She immediately sent a message to Xiao Yunting.
But as it happened, Xiao Yunting was already on his way to see her. The first thing he said when he saw her was, “We can’t count on Lai Chenglong anymore. He’s already been transferred to the Shanxi Protectorate to investigate the imperial envoy’s death, and all his trusted subordinates have been eliminated by Pu Wuyong.”
Cishan’s death had driven Pu Wuyong into a rage.
That mad eunuch was no longer considering the consequences of his actions. Otherwise, given Lai Chenglong’s background, there was no way he would’ve dared go so far.
And it was precisely because of that that Xiao Yunting was growing more and more worried about Qi Yuan.
If Pu Wuyong could vent such terrifying fury on someone like Lai Chenglong—who had only been tangentially involved—how much more ruthless would he be with Qi Yuan, who had struck directly at his heart?
He truly feared what Pu Wuyong might do to her.
So he couldn’t help but lower his voice and say, “I’ve arranged for you to leave the city—to go to Mao Mountain or Mount Longhu.”
To hide for a while. Once he dealt with that d*mned eunuch, she could return.
Qi Yuan didn’t answer directly. Instead, she calmly asked, “Your Highness, are you confident that if I go into hiding for a while, you’ll be able to kill Pu Wuyong?”
Her mind worked fast. She shook her head and gave a low laugh.
“No. If I disappear from the public eye now, I’ll die even faster. That eunuch has too many people at his disposal. Can you really guarantee I’ll make it to Mao Mountain or Mount Longhu alive?”
Just like when she dealt with Liu Jinghong.
If she dared to hide her identity and leave the capital, the next step would be Pu Wuyong mobilizing all his forces to kill her.
Qi Yuan knew very well the level of skill among the elite Embroidered Uniform Guard.
She wasn’t arrogant enough to believe she could take on a hundred enemies alone.
The two locked eyes, and Xiao Yunting said solemnly, “I’ll make sure he dies.”
Qi Yuan smiled faintly. “After all these years, Your Highness must have dirt on him. Why don’t you tell me what it is?”
Xiao Yunting lowered his voice: “Back then, a hundred thousand bolts of brocade vanished from the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau. It was that d*mn eunuch—he secretly sold them to the Japanese. That same year, the Japanese requested shore access, but it ended in a violent clash in Ningbo. Hundreds of our militia were killed or wounded. That was during his post guarding Zhejiang.”
As expected, Xiao Yunting hadn’t been idle all these years.
But Qi Yuan immediately shook her head.
She looked at him directly and said frankly, “It’s not enough. Your Highness knows it too—this isn’t enough to bring Pu Wuyong down. What you’ve got in your hands is probably all the same material that Eunuch Xia has, right?”
Xiao Yunting was silent for a moment, then gave a quiet “Yes.”
Then he said, “I can kill him.”
Even if it meant shattering the image he had built in front of the Yongchang Emperor as a loyal and non-power-hungry prince.
Even if it meant angering the Crown Prince.
At this life-or-death moment, he could no longer care about those things.
But Qi Yuan still shook her head. She frowned and raised her hand to stop him. “No need. Your Highness doesn’t need to go that far for me. There’s another way.”
Before Xiao Yunting could argue, she said directly, “Please allow me to meet Xia Gonggong.”
“Xia Gonggong?”
Xiao Yunting was a bit puzzled. After all, Eunuch Xia’s intelligence wasn’t all that different from his own—they were on the same side.
But since Qi Yuan wanted to meet him, she must have her reasons. Xiao Yunting didn’t hesitate and immediately nodded. “I’ll arrange it.”
Despite the heavy atmosphere hanging over the entire Qi household, Qi Yuan still found the mind to bring up Shen Jialang’s situation with Qi Zhen and the Old Marquis.
She said she wanted to bring the boy back, and of course Old Marquis Qi and Qi Zhen had no objections.
Qi Yuan emphasized, “Let him stay with Yunzheng and Changting as a companion. I’m not bringing him here to be a study servant. Grandfather, Father, please grant me this—he is also my younger brother.”
His mother lost her life because of her. So she would take responsibility for him for the rest of her life.
No matter what kind of person you are, to take responsibility for someone else’s entire life is a heavy burden.
She didn’t know how far she could go in this life—but wherever she ended up, she would carry him with her.
All she wanted was to live with a clear conscience.
After some thought, the Old Marquis nodded and agreed: “Let your father take him in as an adopted son. He doesn’t need to change his surname—he’ll be part of the Qi family. You don’t have to worry.”
Qi Yuan looked at the Old Marquis just as seriously and said: “Grandfather, you don’t have to worry either. If I find glory, I’ll share it with the Qi family. But if I fall into trouble, I will never drag the Qi family down with me.”
The Old Marquis opened his mouth as if to speak, but in the end, he only nodded silently.
That same night, Qi Yuan met with Eunuch Xia.
In private, Eunuch Xia wore a plain robe, looking like a kind and wealthy old gentleman—nothing like the outwardly vicious Pu Wuyong.
But Qi Yuan wasn’t naive enough to believe Eunuch Xia was any simpler than Pu Wuyong.
If he truly were that simple, he couldn’t have stood his ground against Pu Wuyong all these years.
She opened with a low, steady voice: “Gonggong, on the night of the Lantern Festival, His Majesty will be visiting Liu Wangfei and her son, correct?”
It wasn’t a secret.
Liu Wangfei had formally requested to take religious vows—there needed to be a proper ritual and title. The Cabinet had already conferred the honorific Miaojing Immortal Master upon her, and as for Xiao Mo, he had been granted the title of Ning Wang.
Naturally, the Yongchang Emperor would personally visit Baiyun Temple.
Eunuch Xia didn’t waste time with pretense. He looked at her and smiled amiably: “Whatever you want to say, speak freely, Miss Qi. I’m listening.”
He raised the teacup to his lips.
Qi Yuan gave a faint “oh” and came straight out with it: “I want the Embroidered Uniform Guard deployment map for that day at Baiyun Temple.”
Pfft! Eunuch Xia immediately sprayed the tea he’d just sipped.
Outside, Babao was on guard. He nudged Liujin’s elbow and whispered: “Tsk tsk, did you see that? Even someone like Eunuch Xia can’t handle how bold Miss Qi is!”
Deployment map!
The imperial guard deployment map for the emperor’s visit!
Even Xiao Yunting closed his eyes, grateful he hadn’t been drinking tea just then.
He glanced at Eunuch Xia.
The eunuch’s expression darkened in an instant. He stood up abruptly, his tone sharp: “If you want to get yourself killed, Miss Qi, that’s your business. But don’t drag anyone else down with you! Do you realize that just this one request of yours could get thousands killed?! Even His Highness—he might be implicated too!”
His face turned grim. “I didn’t hear anything today. This meeting never happened. Miss Qi, you’d best take care of yourself.”
Xiao Yunting moved even faster than Qi Yuan, reaching out to block Eunuch Xia.
Eunuch Xia looked at him, expression solemn and severe: “Your Highness! Are you going to join in her madness too?!”
Qi Yuan spoke up, gaze steady: “Eunuch Xia, for what Pu Wuyong did in sending His Highness to Mao Mountain—this ending was inevitable. If Lai Chenglong hadn’t been transferred to Shanxi and was still able to join the imperial entourage, do you think he wouldn’t take the same risk with me?”
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