An Jin finally made the ultimate decision to send me and his family to Nan Rui, seeking protection from the Nan Rui royal family. Meanwhile, he himself set out for Xi Liang, making his final move to completely break with the Qi Emperor and Crown Prince, vowing to make the royal family pay for their actions. I stood dazed, surrounded by silence. “He – went to Xi Liang?” I murmured. “What else does he want to do?”
“I can no longer control what Jin’er wants to do,” she pulled at the corners of her mouth, weary and helpless. “Although I knew the Secret Department and the royal family would eventually come to this, I didn’t expect it to happen so soon.”
Could An Jin be planning to ally with Xi Liang against the Qi Emperor and Crown Prince? No wonder his mother would react this way. Would the Da Qi kingdom’s centuries of imperial foundation be destroyed by internal strife? Would An Jin truly bear the charge of treason?
His mother seemed to sense my shock and comforted me: “Don’t worry. The Da Qi kingdom’s throne will ultimately belong to the Xia family.”
The carriage jolted slightly and gradually stopped. Que’er looked outside and turned to me, saying, “Madam, they’ve arrived.”
“Go,” his mother extended her hand to straighten my hair, smiling softly with rare gentleness. “Take good care of yourself in Nan Rui. Although Hong Emperor is your maternal uncle and has been searching for you, he may not be as courteous as he appears. Be careful.” She hesitated before adding, “You and Jin will meet again. Don’t worry.”
I was stunned. “Mother-in-law, aren’t you coming with me?”
“No,” she smiled and shook her head. “I must stay in Qi country to do something for Jin’er. Your father-in-law is also here; I cannot leave him.”
My chest felt like it was being violently pulled in all directions.
The gentle and kind father-in-law, the mother-in-law who masked her tenderness with coldness, the affectionate husband – this good family was finally falling apart. Only in parting did one realize that each day spent dining together was a diminishing blessing.
“Go,” his mother sat upright and nodded at me.
