Arriving at the waterside pavilion, Yan Chi embraced Qin Guan the moment they stepped inside.
Baiying, who was following behind, quickly lowered her head and retreated to wait outside the door.
Qin Guan, held tightly in Yan Chi's arms, placed her hands around his waist. Her arms were firm, her cheek pressed against his chest—a rare instance of her holding him so closely. Yan Chi's breath warmed the top of her head as he held her for a moment before speaking, "Wait here for me. I'll be back soon."
Qin Guan nuzzled reluctantly against his chest before finally releasing him with a soft "Mm."
She looked up at Yan Chi, who curved his lips into a faint smile. "I'll have Bai Feng brew some tea for you."
Qin Guan wanted to decline, but meeting Yan Chi's gaze—soft yet shadowed with gloom—she ultimately nodded.
Yan Chi gently brushed her cheek with his hand before turning to leave.
With his departure, the room grew quiet. Fortunately, this was his residence since returning to the capital, carrying the faint scent of cold grass and wood from him, mingled with traces of dust and blood. Qin Guan surveyed the room—the waterside pavilion was simply furnished, with the main hall facing east and adjacent to the water. Further inside, she guessed, the layout would be similar.
She did not venture deeper, instead passing a curio shelf to observe the east-wing study by the water, which Yan Chi had repurposed as his office, where he likely handled official matters.
This thought reminded her of the sword-bearing guards and several shadowy figures she had seen earlier. During her last visit to Prince Rui's royal residence, the place had been deserted, but now it teemed with unfamiliar faces—clear evidence that Yan Chi was already making preparations for upcoming changes. Qin Guan walked to the window overlooking the water, paused, and gazed at the estate's inner lake.
Under the gloomy autumn afternoon sky, the lake appeared somber and profound, mirroring her own unsettled emotions. After standing there a while, Bai Feng entered with a pot of hot tea.
"Your Highness, please have some tea…"
Placing the teacup on the desk, Bai Feng poured tea for her and added, "The residence has been vacant for years, with few capable servants. If you need anything, just command me."
Qin Guan smiled. "There's no need to attend to me. I'll wait here for him. You may go serve him instead."
Bai Feng hesitated slightly, clearly bound by Yan Chi's orders and unwilling to disobey.
Qin Guan reassured gently, "His affairs take precedence."
Hearing this, Bai Feng resolved to comply, nodding before withdrawing.
Qin Guan turned her attention to Yan Chi's desk, seating herself in the high-backed open chair he usually used. Her gaze swept across the desk: on one side lay several well-worn military strategy books, on the other, a stack of letters. She knew at once that Yan Chi had received numerous reports recently.
Despite the raging fury and resentment in his heart, even she could scarcely detect it.
The more perilous the situation, the more composed he remained.
Qin Guan took a sip of tea. While the letters were off-limits, the military books were not. She picked one up and flipped through it, the pages naturally falling open to a middle section.
"Strategy lies in adapting to advantageous circumstances. Warfare is the Path of deception."
"Thus, appear incapable when you are capable, appear inactive when you are active. Feign proximity when you are distant, and feign distance when you are near."
Qin Guan narrowed her eyes. In the intricate calculations of court politics and long-range stratagems, could Yan Chi control the victories and defeats of the Western Frontier as deftly as he navigated the power plays of the imperial court? With undercurrents surging in the capital, when would the emperor finally announce the death of Prince Rui?Qin Guan closed the military treatise. Though not as well-versed in military strategy as Yan Chi, she understood one principle: those skilled in attack move from the highest heavens, while those skilled in defense hide beneath the deepest earth. At this moment, with Yan Chi lacking troops and commanders in this imperial capital where the Emperor’s power reigned supreme, there was no alternative but to conceal all intentions and forces.
Qin Guan glanced toward the direction of the main courtyard they had just passed and suddenly felt a twinge of concern.
In broad daylight, was it truly peaceful beyond Prince Rui’s royal residence?
Sitting alone in her chamber, Qin Guan’s thoughts drifted far away. After an indeterminate time, footsteps sounded outside her door, and a shadow flickered—Yan Chi had returned.
Snapping back to attention, Qin Guan quickly stood. Yan Chi’s expression remained rigid upon entering, but his gaze softened slightly at the sight of her. He walked into the eastern chamber and raised a hand to close the window.
The window faced the water, where a cool breeze had been blowing, and the cross-draft in the room carried a chilling air.
"Are all arrangements made?" Qin Guan asked.
Yan Chi nodded, and Qin Guan continued, "Who are they? Have they left already?"
Yan Chi stepped forward, taking her slightly cold hands in his. "Some are old subordinates of my father, others are sleeper agents I’ve cultivated over the years. They’ve all departed now."
"Is it safe?" Qin Guan pressed. "The Emperor already knows yet takes no overt action. Could he be having you watched?"
Hearing this, Yan Chi couldn’t resist pulling Qin Guan into an embrace.
One arm encircled her waist while his other hand rested on the nape of her neck, gently stroking. His own cool fingers touched her warm skin and hair, and only then did he feel himself thawing from the pervasive chill.
He inhaled softly near her neck. "Don’t worry, nothing will go wrong."
Qin Guan’s slightly elevated heart settled back into calm. She rested her cheek against Yan Chi’s chest, and in the wordless silence, seemed to transfer her own warmth to him. After a moment, Yan Chi nuzzled lightly against her neck. "Even if you hadn’t come, I would’ve sought you out. There’s a favor I need to ask of you."
Qin Guan’s heart leapt. In these critical times, every arrangement Yan Chi made seemed to carry immense consequences.
She promptly withdrew from his embrace, lifting her gaze to meet his.
Seeing the worry etched in her eyes, Yan Chi’s lips quirked slightly. "The person I met in Luozhou is gravely injured. I need you to help save his life."
"Where is he?" Qin Guan asked urgently.
"At Xun Niang’s place."
Qin Guan nodded immediately. "Alright, shall we go now?"
Yan Chi shook his head. "No need to rush. Wait another hour."
It was still early, and if the two of them went out together, it might attract unwanted attention.
Qin Guan nodded. "Understood. Do I need to prepare anything?"
Yan Chi shook his head again. "No need. Xun Niang has already made preparations."
Qin Guan felt reassured, now realizing that Xun Niang and Master Yuan’s presence was another of his contingency plans.
Previously, Qin Guan had been solely focused on her father’s case, her mind taut like a drawn bowstring. Now, with such major upheavals occurring in Prince Rui’s residence, another string had tightened within her. Suddenly, she found herself calmer than usual.
Noticing this, Yan Chi reached up to smooth her brow. "It’s alright, you needn’t worry."
How could Qin Guan not worry about such significant matters? When she first returned from death in Jinzhou, she had remained composed precisely because the trouble was beyond her reach. But now, Yan Chi stood directly in the eye of the storm.
"What do you plan to do?""Wait." Yan Chi gave a single word. "It's impossible for them not to announce the news indefinitely."
A faint ache stirred in Qin Guan's heart, and she couldn't help but fix her gaze on Yan Chi's eyes. His phoenix eyes were exceptionally beautiful—when profound, they resembled abyssal trenches in the deep sea; when sparkling, they mirrored the brilliance of the Milky Way. Yet now, his eyes were like the frigid night of winter. Even with a slight curve at the corners of his lips, they remained dominated by bone-chilling calm.
The smile couldn't reach the depths of his eyes, and he dared not relax in the slightest, lest he be consumed by hatred and rage. At this critical juncture, not a single misstep could be afforded. Qin Guan had experienced such feelings before, but back then she was in Jinzhou, facing those in Qin Manor who never cared for the Ninth Miss. Even if she showed some unusual behavior, who would have noticed?
But now, in the capital, countless eyes were watching him.
Qin Guan raised her hand, gently stroking between Yan Chi's brows. Her cool fingertips rested on his cheek, then cupped his face. "Once the news is announced, what if the Emperor orders you to the northwest?"
Yan Chi covered Qin Guan's hand with his own, tilting his head slightly as if craving the delicate warmth of her palm. "He won't. My father is of the Yan imperial clan. There's no reason for him not to return to the capital if he dies."
Qin Guan fell silent for a moment before asking again, "And then?"
Her gaze seemed to pierce through his pupils. Yan Chi grasped her hand. "There must be a stated reason for my father's death. The Northwest Military Provisions case involves significant implications—military power changing hands, the Northwest Frontier Army undergoing reshuffling. I'll arrange the funeral rites, and from then on, there will be no possibility of me leaving the capital." He paused, his voice unnervingly calm. "This is the best possible outcome."
Qin Guan's eyes remained unblinking, a dull pain throbbing in her pupils. She pressed her lips tightly, suddenly feeling somewhat lost.
She had also considered what Yan Chi said—this matter ultimately revolved around military power.
But why? If Prince Rui had harbored treacherous intentions, that would be one thing. Yet he had commanded troops for decades, bringing prosperity to hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians in the northwest. Why? Why did he ultimately meet such an end?
In that instant, Qin Guan thought of the crisscrossing scars covering Yan Chi's body—how much pain must each blade and arrow have inflicted when they struck him?
She abruptly lowered her gaze. She couldn't dwell on it, nor could she say anything to interfere with Yan Chi's decision.
Ever since reading the manuscript given by Zhao Xun, a heavy anger had been simmering in Qin Guan's heart. Having grown up alongside Shen Yi, the principles of law and justice stood prominent in her mind. This simmering rage had been suppressed by those very principles, but when news of Prince Rui's misfortune arrived, that anger was on the verge of boiling over. Why? By what right?
"These are just conjectures. We haven't reached the worst scenario yet." Yan Chi's tone was light. Seeing Qin Guan still with downcast eyes, he added, "My father and I fought many years in the Northwest Frontier. Both of us have always been prepared."
Qin Guan looked up abruptly, meeting Yan Chi's gaze. He smiled. "We've always been prepared—to hear news of each other's death."
On the battlefield, blades and arrows show no mercy. Prince Rui had sent Yan Chi to the frontlines at a young age, naturally anticipating such possibilities. Yet, looking into Yan Chi's eyes, Qin Guan knew deeply that this time was different. Prince Rui hadn't died fighting for his country.
"But..." Qin Guan pressed her lips together, her throat tightening. What she wanted to say—how could Yan Chi not already know?Qin Guan let out a breath and changed the subject. "The Empress Dowager has matched our birth characters and found them to be a heavenly union. She was very pleased and just mentioned she intends for us to complete our marriage in October."
Yan Chi's gaze softened. "Naturally, that would be good."
Qin Guan's lips twitched as if she wanted to say more, but found herself unable to voice it. With Prince Rui's passing and the mourning period still ongoing, how could they proceed with the wedding? This was something she hadn't considered before, but now couldn't avoid contemplating.
Noticing Qin Guan's solemn expression, Yan Chi suddenly took her hand and led her outside. "Let me show you something."
Uncertain of his intentions, Qin Guan followed Yan Chi out of the waterside pavilion. He guided her deeper into the royal residence through winding corridors. As they ventured further, she noticed the gardens becoming increasingly desolate and overgrown. After a short walk, Yan Chi brought her to a courtyard that, unlike its surroundings, appeared elegantly maintained and bright, as if regularly tended.
Yan Chi led Qin Guan into the courtyard but instead of entering the main hall, turned toward the eastern wing room. Pushing the door open, Qin Guan immediately recognized it as another study. The three-room suite featured a writing desk by the window in the left chamber for receiving guests and handling affairs, while the central and right chambers were filled entirely with bookshelves and antiques. On the wall directly opposite hung a three-foot sword, beside which was displayed a portrait of a beautiful woman. Qin Guan stared at the painting, momentarily transfixed, until her gaze shifted to a seal in the lower right corner.
Startled, she quickly pulled out the Jade Pendant hanging around her neck. The pendant Yan Chi had given her bore an ancient character she initially couldn't recognize, but he had later explained it to her. Now, she saw an identical mark in the corner of this painting. Comparing them, she asked, "Is this... a portrait of the princess consort?"
Noticing another seal beside it, Qin Guan looked closer and recognized the characters for "Yan Lin." Knowing this was Prince Rui's name, she immediately understood. "This is... a portrait the prince painted of his consort?"
Yan Chi nodded. "Painted twenty years ago."
Qin Guan realized this must have been Prince Rui's study, hence the portrait of his consort. She studied the woman in the painting - dressed in simple white robes, with luminous eyes and an enchanting smile, she resembled an ethereal spirit emerging from mountain mists. The vividness of the portrait revealed the deep affection of the artist. Qin Guan never imagined that Prince Rui, such a formidable figure who dominated the western frontiers, possessed such remarkable painting skill. How lamentable that circumstances had changed so drastically, even the painter himself...
Forcing a smile, Qin Guan said, "The princess consort was truly beautiful. The prince must have loved her deeply."
Yan Chi tightened his grip on her hand but remained silent. After gazing at the portrait for a while, his voice deepened. "Well, this counts as introducing you to my mother. What a pity."
Qin Guan covered his hand with her other one. "I find it sorrowful too, but henceforth you won't be alone. The princess consort would surely be happy to know this."
Yan Chi finally curved his lips slightly. He stepped forward to dust off the portrait and sword before leading Qin Guan out. Once outside, his pace slowed considerably. Surveying the empty royal residence, then glancing at Qin Guan beside him, his expression grew increasingly profound. "The Emperor will undoubtedly issue a proclamation to the realm within ten days. Guan'er, will you hesitate?"Qin Guan paused slightly, "What am I hesitating about?"
Yan Chi looked at Qin Guan, who knew exactly what he meant. "I have no hesitation whatsoever. You already know what I seek, and I understand your difficulties as well. Not to mention the imperial decree of marriage has been issued—even without it, I would never marry anyone else."
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