The Qi Emperor was wary of the secret department’s informants and dared not trust other military forces, relying solely on the Crimson Guard specially cultivated by the royal family. The Tang Clan was presumably planted by the royal family long ago, becoming a secret force exclusively serving the emperor.
I had previously found it strange why the Qi Emperor insisted on installing mechanisms in the side hall. Now it was clear that installing mechanisms was merely to deceive the secret department’s informants, with the real purpose being to conspire with the Tang Clan about how to deal with the An family under the cover of construction.
If not for Song Sitian, we might still be in the dark.
But I didn’t understand why, in trying to deal with the An family, he had to involve my own family. Was it to add more bargaining chips in negotiations with my mother-in-law?
After understanding all this, I became less worried. People fear the unknown most, and now the situation was crystal clear.
I listened carefully again as my younger sister repeated the conversation Song Sitian had heard. The more I listened, the more doubts arose. Although I don’t understand martial arts, I know An Jin’s skills were definitely not poor. Even if he wasn’t Tang Wei’s match, he shouldn’t have been killed so easily. Moreover, given An Jin’s caution, could he really be completely unaware of the Qi Emperor’s conspiracies?
No. He always acted thoughtfully and would never act rashly.
This time would be no different. But what if…? He had always wanted our children, always wanted us to live a stable life free from threats. What if he knew there was a trap but still chose to believe the Qi Emperor’s promise for that sliver of hope? If it were like that… I couldn’t bear to imagine further, my hands and feet going numb, my entire body turning to stone.
Since it’s the Eastern Palace, I suppose it won’t involve severe torture. This is an opportunity. In this imperial palace, apart from the Emperor, only the Eastern Palace can command these Crimson Guards and have the imperial physician treat the eunuch.
I have no idea where An Jin is or what condition he’s in, and I can’t help him. The only thing I can do is keep my promise, protect my family by all means.
I was taken to the Qifeng Hall. A table was set with fine wine and dishes, and the long-absent Eastern Palace Prince, wearing a luxurious robe, half-reclined on a unicorn couch and raised his wine cup to me.
“My lady, please sit,” he said, his overly beautiful face showing a hint of nostalgia. “It’s been a while, and you’re still so…”
I smiled and sat across from him. “Your Highness, finding me at this time is surely not just for reminiscing?”
“Of course,” Xia Zhiyuan suddenly lost his smile, his expression turning serious.
“How much does my lady know about the An family?”
I was slightly surprised. From this statement, he still can’t determine if I know the truth about the An family. What is his purpose? I feigned confusion: “The An family is my family. Of course I know everything.”
He studied me for a moment, then sighed softly, “My lady may have misunderstood me. In fact, I have never intended to harm you, only to pity you, I assure you.”
I said sadly, “I appreciate Your Highness’s kindness. If you truly mean well, please spare my family. I’m willing to bear my husband’s mistakes, but my family is innocent…”
Xia Zhiyuan raised his wine cup to his lips, looking melancholic. “It seems my lady truly knows nothing.”
“In fact, the An family has been secretly working for the royal family,” Xia Zhiyuan said solemnly. “An Jin is a capable assistant to the royal family. This time, An Jin’s escape with the Su family’s Western Liang spy was to secretly investigate some matters for my father.”
I opened my eyes wide, truly surprised. I never expected Xia Zhiyuan would explain the real situation to me so directly.
Xia Zhiyuan glanced at me, hesitating slightly, seeming somewhat troubled. “I know my lady will find this hard to accept. But what I’m about to say may cause you even more grief. Please remain calm.”
“During the escape, the Su family discovered his true identity,” his peach blossom-like face full of pain, yet looking ironically to me. “He was killed by the Su family.”
He pushed a small black sandalwood box in front of me. “Please accept my condolences.”
My eyes were fixed on the box. What could be inside? Surely not…
He suddenly opened the box. I gasped and instinctively moved back, but found the box contained not a hand or foot, not any part of An Jin’s body, but a silk handkerchief.
The handkerchief was embroidered with a half-blooming distant flower, almost entirely stained with blood.
I was in shock, barely able to breathe. But this handkerchief was so familiar – embroidered by my mother and later given by me to An Jin. An Jin had always kept it close to his heart, and now it appeared before me, stained with blood…
Something’s not right! I must keep reminding myself to stay clear-headed. “Where is his body?”
Xia Zhiyuan was surprised for a moment, then shook his head apologetically. “We discovered it too late. An Jin’s body was so badly eaten by wild animals that only this handkerchief, tightly clutched in his hand, remained.”
In contrast, her empress was not only strategically and militarily talented but also possessed exceptional political acumen. The empress was loved by the female emperor, who relied on her in political affairs and disregarded the advice of elder ministers, insisting on not taking another imperial husband, with only the empress remaining in the inner palace.
However, the female emperor’s affection was misplaced, and the seeds of disaster were sown. The empress was ambitious and had been plotting to force a palace coup. When Xuan Di was pregnant with her first child, the empress seized the opportunity, colluding with several ministers to confine Xuan Di within the imperial palace and force her to abdicate.
Xuan Di had been weak for half her life, but this setback sparked the innate stubbornness and resilience of Nan Rui women. On the surface, she appeared to acquiesce, indicating willingness to abdicate, but in reality, she took advantage of the empress’s unpreparedness and escaped the palace with the help of a few loyal servants, heading to Wen Ze Yi in the northwest to seek help from her brother, the King of Yue.
Little did she know, the empress had already anticipated her plan and sent people to intercept her on the route to Wen Ze Yi. Xuan Di had no choice but to split up with her servants.
Two servants disguised themselves and went to Wen Ze Yi to inform others, while Xuan Di and two close nursemaids changed direction and fled north, eventually reaching a small town at the border between Nan Rui and Qi Kingdom.
Having undergone such dramatic changes and constantly evading pursuit, Xuan Di was physically and mentally exhausted. At this moment, she also faced the pain of childbirth. The result was predictable – Xuan Di died during a difficult delivery.
When the empress personally arrived, she found only Xuan Di’s cold corpse. With one body and two lives lost, her husband and child gone, one can only wonder what the ambitious empress felt at that moment.
The King of Yue, upon receiving the news in Wen Ze Yi, immediately raised an army and attacked the capital, capturing the empress’s followers with almost no effort. The empress committed suicide on the night of the King of Yue’s arrival. The King of Yue, being the female emperor’s biological and legitimate brother, was supported by the ministers and succeeded to the throne, becoming the current Emperor Hong of Nan Rui.
“If the lady is indeed the Grand Princess, then everything makes sense. You and the Fifth Princess are cousins, so it’s naturally possible to look alike.”
