The Old Marquis Qi clearly knew he shouldn’t say it, but he just couldn’t hold back. He stared at Qi Yuan for a long time, his face turning red from holding it in.
Finally, he squeezed out a sentence: “Ah Yuan… if only you were a boy, how great that would be.”
…
Qi Yuan turned her head slightly and glanced at him. Her voice was calm: “What’s wrong with being a girl?”
What’s wrong?
There’s a huge difference!
Old Marquis Qi couldn’t help but sigh bitterly in his heart.
Of course, he was proud of his granddaughter. With such ability, so what if she’s a woman?
But the world simply gave women too few opportunities to show their talents.
He felt sorry for Qi Yuan.
With her skills, her strategies, her methods—if only she were a man, she could have carved out an incredible career!
But she was a woman.
So she could only hide behind the scenes, manipulating the situation from the shadows.
Qi Yuan saw the regret and sorrow on the Old Marquis’s face, and suddenly couldn’t help but laugh. “Grandfather, don’t look at me like that. To me, it makes no difference.”
The Old Marquis stared at her, unable to stop himself: “How could it make no difference? Ah Yuan, you shouldn’t be beneath any man. You should be building achievements, earning titles of marquis, and becoming a prime minister!”
Of course, that was an exaggeration.
After all, she was his granddaughter. Naturally, he was biased.
But—this was truly how he felt.
Qi Yuan chuckled softly: “Grandfather… and why can’t a girl be made marquis or prime minister?”
The Old Marquis was stunned by her words.
Wait—no, that’s not right.
Hadn’t Qi Yuan herself just said a few days ago that she was going to marry the Imperial Grandson as the Imperial Grandson Consort?
Being in the inner palace is like being trapped in a cage.
For a moment, the Old Marquis was conflicted.
Qi Yuan laughed, and then her voice turned firm and crisp: “I will never be a bird in a cage. Nor will I ever be a woman hiding behind a man.”
Not a woman behind a man?
But if you marry, don’t you inevitably become a woman behind a man?!
Never mind how educated those court officials are, they are more old-fashioned than anyone.
Take Censor Tie, for example—he seems like someone who upholds justice and fairness, but if you, as Imperial Grandson Consort, dare to interfere in politics, he’ll be the first one to scold you until you’re drenched in spit!
The Old Marquis sighed helplessly.
But Qi Yuan coldly pulled the corner of her lips, her face expressionless: “Everyone will get used to it.”
“I won’t be anyone’s accessory. Being the Imperial Grandson Consort isn’t about managing palace affairs. Even eunuchs can review memorials and be appointed as governors or commanders. Why can’t I?”
The Old Marquis gasped sharply.
No wonder Qi Zhen said Qi Yuan wanted to be Wu Zetian.
Turns out—she really does want to be Wu Zetian!
He couldn’t help but stammer: “Ah Yuan, y-you… are you planning… a reign of two sovereigns?”
Qi Yuan suddenly smiled: “Exactly. I want a reign of two sovereigns.”
The Old Marquis nearly collapsed.
D*mn it—there’s no display shelf in this restaurant. Otherwise, he’d be leaning on it right now!
But the Old Marquis was the Old Marquis after all. He recovered quickly.
So what if it’s a reign of two sovereigns?
It’s not like it hasn’t happened before. If someone else could do it, why can’t my granddaughter?
He stroked his beard and laughed heartily: “Good! Good! Good! Ah Yuan, I believe you can absolutely do it.”
Qi Yuan, of course, knew she could.
She did love Xiao Yunting. In her heart, he always came first.
But she would never sacrifice any of her own interests or power for Xiao Yunting.
Only when love stands on equal footing can it last.
She raised her brow slightly: “Right now, Qilin should be on his way to see His Majesty.”
Indeed, Lu Yifeng was escorting Qilin toward the emperor. On the way, he warned coldly, “You’d better behave. If you try anything, be careful of your entire family’s lives!”
A death warrior was supposed to have no family.
But Qilin… had someone he loved.
He had even secretly married her.
From that moment, he was no longer a qualified death warrior.
And that’s why—when Qi Yuan threatened him, he immediately spilled everything.
Thinking about this, Qilin’s heart turned bitter.
Inside the palace, Cao Xingwang was burning with anxiety.
He simply couldn’t figure it out—given Qilin’s skills, and the fact that the entire granary was filled with their own people, how could Qilin end up getting arrested as an assassin?!
Idiot!
Idiot!!
What now?! What will happen to the Prince?!
Everyone knows Qilin is Qi Wang’s most trusted subordinate.
His heart was pounding out of his chest. Worse yet, a terrible thought crossed his mind:
If Qilin blurts out things he shouldn’t… what then?
But time would not stop for his panic.
Before long, Qilin had been brought into the palace hall.
Strictly speaking, someone like him had no qualification to be interrogated by the emperor himself in Taiji Hall.
But—he was Qi Wang’s most trusted aide.
A man like him appearing secretly in the capital—the political implications were enormous.
Emperor Yongchang stared at him coldly: “You were caught at the granary attempting an assassination. Tell me—who were you trying to assassinate?”
Assassinate a grain transport officer?
But that would be premature.
Those officials wouldn’t be sitting inside the warehouse.
Then… who exactly was he targeting?
Qilin trembled all over, shivering uncontrollably. His whole body went cold.
Then suddenly—he collapsed to the floor.
Cao Xingwang secretly let out a breath of relief.
He knew—death warriors always carried poison. Qilin must be trying to commit suicide.
Good. Good!
As long as he dies, everything’s clean.
Cao Xingwang could then pretend he knew nothing.
Then they could go back to interrogating Xiao Yunting about why he wasn’t at Mount Mao, but spent over ten years at Longhu Mountain.
As for why Qilin was in the capital—no one could say.
At most, they’d scold Qi Wang for poor discipline over his subordinates.
After all, no one would know exactly what Qilin came to do, so how could you convict Qi Wang over that?
Cao Xingwang was genuinely relieved now, and even couldn’t help but let a faint smile creep onto his face.
Seems heaven is still on Qi Wang’s side.
But Emperor Yongchang glanced at Lu Yifeng. Lu Yifeng reacted instantly—he grabbed Qilin’s jaw, dug out the poison capsule hidden in his teeth, then kicked him hard.
Cao Xingwang’s expression instantly changed again.
Lu Yifeng grabbed Qilin by the collar and slapped him hard: “Daring to attempt suicide in front of His Majesty?!”
Emperor Yongchang raised his eyes, looking at Qilin coldly: “What did Qi Wang send you here to do?”
He sneered, “If you won’t speak… then Qi Wang can come explain it himself!”
Cao Xingwang’s heart nearly stopped.
His eyes shot toward Qilin in disbelief, then immediately lowered his head in panic.
