Controlled by Someone

  This time, Imperial Concubine Yun’s stay in the Chun Palace was rather peaceful. She did not mess around and did not make any changes to the Chun Palace. She spent her days obediently staying in her own courtyard, sometimes going into a daze for the entire day.

  But with her like this, the servants were a little confused. The people of the Chun Palace were accustomed to Imperial Concubine Yun making a fuss every time that she came, tearing down houses or digging up paths. This time, she suddenly stopped causing a fuss, yet they were not accustomed to it?

  When Feng Yuheng arrived, some of the servants secretly told her: “Princess, advise the madam! Don’t let her feel too bored. The boredom will end up doing damage to her.”


  Feng Yuheng also understood this reasoning. She thought for a bit then simply pulled out some nice things from her space to play with Imperial Concubine Yun. Imperial Concubine Yun gave her some face, as she was very interested in the lipstick, cushions, facial creams, eyeshadow and things of that variety that she had brought out. Picking them up, there was no end to her questions.

  Feng Yuheng let out a sigh of relief. She was not afraid of Imperial Concubine Yun asking. She was worried that Imperial Concubine Yun would not ask. If these things that were a topic of discussion for women failed to attract her attention, she really would need to take a look at Imperial Concubine Yun’s health.

  She led Imperial Concubine Yun along and spoke about each one. She revealed every bit of knowledge that she had on makeup products, and all that was missing was for her to recount tales of each brand. But in the end, it was not enough to take up all of the time. As she spoke, Feng Yuheng’s shallow pool of knowledge about makeup products was exhausted. Unable to think of anything else, the two just smiled at each other until a gloomy look appeared on Imperial Concubine Yun’s face once more.

  There was nothing that Feng Yuheng could do, thus she frankly said to Imperial Concubine Yun: “Imperial concubine mother, if you have something that you want to say, just say it. Just holding it in isn’t any way to do things. Since it’s already happened, none of us can pretend that it is not there. Deliberately avoiding things is not the best way to solve problems. If you are unhappy, as your children, we are also quite angry. Let’s talk about it. A-Heng will also tell imperial concubine mother about what is currently known along with my own analysis.

  With her saying this, Imperial Concubine Yun instantly became spirited, urgently asking: “Tell me, what exactly has possessed the old man?” Imperial Concubine Yun had determined that the Emperor had been possessed, as she said: “If he had not been possessed, it’s impossible for something like this to have happened. I understand him.”


  “Imperial concubine mother.” In regards to the Emperor’s matters, Feng Yuheng really wanted to hear what Imperial Concubine Yun thought. After all, Imperial Concubine Yun was the one who understood the Emperor. There were many things that she would understand better, thus she asked: “Have you really summarized this matter as Father Emperor having been possessed?”


  Imperial Concubine Yun nodded her head earnestly, “That’s right, he’s been possessed. Do you not feel that this entire situation feels quite odd? A person’s nature will not change. If you were to say that a young person felt that someone was great because they could not get her, it might be that they would feel that she was just like all the others once they actually get her. But the old man is already at this age. If he was that sort of a person, there would not have been peace in the inner palace for over 20 years. If he wanted to change for the worse, he would have done it long ago. Why bother waiting through his prime years to start messing around in his waning years?” As she said this, she sighed with a hint of sadness, “At this age, how many more years can he mess around for? It would be better for him to calm down a little and live a little longer.”


  Feng Yuheng went with the flow and said: “Imperial concubine mother understands Father Emperor the best.”


  “That’s right. I am the one who understands him the best.” Imperial Concubine Yun was a chatterbox who would not stop talking once she started, and she said to Feng Yuheng: “On the day that you guys got married in the South, I invited him into Winter Moon Palace. Starting from that moment, he eats all three of his meals in my palace, but I definitely do not believe that he no longer takes me seriously because he managed to overcome some hardships with me. Xuan Zhan is a pretty good man. Although I have refused to see him for the past 20 years, I will still use these sorts of words to describe him. Everyone says that a couple is connected at heart. Although we have not seen each other after that incident, I could clearly feel that something is off with him. It’s not that he’s been threatened by someone. Instead, it’s more like being possessed. It’s as though he’s being controlled by someone……” She pondered for a while then pointed at her own head, “Here! A-Heng, do you understand? I feel that Xuan Zhan’s this place has been controlled by someone else. It’s such that he became what he is currently like.”


  Imperial Concubine Yun’s words served as a reminder to Feng Yuheng. Although she had considered the idea of Xuan Zhan being controlled, in this sort of era, she could not think of any methods that could be used to control another person’s mind to the point that they would completely change.

  She brought up this problem, and Imperial Concubine Yun fell into deep contemplation; however, the two had reached a consensus that the Emperor had been controlled. Seeing that they were unable to figure out how he was being controlled after a period of thought, Feng Yuheng said to Imperial Concubine Yun: “Since we have determined that this is not Father Emperor’s intention, there’s no need for imperial concubine mother to feel hurt or saddened. It would be better to direct those feelings into energy, and we will think of a way to save Father Emperor.”


  Imperial Concubine Yun nodded, slowly saying: “I refuse to meet him, but this does not mean that I do not think of him. Over these past 20 years, every night, if there was a dream, they were all filled with him. Some are from the time we spent barefoot in that residence and some are of him in the Imperial Palace in his imperial robes. When I dreamed of him from our time in that residence, I would smile. If it was a dream of him in his imperial robes, I would be woken by the shock. A-Heng, save him! This country, this world, regardless of whom it is given to in the future, it will definitely be one of his sons. Tell Ming’er that we will not compete. The world outside is far more liberating than the Imperial Palace. Of all the things that could be done, why become the emperor?”


  Feng Yuheng had similar thoughts as Imperial Concubine Yun, but she told Imperial Concubine Yun: “Husband already said that he initially did not want this country, but he could not just watch this country fall into the hands of someone crooked. He needs to help Father Emperor take care of this country and hand it to someone steady. Only then can he be at ease.”


  Imperial Concubine Yun did not say anything else. She understood that this was the responsibility of a prince and a subject. It would serve as taking on the work that was handed down through the generations of the Xuan family. She could not advise them to do anything. She just asked Feng Yuheng to save the Emperor before saying that she would go and rest, sending Feng Yuheng away.

  Returning to the Yu Palace, Feng Yuheng also had all kinds of thoughts. She desperately thought about what sort of method had been used to control the Emperor. In the era, could it be that there was such a high-level expert and medicine? She only just realized that she had too little of an understanding of this era that she was now living in.

  Given the political situation of the current moment, each family had their own thoughts. After thinking about it, they clearly chose the teams that they would side with. Everyone knew that this might be the final time choosing teams. They also believed that this choice would definitely be the most normal because this choice would be made based on the decisions made by the Emperor. The choice would not be made based on their own speculation. With the Emperor has a pillar of support, the eighth prince definitely would not lose. What was there for them to fear?

  But there were some who did not believe this, for example, the left prime minister, Lu Song.

  Lu Song had learned to play it smart. He was steadfast in his ideas, which were to follow the ninth prince and follow Feng Yuheng. Regardless of how a situation looks on the surface, as long as he followed those two, things would develop in a good direction. He and his wife, Ge shi, said to their only remaining daughter, Lu Ping: “Although the eighth prince looks to be doing very well, and although Imperial Concubine Yuan Shu looks to be dominating the inner palace, I thought long and hard and still think that this is unsteady. No matter how I look at it, the Emperor’s condition seems abnormal. I fear that there is some sort of plot involved, and it’s just that we are unable to see through it.”


  Ge shi also said: “Moreover, there is enmity between our family and the eighth prince. Whenever I think of Yan’er dying, even if the eighth prince can end up on the throne, I cannot bring myself to swallow my anger and stand on his side.”


  Lu Song nodded, “That’s right! Also, even if we were willing, he’s unwilling to accept us. That’s why my meaning is our Lu family will remain steadfast in its stance. We will fully support His Highness the ninth prince and Imperial Daughter Ji An. Regardless of how others look at things and what they might say, we definitely will not be affected by others.”


  Ge shi frowned and asked: “But would His Highness the ninth prince welcome us? It’s true that husband is the left prime minister, and this is a bit of support for the throne that is hard to come by for a prince. But for His Highness the ninth prince, if he looks down on anyone, no matter how much ability or power they have, he would still ignore them.”


  Lu Song waved his hand and said: “It’s no longer as troubling as before. Over the past year, the right prime minister, Lord Fung, and I have worked together very well in tearing down the eighth prince. Thinking about it, His Highness the ninth prince and Imperial Daughter Ji An have both taken notice. Many times, this is how things will go. Without a need to say it overtly, as long as things are done in a certain way, we will at least avoid becoming enemies.” When he said this, he could not help but shudder, “Becoming the enemy of His Highness the ninth prince and Imperial Daughter Ji An is too frightening.”


  When it came to this point, the Lu family had some experience. If it was not for them tearing down Feng Yuheng, the Lu family would not have fallen to their current situation. Although their current situation was no longer as dire as it had been back then, it was very hard for their businesses to recover. Not to mention being limited in their ventures, but the Lu family had lost children. It also did not have more servants to help with work. Lu Song was entirely focused on court matters, so how could he possibly handle business matters? There was nothing they could do. They simply gave up on their businesses outside the capital and only had a small shop inside the capital. They also set up a small hamlet outside the capital and kept it maintained.

  As Lu Song spoke, he turned his eyes on Lu Ping. Lu Ping did not wear a veil at home, but she did apply a large amount of perfume. Wherever she was, the room would be filled with that pungent smell.

  But there was nothing that could be done about it. Once Lu Ping did not smell, there would only be a stinkiness. Compared to stinking, the pungent fragrance was slightly better, even if it was a noticeable smell.

  “Dear wife needs to find some good fragrances for Ping’er later on. To continue using these fragrances bought at the side of the road is not any way to do things.” Lu Song said to Ge shi: “Our residence is no longer in as much financial trouble as before. Even if we can’t get that special fragrance from Gu Shu, our Da Shun also has some nice fragrances.”


  Ge shi glanced at Lu Ping then coldly snorted: “It’s not like I haven’t sent her nice fragrances. I have bought fragrances that cost 100 taels of silver for a tenth of a tael of fragrance for her, but she does not use them. Who can this be blamed on?”


  Lu Song was puzzled and looked at Lu Ping: “You have nice things, so why not use them?”


  Lu Ping had her own thoughts on this matter, immediately replying: “There are indeed such fragrances, but there is no much. To Ping’er, those are very valuable things. Ping’er wishes to save them for when I get married. So at home…… I won’t waste them!”


  Lu Song sighed with emotion, “You really are a considerate girl. Since you are considerate, father will tell you something else……”