Chapter 019: Flights of Fancy

Night had fallen. In the southern part of the city, within the Fu residence.

After supper, Huo Wenshan summoned Huo Yunhua to the study, closed the door, and at last voiced the thoughts he had pondered all afternoon.

Huo Yunhua found his ideas rather fanciful, but refrained from mocking him outright. Instead, she gently replied, “Even if we manage to pull Wu Tan down by some scheme, Father, my background would never allow me to become the Crown Prince’s principal wife. Besides, Dingyuan Marquis doesn’t only have one daughter.”

“I understand!” Huo Wenshan, however, had already made up his mind and pressed on, “But that little daughter of his is nothing like the one now in question. Wu Xun’s wife—they call her ‘wife,’ but she was only a concubine raised to the rank, so his youngest daughter is technically legitimate. She could marry into a noble family and become mistress without trouble, but entering the palace? Marrying the Crown Prince? Becoming his principal wife? That’s utterly impossible, do you see?”

Huo Yunhua frowned.

Huo Wenshan’s eyes gleamed, for he had discovered a path he had never considered before. “Though His Majesty would not give up the alliance with the Wu family, as long as Wu Tan’s birth chart doesn’t match the Crown Prince’s, they will have to settle for the next best option—the younger daughter. In that case, she would have the same rank as you, on equal footing.”

Though Huo Yunhua was pragmatic, she had never wished to bow her head to another, not if there was even the faintest chance. Huo Wenshan’s words stirred something within her. “But even if it comes to that, His Majesty and the Empress will surely find another candidate for the Crown Prince’s principal wife.”

“How could anyone compare to Wu Xun?” Huo Wenshan dismissed the notion. “Wu Xun holds the military command, and the southern border depends on him. No one else carries such weight. As long as the Crown Prince’s principal wife is not his daughter, you’ll just need to maneuver carefully and give birth to a son early… The imperial house professes to honor the legitimate and eldest, but it's not absolute. Whether you become imperial consort or empress, what does it matter? The key is the future heir!”

Huo Yunhua sought only her own advancement, while Huo Wenshan’s ambitions ran deeper. He had poured all his efforts into grooming such a daughter—not for a fleeting moment of glory, but to alter the fate of the entire family.

The emperor’s days were numbered. If father and daughter could together keep a hold on the young Crown Prince, and Huo Yunhua bore a child fit to inherit the throne, the Xiao dynasty’s reign would be all but ready to change its name to Huo.

If Wu Xun’s legitimate daughter became empress and bore a legitimate heir, the young emperor would likely be forced by pressure to crown that heir as prince. But if the empress’s seat changed hands—

He trusted his daughter’s skills and wit.

Huo Yunhua, roused by his persuasion, felt her heart quicken. Yet after careful thought, her optimism waned. “Father, can you really clear the obstacles at the Imperial Observatory?”

Huo Wenshan shook his head, somewhat at a loss, yet his grand vision was too alluring to let go. “I will try my utmost!”

But Huo Yunhua was not convinced, biting her lip in contemplation. A cold gleam flitted through her eyes. “Let me handle this. The officials at the Observatory are all close to the emperor. Any misstep in dealing with them could backfire. I have another way, but…”

The Lady of Dingyuan Marquis was to deliver Wu Tan’s birth chart to the palace early the next morning. Time was short. Now that Huo Yunhua had made up her mind, she acted without delay, biting her lip, “Father, I’ll go now. Don’t make any moves for the time being—wait for my message. If… if my plan fails, then you may try your own.”

Seeing her confidence, Huo Wenshan did not press further and let her go.

Huo Yunhua departed in haste, first returning to her room to change into plain, inconspicuous clothing and rearrange her hair, removing all gold and silver ornaments. She instructed her attendant to guard the courtyard, then slipped out alone.

She did not leave the residence immediately, but first went to the front courtyard where her third brother resided.

Huo Wenshan’s principal wife had always been frail. After giving birth to Huo Yunhao years ago, she bore no more children until six years ago, when she nearly lost her life bringing forth a legitimate son. Since then, her health had deteriorated further, leaving her bedridden and ill more often than not.

The third son, Huo Changyu, was born of a concubine. He was eighteen this year, neither scholarly nor skilled in martial pursuits, but his appearance was rather handsome, and with his scholarly family background, he could bluff his way through at first glance.

Huo Yunhua hurried to find him, only to spot him in the distance, slipping from his courtyard under cover of darkness.

“Third Brother!” she called, striding quickly toward him.

“Didn’t Father call you to the study? Why are you here?” Huo Changyu’s eyes flickered with guilt before he grinned.

“So late—are you going out again?” Huo Yunhua’s displeasure showed in her face.

“Ah…” Huo Changyu glanced away awkwardly. “It’s dull at home.”

“Restrain yourself!” Huo Yunhua’s frown deepened, her tone a warning. “If you get caught, it’s your own problem if you ruin yourself, but don’t drag me down after all my efforts.”

Huo Changyu was stunned, then his eyes brightened with delight. He stared at her—were it not for propriety, he would have grabbed her, pressing eagerly, “Is it that matter you promised me last time? I thought you were joking!”

“Hmph!” Huo Yunhua snorted coldly. “If I promise, I deliver.” She shifted to a tone of disdain, “But only if you listen to me. Behave, stay home and study for now, don’t cause trouble.”

“Good sister! If you truly help me, then whatever you say, I’ll do!” Huo Changyu rubbed his hands, his gaze greedy, his thoughts drifting to pleasant fantasies.

Huo Yunhua did not think much of him, but compared to letting Huo Yunhao or her legitimate brother rise, she would rather draw Huo Changyu to her cause.

“Enough! The time isn’t right for that matter—you’ll only waste your thoughts. Come with me, I need your help tonight!” Huo Yunhua cut him off, heading toward the garden.

“What is it…” Huo Changyu followed eagerly.

*

Dingyuan Marquis Manor.

Wu Tan, after a day of medicine and bed rest, was declared fully recovered by Doctor Xu after supper, to the delight of her two maids. Xingzi immediately dashed off to inform the old lady and the heir.

“That girl, always so excitable!” Cheng Cheng sighed, watching her scamper away.

Wu Tan herself was in high spirits. The bitterness of the medicine lingered, so she picked up two slices of pear from the table, then dusted off her skirts and stood. “I’ve lain here all day—I'm bored to death! Let’s go for a walk!”

“Alright!” Cheng Cheng, worried she might catch cold again, quickly fetched a thick cloak and draped it over her.

With Wu Xun and Wu Qingyu leaving early in the morning, the whole residence had spent the afternoon preparing. After supper, most servants had gone to rest, and the garden was especially quiet.

Wu Tan walked along the garden path, and Cheng Cheng thought she truly meant only to stretch her legs, until they arrived outside Wu Qingyu’s courtyard and she realized something was amiss.

Except for the youngest, Wu Qingrui, Wu Tan’s relationship with the children of Lady Meng was not good. There was no need to mention Wu Qingqiong; and Second Young Master Wu Qingyu was always unruly. Whenever the two met, they would spar and banter, exchanging barbed words. Occasionally, if they were merciful, it was only a snort from one and an eye-roll from the other, greeting each other as if looking at something distasteful.

“Miss…” Cheng Cheng’s first thought was that Wu Tan, upset over Wu Qingqiong, had come to pick a quarrel with Wu Qingyu. She was about to intervene when Wu Tan strode straight into the courtyard and knocked sharply.

“Who is it?” Wu Qingyu’s voice was impatient.

“Me!” Wu Tan replied in equal annoyance.

A moment later, the door swung open.

Cheng Cheng edged forward, tense and ready to intervene. But—

She was greeted by a broad, bare chest.

Cheng Cheng froze, her face flushing crimson, before she could react. Wu Tan erupted beside her, stomping and shouting, as she swiftly pulled off her cloak and hurled it at Wu Qingyu. “Are you insane? Can’t you put on clothes before opening the door?!”

———Side Note———

Why is the dynamic between siblings so different in these scenes…

Hmm, it seems the male protagonist's indirect plan to steal a bride is working…

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