I was stunned as he explained, “You are the future heir of Nan Rui. If people knew we couldn’t have children, it would threaten your position.”
I laughed helplessly. “Do you think I want that position? Now that you’re by my side, I can give it up. Let Jiang Yun Qiao take it; she’s more suitable.”
An Jin sighed. “If only it were that simple. The Emperor is determined to give you this position. Once he learns you gave it up because of me, what do you think he’ll do?”
I understood his meaning, and my heart sank. “You mean—he might harm you?”
“He might harm me, or he might forcibly assign you another husband,” he said with a bitter smile.
“Either way, it would bring us great trouble.”
“But Uncle seems kind and doesn’t seem cruel…” I hesitated.
“He is indeed kind to you,” An Jin said, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “But he is still an emperor. An emperor’s love can sometimes be a form of restraint. If I hadn’t produced the black gold token, he might not have agreed to our marriage or allowed me to be your consort.”
My heart grew cold. “So, we need to keep this a secret. How long can we hide it?”
“Until you become empress,” An Jin tightened his arm, his eyes slightly bright. “Or until we find Xia Zhi Yong.”
“Xia Zhi Yong?!” I suddenly understood. Xia Zhi Yong, having been the crown prince, knew many of the Qi Emperor’s secrets and might know something about the sterility potion’s antidote. However, “He has already disappeared without a trace. How can we find him?”
An Jin gave me a meaningful look. “We don’t need to look for him. He will come to us on his own.”
Chapter 67: A Smart Person Acting Foolishly
The arrangement of Yan Or, Xia Zhichun, and An Jin to force Crown Prince Xia Zhiyuan to stage a coup was crucial. By making Xia Zhiyuan rebel against his father, Xia Zhichun could leverage Xiliang’s power to counterattack under the banner of justice.
This design was part of An Jin’s role in their collaboration.
