Locking eyes, Qin Guan for the first time detached the word "gentle" from Yan Ze.
His gaze was deep and bright, like a glint of cold light emerging from unfathomable abyssal depths. As he looked at her, that spine-chilling pressure became unavoidable.
Qin Guan felt no shock. She simply stared fixedly into Yan Ze's eyes, her alertness rising under that pressure while simultaneously assessing his gaze.
He had always possessed the phoenix eyes characteristic of the Yan clan's direct lineage. Previously, these eyes had been dull and lifeless, like dust-covered pearls. But now, with the gloom dispersed, they revealed their inherent sharpness and coldness, much like Yan Ze himself after shedding his disguise...
His white robes billowed in the wind, yet Qin Guan could no longer see the elegant nobility of an orchid branch or jade tree. Yan Ze's eyes held bottomless dark glimmers, and his garments seemed woven from frost and ice spikes. Standing before him, Qin Guan felt chill creeping up from her feet.
"When did Your Highness' eyes recover?" Qin Guan finally spoke after a long pause.
Yan Ze replied leisurely, "Before my first visit to the Shen residence."
Qin Guan's brow twitched violently. The Shen residence! Yan Ze actually mentioned the Shen residence!
That property had been purchased by Sun Muqing, who invited them there after renovations - it was already the Sun residence during their first visit!
Yet Yan Ze still referred to it as the Shen residence...
Qin Guan narrowed her eyes slightly, her inner alertness intensifying. That had also been her first time entering the Shen residence since returning to the capital.
For ordinary people blinded for years, suddenly regaining sight would bring visible joy. Yet Yan Ze had managed to conceal it from everyone, including Yue Ning. Such endurance demonstrated profound depth of scheming. Qin Guan instinctively retreated half a step. "What did Your Highness mean by that earlier statement?"
"Prince Rui's consort and my mother were close friends in their youth."
Why mention Yan Chi's mother out of nowhere?
Qin Guan vaguely sensed a conjecture but dared not voice it aloud, keeping her eyes fixed steadily on Yan Ze.
Yan Ze's phoenix eyes remained unrippled, like deep, dark pools of still water flowing silently. "My mother died of illness, as did Prince Rui's consort. All these years, Yan Chi couldn't possibly be completely free of doubts. Uncle Prince Rui must have had suspicions too, but he values loyalty too highly. Otherwise, the Liangzhou incident wouldn't have occurred."
Qin Guan's heart shook violently. Even with such suspicions, hearing Yan Ze voice them still tightened her chest.
If this were true, didn't it mean both Yan Ze's parents' deaths were related to the Emperor?
Yet considering the current situation, Qin Guan couldn't fully trust Yan Ze's words. "Does Your Highness have evidence?"
Yan Ze suddenly smiled at this. "If you want evidence, have Yan Chi exhume Prince Rui's consort's skeleton like I did. You're the Great Zhou's best coroner - one examination would reveal the truth. I just wonder if Yan Chi would dare do such a thing."
Qin Guan frowned deeply. There was nothing Yan Chi wouldn't dare do.
But Princess Consort Yi's tomb was also in the imperial mausoleum. When had Yan Ze exhumed her remains? How long had they been kept in this residence?Qin Guan turned to look and suddenly realized there was something inexplicably strange about this small courtyard. The four corners of the main hall's roof ridge had been shaved off, and the vermilion lacquer paintings beneath the eaves had all been replaced with black lacquer. When Qin Guan entered earlier, she hadn't looked up and only felt the courtyard was desolate and oppressive. Now standing farther away, she finally noticed its peculiarity.
Yan Ze followed Qin Guan's gaze. "The feng shui here is excellent, most suitable for preserving my mother's skeleton."
His words sent a chill through Qin Guan's heart, instantly making the house feel like a tomb.
Yet Yan Ze said nothing more, his gaze lightly resting on the roof ridge. Qin Guan looked at him as if she had never truly known him before. "So what does Your Highness intend to do?"
Yan Ze suddenly turned his eyes to Qin Guan. "Why don't you ask why my mother was poisoned, and who did it?"
Qin Guan's breath tightened, momentarily unable to respond. A faint glimmer flashed in Yan Ze's eyes. "So you already know."
Qin Guan's expression grew solemn. "What I know may not be as much as what Your Highness knows."
Yan Ze studied Qin Guan for a moment. "Knowing too much isn't a good thing. The former Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Shen Yi, and his entire family were exterminated because they knew too much. Your wedding with Yan Chi is approaching—it's best not to interfere in this matter."
A cold smile touched Qin Guan's lips. "By telling me this, is Your Highness trying to persuade me not to disrupt your plans?"
Yan Ze showed no trace of panic, speaking calmly. "I merely wish to remind you, and also remind Yan Chi. Prince Rui died in Liangzhou—Yan Chi should not become the next Prince Rui." Yan Ze withdrew his gaze. "What I can discover, the Emperor might also learn. If the Emperor finds out you erected a cenotaph for Shen Yi and his wife, if he discovers your private communications with the Empress... do you think you would share Shen Yi's fate?"
A sudden chill ran down Qin Guan's spine...
He actually knew about their erecting the cenotaph, and about the Empress sending them to see Granny Qian!
Qin Guan's face darkened, her delicate fists unconsciously clenching inside her sleeves.
Yan Ze lifted his chin slightly. "Today's meeting is known only to the two of us. Go tell Yan Chi that the Emperor assigning him to temporarily lead the imperial guards in searching for the Empress is no good fortune. How can his movements in Shuoxi escape the Emperor's notice? When the great edifice crumbles, he is one who could turn the tide. It would be a pity if he were imprisoned."
With that, Yan Ze stepped toward the house. "Tan Xiang, escort the Lady back."
Qin Guan had arrived in a carriage prepared by Tan Xiang, so naturally she could only leave with Tan Xiang's escort.
Qin Guan turned and watched Yan Ze enter the main gate, his snow-white figure disappearing behind the door. Her lips moved slightly, but in the end, she asked nothing.
Though countless questions swirled in her heart, when the moment came to speak, no words emerged. She hadn't expected Yan Ze to so directly and unabashedly reveal his true self to her. He wasn't afraid she would report this to the Empress Dowager, nor that she would tell Yue Ning. He knew far more than she did. Even with his complete openness, she was the one constrained. Qin Guan's heart felt heavy and cold, torn between anxiety for her and Yan Chi's situation and deep concern for Yue Ning.This person was no longer the third brother she remembered, nor was he the gentle, jade-like, and unambitious man he appeared to be. The murder of one's mother was an unforgivable enmity, but what outcome did Yan Ze seek? With the empire on the brink of collapse, did he intend to support a new ruler, or did he aspire to become the new ruler himself?
Qin Guan could not fathom it. Suddenly, she missed Yan Chi intensely.
In the face of imperial strife, the Marquis's residence was fragile and defenseless, while she herself felt as insignificant as an ant.
Qin Guan slowly turned and walked to the courtyard gate. Outside, Tan Xiang was waiting respectfully by the carriage. Seeing Qin Guan emerge, she hurriedly asked, "Your Highness, where shall we go?"
Qin Guan snapped back to reality and replied, "Prince Rui's residence."
Tan Xiang was somewhat surprised but quickly acknowledged the order.
As the carriage rumbled into motion, Qin Guan's heart remained chilled. Ning Buyi's case had claimed five lives—what had been the original purpose of the Demon-Subduing Temple? Lifting the carriage curtain, she glanced back at the peculiar courtyard with its truncated eaves and corners, her doubts deepening.
The carriage traveled through the southern city's alleys for the time it takes two incense sticks to burn before reaching the main road, then sped toward Prince Rui's residence. Upon arrival, Qin Guan alighted and said, "You may return now. I will go back to the Marquis's residence on my own later."
Tan Xiang bowed in acknowledgment before driving away.
Baiying stepped forward to knock on the door. Once inside the residence, Qin Guan learned that Yan Chi had not yet returned.
A hollow feeling settled in Qin Guan's chest, but she still headed toward the waterside pavilion. Halfway there, however, she changed direction and made her way to the study Yan Chi had once shown her.
It was Prince Rui's study, where a portrait of the late princess consort hung. For some reason, Qin Guan suddenly felt compelled to see that painting again.
Baiying, following behind, remarked, "Miss, Eminent Son Yan Ze—"
Qin Guan shook her head. "I cannot see through him. We must wait for Yan Chi to return."
Though Prince Rui's residence had no maidservants, it was guarded by many hidden sentinels. As Qin Guan ventured deeper into the estate, she encountered numerous guards, yet none dared obstruct her. They silently bowed and withdrew, allowing Qin Guan's heart to gradually settle. The residence might appear desolate and still, but its meticulous defenses offered a sense of security.
Soon, she reached the courtyard of Prince Rui's former study. Though Yan Chi was absent and Qin Guan could move freely, she refrained from entering the room. Standing in the courtyard for a moment, she began to sort through Yan Ze's words from earlier that day—
With the empire on the brink of collapse, Yan Chi is one of those capable of turning the tide.
What did Yan Ze mean by this? Did "the empire on the brink of collapse" refer to the Empress and Crown Prince's flight, or did it signify the imminent revelation of the Emperor's true identity? And if Yan Chi was one who could turn the tide, did that imply there were other candidates as well?
Qin Guan's eyelids twitched. Could it be that the Empress and Crown Prince...
She lingered in the courtyard for the duration of two incense sticks before departing. The sun had long since dipped westward, and the wintry wind grew increasingly biting. Arriving at the waterside pavilion, Qin Guan saw numerous letters piled on Yan Chi's desk, evidence of frequent correspondence with Shuoxi in recent days. Just as Yan Ze had stirred turmoil in the capital unbeknownst to her, what chaos might now be unfolding in Shuoxi?
Qin Guan had no way of knowing. She only wished to wait for Yan Chi's return to inform him of Yan Ze's actions. Yet, as the sky darkened bit by bit, Yan Chi still did not appear.Baiying went to inquire with the mansion guards, but they said Yan Chi had been returning after midnight every day recently. Since he hadn't returned by this time today, he would likely come back after midnight again.
Qin Guan felt somewhat helpless and had no choice but to leave a note before returning to the Marquis residence first.
At the same time, outside Chongzheng Hall, Lin Zhang was holding a sealed confidential memorial as he entered the Emperor's Imperial Study.
"Your Majesty, an urgent dispatch from the western frontier has arrived."
The Emperor looked up from his desk, frowning slightly. "Has something happened in the Northwest Frontier?"
Lin Zhang shook his head to indicate he didn't know, presenting the memorial to the Emperor. "A memorial from the Northwest Frontier was just delivered three days ago, and everything seemed fine then. I don't understand why this one arrived so urgently. This memorial was sent via a detour through Mengzhou."
Hearing this, the Emperor's frown deepened. He took out a dagger to break the seal and quickly retrieved the short letter inside.
After unfolding the letter and scanning it rapidly, the Emperor slammed it onto the imperial desk with a sharp "smack!" Both Lin Zhang and Yuan Qing, who was attending nearby, were startled. Lin Zhang asked in confusion, "Your Majesty, what has happened?"
The Emperor's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, cold glints flashing in their depths. He cast a chilling glance at Lin Zhang, making him feel uneasy.
"Half of the memorials sent from the Northwest Frontier have been intercepted, and you were unaware?"
Lin Zhang's eyes widened in shock. "What? That's impossible! Who would dare intercept memorials intended for Your Majesty?"
The Emperor let out a cold laugh. "Then did you know that Chu Fei Sheng has already been rescued? Not only that, but nearly ten thousand refugees have gathered around the Northwest Frontier, and they've seized all the outposts and camps within a hundred li of the main Northwest Frontier Army camp?!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhang's face turned pale. "What?! This—how could this be! How dare they?!"
Nearly ten thousand refugees—this could already be described as rebellion. The Northwest Frontier Army camp housed only over eighty thousand troops, and the surrounding outposts served as the army's eyes and hands. With these outposts, both internal and external defenses could be maintained with proper coordination. Who would have such audacity to seize so many camps!
"This... Is Chu Fei Sheng planning a rebellion?! Is he leading this chaos?"
As he said this, Lin Zhang's brow twitched, and he quickly realized something was wrong. "But he couldn't intercept Your Majesty's confidential memorials unless..."
Unless this person possessed greater influence, capable of controlling all confidential memorial routes from the Northwest Frontier to the capital. The only one who could achieve this was...
Lin Zhang's eyes suddenly widened in realization. At that moment, the Emperor sneered coldly. "No wonder they demanded the Northwest Frontier Army's Military Provisions at that time!"
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