You Jun sat with his legs crossed, still eating candied fruits one by one.
Tie Ci’s fingers tightened slightly.
He Gu looked at her uncomprehendingly, not understanding why she had suddenly stopped in front of this wall.
After a long moment, Tie Ci suddenly let out a long breath.
Her fingers relaxed as she turned around and silently mouthed to He Gu: “Let’s go.”
He Gu obediently turned around. Tie Ci suddenly heard what seemed like voices from far away: “…You’ve finally returned… everything is well… you’ve suffered… this time you’re back to transfer…”
“…received some news… must hurry and meet with father…”
The problem with celestial hearing was that all sounds seemed muffled through drums, distorted and unclear.
Tie Ci stopped in her tracks.
Beyond the wall, You Jun suddenly put down his legs, pushed away the candied fruits, and sat up straight.
The door curtain was lifted as someone was about to enter.
Tie Ci focused her sight to see.
But You Jun seemed to suddenly remember something, slapped his forehead, and abruptly stood up, turning to face Tie Ci.
His hand swept across the wall, apparently about to activate the mechanism in this wall.
From the corner of her eye, Tie Ci noticed that inside this wall there seemed to be a small hidden chamber about the size of a cabinet. The You father and son must have hidden some things in this secret passage.
But this wasn’t the time to investigate that hidden cabinet. What if You Jun was really coming to open this secret passage?
She’d have to leave immediately, or they’d run right into each other.
But Tie Ci also wanted to see the person about to lift the door curtain.
If she hadn’t guessed wrong, it should be You Weinan, coming to discuss with You Jun their plans for dealing with her.
As she hesitated, suddenly someone outside the door strode forward with a loud voice: “Young Master, please wait for this official! This official has urgent matters to report!”
The person’s voice was so loud that Tie Ci could hear it without celestial hearing—it was clearly Master Shi.
Tie Ci immediately understood why he was doing this.
Master Shi knew she had infiltrated the Prince’s Residence. Though uncertain of her location, he suspected she might attempt assassination and would likely be lurking near where the You father and son were. He’d come first to check the situation, second to lend a hand if something happened, and third to call You Weinan away, preventing father and son from being together and increasing the difficulty for Tie Ci’s assassination attempt.
His thinking was very meticulous.
Unfortunately, he had still guessed wrong—Tie Ci didn’t plan to assassinate the You father and son now.
The time hadn’t come yet.
Setting aside the immediate opportunity, it was very likely a trap. After all, You Weixing was rumored to be in the residence but had actually been transferred away. The purpose of this rumor was nothing more than a siege to lure reinforcements, wanting to entice her to send people to rescue him. The drawings on the wall were probably deliberately left there, merely to lure people into the trap.
Even if she succeeded now, with the You father and son’s prestige undiminished and the female heir siblings being mediocre and incompetent, killing one You Jun would only bring forth a second or third You Jun—she still wouldn’t be able to control Yannan.
Seizing territory was easy; winning people’s hearts was difficult.
She either wouldn’t act, or when she did, it would be to eliminate all future troubles.
But his intervention prevented Tie Ci from seeing the person she wanted to see.
The person about to enter outside stopped in their tracks.
You Jun also turned to look, but his finger still flicked across the wall.
A sliver of light appeared before them.
The door opened.
He Gu stared in horror with wide eyes.
The door was already open—it was too late to go back now!
She suddenly lunged forward, blocking Tie Ci’s path, and pushed her back with her hand.
Run quickly!
Escape and save the young master!
The next instant her body suddenly felt weightless, as if something had grabbed her forcefully. Wind whistled in her ears, light and shadow swirled chaotically, and between alternating black and white, light and dark, when she opened her eyes again, she found herself standing in the main hall of Wanqing Garden.
Behind her, Tie Ci was gently closing the secret door, even sweeping the dust on the wall smooth.
He Gu: “…”
Tie Ci turned around to see He Gu staring at her with a strange expression, and couldn’t help but laugh. “What’s wrong?”
He Gu murmured, “The young master was right…”
“Hmm?”
“You are a fairy, the fairy he’s been waiting for to save him,” tears appeared in He Gu’s eyes. “The fairy riding white clouds that he’s been waiting for—she’s come.”
Tie Ci looked at her steadily and smiled slightly. “Yes.”
…
A quarter-hour later, Tie Ci appeared on the roof of a building next to Jinfang Pavilion, looking at the brightly lit pavilion.
This courtyard was completely different in style from Wanqing Garden—gorgeous and spacious, decorated with lanterns and colored banners, full of festive atmosphere, with servants constantly coming and going.
If there was anything discordant, it was that there were too many guards. Patrols were constant throughout the multi-courtyard complex.
In wealthy households, guards didn’t enter the inner courtyards, but clearly they couldn’t be concerned with propriety here.
Moreover, even the roof eaves had hanging lanterns, obviously to prevent anyone from getting onto the rooftops.
Outside the courtyard gate, He Gu carried a tray and knocked the door ring.
Someone came to answer the door. He Gu said she’d come to bring the young lady her evening snack.
The person answering the door said in surprise, “How did it become your turn today? Where’s Granny Lu?”
“Granny Lu has stomach troubles…”
The answering maid took the tray, examined it carefully, then sent He Gu away, and He Gu left.
The maid carried the sour plum soup into the main hall of the third courtyard. Pushing open the door to see brilliant reds everywhere, the gorgeously dressed woman sitting at the dressing table didn’t turn around.
The maid didn’t say much, only: “Young Lady, your evening snack has arrived,” and handed the tray to the maid standing guard in the room.
In this courtyard, everyone had their own area. Those serving in the first courtyard were absolutely not allowed to enter the third courtyard, and those managing deliveries in the third courtyard could never enter the young lady’s bedroom.
The maid brought over the rock sugar tofu pudding. You Weixuan didn’t even look at it. “No appetite. Take it away.”
The maid didn’t try to persuade her and was about to take it away when You Weixuan suddenly said, “Sour plum soup?”
“Yes.” The maid smiled. “The kitchen hasn’t made sour plum soup in quite a while.”
You Weixuan’s gaze moved. “I’m feeling a bit feverish and want a sip of soup. Leave it.”
The maid set down the tray and was about to serve You Weixuan the soup when You Weixuan said coldly, “I’ll do it myself. I’m afraid you’ll burn me on purpose.”
The maid didn’t take her provocation, saying gently, “This servant wouldn’t dare,” and retreated to the side, but kept her eyes fixed on her.
You Weixuan picked up the blue porcelain bowl and slowly finished the sour plum soup, but even drinking to the bottom, she saw nothing.
Her finger felt around the bottom of the bowl—smooth to the touch, no characters.
Her gaze swept over the tray. On the tray was just the covered bowl, nothing hidden.
She wanted to lift the cover to look, but suddenly remembered that the maid had lifted and set down the cover—if there had been anything, it would have been discovered long ago.
You Weixuan felt anxious, wondering if it was just a coincidence and she was grasping at straws in desperation.
Her gaze suddenly fell on the blue porcelain bowl, frowning: “Why is this blue porcelain?”
Everyone in the Prince’s Residence had utensils according to their rank. No matter what, she was still the female heir and habitually used sweet white porcelain or celestial kiln blue-and-white. How had she suddenly been given this inferior blue porcelain?
The maid was stunned and explained, “This… recently preparing for your wedding, Master Ceremonial must be very busy and perhaps overlooked…”
You Weixuan’s gaze sharpened.
Ceremonial Master.
Was this the meaning?
She heavily slammed the bowl onto the table and shouted angrily, “Is this an oversight? This is contempt! I’m not even gone yet and already they’re neglecting me? Have Shi Yueming come personally to explain!”
The maid bowed her head in acknowledgment.
She’d been instructed that with the young lady’s wedding approaching, anxiety and irritability were inevitable—just humor her.
Everyone understood why the young lady was irritable and why they had to appease her now. Just get her married off peacefully and it would all be over.
The maid went out to order the guards to summon Master Shi. Soon Master Shi hurried over, the mole on his chin twitching even more violently.
As he passed through the courtyard next to Jinfang Pavilion, Tie Ci silently dropped down in blue clothes and a small cap, following behind him.
The two knocked at the courtyard gate. Since the ceremonial master frequently needed to report wedding procedures and preparations to the young lady, the gatekeepers were all familiar with Master Shi. Seeing him come at midnight wasn’t strange, and they even showed sympathetic expressions.
After all, when the young lady was in a bad mood, Master Shi suffered the most blame.
Therefore, when he brought a servant, no one questioned it much. After all, if the young lady threw things, someone needed to be there to take the brunt of it.
Master Shi brought Tie Ci into the third courtyard. Before they even got close, they could hear You Weixuan’s cold scolding, and a maid came out sweating profusely, eagerly leading them inside.
Master Shi entered and the door closed. You Weixuan didn’t look at Master Shi first, but glanced at the two maids standing closely beside her.
These two weren’t merely maids—they were actually female guards with excellent martial arts skills and were very alert.
With You Weixuan’s limited fighting skills, she really wasn’t confident she could take them both out at once, while Master Shi and his servant had to stand far away due to protocol.
You Weixuan was still anxiously thinking of solutions when she saw the servant behind Master Shi lift his hand slightly, and the two maids collapsed by the dressing table.
A yellow-and-black striped frog jumped out from behind the two women’s necks, its slender tongue lingering around their necks in circles.
“Tiger, come here.”
But the frog didn’t come immediately. It first licked the sour plum soup in the bowl clean, then ran its slender tongue around with satisfaction.
Tie Ci didn’t mind. Before entering the city, Ah Kou had said to bring Tiger to see the world. Tie Ci understood this was lending her a magical treasure and gladly accepted.
She’d been a bit worried Tiger would make noise and cause trouble, but it proved that pets follow their masters—Tiger wasn’t a chatty frog either.
You Weixuan breathed a sigh of relief and looked carefully at Tie Ci, then suddenly stood up: “Your Highness, you really came personally!”
Master Shi’s mole twitched nervously again as he moved to stand guard by the door, not daring to raise his head.
Tie Ci looked at You Weixuan. She was petite and charming, recently much thinner, which gave her a somewhat refined appearance. At this moment she looked at her with bright eyes full of gratitude.
But within that gratitude was also some unease and probing.
Tie Ci understood You Weixuan—cautious, practical, thinking much when encountering problems. She would certainly be delighted by her arrival, but would also immediately think of her status as Imperial Heir and her intentions.
For her, it could only be choosing the lesser of two evils, depending on how she weighed things.
Tie Ci didn’t give her much time to think, saying concisely: “I went to Wanqing Garden. Ah Yao was transferred away, but I’ll find him. As for you, wait peacefully for your wedding and act normally—don’t let the You father and son see anything wrong. Don’t worry, I’ll give you a proper opportunity to defeat them.”
Joy burst in You Weixuan’s eyes.
She also knew the You father and son were very popular in Yannan, while she was a woman and her brother was mentally incomplete. She and her brother couldn’t sit securely on the throne just by seizing power.
Hearing the Imperial Heir’s meaning, it seemed she had already thought of how to bring down the You father and son and let their siblings win people’s hearts.
Thinking of the Imperial Heir’s deeds she’d heard about in the past half year, You Weixuan’s joy grew even greater.
“…so I need the military seal of Yannan Prince’s Residence.”
You Weixuan’s face lost all color.
“Your Highness… the Royal Army, Five Cities Military Commission, Kunzhou Camp… these are all in the hands of the You father and son now.”
“What about the various garrison posts and inspection offices?”
“They’ve all sided with the You father and son. After all, You Jun is Yannan’s Military Commissioner and already controls military authority throughout the territory.”
“No, you must still have other forces.” Tie Ci looked at her calmly. “Otherwise, with the You father and son having the support of clan elders and common people, there would be no need to keep you siblings until now.”
You Weixuan fell silent.
Tie Ci didn’t rush her either.
Making choices was always difficult.
Handing over military authority meant giving up the last chance at power. If the You siblings were ultimately rescued, Yannan could never return to their hands.
But she wasn’t a charity worker. If she rescued the You siblings and then let them gain real power, what would she have come to Yannan for? Tourism?
She also wasn’t a truly cold monarch. Between freedom and life versus power and position, she gave You Weixuan a choice.
The night watchman sounded again and again. The voices of guards patrolling and talking were just one door away, and Master Shi stood there trembling slightly.
You Weixuan continued her silence, her downcast eyes showing faint red at the corners.
Tie Ci was somewhat distracted, thinking that if You Weixing were here, he certainly wouldn’t understand and would definitely not listen to any explanations: “I want to follow Brother Eighteen.”
She reminded You Weixuan lightly, “Weixuan, you angrily summoned Master Shi to come in.”
You Weixuan immediately understood, stood up, and said loudly: “Shi Yueming! Who allowed you to slight me like this? I haven’t even left the Prince’s Residence yet, and I’m already not worthy of using sweet white porcelain?”
Master Shi immediately said in a trembling voice: “Young Lady, Young Lady, this official was negligent. I’ll go back immediately to punish those in charge!”
The person outside who had been about to enter to check paused and walked away.
Tie Ci continued: “Weixuan, we can’t stay too long. These two maids of yours are martial artists. If they sleep too long, they’ll notice something themselves.”
You Weixuan quickly bit her lower lip and said softly: “To be honest with Your Highness, before father died, he gave me a token. He said if I ever reached desperate straits with my life in danger, I should take this token and seek out the Three Great Pacification Commissions…”
Tie Ci raised an eyebrow.
The three great Pacification Commissions of Yannan were powerful, each controlling a tribe and territory. Their relationship with Yannan Prince’s Residence was said to be ordinary, always keeping to themselves. It turned out this was all a facade.
The Yannan Prince was indeed no ordinary person—he had kept this card hidden. No wonder despite having ordinary relations with the Three Great Pacification Commissions, he had always been able to firmly control Yannan.
The You father and son probably didn’t know about this, but they likely suspected, which was why they’d kept the You siblings alive to see what would follow.
Now that she had come to Yannan, if she hadn’t chosen to see the You siblings first, with the You father and son controlling all of Yannan’s military forces plus the Three Great Pacification Commissions’ aid, even with her full guard contingent, she couldn’t have left Kunzhou after taking down the You father and son.
You Weixuan said bitterly: “They keep coming to watch me, test me, pressure me. They’ve searched everywhere around me. I feel they’ve lost patience, and their next step will probably be to use Ah Yao to force me…” She suddenly looked up urgently: “Ah Yao! Your Highness, as long as you can save Ah Yao…”
Outside the door, a hearty laugh suddenly rang out: “My dear niece, what are you doing?!”