This was an exceedingly long and profound kiss. Qin Guan's mind was initially clear, but as Yan Chi tenderly conquered her senses bit by bit, her breathing grew unsteady, her waist softened, and her entire body had to rely on Yan Chi's support to remain standing.
Yan Chi's grip grew firmer, his hands wandering from her back to her waist and then further down, as if he wished Qin Guan could cling to him entirely. Her breathing quickened, her heartbeat raced, and suddenly, a soft, involuntary moan escaped her lips. The sound sent a shiver down Yan Chi's spine, stirring an irresistible itch in his heart. Overcome with passion, he deepened the kiss, their breaths growing heavier and more urgent. Just as Qin Guan felt things were spiraling beyond control, Yan Chi abruptly stopped.
He held her tightly, his ragged breaths hot against her neck in the darkness, sending tremors through her body. A thin layer of sweat formed on Qin Guan's neck, her cheeks and chest burning. She pressed her lips together, feeling them damp and glistening. Her mind blanked for a moment, and she trembled again. Yan Chi noticed, his breathing still uneven.
"Are you cold?"
Qin Guan nestled deeper into his embrace, shaking her head slightly. She couldn't speak now. If it were bright daylight, perhaps she could manage, but the pitch-black darkness amplified her senses and masked her shyness, making every touch unbearably intense. The shared passion between them engulfed her like a tidal wave.
Inexperienced in matters of love, Qin Guan had never been this intimate with anyone before. Coupled with Yan Chi's relentless advances, she was utterly defenseless. Like someone lost in unfamiliar territory, she could only follow Yan Chi's lead, rising and falling with him. Even now, though the moment had paused, the lingering desire still warmed her heart. Never had she felt such flustered urgency, nor such intoxicating exhilaration. Her heart brimmed with spring-like tenderness, drenching her in a wet, rhythmic pulse that chimed like water droplets. The armor of her usual composure shed, her body softening like petals against Yan Chi's chest, greedily inhaling his scent.
In the darkness, Yan Chi's lips curved, though no laughter escaped. Yet the satisfaction and joy in his voice were unmistakable.
"Wanwan... Wanwan..."
He murmured her name twice, as if pouring all his affection into those syllables. Qin Guan felt her body tingle anew.
"What is it?" she asked, startled by the sound of her own voice.
She had never heard herself sound so... liquid. While her usual speech was gentle—a poised, graceful warmth that was pleasant to the ear—it rarely carried the delicate femininity she heard now. The sound sent a shiver down her own spine.
Yan Chi tightened his embrace, his scorching palm instinctively stroking her back.
"We won't be able to stay here much longer."
Qin Guan, ever quick to regain her composure, had mostly calmed by now. His words struck her as odd. Then Yan Chi added, "Listen..."Qin Guan immediately held her breath to listen. At first, she heard Yan Chi's strong heartbeat. Though he now appeared calmer than her, his pulse remained rapid. This subtle detail moved her deeply, but soon, she detected muffled voices.
The voices seemed to come from an immense distance, so indistinct she couldn't make out a single word. Yet she was certain they were human. Realizing this, Qin Guan abruptly turned toward the stone wall beside them.
The voices originated beyond that wall—someone had found their location!
The moment this thought struck, she shoved Yan Chi away without hesitation.
Her movement was swift and decisive, utterly merciless. Yan Chi's previously buoyant mood instantly darkened. As the young marshal of the Northwest Frontier Army and Prince Rui's Heir, he now felt like a discarded lover after intimacy. Frowning, he yanked her back, hissing through gritted teeth, "They won't get in anytime soon."
Startled, Qin Guan realized her own roughness.
"As long as I don't disable the final mechanism inside, they can't enter," Yan Chi whispered urgently. Only then did Qin Guan understand his earlier silence hadn't been to tease her.
How many layers of this secret chamber's mechanisms had he already dismantled? He'd left the last one intact?
As she pondered, Yan Chi suddenly cupped her chin, forcing her to look up. Though in complete darkness, she felt the weight of his gaze. His voice turned gravelly, "Will you pretend we're strangers once we leave here?"
Qin Guan could only offer a pained smile. "Your Highness is the—"
She'd meant to say his noble status made such pretense impossible, but he pinched her cheek before she could finish. "Your Highness? Why still call me that?!"
She pulled his hand away, feeling her face might reshape under his grip. Though controlled, his hold bordered on impropriety. "Fine... I won't. Of course I wouldn't deny knowing you. But we can't let others see— Ah!"
Her protest ended in a gasp as Yan Chi suddenly bit her lip. Clutching the stinging spot, she heard his cold threat, "If you pretend otherwise, I'll visit Loyal Marquis Manor."
"You can't threaten me like this," she countered weakly.
Yan Chi arched a brow, pressing her against the wall again. "Empty words are threats. Do you think this is one?"
Trapped between cold stone and his warmth, Qin Guan felt both exasperation and aching tenderness. "Even if I would—which I won't—you mustn't go there. As Prince Rui's Heir, your consort selection isn't trivial. I know you have plans, and I trust you. You should trust me too. Though I'd rather keep this private, my feelings for you are clear and certain."
Yan Chi stilled. He'd expected Qin Guan's typically reserved nature to make her reject his advances repeatedly. Just as she found him inscrutable, so did he perceive her—a woman shrouded in mysteries, likely to retreat behind feminine modesty. Yet she hadn't withdrawn coyly.
She'd given clarity, yes—but clarity that couldn't be shown to the world, without any definite promise."And one more thing..." Before Yan Chi could speak, Qin Guan spoke up again.
Yan Chi raised an eyebrow, curious to hear what else she had to say.
Qin Guan paused before continuing, "Also... how can you be so sure that I can be your princess consort?"
Yan Chi's brows shot up dramatically. "How can I be sure..."
His voice carried a cold sneer, as if he were angered by the question. Qin Guan lifted her head slightly. Having stayed in the darkness for so long, her eyes had adjusted, and she could vaguely make out Yan Chi's silhouette. She gazed up at him intently, her expression focused.
Sensing the sincerity in her question, Yan Chi suppressed his temper. He took her hand, brought it to his lips, and bit it lightly. "I understand your concerns, but the answer to your question isn't simple."
Then, he kissed her palm softly. "You'll need a lifetime to hear and see it."
Qin Guan was both moved and astonished. She wasn't in Yan Chi's position—perhaps she lacked his confidence or his decisive nature—so she had never considered the idea of a lifetime. Responding to his feelings was simply her way of not disappointing him and staying true to herself. But as for how far they could go, she truly hadn't thought about it.
Seeing Qin Guan fall silent, Yan Chi's irritation faded, replaced by a pang of heartache. He leaned in and embraced her gently. "Once I make a decision, there’s no changing it. What I set my mind to, I never abandon halfway. And the person I want—even if she were a goddess from the heavens—I’d drag her down to my side. Guan Guan, right now you may doubt me, but in time, you’ll understand."
His words, tender yet resolute, etched themselves into Qin Guan’s heart. A tremor ran through her, and she finally realized that Yan Chi’s feelings ran deeper than she had imagined. She wrapped her arms around him, her hands lightly stroking his back.
"Then... what if that heavenly goddess has no interest in you?"
Yan Chi stiffened, caught off guard by her question. His arm tightened around her, and he lowered his head to punish her with a sharp nip at her neck. Hearing her sharp inhale, he finally pulled back. "Then I’d make her interested..."
The bite stung, and Qin Guan, skilled in medicine, knew instantly that it would leave a mark. Gritting her teeth, she fired back, "But that’s not something anyone can control—not even the Jade Emperor."
"Oh?" Yan Chi scoffed, convinced she was deliberately provoking him. "Then so be it. We’ll just endure it. It’s better for two people to suffer than for me to suffer alone. At least I’d have company—I wouldn’t be at a loss."
His tone was dark, almost like a warning. Qin Guan let out a bitter laugh and buried her face in his chest.
Had she felt nothing for him, she might have found his possessiveness domineering and obsessive. But now, with her own feelings involved, she only saw his unwavering resolve, and her heart softened once more.
Yan Chi sensed her submission and knew her doubts had eased. Just as he was about to leave another mark on her neck, the faint murmurs from earlier suddenly grew clearer.
"It’s open! Only one last door remains—"
"I wonder how the young mistress is doing... It’s been so long, wuwu..."
"Don’t speak such ill omens! Ninth Sister will be fine..."
"Captain Bai, how much longer will this last door take?""Two sticks of incense should be enough. Keep quiet..."
Earlier, the voice had been muffled and indistinct, separated by who knew how many doors. But now it was different. Though still separated by a stone door, Qin Guan could clearly hear who was speaking outside. Her heart skipped a beat as she hurriedly tried to push Yan Chi away, but he had anticipated this and wouldn't let her succeed.
"Let go, they're coming in..."
"Two sticks of incense," Yan Chi murmured in a low voice, pulling her even closer.
Qin Guan's cheeks suddenly burned. With Yan Chi holding her like this, separated only by a door from Fuling, Bai Feng, and Qin Shuang, the scene felt like stolen intimacy, making her heart race uncontrollably.
Yan Chi also knew Bai Feng and the others were about to enter. The thought that Qin Guan, with her unyielding nature, would surely revert to her usual demeanor once outside gnawed at him like a hundred ants biting his heart. Without hesitation, he lowered his head and kissed her again.
Qin Guan let out a soft moan, her remaining protests swallowed by Yan Chi's lips. As if aware time was running out, he abandoned his usual tender and lingering kisses, instead pressing her so tightly against him it seemed he wanted to meld her into his chest, leave marks all over her neck, and brand her face with the words "Belongs to Yan Chi."
......
"Shh, quiet..."
Outside the stone door, Bai Feng, who had been working on the Mechanism, suddenly stiffened and pressed his ear against the door.
His abrupt action made the others tense up immediately.
Qin Shuang held her breath, watching as Bai Feng's brows furrowed, then relaxed, only to furrow again. After a long silence with no explanation, she couldn't hold back any longer and whispered, "What is it?"
Bai Feng listened intently for another moment before his eyes suddenly lit up.
"There's someone inside! It must be the master and Ninth Miss!"
"What?" Qin Shuang's eyes also brightened. "You heard Qin Guan's voice?"
"Miss?!" Without waiting for Bai Feng's confirmation, Fuling rushed to the stone door, pounding and shouting, "Miss, are you in there? Miss? Are you alright? Wuwuwu..."
As Fuling cried and beat against the door, Bai Feng gave a wry smile. "Ahem... Miss Fuling, the sounds inside are too faint to make out clearly, but the master is probably opening the door. Maybe you should stop crying."
At the mention of Yan Chi, Fuling's sobs ceased abruptly. The thought of him being on the other side made her instinctively take a step back.
Seeing this, Bai Feng's expression turned serious again as he leaned against the door to listen.
Soon, a sound loud enough for everyone to hear echoed out. The moment it did, Bai Feng stepped back, and the previously immovable stone door began to creak open.
As the door swung wider, the pitch-black darkness inside gradually gave way to the light from outside, revealing the scene within. In a dim stone chamber with walls on all sides, Yan Chi stood composedly at the forefront, while Qin Guan stood behind him. Both looked slightly disheveled—though their clothes were mostly intact, their hair still bore traces of dampness. The moment Fuling saw them, she rushed into the chamber.
"Miss... You're alive!"
Bai Feng also stepped forward. "Master, are you and Ninth Miss unharmed?"Yan Chi nodded and turned to look back, only to see Qin Guan holding Fuling's hand and softly comforting her, truly not sparing him a glance. However, Fuling suddenly turned and kowtowed to Yan Chi, saying, "Thank you, Crown Prince, for saving my life."
Qin Guan watched Fuling with a bitter smile, while Qin Shuang and the others outside also bowed to Yan Chi.
Yan Chi waved his hand. "Rise. Your mistress will thank me herself."
His voice was steady, exactly the composed demeanor Qin Guan had hoped for. Yet when he said this, Qin Guan couldn't help but flush, unsure what kind of thanks he was expecting...
Fuling straightened up, slightly puzzled. She glanced at Yan Chi, then at Qin Guan, before uttering an "Oh" and standing up. She couldn't tell if it was her imagination, but Yan Chi seemed much friendlier today than usual.
Fuling obediently stepped behind Qin Guan as Yan Chi asked Bai Feng, "What's the situation outside?"
Bai Feng's expression turned serious. "General Han has apprehended everyone. That man called Dong Shu took poison and killed himself."
Qin Guan's heart skipped a beat, surprised at the mention of this "General Han."
Yan Chi nodded and pointed toward the secret chamber. "There's still someone inside, along with some items. Take your men in to retrieve them and conduct a thorough search. For now, detain everyone in this residence."
Bai Feng nodded, glancing at Qin Guan before adding, "The entrance here was revealed by Dong Shu. Right after speaking, he took his own life."
Qin Guan's eyes darkened further, and Yan Chi fell silent for a moment before turning to her. "Let's go outside first."
Qin Guan nodded. When their eyes met, she inexplicably felt a pang of guilt, afraid others might notice anything unusual between her and Yan Chi. So she maintained an even calmer expression, though it made her appear somewhat weary and dazed.
Fuling quickly supported her, asking in concern if she was unwell. Qin Guan shook her head. "Just a slight chill. It's nothing serious."
As they spoke, Yan Chi strode ahead, and Qin Guan followed. Qin Shuang hurried over, her eyes slightly red. Qin Guan surveyed the group—though they had tidied themselves up, their clothes remained unchanged, covered in dust and looking quite disheveled. Fortunately, there were no major injuries. "How are all of you? Where's Baiying?"
Fuling shook her head first. "We're fine. The sixth young lady and I only have minor scrapes. The fifth young lady has a wound on her arm and is resting now. As for Bai..." Fuling paused. "Miss, who is Baiying?"
Qin Guan's lips curved slightly. "Wan Xing..."
Fuling's eyes flickered. She wanted to ask why Wan Xing had become Baiying but quickly realized now wasn't the time for such questions. Instead, she said, "A military doctor came earlier. The arrow in her has already been removed."
Relieved, Qin Guan replied, "That's good."
Fuling nodded slightly and whispered, "It's truly a relief you're unharmed, miss. You wouldn't believe it—the entire eastern side of this residence collapsed. When it happened, some servants didn't realize and were injured too. Thankfully, no lives were lost, except for Dong Shu..."
Qin Guan patted Fuling's arm but said nothing for the moment.
Exiting the stone door, they found themselves in a secret passage. After walking about a dozen steps, they reached a staircase. Yan Chi led the way, with Qin Guan following closely behind. When they ascended, they emerged into an empty room with tightly shut windows and doors, exuding an air of solemnity. Just as Qin Guan had expected, daylight had long since broken outside.Yan Chi glanced back at Qin Guan, his deep and somber eyes meeting hers briefly before he turned away. Just as he did, the door to the empty room was pushed open, and a burly man in military attire with a thick beard strode in. Upon seeing Yan Chi, the man's face lit up with joy. "Your Highness! Are you well?!"
Yan Chi maintained his dignified posture and nodded. "All is well."
The bearded man was visibly excited, then glanced behind Yan Chi. When his eyes landed on Qin Guan, a flicker of surprise crossed his gaze before he cupped his hands respectfully toward Yan Chi. "Thank heavens Your Highness is unharmed! Otherwise, this humble general wouldn’t know how to answer to Prince Rui!"
At the mention of Prince Rui, Yan Chi's tone remained indifferent. "As you can see, I’m fine. Is everything settled outside?"
Han Kaiyang nodded emphatically. "Rest assured, Your Highness, all is in order!"
Yan Chi gave a slight nod and strode toward the exit. Qin Guan, noticing the sudden presence of General Han, paused to let him pass first. However, Han Kaiyang stood rooted in place, grinning broadly at her. His towering frame, thick beard, and bold brows gave him a rugged, heroic air, but his yellowed teeth and hearty chuckle made him appear rather rough. Yet, he courteously gestured for her to proceed. "After you, Ninth Miss. His Highness has been quite worried about you—"
Qin Guan felt an odd discomfort at his words. Ahead of them, Yan Chi turned back and shot Han Kaiyang a sharp look. "Enough!"
With just those two words, Han Kaiyang immediately stifled his laughter and fell silent. Qin Guan then said, "General Han, please go ahead..."
Han Kaiyang glanced at Yan Chi's retreating figure, seemingly undecided, before nodding and following him. Only then did Qin Guan step forward. As soon as she exited, she was startled—this was an unfamiliar courtyard, seemingly located northeast of the Herb Garden. The gates were wide open, and the grounds were filled with soldiers clad in crimson uniforms.
A chill ran down Qin Guan's spine. Fuling whispered nervously, "Isn’t it frightening, Miss? And these aren’t even all of them—many more troops are stationed at the foot of the mountain. The Crown Prince of our household said His Highness brought enough men to flatten this entire estate."
Qin Guan pressed her lips together and lifted her gaze to Yan Chi, who walked ahead. He had never mentioned any of this.
Her heart grew heavier, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on Yan Chi’s back. He led Han Kaiyang straight out of the courtyard, and once outside, Qin Guan saw soldiers swarming the Herb Garden. Soon, she spotted Qin Yan and Zhou Huai.
"Ninth Sister—!"
Qin Yan appeared to have been stopped by the soldiers, but at his call, they let him pass. He hurried over, first bowing to Yan Chi. "Greetings, Crown Prince. Thank you for saving my younger sister."
Yan Chi stood as straight and unyielding as the spear Qin Guan had first seen him with. He gave a faint nod. "Your sister seems unwell. Take her to rest. If there’s anything needed regarding the estate, I’ll send for you later."
The Herb Garden had clearly been taken over by Han Kaiyang’s men. At Yan Chi’s words, Qin Yan nodded repeatedly and quickly approached Qin Guan, asking urgently, "Ninth Sister, are you all right?"
Qin Guan shook her head. "I’m fine."Qin Yan sighed, "This time, fortunately, Ninth Sister arrived first, otherwise Fifth Sister might have..." As he spoke, Qin Yan glanced at Yan Chi, who was talking with Han Kaiyang nearby, and added, "You should go and rest first. The eastern courtyard is completely destroyed, so everyone is staying in the western side now. We’ll still be in our old courtyard."
Qin Guan nodded. When she glanced at Yan Chi, she saw he was listening to Han Kaiyang and not looking her way. She nodded again, "Then let's go first." With that, Qin Guan headed west. But after just two steps, she heard Han Kaiyang say, "That's also someone from Medicine King Valley." Her footsteps halted as she turned to look at Han Kaiyang.
Sure enough, Han Kaiyang continued, "He only arrived a few days ago. It was he who initially invited Ninth Miss and her party here. He doesn't seem connected to this case, but now he's quite despondent, seemingly unable to accept what happened. Earlier, he even asked if Ninth Miss had been found yet."
Han Kaiyang was referring to Sun Muqing. Thinking of him, Qin Guan sighed. Sun Muqing had been overjoyed at reuniting with Sun Haoyue and likely never imagined such a tragedy would occur. While he wouldn't be implicated, the psychological toll must be heavy. Qin Guan stepped forward, "May I ask, General Han, where is Young Master Sun now?"
At her question, Yan Chi immediately looked over. His gaze was dark and profound, startling Qin Guan with its intensity.
Unaware of Yan Chi's reaction, Han Kaiyang quickly replied, "He's in the rear courtyard. All the servants from this residence are being held there. Why? Does Ninth Miss wish to see him?"
Just as Qin Guan was about to nod, Yan Chi said coldly, "Since his surname is Sun, he should remain detained until the Prefect of Yuanzhou arrives." His chilling gaze fixed on Qin Guan as he added, "Ninth Miss should focus on recuperating."
Qin Guan sensed Yan Chi's strong disapproval of her request. Their eyes met, and she saw nothing but frost in his.
At first puzzled, she quickly realized the source of his displeasure and nearly laughed at the misunderstanding.
"Well... the Marquis's son is quite thorough in his considerations." Qin Guan didn't insist further. She curtsied slightly and turned to leave.
As she turned away, Qin Guan unconsciously curved her lips. Noticing this, Fuling asked curiously, "What is it, Miss?"
Qin Guan quickly schooled her expression and shook her head, "Nothing. Let's return. We should check on Baiying first."
"She took the medicine and is already asleep," Fuling said, then lowered her voice, "Why did you suddenly start calling Wan Xing 'Baiying'?"
Qin Guan's eyes twinkled, "Doesn't Baiying sound nicer than Wan Xing?"
Fuling considered this briefly before nodding, "It does. Miss is truly clever."
Qin Guan made a noncommittal sound and said no more. Soon they reached their previous courtyard. As Dong Shu had said, it remained unchanged from before. Since Baiying was asleep, Qin Guan decided to change clothes before visiting her.
Upon entering, Fuling brought out fresh garments and prepared hot water for Qin Guan to wash.
"Miss, what happened to your neck?"
While helping Qin Guan change, Fuling suddenly noticed marks on her neck.
A faint warmth rose to Qin Guan's cheeks, but she maintained composure, shaking her head, "Probably just some scratches or bruises. It's nothing."
She dressed quickly. Fortunately, it being winter, her collar was high enough and her hair provided additional coverage to conceal the marks. By the time everything was settled, an hour had passed.
Fuling brought hot tea and pastries, but Qin Guan only took a sip before going to see Baiying.
"Miss, Fifth Miss is staying in the opposite wing of our courtyard."
Because someone had died in the other courtyard earlier, Qin Xiang absolutely refused to stay there and remained in the same courtyard as Qin Guan and the others. Baiying had been placed in the quarters Qin Xiang previously occupied. Hearing this, Qin Guan nodded but still went to see Baiying first.The two arrows had penetrated deep into the bone. Though Qin Guan's expression remained composed, her heart was filled with worry. When she arrived at Qin Xiang's courtyard and entered the room, she saw Baiying lying on the bed, surprisingly awake. The moment Baiying noticed Qin Guan, she immediately tried to sit up.
"Don't move—your injuries won't allow it—"
Qin Guan pressed Baiying back down. With great effort, Baiying turned her head to look at Qin Guan. "Is the young lady unharmed?"
Qin Guan nodded. "I thought you were still asleep. Had I known you were awake, I would have come to see you sooner."
"This servant is fine. As long as the young lady is unharmed, all is well."
Baiying wore an inner garment, the wound on her left shoulder already bandaged. Qin Guan lifted the brocade quilt and gently pulled down the collar of her inner robe to examine the injury closely. Only after confirming it was healing properly did she let out a relieved sigh.
Fuling chimed in, "The young lady wasn’t badly hurt. The Crown Prince saved her. Wan Xing, don’t worry—focus on recovering. Oh, and the young lady has given you a new name: Baiying. Do you like it?"
Baiying was taken aback, seemingly surprised that Qin Guan had learned of her identity so quickly. She met Qin Guan’s gaze, seeing warmth, gratitude, and a hint of sorrow in her eyes, and lowered her lashes. "I like it. This servant likes it very much."
Qin Guan smiled softly. "I’m fine, and the Crown Prince is unharmed as well. Rest easy. I’ll come to change your bandages tonight."
Baiying’s brows twitched slightly. As one of Yan Chi’s subordinates, she naturally worried about his safety. Yet before she could even ask, Qin Guan had reassured her. A mix of gratitude and guilt swelled in her chest. "If the young lady hadn’t tried to save me, you wouldn’t have fallen into that mechanism. Neither you nor the Crown Prince would have faced such danger."
Qin Guan tilted her head, pondering for a moment. "This little adventure… was rather interesting, actually."
Her voice softened, as if recalling something, and she chuckled. "Not only are we unharmed, but we also uncovered evidence of Divine Doctor Sun’s crimes. So don’t dwell on it. Besides, you saved all of us. Without you, we wouldn’t have escaped the stone gate—and even if we had, we’d never have dodged the arrow trap outside."
Fuling didn’t grasp the deeper meaning behind Qin Guan’s words, but Baiying, aware of Yan Chi’s feelings, sensed something might have transpired between them. Yet such matters weren’t for a mere servant to pry into, so she took Qin Guan’s words at face value. Exhausted from her injuries, Baiying soon succumbed to sleep as Qin Guan spoke soothingly to her. Though slightly embarrassed, the blood loss made her breathing steady and slow within moments.
Qin Guan sat by her side a while longer before rising quietly with Fuling and tiptoeing out.
Outside, the sky had reached noon, yet it remained overcast, as if brewing another heavy snowfall. A cold wind swept past, and Qin Guan, wrapped in her cape, felt a faint sting and itch on her neck. Earlier, she had checked in the mirror—two or three marks marred the side of her throat, the worst one swollen and raised.Earlier underground, in the urgency of the moment, there hadn’t been time to think too much. Now that they were outside, Qin Guan’s calm and rationality had returned somewhat, leaving her with a tangle of emotions. She and Yan Chi… Yan Chi…
"Ninth Sister, you’re done?!"
Just as she was lost in thought, Qin Shuang suddenly approached. Qin Guan had barely nodded when Qin Shuang continued, "Third Brother said if you’re not resting, he’d like you to come see him."
Qin Guan’s eyes sharpened slightly. She knew what Qin Yan wanted to ask.
Following Qin Shuang to Qin Yan’s quarters, she spotted Zhou Huai standing at the door as soon as they entered the courtyard. His face was pale, his expression weary. Upon seeing Qin Guan, Zhou Huai hurried forward to bow. "Ninth Miss!"
Qin Guan gave him a once-over. "Were you injured?"
Zhou Huai shook his head. "No, but the effects of the aphrodisiac haven’t worn off yet." He paused, then added, "Ninth Miss, you truly continue to surprise."
Qin Guan offered a faint smile. "It’s good that you’re unharmed, Steward Zhou."
Her words made Zhou Huai’s gaze flicker slightly. He gestured politely. "The Crown Prince is waiting inside."
Qin Guan and Qin Shuang ascended the steps together. Inside, Qin Yan was giving instructions to a servant who held a letter. Seeing Qin Guan enter, the servant nodded and left.
"Ninth Sister, come sit." Qin Yan regarded her with evident concern. "Are you all right? Why not rest a while? That Mechanism was filled with icy water—perhaps you should prescribe yourself something?"
Qin Guan shook her head with a smile. "I’m fine. What did you wish to discuss, Third Brother?"
Qin Yan hesitated, then sighed. "I didn’t expect this incident to put you in danger. Fifth Sister’s actions were careless, and I’ll speak to her. I’m just relieved you both are unharmed."
After a pause, he finally broached the main topic. "Ninth Sister, how did you come to have a token given by the Crown Prince?"
Qin Guan had been reluctant to use Yan Chi’s token, but at the time, she’d been worried the Jixian County authorities might again fail to act, and Qin Xiang’s situation was urgent. With Qin Yan absent, she’d had no choice but to use Yan Chi’s token to assert authority. Yet things had escalated unexpectedly—Yan Chi had even brought Yuanzhou’s garrison troops…
Her mind raced, but her expression remained composed. "It was actually the Grand Princess’s idea."
Having been formally adopted by Yue Qiong and his wife, the Grand Princess could now be considered her honorary grandmother. Invoking the Grand Princess’s name was the most plausible explanation. "The Grand Princess was concerned I might encounter danger on the road with no means to protect myself. She initially wanted the second young master of the Marquis’s household to escort me, but how could I impose? As it happened, the Crown Prince was also in Jinzhou and returning to the capital, so the Grand Princess entrusted me to him. You know he couldn’t travel with us at the time, so he gave me this token, saying that displaying it would signal my connection to Prince Rui’s household and ensure no one would trouble me."
Qin Yan studied her intently. Had Qin Guan’s expression not been so transparently calm, he might have suspected deceit. "But… do you know what kind of token Prince Rui’s Heir gave you?"
Qin Guan blinked. "Isn’t it just the token used by Prince Rui’s household servants?"Qin Yan shook his head and sighed, "Ninth Sister, you're thinking too simply. That token represents the identity of Prince Rui's heir. Once it's shown, the entire Yuanzhou garrison will know he's here. Not just the garrison—before nightfall, even the Prefect of Yuanzhou and the magistrate of Ji County will likely come in person. If you send guards with that token to the Ji County yamen, the magistrate would probably be scared out of his wits."
Qin Guan froze, still not fully comprehending. "Represents... the Crown Prince's identity..."
Seeing her bewildered expression, Qin Yan couldn't help but laugh. "That token is one of a kind in the world—how could it be something a mere servant of Prince Rui's household would use? By giving it to you, he's allowing you to act on his behalf. Forget a small Ji County yamen—you could even mobilize the Yuanzhou garrison with it. But if anything goes wrong, the responsibility would fall solely on him."
One of a kind... able to mobilize the Yuanzhou garrison... sole responsibility...
Qin Guan's delicate fists clenched slightly in front of her, her emotions in turmoil, when suddenly a servant hurried in from outside. "Young Master, Prince Rui's heir requests Ninth Miss to come for questioning—"
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