Ji Chen seemed to realize she had said too much, covered her mouth and then released it, smiling at her: “Tonguer, you will definitely be happy in the future, but I don’t know what will happen to me.”
“If you’re willing to wait, everything will work out.”
Ji Chen shook her head: “You don’t know. Yu Qer is full of ambition. He and I are fundamentally different people.”
“My master is not an ordinary person.” Gu Qingxiu looked towards the city gate where Yu Qer was drawing his bow and shooting down the city’s leader.
“He will help the Crown Prince this time, naturally to gain something. Ruan Niang is Yu Qer’s aunt and will naturally help him. Ruan Niang is close to Concubine Xin, and the Crown Prince cannot go against Concubine Xin’s wishes. The Crown Prince is only twelve years old and cannot compare to his twenty-five years. I’m afraid even after gaining the throne, he will struggle to truly hold power.”
“Explain clearly.” Gu Qingxiu anxiously grabbed her arm, as if Ji Chen knew many unknown secrets that were related to her and her brother and mother.
Ji Chen glanced at the green fruit nearby and pulled Gu Qingxiu to a deserted place: “You might have forgotten that Yu Qer’s surname is Shen, but that was granted by the former Emperor. His actual surname is Yun. Ruan Niang, to cover her tracks, also switched her name, changing from Yun Ruan to Ruan Yun.”
“Surname Yun?” Gu Qingxiu was confused.
“Tonguer, how can you be so silly?” Ji Chen helplessly poked her forehead.
“Yun is the royal surname of the neighboring country of Yun Qiong.”
“Royal surname? My master is a prince from the neighboring country?”
“It seems you’ve truly forgotten. Yu Qer’s father was sent as a hostage to our country and suffered countless humiliations. Later, when the former Emperor became enemies with Yun Qiong, he stripped him of the Yun surname and deliberately granted the Shen surname, ensuring that he and the next generation could never return to Yun Qiong.”
“Is that so. So, his helping the Crown Prince is indeed with ulterior motives?” Gu Qingtong looked at the city siege that was about to succeed, noticing that Jiang Shangheng seemed to have a conflict with Young Master Yu Qing, but fortunately General He Xi stopped them. She then shifted her gaze back, “You should know that telling me these things is not good for him. Since you like him, why are you telling me?”
“Just consider me selfish. I don’t want him to climb too high. The higher he climbs, the less I can reach him. I just want to pull him down and keep him in one place.”
Gu Qingtong nodded, understanding. Suddenly, a thunderous shout came from afar: “The city has fallen.”
“Next is capturing the Rui Prince. Let’s not join the commotion.”
“Mm.” Gu Qingtong held her hand, standing side by side. Just as she was about to say something, Ji Cen suddenly went limp and fell to the ground.
As she was about to turn back, she was struck hard on the back of her head and went unconscious.
When Gu Qingtong regained consciousness, she was rudely awakened by cold water: “Cough cough…”
“Your Highness, you’re awake.”
“Mm, good. Hang them at the Vermilion Bird Gate. If they take a step forward, whip them. If they dare to attack, shoot them dead with an arrow.”
“Yes.”
Gu Qingtong had just coughed out the water from her throat when she was tightly bound and carried out, with Ji Cen being carried behind her. They had been kidnapped by the Rui Prince to threaten General He Xi and the others.
Passing by the Rui Prince, Gu Qingtong glared at him fiercely. The Rui Prince laughed grimly: “Gu Qingtong, I used to want to seduce you. Now it seems it was just a waste of effort. Using you to threaten Jiang Shangheng is more effective than doing it myself. It’s fortunate that Jiang Shangheng is uncooperative and unwilling to help me, which is why I captured you to threaten him.”
Gu Qingtong knew she couldn’t compete with him, so she closed her eyes and stopped wasting energy.
The Rui Prince snorted coldly: “Hang them up and whip them hard, let them know not to force me, or I’ll make the people they care about most bleed at the Vermilion Bird Gate. I’m going to meet the Crown Prince.”
“Yes.”
“Tong’er!” Ji Cen was clearly frightened, staring wide-eyed at Gu Qingtong.
Gu Qingtong was helpless and could only comfort Ji Cen with her eyes. Soon, they were hung at the Vermilion Bird Gate, swaying a zhang above the ground.
She could see the palace walls outside the Vermilion Bird Gate about to collapse, with distant battle cries piercing her ears.
The Rui Prince’s men, hearing the approaching attack, quickly grabbed two whips soaked in salt water.
Gu Qingtong frantically moved in the air, shouting: “You two, listen! General He Xi has led the divine soldiers in. The Rui Prince’s rebellion is doomed. If you release us, we can plead with General He Xi to spare your lives. Otherwise, when General He Xi breaks in, it’ll be your blood that flows!”
The two men heard something was wrong outside and whispered to each other, seeming hesitant. But they still encouraged each other: “We’ve followed the Rui Prince. When they break in, we’re dead anyway. We might as well gamble. Maybe the Rui Prince can still win.”
Ji Cen also tried to intimidate them.
Unexpectedly, these two were resolute and raised their whips.
Ji Cen saw the whips approaching and screamed in terror. Gu Qingtong’s face turned pale, closing her eyes unable to watch. But after a moment, no whip had struck. Instead, both men below let out miserable screams – they had been shot through the chest with arrows, their blood splattering the Vermilion Bird Gate.
“Sister!” Gu Qingtong saw a light yellow figure ride out from the gate, holding a bow and arrow, who had them released.
“Crown Prince, how did you come out? Where’s the Rui Prince?” Gu Qingtong asked, grabbing his arm.
“Rui Prince was killed by Shen Yuqing, slitting his throat.” Yuan Hongren waved his hand to open the palace gates.
“That’s good. But why was it Young Master Yu Qing?”
“He’s skilled and is still clearing the remaining rebels.” Yuan Hongren rubbed the red marks on her wrist. “Sister, you’ve suffered.”
“I know the Crown Prince did it for my own good, though in the end, we couldn’t avoid it.”
“As long as you don’t blame me. I’ll take you to see Mother. She’s waited for over a decade and can finally see you openly. Sister, once I clear the Rui Prince’s remaining forces, I’ll make you a princess and let you enjoy wealth and honor, with no one looking down on you.”
Gu Qingtong smiled faintly: “Good brother, I know you care for me. But I’m not the most important thing right now. The Rui Prince’s remaining forces are being handled by Young Master Yu Qing. You must be careful…”
“Tong’er.” Ji Cen suddenly stepped forward and held her hand, shaking her head.
Gu Qingtong followed her gaze and saw two senior ministers behind the Crown Prince, so she fell silent.
At this moment, the palace gates were wide open, and General He Xi was being led in. The Crown Prince went forward with the ministers to greet him.
Gu Qingtong stood to the side with Ji Cen, whose hand was trembling. She held her hand: “Orange, how are you? The Crown Prince said he wants to bestow you the title of princess.”
“I’m not of royal blood, so being made a princess is surely just a jest and won’t actually happen. However, the status of trial consort is something we can both probably remove.” Gu Qingtong smiled faintly and walked towards General Qiaxi. Upon hearing the Crown Prince and others talking with General Qiaxi, she learned that one of the officials was Secretary Guo, her maternal uncle, and the other was the old prince, father of the Linlang County Princess whom she had imitated.
After they finished their pleasantries, Gu Qingtong softly greeted General Qiaxi: “Uncle Qiaxi.”
