Yan Qi knew exactly who Zhang Qi De was. The Crown Prince’s intention to recall Zhang Qi De at this crucial moment had obvious implications. Realizing this, Yan Qi could no longer concern himself with how Yan Chi knew these things. He immediately returned to the Prince Cheng Manor and summoned his Chief Administrator and advisors to his study for discussion.

That evening, all the information Yan Chi wanted was delivered to him.

“This is the oracle Lady Hu gave to the Empress Dowager. She claimed to have obtained it from Hua Yan Temple outside the city. Our people have investigated thoroughly – Lady Hu did leave the city that afternoon and visited Hua Yan Temple, but she went and returned in great haste. The oracle she received wasn’t this one. After she gave the oracle to the Empress Dowager, Her Grace immediately sent Chen Mama to the Imperial Observatory. The Director’s divination matched Lady Hu’s exactly, which is why the Empress Dowager became worried.”

“When Lady Hu and the Loyal and Brave Marquis entered the palace yesterday morning, they were still smiling and fully supporting this marriage. After leaving Shou Kang Palace, they went straight to the Eastern Palace. They stayed there for less than an hour before leaving. Lady Hu returned home, and an hour later left the city. If this subordinate isn’t mistaken, this matter must involve the Crown Prince.”

Without the Eastern Palace’s direction, someone of Qin Shu’s temperament wouldn’t suddenly interfere, especially since this marriage appeared ideal at present. Yan Chi’s brows furrowed slightly.

Outside the window, the night was deep. In the northern autumn night, the cool wind had become bone-chilling. Yan Chi’s features seemed touched by this coldness, his whole being taking on a stern quality. His dark phoenix eyes narrowed as he understood the Eastern Palace’s intentions.

News of his father’s troubles was still suppressed. As long as they delayed setting the wedding date, this marriage would remain intangible. His father’s death would eventually be announced, and then he would have to observe mourning. With the fall of the Rui Prince Manor, the marriage would likely become as insubstantial as the moon’s reflection on water.

The Eastern Palace’s intentions were twofold: first, they didn’t want the Marquis’s household entangled in the Rui Prince Manor’s troubles; second, that high and mighty Crown Prince had ulterior motives. As a man himself, Yan Chi understood Yan Che’s thoughts all too well.

Despite Yan Che’s high position and authority, blocking a marriage shouldn’t have been difficult, yet he had encountered Yan Chi.

Yan Chi’s voice was dark, “Handle the Imperial Observatory Director personally. Tomorrow, I want Grandmother to be at ease.”

Bai Feng nodded. “Yes, I understand.”

Yan Chi sat grimly behind his desk and after a moment asked, “When will Yu Qi’s news reach the capital?”

“We’ll know in two days. Master Qi and Gu Ling are both safe; Yu Qi’s mission will surely succeed too, Your Highness need not worry. However, Xiao Cheng likely won’t be able to send word back within two or three days – Liang Zhou is still under martial law.”

Yan Chi’s expression was as cold as water. Years of fighting in Shuo Xi had forged his heart into steel, yet in this matter, he still struggled to contain the fury rising in his heart. Born to the Yan clan, he needn’t have shouldered the burden of a hundred thousand Shuo Xi soldiers and civilians, but his father’s aspirations in this realm had been infused into his blood and bones. In Shuo Xi, there were only enemies and the killing of charge and countercharge, blades entering white and emerging red – either the enemy dies or we perish. Though extremely dangerous, it was direct and satisfying.

But Shuo Xi’s warriors would never have imagined that the dangers of human hearts far exceeded those of blade edges.

“How is Fan Xin?” Yan Chi suddenly asked.

Bai Feng frowned and shook his head. “Not good. He was already severely wounded; reaching Luo Zhou was his limit.”

Yan Chi’s expression changed slightly before he quickly said, “Bring him to the capital.”

Bai Feng hesitated. “Your Highness, with the Liang Zhou incident, the Emperor, Crown Prince, and Prince Cheng will be watching the Prince Manor. If anything goes wrong, we…”

“Send him to Xun Niang’s place. Arrange it quickly.”

Yan Chi’s tone brooked no argument. Bai Feng’s eyes reddened slightly as he quickly acknowledged the order.

Early the next morning, just as Imperial Observatory Director Song Yan opened his usual office, he saw an inconspicuous small box on his desk. Song Yan frowned, unable to recall owning such a box. After a brief hesitation, he approached the desk and opened it to find a thin piece of paper inside.

Song Yan grew more puzzled and instinctively unfolded the paper.

After reading the first two lines, Song Yan’s composed expression changed dramatically!

He quickly glanced around, and seeing no one nearby, rapidly read the entire paper before crumpling it into a ball. Unsure where to dispose of it, Song Yan hesitated briefly before swallowing the paper ball.

Just as his panic began to subside, his young apprentice hurried to the door. “Master, Chen Mama has come again, requesting to speak with you in the front hall.”

Song Yan shuddered, wiped the cold sweat from his brow, and turned to leave.

When Song Yan met Chen Mama, she gave her instructions. After half an hour, Song Yan emerged with an ashen face, having completed the birth chart matching. With a trembling voice, he said, “Mama, I used all my expertise in this divination. It cannot be wrong.”

Chen Mama didn’t dare look at the results, merely nodded and left the Observatory.

As soon as Chen Mama left, Song Yan collapsed to the ground. His young apprentice was confused – matching birth charts was a simple task, how had it exhausted his master so?!

Song Yan caught his breath and hurriedly scrambled back to his office.

Chen Mama returned anxiously to Shou Kang Palace with the thin paper, her heart still racing when she met the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager asked urgently, “Well?”

Chen Mama shook her head. “This servant didn’t dare look. Please see for yourself.”

The Empress Dowager grew solemn and carefully accepted the paper bearing the Imperial Observatory’s seal. Taking a deep breath, she opened it and quickly scanned the contents. Suddenly, she broke into a smile. “I knew it! I knew it! Those oracles were all false! The birth chart matching is what’s real. I knew Wan’er and Yan Chi were a match made in heaven!”

Hearing this, Chen Mama’s anxious heart finally settled.

The Empress Dowager folded the paper and said, “I had thought a wedding before the new year would be good, but after that oracle business, I want their marriage settled even sooner. Go summon Tao Yong Cheng from the Ministry of Rites and Yuan Qing. I need to instruct them to begin preparations early. Best to have everything done by the tenth month. Also, have the Emperor send an urgent imperial decree to the Northwest, telling Yan Lin to prepare for his return journey…”

Chen Mama listened happily to the Empress Dowager’s stream of instructions and immediately went to deliver the summons.

When the news reached the Eastern Palace, Yan Che was discussing southern canal embankment repairs with several Chief Administrators. Tang Fu knew Yan Che’s instructions and, upon receiving word from Shou Kang Palace, felt quite anxious. He waited until the administrators had left the side hall before entering nervously. “Your Highness, the matter with Song Yan wasn’t handled properly.”

Hearing this, Yan Che knew something had gone wrong. He frowned. “What happened?”

“This morning, Chen Mama brought the Young Lord and Princess Yong Ci’s birth details to the Imperial Observatory. Song Yan’s matching showed extremely auspicious signs. The Empress Dowager was overjoyed and wasn’t affected by the oracle at all. Now, both the Minister of Rites and Yuan Gong Gong have gone to Shou Kang Palace – it seems the Empress Dowager wants to give instructions about arranging the Young Lord and Princess’s wedding.”

Yan Che’s expression instantly darkened. “Where is Song Yan?”

Tang Fu shrunk his neck. “He… he just submitted a memorial to the Emperor requesting retirement… The Emperor, considering his advanced age and unremarkable service at the Observatory these past two years, approved it. It seems he has already left the palace.”

Retirement?! Yan Che’s brows furrowed deeply. Song Yan was a man who greatly valued profit – otherwise, he wouldn’t have been useful to Yan Che. Yet now he suddenly wanted to retire?! Moreover, he had agreed to Yan Che’s orders, so why did he suddenly change his mind?!

“That Song Yan… Have He Yin investigate why he suddenly changed his mind and resigned.”

Yan Che was furious. Not only had the oracle failed to make the Empress Dowager wary, but it had made her rush to arrange Qin Wan and Yan Chi’s marriage. He clenched his fist, his lips moving as if to give further orders, but suddenly realized that his arrangements seemed to have backfired. If the Empress learned of this…

Yan Che abruptly closed his eyes. When he opened them moments later, they were filled with dark composure. “Set this matter aside for now. Inform me immediately when Zhang Qi De replies.”

Tang Fu acknowledged the order. Yan Che felt stifled and could no longer sit still, so he stood and walked outside.

The autumn desolation grew heavier by the day, casting a grey pall even over the palace sky. Standing before the silent hall, Yan Che suddenly missed that chattering golden bird. The Eastern Palace was too quiet – sometimes quiet enough to make him uneasy. He didn’t notice when immersed in mountains of memorials, but once he sought a moment’s respite from fatigue, he couldn’t escape noticing it. Quiet. Quiet enough to make him feel utterly alone.

Qin Zhao Yu approached from the direction of Xie Fang Hall and caught sight of Yan Che’s silhouette. He stood before the hall, his gaze fixed on a grey cloud in the distance. Her steps faltered as she recalled Mo Yun’s words from that morning.

Everything seemed normal with Yan Che – lately, the Northwest military grain case and Southwest Canal were his top priorities. If so, why did he want to obstruct Yan Chi and Qin Wan’s marriage? Not only did Prince Rui still command the Shuo Xi army, but even if Prince Rui were gone someday, the Young Lord alone could raise half of Great Zhou in arms.

Having such a person align with the Crown Prince’s faction would be ideal.

Qin Zhao Yu pressed her lips together, a faint smile appearing as she walked toward Yan Che.

If she were still at the Marquis’s mansion and heard this news, she likely would have raged with suspicion. But now she was the Crown Prince’s consort, the only woman who could stand beside him. Even if she was dissatisfied, she had to contain it. Besides, the true situation remained to be seen.

Qin Wan left the palace with her suspended heart finally at ease. Lady Hu’s words surely hadn’t come from nothing, and Qin Wan had worried her marriage to Yan Chi would be obstructed. But she hadn’t expected the Empress Dowager to summon her to the palace so quickly with such a bright smile.

Upon entering the palace, Qin Wan learned their birth charts had been matched and showed they were destined for each other.

Qin Wan was relieved. The Empress Dowager expressed her wish for them to marry soon, and Qin Wan naturally had no objections. After such a discussion, when Qin Wan left the palace, her whole being felt lighter. Yan Chi hadn’t entered the palace today, and the Empress Dowager hadn’t specifically summoned him to discuss this matter. Qin Wan wanted to see him – storm clouds were gathering over the capital, and Yan Chi stood at the center of the tempest. Last night she had tossed and turned, almost wanting to visit the Rui Prince Manor in the middle of the night.

“Let’s go to the Ministry of Justice…”

As soon as the thought formed, Qin Wan gave the order. Outside, Bai Ying drove the carriage, following the familiar route to the Ministry of Justice.

As usual, Bai Ying went forward to inquire with the guards at the gate but learned Yan Chi wasn’t at the ministry.

Qin Wan immediately said, “Then let’s check the Prince Manor.”

Bai Ying drove the carriage toward the Rui Prince Manor.

As they approached the manor, Qin Wan’s heart grew heavier, for she knew the kind of grief others couldn’t help with. Even she could offer no help. Seeing Yan Chi in the palace, his face showed no emotion, but Qin Wan clearly remembered his hoarse, trembling voice that day. Yan Chi had never shown weakness before her – that was the first time.

Lost in thought, Qin Wan found the carriage had already reached the Rui Prince Manor.

The alley was still quiet. Bai Ying went forward to knock, and the same doorkeeper as last time opened the gate.

Seeing Bai Ying, the man was no longer as cold as before, but respectfully said, “His Highness is in the manor.”

Qin Wan quickly descended from the carriage, but upon entering the gate, she wondered if her sudden visit might seem abrupt to Yan Chi.

Though they had harbored mutual feelings for long, this was only her third visit to the manor – the first time she hadn’t even entered.

After walking a short distance, she saw Yan Chi striding down the corridor ahead. Having received word of Qin Wan’s arrival, he had come to meet her. Seeing him, Qin Wan’s eyes softened. When he reached her, Yan Chi took her hand and said, “Why aren’t you wearing a cloak?”

It was an overcast day with a cool breeze.

Qin Wan curved her lips. “I just came from the palace. I’m not cold.”

Glancing toward the depths of the manor, she vaguely saw several figures. On her last visit, the Rui Prince Manor had been desolate, with barely a servant in sight. Qin Wan asked, “Am I interrupting something?”

Yan Chi shook his head and led Qin Wan along the same path as last time toward the interior. “I have some people to meet today. Let me first take you to my pavilion by the water. You’ll need to wait for me briefly.”

Qin Wan was naturally willing. After walking a few steps, she could see the figures.

They were young men wearing sabers, emanating a killing aura. Though young, their faces carried a coldness and ferocity beyond their years. Seeing Yan Chi approaching hand-in-hand with Qin Wan, they quickly bowed their heads respectfully.

Yan Chi didn’t speak to them, continuing to lead Qin Wan toward the water pavilion. Passing what appeared to be the main courtyard, Qin Wan caught glimpses of several more figures. Drawing a shallow breath, Qin Wan turned to look at Yan Chi. His expression remained composed, though his jawline seemed sharper than before. In just these few days, he had visibly lost weight. She knew deep in her heart that a storm was gathering on the horizon, yet the man whose hand held hers now would stand unbowed before its fury.