“Don’t worry. Since you were able to pass this stage through your own adaptability, the next stage definitely won’t be a problem.” His arm tightened.
“You know very well that’s not what’s troubling me.” I pulled away his hand and turned to look into his eyes. “Brother Jin, based on what you’ve investigated, was it really Jiang Yun Qiao’s own idea to tamper with the golden cup to make me fail?”
An Jin looked reluctant, hesitating for a moment before slightly nodding. “According to the information I have, it was indeed her.”
My last remaining hope was shattered, and my heart sank to the bottom.
Now, Yun Qiao plans to compete for the position of heir and seek revenge. Her way of doing things is vastly different from before. Young Master Bai, Yun Qiao has truly loved you, don’t you want to cherish her?
Can you bear to see her do wrong things for you, going against her own nature?”
“True love? So you also believe that someone’s true love should be cherished?” A low, hoarse voice came from behind the white cotton fabric. “I thought that for you, any true love except for An Jin should be discarded like an old shoe.”
I dug my fingers into my palm, staring at him intently.
“Bai Chen” elegantly extended his hand, removing the veil hat and revealing his pale face. His features were thinner than before, but had lost none of their stunning beauty, and even gained a touch of tragic allure. “What, surprised to see I’m not dead?”
My tense nerves gradually relaxed after a while.
“Xia Zhiyuan,” I called out his name. “I should have realized earlier.”
“That’s right, you should have realized long ago,” he said, picking up the wine cup from the table and twirling it between his fingers. “Given our friendship, of course I wouldn’t forget to come and visit you first. My Princess Zhao Hua.”
“Xia Zhiyuan, what do you want?” I suddenly understood. Since Bai Chen was Xia Zhiyuan, it meant that Yun Qiao’s beloved, that youth in the snow, was actually the Eastern Palace heir of Qi Kingdom? No wonder he couldn’t speak, couldn’t show his face. Could it be that what she wanted to help him reclaim was actually the throne of Qi Kingdom?
“What do I want?” He smiled slightly.
“Since Princess Zhao Yue is so kind as to offer help, of course I’ll gratefully accept and occasionally give something in return.” His expression became frivolous and sinister. “Although Jiang Yun Qiao isn’t my type, if she wants me, I’m happy to accept and give her some sweetness.”
“You… are truly shameless,” I said, feeling full of anger. “Yun Qiao has loved you for ten years! How can you bear to use her?”
“I wondered why she always tried to get close to me,” he laughed carelessly. “We’re just mutually beneficial – she wants me, I want her power. What’s there to be heartless about? Besides, I’ve tasted true love once before.”
I was speechless, stammering: “Even if we schemed against you, you lost your position and were exiled – weren’t we also separated from our loved ones?”
He suddenly stared at me, eyes narrowing. “Indeed. Our grievances are now hard to settle. So let’s see who has better skills, who can laugh last.”
“So you won’t give up,” I sighed. “I only feel sorry for Yun Qiao.”
“Instead of worrying about others, you should worry about yourself,” he curved his lips. “How was this trial? Not easy, right?”
I clenched my teeth.
“It was you—”
“It was me who gave her such a good idea, pity you still escaped,” he suddenly gripped my wrist tightly. “But as long as I’m here, you’ll never have peace. I’ll not only turn Jiang Yun Qiao against you but help her ascend the throne. By then… you and An Jin will be nothing more than ants in my hand.”
Xia Zhiyuan looked at me carelessly, appearing triumphant.
I forcefully pulled my painfully gripped arm away and quickly slapped him. His head turned to one side, hand covering his cheek, his expression stiff.
“You’re only relying on Yun Qiao’s infatuation!” I sneered. “Do you think this infatuation can last? Once this phase passes, she’ll definitely wake up and will no longer let you use her.”
His face darkened momentarily, then he forced a smile: “Is that so? I hope you and An Jin get to see that day. As for this slap—” he touched his face, eyes full of hatred, “I’ll add it to the account you owe me.”
Xia Zhiyuan slowly and meticulously put his veil hat back on. At this moment, someone pushed open the door – it was Jiang Yun Qiao. Her face was full of worry, and she relaxed slightly upon seeing Xia Zhiyuan.
“A Yao,” she smiled at me. “Why did you come alone without calling me?”
I strode forward, grabbing her arm. “Come with me.”
I pulled her for quite a distance until we entered an empty, deserted alley before releasing her. She stood behind me, carefully asking, “A Yao, what’s wrong?”
“Who is Bai Chen?” I turned around, asking sharply.
She tried to appear calm. “Didn’t you already know? He’s the one I love.”
“You still won’t tell the truth?” My anger surged. “He is Xia Zhiyuan! The former Eastern Palace heir of Qi Kingdom, one of the main culprits who caused my entire family to be destroyed and displaced! Do you think he’s really that pure, unblemished youth in the snow?”
She lowered her head. “I know all of this. But he had no choice. Those things that harmed your family were all done by the previous Qi Emperor.”
“You actually believe him?!” I pressed my forehead, completely losing rationality. “Yun Qiao, he is not the person you love.”
“I believe him,” Yun Qiao looked at me, her gaze persistent. “I know he did some wrong things in the past and hurt you. But he is still the person I’ve loved for so many years, and there’s still a pure land in his heart. I believe in this.”
I gripped her shoulders and shook her. “Wake up, Yun Qiao… he’s using you…”
“Perhaps now he is,” she said sadly. “But one day, I will enter that pure land in his heart. He will understand eventually.”
“Pure Land?” I laughed bitterly. “People change.”
If he truly had a pure land in his heart, he wouldn’t have incited you against me, wouldn’t have instructed you to tamper with the golden cup and try to completely eliminate me! If I hadn’t reacted quickly, he might have succeeded already!”
She looked shocked. “Tamper with the golden cup?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know,” I said angrily, dropping my hand. “He has already admitted it.”
Jiang Yun stepped forward, firmly meeting my gaze. “Indeed, he did mention it to me. But I didn’t do it.”
I didn’t know whether to believe her. The golden cup had indeed been tampered with, An Jin had confirmed it was done on her instructions, and Xia Zhiyuan had admitted it. The evidence was conclusive, yet she denied it?
“Of course you won’t admit it,” I scoffed. “I never thought you would do something like this, disregarding our sisterly bond.”
“It wasn’t me,” she said, also angry. “Believe it or not. I didn’t arrange for this to happen.”
Could it really not be her? Impossible. An Jin had always been cautious, and his findings shouldn’t be wrong. But if it was her, why pretend not to know now?
“Regardless of whether you did it, Xia Zhiyuan cannot stay,” I turned away. “He’s only by your side to sow discord between us and achieve his own goals. If you don’t want the Emperor to know you’re hiding Xia Zhiyuan in your residence, send him away quickly. If you do that, I won’t pursue this matter further.”
She was silent for a moment before answering, “No, I can’t do that.”
“You—” I laughed in anger. “Fine. If you’re so stubborn, I’ll go see the Emperor and let him decide.”
As I made to leave, she grabbed me, furiously saying, “You can go, but don’t forget, your An Jin also has an unclear background!”
