The Su family’s identity gradually emerged during these investigations, especially after the incidents of fraudulent official purchases and harboring the Fifth Princess; their schemes were completely exposed. However, to eliminate all their associated factions, they could not alert them prematurely.
The fraudulent official purchase was essentially Su Qian and Su Xi’s attempt to plant their own people in the military department, which involved border defense battle secrets. Fortunately, they failed to eliminate the innocent impersonated person, who escaped and filed a complaint. To further gain the Su family’s trust and avoid alerting them to the exposure of their identity, An Jin had to find a way to suppress Su Xi’s crimes.
The Su family’s arrangement for Su Xi to approach Princess Nan Rui and kidnap her on their wedding night was a deliberate attempt to provoke conflict between Western Liang and Nan Rui, destroying this alliance. An Jin had discovered the Fifth Princess’s whereabouts; she was indeed hidden in the Su residence. His recent busyness was planning how to find the Fifth Princess without alerting the Su family.
Although aware of the Qi Emperor and Crown Prince’s suspicions towards the An family, An Jin never forgot his responsibilities.
Perhaps for him, for his mother-in-law, and for the entire secret service, what they were now protecting was no longer the royal family, but the entire country and the people of the Great Qi Kingdom.
Thinking this way, I developed a feeling of admiration bordering on reverence for my husband. He instantly rose to a height that required me to look up to him. Though somewhat unaccustomed, I felt more pride.
Simultaneously, I felt somewhat dissatisfied. Apparently, in this entire An family household, only I and my father-in-law had been kept completely in the dark, naively thinking we were living an ordinary life. But did my father-in-law truly know nothing? His tolerance towards his wife far exceeded a husband’s typical affection. An Jin and I had noticed something within just two years of living together, so how could he, who had been married to her for over twenty years, know nothing?
Perhaps feigning ignorance was also an expression of deep love. She didn’t speak, so he would forever pretend not to know. She wanted to be an ordinary person, so he would accompany her, becoming the most ordinary couple.
Compared to my father-in-law, I was much luckier. An Jin chose to let me know the entire truth, chose to give me a chance to see everything around me, and perhaps even an opportunity to share this centuries-old responsibility together.
At the same time, with my deeper understanding of the world, I no longer felt bored while sitting in the study. I learned to observe. The candied hawthorn seller had sharp eyes and was quick at making change – perhaps a hidden expert. Which country might he be from? The boss of the steamed bun shop next door had an elegant meat-chopping posture – perhaps a swordsman. Even Lin Shusheng, who often came to buy books, began to reveal a slightly peculiar accent. I excitedly shared my discoveries with An Jin, who laughed and said I was becoming obsessed. How could there be so many secret agents? Not everyone could be one. I felt somewhat frustrated, still insisting that hidden talents were everywhere, only regretting that I wasn’t born into a long-established family, wasn’t cultivated as a female agent, unable to laugh and adventure across three kingdoms with An Jin.
Now, thinking back, my parents, older brother, and younger sister, whom I once found strange, were truly the most normal ordinary people. My mother and older brother had been quite busy recently, preparing betrothal gifts. Miao Yin was from the Empress’s family, so the six traditional rites had to be followed meticulously, with nothing lacking. An Jin had the accounting room allocate considerable silver, letting me secretly supplement it, and with my brother’s own savings, it was more than sufficient.
Moreover, Song Sitang was about to marry the young master of the Tang family, Tang Wei, and was currently busy preparing her wedding dress and dowry, leaving no time to accompany her. She ran to the study to keep me and Yuanxiao company, lamenting the unpredictability of life.
I was also quite emotional. The scene of Song Sitang running to me, begging me to bring her and An Jin together, was still vivid in my mind. Now she has found a good destination.
Little Sister was melancholic. Seeing her big brother about to get married, and her close girlfriends already married off with joy everywhere, yet she was still unable to find her soulmate, she felt lost. Yuanxiao seemed to sense this, lying at our feet and softly whimpering.
Little Sister was just as picky as Yuanxiao. After being shaken by Feng Yuxi and the Eastern Palace, Little Sister had rejected all marriage proposals, insisting on being choosy and determined to find a truly compatible young man. This pair of kindred spirits sat by the study window, gazing at the sky and sighing.
I knew she was somewhat dissatisfied with my previous favoritism towards Song Sitang and neglect of her, and was about to comfort her when I heard the doorbell ring, signaling another guest’s arrival.
Princess Jiang Yunqiao of Nanrui and General Shen entered one after another. My study had been visited by many distinguished guests these days, truly bringing honor to the humble residence. Jiang Yunqiao was dressed in casual attire, her expression stern but softening when she saw me, becoming more intimate. “Madam,” she said.
I hurriedly pulled Little Sister to bow to her. Little Sister and Yuanxiao simultaneously stared at the small yellow bird on General Shen’s shoulder.
Jiang Yunqiao’s expression was slightly awkward. General Shen looked up and said sternly, “Come back.”
Note, he said “come back,” not “shut up.”
The small yellow bird tilted its head and glanced at him but didn’t move. I didn’t think much of it and busied myself entertaining the distinguished guests. Jiang Yunqiao took out a piece of paper from her bosom and handed it to me: “I heard from General Shen that your father is suffering from an eye disease.”
This is a prescription for eye treatment from Nanrui, hoping it might help your father’s condition.”
I accepted it, feeling grateful while also sensing something unusual.
I had initially thought this Nanrui princess’s friendly gestures were simply due to a connection, but now it seemed she was trying to find clues about the Fifth Princess through me.
Although I knew the Fifth Princess was currently at the Su family, Nanrui’s stance was different from ours, and I absolutely could not reveal any information, so I had to continue playing along.
Yuan Xiao’s round body suddenly leaped up, pouncing successfully on Xiao Huang, its two front paws firmly pressing down on him, pulling out a few feathers.
Xiao Huang panicked and struggled in vain, only able to cry out in fear: “Save Xiao Huang… Princess, save Xiao Huang…”
Yuan Xiao opened its mouth wide, revealing white, sharp teeth. Xiao Huang let out a sharp scream and fainted.
The four of us stared in shock.
Xiao Mei pulled Xiao Huang from Yuan Xiao’s claws, shook it a few times, and said triumphantly, “Dare to curse me? Now you know our power, right?”
Yuan Xiao walked towards me confidently, plopping down in front of me, eyes wide open, looking like a victorious general. However, having just scared Xiao Huang unconscious, with the Second Princess and General Shen still present, I couldn’t express anything, so I just rubbed its head, hinting that it could receive its reward later.
“I’m truly sorry,” I smiled at Jiang Yunqiao and General Shen. “This dog is not well-behaved…”
