On the way to the palace, Mo Qu walked beside me, silent. He was known for being taciturn, which was not surprising, but I felt he seemed angry, with an icy aura emanating from him. Could I have offended him without knowing?
I tried to speak to him, but he only responded with nods or shakes of his head. Feeling frustrated, I fell silent.
Yan Huo had chosen an excellent location. His Ping Yao Imperial Palace was built on high ground, perfectly overlooking the entire city, with a breathtaking view.
“How is it?” Yan Huo stood beside me, with Mo Qu standing nearby. The sun was setting in the west, casting a beautiful scene. “Isn’t the scenery of Xi Liang just as good as that of Nan Rui’s Da Qi?”
“Your Majesty’s invitation to the palace surely isn’t just to appreciate the scenery.”
First the Crown Prince, now him. If I wasn’t still hoping to find out about Xia Zhichun and An Jin, I wouldn’t waste my time.
“Don’t you want to sit and enjoy the scenery?” Yan Huo looked regretful. “The current Grand Princess Zhao Hua is indeed no longer the thirteen-year-old from before. I thought you would have many questions.”
“Zhao Hua indeed has many doubts,” I frankly said. “Your Majesty is wise and naturally knows what Zhao Hua wants to ask.”
“Let me guess,” he touched his forehead, seemingly glancing at Mo Qu. “I hear the Nan Rui court is unstable, with senior officials urging Emperor Hong to have the Grand Princess hand over the Wujin Token. This token was in the hands of Xia Zhichun, the third prince of Qi Kingdom, who brought it to Xi Liang. Could it be that the Grand Princess has traveled to Xi Liang for this Wujin Token?”
I smiled and took a sip of wine.
Yan Huo, seeing my silence, seemed quite pleased. “I thought the Princess had come for An Daren, but it turns out it’s for this Wujin Token. Those who achieve great things must sometimes be ruthless. The Princess is indeed becoming more like a true heir.”
