Chapter 99:
After getting off the carriage, Jiang Juan and Xue Fangli were invited into the temporary palace.
The palace was extremely quiet. Emperor Hongxing lay on the bed, looking much thinner than the last time Jiang Juan saw him. The whole atmosphere around him seemed lifeless.
Chief Steward Wang wiped away his tears and whispered something in Emperor Hongxing’s ear. The emperor moved his fingers and after a long while, managed to utter two words: “Fangli…”
Xue Fangli slowly spoke, “Father.”
His expression was cold and showed no signs of affection.
Emperor Hongxing gazed at him for a long time, his cloudy eyes glistening with tears. Finally, he closed his eyes briefly, “Come closer, let me have a good look at you.”
“There’s nothing worth looking at.”
Xue Fangli smiled slightly, “Father, you’ve seen me for many years already.”
Emperor Hongxing wasn’t offended. He just looked at Xue Fangli for a long time before saying with difficulty, “I’ve wronged you, and I’ve wronged Qingmei too.”
Xue Fangli felt nothing but annoyance when his father mentioned him alongside Jiang Qingmei. He gave a faint mocking smile but said nothing.
Jiang Juan keenly noticed Xue Fangli’s mood change. He turned his head to look at Xue Fangli, then gently grasped his fingers.
In the next second, Xue Fangli took control, holding Jiang Juan’s hand and playing with his fingertips.
On the sickbed, Emperor Hongxing started coughing again. He weakly said, “Quick, bring me my elixir.”
Chief Steward Wang earnestly tried to persuade him, “Your Majesty, please stop taking the elixir and just take your medicine.”
But Emperor Hongxing wouldn’t listen and even grew furious, “My elixir! Bring me my elixir!”
Seeing this, Chief Steward Wang sighed silently and had no choice but to fetch the elixir.
The elixir…
Jiang Juan hesitated for a moment. Although he didn’t like Emperor Hongxing, he still quietly suggested to Xue Fangli, “Your Highness, could these elixirs be making his health worse?”
Xue Fangli glanced at him indifferently, “Your husband is here, why are you worrying about others?”
“I just…”
Jiang Juan wanted to explain but couldn’t find a good reason, so he could only look at Xue Fangli with wide eyes.
“I know, I’ll persuade him later.”
Before Jiang Juan could finish speaking, Xue Fangli lazily agreed. Jiang Juan believed him, and his eyes slowly curved into a happy smile, “Okay.”
Xue Fangli’s bright red lips also lifted slightly, as if he was smiling, but his eyes remained cold.
Persuade him?
How could that be possible?
Watching Emperor Hongxing grow old and his body deteriorate from the toxins was one of Xue Fangli’s pleasures.
It was what his father deserved.
Wasn’t it what his father had done to him before?
Jiang Juan stayed for a while longer but finally couldn’t bear it anymore. The room was sealed tightly, with no air circulation, making him uncomfortable. He said to Xue Fangli, “Your Highness, I want to go out for a walk. It’s too stuffy in here.”
Xue Fangli looked at him and didn’t force him to stay. After all, Jiang Juan had a weak constitution. He nodded, “Alright.”
After bidding farewell to Xue Fangli, Jiang Juan walked out.
Compared to the main palace, the temporary palace was nothing remarkable, but it was spacious enough. Jiang Juan looked around, and a maid standing nearby noticed and softly asked, “Crown Prince Consort, are you feeling hot?”
“The temporary palace has a water pavilion with waterfalls on three sides. It’s very cool in the summer.”
Jiang Juan felt hot, and immediately showed interest, “Can you take me there to see it?”
The maid replied, “This way, Crown Prince Consort.”
Jiang Juan followed her. As they walked, the sound of flowing water grew closer. A water pavilion appeared before them, built by the water, with a waterwheel that lifted water to the top of the pavilion, where it gently flowed down.
“This water comes from a mountain spring; it’s quite sweet.”
The maid said, lifting the gauze curtain. Jiang Juan followed her but almost stepped on someone. He quickly apologized, “Sorry.”
The person, lying sprawled on the ground with eyes closed in a state of despondency, didn’t move even when almost stepped on. But upon hearing Jiang Juan’s voice, he suddenly sat up, “Brother Juan? Brother Juan, you’re here?”
It turned out to be Xue Congyun.
They had just asked about him on the carriage.
Jiang Juan nodded, “I came with His Highness.”
Xue Congyun scooted over and patted the spot beside him, “Brother Juan, sit here.”
Since Xue Congyun had already cleaned the area, Jiang Juan sat down. Xue Congyun looked at him and started sighing again.
Jiang Juan asked, “What’s wrong?”
Xue Congyun murmured, “…It’s my father.”
Unlike Xue Fangli, who had a strained relationship with Emperor Hongxing, Xue Congyun deeply respected him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have stopped messing around and followed him to the temporary palace as soon as Emperor Hongxing’s condition worsened.
Jiang Juan thought for a moment and could only offer a dry comfort, “I just saw His Majesty. He seemed fairly spirited.”
Xue Congyun shook his head, “But he…”
Emperor Hongxing’s condition was really bad. It was only a matter of time now, and thinking about it made Xue Congyun even more depressed.
Normally, Xue Congyun was very talkative and lively, but today he was downcast, even more so than when he had been leaning against the railing last time. Jiang Juan looked at him and said, “Don’t think about it.”
“We don’t have candied haws today, so let me comfort you a bit.”
Jiang Juan reached out and patted Xue Congyun’s hair, “Petting your hair…”
The second half of the phrase should have been “so you won’t be scare,” but Jiang Juan modified it, “Don’t cry.”
Xue Congyun muttered, “I’m not crying.”
“And it’s ‘petting your hair won’t make you scared.’”
“Whatever you say.”
As his hair was petted, a soft feeling spread, and Xue Congyun looked at Jiang Juan. The young man’s eyes curved gently downward, his hand stroking Xue Congyun’s hair repeatedly.
There weren’t many words of comfort, just gentle companionship.
Jiang Juan’s smile always had an inexplicable infectiousness. Looking at him, Xue Congyun’s worries gradually dissipated, and he smiled too.
Seeing that Xue Congyun finally felt a bit better, Jiang Juan retracted his hand and began to play with the water.
This water pavilion was indeed refreshing. The summer breeze brought scattered water droplets, making it more pleasant than an air-conditioned room.
If he could, Jiang Juan would love to set up a bed here and sleep through the entire summer.
Happiness is always short-lived.
And unexpected changes come even quicker.
While enjoying the breeze, someone suddenly ran over, shouting, “Bad news! Bad news—!”
“Marquis Anping has led troops into the temporary palace!”
Jiang Juan was stunned, not immediately understanding the full meaning of these words. Xue Congyun had already jumped up and started running.
Jiang Juan instinctively followed him.
Xue Congyun headed straight to Emperor Hongxing’s resting palace.
Pushing open the door, they saw that Emperor Hongxing was safe and sound, and Xue Congyun breathed a sigh of relief.
He had run so fast that it took Jiang Juan a moment to catch up. While Xue Congyun was focused on Emperor Hongxing, Jiang Juan looked for Xue Fangli but found that he wasn’t there.
“Chief Steward Wang, where is His Highness?”
“His Highness has gone to see Marquis Anping.”
Chief Steward Wang was sweating profusely, “Why now? Why at this exact moment?”
“General Jiang led his troops to suppress bandits and hasn’t returned yet. Marquis Anping… His Majesty has always treated him well.”
Chief Steward Wang waved his hand in frustration, “Sigh!”
To Chief Steward Wang, this event was far too sudden. Jiang Juan knew the plot, but even he didn’t expect Marquis Anping to act so early.
In the original plot, Marquis Anping attacked the capital after the flooding in Jiangnan, as he needed to leverage the disaster to gain popular support and become the leader of the rebel army.
Now, Jiangnan hadn’t experienced any disaster, and there were no rebel forces. Where did Marquis Anping get the troops to attack the temporary palace?
Jiang Juan couldn’t figure it out.
Unable to make sense of it, Jiang Juan began to worry about Xue Fangli.
He hoped nothing would happen to His Highness.
Outside the temporary palace.
Marquis Anping, sitting on his horse, appeared quite confident, a stark contrast to his previous gloom.
Behind him, a group of soldiers stood alert, with archers drawing their bows and aiming at Xue Fangli.
Xue Fangli’s side was similarly prepared, both parties in a standoff.
Xue Fangli gave a nonchalant smile, “Marquis Anping, if I remember correctly, you shouldn’t be in the capital right now.”
Earlier, Su Feiyue had forced Marquis Anping to apologize to Xue Fangli. Marquis Anping had thrown a fit at Prince Li’s residence, and Su Feiyue had promised to give Xue Fangli an explanation. Once Marquis Anping had recovered, he was expelled from the capital.
Of course, Xue Fangli had scoffed at this so-called explanation.
What kind of explanation was that?
But he couldn’t be bothered to deal with it any further.
As for the current troops…
Xue Fangli pondered.
“His Majesty is seriously ill, yet you confine him in the temporary palace. If I don’t return to the capital, how can I… ‘Clear the treacherous ministers out of the Emperor’s court!'”
Marquis Anping spoke with righteous indignation, twisting the truth. Xue Fangli only sneered at the irony, “Such righteousness from the Marquis.”
Marquis Anping responded, “You flatter me.”
He had indeed gone to Jiangnan and rushed back to the capital overnight.
The soldiers with Marquis Anping were only a small portion of his forces, but even so, they outnumbered the palace guards. Marquis Anping believed they could fight if necessary.
However, someone had advised him to proceed with caution and negotiate with Xue Fangli first.
Thinking of this, Marquis Anping continued, “Your Highness, you are violent by nature, killing indiscriminately. You are unfit to rule. Since that’s the case, why not surrender early? If you lose, not only will you suffer, but your Crown Prince Consort won’t fare any better.”
“Why do you have to mention him?”
Xue Fangli smiled slightly, “Marquis, because of him, I’ve dealt with you many times. Why don’t you learn? If you care about others, that’s your business. But my people? That’s not for you to care about.”
After a pause, Xue Fangli continued with a hint of pity, “Marquis, no matter how much you care, he has only me in his heart and can’t bear to be apart from me for a moment. It troubles me greatly.”
“You…”
Marquis Anping’s face darkened, and he gripped the reins tightly, speaking stiffly, “Your Crown Prince Consort has nothing but good looks. You treat him as a treasure and think others will too. Just because someone looks at him doesn’t mean they care.”
Xue Fangli leisurely asked, “Marquis, did you only take one look?”
Marquis Anping, irritated by the question, gritted his teeth, “Of course!”
Xue Fangli sneered, “Then it was just a look.”
He didn’t argue further, which only made Marquis Anping angrier.
Many memories flashed in Marquis Anping’s mind.
Xue Fangli had once threatened to cut off his hands and forced him to kneel in public to apologize, repeatedly humiliating him!
Anger burned in his heart, nearly consuming his reason.
“Speaking of which, I’m quite curious—where does your hostility toward me come from, Marquis?”
Xue Fangli asked casually, “At first, I thought you were naturally righteous and hated evil. But later I found out you even bullied a weak woman. So, this hostility isn’t just because of my usual arrogance.”
“Weak woman?”
If Xue Fangli hadn’t brought it up, Marquis Anping might have stayed calm. But the mention of it made him grind his teeth in anger.
At the Eldest Prince’s residence, Marquis Anping had broken his jade pendant and let a prostitute carry Prince Li’s token to report to the authorities.
Because of this, his past reputation was ruined, and he became the laughingstock of many!
Marquis Anping seethed with hatred, “Your Highness, you truly are skilled!”
Xue Fangli smiled slightly, “Marquis, have you ever considered that it might not be my skill, but rather your own…” “stupidity?”
These words ignited Marquis Anping’s fury completely. He immediately raised his arm and shouted, “Attack!”
“Capture the Crown Prince alive!”
At this moment, Marquis Anping was consumed by boundless rage. He no longer cared about caution or negotiations. With his command, his troops charged forward.
General Jiang was absent, but the imperial guards were stationed at the palace. Emperor Hongxing had brought a considerable number of guards for his recuperation, yet they were still outnumbered by Marquis Anping’s forces.
But Xue Fangli had deliberately provoked Marquis Anping.
The reason was simple: the imperial guards were well-trained, whereas Marquis Anping’s troops were likely just hastily recruited private soldiers, far less disciplined than the imperial guards.
Sure enough, after a brief skirmish, Marquis Anping’s forces were quickly overwhelmed. As Marquis Anping thrust his sword into an opponent, he looked up to find that many of his men had already been killed!
Useless!
A bunch of useless fools!
Marquis Anping’s expression changed. He ceased fighting and retreated, immediately shielded by his cavalry.
Xue Fangli lifted his eyelids and sneered, “Capture Marquis Anping alive.”
The situation turned instantly. The imperial guards pursued Marquis Anping, forcing him to retreat. As his cavalry was slaughtered, he was left with no choice but to flee in panic.
Xue Fangli called after him, “Marquis, weren’t you here to cleanse the Emperor’s court?”
A hint of regret flashed across Marquis Anping’s face, quickly replaced by a fierce glare directed at Xue Fangli, his former restraint gone, replaced by what seemed like a deep-seated vendetta.
“I will take your life!”
“Marquis, you truly are out of touch with reality.”
Xue Fangli raised his hand, and the archers aimed at Marquis Anping, awaiting his command.
“Your Highness, wait.”
At the crucial moment, someone intervened. The voice was unhurried, even carrying a trace of amusement.
Xue Fangli paused and turned to see Su Feiyue smiling and nodding at him. Behind him were many more soldiers.
With a glance from Su Feiyue, the guards at his side released someone.
“Your Highness, something terrible has happened!”
Chief Steward Wang stumbled over, panic written all over his face. “The Prince Consort… he has taken His Majesty and the Crown Prince Consort hostage! His men were hidden among the palace guards!”
Xue Fangli’s eyes lifted slightly.
He had been wondering where Marquis Anping’s troops had come from and what role Su Feiyue played in this.
It seemed Su Feiyue had indeed played a part.
Xue Fangli spoke slowly, “So, all these years, your excursions were a facade. Recruiting soldiers and amassing arms was your true intention. You hid it well.”
Su Feiyue sighed, “Your Highness, I had no choice. I have my own ambitions. Besides… Your Highness had already suspected, hadn’t you?”
“My nephew was followed by your men when he went south. He was completely unaware and nearly failed.”
Su Feiyue sighed again, “If he had half your wisdom, Your Highness, I’d be much less worried. But no matter what, Your Highness, he is still my nephew. Since you spared him once, please do so again.”
Xue Fangli remained silent. Su Feiyue had to remind him, “Your Highness, the Crown Prince Consort is in my hands now. You might not care about His Majesty, but surely you care about the Crown Prince Consort?”
“Too bad. General Jiang is still suppressing the bandits and hasn’t returned. The imperial guards are limited. Even if you want to rescue the Crown Prince Consort… it’s beyond your ability.”
Xue Fangli stared at him coldly, his gaze chilling to the bone.
After a long pause, Xue Fangli’s icy voice commanded, “Lower your bows.”
The archers lowered their weapons. Marquis Anping brushed the dust off his clothes and rode to Su Feiyue’s side. Su Feiyue, with a gentle smile, said to Xue Fangli, “Thank you, Your Highness, for your mercy.”
Xue Fangli replied indifferently, “Your demands.”
Su Feiyue spoke softly, “Someone will inform you shortly.”
With that, Su Feiyue bowed slightly and walked into the palace.
Inside the hall.
Jiang Juan was in shock.
He sat aside, gripping the armrest tightly, the smell of blood filling his nostrils, which he found repulsive. He kept his head down, not daring to look around.
Outside the open doors, bodies were piled up, blood flowing freely.
Just moments ago, Jiang Juan had been waiting for news when suddenly, screams and the clash of weapons erupted. The doors were kicked open, and many men in imperial guard uniforms entered with swords, blood dripping from their blades.
Jiang Juan had never experienced such a scene, but he understood the situation roughly.
It seemed they had been captured.
Knowing Jiang Juan was timid, Xue Congyun asked, “Brother Juan, are you okay?”
Jiang Juan forced a nod, “I’m okay.”
He was very uncomfortable in this environment, but he didn’t want to show it. He tried to stay calm.
Xue Congyun: “That’s good. I was worried you might cry again.”
Jiang Juan: “……I didn’t.”
After a few words, footsteps were heard outside. Jiang Juan’s eyelashes fluttered, and he immediately fell silent, feeling quite nervous.
“I told you to negotiate, yet you insisted on fighting.”
“Uncle…”
Su Feiyue entered first, followed by Marquis Anping.
Jiang Juan: “???”
The Prince Consort? How was he involved?
Marquis Anping was expected; it was part of the plot. But Su Feiyue’s involvement left Jiang Juan confused.
“Crown Prince Consort.”
Noticing Jiang Juan’s gaze, Su Feiyue looked down and nodded at him, his expression as gentle as ever, as if this were not a coup but a banquet.
Jiang Juan:”You… you…”
He was at a loss for words. Xue Congyun, however, after a moment of shock, began to curse, “You wretched Su Feiyue! And you——Marquis Anping! Both of you traitors!”
Su Feiyue finally acknowledged Xue Congyun, saying, “Sixth Prince, you’re here too.”
Xue Congyun demanded, “What has my father ever done to you? Why are you rebelling while he’s seriously ill? He valued you so much…”
“Sixth Prince,” Su Feiyue interrupted, “His Majesty himself said he wronged me.”
Xue Congyun was stunned. Su Feiyue raised his hand and said, “Take him away. This is not the place for the Sixth Prince.”
At his command, the “imperial guards” stepped forward, grabbing Xue Congyun and dragging him out. Xue Congyun struggled, shouting, “I won’t leave! Brother Juan is here. I’ll stay with him as a hostage!”
He wasn’t afraid to be alone; he was simply worried about Jiang Juan and wanted to stay with him, even if it was just to talk.
Su Feiyue gently said, “Sixth Prince, you should leave.”
Xue Congyun didn’t think much of it and said, “I volunteered to be a hostage. I’ll stay with Brother Juan as your hostage.”
Seeing that he didn’t understand, Su Feiyue sighed and said, “Your Highness, you are not the Crown Prince Consort. Keeping you as a hostage is useless and won’t threaten anyone.”
Xue Congyun: “?”
Damn.
It wasn’t highly damaging but was extremely insulting.
He hadn’t expected that he wasn’t worthy of being a hostage. Xue Congyun was stunned. He was worried about Jiang Juan, and Jiang Juan was also worried about Xue Congyun. Jiang Juan anxiously asked, “Where are you taking him?”
Even in this situation, Su Feiyue remained gentle with Jiang Juan and explained, “Crown Prince Consort, rest assured, I won’t harm the Sixth Prince. I’m just having him rest somewhere else.”
“Then I’ll go with him.”
Su Feiyue shook his head, “Crown Prince Consort, you are exceptionally important. This place is heavily guarded and safer. You should stay here.”
“Rest assured, I won’t harm the Sixth Prince, nor will I harm you. Once my task is completed, I will let you both go unharmed.”
Jiang Juan finally found an opportunity to ask him, “Why are you… planning a coup?”
Seeing Su Feiyue here had shocked Jiang Juan, but after the initial shock, it all seemed to make sense.
Where did Marquis Anping get his troops? He had always stayed in the capital, right under the emperor’s nose. If he had dared to raise an army, it would have been discovered.
Moreover, Marquis Anping had always been rather foolish. Jiang Juan didn’t think he could achieve this.
——Laying low for years, silently replacing the imperial guards, and seizing the moment when Emperor Hongxing was seriously ill and General Jiang was out of the capital, to launch a sudden attack.
Marquis Anping couldn’t do it, but Su Feiyue absolutely could.
But… why?
Wasn’t he his grandfather’s proud disciple?
Wasn’t he supposed to cleanse the world of injustice?
Wait a minute.
In a flash of realization, Jiang Juan remembered something. Su Feiyue also spoke, “Crown Prince Consort, do you remember when we discussed ‘Peach Blossom Spring’?”
Jiang Juan hesitated and said, “Yes.”
Su Feiyue’s expression turned wistful, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live in Peach Blossom Spring?”
“You…”
Jiang Juan suddenly realized something.
He came from the modern world, a place of fairness and justice, with a system to regulate everyone. Jiang Juan read ‘Peach Blossom Spring’ as the ancient people’s longing, for in ancient times, strict hierarchy was the norm.
The Prince Consort had praised ‘Peach Blossom Spring’ and approved of him saving the stable lad, but when Gu Puwang heard about it, he had a complicated expression.
Why hadn’t he realized it back then?
Even Gu Puwang had such a reaction. It was really strange that the Prince Consort agreed.
“You want… to create a Peach Blossom Spring?”
Jiang Juan asked Su Feiyue in shock.
Su Feiyue lightly nodded, “Under strong rule, there is oppression. I want a world without strong rule and without oppression.”
That’s quite ambitious.
That was Jiang Juan’s first reaction. But the next moment, his eyes shifted, and he saw a severed limb outside the door. Jiang Juan’s eyelashes trembled as he realized the biggest problem.
“Were you frightened?”
Seeing this, Su Feiyue didn’t seem concerned, “It is indeed shocking. Even my teacher stopped responding to my letters and refused to see me when I last visited.”
Jiang Juan remembered this, but it wasn’t the key point. He shook his head and said, “I wasn’t frightened, but…”
“You say you want a world without strong rule and without oppression, yet you’ve killed so many people. To them, aren’t you oppressing them?”
Su Feiyue sighed, “Crown Prince Consort, sacrifices are inevitable. As long as the final result is good, that’s all that matters.”
Jiang Juan couldn’t understand, “If they shared your desire to create a Peach Blossom Spring and were willing to die for it, that would be a sacrifice. But they’re not. Your people barged in and killed them. That’s not a sacrifice; it’s murder.”
After hearing this, Su Feiyue just shook his head and said disappointedly, “Crown Prince Consort, I thought you had a Peach Blossom Spring in your heart like I do, but it turns out…”
“You’re no different from them.”
Su Feiyue said, “Today, we sacrifice a thousand lives to benefit millions in the future!”
“But isn’t your Peach Blossom Spring supposed to be about fairness and freedom?”
Jiang Juan said, “You say you want to create a Peach Blossom Spring, but you kill without hesitation. How are you different from the oppressive powers you despise?”
Su Feiyue was taken aback. After a long silence, he smiled slightly, “Crown Prince Consort, you are indeed eloquent.”
It wasn’t eloquence; Jiang Juan truly believed it.
Their paths diverged, and Su Feiyue no longer continued the conversation with Jiang Juan. He only said softly, “Crown Prince Consort, please rest well here. This will all be over soon.”
He walked past Jiang Juan toward the bed where Emperor Hongxing lay in a deep sleep. Jiang Juan asked him, “Does the Eldest Princess… know about this?”
Su Feiyue’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t speak. He just stared at Emperor Hongxing with a complex expression.
Years of obsession were finally coming to an end here.
Outside the palace.
A silk scroll slowly unfolded, the writing bold and strong.
——Take your life before the hour of the rooster.
Xue Fangli glanced at it, his crimson lips curling into a dangerously sinister smile.
The envoy lowered his head in fear but still tremblingly relayed Su Feiyue’s message, “Lord Su said… he hopes the Crown Prince considers the Crown Prince Consort more.”
“Mr. Bai is indeed his teacher, and he doesn’t want to harm the Crown Prince Consort, but if the Crown Prince refuses, then Lord Su will have no choice but to…”
“Get out.”
Xue Fangli closed his eyes, his eyes filled with a blood-red fury, like a demon.
Having delivered the message, the envoy dared not stay any longer and ran out on shaky legs.
Fingers lightly tapping the table, Xue Fangli was full of anger but had no choice but to calm his mind and think.
Jiang Sentao was still on his way back, and the earliest he could arrive was the next day.
The imperial guards in the capital had been mobilized, but Su Feiyue’s troops were also arriving steadily. Unlike the previous battle with Marquis Anping, the chances of a forced confrontation were low.
Besides—no matter how many troops he had, Jiang Juan was his only weakness, causing him worry, fear, and hesitation.
“Your Highness, the Eldest Princess has been brought in.”
The guards escorted Eldest Princess Xue Fuying inside, along with Prime Minister Gu Yunzhi and Gu Puwang.
Xue Fuying, dressed in splendid attire, her hair disheveled and her expression exhausted, seemed to have cried all the way here, yet she still tried to maintain the dignity of a royal daughter. “Fangli…”
Gu Yunzhi said, “Your Highness, we arrived just in time. The Eldest Princess was almost captured as well.”
Sighing, he added, “How did he go astray?”
Gu Yunzhi’s words triggered another bout of tears from Xue Fuying. “Why would Feiyue do such a thing? And Zhaoshi. They, they…”
“All these years, I thought he was accompanying me on scenic trips, not knowing he was secretly recruiting soldiers. I lived with him day and night but never discovered his treacherous heart. He…”
Xue Fuying choked with sobs, took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped her tears, looking increasingly haggard.
Xue Fuying murmured, “How did my top scholar become a traitor and rebel?”
Even now, Xue Fuying remembered that year when the peonies in the capital bloomed beautifully.
She had snuck out of the palace to admire the flowers when she suddenly heard a young man’s voice.
“Teacher, my ambition has never wavered. In this life, I only wish to cleanse the world of injustice!”
Xue Fuying thought, who is this, with such grand aspirations?
She lifted the curtain and looked out. A young man in red was riding a horse, his robe fluttering, his brows full of youthful vigor and elegance.
Perhaps she stared too long, for the young man noticed her. He reached out, plucked a peony flower, and as he passed Xue Fuying, he placed the flower behind her ear with a flick of his hand.
Xue Fuying was stunned. She should have scolded him as a rogue, but instead, her face turned red, and she just stood there, watching him leave, her heart pounding.
Her top scholar had the broadest heart and the grandest aspirations. He had been disheartened and frustrated but always laughed it off, living freely.
Or so she had thought.
In reality, he hadn’t laughed it off or lived freely.
He——had harbored resentment and plotted for years.
Even she, who shared his bed, had known nothing.
When had her top scholar changed?
Was it that year when he was sent to clear someone’s name, but the local officials and merchants colluded, and even the person who entrusted him turned against him, leading to his imprisonment, endless torture, and unbearable suffering?
But in the end, he saved the person who turned against him.
Or was it the year he fought his way out to report the case to Bai Xuechao, receiving the emperor’s order to investigate, only to be ambushed on his way back, narrowly escaping death, and finally bringing the evidence, only to have the emperor, whose power was unstable, burn the ledgers and tell him, “The water that is too clear has no fish. Feiyue, this time, just turn a blind eye. Don’t interfere further.”
At that time, her top scholar drank daily and was depressed. The once proud and carefree young man cried in her arms, “Fuying, I can’t save anyone. I can’t do anything.”
“Fuying, was I wrong?”
Her top scholar shouldn’t have been like this.
He should have been full of spirit, ambitious, with a look of casual elegance.
Recalling the past, Xue Fuying felt even more sorrowful. Tears streamed down her face, and she almost couldn’t stand. She wavered, and Xue Fangli, after observing her for a while, ordered, “Help my aunt to rest.”
The guards obeyed, taking Xue Fuying away. Xue Fangli then asked quietly, “Prime Minister Gu, what do you think?”
Gu Yunzhi pondered for a moment, “The Eldest Princess and the Prince Consort have been deeply affectionate for many years. Her current weeping seems genuine, as if truly deceived. But…”
“For safety’s sake, we should still keep a close watch on the Eldest Princess.”
Pausing, Gu Yunzhi then asked, “Your Highness, has the Prince Consort sent anyone? What are his demands?”
Xue Fangli tapped the silk spread out on the table. Gu Yunzhi glanced over and his expression changed immediately, “You time (5-7pm)? It’s already late, only two hours left!”
“General Jiang sent a pigeon message earlier. The army has reached Lu’an County. If they take the direct route, General Jiang might still have a chance to arrive, but the palace is by the mountain, and they must detour through Panshui County. He definitely won’t make it back by You time!”
Xue Fangli said coldly, “The Prince Consort’s intention is indeed a quick battle.”
The only plan now was to delay.
But—Jiang Juan was still in their hands.
Xue Fangli looked into the distance. Under the towering mountains, the palace stood magnificently, with flowing water passing through it, eventually converging into a river flowing far away.
His expression shifted.
“Your Highness, the water.”
Gu Puwang, who had entered with Gu Yunzhi but had remained silent, also noticed this detail. Though he had been at the Imperial Court of Judicial Review for only a month, he had already solved several cases with his keen observational skills.
Just as Xue Fangli was about to speak, another guard hurried in.
Holding a scroll, he presented it to Xue Fangli, “Your Highness! This is a portrait Master Yang Liusheng drew recently based on described features. He sent it to you immediately.”
Xue Fangli took the scroll, opened it without expression, and saw the face of Marquis Anping.
Staring at the portrait for a long time, a suspicion suddenly arose in Xue Fangli’s mind. He quickly wrote a letter, “Deliver this to General Jiang immediately.”
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