Leaving the Changmen Palace - LTCP 31: Backlash

She suddenly woke up.

There were soft voices all around, as if people were anxiously chatting above her head, “Although Her Majesty is not in the best of health, she has always been healthy and well. But as soon as she saw Lady Wei, she immediately got a headache and fainted. Perhaps she insulted Her Majesty. Or perhaps someone commissioned a witch to come here and curse Her Majesty. She carried a Gu poison with her, and it manifested itself as soon as she saw Her Majesty…” Chu Fu, Chen Jiao thought, it was Chu Fu’s voice.

Usually, when she woke up from a deep sleep, she could easily remember what day it was, but today, this feeling was much stronger.

It was as if she had just gone on a grueling trek and wandered through the mountains for a long time before returning to her body. Although she had just woken up, she felt weak and powerless, and couldn’t even lift her eyelids.

“How could a mere singer be so bold as to curse Her Majesty?” The grand princess’ voice was full of doubt. “Where is Lady Wei?”

“She’s so scared she can’t even say anything,” Chu Fu’s voice was hushed, tinged with genuine concern and trepidation.

Suddenly, Chen Jiao pondered whether this alarm stemmed from genuine care for her well-being or from anxiety about her own prospects.

“Everyone was stunned. The eldest princess decided she needed to be taken somewhere else for now. I don’t think they’re able to look after her at the moment,” she said.

“And what of the empress dowager and the eldest princess? Was this matter kept from Her Majesty’s maternal grandmother?” In the Jiaofang Hall, the grand princess’ tone, when others were present, was always gentle—an embodiment of her cultivated composure as a mother-in-law.

Chen Jiao had not heard her voice so commanding and spontaneous in a long while—imbued with a hint of suspicion, a trace of authority. This was the voice of the grand princess, one of the most august women in the nation, and also that of a mother fiercely defending her child.

Chu Fu quickly said, “No one dared to report the matter to Changshou Hall. The empress dowager sent people to inquire several times. From her tone, not only was she extremely concerned about Her Majesty’s fainting, but she also felt puzzled and suspicious.”

A few minor details before and after the fainting followed.

Chen Jiao no longer listened with her heart, but retreated into the depths of her consciousness, cautiously exploring the barren land, searching for the voice that had always been an inseparable part of her.

She had never given thought to what the voice might look like or how it might be adorned. Although she and the voice should have been one and the same, she stubbornly held to the belief that they must remain distinct.

It was only in this moment, when the voice seemed to vanish without a trace, leaving no mark upon her heart, that she realized she had never even asked.

Chen Jiao yearned to know what kind of elegant attire she favored, how she liked to style her hair, and which hairpins she preferred. Her tastes and the voice may have been similar, yet fundamentally they were not identical.

The voice loved Liu Che deeply, always feeling that her return was for him, not for herself.

Chen Jiao never anticipated that, without this voice—whose only gift was a faint, fading prophecy—she would find herself so lost, as if returned to childhood, standing amidst the bustling market streets, yet utterly unsure of where to go.

“Where are you?” she thought. “Are you going to leave me alone?”

After a long time, a faint moan came from the bottom of her heart.

She has always been sarcastic and sometimes a little spoiled and willful, but Chen Jiao found that she had never shown such vulnerability.

“It’s Wei Zifu,” the voice moaned in her heart, as if a half-asleep beauty was stretching her body wantonly on the bed. “Didn’t you notice? As soon as Wei Zifu came in, I, you… started to vibrate.”

Vibrate? Chen Jiao pondered it carefully, and before long, a flash of inspiration came to her and she understood.

“You mean…”

“I mean, there is another her in her head.” The voice summed it up neatly, “She moves, and I move too.”

Metaphysical things have always been mysterious and enigmatic.

Chen Jiao was somewhat skeptical of spirits and gods. She asked the voice about the underworld, but didn’t fully believe it. Although everyone was careful to “serve the dead as if they were alive,” she didn’t believe it based on her own experience.

But if there was one of her, why shouldn’t there be another Wei Zifu? As soon as she uttered the words, Chen Jiao believed in their truth.

“What is she doing here?” she asked curiously.

“Could it be that she didn’t gain enough in the past and wants to gain again in this life?” the voice was cold and unyielding, imbued with a chilling fury.

Even after countless years and numerous conversations, she still retained such intense anger, which profoundly moved Chen Jiao.

“If you lose again this time, don’t bother being human.”

Indeed, when she was unaware, losing to Wei Zifu was not her fault. But if she were to lose once more, she would have no face to face her ancestors, even in death.

Chen Jiao couldn’t help but offer a rueful smile.

She softly remarked, “Winning isn’t the issue. The true challenge lies in how to win.”

Suddenly, her mind recalled Han Yan’s question.

Time had passed, yet the tall, handsome attendant still stood beside him, with an expression of quiet concern and concealed longing that struck a chord within her.

Happiness, it seemed, was not the core problem; rather, it was whether now was the moment to pursue it.

Wei Zifu, also a reincarnated soul, added complexity to the situation—but perhaps not enough to alter the overarching course.

Regardless of the outcome, the game could only proceed once Chen Jiao regained consciousness.

Summoning all her strength, she finally opened her eyes, greeted by the flickering glow of candlelight filling the chamber.

To her surprise, she had not anticipated Liu Che would be the first to see her upon awakening, nor that he would be quietly by her side without uttering a single word.

“Jiaojiao!” he exclaimed softly, his voice filled with concern as he grasped her hand firmly upon her awakening.

Only then did she realize that Liu Che had been gently holding her hand all along.

Though she was not flattered, she was undeniably taken aback, a wave of confusion washing over her.

Her delicate, fan-like eyelashes fluttered as she blinked, conveying a multitude of unspoken questions and worries.

Liu Che embraced her, offering a tender mixture of comfort and protection, shielding her from the worried voice of the grand princess.

Deep inside, she longed to sink back into the restful silence of sleep.

It required considerable effort to persuade the grand princess and Liu Che that she had been unwell all day and simply felt drowsy in the hall.

After the imperial physician examined her pulse and assured them there was no serious ailment, the grand princess withdrew to the side hall to rest, somewhat disappointed.

Night had fallen, and the palace gates were now securely closed.

Chen Jiao also knew very well that her mother was still hoping for good news after bad news. If she was pregnant, it was only reasonable for her to faint at any moment.

It was a pity that she would be disappointed again.

She only hoped that Liu Che would not think so and would be able to calmly end this long day.

He did not think about it. He was still young and only wondered why Chen Jiao, who was healthy, suddenly fainted in Changxin Hall.

“Elder sister has already told me about Lady Wei’s background in detail.” He told Chen Jiao, “She is an ordinary commoner, and her entire family lives in Chang’an City. No one has any connections with the Gu people in the mountains and fields. Even if they come, they will not harm you.”

Considering the significant disparity in status between Wei Zifu and Chen Jiao, any misfortune befalling to the latter would inevitably lead to the annihilation of the former’s entire clan, with Jia Ji alone standing to gain from such calamity.

However, Jia Ji, lacking direct access to Wei Zifu at the Princess of Pingyang’s residence and possessing no supernatural insight, could not possibly know that Liu Che would indeed visit this young girl, not yet fifteen years old.

No matter how Liu Che pondered it, he could not comprehend the reasoning behind this. But, Chen Jiao suddenly fainted, and there must be a deeper explanation for this event. Despite his efforts to understand, he remained convinced that it was the work of witchcraft or curses.

As he continued to reflect, an increasing sense of unease settled within him. He grasped Chen Jiao’s hand more firmly, the weight of his thoughts pressing upon him.

After a moment’s deliberation, he finally declared, “I believe we should eliminate the Wei family. Should they indeed be the ones scheming in the shadows, their eradication would ensure they are subdued beneath the earth—restrained by our father and ancestors—preventing them from ever causing trouble again.”

Chen Jiao could not help but laugh and weep simultaneously.

A simple nod from her would mean the Wei family vanished from the world without a trace, leaving no stir behind.

The Princess of Pingyang, fearing to offend Liu Che and provoke his suspicion, would remain silent, her concern hidden. As for others, they would naturally pay no heed to the fate of such insignificant lives, viewing them as mere dust in the grand scheme.

Currently, engaging with Wei Zifu was akin to an adult contending with an infant—she required no effort whatsoever. A single finger was sufficient to crush the Wei family, whose members resembled mere ants beneath her.

For a fleeting moment, Chen Jiao was reminded of the persistent voice echoing in Wei Zifu’s mind: if it had been solely Wei Zifu herself, she would have been kept, regardless of her tricks or cunning, as she could never truly rival her.

However, now her opponent is aided by a guardian—one who has lived longer and shone more brightly than her protector—and this assistance may surpass her own voice’s influence.

She also recalls the adage of raising a tiger to invite trouble; perhaps, in an instant, Liu Che’s favor might be drawn to Wei Zifu, transforming her into a formidable adversary she cannot easily dismiss. Ultimately, no matter how ingenious Chen Jiao’s strategies, she would inevitably return to her Changmen Palace, confronting her past failures, solitude, and humiliation once more.

All it took for her to dissolve these doubts was a single, gentle word and a subtle gesture.

Her gaze shifted once more to Liu Che, whose expression was tinged with concern. He had just emerged from Xuanshi Hall, still adorned in solemn ceremonial robes and a resplendent hair crown.

While she could not definitively ascertain whether his love for her was rooted in genuine affection, she was certain of her significance in his life.

He openly expressed his regard and appreciation for her, making it clear that her place in his heart was unmatched. She was his wife, his confidante, and a trusted partner—someone who understood his ambitions and shared his aspirations. Deep within, she believed in his capacity to achieve greatness.

All these truths secured her unparalleled position.

At this moment, without question, she held the foremost place in Liu Che’s heart.

Yet, her words and her insistence threatened to disappoint the man who had never once let her down—her husband.

Regardless of his past, he was now renewed, transformed into a man entirely different from who he once was, and Chen Jiao was no longer the same woman of yesterday. He had not wounded her heart.

The voice sighed deeply into her ear, yet beyond that sigh, she remained unexpectedly silent, embodying a quiet strength and resolve.