From various signs, it was clear that the Wujin Token held great importance for Nanrui. Cen Taixiang’s proposal to hand it over for a trial, coupled with official support and Emperor Hong’s dilemma, felt like a trap ready for me to foolishly reveal its location. My mistrust towards Emperor Hong and Jiang Yunqiao lingered, particularly since Cen Taixiang was Jiang Yunqiao’s father-in-law—could his actions also be influenced by her?
The weight of suspicion and scheming was exhausting. The An family’s downfall seemed rooted not only in inherited poison but also in their endless plotting. More unbearable was the helplessness of not being able to trust even my own relatives.
I needed to go to Xiliang, not just to obtain the Wujin Token but also to seek An Jin. A perfect opportunity soon arose.
Chapter 58: A Little Sister’s Heart
The heir of Xiliang’s new emperor was born, prompting global celebrations. Emperor Hong planned to send an envoy to express goodwill, and I volunteered to go. He hesitated, mentioning fears of encountering the Crown Prince of Qi Kingdom, which could provoke painful memories or entangle me in their schemes again.
Emperor Hong was furious when he learned that the Qi Emperor and the Crown Prince had used my family as leverage to force my marriage to the Crown Prince. He vowed to make Qi Kingdom pay by raising import tariffs on Qi goods by thirty percent and restricting salt transportation from Nanrui. Because Nanrui produced the only salt, Qi Kingdom had to buy it at a high price from Xiliang, causing public discontent. My involvement had severely strained relations between Nanrui and Qi Kingdom, and if we encountered the Qi Crown Prince in Xiliang, it would be a confrontation between enemies.
However, my status was now established, and this trip to Xiliang represented all of Nanrui. Despite their hatred, they would not harm me at this time. I explained this to Emperor Hong, but he remained worried until Jiang Yunqiao spoke up for me, leading him to reluctantly agree while mumbling to be careful.
If he were not the emperor, he would seem like a loving elder. Despite my caution, I instinctively liked him, just as I did Jiang Yunqiao and her A’fu, which felt contradictory.
