Upon reaching the waterside pavilion, as soon as they walked through the door, Yan Chi embraced Qin Wan tightly.
Following behind them, Bai Ying quickly lowered her head and retreated to wait outside the door.
As Yan Chi held her firmly, Qin Wan also placed her hands around his waist. Her arms gripped him with unusual strength, her cheek pressed against his chest. She rarely embraced Yan Chi so tightly. His breath fell upon the top of her head as he held her for a moment before speaking, “Wait for me here briefly. I’ll return soon.”
Qin Wan reluctantly nuzzled his chest before responding with a soft “Mm” and releasing him.
She looked up at Yan Chi, who gave her a slight smile. “I’ll have Bai Feng bring you some tea.”
Qin Wan wanted to say it wasn’t necessary, but seeing the dark currents beneath the gentleness in his eyes, she ultimately nodded.
Yan Chi brushed her cheek lightly before turning to leave.
After Yan Chi’s departure, the room fell into silence. Fortunately, this was where he had been staying since returning to the capital, and the room carried his faint scent of herbs and wood, mixed with a hint of worldly blood. Qin Wan surveyed the room – the waterside pavilion was very simply furnished. The main hall and eastern side faced the water, and presumably, the inner chambers were similarly arranged.
Qin Wan didn’t enter the inner rooms but walked past the curio shelf to the eastern wing that bordered the water. This section had been converted into Yan Chi’s study, where he usually handled official matters.
Thinking of this, Qin Wan recalled the armed guards she had seen earlier and several shadowy figures.
During her last visit to the Rui Prince’s Manor, this place had been desolate and empty. Now there were so many new faces – clearly, Yan Chi was already making arrangements for upcoming changes. Qin Wan walked to the window overlooking the manor’s inner lake and stood there.
On this autumn afternoon, the gloomy weather made the entire lake’s surface appear dark and brooding, much like Qin Wan’s current mood. After standing there for a while, Bai Feng entered carrying a pot of hot tea.
“County Princess, please have some tea…”
Bai Feng placed the teacup on the desk and began pouring tea for Qin Wan while saying, “The manor has been vacant for many years and lacks capable servants. If County Princess has any requests, please direct them to me.”
Qin Wan smiled, “Don’t worry about me. I’ll wait for him here. You should go attend to him.”
Bai Feng hesitated slightly, clearly having received orders from Yan Chi and reluctant to disobey.
Qin Wan smiled, “His matters are important.”
Only then did Bai Feng make up his mind, nodding before retreating.
Qin Wan withdrew her gaze and walked to Yan Chi’s desk, sitting in his high-backed chair. Looking around, she saw several well-worn military texts on one side of the desk and several letters on the other. One glance told Qin Wan that Yan Chi had received numerous messages in recent days.
Though hatred and anger raged in her heart like a tempest, even she could hardly detect it.
The more dangerous the situation, the more composed and serene one must remain.
Qin Wan took a sip of tea from her cup. While she couldn’t touch the letters, she could look at the military texts. She picked one up and opened it randomly, the pages naturally falling open to the middle.
“Power lies in using advantage to control authority. Military affairs are a way of deception.
Thus, show inability when able, show disuse when using, show distance when near, show nearness when far.”
Qin Wan narrowed her eyes. In palace schemes and strategic planning across thousands of miles, could Yan Chi control victory and defeat in the Northwest? Could he determine the outcome of court politics? Dark undercurrents ran through the capital, but when would the Emperor announce the Rui Prince’s death?
Qin Wan closed the military text. Though she wasn’t as well-versed in military texts as Yan Chi, she understood one principle: the best attackers strike from the highest heavens, while the best strategists hide in the deepest earth. In the present day, Yan Chi had no troops under his command. In this capital where imperial power reigned supreme, there was no choice but to conceal all thoughts and forces.
Qin Wan looked toward the main courtyard she had just passed through, suddenly feeling worried.
In broad daylight, was all truly peaceful outside the Rui Prince’s Manor?
As Qin Wan sat alone in the room, her thoughts drifted far away. After an unknown time, footsteps sounded outside the door, a dark shadow flashed, and Yan Chi returned.
Qin Wan came back to herself and quickly stood up. When Yan Chi entered, his expression was still cold, but his eyes softened slightly upon seeing Qin Wan. He walked into the eastern wing and closed the window.
The window faced the water, where cool breezes had been blowing through, creating a chilly draft in the room.
“Is everything arranged?” Qin Wan asked.
Yan Chi nodded, and Qin Wan continued, “Who were those people? Have they left?”
Yan Chi stepped forward and took her slightly cold hands in his. “Some were Father’s old subordinates, others were secret agents I’ve cultivated over the years. They’ve all left now.”
Qin Wan asked, “Is it safe? The Emperor already knows but hasn’t made any obvious moves. Could he have people watching you?”
Hearing these words, Yan Chi couldn’t help but pull Qin Wan into his embrace.
One arm wrapped around her waist while the other rested on the back of her neck, gently caressing. His own slightly cold hands touched her warm neck and hair, finally bringing him back to life from that bone-chilling cold.
He took a light breath at her neck, “Don’t worry, nothing will go wrong.”
Qin Wan’s slightly raised heart finally settled. She rested her cheek against his chest, and in the wordless silence, it seemed she was also passing her warmth to him. After a while, Yan Chi nuzzled her neck lightly, “If you hadn’t come, I would have gone to find you. There’s something I need your help with.”
Qin Wan’s heart skipped a beat. In these extraordinary times, any arrangement of Yan Chi’s seemed to carry enormous implications.
She quickly withdrew from his embrace and looked up at him.
Seeing the concern written in her eyes, Yan Chi’s lips curved slightly, “Someone I met in Luo Prefecture is gravely injured. I want you to help save his life.”
Qin Wan quickly asked, “Where is the person?”
“At Xun Niang’s place.”
Qin Wan immediately nodded, “Alright, shall we go now?”
Yan Chi shook his head, “No hurry, let’s wait another hour.”
At this hour the day was still early, and it would be conspicuous if they left together.
Qin Wan nodded, “Alright, do I need to prepare anything?”
Yan Chi shook his head, “No need, Xun Niang has everything ready.”
Qin Wan felt relieved. Only now did she realize that Xun Niang and Master Yuan’s existence was also one of his backup plans.
Previously, Qin Wan had only thought about her father’s case, keeping one string taut in her heart. Now with such major changes at the Rui Prince’s Manor, another string in her heart had tightened, and her entire being had become noticeably calmer than usual.
Yan Chi noticed and reached out to stroke her brow, “It’s alright, don’t worry.”
With such a major event, it was impossible for Qin Wan not to worry. When she had first returned from death in Jin Prefecture, she had been calm because she was too far away to help. But now, Yan Chi was at the center of the storm.
“What do you plan to do?”
“Wait,” Yan Chi gave a one-word answer. “They can’t keep the news hidden forever.”
Qin Wan felt a twinge in her heart and couldn’t help but stare into Yan Chi’s eyes. His phoenix eyes were exceptionally beautiful – as deep as an ocean abyss when profound, as brilliant as the Milky Way when sparkling. But now, his eyes were like a winter night. Even though his lips curved slightly, these eyes were still occupied by bone-chilling calmness.
The smile couldn’t reach his eyes, and he dared not relax in the slightest, lest hatred and anger consume him. At this crucial moment, he absolutely could not make a single misstep. Qin Wan had experienced this feeling before, but she had been in Jin Prefecture then, facing people who never cared about the Ninth Young Lady. Even if she showed some oddity, who would have paid attention?
But now, in the capital, countless eyes were watching him.
Qin Wan raised her hand and stroked Yan Chi’s brow. Her slightly cool fingertips fell on his cheeks, moving to cup his face. “Once the news is announced, what if the Emperor sends you to the Northwest?”
Yan Chi placed his hand over Qin Wan’s, tilting his head slightly, somewhat addicted to the delicate warmth of her palm. “He won’t. Father is of the Yan imperial clan. There’s no reason for him to die without returning to the capital.”
Qin Wan fell silent for a moment before asking, “Then what?”
Qin Wan looked at Yan Chi, her gaze seeming to pierce through his pupils. Yan Chi grabbed her hand, “Father’s death will certainly have a stated cause. The Northwestern military supplies case has vast implications. Military power will change hands, the Northwest army will be reshuffled, I will arrange the funeral rites, and from then on, there will be no possibility of leaving the capital.” He paused, his voice unwavering, “This is the best scenario.”
Qin Wan’s eyes didn’t blink, her pupils aching. She pressed her lips tightly together, suddenly feeling somewhat lost.
What Yan Chi said, she had also thought of. This matter ultimately came down to military power.
But why? If the Rui Prince had disloyal intentions, that would be one thing, but he had commanded troops for decades, and millions of soldiers and civilians in the Northwest had benefited from him. Why? Why did he ultimately meet such an end?
For a moment, Qin Wan thought of the crisscrossing scars on Yan Chi’s body. How painful must it have been when each sword and arrow struck him?
Qin Wan suddenly lowered her gaze. She couldn’t think about it, nor could she say anything to interfere with Yan Chi’s decisions.
Since seeing the manuscript from Zhao Xun, Qin Wan had been suppressing a deep anger in her heart. Having grown up beside Shen Yi, the words “law and reason” stood prominent in her mind. This deep anger was suppressed by these words of law and reason, but when news of the Rui Prince’s incident arrived, this anger was about to break free. Why? By what right?
“Everything is just speculation, it’s not yet the worst scenario,” Yan Chi’s voice was light. Seeing Qin Wan still lowering her eyes, he continued, “Father and I campaigned in the Northwest for many years. We both were always prepared.”
Qin Wan looked up suddenly at Yan Chi. Yan Chi smiled, “We were always prepared to hear news of each other’s death.”
On the battlefield, weapons show no mercy. The Rui Prince had sent Yan Chi to the battlefield at a young age, naturally considering all possibilities. However, looking into Yan Chi’s eyes, Qin Wan knew deeply that this time was different. The Rui Prince had not died for the country.
“But…” Qin Wan pressed her lips together, her throat somewhat choked. What she wanted to say, how could Yan Chi not know?
Qin Wan took a breath and changed the subject, “The Empress Dowager matched our eight characters, saying we are a match made in heaven. She was very pleased and said she plans to have us marry in the tenth month.”
Yan Chi’s eyes softened slightly, “That would be good.”
Qin Wan’s lips moved, wanting to say something more, but found she couldn’t speak. With the Rui Prince’s incident and the mourning period incomplete, how could they marry? At this point, she hadn’t known at first, but now she had to consider it.
Seeing Qin Wan’s grave expression, Yan Chi suddenly took her hand and walked outside, “Let me show you something.”
Qin Wan followed Yan Chi without understanding, leaving the waterside pavilion and heading deeper into the prince’s manor. Along the winding corridors, Qin Wan noticed the flowers and trees becoming more desolate and unkempt as they went deeper. After walking for a while, Yan Chi led Qin Wan to a courtyard that, compared to other places, was quite neat and bright, as if someone regularly cleaned it.
Yan Chi led Qin Wan into the courtyard, but instead of entering the main door, they turned to the eastern wing. Opening the door, Qin Wan immediately saw this was also a study. There were three wing rooms – the left one by the window had a desk for receiving guests and handling official business, while the middle and right rooms were filled with bookshelves and antiques. On the wall directly opposite hung a three-foot green sword, and beside it hung a portrait of a beautiful woman. Qin Wan stared at the portrait, momentarily lost in thought, until her gaze fell on a seal in the lower right corner.
Qin Wan started, quickly pulling out the jade pendant hanging around her neck. The jade pendant Yan Chi had given her had an ancient character that Qin Wan couldn’t recognize at first, but later Yan Chi told her. Now, in the corner of this painting was an identical character. Qin Wan compared them, “Is this… the Princess Consort’s portrait?”
Qin Wan saw another seal beside that one, and looking carefully, saw the character “Yan Lin”. Qin Wan knew the Rui Prince’s given name, and immediately understood, “Is this… the portrait the Prince painted of the Princess Consort?”
Yan Chi nodded, “It’s a portrait from twenty years ago.”
Qin Wan understood – this was the Rui Prince’s study, which was why it had the Princess Consort’s portrait. Looking at the person in the portrait, she saw the Princess Consort wearing a pure white garment, with beautiful glancing eyes and a charming smile, like a fairy who had walked out of deep mountain mists. Such a lifelike painting showed the artist’s deep love. Qin Wan couldn’t imagine that the Rui Prince, who had commanded the Northwest so forcefully, would have such excellent painting skills. Unfortunately, now things had changed, and even the artist had…
Qin Wan forced a smile, “The Princess Consort was truly beautiful. The Prince must have loved her deeply.”
Yan Chi squeezed Qin Wan’s hand but said nothing. He looked at the portrait for a while, his voice deepening slightly, “So, I’ve at least let you meet Mother. It’s a pity.”
Qin Wan covered Yan Chi’s hand with her other hand, “I also think it’s a pity, but from now on you won’t be alone. The Princess Consort would surely be happy knowing this.”
Yan Chi’s lips curved upward. He stepped forward to dust off the portrait and sword before leading Qin Wan out. Once outside, Yan Chi’s steps became very slow. He looked around at the empty prince’s manor, then at Qin Wan beside him, his gaze growing even more profound, “The Emperor will surely announce it to the world within ten days. Will you hesitate?”
Qin Wan’s steps faltered slightly, “What would I hesitate about?”
Yan Chi looked at Qin Wan. Qin Wan knew what Yan Chi meant, “I will never hesitate. You know what I seek, and I understand your difficulties. Never mind that the imperial decree for our marriage has been issued – even without it, I would never marry another.”