic washed over Kayla’s body, the pain fading away to a strange tingling sensation. With it, Kayla’s emotions calmed down somewhat.

“Oh,” Kayla sighed in relief. “That’s much better.”

The doctor let out a worried noise, and then promptly slipped in some blood. He hastily scrambled back to his feet and bowed.

“Young lord, I have finished. Are you feeling alright?” He asked nervously.

Kayla did not feel alright, but that didn’t have anything to do with the doctor. She nodded and dismissed him.

Will Bianfu tell the Empress Dowager or will she keep it as something to tell Xianchun only? We’ll have to react based on what she does.

That fucking bitch deserves to slip and smash her face in! Wenyuan was too busy seething to be of much help. Kayla stood up and allowed Housekeeper Wang to help her change into a new set of clothes, her current robes now ripped and stained with blood. Wang opened the door and bowed as Kayla stepped out.

She turned towards Bianfu, who was leaning against a pillar and looking at Kayla with interest.

“Well then, General Yu?” Kayla said coolly.

“Of course, my lord. Allow me to escort you.”

Kayla silently made her way onto the carriage from the Imperial Palace that the Empress Dowager had sent for Wenyuan, ignoring the piercing stare boring into her back.

Wenyuan, as much as I sympathize, calm down a bit. We’re going to meet your grandmother.

That actually worked, Wenyuan’s rage fading into a forlorn sense of dejection.

Grandmother…she was always so kind to me.

Wenyuan’s memories of being cuddled by the Empress Dowager as a child flashed into her mind, and the tenderness of the moment washed away a bit of the horror of everything that had happened throughout the day. Kayla let out a deep sigh and leaned her head against the side of the carriage, once again heading into the palace.

///////////

The Empress Dowager was as kind as she had been in Wenyuan’s memories. Before Kayla could even bow, she was quickly beckoned to sit at the Dowager’s side, where the elderly woman affectionately stroked Kayla’s hair. Bianfu had left without saying anything about what she’d seen in the Grand Duke’s household, which probably meant she was saving that information for Xianchun’s usage.

“Wenyuan, you left so quickly after the court without sparing a thought for your lonely grandmother?” The Dowager asked lovingly. A wave of affection washed over her from Wenyuan, who basked in the kindness from his maternal grandmother.

“Grandmother, I couldn’t help it, there was an urgent matter back home,” Kayla said, nudging the Dowager’s hand gently with her head. The Dowager smiled, appeased by the childish action.

“Of course, our Wenyuan’s all grown up now,” the Dowager said. She gestured for a serving girl to pour Kayla some tea and pointed towards the snacks laid out before them. “Have some, go ahead.”

Both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager seemed to enjoy feeding Wenyuan. Kayla obediently drank the tea and took a pastry.

“Thank you, grandmother,” she said. The Empress Dowager watched happily as Kayla ate.

“Wenyuan, when are you getting married?” she asked. Kayla nearly choked on the pastry.

Why do all grandmothers ask this?!

“Grandmother!” Kayla protested.

“You’re at the right age,” the Dowager said patiently. “When a man grows up he should take a wife, and when a woman grows up she should marry a husband. You’re doing well in your career, isn’t it a good time?”

Kayla shook her head vehemently. “I’ve been so busy lately, I’ll think about it later.”

“Well, there are so many well-educated and beautiful young ladies in the capital city, it’ll be easy to find you a good wife.”

The Dowager peered at him with amusement. “Or is there already a young lady in your heart?”

Kayla quickly shook her head.

“No, grandmother. There really isn’t,” Kayla insisted.

“Alright, alright. Enough of that then, but you should really start thinking about this seriously,” the Dowager said. Kayla nodded obediently.

She quickly steered the conversation away from the topic of marriage and started chatting with the Dowager. Kayla slowly relaxed, the tension in her body unwinding in the presence of Wenyuan’s grandmother. She was rather enjoying herself when Bianfu re-entered the room, accompanied by Xianchun. Kayla nearly spat her tea out.

“Grandmother, I humbly greet you,” Xianchun said, bowing formally. The Empress Dowager waved for him to get up, and stopped Kayla with a hand on her shoulder when she tried to get up to greet Xianchun.

“Xianchun, come here and sit by me, have some tea with your younger cousin,” the Dowager called to him. Xianchun swiftly walked over and sat down a distance away from Kayla.

“Thank you, Grandmother,” he said, still using formal mannerisms and bowing his head sharply.

“I was just talking with your cousin, it’s good that you’ve joined us,” the Dowager said pleasantly. If she felt any irritation at Xianchun single-handedly killing the mood, she didn’t show it.

“Cousin,” Kayla greeted Xianchun. This time, Xianchun returned the familial greeting instead of calling Wenyuan’s official title. The prince’s eyes remained fixed intently on Wenyuan for a moment too long before moving away, and Kayla had to fight to keep her hands from shaking as she drank her tea.

The Empress Dowager was a more experienced and patient conversationalist than the Emperor and managed to work around Xianchun’s stiffness to keep the mood light. Kayla continued to chat amiably as she had with the Emperor, fighting the fear and annoyance that was once again twinging in her heart.

Just why the hell did this bastard come?

I bet he’s here to pick a fight or blackmail us about getting beaten by grandfather.

What a piece of shit.

Despite internally having a curse-fest in which she and Wenyuan insulted Xianchun and Bianfu, Kayla kept her expression cheerful, smiling brightly before the Dowager. The three continued to chat more-or-less pleasantly for another hour or so, Xianchun surprisingly not picking a fight at all. Kayla had a vague feeling that Xianchun might be trying to piggyback off the Dowager’s affection for Wenyuan, invoking a strong sense of outrage. Not only was this guy going to kill her, he was trying to profit off her in the meantime. But it wasn’t like she could do anything about it.

“Well, I’ve kept you boys long enough,” the Empress Dowager said. “I suppose I shouldn’t keep you too much longer.“

“I had a lot of fun, Grandmother,” Kayla said sweetly. The Dowager patted Wenyuan’s head affectionately.

“Good, good. Remember to come see me often then, don’t make Bianfu have to chase you around on horseback,” she said.

“We’ll take our leave then, please get some rest, Grandmother,” Xianchun said, bowing his head.

“Please get some rest, Grandmother,” Kayla echoed playfully.

The two left together, but the air between them rapidly cooled as soon as they exited the room. Bianfu joined them, walking behind Xianchun. The air cooled to a freezing point.

“Wenyuan, join me for a walk,” Xianchun said. Kayla did her best not to scowl.

Just what does he want?!

“Now, my prince?” She asked skeptically.

“The garden’s lovely at this hour,” Bianfu piped in. “I think you’d enjoy it, my lord.”

Seeing no option to refuse, Kayla nodded and followed Xianchun with a growing sense of resignation. There were so many eyes in the Inner Palace, Xianchun couldn’t hurt her here. Once they reached a quiet section of the garden, which Kayla was too nervous to enjoy, Bianfu peeled off after ascertaining no one else was present. Kayla watched her leave with apprehension. Her head was starting to hurt, a dull ache that made her feel sluggish. It had been a long and exhausting day. Kayla didn’t want to stay here with Xianchun and she didn’t want to return to where the Grand Duke was, but there was nowhere else to go.

“Was there something you wanted to talk about, Prince?”

Xianchun looked at her, a cool gaze that didn’t hold the intensity of his previous stares.

“You were certainly clumsy at court today,” he said. Kayla closed her eyes and held back a sigh.

“As you say, my prince.”

Xianchun stepped closer. “Zhao Wenyuan, could it be that you didn’t want to present the case?”

Kayla’s eyes snapped open. She met Xianchun’s gaze determinedly.

“That’s right.”

Xianchun’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve always been obedient to the Grand Duke. Since when have you dared to have your own thoughts?”

Kayla let out a bitter laugh, but couldn’t think of a good reply. Wenyuan had always had his own thoughts. He had been a man who drowned himself in alcohol and pleasure to hide the deep-rooted fear and helplessness he felt, but it wasn’t as though Xianchun ever cared to see that. For some reason, it felt like nothing she said would be taken well, or otherwise get through to Xianchun. She shook her head and looked down, avoiding a response.

“Or is it that you’re throwing a tantrum because of a disagreement with the Grand Duke?”

Kayla shook her head again. She was tired. Perhaps at a better time, she could say something to win over Xianchun, but she was at her limit. Her head was now throbbing painfully and Kayla felt vaguely nauseous.

“But who would’ve thought that even the precious grandson of the Grand Duke can also invoke his anger?” Xianchun asked in a carefully casual tone. Kayla stiffened.

So he wants to threaten me.

Xianchun glanced at her. “The capital city would be thrilled to gossip about that.”

Kayla sighed, turning away from his gaze. “Do you think that’s something I care about?” she asked. “Prince, you shouldn’t threaten someone you know so little about.”

She met his gaze with tired eyes. “It doesn’t work.”

Kayla bowed slightly without waiting for a response from Xianchun, wanting to get out of here as fast as possible. “Then I’ll take my leave, Your Highness.”

She rose quickly and whirled around to leave. That turned out to be a bad idea. Kayla’s vision blanked out for a second and her head spun, the place where she’d been struck by the Grand Duke in the forehead aching painfully. Firm hands grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her down. Kayla struggled against the grip until she landed gently on a hard surface. It took a moment longer for her vision to clear up.

Kayla gingerly touched her head as the dizziness ceased, and glanced up to see Xianchun’s discomforted expression. Surprisingly, Xianchun had stopped her from crashing facefirst into the ground and had moved her to sit on one of the large rocks in the garden.

“Are you-do you need a doctor?” Xianchun asked, evidently very uncomfortable with the situation. He couldn’t let Wenyuan get hurt while they were alone, at risk of incurring the Dowager’s ire, and was forced to awkwardly make sure Wenyuan didn’t keel over. Kayla tried to shake her head and winced at the sharp pain it caused.

“I’m fine,” she croaked. “Just need a moment.”

“Were you struck in the head?” Xianchun’s voice remained dispassionate. Kayla sighed and didn’t answer him. Xianchun reached out and she flinched away from him. The prince stopped and withdrew his hand.

“Do you want to move to a seat?” Xianchun asked instead.

“Thank you, I’m fine here,” she hurriedly replied. Her head was clearing up and the pain was slowly disappearing. Xianchun sighed and moved to sit down on a rock opposite her.

“Just what’s with you these days? You’ve been acting strangely,” Xianchun said, an accusatory note in his voice. He seemed frustrated that the predictable puppet of Grand Duke Zhao was not acting as expected.

Kayla didn’t reply, changing the topic back to the Governor Yue case. “And what’s with you? The Emperor might not have given the verdict to exterminate his family if you didn’t talk like that,” she shot back. She might as well act more unpredictably before Xianchun, and hopefully, that would confuse the shrewd prince enough that Kayla had more chances to survive.

Xianchun scowled. “Governor Yue didn’t deserve to die! If you didn’t want his family to be exterminated, why the hell did you suggest that verdict in the first place?” He snapped.

“Oh, you think I get to choose the verdicts?” Kayla snapped right back. “Whether or not he deserves to die, that man’s done for. Even a fool can tell that all the powerful forces in court want him dead-what did you think you could do alone? Rather than defending him, you should have defended his family. Uncle would’ve been much more willing!”

Xianchun’s face morphed into an expression of shock before returning to a scowl.

“Your allies would have condemned them to death either way. How could a powerless prince do anything against the Grand Duke?!” Xianchun snarled bitterly.

Kayla sighed deeply, knowing what he said was true. In the novel, the Emperor had later come to regret killing Governor Yue’s wife and daughter. It suddenly occurred to her that rather than changing the plot through her role as a side character, she would probably have better luck having Xianchun change the plot himself.

“Then don’t do anything. There are definitely people who would speak up for Lady Yue if they knew her true identity,” Kayla said.

Xianchun gave her a questioning frown. “What are you talking about?”

“This can be confirmed if you seek out Lady Yue’s foster-mother Lady Gu, who currently resides in the Capital with her son. He’s a low-ranking official with the surname Gu, but I don’t know which one he is,” Kayla said slowly, trying to recall the details from the novel.

“Confirm what?” Xianchun asked impatiently.

“Lady Yue is the great-granddaughter of the great General Liang Anguo. After he was framed and executed, much of his descendants fled throughout the country, including Lady Yue’s parents. They passed away before General Liang’s name was cleared, and Lady Yue was raised by the Gu family whose care she was left in. The current head of the Liang family does not know of Lady Yue yet, since she was born after the General’s death, but he would recognize the pseudonyms her parents used while in hiding,” Kayla told him.

“You should act quickly and find out which family with the surname Gu used to live in Anling, and then share this information with the other officials,” Kayla continued. “There’s quite a few that remain neutral simply because they don’t have anything to strike back with, but they wouldn’t pass up a chance to disparage Minister Xie for trying to kill someone with the bloodline of General Liang.”

Xianchun looked at her in shock. “Just how do you know all this?! And why didn’t you say anything in court? You just stood there like a wooden doll!”

Kayla gave him an affronted glare. “I got beaten just for not complying enough, and you think I would directly go against my grandfather publicly? Do you think people should go around getting themselves killed just to convenience you?!”

Oh wait, he does think that. Oops.

To her surprise, Xianchun looked slightly admonished but quickly returned to scowling.

“You still haven’t told me how you know this.”

Kayla shook her head. “I can’t tell you that. It’s fine if you don’t trust my words, just conduct the investigation and you’ll see for yourself. Don’t you want to save Governor Yue’s family?”

Please do it and strike down the death flag! Kayla also didn’t want to share responsibility in getting an innocent woman and her child killed for no good reason, it would grate on her conscience too much.

Xianchun slowly nodded. “I’ll be checking the truth of your words myself. Know that if your words are untrue-”

“I’ll face the consequences, I know. Word of advice? Don’t present the information yourself if you can find someone else to do it for you, it wouldn’t be taken well. You said too much today,” Kayla urged him. She really needed Xianchun to make this happen. Hopefully, it would have a ripple effect on the plot, but even if it didn’t, it might leave her in a better position to try again.

Xianchun didn’t respond, but quickly stood up and turned to leave. He stopped a few steps away and awkwardly glanced at Kayla.

“Can you walk?”

“Yes, but I’ll go after you,” Kayla said. “I need another moment.”

She didn’t, but she wanted to avoid walking with Xianchun. The prince turned and disappeared between the trees. After waiting a few more moments to make sure he was gone, Kayla got up and made to leave.

“Are you two done speaking then?” Bianfu’s voice rang out from behind her. Kayla squawked and nearly fell over. Bianfu reached out to steady her, but Kayla moved further away from the General.

“General Yu!”

“Did I startle you, young lord?”

Kayla let out an angry huff and ignored the question. “Did you come to escort me?”

Yu Bianfu bowed slightly. “Yes, my lord. I’ll see you back home safely, though unfortunately, my duty stops at the door.” Kayla ignored the mocking tone in Bianfu’s voice. Ultimately, whether or not the news of her beating was spread through the court depended completely on Xianchun’s decision. If Xianchun did, Kayla was planning to use it as an excuse to publicly distance herself from the Grand Duke. If he didn’t, that also left her with some autonomy as to what to do with the information.

Even if it meant that people gossiped or mocked Wenyuan for getting beaten, the fact that Bianfu withheld the information from the Dowager was ultimately to Kayla’s advantage. Wenyuan’s pride probably made Bianfu exclude the possibility that Wenyuan would reveal the information himself, but Kayla was different.

She looked at Bianfu coldly. “Of course it does. Since when could a guard interfere in the Grand Duke’s household affairs?”

Bianfu’s smug grin faded a little. Kayla ignored her and began walking back to the carriage. There was no way she could suck up to Bianfu after what the General did to Wenyuan, who was her only support in this world. If that was the case, Kayla would have to work on removing her instead.

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男大当婚，女大当嫁: A Chinese proverb meaning that when a man grows up he should take a wife, and when a woman grows up she should take a husband. Often used by elders to push their kids to get married.