“You came from the Empress Dowager’s place?” Li Qitian rubbed his brow, his eyes slightly tinged with blue underneath, clearly having not slept well these past two days.

Ji Zeyu bowed and replied, “Yes.”

“Rare indeed.” Li Qitian closed his eyes, continuously rubbing his brow, the jade thumb ring on his finger glowing with a dull green luster. “Has Lan’er done something absurd again?”

Ji Zeyu spoke directly, “This subject went for the matter concerning Prince Consort Zhongshun’s wife.”

“Oh?” His hand movements stopped, and Li Qitian suddenly opened his eyes, first surprised that Ji Zeyu would speak so frankly.

Ji Zeyu said, “This subject fears the Empress Dowager will starve the person to death. The case hasn’t been concluded, yet if the person is tortured to death first, it would damage the imperial family’s reputation.”

Hearing this, Li Qitian couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “Rare that you’re so frank. You’re right—even if the Qin family plotted to harm the imperial heir, whether beheading or hanging, it’s inappropriate to starve the person to death beforehand, lest I give people something to talk about. You did very well.”

Ji Zeyu said, “I don’t deserve such praise,” then seemed to care nothing about this matter and reported another affair.

“Though this subject is doing well in the capital, the capital is peaceful with no troops to drill. This subject is not accustomed to such a life and wishes to request permission to garrison the northern frontier, lest the Tatars secretly covet and invade the borders again.”

“Ah, you truly have a destiny that doesn’t know how to enjoy life.” Li Qitian smiled and waved his hand, rising and pacing with hands behind his back. He walked around the desk to Ji Zeyu’s side and patted his shoulder.

“I can see that after years of campaigning, spending all your time with those rough soldiers, you’ve become increasingly dull. Never mind other things—look at Pang Zhixi, he now has a son. Look at me—after all these years of warfare, I too now have a legitimate son. You should also consider your life’s great matter.”

Li Qitian blinked and smiled again, “Oh, I also know Lan’er has gone too far. However, you should still have a legitimate son. As long as you have a legitimate son, however many concubines and servant girls you want afterward, I won’t interfere anymore and will also restrain Lan’er.”

In the Northern Ji Kingdom, prince consorts and ceremonial grooms were not allowed to take concubines or chamber maids, yet he was allowing Ji Zeyu to take concubines. The only condition was to bear a legitimate son with Li Helan—this was already his special grace.

Ji Zeyu naturally understood Li Qitian’s meaning and smiled, “This subject obeys the decree.”

Li Qitian satisfactorily patted Ji Zeyu’s shoulder again. “I also know of your grievances. However, for men, achieving merit and establishing careers is the great matter—one cannot place all thoughts on romantic feelings. How many women can be relied upon? For example, Pang Zhixi—look at him. If not for that troublemaker Qin family, how would Pang Zhixi have made so many mistakes?”

Li Qitian’s voice was full of mockery. “Pang Zhixi’s defiance and disobedience was for her sake, and his private military training was also for her. I think this woman should be eliminated early, lest Pang Zhixi make mistake after mistake.”

Ji Zeyu replied expressionlessly, “His Majesty’s decision is final.” However, his fingers hidden in his sleeves unconsciously rubbed together.

Li Qitian glanced at Ji Zeyu and smiled with great satisfaction, then said gravely, “As for the Qin family’s attempt to harm the imperial heir, I’m truly in a difficult position. Though she committed such evil acts, Pang Zhixi is after all my sworn brother—the bond we forged while conquering the realm together still exists. If this matter isn’t handled properly, I fear it will affect the brotherhood between us and give outsiders something to gossip about.”

Hearing this, Ji Zeyu’s heart had already turned cold.

His Majesty had no intention of investigating at all—the guilt was already determined. It seemed the Qin family was doomed.

He lowered his head and asked, “What does His Majesty mean?”

“I plan to invite all the nobles and their families who conquered the realm together to witness this—after all, we conquered this realm together, and Pang Zhixi isn’t an outsider. Since his wife did such a thing, I can’t bear to hand the Qin family over to the Imperial Clan Court or the Three Judicial Offices. I want to handle it personally in front of our own people, which can also be considered giving Pang Zhixi an explanation.”

Ji Zeyu lowered his head and smiled, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

“His Majesty is wise.”

“Haha!” Li Qitian laughed heartily. “I knew you would understand my difficulties.”

Ji Zeyu remained silent, saying nothing.

But Li Qitian knew Ji Zeyu’s nature—he wasn’t like Pang Xiao, who was skilled at saying what people wanted to hear and adapting to different audiences. Though such a person of few words was cold, he was more reliable.

Li Qitian exchanged a few more unrelated pleasantries with Ji Zeyu before dismissing him.

As soon as the person left, Li Qitian’s smile immediately faded. He unconsciously removed and replaced his thumb ring several times before saying in a deep voice, “Come.”

In the blink of an eye, a black-clothed figure leaped out from hiding in the shadows.

“Your Majesty.”

“Go, follow Duke Dingguo and see what he does.”

“Yes.”

The black-clothed figure bowed and in the blink of an eye disappeared back into the shadows.

Li Qitian sat back behind the imperial desk, supporting himself with both hands on the table. After a long while, he murmured, “Ji Lan.”

After leaving the palace, Ji Zeyu immediately returned to Duke Dingguo’s mansion.

He shut himself in his study and didn’t come out for half the day.

As the sky gradually darkened, he finally emerged from his long contemplation just as his attendant gently knocked on the door.

“Duke, dinner has arrived.”

“Mm.”

Hearing Ji Zeyu’s permission, the attendant ordered people to bring in the food boxes and efficiently arranged them on the table.

Ji Zeyu looked at the steaming dishes but had no appetite.

“Duke, you’ve shut yourself in the room all afternoon without a drop of water or grain of rice. Please eat something.”

Ji Zeyu continued sitting with a grave expression, saying nothing.

The attendant urged, “Duke, you’ve done your best. Don’t take it to heart.”

Ji Zeyu only shook his head, his handsome face seeming to be covered with frost. “The Qin family must die.”

The attendant was startled. “Duke…”

Ji Zeyu shook his head, picked up his bowl, and slowly began eating, though he couldn’t taste anything.

He had done his best, yet was powerless. He didn’t care about the Qin family’s life or death, but he could imagine how heartbroken Pang Xiao would be and what mad things he might do.

In this world, those with deep feelings were ultimately hurt the most. Compared to this, that heartless person above lived quite easily.

At the same time, in the Southern Yan traveling palace.

Yuchi Xujie held a wine cup and smiled, “That Prince Zhongshun really thinks too meanly of me. Though I hold power in Southern Yan, I haven’t forgotten who the legitimate line of Great Yan is. Does he think that by pursuing and driving you to Southern Yan, I would kill you myself just to become a legitimate emperor?”

As he spoke, Yuchi Xujie smiled and brought his wine cup close to Yuchi Yan’s to toast.

“Your Majesty, I toast to you.”

Yuchi Yan smiled bitterly and shook his head. “Where am I still an emperor? Now you are Southern Yan’s emperor. I’m just a homeless dog, driven here like livestock by Pang Zhixi. The old capital has been completely controlled by Pang Zhixi—I truly have no place to shelter.”

Yuchi Yan had lost much weight, his cheeks sunken, his chin covered with stubble, and more white hair at his temples. He looked ten years older.

Yuchi Xujie sighed, “Your Majesty needn’t worry. Even if we’ve lost the old capital, it’s no matter. Sooner or later we can recover the lost territory and restore Great Yan. As long as you agree, this subject will immediately yield the throne and willingly serve as a subject supporting the legitimate line.”

“I know your loyalty.” Yuchi Yan was moved and sighed, draining the wine in his cup in one gulp.

Yuchi Xujie also tilted his head back and drank it all, then personally took the white porcelain pot and poured another cup for Yuchi Yan.

The two men toasted and exchanged heartfelt words, no different from common people.

The pot of wine was quickly emptied. Both Yuchi Xujie and Yuchi Yan were already flushed from drinking. Yuchi Xujie stood up, swaying as he ordered, “Come, bring more wine!”

Who would have thought that the palace servants in the traveling palace showed no reaction—not one came in to obey the order.

Yuchi Xujie blinked his bleary eyes forcefully and called out again, “Someone come!”

Still no response.

Displeased, Yuchi Xujie strode toward the door to call for someone.

Who knew that after just two steps, he suddenly felt intense pain in his back. The pain was unprecedented—Yuchi Xujie could hardly bear it. Looking down, he actually saw a blade tip protruding from his chest, fresh blood gushing from the wound and staining his light yellow outer robe.

Yuchi Xujie turned around slowly in disbelief. “You…”

Yuchi Yan frantically released his blood-stained hands, leaving the dagger in Yuchi Xujie’s body.

His eyes were exceptionally bright, containing not only fear but more of a bloodthirsty madness and hatred.

“You arranged a code with someone, didn’t you? Using the empty wine pot and requesting more wine as a signal—the next moment someone would come to kill me, and then you could legitimately become the emperor of Great Yan, isn’t that right!”

“You… villain!” Yuchi Xujie spat blood and could no longer support himself, collapsing in a pool of blood.

“Villain? Heh…” Yuchi Yan looked at Yuchi Xujie’s wide-open eyes, his voice carrying a sob. “Every one of you wants to harm me. I’m no longer emperor, I have nothing left, yet none of you will spare me! Elder Gu was right—you all deserve to die, deserve to die!”

Yuchi Yan tremblingly wiped his hands on his robe, turned to grab a cloak and put it on, then headed for the back door of the side hall. Gu Shixiong had already arranged people outside to respond. To reclaim the throne, he had to plan for the long term. Just as Gu Shixiong said, Yuchi Xujie had invited him alone to the traveling palace to kill him—he had to strike first to preserve his life.

Yuchi Yan’s mind was a tangled mess, completely confused. The fear of being pursued all the way by the Pingnan Army finally exploded the moment he picked up the knife, and his steps became increasingly frantic.

Just as he stepped out the back door, Yuchi Yan suddenly heard a cry from inside the room:

“Ah! Your Majesty, Your Majesty has been assassinated!”

Upon hearing this, Yuchi Yan immediately panicked. Going down the steps too hastily, he nearly tripped. He quickened his pace, hurrying through the traveling palace with its forests of trees and winding paths.

Fortunately, this traveling palace was merely a villa where the imperial family had once stayed during excursions. It wasn’t large and wasn’t like the former palaces of Great Zhou or Great Yan with their high walls—it wasn’t difficult for him to get out.

Avoiding people all the way, as the cries of “His Majesty has been assassinated” behind him became increasingly terrified and chaotic, Yuchi Yan had already exited through the side gate and saw Gu Shixiong and his group waiting to receive him.

Seeing Yuchi Yan emerge, Gu Shixiong hurriedly approached with trembling steps. “Your Highness, how did it go? Was it accomplished?”

“Accomplished, accomplished—let’s go quickly!”

Yuchi Yan nodded frantically and hurried to board the carriage.

Just then, an unexpected voice suddenly said, “Accomplished? What has Prince Zhennan accomplished? Come tell this commander about it.”