Chapter Twenty-Two: The Duel of Wits

Under the faint light, Helian Yu was draped in a white fox fur cloak, his long, curled eyelashes casting a shadow in the candlelight.

Su Zhinian withdrew the hand she had hidden by her pillow. “It’s not a good habit for Your Highness to silently slip into a woman’s chamber.”

“I do not have such a habit,” Helian Yu replied, setting down a jade pendant he had been fiddling with.

The pendant was carved with a Pisces pattern in warm jade, and Su Zhinian’s eyes darkened.

This was clearly part of her dowry—how could it be in Helian Yu’s possession?

“What is this, Your Highness?”

Helian Yu raised his hand and tossed the pendant to her, and Su Zhinian caught it in her arms.

The touch was warm; this jade was undoubtedly valuable, and she would be heartbroken if it were damaged.

As Su Zhinian carefully examined the warm jade, Helian Yu’s hoarse voice broke the silence.

“Miss Su, I have come to collect my payment.”

Upon hearing this, Su Zhinian knew that the matter concerning Gu Heng had been settled.

She also quickly understood why the jade pendant had appeared in Helian Yu’s hands.

It must have been taken from the storeroom by Gu Lingxuan and given to Gu Heng.

These people now treated her dowry as their own.

Su Zhinian narrowed her eyes and, regaining her composure, found Helian Yu staring at her.

She blinked. “Now, Your Highness can tell me what reward you desire.”

Last time, the matter was interrupted abruptly; tonight, Helian Yu risked sneaking into the palace just to discuss this.

Surely, it must be something significant.

She had mentally prepared herself, and then Helian Yu’s thin lips parted slightly.

“I only wish for Miss Su to teach me how to play chess.”

“Just chess?” Su Zhinian doubted.

“Just chess!” Helian Yu nodded firmly.

If that was the case, Su Zhinian could finally breathe a sigh of relief. She did not ask why Helian Yu wanted to learn chess.

Nor did she intend to.

Sometimes, knowing too much was no blessing.

Before her death in a previous life, she had heard that this prince was desperately searching for someone.

But it likely had nothing to do with her.

Helian Yu seemed well prepared. He snapped his fingers, and a shadow flickered in, setting up a chessboard and pieces before vanishing swiftly.

“Your Highness is truly bold,” Su Zhinian murmured.

After all, moving in and out of the palace unseen indicated extraordinary skill.

This so-called ghost-faced ruthless prince was not so simple.

“You need not worry about this,” Helian Yu said, pushing a chess piece forward. Su Zhinian draped a white fox fur over her shoulders and sat opposite him.

“Just don’t drag me into any trouble.”

The implication was clear: no matter what, avoiding involvement was best.

Helian Yu smiled wryly. “Miss Su has quite the sharp tongue.”

“Your Highness flatters me. I only speak the truth,” she replied.

As the chess pieces fell with each move, Helian Yu quickly grew focused.

Su Zhinian realized he was not unskilled; rather, he was using her as practice.

Whenever her moves puzzled him, he would press her for explanations.

Throughout the night, they played only a few rounds, all of which she patiently explained.

By midnight, Su Zhinian had yawned several times before Helian Yu left, full of vigor.

She did not know how he departed. When she awoke, everything had returned to how it was.

Yushu came to help her wash and dress. Seeing Su Zhinian distracted, she waved her hand in front of her face.

“Miss, snap out of it.”

Had it not been for the Pisces-patterned jade pendant by her pillow, Su Zhinian might have thought it was all a dream.

Smiling, she asked Yushu how she had slept.

Yushu rubbed the back of her neck, expression puzzled and dazed. “I seemed to have slept very soundly last night.”

That was strange; she had never slept so deeply before.

Su Zhinian guessed Helian Yu must have used some means.

“All right, help me get ready quickly. I have to pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress.”

Seeing Yushu still deep in thought, Su Zhinian called her back.

“Oh, yes,” Yushu said, no longer dwelling on it.

Since the Empress’s pregnancy, she had become cautious in everything and had exempted the concubines from their usual visits, except on the first and fifteenth of each month, when they still came.

While Su Zhinian dined with the Empress, a palace maid approached with a message.

“Your Majesty, Consort Shu has arrived.”

“Please show Consort Shu in,” the Empress ordered.

The Empress frowned but still allowed the visitor to enter.

Consort Shu wore an emerald green silk gown embroidered with brocade, two jade hairpins adorning her temples; she was exquisitely beautiful, with willow leaf eyebrows full of charm.

Su Zhinian bowed. “Greetings, Consort Shu.”

Consort Shu bowed to the Empress, then joyfully took Su Zhinian’s hand.

“So, this must be the Empress’s cousin. Such a delicate and fortunate girl. The Empress has been feeling lonely lately; you staying in the palace to keep her company has certainly lifted her spirits!”

Consort Shu’s first impression was that she was perceptive and tactful, speaking nothing but flattering words that naturally increased one’s favor toward her.

Naturally, the Empress felt pleased. “What brings you here, Consort Shu?”

“Your Majesty might not know—since the fall from favor, the lady of Yanxi Palace hasn’t stepped beyond the palace gates.”

“She claims to be ill and insists on having Court Doctor Zhang summoned to see her. Doctor Zhang is the one who oversees Your Majesty’s pregnancy, yet that girl said if Doctor Zhang cannot come, she will take full responsibility if anything happens.”

“I’m at a loss and have come to seek Your Majesty’s advice.”

The Empress slammed the table in anger. “Demanding Doctor Zhang by name—doesn’t that mean she’s working against me?”

Consort Shu looked troubled and sighed. “Even Lady Wan refuses to see me.”

“In that case, let her be. Consort Shu, you’re too kind-hearted.”

“After all, I and Consort Liang now manage the harem together; these matters are our duties.”

It was well known in the palace that Consort Shu was the kindest, gentle even to the maids and servants.

“Enough. If she refuses treatment by other imperial physicians, then so be it!”

She wouldn’t last more than two days anyway.

A cold glint passed through the Empress’s eyes.

“Very well, I shall not disturb Your Majesty any longer. I take my leave.”

With the Empress’s words, Consort Shu felt relieved as if a burden had lifted.

If Lady Wan did suffer misfortune, it would not be her fault.

But Su Zhinian keenly sensed something was amiss.

A flash of insight flickered past, but she failed to grasp it in time.

Sure enough, trouble struck at the palace late that night.