Governor of Qianzhou?!
Qianzhou was also located in the northwest of the Great Zhou, merely three to four days' journey from Liangzhou.
Before Yan Chi could finish his words, "This man served under my father for many years. The Divine Strategy Battalion was established by my father and later handed over to me. Before that, this person was responsible for the daily training of the battalion."
Fan Xin's eyes widened instantly. "So Your Highness means... not only is this man familiar with each of us, but he also imitated the methods of the Divine Strategy Battalion and used them against the prince this time?! How dare he! The prince is a royal kinsman of the Great Zhou!"
Fan Xin's eyes were bloodshot, his gaze fierce. Yan Chi waved his hand. "Enough, the matter isn't that simple."
Fan Xin seemed to want to say more but ultimately held back, only clenching his fist and punching the wall hard. A smear of bright red instantly stained the wall. Qin Guan looked at Yan Chi, her heart aching with each beat.
If it truly was Jiang Heying, how could the Governor of Qianzhou dare to casually plot against Prince Rui? Even if he held grudges against the prince due to past events, he knew better than anyone the prince's importance. Qin Guan couldn't believe this man would be so deranged—unless someone had given him orders.
At this thought, Qin Guan sighed deeply.
Unlike the impulsive Fan Xin, Yu Qi listened silently, his expression thoughtful. Soon, his eyes darkened just like Yan Chi's. Qin Guan sighed again; things were indeed developing in the worst possible direction.
"Yu Qi, do you know how to investigate this matter?"
At Yan Chi's question, Yu Qi immediately straightened up and nodded. "Yes, rest assured, Your Highness!"
Yan Chi nodded and instructed Fan Xin to focus on recovering. Upon hearing this, Fan Xin immediately said, "Your Highness, I request to go to Shuoxi and assist Brother Yu Qi in investigating this case! If only I had protected the prince better..."
This remained a deep pain in Fan Xin's heart. Prince Rui and the other brothers had all died; he alone survived, clinging to life to deliver the message to Yan Chi. Now that the message was delivered, living felt more agonizing than death.
Faced with Fan Xin's urgent plea, Yan Chi's tone remained calm. "You have a more important task."
This single statement left Fan Xin speechless. He stiffened his neck and grunted an awkward "Mm."
As they were leaving, Fan Xin hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. "Your Highness, when can I start assisting with tasks?"
Yan Chi replied indifferently, "When you can withstand twenty moves under my hand."
Hearing this, Fan Xin felt both helpless and frustrated. Beside him, Yu Qi patted Fan Xin's shoulder, a hint of schadenfreude in his smile. "Brother, focus on recovering properly. Don't mess up when His Highness gives the order."
Though Yu Qi's tone was light, Fan Xin felt a sting in his nose. Prince Rui had died due to a conspiracy, and now Yan Chi undoubtedly didn't want any of them to come to harm. Fan Xin nodded solemnly in agreement.
In the carriage on the way back, Yan Chi's expression was grim. Though he tried to restrain himself, being in Qin Guan's presence, he inevitably revealed some of his intensity. Qin Guan understood that suspecting Jiang Heying almost confirmed every link in Prince Rui's murder for Yan Chi.Yan Chi was more perceptive than she was. If before it had only been suspicion and speculation, now, even though Yu Qi had not yet gone to Shuoxi, everything had already taken shape. At this point, given Yan Chi's temperament, it was absolutely impossible for him to wait any longer.
Qin Guan didn't know how to advise Yan Chi, so she took his hand.
Yan Chi looked at Qin Guan, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
By the time the carriage returned to Prince Rui's royal residence, it was already afternoon. The next day was the Autumn Festival, and the capital was already filled with a festive atmosphere. Brilliant lanterns glowed brightly along the main street, soon resembling a dazzling river of stars. Yan Chi and Qin Guan watched the scene all the way back, and upon returning to the royal residence, its quiet solitude felt particularly oppressive.
After some thought, Qin Guan did not leave immediately, while Yan Chi took Yu Qi to see Master Qi.
The three of them talked for a long time in the main courtyard, and it was only when dusk fell that Yan Chi returned to the waterside pavilion.
Qin Guan was standing with her back to the door, flipping through books on Yan Chi's bookshelf. Yan Chi watched her for a moment before striding over and wrapping his arms around her. Qin Guan gasped softly, "Finished talking?"
Yan Chi hummed in affirmation, "They'll set off at dawn."
Qin Guan understood then that Yan Chi must have a plan in mind. She said, "This trip of theirs will take at least half a month before we hear any news."
Yan Chi made a noncommittal sound, his arm around her waist tightening noticeably. Qin Guan's cheeks flushed from his embrace, especially as she noticed Yan Chi's body growing increasingly warm. Burying his face against the side of her neck, Yan Chi remained silent for a long while.
Qin Guan cleared her throat softly, "It's getting dark. I should go."
She struggled slightly, but Yan Chi didn't release her. Soon, he murmured in a low voice, "Stay tonight."
Qin Guan's eyes widened instantly, her gaze flickering several times before she managed to suppress the warmth rising to her face. She parted her lips but only managed a hesitant, "...Huh?"
Yan Chi chuckled, his warm breath teasing the side of her neck. Qin Guan instinctively tried to pull away, but Yan Chi only held her tighter. "Scared?"
Pressing her lips together, Qin Guan replied, "Not really, it's just..."
Yan Chi's smile deepened as he nuzzled her neck before finally releasing her. "Just teasing you."
Qin Guan had always been composed and self-possessed, but this sudden remark had genuinely startled her, leaving her uncharacteristically flustered. Yan Chi's eyes darkened at the sight, but he restrained himself.
It was rare to see Qin Guan so unsettled and at a loss, and Yan Chi's earlier words had truly been...
Yan Chi instructed Bai Feng to prepare the carriage and led Qin Guan outside, glancing at her as they walked. Qin Guan kept her head slightly lowered, her back somewhat stiff. Only when Yan Chi's gaze became unbearably intense did she finally look up and glare at him. "Why are you staring at me?!"
Seeing her ruffled expression, Yan Chi burst out laughing. "Were you really that scared?"
Qin Guan's cheeks flushed crimson again, but Yan Chi pulled her into a one-armed embrace. Qin Guan looked at him, "What?"
Yan Chi gazed at the blush on her cheeks and chuckled softly, "Don't worry. Before our wedding, I can definitely restrain myself."
Qin Guan felt her ears burning and couldn't help but snort, "And what if you can't? Has the Crown Prince not grown hands?"Qin Guan didn't know why she had said those words, but as a physician, it wasn't surprising for her to know such things. It was an unspoken truth understood by all. The words had slipped out as naturally as mentioning that fritillaria should be used to treat a cold, but only after speaking did she belatedly realize how blunt her words were, and her cheeks instantly flushed crimson.
Startled, Qin Guan quickened her pace. Yan Chi failed to keep up immediately, and his hand slipped from her shoulder. When he recovered, he could only see under the dim lantern light that Qin Guan's ears were as red as cherries, so vivid they seemed to invite a bite.
Yan Chi's mood immediately brightened, and he strode forward to catch up...
Qin Guan had been deeply troubled by the affairs of the Northwest Frontier Army, but now the weight in her heart vanished without a trace. It felt as if her heart were filled with bubbling sweet soup, boiling over. She walked faster and faster until, at one moment, she suddenly halted, as if struck by a divine insight, and understood the true purpose of Yan Chi's actions.
She turned around and saw Yan Chi wearing a faint, sparse smile, his eyes sparkling brightly, devoid of any trace of desire.
He looked at Qin Guan with pure delight, calm and candid.
Seeing Qin Guan stop, Yan Chi approached with a smile, "Why did you stop running?"
The heat on Qin Guan's face subsided, and she shot Yan Chi a sullen glare before turning to walk forward slowly.
Yan Chi was likely teasing her. With other topics, she was always more composed than he was, but only when it came to such matters could she not feign calmness even if she tried. Glancing at Yan Chi again, Qin Guan asked, "Since the Emperor won't let you go to the Ministry of Justice, will he allow you to inherit the princely title?"
With Prince Rui's passing, Yan Chi should, by convention, inherit the title immediately.
Yan Chi smiled at her question, "There's no news yet."
Qin Guan's brow furrowed once more. Noticing this, Yan Chi sighed and took her hand, "Why are you frowning again? These past few days, I've rarely seen you smile in my presence. Don't worry, though these matters are weighty, I can handle them."
With Prince Rui's death, the Northwest Frontier Army in chaos, and the capital filled with hidden dangers, how could Qin Guan possibly bring herself to smile?
What Yan Chi would never know was that every time he forced a smile to reassure her, her heart ached all the more.
Yan Chi squeezed her palm, "If you spend every day worrying about me, then what meaning is there in all my careful planning? Guan Guan, if things truly reach the worst possible outcome, what choice would you make?"
Qin Guan looked up at Yan Chi and soon replied with an easy laugh, "Naturally, I would follow my husband's lead."
Yan Chi's grip on her hand tightened instantly, and he lifted it to his lips for a kiss, "Good. With those words, I am content."
Once Qin Guan boarded the carriage, the agitation stirred by Yan Chi's teasing faded, but his question had grounded her. Worry naturally remained, yet since Yan Chi had laid his cards on the table, her heart felt clear and open. At worst, it would simply come down to those four words: following her husband's lead!
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