Chapter 2: Granting You Your Wishes
He noticed that Wen Changying’s steps were somewhat limp and instinctively reached out to support her.
But he was pushed away.
Xie Genghe remained still, watching that figure stubbornly walk away.
He softly commanded, “Investigate.”
Bi Gui hurried off.
Cheng Yu and others extinguished the fire and quickly brought over some wound medicine.
“Your Highness, the injury on your shoulder cannot be neglected. Let me apply the medicine.”
Xie Genghe turned his shoulder away, his tone aloof: “The Eastern Palace does not lack healing ointments.”
“Lady Official Cheng should return to serve the Empress Dowager.”
With that, he lifted his foot and left.
Eastern Palace, Cheng’en Hall.
When Wen Changying returned, she developed a high fever.
In a daze, she drifted back through memories.
There were outings and hunts with Xie Genghe, whispers of married love, him shielding her from punishments, and even his bashful, tender care as he washed her menstrual cloths...
Her head felt heavy, tears slipping from the corners of her eyes onto the pillow.
Wen Changying wanted to clutch her chest and have a good cry.
But then she saw her deceased parents’ severed heads, her uncles and elder brothers pierced by arrows, blood flowing everywhere.
Panicked and chaotic scenes pieced together into a gentle blade that had carved through her seven years in the Eastern Palace.
“Changying, the Empress Dowager wants Lady Official Cheng to assist you with managing the Eastern Palace accounts. The seal shall be entrusted to her. You need not trouble yourself with these trivial matters anymore.”
“Lady Official Cheng is more familiar with palace rules and rituals. Let her handle the preparations for the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet.”
“Changying, don’t resist. Just let Lady Official Cheng apply the medicine.”
“Changying, Wen Changying...”
Wen Changying knew clearly that Xie Genghe’s heart remained with her.
But she detested comparisons, and loathed the thorn that had grown within their memories.
They had known each other for sixteen years, married for seven.
They had endured so much, yet both bore wounds that pierced each other.
It was time to end it.
Awakening from a great dream, Wen Changying felt the dampness at her eyes and reached out to wipe them.
Daylight had already broken—it was the next day.
Her breathing was short but clear.
She suppressed the ache in her chest and let out a faint, bitter laugh.
No one was worthy of her dependence.
Throughout this matter, Wen Changying had trusted only her younger brother.
Xie Genghe would not investigate, so she would!
The door was pushed open.
The magpie servant stepped quickly inside. “Your Highness, the Empress Dowager heard you burned the Buddhist scriptures and is furious, demanding to see you.”
“The Crown Prince has stopped anyone from entering the palace. What do you think...?”
In the past, whether it was the Empress Dowager’s harshness or the consorts’ malicious intents,
Xie Genghe always stopped them to prevent her from suffering the slightest grievance or harm.
But Wen Changying was no longer naive.
Some matters could be resolved simply by bending a knee and offering an apology.
She did not wish to trouble Xie Genghe.
Now that she had resolved to divorce, she could endure any storm.
“Have her wait!” Wen Changying raised her voice.
Even if she intended to meet the Empress Dowager in person, she would not go now.
She rose to wash up. “Magpie, bring paper and brush.”
The magpie dared not hesitate and swiftly brought the requested items, preparing ink nearby.
Wen Changying took up the brush, and the three characters she wrote—“Divorce Letter”—made the magpie tremble with fear.
“Your Highness...”
The magpie hesitated to speak.
Wen Changying ignored her thoughts, and after finishing the divorce letter, she began writing a letter to her brother’s advisor.
“Deliver this to Mr. Duan.”
Some matters were difficult to communicate with her brother directly, but Duan Tingbai would certainly know something.
Outside Cheng’en Hall.
The Empress Dowager’s envoy shivered in the cold, huddling for warmth.
“The Crown Princess is getting more arrogant. She never dared be so disrespectful to the Empress Dowager before. I think the Eastern Palace will have a new mistress soon enough.”
“They say she even injured the Crown Prince yesterday. Only because of their youthful bond was she not punished.”
“The Crown Prince is such a fool, to have such a Crown Princess.”
“...”
The palace maids whispered softly.
Just then, Bi Gui walked by carrying a bowl of hot porridge, sharply warning them:
“If you dare gossip about the lady again, you’ll lose your tongues!”
Bi Gui respectfully stopped at Wen Changying’s door and knocked twice lightly.
“Your Highness, concerned you have not eaten for a long time, I watched over the Imperial Kitchen and made yam porridge. Please drink some.”
No sound came from inside.
“May I come in?”
Bi Gui tried to push the door, but the bolt was fastened, unmoving.
Clearly, she intended to keep him out.
He dared not leave, holding the yam porridge, trapped outside.
Two hours later.
Wen Changying finally opened the door, saw Bi Gui’s reddened hands, but her expression remained unchanged.
“Pour it out for the dogs.”
“Bi Gui, don’t learn these self-inflicted tactics from your master.”
Such trivial kindnesses could once ease her pain.
Now, they only reminded her of repeated neglect.
If she drank it,
Then with Xie Genghe, it would be over.
Bi Gui was bitter, left with no words.
When the Crown Princess was angry, even the Crown Prince dared not argue—only comply.
Let alone a palace servant who lived by reading his master’s moods?
Cien Palace.
By the time Wen Changying arrived, the Empress Dowager had already smashed many objects in anger.
Cheng Yu was soothing her mood.
Stepping over the mess, Wen Changying chose a somewhat presentable place to sit.
A simple action enraged the Empress Dowager.
“Do you have any manners?”
“Relying on He’er’s indulgence, how many more troubles will you cause before you stop?!”
Burning the Buddhist scriptures was a minor issue.
What the Empress Dowager could not tolerate was Wen Changying publicly slapping the Crown Prince’s face!
He was the heir to the realm.
She had stabbed He’er’s right shoulder with a hairpin without batting an eye. Not to mention the pain when he held a brush reviewing memorials, such an attack was a slap in the imperial face!
An act of great disrespect!
How dare Wen Changying?!
“You’ve disliked me for quite some time now. If you truly want peace, have the Crown Prince write the divorce papers soon and depose me.”
Wen Changying retorted, “Otherwise, as long as I do not receive them, the harem will not have peace.”
“You!”
The Empress Dowager was choking with anger.
Cheng Yu soothed her while explaining, “The Crown Princess has surely misunderstood me and the Crown Prince.”
“Last night the Crown Prince explained but you did not believe him. Today, I brought palace maids here so the Crown Princess may freely inquire.”
Several palace maids knelt at the door.
Wen Changying had seen them as she arrived.
“I don’t need any explanations.”
“Cheng Yu, if you’re really capable, persuade Xie Genghe to write the divorce papers sooner.”
“I will step aside and let you have your way.”
“Impudent!” The Empress Dowager’s face darkened. “The Crown Princess’s position isn’t something you can just abolish at will! Do you think the imperial genealogy is a joke?”
Wen Changying lowered her gaze. “Injuring the Crown Prince wasn’t enough? If I make a scene in the harem and harm the Empress Dowager’s health, will that be sufficient?”
“You!”
The Empress Dowager widened her eyes.
But Wen Changying was serious about her intentions.
She lifted a stool leg and advanced toward the Empress Dowager’s couch.
“Seize her!”
The Empress Dowager finally panicked.
The attending maids and imperial guards hurried in.
No one dared move.
“What are you waiting for? She has no manners. I sentence her to thirty strokes of the court cane as a warning!”
Just as the imperial guards were about to act, Bi Gui shouted loudly:
“The Crown Prince has arrived—”