After listening to Qin Guan describe the situation in the Eastern Palace, Qin Shu's eyes darkened completely.
Beside him, Qin Yan looked at Qin Shu. "Father, what does this mean? This time, the Emperor stripped the Crown Prince of authority over two ministries at once and ordered him to reflect on his mistakes in the Eastern Palace. This is effectively house arrest! Prince Cheng's faction must be overjoyed. Does this mean the Emperor intends to support Prince Cheng?"
Qin Shu couldn't believe the Emperor would favor Prince Cheng as the Heir Apparent. "Impossible."
Qin Yan, full of anxiety, glanced at Qin Guan and asked, "What else did the Crown Princess say? What is the Crown Prince's stance?"
Qin Guan replied, "The Crown Princess only said they haven't thought of a good solution yet and will try to contact the Empress—"
"Contact the Empress? The Empress is still under house arrest too. How can they contact her?"
Though both resided in the Inner Palace, with both under confinement, mother and son had almost no possibility of communication.
Qin Shu said, "It's not entirely impossible. There's still the Fifth Princess."
Only then did Qin Yan remember Yan Zhen, but he hesitated. "The Fifth Princess knows nothing of court affairs. Besides, she and the Empress had a serious falling out before. Will she help this time?"
Qin Shu sighed. "Nothing is impossible. At this point, even if she's naive, she should understand the gravity of the situation. Her Majesty has always been decisive. It would be good to let her take charge, but I'm afraid..."
Qin Shu's tone was full of concealed worry. Qin Yan looked at him. "What is Father worried about?"
Qin Shu glanced at Qin Guan but didn't avoid her. "I'm afraid the Emperor is dissatisfied with the Crown Prince."
Qin Yan's heart sank. Qin Shu had used the word "dissatisfied," but his implication went deeper. Qin Yan's eyes widened. "Does the Emperor intend to depose the Crown Prince? He's only been enthroned for over a year and hasn't made any major mistakes. This current situation can't be blamed on him."
"Keeping company with the sovereign is like living with a tiger. How can we know the Emperor's thoughts?"
Qin Yan was left speechless by Qin Shu's words. Though young, he was mature for his age and knew Qin Shu's words were not unfounded. "What should we do now? How can we help the Crown Prince regain the Emperor's favor?"
Qin Shu shook his head. "I don't know." After a pause, he added bluntly, "I don't know what exactly the Emperor is dissatisfied with regarding the Crown Prince."
The mistakes the Crown Prince made were unavoidable for anyone. Even Prince Cheng must have corrupt officials under his command. Yet this time, the Emperor clearly gave the Crown Prince no chance to explain or remedy the situation. Normally, since the Emperor had chosen him as the Heir Apparent, he should be more patient and tolerant. But over the past year, Qin Shu had always felt the Emperor showed no intention of guiding or supporting the Crown Prince...
Whether it was corruption in Salt Transportation or the current scandal with Military Provisions, these were not issues the Crown Prince alone could prevent. Even when a murder case occurred in the capital earlier, the Emperor continuously pressured the Crown Prince, while Prince Cheng took the opportunity to sabotage him behind the scenes.
There was always a lack of paternal protection.
Qin Shu narrowed his eyes, vaguely recalling the Emperor's younger days. Everyone knew Prince Luo was highly trusted by the late Emperor. Though the late Emperor never formally named him Crown Prince, he always brought him along for discussions in the Imperial Study. Whether it was governance, administration, or the art of employing people, the late Emperor imparted decades of Imperial Arts to him without reservation. In contrast, the current Crown Prince always seemed to have a barrier between him and the Emperor.Initially, Qin Shu thought it was due to the Empress being too strict with the Crown Prince, but he has since dismissed this idea.
Qin Yan said, "I can't figure it out either. From every perspective, His Highness the Crown Prince is the most suitable among the princes to be the Heir Apparent."
Qin Shu sighed, "There's no use in us speculating blindly here."
As he spoke, Qin Shu looked at Qin Guan, "Guan'er, now we can only rely on you... Don't worry, I'm not asking you to do anything specific. Since you'll be entering the palace to accompany the Empress Dowager anyway, if you hear any unusual movements in the palace, just let us know. If you have the chance, visit the Crown Princess more often and see if there are any messages to bring out."
This request was something Qin Guan could manage, so she nodded in agreement.
Seeing this, Qin Shu felt greatly relieved. "Alright, you've been in the palace all day. Go and rest now."
Qin Guan stood up to take her leave. After she had gone, Qin Yan anxiously asked, "Father, is the Emperor really planning to depose the Crown Prince?"
Qin Shu shook his head, "I don't know either, but I feel this situation is unusual. Besides Prince Cheng, there's someone else stirring trouble behind the scenes, though I can't figure out who it is at the moment..."
After thinking carefully for a moment, Qin Yan said, "Among the imperial family, those still holding power in court... could it be Prince Rui?!"
The current Prince Rui was Yan Chi. Qin Shu frowned deeply, "Even if he is causing trouble, what grudge does he have against the Crown Prince? Besides, if the Crown Prince cannot ascend the throne, it wouldn't be him anyway. There's no reason for him to do this."
"But... but after what happened to Prince Rui before... Ah, although it wasn't the Crown Prince's doing, I don't believe he would remain so quiet and inactive now. His temperament doesn't seem like someone who would easily accept the news of the Old Prince's death."
Qin Shu nodded, "That's true. However, there's no evidence regarding the Old Prince's death. I still think it's unlikely to be him."
Qin Yan said helplessly, "Then who else could it be?"
Qin Shu couldn't think of anyone at the moment, but Qin Yan seemed to recall something. "I remember what Ninth Sister told me last time."
Qin Shu looked at Qin Yan, who continued, "She said that although our sister has become the Crown Princess, our Marquis household is still the Marquis household, and the Eastern Palace is the Eastern Palace. We should prioritize the Marquis household..."
Upon hearing this, Qin Shu's brow immediately furrowed. "When did she say this?"
"A few days ago, before Zhang Qide's incident."
Qin Shu smiled bitterly, "She couldn't have known about today's situation that early, could she? If that's the case, then it really must be related to Yan Chi."
Father and son looked at each other helplessly, yet they couldn't possibly go ask Qin Guan about it.
Qin Shu waved his hand, "Let's wait and see. If it really comes to that, then we'll have no choice but to prioritize the Marquis household."
After saying this, Qin Shu felt utterly exhausted. He suddenly regretted marrying Qin Chaoyu into the Eastern Palace.
......
Qin Guan also felt unsettled. Someone was secretly targeting the Crown Prince, and that person certainly couldn't be Yan Chi.
If she knew everyone was starting to suspect Yan Chi, Qin Guan would probably find it both laughable and frustrating.
Yan Chi currently had more important matters on his mind—why would he bother interfering with the Crown Prince's affairs?!
Returning to Pine Breeze Courtyard, Qin Guan couldn't help but take out the hairpin given to her by Princess Consort Gong. The fact that Princess Consort Gong and Yan Li had remained safe and sound all these years proved that the Emperor wasn't absolutely ruthless. So why was he treating the Crown Prince this way now?As Qin Yan had said, among the current princes, Yan Che remained a relatively proper candidate—certainly better than Yan Qi in any case.
Yet the Emperor was clearly too harsh on both Yan Che and the Empress.
Qin Guan couldn’t comprehend this. Staring at the characters carved on the wooden hairpin, she recalled the handwriting in the Precious Intricate Chess Game manual. The former Prince Luo and Prince Gong were truly two entirely different individuals—their handwriting reflected their personalities. Seeing their calligraphy, she seemed to understand why the late Emperor had favored Prince Luo more.
It was much like Yan Qi and Yan Che today. Yan Che, as the elder, possessed a steadier and more benevolent temperament. The Great Zhou Dynasty had already passed the era of military expansion and territorial consolidation. Aside from the western frontiers, border conflicts were rare. Such a dynasty did not need a tyrannical, war-mongering emperor. Logically, the Emperor should have chosen Yan Che, who resembled him more.
Qin Guan pondered this endlessly. Recalling Qin Chaoyu’s words, she grew even more suspicious of the relationship between the Emperor and the Empress.
How could such an intelligent woman as the Empress allow herself and her son to fall into such a state? It made no sense.
Clutching the wooden hairpin, Qin Guan felt a sudden impulse and drew out the jade pendant hanging around her neck. Both were tokens of affection, both engraved with characters—though the character "Lu" here appeared more archaic. Her wedding with Yan Chi was approaching. Initially, she had only intended to investigate her father’s case, but now she felt entangled in an even more complex situation. Could her father’s case be connected to the power struggles at court?
Speaking of power, although Prince Jin also held authority, he was inherently indifferent and lacked a powerful maternal clan. Such a prince had almost no chance of becoming Crown Prince—yet he had died. And her father was likely an innocent casualty caught in the crossfire.
Qin Guan’s heart swirled with countless thoughts. She felt as if she had entered a layered maze, seemingly nearing the end only to be blocked by a wall. Circling outside it, she repeatedly hit dead ends. If these cases were interconnected, where was the crucial link?
Unable to unravel the mystery, Qin Guan retired early. Remembering Qin Shu’s request, she entered the palace again early the next morning.
Within her capabilities, she didn’t mind assisting the Marquis’s household.
Today, the Longevity and Health Palace was livelier than the day before. As Qin Guan reached the hall’s entrance, she saw Mammy Chen emerging with a smile. Spotting Qin Guan, Mammy Chen immediately bowed and said, "Eminent Son Yan Ze has arrived. Lady Yue Ning is accompanying him—they’re playing chess at the moment."
Qin Guan smiled slightly. It seemed Prince Yi must be out of danger.
But Mammy Chen continued, "After returning from the Eastern Palace yesterday, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager hasn’t been well. She only brightened up today when Eminent Son Yan Ze visited."
The Empress Dowager had spent considerable time at the Eastern Palace yesterday. Qin Guan had returned directly to the residence in the afternoon, unaware of the Empress Dowager’s discomfort.
"Was it because the Crown Prince was confined? Is it serious?"
"After taking the pills Lady Yue Ning left, it’s not critical, but she still looks unwell." Lowering her voice, Mammy Chen added, "It truly is because of the Crown Prince’s affair. Last night, the Empress Dowager wanted to summon the Emperor, but when messengers were sent to Chongzheng Hall, he was handling state affairs—or so he claimed. It was clearly just an excuse."
Qin Guan was startled. "The Emperor is...""Ah," Mammy Chen sighed. "The Emperor is very dissatisfied with the Crown Prince."
Qin Guan understood, feeling a chill in her heart. All signs indicated the Crown Prince was in a precarious position.
The Empress Dowager had always favored the Crown Prince and valued ancestral traditions. According to these traditions, once an heir apparent was established, their removal would affect the nation's fortune. Therefore, every dynasty approached the appointment of an heir with extreme caution, rarely deposing one after their establishment. It seemed even the Empress Dowager was beginning to worry.
Though anxious inside, Qin Guan maintained a calm expression. "Please rest assured. As long as Her Majesty the Empress Dowager remains in good health, that's what matters most."
Mammy Chen nodded hurriedly and invited Qin Guan inside. As they reached the entrance of the Warm Chamber, they heard Yan Ze saying, "Father's knee trouble is an old ailment. It swells and hurts every year around this time. Fortunately, we have Divine Doctor Sun in our residence. He's been treating Father these past few days with mugwort moxibustion and medicinal soup, which has provided considerable relief. Father even said that if His Majesty suffers from the same condition, he would bring Divine Doctor Sun to the palace to treat him."
The Empress Dowager laughed upon hearing this. "I haven't heard of His Majesty having such issues. It should be nothing serious."
Yan Ze made a surprised sound. "Father said they both sustained the same injury back then. Has His Majesty's injury healed on its own?"
The Empress Dowager replied, "I know about that. It happened during their first visit to the Mount Wei Hunting Grounds. They insisted on competing to see who could tame a wild horse first, and both ended up falling off their horses, injuring the exact same spot. His Majesty did experience some discomfort for a while afterward, but I haven't heard anything since."
Yan Ze chuckled. "So that's it. His Majesty's injury must have been very minor then."
Hearing this, Qin Guan couldn't help but enter the Warm Chamber. After paying her respects, she asked, "Your Majesty and the heir apparent were discussing how the prince and His Majesty were both injured in the past?"
The Empress Dowager nodded. "It was when they were teenagers. His Majesty still had a mischievous streak back then and insisted on taming wild horses, which led to the accident."
Qin Guan quickly inquired, "Was it their knees? How severe were the injuries at the time?"
The Empress Dowager seemed somewhat uncertain, but Mammy Chen remembered clearly. "The injuries were serious. Both their knees swelled up significantly, though there was no bleeding. The imperial physicians examined them and said no bones were broken, but ever since, both Prince Yi and His Majesty have had ongoing knee problems."
Yue Ning remarked, "You're the most skilled in medicine. Do you know why this is?"
Qin Guan explained simply, "It's an injury to the soft tendons between the bones inside the knee." Then she asked, "How did His Majesty's injury heal?"
Mammy Chen and the Empress Dowager exchanged glances. Mammy Chen said, "Well... it seems His Majesty's pain subsided after he ascended the throne, didn't it?"
Qin Guan frowned slightly. The Empress Dowager smiled. "You, girl, truly live up to your reputation as a healer. You must know how to treat this condition, right? If Yan Ze's father's knee acts up again, would you go take a look?"
Since Prince Yi was a man, it was probably for convenience that Sun Muqing was assisting him. Qin Guan nodded but seemed somewhat distracted.
She hadn't spoken the full truth. If the soft tendons inside the knee were severely injured, it was nearly impossible to achieve a complete cure. The imperial physicians at the time must have treated it with all their skill, yet Prince Yi served as the best example—his pain had persisted all these years. However, the Emperor's knee had miraculously healed on its own!
This was truly strange—
This was Qin Guan's judgment as a medical practitioner. Yet, since this was all in the past, she decided not to elaborate further.After watching the chess game for a while and noticing the Empress Dowager was still quite energetic, Qin Guan considered visiting Yan Sui. However, just as she stepped outside, she saw a young palace maid glancing around vigilantly before quickly approaching her and whispering, "Your Highness, the Crown Princess wishes to see you."
Having delivered this message, the maid immediately turned and left, making it appear to others as if she had merely come to pay respects to Qin Guan.
Watching the maid depart, Qin Guan hadn't expected Qin Chaoyu to have already bribed a maid from the Longevity and Health Palace so quickly.
But having just seen Qin Chaoyu yesterday, what excuse could she use to visit her today?
After some thought, Qin Guan turned and approached Mammy Chen. "Momma, may I ask you something?"
Mammy Chen promptly set aside her tasks. "Your Highness need only give your orders. There's no need to be so polite with this humble servant."
Qin Guan feigned a troubled expression. "You're aware of the Crown Prince's situation. When I returned to the Marquis residence last night, my uncle and aunt were deeply concerned about the Crown Princess, so they asked me to visit the Eastern Palace again today to relay some messages..."
Since the Eastern Palace lacked nothing material, bringing food or clothing would seem odd. Qin Guan decided that using this universally understandable reason would appear more natural than inventing other excuses.
"But with the Crown Prince under house arrest, I'm afraid it might be difficult for me to visit..."
Mammy Chen smiled knowingly. "Her Majesty has been heartbroken over the Eastern Palace's situation and has been sending lunch there daily these past few days. You simply need to inform the Empress Dowager and go under the pretext of delivering her lunch. This should be easily arranged!"
Delighted by this convenient solution, Qin Guan wasted no time in approaching the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager seemed to have anticipated this, sighing, "They must be worried. Chao Yu has encountered such troubles so soon after entering the palace." She then asked curiously, "What exactly did they tell you?"
Qin Guan replied, "When I spoke with Eighth Sister yesterday, she seemed anxious and asked me to consult Uncle about possibly assisting the Crown Prince. Upon hearing this, Uncle recognized Eighth Sister's distress and instructed me to advise her to focus on caring for the Crown Prince properly in the Eastern Palace."
The Empress Dowager nodded approvingly. "That's sound advice. When you visit later, do comfort her further."
Qin Guan's explanation appeared entirely reasonable, arousing no suspicion from the Empress Dowager. Soon after, Qin Guan led servants from the Longevity and Health Palace toward the Eastern Palace.
At the Eastern Palace, the imperial guards initially blocked Qin Guan's entry, but upon presenting the Empress Dowager's decree, they permitted her entrance.
The Eastern Palace comprised extensive residential quarters, yet with the Crown Prince confined, the courtyards felt unusually desolate. News of Qin Guan's arrival quickly reached both Yan Che and Qin Chaoyu. Qin Chaoyu noted Qin Guan's promptness, but when she went to greet her, she was surprised to find Yan Che had also emerged.
Since the lunch from the Longevity and Health Palace was typically delivered directly to the side hall, why had Yan Che appeared?
......
While waiting outside, Qin Guan hadn't expected to encounter Yan Che either. Soon, however, Yan Che emerged from the side hall. Qin Guan curtsied, and Yan Che inquired, "Have you come from the Longevity and Health Palace?"
Qin Guan promptly responded, "Yes, to deliver lunch and also to visit Eighth Sister."
Hearing she sought Qin Chaoyu, Yan Che raised an eyebrow. "Does the Marquis residence have messages to convey?"
Yan Che's guess was close, though he likely didn't realize Qin Chaoyu had specifically requested the meeting.
Qin Guan could only nod. "Yes... Uncle and Aunt are quite concerned about Eighth Sister."Yan Che stood at the doorway watching Qin Guan, momentarily at a loss for words. Only when he sensed someone watching from nearby did he lift his gaze and see Qin Chaoyu approaching. Yan Che had no choice but to say, "Your Eighth Sister is here. You may go."
Qin Guan also glanced toward Qin Chaoyu, performed a slight curtsey, and departed.
Yan Che watched Qin Guan leave, but when Qin Chaoyu intended to approach and pay her respects, he turned and returned to the side hall instead.
Qin Chaoyu pondered thoughtfully for a moment before bringing Qin Guan back to her own quarters.
"Was it proper for you to bribe the palace maid from Longevity and Health Palace?"
Qin Guan asked as soon as she entered the room. Qin Chaoyu replied, "It was proper. I merely said I was homesick and had some words I wished you to convey. Had I asked her to pass messages to others, she wouldn't have dared."
Only then did Qin Guan feel reassured. "Why did you summon me here?"
Qin Chaoyu knew nothing about the details of Prince Jin's case. After some thought, she relayed the message the Empress had asked her to deliver. When she finished, she noticed Qin Guan's expression shift slightly. Qin Chaoyu quickly asked, "What does this matter have to do with the Crown Prince's current predicament?"
Qin Guan collected her thoughts. "Her Majesty the Empress has been confined to her quarters due to Song Xiwen's death, and this matter is also connected to Prince Jin's case." Qin Guan murmured these words, then shook her head. "Actually... I don't know yet. But since Her Majesty the Empress asked you to deliver this message to me, I must go meet this person."
Qin Chaoyu looked at Qin Guan with complex emotions, sensing that Qin Guan was withholding something. Most ordinary people would have many questions upon hearing the Empress's words, yet Qin Guan hadn't asked a single one, showing particular interest only in that Granny Qian. This was enough proof that she knew more than Qin Chaoyu did.
After a moment, Qin Chaoyu sighed. "Never mind, I don't understand the meaning either. Be careful in everything you do. Her Majesty the Empress instructed you to act discreetly." After a pause, Qin Chaoyu added, "Now that I'm in the palace, I can't look after the Marquis' residence. If anything happens there, I hope you can lend a hand."
Qin Guan looked at Qin Chaoyu with some resignation. The two of them had originally kept to their own affairs, and Qin Chaoyu had even harbored much hostility toward her. Yet now they could speak civilly to each other.
"I won't refuse what I can do."After saying this and seeing that Qin Chaoyu had nothing else to explain, Qin Guan took her leave and departed from the Eastern Palace."
Qin Chaoyu escorted Qin Guan near the front hall and, as expected, saw Tang Fu standing at the corner of the side hall. When he saw Qin Guan leave, he also turned and returned to the side hall.
A flickering light passed through Qin Chaoyu's eyes.
Sometimes, a woman's intuition is incredibly accurate.
......
......
To avoid appearing suspicious, Qin Guan returned to the Longevity and Health Palace and forced herself to wait until afternoon before taking her leave from the palace.
South City, Anmin Ward, Zhang Family Lane... Granny Qian...
These words kept echoing in Qin Guan's mind. After so much circling around, she could finally uncover a corner of last year's Prince Jin case.
Song Xiwen had died just days after the incident occurred. How he died could explain many things.
Qin Guan never would have imagined that it would be the Empress who revealed this clue to her, yet Song Xiwen had died in Kunning Palace of all places.
Qin Guan initially couldn't contain her excitement, but as the carriage headed straight for the south city, she quickly calmed herself down.
The Empress and Crown Prince were in a precarious situation, yet she chose to reveal this information at such a critical moment—what was her intention? Shouldn't her most urgent task be to lift the Crown Prince's house arrest? The corpse case had stalled in Prince Cheng's hands, and it was this very case that led to her own confinement. By telling me this now, is she trying to use me to clear her name? Yet she also admitted that Song Xiwen indeed died in Kunning Palace.
Qin Guan was wary of the Empress's shrewdness, sensing this might well be a trap.
Steeling herself, Qin Guan instructed, "First, head to Prince Rui's residence—"
Baiying redirected the carriage, swiftly making its way toward Prince Rui's residence. Inside the carriage, Qin Guan grew increasingly uneasy.
Whether it was Li Muyun's unusual behavior or the sudden shifts in court politics over the past two days, she felt as though she were sinking into a quagmire. The Empress's words now offered a glimmer of hope, but that hope felt like a baited trap. Confused and uncertain, she could only proceed with greater caution.
Prince Rui's residence was as quiet as ever. When Qin Guan arrived, Yan Chi was meeting with a guest, so she made her way to the waterside pavilion alone.
Previously, Qin Guan had been unsure of Yan Chi's plans, but now that she knew, she was even less inclined to interfere.
After waiting for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Yan Chi arrived. Qin Guan promptly asked, "Has your guest left?"
Yan Chi smiled faintly. "He was an old subordinate of my father, now stationed with the Luozhou garrison."
The Luozhou garrison? Qin Guan felt a flicker of doubt but kept it to herself, saying only, "I came to discuss something with you."
Yan Chi grinned, first pulling her into an embrace. "I also have something to tell you."
Qin Guan widened her eyes. If there was something to discuss, why hold her? How could they talk like this?
She struggled slightly, but Yan Chi only tightened his hold, nuzzling her temple before lifting her to sit on the long couch by the window. As Qin Guan prepared to resist again, Yan Chi said, "I didn't know you were coming. There's no heater in this pavilion, and you'll quickly feel cold sitting alone."
The excuse sounded so reasonable that Qin Guan found herself reluctantly accepting it. She gave up struggling and recounted what Zhan Yang had told her the other day. Before she could mention the Empress's matter, Yan Chi frowned deeply. "This case was closed six months ago. Li Muyun must have grown alert when he saw you tracking him to that residence. If I were to reopen an old case after so long, there's only one possibility—to check if any clues were left behind."
"But Li Muyun was rarely involved in Ning Buyi's case and didn't obstruct it in any way."
Yan Chi held Qin Guan's hand, gently massaging it. "Perhaps he also accepted that Ning Buyi was meant to be sacrificed. At the time, there were some clues, and now he's revisiting the case to see if anything exposes him, especially after learning you've reviewed the old case files."
Qin Guan had speculated similarly, and hearing Yan Chi's words reinforced her suspicions.
"But why would he investigate the buyer of the Shen residence?"
Yan Chi's brow furrowed. "He might suspect you have ties to the Shen family and, knowing the residence was sold, went to see who bought it. That's the simplest explanation. Now that he knows Sun Muqing is the buyer, he'll likely suspect Sun Muqing as well."Qin Guan sighed inwardly. This was what worried her most—Sun Muqing, with all his sincerity, would never understand how treacherous people's hearts could be in the capital.
If Li Muyun suspected Sun Muqing, what would he do?
"I've always felt that Li Muyun and Ning Buyi are similar—there's someone else behind them."
After speaking, Qin Guan looked at Yan Chi, whose eyes also darkened. "Li Muyun's background and actions indeed don't seem like someone who could command Ning Buyi. Moreover, after all this time, Li Muyun has been used as a pawn by Prince Cheng without gaining any benefits."
At this point, Yan Chi said, "Even if you hadn't come today, I would have sent you a message. There's been progress regarding the Fu Clan's child."
Qin Guan immediately perked up. "Where is he?"
A profound gleam flashed in Yan Chi's eyes. "If the investigation is correct, that person is currently in Prince Gong's royal residence."
"Prince Gong's royal residence?!" Qin Guan nearly jumped up from Yan Chi's lap in astonishment. "How is that possible!"
Yan Chi had already gotten over his initial surprise and continued, "When Yan Li was four, he was assigned several guards, mostly around his age. The Fu Clan's child should be among them. Except for one guard who was dismissed ten years ago for dishonesty, the others remain in the royal residence. Although Prince Gong's residence holds an awkward position, it still bears the title of a royal residence and maintains numerous guards and servants. If not for Princess Consort Gong's reclusive nature, the residence could be even more bustling and prosperous."
Qin Guan thought of the desolation of Prince Gong's residence and remained unsettled for a long time.
"But when Princess Consort Gong and Yan Li were sent to the capital, they were like prisoners. How could they possibly evade the Emperor's tightly woven net? The entire Fu Clan was executed. Although the child was innocent, he was still of the Fu Clan's direct bloodline and shouldn't have been spared."
No emperor would tolerate rebellion—how did the Fu Clan's child escape those watchful eyes?
Yan Chi also said, "It is indeed strange. When I first received the news, I thought there was a mistake. But after repeated verification, it's confirmed he entered Prince Gong's residence. However, at that time, the Fu Clan was completely eradicated, and all the people around Princess Consort Gong and Yan Li were replaced. How could a widow and her orphaned son protect the Fu Clan's child?"
"Unless—" Qin Guan felt a sense of absurdity but couldn't help voicing it. "Unless the Emperor knew of the child's existence but didn't eliminate him. For some unknown reason, the Emperor spared the child, even allowing him to grow up with Yan Li."
After saying this, Qin Guan herself felt a chill—it was too bizarre. How benevolent would an emperor have to be to tolerate something like this!
"This point is indeed unexplainable, but my subordinates don't make mistakes."
Since Yan Chi's people wouldn't err, there must be a reason for this situation—they just didn't know what it was.
Qin Guan was nearly driven mad. How could things be so complicated! The relationship between the Emperor and Empress was enigmatic, yet the Emperor showed extraordinary leniency toward Princess Consort Gong and Yan Li, even sparing the Fu Clan's bloodline. It made Qin Guan feel as if something was completely reversed...
Seeing Qin Guan's furrowed brows, Yan Chi gently smoothed them with his hand. "You said you had something to discuss with me too?"Qin Guan freed herself from the confusion and quickly relayed the message the Empress had passed through Qin Chaoyu. Yan Chi’s expression immediately turned serious!
“The Empress actually gave you such information?!”
Qin Guan nodded. “We’ve been unable to locate those involved after last year’s incident. This Granny Qian might be one of them. Zhu Yucheng and Kang Bowen died under strange circumstances, and Wang Han is just a minor figure. Now that the Empress suddenly brings up this person, I was almost ready to rush straight to the southern part of the city.”
Yan Chi frowned slightly. He understood Qin Guan’s excitement, but…
“If something like this happens again, you must come to me first.”
Yan Chi’s tone was stern, and Qin Guan felt a warmth in her heart. “Don’t worry, didn’t I come to you this time?”
Yan Chi pinched her waist before adopting a serious expression again. “The Empress is shrewd and perceptive. By passing the message to you, she was actually passing it to me.”
Qin Guan’s eyes widened. “Could it be that she wants to deal with you…”
Yan Chi shook his head with a smile, unable to resist stroking her cheek. “At this point, she doesn’t have the energy to deal with me. Besides, there’s no conflict between us. I suspect she now wants to use me as a tool—to borrow my blade to disrupt the Emperor’s next arrangements for her and the Crown Prince.”
Qin Guan blinked, somewhat puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Yan Chi smiled. “Apart from me, no one in the court dares to oppose the Emperor, whether openly or secretly. I think she’s revealing this information to inform us about the Emperor’s weaknesses or vulnerabilities. Once we take action, it will throw the Emperor into disarray. With his attention diverted elsewhere, she’ll have an opportunity.”
Although Yan Chi didn’t know what Granny Qian might be aware of, he accurately analyzed the Empress’s intentions with remarkable clarity. Qin Guan instantly felt that not going to the southern part of the city was absolutely the right decision. “She wants to use us! But this case is related to Prince Jin’s case. What does it have to do with the Emperor?”
Yan Chi’s expression darkened for a moment before he calmly replied, “Have you ever considered that Prince Jin’s death, or Consort Jin’s death, might be connected to the Emperor?”
Qin Guan was stunned. She had never entertained that thought.
She was not one to defy convention. At most, she had considered court rivalries and deceitful schemes. The Emperor, high above all, already possessed the entire realm—would he still be entangled in such matters? Couldn’t he decide life and death with just a few words?
Seeing Qin Guan’s expression, Yan Chi knew she hadn’t considered it. He continued, “Ascending the throne doesn’t mean one can act arbitrarily. The lives of commoners may be as insignificant as ants, and even officials and ministers may not matter much. But princes and nobles each hold their own power—they cannot be executed so casually. Even if it were possible, an emperor must still fear the historian’s pen. So, no matter how exalted the Emperor may be, he is not entirely without fears.”
After a pause, Yan Chi went on, “As for the corpse case so far, aside from confining the Empress, the Emperor hasn’t put much pressure on Prince Cheng, and the investigation has been stagnant. The Emperor seems like an outsider. Of course, he has numerous state affairs to attend to and cannot focus solely on this case. But when I think of last year’s Prince Jin case, it was resolved extremely quickly, and even the case files disappeared without a trace. The only one who could achieve this so effortlessly and without leaving a trace, in my mind, is the Emperor.”Qin Guan's mind was momentarily unable to process it all... The case combined with court struggles was already complex enough, but now it actually involved the Emperor?!
Last time, Yan Chi had analyzed the Emperor's attitude toward the Crown Prince. At that time, she had only felt that the Emperor's heart was as deep and unfathomable as the ocean, completely beyond the comprehension of a young girl like her. Later developments had proven Yan Chi's words true, and now that Yan Chi had said something even more shocking and frightening, she instinctively believed him!
For the first time, Qin Guan felt that all her logical reasoning was useless. She knew too little about the entanglements of the royal family and the power plays of the emperor. When a person stood at the highest position, their thoughts differed from ordinary people. Qin Guan felt somewhat lost.
"But if it's the Emperor, does that mean the Emperor is related to Consort Jin's death? Or is it really as the rumors say—that Prince Jin and Consort Jin were involved, and the Emperor ordered Prince Jin's death? Or... is the Emperor just trying to cover up a shameful secret of the royal family?"
Yan Chi held Qin Guan tighter. "This is just my speculation, because it's far too strange for the Empress to suddenly reveal such information to you."
Qin Guan also found it extremely strange, but she hadn't thought of the Emperor—at most, she believed the Empress was using her to clear her own suspicion.
"Do you want to go to the southern city to take a look?" Yan Chi suddenly said.
Qin Guan looked at Yan Chi. "Should we really go? If the Empress anticipated that I would tell you, could this be a trap?"
Qin Guan herself needed to be cautious and think twice, let alone bringing Yan Chi along into potential danger today!
However, Yan Chi smiled. "I suspect it's not a trap, but rather the Empress's last resort. She could have released this information earlier, but before she had some leeway. Knowing the truth about Song Xiwen's death might not be entirely advantageous for her either."
Yes, otherwise why would the Empress only tell her this now?
And Song Xiwen died in Kunning Palace—no matter how he died, the Empress couldn't escape responsibility.
Qin Guan quickly said, "Then let's go take a look. When should we go?"
Yan Chi glanced at the sky outside, where the sun was already setting but twilight hadn't yet fallen.
Tightening his arm around her, Yan Chi said, "Let's eat first, and go after it gets dark."
Qin Guan nodded, but her mind was still preoccupied with thoughts about the Emperor. Seeing her like this, Yan Chi smiled and said, "Maybe I'm overcomplicating things. Let's first go listen to what Granny Qian has to say today. The Empress's actions might be meant to implicate someone else."
The more Yan Chi spoke like this, the more Qin Guan felt he was right. "But... but I only recently learned that the relationship between the Emperor and Empress is very strained. Not only that, the Empress is quite... indifferent toward the Emperor. It's said that the Empress never seeks to consolidate favor, let alone compete for it. Her attitude toward the Emperor is completely unlike that of a wife toward her husband, nor like other empresses in history. Now that she's been confined for many days, she never requests to see the Emperor, as if she's confronting him. If the Empress is contending with the Emperor, then it makes sense that she would give me information that could cause trouble for him."
Hearing this, Yan Chi fell into deep thought. Qin Guan felt that when it came to royal matters, Yan Chi's insights were always more accurate and sharp. Seeing his expression, she quickly asked, "What else have you thought of?"Yan Chi shook his head, "I just find it a bit strange... I'm curious how the Empress will manage to extricate herself after acting this way."
Qin Guan was startled. Indeed! Once the Empress truly opposes the Emperor, does she no longer want Yan Che to remain as Crown Prince?! No matter what, Yan Huai is the Emperor of Great Zhou. If he truly disregards marital affection, not only could he depose the Crown Prince, but even the Empress herself might be dismissed!
Qin Guan suddenly felt an urgent desire to know what Granny Qian would say.
Yan Chi quickly collected his thoughts. He pinched Qin Guan's cheek, "Alright, let's not dwell on it for now. I'll have someone prepare dinner. We'll go to the southern city after we eat."
Qin Guan hummed in agreement and called out instructions to the servants outside. The two chatted for a while longer until dinner was ready. They didn't change locations, dining instead in the side hall of the waterside pavilion. Although Qin Guan had visited Prince Rui's royal residence many times, she rarely shared meals with Yan Chi. A new stove had been added to the side hall, and with the doors and windows closed, the room was warm and cozy. The previously chilly space now carried the aroma of food, completely separating them from the cold outside.
After dinner, dusk slowly descended. Since their trip required discretion, Yan Chi sent people ahead to the southern city first. About half an hour later, Yan Chi and Qin Guan boarded a small carriage heading toward Anmin District.
Anmin District was a residential area in the southern city primarily inhabited by commoners, with numerous cramped houses and a maze of narrow alleys that often confused first-time visitors. Yan Chi's advance party had located Zhang Family Lane, and with minimal inquiry, they found Granny Qian's residence. By the time Yan Chi and Qin Guan arrived, darkness had fully fallen. Though located in the southern city, Zhang Family Lane was remarkably quiet. Poor households couldn't afford extra lamp oil after dark, let alone drinking and merrymaking. Thus, the carriage arrived silently before Granny Qian's solitary courtyard amid complete darkness.
Qin Guan wore a cape, and before alighting, Yan Chi pulled up her hood for her. As they stepped down, Bai Feng went forward to knock on the door.
After three light knocks, slow movements sounded from within the courtyard but soon ceased. Bai Feng knocked three more times, and this time the person inside seemed to realize they hadn't misheard, quickly approaching the gate. The bolt was drawn, but the gate only opened a crack, revealing an indistinct face in the shadows. Though unclear, it was evident an old woman stood behind the door.
"Who is it?" a hoarse voice asked warily.
Bai Feng whispered, "The Empress sent us to find you."
At these words, the gate slammed shut with a bang, as if the person behind it had been frightened and leaned against the door.
Bai Feng frowned, about to knock again, when the gate was pulled open fully. In the dim twilight, Qin Guan saw an old woman with white hair and deeply wrinkled face. Her clothing was simple, and her sharp, downturned eyes gave her a somewhat harsh appearance.
"I knew this day would come. Come in and speak."
Granny Qian's voice was icy cold. After scrutinizing Bai Feng, Qin Guan, and Yan Chi for a moment, she turned and entered the courtyard.
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