Chapter 71: Outfitting in Male Attire

When Jian Yunyao saw the dog named Xiao Bai, its obedient and gentle demeanor seemed like a smile. Almost at first sight, she fell in love with it.

Its fur was somewhat sparse, and Jian Yunyao knew her brother had hired a palace attendant to treat it, which made her glare at him, "Look at how you've been taking care of it."

"When Yuqing handed it over to me, its fur was already a bit thin!"

Mentioning Yuqing, Jian Yunyao paused in her caressing of the dog. In the palace, though she had turned Luanfeng Palace into an impenetrable fortress, she did not like mentioning Zhuang Hesheng there.

Now they were outside the palace. She turned her head to look at her brother and asked, "How is he?"

This was the first time her sister had inquired about Zhuang Hesheng. Jian He quickly replied, "He has planted a large plum grove, and he seems to be doing well. Because of Yuqing's presence, the temple's incense offerings have increased significantly. I even asked the abbot, and Yuqing has quite a talent; he could even become the abbot himself."

Jian Yunyao smiled faintly. Given Zhuang Hesheng's insight, understanding Buddhist teachings was only natural.

"By the way, he also gave me a scroll to deliver to you."

Jian Yunyao slowly unrolled the scroll. In the plum grove, a girl in a crimson dress lay resting. Beside her was a small table with wine and an open book. A swing hung from a plum tree, swaying gently in the wind as if it were moving.

Though it was winter when the plum blossoms bloomed, the girl wore a vibrant summer outfit, her expression serene. The artist had depicted a utopian scene, striving to give the subject a peaceful and beautiful dream.

The person in the painting was so pure and clean, an idealized version of herself that Zhuang Hesheng had imagined. This made Jian Yunyao instinctively look at her own hands.

Since killing her own child, she had not touched a bow or arrow. The calluses on her palms had faded, leaving her fingers long and delicate.

But sometimes Jian Yunyao would wake up from nightmares, dreaming of her poor child. As the one who killed her own child, even for the sake of the people of the city, she could not forget that feeling.

So the carefree expression in the painting was something she never had as a young girl and certainly not now.

Jian Yunyao smiled. The painting was beautiful, but it was not her.

She slowly rolled up the scroll and said, "I'll take it back to the palace later."

There was no seal or inscription on the scroll, ensuring Emperor Chengde would not recognize it as Zhuang Hesheng's work.

Looking at the painting, Jian He suddenly said, "Do you think we should bring him out?"

Jian Yunyao shook her head. "Not everyone from back then is dead; they are still watching him. If he wants to return to secular life, you can help him privately, but don't act openly."

Jian He sighed. It was rare for his sister to mention Zhuang Hesheng. He said directly, "I asked him about returning to secular life, and he said he doesn't want to."

"Then don't force him. If he does return, he will need to find a livelihood. He might want to serve as an official, but given his past, how could the emperor trust him?" Jian Yunyao said decisively.

Jian He sighed again. The previous emperor was unreliable. Despite Zhuang Hesheng's talents, he became the third-place winner in the imperial exams solely because of his appearance. And Emperor Chengde was a petty man. It was only because of Jian He's military achievements and his control over the border that Emperor Chengde allowed his sister to remain queen.

Their elder brother had been right; only by becoming powerful could he continue to support his sister.

Seeing her brother still frowning, Jian Yunyao couldn't help but laugh. "These are all personal choices. How can you know what others truly feel? Like me now, though becoming queen was unexpected, overall, I am quite content. These years, I have relied on you to be so at ease."

Both the Empress Dowager and Emperor Chengde treated her with respect. The new Concubine Chen had ulterior motives, but it didn't matter much. Jian Yunyao had no children and did not plan to support any young prince, so she let Concubine Chen make her moves.

Jian He muttered, "You seem to have a clear mind about it."

Jian Yunyao knew that her parents were the ones who couldn't let go. At the time, could they have abandoned their eldest son? As for Zhuang Hesheng's guilt, Jian Yunyao could only let him resolve it himself. Princess Ning'an had once liked Zhuang Hesheng so much that she would have found out about him even if he hadn't revealed his name. Jian Yunyao did not hate Zhuang Hesheng; it was he who couldn't come to terms with it.

The siblings continued talking for a while when the old lady brought in some oranges.

Roasting oranges over a charcoal brazier was a favorite winter treat for the two of them.

Jian He didn't like peeling the oranges, so he ate them whole, while Jian Yunyao stopped him from eating too many at once and handed him a neatly peeled orange.

The old lady sat by the fire, using a poker to turn the oranges to prevent them from burning.

After a while, Old Master Jian arrived.

Old Master Jian's eyesight was not as good as it used to be, and he could no longer read books. In Yaocheng, he spent his days fishing, but in the capital city, the river was frozen, and many people were ice skating.

When they first entered the capital city, Old Master Jian remembered that when his daughter was very young, she used to go ice skating. Later, she would dress as her brother to go out.

Old Master Jian recalled his feelings when he discovered his daughter dressing as a boy. His initial reaction was to stop her, but after seeing her participate in a poetry competition, her radiant spirit softened his heart. Life was already difficult for women, and as his precious daughter, how could he bear to confine her?

He had taught her everything he knew. She was clever enough to disguise herself, and her brother Jian He protected her. So he chose to turn a blind eye.

Later, his daughter married a prince, killed her own son, and became the empress, second only to the emperor and above all others. Old Master Jian felt that his decision to overlook her actions had given her a happy memory.

Turning to the items he had prepared, he slowly said, "Yao, do you want to go out for a walk?"

Jian Yunyao nodded. With the opportunity to leave the palace for three consecutive days, she certainly wanted to go out.

"I mean, wear your elder brother's clothes," said Old Master Jian.

Everyone was taken aback, and Old Master Jian unfolded the clothes he had brought, "These have been kept for a long time."

Jian Ming's health was poor, and he was not tall, while Jian Yunyao was relatively tall for a woman. Therefore, when she went out, she always wore her brother's clothes and relied on his help to maintain her disguise.

Lady Liu stepped forward and stroked the old garment, smiling, "Master hasn't seen it, but I have seen Yao wearing it."

At that time, Jian Yunyao had shyly leaned against her, telling her about her crush, Zhuang Hesheng. Though he was poor, he had a good character and was well-learned.

Lady Liu came from a scholarly family and had seen Zhuang Hesheng's calligraphy, writings, and even his appearance.

Zhuang Hesheng was too handsome, and her daughter's looks were ordinary. Would Zhuang Hesheng really marry her?

Zhuang Hesheng's decision to become a monk undoubtedly proved his devotion, causing Lady Liu both pain and frustration. Her daughter and Zhuang Hesheng lacked the right karma.

Thinking of these old memories, Lady Liu quickly hid her sorrow and smiled again, "Liqiu must have seen her, accompanying her sister when she went out."

"Of course, I have seen my daughter in male attire," Old Master Jian laughed, pushing the clothes toward his daughter, "At the poetry competition back then, no one could match her."

Jian Yunyao looked at her clothes and then at her parents, nodding.

/

The palace maids exchanged glances, unsure how the situation had turned out this way. The Empress had actually changed into men's clothing and did not need any attendants to help her. With just a few deft strokes of her hand, she looked even more like a man.

When Jian Yunyao wore makeup as a woman, she exuded a natural grace and elegance. But when she dressed as a man, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

Jian He said, "Sis, I thought you might be rusty, but it seems your charm remains unchanged."

Jian Yunyao also thought she might be rusty. She smiled slightly at her brother, "Let's go."

The Empress appeared gentle, but in reality, she was decisive. Seeing that Her Majesty was truly about to leave, the palace attendants tried to stop her, "Your Majesty, this is improper."

Jian Yunyao raised an eyebrow, "Has the news not reached the palace yet? Then we'll wait a bit longer."

Jian Yunyao believed that even if Emperor Chengde was somewhat unwilling, He Lanting would speak up for her.

In the palace, Emperor Chengde indeed showed his reluctance outright. He Lanting nestled in the emperor's arms, "My Lord, since we have already allowed the Empress to visit her family, let her go." He Lanting's eyes twinkled, "Perhaps in her youth, the Empress used to go out like this. Now that she rarely goes out, she naturally wants to relive those old dreams."

Emperor Chengde's expression darkened momentarily as he recalled an old incident. Back then, Zhuang Hesheng had met the male-disguised Jian Yunyao.

He even felt a tinge of jealousy, though Emperor Chengde hadn't visited the Empress's quarters in a long time, it didn't mean he could tolerate her bringing him disgrace.

Emperor Chengde quickly remembered that the scholar Ning'an Princess had mentioned had already become a monk. He waved his hand in disgust, "Let her go."

Jian Yunyao couldn't do much anyway, and she had her brother, the great general, to protect her...

He Lanting, of course, knew the unique status of Jian He. As long as Jian He was around, the Empress's position was secure.

But she could always do more to make Emperor Chengde dislike the Empress. Perhaps when Jian He died, Emperor Chengde would depose the Empress for her sake.

Jian Yunyao and Jian He waited at the gate for a quarter of an hour. A message from the palace arrived, instructing the Brocade Guard to secretly protect them as they moved with the Jian siblings.