Emperor Yongchang truly had no way of dealing with this daughter. He shook his head, then suddenly reacted: “Then what does this have to do with you bringing up that Qi Yuan again?”
One was the moon in the sky—untouchable.
The other, an ordinary flower on the ground—easily plucked.
What was so special about Qi Yuan that Baorong actually remembered her?
Princess Baorong pressed her lips together, seeming a little confused, yet also a bit curious.
With her wide, innocent eyes, she looked at Emperor Yongchang and said, “Royal Father, I remember her not because of who she is, but because of Eldest Princess Aunt and Yunting.”
At the mention of them, Emperor Yongchang’s expression darkened. He gave an “Oh?” and asked meaningfully, “What do they have to do with her?”
“You didn’t know, Royal Father?” Baorong replied with feigned innocence. “When that Miss Qi had just come back from the countryside, even her own family didn’t like her. But at her recognition banquet, it was Eldest Princess Aunt who personally came down the mountain to support her and give her face.”
This, Emperor Yongchang really hadn’t known.
He already had his hands full with court affairs.
Matters of the inner households—those were handled by the Embroidered Guards. But unless something particularly important happened, they wouldn’t report such things to him.
So this was the first time he’d heard that the Eldest Princess had actually left her seclusion from Baiyun Temple… and for the sake of a junior, no less.
In that moment, countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
The Eldest Princess had always refused to meet him, no matter how many times he’d gone to Baiyun Temple.
But now, she was willing to come out—for someone from the Qi family?
Was it really for Qi Yuan?
Or was it for Qi Zhen?
Because she knew Qi Zhen was acting on his secret orders to find Liu Wangfei and Xiao Mo, and this was her excuse to associate openly with the Qi family under the guise of helping a child?
Watching the changing expressions on the emperor’s face, Baorong smiled quietly to herself.
Then she timidly asked, “Royal Father… did I say something wrong?”
“No… no, you didn’t.” Emperor Yongchang patted her hair. “Then tell me—what about Yunting? He knows Qi Yuan too?”
Baorong widened her eyes and smiled brightly: “Of course! I’ve heard the ladies who come to court—Miss Lu and the others—mention it a lot. They say Yunting treats Miss Qi so well. He’s always going to the Qi residence, like it’s his own home! And he and Miss Qi are always chatting and laughing.”
Is that so?
Could there really be such coincidences in the world?
He had sent his most trusted men to find Liu Wangfei, and now the Eldest Princess and Yunting were both closely involved with the daughter of that very man?
Was it really affection?
Or was there another motive behind the scenes?
Now that her goal was achieved, Baorong said no more.
Even tattling required technique.
It had to be done naturally—ideally so subtly that no one even realized you were tattling.
She had heard of Qi Yuan long ago.
From the mouth of Qi Wang.
From Liu Mingzhu.
From Duke Chu and his wife.
She knew everything about Qi Yuan’s story.
And she admitted it—this girl was clever and capable.
To be honest, if she hadn’t observed her for such a long time, Baorong might have thought that Qi Yuan, like her, had transmigrated from the future.
But judging from Qi Yuan’s behavior, her skills, and her martial arts… Baorong ultimately dismissed that possibility.
She wasn’t someone who had traveled from the future.
It must be a rebirth.
She clicked her tongue, her eyes tinged with disgust.
Look at that, both are people reborn, but Qi Wang is so useless. Just look at how Qi Yuan can stir up storms.
But so what?
Rebirth alone can decide many things.
She is a noble princess, high above everyone else. She knows countless things that people of this era could never imagine.
She can do many, many things.
She is not bound by any of this dynasty’s rules or restrictions.
If Qi Wang is capable, she will support him to ascend the throne. She wants to become the Eldest Princess who holds power over the world.
If Qi Wang is useless, then she will do it herself.
Why wouldn’t she be able to?
Wu Zetian became an empress.
Princess Anle entangled the emperor and nearly became the crown princess.
So why can’t she?
Qi Yuan, in her eyes, was nothing more than a tiny little ant.
She wouldn’t even need to put in much effort to crush her to death.
Including her so-called backers, Xiao Yunting and the Crown Prince.
Xiao Yunting sneezed.
It was cold and windy. Both the Eldest Princess and Liu Wangfei were startled and quickly sent Babao to fetch a cloak to wrap around Xiao Yunting.
As Babao fetched it, he muttered, “We’re all here, who’s talking about His Highness and making him sneeze?”
Everyone was gathered around the fire roasting chicken. When they heard Babao’s comment, none of them took it seriously.
Only Qi Yuan chuckled softly and tossed a stick into the fire. “It must be Princess Baorong.”
At the mention of Princess Baorong, everyone fell silent.
They all turned to look at Qi Yuan.
The Old Marquis Qi and Qi Zhen, who had just arrived, immediately heard the words “Princess Baorong” and both felt their temples throb.
Qi Zhen sat down, working hard to maintain a composed appearance. He sat next to Princess Consort Lu and casually asked, “Why bring up Princess Baorong all of a sudden?”
Qi Yuan smiled as if it was perfectly natural. “Filing complaints, of course! Her maternal grandparents and her uncle are all dead—basically, her whole family is gone. Qi Wang now has a broken leg, and soon, if the Wangfei follows proper rites, she’ll have to return to the palace to become the empress. Just think, Father, how much must she hate you?”
…..
Qi Zhen took a deep breath, cursing in his heart.
He shouldn’t have come!
No—he shouldn’t have gotten involved in this in the first place.
Just look at this, now even Princess Baorong is fixated on him.
He looked miserably at Qi Yuan. “But it’s not just me! His Majesty ordered me all those years ago. It was my duty to bring back the Wangfei!”
“Sure, it was your duty, but that doesn’t stop you from indirectly exposing the truth and bringing down Duke Chu’s family.” Qi Yuan tugged at the corner of her mouth. Seeing Qi Zhen’s grave expression, clearly terrified, she raised an eyebrow and said, “But Father, you don’t need to worry too much. Hatred has its priorities. Right now, the ones she hates the most are me and Wangye. No one else.”
Qi Wang must have told her that she was the one who exposed the brothel scandal, who obtained the corrupt officials’ name list from the canal transport, who killed Liu Jinghong, and who destroyed Qi Wang’s secret guards.
So, in Princess Baorong’s eyes, she was the one connecting all the pieces.
Qi Zhen was thoroughly frightened. “Then what—what will you do? And what about the Crown Prince? What about Jing Wang? What will they do?”
If Princess Baorong files a complaint and deliberately portrays Qi Yuan’s close ties with the Eldest Princess and the Eastern Palace, wouldn’t Emperor Yongchang start to suspect that the Eastern Palace had conspired with Liu Wangfei, each taking what they needed, to kill Qi Wang and Noble Consort Xiao Liu?
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