An Jin paused his narration and gave me another meaningful look, reaching out to ruffle my hair. “What exactly did Xia Zhiyuan encounter in Xiliang that changed his mind?”
I suddenly recalled my encounter with Xia Zhiyuan in Xiliang. I had spoken to him sarcastically, and he had suddenly reached out to embrace me, saying a cryptic phrase: “It’s a deal.”
Indeed, I had been trying to provoke his conflict with the Qi Emperor. However, I hadn’t expected my intentions to align with An Jin’s plan. But what of it? I had done this without expecting much effect. Given our mutual wariness, would he really change his decision because of my words?
It couldn’t be because of me… could it? The Crown Prince wasn’t a child, and we had deep-seated grievances. Would he really listen to me?!
I stared at An Jin, my emotions complex.
An Jin sighed, pulling me into his embrace. “Even the most intelligent person has moments of foolishness. Xia Zhiyuan is no exception.”
“But…” I murmured, “Xia Zhiyuan would act foolishly?”
“I’d rather he hadn’t,” An Jin said, frowning, his lips pressed tight. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Especially if it’s for you.”
“Impossible…” I instinctively denied. “No…”
“A Yao,” he smiled helplessly. “Although I don’t want to admit it, this is the truth. Now do you understand? Why he would come to us on his own.”
Thinking carefully, my conversations with him probably gave him some inappropriate hints.
Perhaps he thought I had truly agreed to give him a chance, with the condition that he ascend to the throne of Qi. If Xia Zhiyuan indeed acted rashly because of this, ultimately being thwarted by Xia Zhichun and Yan Or and forced to flee in disgrace, he would now understand he had been set up and might believe I was in league with them, with the sole purpose of luring him in. If so, I would be the person he hates most.
And precisely because of this, he would certainly try every means to find me in Nanrui. Whether for revenge or other purposes, he would not let it go.
