The news that Xiao Man was being held in the palace by the Empress Dowager spread like wildfire. Nangong Yi rushed into the palace, afraid that if he was any later, Xiao Man would fall victim to the Empress Dowager's malevolence.
Consort De personally intercepted him on the way to Cí'ān Palace and brought him to her own chambers.
"Mother Consort, why are you stopping me? I need to see Imperial Grandmother!"
"Silence!" Consort De rebuked him. "What do you want with your Imperial Grandmother?"
"Imperial Grandmother has detained Xiao Man in the palace. I must take her back."
"Enough of that. Don't you have any idea why the Empress Dowager has detained Xiao Man?" Consort De berated him. "Earlier, when the Empress Dowager was away, I told you to find a way to make things right with Xiao Man, to marry her into the household. You refused. Now that the Empress Dowager is back, you'd best put away your feelings for Xiao Man, or you'll regret it."
"Mother Consort, her health is not good. She can't endure this," Nangong Yi pleaded, desperate. "Mother Consort, please, I beg you, go and plead with Imperial Grandmother to let Man'er leave the palace. Please."
"As long as you marry properly, Xiao Man will be fine!" Consort De jabbed Nangong Yi's forehead fiercely. "How could I have given birth to such a useless son, acting as if you'd die over a woman."
"I haven't. Man'er and I are just friends."
"Friends?" Consort De scoffed. "I gave birth to you. I know whether you're about to defecate or urinate just by the twitch of your backside. Do you really think I can't see your feelings for Xiao Man?"
"Mother Consort, please, will you go and plead with Imperial Grandmother?"
"Do you think your mother consort's life is too easy?" Consort De raged. In this imperial harem, the truly terrifying figures were not the consorts, nor the Empress, but the Empress Dowager! How many people had disappeared without a trace after offending the Empress Dowager? Even a formidable woman like the Empress dared not confront the Empress Dowager. What right did she have?
"Mother Consort…"
"You will leave the palace immediately. You are not to interfere with Xiao Man's affairs!"
"No, I must see her today!" Nangong Yi scrambled to his feet and rushed towards the exit. He couldn't allow Xiao Man to remain in this man-eating, bone-spitting inner palace. Moreover, the Empress Dowager keeping her in the palace clearly had ulterior motives.
"Stop him!"
"Who dares!" Nangong Yi roared. "Mother Consort, I will not trouble you. I will go to Imperial Grandmother myself."
Nangong Yi burst out of Consort De's chambers and headed straight for Cí'ān Palace. Consort De was furious and helpless. "You wicked creature, what sin did I commit to give birth to such a thing!"
"Your Highness, please don't be angry. Perhaps we should follow and see."
Consort De, both angry and anxious, immediately grabbed her skirt and followed him.
Nangong Yi did not go directly to the Empress Dowager's Cí'ān Palace, but to Chánglè Palace where Xiao Man was staying. However, upon arriving at the entrance of Chánglè Palace, he was stopped by the guards at the door.
"Stand aside!"
"The Empress Dowager has decreed that no one shall trespass into Chánglè Palace."
"I am telling you to stand aside!"
"Your Highness Prince Qi, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has requested your presence." Eunuch Li's voice sounded from behind him. Nangong Yi froze for a moment, then turned to look at Eunuch Li.
"Your Highness Prince Qi, please."
Nangong Yi glanced at the tightly shut door of Chánglè Palace, gritted his teeth, and followed Eunuch Li to Cí'ān Palace. The Empress Dowager was brewing tea in a side hall. Nangong Yi stepped forward and paid his respects.
"Your grandson greets Imperial Grandmother."
The Empress Dowager did not bid him rise, leaving Nangong Yi kneeling on the ground. "Brewing tea requires a calm mind and precise control of the heat and water temperature. Otherwise, the brewed tea will taste off."
"Imperial Grandmother, why are you going back on your word?" Nangong Yi looked up and questioned. "You promised me you wouldn't touch her!"
The Empress Dowager glanced at Nangong Yi. They were the only two in the side hall. "And have you fulfilled what you promised me?"
"Everything you asked me to do, I have done!"
"I once said that as a member of the imperial family, the most dangerous thing is to fall in love. Tell me, have you managed to avoid that?"
"I haven't fallen in love!"
"If you hadn't fallen in love, you wouldn't be the first to rush into Cí'ān Palace." The Empress Dowager sniffed the brewed tea, her brow furrowed. She immediately poured it all away. "It's ruined, not the right taste. I have to brew it again."
"Imperial Grandmother, please let her leave the palace. Whatever you want me to do, I will agree to it," Nangong Yi crawled to the Empress Dowager's side. "Imperial Grandmother, please."
"Pathetic," the Empress Dowager scoffed, glancing at Nangong Yi. "Xiao Man will be staying in the palace for some time. She will only leave once her health has improved."
"Imperial Grandmother."
"Or do you wish for her to stay in the palace forever, to become one of the women in your father's harem?" the Empress Dowager asked dangerously.
Nangong Yi's face paled, and he looked at the Empress Dowager in disbelief. "Why, why must you treat me this way, Imperial Grandmother? Why are you treating me like this?"
The Empress Dowager sighed, rose, and helped Nangong Yi up. "Those who achieve great things do not get bogged down by minor details. You are a prince, a grandson of the emperor. How can you be consumed by matters of the heart?"
"What does liking someone have to do with me being a prince and grandson?" Nangong Yi roared. "Just because I am a prince and grandson, do I not even have the right to like someone? If that's the case, I'd rather not have this status!"
*Slap!* The resounding sound of a slap echoed throughout the side hall. Nangong Yi's face was struck to the side, and a trickle of blood oozed from his lips. Nangong Yi covered his face and looked at the Empress Dowager, holding back tears. He liked Xiao Man, had liked her since childhood. But Imperial Grandmother did not allow it. He could have any woman in the world, but not Xiao Man. He didn't understand why.
"Remember your status. If you dare to cause trouble again, do you believe I won't make that girl wish she were dead?"
Nangong Yi quickly knelt. "No! Imperial Grandmother, I will marry Du Yulan. I will marry her. I won't cause trouble. I beg you, don't touch her. As long as you don't touch her, I will do anything."
"Since that is the case, you shall bring the person I chose for you into your household tomorrow."
"Imperial Grandmother, your grandson..."
"What, you are unwilling?" The Empress Dowager's expression turned cold. "I have told you, you can be dissolute, you can be sentimental, but you must not fall in love. If you cannot achieve this, I will send that girl to your father's bed tonight!"
Nangong Yi collapsed onto his knees, his eyes red, his body trembling. "Your grandson obeys."
"That's enough. Go back," the Empress Dowager turned away.
Nangong Yi rose from the ground and walked out dejectedly. Consort De had been waiting outside Cí'ān Palace. Seeing her son emerge, she quickly pulled him over, examining him carefully to see if he was injured.
"Yi'er, are you alright? Did the Empress Dowager trouble you?"
Nangong Yi glanced at Consort De, shook his head, and walked out of the palace. In the end, he was too weak, and thus always at the mercy of others, his very right to like someone being stripped away. What fault did Xiao Man have? What fault did he have? What wrong was there in loving Xiao Man?