Chapter Sixty-Four: The Situation is Set
The full moon ceremony of the Yan Emperor’s first son was celebrated by all. The child resembled Yan Huo, with a distinctive pair of light brown long eyes that occasionally blinked lazily, appearing impatient. Among the harem concubines of the Yan Emperor, several qualified to attend the family banquet, each trying to attract the Emperor’s attention. The Seventh Princess was among them, dim and silent like a star beside a bright moon.
I understood why she chose to fade away: married to a man she didn’t love, trapped in a foreign land. As a foreign princess, her status wasn’t greatly threatened, but her freedom and love were unattainable. Why fight for what she no longer wanted?
Western Liang valued martial arts over literature, producing many renowned generals known across the three countries, with military officials dominating important positions.
However, Yan Huo, in his short two years in power, had cultivated strategists and utilized marriage alliances to strengthen the Western Liang court. Even An Jin considered Yan Huo a rare ruler among the monarchs of the three countries. If this progress continued, Western Liang might become the strongest and potentially threaten Nanrui.
Hongdi had prepared a banquet to honor me, praising me before all the officials. Imperial Historian Liu Hua suggested that His Majesty bestow an official title. Hongdi conferred upon me the title of Yu Wang and put me in charge of the Ministry of Revenue. The Gan Taizai faction then petitioned for Princess Jiang Yunqiao, who had worked in the Ministry of Personnel for many years without an official title. After a brief consideration, Hongdi granted Jiang Yunqiao the title of Ning Wang, pleasing everyone.
Jiang Yunqiao clinked glasses with me and, when unnoticed, made a weary expression. After the banquet, she insisted on a private gathering to catch up, taking me to her residence. I gave Yunqiao a snow ferret I had brought back from Xiliang.
As the climate in Nanrui was different from Xiliang, she held the cage, fascinated. I also brought some mechanical toys, plum sugar, and tea cakes from Xiliang as gifts for her husband and A Fu.
A Fu was overjoyed, throwing himself into my arms and sweetly calling me “Auntie,” which made my heart bloom. I held his little face and gave him a big kiss. Yunqiao jokingly suggested adopting A Fu as my son, causing her husband’s expression to stiffen and turn pale. I quickly changed the subject.
Yunqiao meant it as a casual remark, but her husband’s reaction made me feel something was amiss. It was just a joke, yet he took it seriously—how little did he understand his own wife?
Before leaving, I entrusted Yuan Xiao and Xiao Huang to Jiang Yunqiao’s Beast Garden. In just over two months, Yuan Xiao married a fox-dog in Yunqiao’s residence and had a litter of puppies. The proud father, Yuan Xiao, greeted me with a more nimble gait. Soon after moving back, Yuan Xiao carefully brought each puppy to me, and I named them Yuan Da, Yuan Er, Yuan San…
Yuan Xiao and its fox-dog partner seemed quite satisfied with their names.
Xiao Huang remained obsessively in love with the white peacock, losing feathers—a clear sign of lovesickness. I tried to bring it back, but it refused to eat and learned a melancholic love poem, leading to rumors in the palace that Princess Zhao Hua was suffering from lovesickness. I was at a loss and had to send it back.
My parents were doing well. Father had overcome his inner barrier and began studying Nanrui’s historical texts, finding new spiritual focus. One day, Hongdi chatted with my father, and they found compatibility, leading to long conversations and eventually appointing him as a reader in the royal study.
Mother was busy caring for Miao Yin, who was near childbirth. She and my brother had opened a restaurant in Feng Zhu City. Despite her large belly, Mother was constantly busy, making soups and medicines for Miao Yin and preparing clothes for the future grandchild. My younger sister, since returning to Nanrui, displayed signs of a maiden in love, frequently running out, much to Mother’s delight.
I began my duties in the Ministry of Revenue, rising at dawn for morning court and handling official business while seeking guidance from the deputy minister and colleagues, often without time to drink tea. Fortunately, most in the ministry belonged to Liu Hua’s faction and were welcoming, generously sharing their knowledge. This busy environment allowed me to earn a reputation for diligence and humility.
Recalling my days as an An family daughter-in-law, when I could sleep in and worry about nothing, felt like a distant dream. Exhausted and aching, I sometimes wondered how An Jin found time to care for me during such busy times.
My current capabilities were mostly supportive, and their respectful treatment stemmed from my Yu Wang title and Hongdi’s support, alongside the potential to become the future heir. I was aware of this and worked diligently to meet Hongdi’s expectations.
Gradually, I shed my previous wariness. I once thought Hongdi was kind only because of the Wujin symbol. However, even without returning it or revealing its whereabouts, he remained friendly and supportive, never mentioning the symbol. His care for my family was touching. During a private conversation, he recalled his oath to return the throne to the Xuan Emperor’s descendants, lamenting that I was not yet capable of controlling the situation and must proceed gradually.
His every word and action considered me, leaving no room for doubt.
The same was true for Jiang Yunqiao. Despite the factional struggles between Liu and Gan positioning us as competitors, she remained unconcerned, maintaining our interactions without hesitation. Her actions were transparent, often helping and guiding me. After guarding against her for so long without finding anything suspicious, I gradually opened my heart to her.
Not long after, a significant event occurred. The Qi Emperor suddenly fell seriously ill and passed the throne to Crown Prince Xia Zhiyuan, who ascended as the new emperor of Qi.
I knew An Jin and the others had begun to act, but I never expected their move to be so swift.
Months later, the Western Liang army, accompanied by the long-missing Third Prince Xia Zhichun, charged into the Qi Kingdom under the banner of “following the will of heaven to eliminate evil and punish treachery.” Inside the Qi Kingdom, panic spread, fueled by rumors that the current emperor had obtained the throne by poisoning his father and murdering his brothers, labeling him an unforgivable demon deserving execution.
Rebellions arose in the Qi Kingdom in response to Third Prince Xia Zhichun’s call to drive the patricidal Xia Yiwen from the throne. The Western Liang army joined local rebel troops and quickly captured Yanfeng City.
Xia Zhichun rescued the former Qi Emperor, confirming Xia Yiwen’s misdeeds. Supported by officials and the people, he became the new Son of Heaven after Xia Yiwen fled in fear of punishment. The Qi Emperor passed away shortly after his rescue.
Once the situation stabilized, the Western Liang army withdrew from the Qi Kingdom. Emperor Yan and Xia Zhichun expressed hopes for a peaceful era between the two countries. To show gratitude for Western Liang’s support, Xia Zhichun ceded the western cities of Liao and Kangyuan as a gesture of friendship.
Upon hearing this news, my family felt dejected. The Great Qi Kingdom was our homeland, and we were unwilling to see it suffer such changes and partitioning. I felt uneasy, recognizing the ceding of territory was a transaction involving Xia Zhichun, Yan Or, and An Jin.
With the Qi Emperor and the Eastern Palace gone, they no longer posed a threat. However, these methods damaged the Qi Kingdom, which the An family had guarded for centuries.
