The imperial uncle was right; everything was An Jin’s scheme. He knew I couldn’t bring myself to act against Yun Qiao, so he forced my hand through the golden cup incident. The arrest of the high priest and the Ministry of Personnel’s upheaval were all related to him.
He even knew I would go to the high priest to confirm the golden cup matter and had made arrangements in advance. In the end, he would force the high priest to implicate Yun Qiao, trying to push her into a desperate situation. Next, he would even make evidence appear at the right moment before the three departments, completely sealing their fate.
I never thought An Jin’s carefully planned scheme would one day be used against me. I had finally become another chess piece in his hands, arranged to move as he wished.
“It’s my fault.” Each word seemed difficult to say. “A Yao, will you forgive me?”
“Why?” I stared blankly at his embarrassed face.
“I was just afraid you would go soft, that Jiang Yun Qiao cannot be left alive…”
“Why have you become like this?” I unconsciously distanced myself from him. He looked very sad, wanting to grab my hand, but I dodged.
I blinked and sat there in a daze.
It turned out that the person who had changed was not just An Jin, but myself as well. Mother was right; people always change. With changes in environment and circumstances, everyone undergoes transformation. An Jin and I were changing in different directions, and that’s why we were growing further apart.
“Whenever there’s a conflict between husband and wife, the problem usually doesn’t lie with just one person,” my mother said earnestly. “A Yao, no matter what your son-in-law did to hurt you, you should first think about whether you’ve done something to make him uncomfortable. His heart towards you is truly something heaven and earth can bear witness to…”
Perhaps feeling more relaxed, I actually laughed when I heard her say this. “Heaven and earth can bear witness? Mother, that doesn’t sound like something you’d say.”
“It’s what your father taught me,” my mother also laughed.
We looked at each other and smiled. Just then, my older brother and Miao Yin walked in, holding my little niece Miao Miao.
