Qian Province Commander?!
Qian Province was also in Great Zhou’s northwest, only a three or four-day’ journey from Liang Province.
Yan Chi hadn’t finished speaking, “This man followed Father for many years. The Divine Mechanism Camp was established under Father’s command before being transferred to me. Before I took over, this man was responsible for their daily training.”
Fan Xin’s eyes widened instantly, “So Your Highness means… this person not only knows all of us well but also copied the Divine Mechanism Camp’s methods and used them against the Prince?! How dare he! The Prince was a royal of Great Zhou!”
Fan Xin’s eyes blazed with fury, rimmed red with emotion. Yan Chi waved his hand, “Enough, it’s not that simple.”
Fan Xin wanted to speak but held back, only clenching his fist and striking the wall hard, leaving traces of fresh blood. Qin Wan watched Yan Chi, her heart aching.
If it truly was Jiang He Ying, how could a mere Qian Province Commander dare to harm Prince Rui so casually? Even if he harbored resentment against Prince Rui for past grievances, he knew the Prince’s importance better than most. Qin Wan didn’t believe this man could be so deranged, unless… someone had given him orders.
Thinking of this, Qin Wan sighed deeply.
Unlike the impulsive Fan Xin, Yu Qi listened silently, his face contemplative. Soon his eyes darkened like Yan Chi’s. Qin Wan sighed again, realizing things were developing toward their worst predictions.
“Yu Qi, do you know how to investigate this?”
At Yan Chi’s question, Yu Qi immediately stood straight and nodded, “Yes, Your Highness, rest assured!”
Yan Chi nodded and reminded Fan Xin to rest well. Fan Xin immediately replied, “Your Highness, I request to go to the Northwest with Brother Yu Qi to investigate this case! If only I had protected the Prince better…”
This remained Fan Xin’s deepest pain. Prince Rui and his other brothers had died, while he alone survived. He had barely clung to life to deliver the message to Yan Chi. Though the message was delivered, living felt worse than dying.
Faced with Fan Xin’s urgent request, Yan Chi’s tone remained calm, “You have a more important task.”
These words stopped Fan Xin short. He stiffened his neck and managed a rigid “mm.”
As they were leaving, Fan Xin hesitated, “Your Highness, when can I help with tasks?”
Yan Chi replied coolly, “When you can last twenty moves against me in combat.”
At these words, Fan Xin immediately showed helpless frustration. Yu Qi patted Fan Xin’s shoulder, his smile somewhat schadenfreude, “Brother, focus on recovering well. Don’t mess up when His Highness finally gives orders.”
Yu Qi’s tone was casual, but Fan Xin’s nose stung with emotion. Prince Rui had died from others’ schemes, and now Yan Chi certainly didn’t want any of them to come to harm. Fan Xin nodded, responding with a heavy expression.
In the returning carriage, Yan Chi’s expression was quite dark. Though he tried to control it, perhaps because he was with Qin Wan, he still revealed some of his intensity. Qin Wan understood that now that suspicion had fallen on Jiang He Ying, for Yan Chi, this almost confirmed all the key points of Prince Rui’s murder.
Yan Chi was even more perceptive than her. If before there were only suspicions and speculation, now even though Yu Qi hadn’t yet gone to the Northwest, everything had taken shape. At this point, given Yan Chi’s nature, he absolutely wouldn’t wait any longer.
Not knowing how to advise Yan Chi, Qin Wan simply held his hand.
Yan Chi looked at Qin Wan, his lips twitching slightly.
The carriage returned to Prince Rui’s Mansion by afternoon. Tomorrow would be the Mid-Autumn Festival, and today the capital already had a festive atmosphere. Brilliant lanterns along the main streets were colorful and bright, soon becoming like a dazzling river of stars. As Yan Chi and Qin Wan watched along the way, returning to the mansion made its silence feel particularly oppressive.
Qin Wan thought for a moment and didn’t leave directly. Yan Chi took Yu Qi to meet Master Qi.
The three talked for a long while in the main courtyard. Only when dusk fell did Yan Chi return to the waterside pavilion.
Qin Wan was facing away from the door, browsing books on Yan Chi’s bookshelf. Yan Chi watched her for a moment before striding over and embracing her. Qin Wan gave a small cry, “Finished talking?”
Yan Chi made an affirmative sound, “They’ll depart at dawn.”
Qin Wan knew Yan Chi must have everything planned. She said, “It will be at least half a month before we hear news of their journey.”
Yan Chi made a soft sound, his arms around Qin Wan’s waist tightening notably. Qin Wan’s cheeks flushed at his tight embrace, noticing he was growing increasingly warm. Yan Chi buried his face in the side of her neck, staying silent for a long while.
Qin Wan could only cough lightly, “It’s dark, I should go.”
She struggled slightly, but Yan Chi didn’t release her. Soon, he said softly, “Stay tonight.”
Qin Wan’s eyes immediately went round, her gaze flickering before she contained her flush. Her lips moved, but she only managed a hesitant, “…Ah?”
Yan Chi chuckled, his hot breath teasing her neck. Qin Wan couldn’t help trying to move away, but Yan Chi held her even tighter, “Scared?”
Qin Wan pressed her lips together, “Not really, just…”
Yan Chi’s smile deepened, nuzzling her neck before releasing her, “I’m just teasing you.”
Qin Wan was usually calm and composed, but this sudden suggestion had truly startled her, causing rare discomfort to show on her face. Yan Chi’s eyes darkened as he watched, but he forcefully restrained himself.
Qin Wan rarely showed such awkward uncertainty, and what Yan Chi had just said was really…
Yan Chi ordered Bai Feng to prepare the carriage, leading Qin Wan outside while continuously glancing at her. Qin Wan kept her head slightly lowered, her back tense. When Yan Chi’s gaze became unbearably intense, she finally looked up and glared at him, “What are you looking at?!”
Seeing Qin Wan’s bristling reaction, Yan Chi burst out laughing, “Truly scared?”
Qin Wan’s cheeks flushed again, and Yan Chi pulled her close by the shoulders. Qin Wan looked at him, “What?”
Yan Chi glanced at the blush on her cheeks and said softly, laughing, “Don’t worry, I can control myself until our wedding.”
Qin Wan felt her ears might start smoking, and snorted, “And what if you can’t control yourself? Does Your Highness not have hands?”
Qin Wan didn’t know why she said that. As a physician, knowing such things wasn’t strange – it was common sense that everyone understood tacitly. She had spoken as naturally as saying Chuan Bei should be used for treating colds. But after the words left her mouth, she belatedly realized how explicit they were, and her face instantly turned crimson.
Qin Wan froze, walking even faster. Yan Chi didn’t keep up at first, his hand slipping from her shoulder. When he recovered, he could only see by the dim lantern light that Qin Wan’s ears were as red as cherries, so ripe they made one want to take a bite.
Yan Chi’s mood instantly improved, and he strode forward to catch up…
Qin Wan had been very worried about the Northwest situation, but now that heaviness had vanished from her heart, replaced by something bubbling like sweet soup boiling over. She walked faster and faster until suddenly stopped, having an epiphany about Yan Chi’s behavior.
She turned around to see Yan Chi’s faint smile, his eyes bright and clear, showing no trace of actual desire.
He looked at Qin Wan with pure delight, composed and open.
Seeing Qin Wan stop, Yan Chi smiled and approached, “Why did you stop running?”
The heat had faded from Qin Wan’s face, and she glared at Yan Chi sulkily before turning to walk slowly forward.
Yan Chi was probably just teasing her. On other topics, she was usually more composed than him, but when it came to these matters, she couldn’t maintain her usual poise even if she tried. Glancing at Yan Chi again, Qin Wan asked, “If the Emperor won’t let you go to the Ministry of Justice, will he let you inherit the title of Prince An?”
With Prince Rui’s death, Yan Chi should immediately inherit the title.
Yan Chi smiled at the question, “No news yet.”
Qin Wan’s brows furrowed again. Seeing this, Yan Chi sighed and took her hand, “Why are you frowning again? These past days you’ve shown no joy before me. Don’t worry, though these matters are serious, I can handle them.”
With Prince Rui dead, the Northwestern Army in chaos, and the capital full of intrigue, how could Qin Wan smile?
Yan Chi wouldn’t know that every time he forced a smile to comfort her, it made her heart ache even more.
Yan Chi squeezed her palm, “If you worry about me constantly, what meaning is there in all my careful planning? Wan Wan, if things truly reach their worst, what would you choose?”
Qin Wan looked up at Yan Chi and soon smiled easily, “Naturally, I would follow my husband’s lead.”
Yan Chi’s grip on Qin Wan’s hand instantly tightened, and he raised it to his lips for a kiss, “Good, these words are enough for me.”
Qin Wan boarded the carriage, the excitement Yan Chi had stirred earlier fading away, but his question had given her certainty. She would worry, of course, but Yan Chi had shown his hand, and her heart was clear – at worst, she would simply follow her husband’s lead!