“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.
Although the Secret Department had been purged by the Qi Emperor, many hidden agents in Yanfeng remained undetected. Some of these agents were positioned around Xia Zhiyuan, including the graceful dancing girl, Feiwu.
An Jin secretly ordered them to provoke Xia Zhiyuan into staging a coup. However, Xia Zhiyuan was suspicious and cunning. Although he harbored thoughts of seizing the throne, he had been quietly restraining himself, waiting for the right moment. No matter how the agents acted, he remained inactive and grew suspicious of their intentions.
An Jin then directed the agents to adopt more covert methods while also sowing discord between the Crown Prince and the Qi Emperor. The three of them initially thought their plan would take more time. However, with the birth of the Xiliang Crown Prince and Xia Zhiyuan’s trip to Xiliang, Xia Zhiyuan unexpectedly changed his cautious approach upon returning and began preparing for the coup, surprising the three of them in Xiliang and prompting them to prepare for a real counterattack.
I listened, my teeth clenched tightly.
An Jin paused and gave me a meaningful look, reaching out to ruffle my hair. “What exactly did Xia Zhiyuan encounter in Xiliang that changed his mind?”
I recalled my encounter with Xia Zhiyuan in Xiliang, where I had spoken to him sarcastically. He unexpectedly embraced me and said, “It’s a deal.” My intentions had been to provoke conflict with the Qi Emperor, but I hadn’t expected my plans to align with An Jin’s. Given our history of mutual wariness, would he really change his decisions based on my words?
I was confused, staring at An Jin, who sighed and pulled me into his embrace. “Even the most intelligent and meticulous person has moments of foolishness. Xia Zhiyuan is no exception.”
“But…” I murmured, questioning if he would truly act foolishly.
“I’d rather he hadn’t,” An Jin replied, his hand trembling slightly in mine. I held it firmly.
He took a deep breath. “Especially if it’s for you.”
“Impossible…” I instinctively denied. “No…”
“A Yao,” he said with a helpless smile. “This is the truth. Now do you understand why he would come to us?”
Reflecting on it, my conversations with him likely gave him inappropriate hints, representing a kind of promise.
Perhaps he thought I had agreed to give him a chance, with the condition that he ascend to the throne of Qi. If Xia Zhiyuan acted rashly because of this, ultimately thwarted by Xia Zhichun and Yan Or and forced to flee in disgrace, he might now believe I was in league with them, with the intent of luring him in. In that case, I would be the person he hates most.
Because of this, he would try every means to find me in Nanrui. Whether for revenge or other purposes, he would not let it go.
It was difficult to express my current state of mind. The Crown Prince could be a beautiful yet venomous snake, a fox skilled in disguise, or a mysterious black widow—not simply a foolish person who fell for confusion.
I anxiously guessed when he would arrive in Nanrui and how he would appear before me. However, everything remained calm on the surface.
She smiled bitterly. “Indeed, I have gained something, and not a small amount.”
“If that’s the case, why do you seem so troubled recently?” I asked. “Have you encountered some other troubles?”
She avoided my gaze and shook her head. “It’s nothing serious. By the way, I heard that General Shen proposed to the Xiao family recently?”
“That’s right, and thanks to your hint at the time,” I replied with a smile.
“The wedding is set after the Mid-Autumn Festival. You must come and have a celebratory drink then.” My family was jubilant as my younger sister found a good husband. My mother was especially overjoyed, currently helping her prepare the wedding dress.
“Of course,” she smiled. “I never thought General Shen would finally come to his senses. He is indeed a good man, and Xiao Ya will not suffer by marrying him.”
“I think so too. This sister has been my biggest worry, and now I can finally relax.” I leaned back in the chair. “Would you like to listen to another play?”
“No need,” she replied. “I heard a new qin player has arrived and plays quite well. Why don’t we invite him to entertain us?”
I readily agreed and sent someone to invite the qin player. Shortly after, my elder brother brought him to our room along with several fresh, unique small dishes.
“Forgive our poor hospitality,” my elder brother said with a laugh. “Second Princess, please bear with us.”
“Not at all,” Jiang Yunqiao smiled. “The wine, food, and performance are wonderful. I’m quite satisfied.”
My elder brother introduced the qin player, who was tall and thin, wearing a white-gray robe that hung loosely on him, giving him an ethereal appearance.
He wore a veil that completely covered his face.
“This is the newly hired qin player, Bai Chen,” my elder brother introduced.
Bai Chen bowed to us, neither servile nor overbearing. My elder brother then had him sit at a nearby qin table and whispered, “This qin player cannot speak, and it’s said that he is extremely ugly, which is why he covers his face. But his qin skills are excellent, so please don’t take offense.”
Before I could respond, Jiang Yunqiao said, “It’s fine. We’re here to listen to music.”
My elder brother nodded and left. Bai Chen placed the qin on the table, positioning his fingers on the strings without movement, seemingly waiting for us to choose a piece.
I glanced at Jiang Yunqiao, who sat up straight and told Bai Chen, “Master Bai, please play ‘Chang Xiang Si.'”
The veil on Bai Chen’s head moved slightly, as if nodding in agreement. He then began to play, filling the room with a melodious, slightly melancholic tune. Jiang Yunqiao closed her eyes, leaning back in her chair, saying nothing. Only when the piece ended did she slowly open her eyes, seemingly lost in thought.
Seeing her like this, I praised Bai Chen’s skills and placed a small gold gourd on his qin. He picked it up, put it in his sleeve, bowed to us, and silently withdrew.
After he left, Jiang Yunqiao suddenly spoke. “A Yao, sometimes I truly envy you.”
“Envy me?
“I said with a bitter smile. ‘Envy me for dragging my whole family into exile?’
She looked at me, seeming to look through me. ‘No, I envy you having a husband who would do anything for you.’
‘Meeting An Jin is indeed my blessing. But don’t you also have a good husband who is willing to help you?’
She stared into the distance. ‘It’s different…’
I grew worried and waved my hand in front of her. ‘Still can’t forget that person?’
She paused. ‘How could it be so easy?’
‘This can’t go on,’ I frowned. ‘In this state, Consort Yin must have noticed something. If you can’t let go, why not find him? Meet him once for closure.’
She lowered her head and whispered, ‘…impossible.’
‘Why impossible?’
She suddenly looked up, her gaze burning, and grabbed my hand. ‘A Yao, is it right to do anything, without limits, for the person you love?’
‘I—’ I was at a loss.
