“I agree.”

Jiang Li blinked. He always agreed so quickly. From his initial aloofness to now helping almost every time, Jiang Li did not know what Ji Heng was thinking.

Thinking it over, she said, “Once this matter is settled, will Prince Cheng immediately take action?”

“If Yongning and the Li family are both ruined in reputation and severely weakened by this affair, it will accelerate his movements.”

Jiang Li asked again, “If it’s brought forward, will it affect your plans?”

Ji Heng looked at her. “You know my plans?”

Jiang Li shook her head frankly. “No. But you occupy this position—Prince Cheng’s every move should have some impact on you.”

“Not much impact.”

Jiang Li breathed a sigh of relief. “Then I’m reassured.”

“Little one,” Ji Heng raised an eyebrow, “you seem quite concerned about me.”

What would normally be an ordinary statement, when spoken in his lowered voice, carried a hint of teasing. Jiang Li felt her face grow hot and only said, “That’s natural. The Duke still holds my life in his hands. I will need to rely on you greatly in the future.”

Ji Heng chuckled softly. “Do you know how His Majesty will deploy troops after Prince Cheng takes action?”

“Currently at court there are General Wuwei and General Pingrong,” Jiang Li said. “Won’t it be these two?”

“Both rose from the military ranks and are somewhat young. Compared to Prince Cheng’s forces, they may not have much advantage.” Ji Heng said lightly.

Jiang Li said, “But when the late Emperor was alive, he valued civil over military affairs, so there aren’t many military generals at court. These two are already outstanding… Ah, I remember now—there’s also General Zhaode, the Prince of Xia!”

The Prince of Xia was the late Emperor’s half-brother. Though not born of the same mother, the late Emperor and the Prince of Xia had once been brotherly and harmonious. But later, for some unknown reason, the late Emperor sent the Prince of Xia to guard the harsh northwestern frontier, unable to return to the capital year-round. Now the Prince of Xia’s son was probably about the same age as Emperor Hongxiao.

This Prince of Xia was also the extremely famous General Zhaode, whose soldiers fought bravely. Others speculated that perhaps this was precisely why the late Emperor sent General Zhaode to the northwest—it was not a demotion. His soldiers fought ferociously but were also wildly untamed. Only General Zhaode could manage them obediently.

“You even know about the Prince of Xia?” Ji Heng was somewhat surprised. “You know quite a lot.”

After all, when General Zhaode went to the northwest, Jiang Li had not yet been born. For a young lady of Jiang Li’s age, she should rarely have heard this name. Many people in Yanjing had probably long forgotten such a person existed.

“Is he the one the Duke wants to mention?”

Ji Heng’s eyes darkened slightly. He did not answer. After a long pause, he slowly curved his lips and said, “Who knows?”

Jiang Li looked at him. Ji Heng did not know what he was thinking, causing those amber eyes of his to seem much deeper in color. She could not guess what was in Ji Heng’s heart, but she sensitively perceived that this Prince of Xia, General Zhaode, perhaps had profound significance for Ji Heng.

She suddenly thought that actually, Northern Yan had another brave and skilled general—Ji Heng’s biological father, General Jinwu, Ji Minghan. Back then, there was a saying: “Northern Jinwu, Southern Zhaode.” In terms of military achievements, the two were probably evenly matched. If Ji Minghan had not mysteriously disappeared, then the one who should now be resisting Prince Cheng would be Ji Minghan, rather than summoning troops from the distant General Zhaode.

Ji Heng… perhaps was thinking of his own father, Jiang Li silently thought.

……

After seeing Ji Heng at the Duke’s residence that day, Jiang Li did not do anything in particular afterward.

Since Ji Heng had already agreed to help, it would definitely not be mere words. Jiang Li knew that as long as Ji Heng’s people stirred things up slightly at the Right Chancellor’s residence, sooner or later the fire between the Li family and Princess Yongning would ignite. And afterward, no one else would need to lift a finger—they themselves would fan the flames higher and higher until they burned themselves completely clean.

Rather, after leaving the Duke’s residence, she frequently thought of the Prince of Xia that Ji Heng had mentioned that day. Ji Heng would not bring up this person without reason, and regarding this person’s attitude, Jiang Li felt Ji Heng’s behavior was truly strange. But the Prince of Xia had left Yanjing over twenty years ago. Twenty-plus years was enough for those who had known him to pass from this world—even the late Emperor who sent the Prince of Xia to the northwest was no longer alive. Very few people could know of him, and Jiang Li had no channels through which to learn about this unfamiliar prince.

She could not ask Jiang Yuanbai. If she asked him about this person, he would inevitably think further and become suspicious. But Jiang Li had one other person she could ask—Xue Huaiyuan. When she went to the Ye residence to see Xue Huaiyuan, she casually asked about matters concerning the Prince of Xia. Though Xue Huaiyuan did not know much either, he at least knew some rumors. Moreover, Xue Huaiyuan would not ask why Jiang Li was inquiring about these matters. Whatever Jiang Li asked, he would answer, his attitude gentle as always.

Jiang Li felt as if she had returned to past days, receiving her father’s teachings and slowly growing into adulthood.

Such peaceful times passed in a blink—nearly a month. In that month’s time, the disturbances accumulated at the Right Chancellor’s residence should have reached the point of harvest.

……

At the Right Chancellor’s residence, there had recently been a joyous occasion.

Everyone in Yanjing knew that Princess Yongning had become pregnant just over a month after marrying into the Right Chancellor’s residence. This was the Li family’s blessing and also the Li family’s joyous occasion. Even the Emperor had instructed the Li family to take good care of Princess Yongning. Thus the Li family servants practically worshipped Princess Yongning like a deity from heaven, giving her whatever she wanted on ordinary days. Others who saw this all had to say that marrying as a princess was different—not only was there not the slightest constraint, but she had become even more carefree.

Princess Yongning lived at the Right Chancellor’s residence with nourishing supplements continuously arriving. She took fetal-stabilizing medicine daily. Seemingly, the Li family showed the utmost care and concern for this child. But somehow, Princess Yongning always felt that whenever Li Xian looked at her lower abdomen, his gaze held no warmth whatsoever. Instead, it carried a chill.

This made her very uneasy, constantly suspicious that Li Xian had discovered this child’s identity. Meixiang kept comforting her, saying that if Li Xian truly discovered the child was not Li family blood, how could he care so well for Princess Yongning’s health? If the Li family learned the truth, they would definitely demand an explanation. After all, the Li family had done no wrong and would absolutely not suffer in silence.

Thinking about it, Princess Yongning felt this made sense and peacefully continued her pregnancy care. She stroked her lower abdomen and said, “In a few more days, this child will be three months along.”

Three months seemed like a very short period, but Princess Yongning had truly experienced quite an ordeal. First discovering she was pregnant, then requesting the Emperor bestow a marriage but failing and instead marrying into the Shen family. On the wedding night, finding ways to muddle through, then fearfully crafting a perfect reason for this child’s appearance. Every single matter was not done lightly—she was constantly on edge.

Princess Yongning normally had nothing to fear, but these past days were truly difficult to relax through. She constantly tossed and turned, and combined with facing Shen Yurun’s callousness and the discomfort of pregnancy, in just a few short months, her delicate beauty had withered. She appeared haggard and weak, no longer possessing her former loveliness.

She looked at herself in the mirror and could not help murmuring, “Looking like this, Young Master Shen would probably find me distasteful…”

She suddenly thought of Xue Fangfei. Speaking of which, after Xue Fangfei’s illicit affair came to light, she was confined to the residence, suffered a “serious illness,” and was sustained daily with medicine, also becoming haggard. When she went to see Xue Fangfei for the last time, Xue Fangfei no longer possessed her former brightness. Yet on her face, there was not a trace of self-pity, not even a hint of despair. She spoke calmly with her, her eyes bright.

Perhaps it was that composure that further enraged Yongning.

Yongning looked at her disheveled appearance in the mirror, thinking of that woman who became increasingly beautiful even in desperate straits. An inexplicable fire suddenly rose in her heart. She threw down the mirror and said irritably, “Don’t want to stay cooped up in the room anymore. Let’s go out for a walk.”

“Alright.” Meixiang quickly came over to support her.

The servants of the Right Chancellor’s residence all had to bow respectfully upon seeing Princess Yongning, but today Princess Yongning felt annoyed seeing people. She only felt dizzy from all the coming and going, growing increasingly irritated. Moreover, for some reason, after leaving the room, she always felt her heart beating very fast, as if something was about to happen.

She had Meixiang support her as they walked toward Li Xian’s courtyard.

Though Li Xian’s courtyard was out of the way, at least it was quiet. There were no other servants there, only a study room full of mutes. Mutes could not speak, and moreover, she did not need to enter the study. Just walking in the courtyard would let her temporarily find some peace.

Li Xian’s courtyard, whether deliberately arranged by Li Xian or not, became devoid of servants after walking for a while. Walk another dozen or so steps and one could see Li Xian’s courtyard. Princess Yongning said, “Li Xian certainly knows how to pick locations.”

Just as Meixiang was about to speak, suddenly from the grass behind them, a person leaped out. Before Meixiang could react, that person delivered a hand chop to the back of her neck, knocking her unconscious. Princess Yongning screamed. That person then reached out and fiercely shoved Princess Yongning. Behind the grass were decorative steps about five feet high. With this push, Princess Yongning tumbled down!

She screamed, felt everything go black before her eyes, and immediately lost consciousness.

……

At the Right Chancellor’s residence, on this night that seemed no different from any other, everyone suddenly became busy.

The imperial physician from the palace received the news and rushed to the Right Chancellor’s residence in the middle of the night. This was Prince Cheng’s younger sister, Princess Yongning, and the child in her belly also carried imperial blood. What if something went wrong? But after taking Princess Yongning’s pulse, this imperial physician could only shake his head and sigh deeply at Li Xian.

Li Xian immediately understood—the child in Princess Yongning’s belly was gone.

He immediately adopted an expression of deep grief, as if he did not wish to say a single word. Li Lian and Li Zhongnan were the ones who saw the imperial physician off. He sat on a stool before Princess Yongning’s couch, looking at Princess Yongning, almost unable to suppress the smile at the corners of his mouth.

Over this past month, Li Xian had prepared countless methods to make the child in Princess Yongning’s belly “accidentally” miscarry. Yet no matter what he did, Princess Yongning ultimately remained safe and sound. The oil spilled on the ground, the miscarriage-inducing drugs in the incense, the ingredients quietly added to the food—none of it worked. Presumably Princess Yongning was truly very protective of this child in her belly and did not let anyone else handle anything, so those methods never had a chance to be employed.

Li Xian found it very troublesome. He could not use blatant methods to deprive this child of life, otherwise the imperial family would blame them for failing to care for the princess properly. But continuing without finding an opportunity to act meant Princess Yongning’s child would grow larger and larger. The bigger the child grew, the more dangerous a miscarriage became. Though no one in the Li family would grieve for Princess Yongning’s death, at this time, they still needed Princess Yongning to maintain their relationship with Prince Cheng, making Prince Cheng feel indebted to the Li family and harbor guilt toward them, thereby compensating them.

Therefore, Princess Yongning could not die.

Originally still anxious about this matter, not knowing what method could make Princess Yongning miscarry without anyone knowing, unexpectedly today he suddenly heard screaming near his courtyard. When they ran over, servants discovered Princess Yongning and her maidservant lying on the ground—the maidservant unconscious, Princess Yongning fallen at the bottom of the steps, blood all beneath her.

Initially Li Xian was alarmed for a moment, thinking an assassin had entered the residence and Princess Yongning’s life was lost. But after the imperial physician came and examined her carefully, apart from the fall, Princess Yongning had no other injuries. She had miscarried.

Li Xian was utterly delighted in his heart. Li Lian said perhaps Princess Yongning had accidentally fallen while strolling, causing the miscarriage. But the unconscious maidservant nearby could not explain clearly. What Li Xian had always hoped for was to make Princess Yongning lose this bastard in a gentle, undetectable way. Therefore, how to make Princess Yongning fall was certainly not something he had ordered.

But this solved one of his problems, so his expression also relaxed.

Just as he was thinking these thoughts, Princess Yongning awoke.

Seeing Li Xian at first glance, Princess Yongning was startled, as if not expecting Li Xian to be in her room. Immediately after, Princess Yongning’s complexion changed drastically, as if remembering what had happened before. She instinctively reached to touch her lower abdomen. Her abdomen was flat. She looked at Li Xian and asked trembling, “My…”

“Princess,” Li Xian sighed deeply, looking at her sorrowfully. “The child is gone. Our child is gone.”

When saying “our,” a flash of sarcasm crossed Li Xian’s eyes. He felt not the slightest bit sad. If the woman before him were not Princess Yongning, were not Prince Cheng’s younger sister, by now she would not even have her life, let alone merely losing a bastard.

Princess Yongning stared at him blankly, then suddenly cried out, “Impossible!” She tried to get out of bed, shouting, “I want to find the imperial physician! You’re deceiving me! How could my child be gone?”

“Princess!” Li Xian forcibly suppressed his disgust and grabbed her arm, saying painfully, “It’s true! You fell from the steps. The imperial physician has already been here. The child is gone. You must take care of your own health. In the future, we will have another child.”

“Fell from the steps…” Princess Yongning murmured. “No, that’s not right. I didn’t fall from the steps—someone pushed me!” Princess Yongning grabbed Li Xian’s arm in return. “Li Xian, someone in your residence attacked me! He pushed me down. He caused me to lose my child!”

Li Xian’s heart stirred, but his face remained impassive as he pressed, “Did the Princess see the face of the person who pushed you?”

Princess Yongning shook her head. “No, his face was covered. I couldn’t see anything.”

Li Xian breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. Princess Yongning looked at him again and said hatefully, “He killed my child! Your Li residence’s guards are so lax, putting me in such danger. This is your fault. I will tell Concubine Liu about this matter, tell elder brother. If we don’t find this person and flay him alive, I will not rest!”

By the end, she was gritting her teeth, clearly hating this person to the bone.

Li Xian was also startled by Princess Yongning’s viciousness. He had not expected Princess Yongning to value the bastard in her belly so much that even at this point, she still thought of avenging her unborn child. He was pondering how to comfort Princess Yongning with a few words when suddenly from outside came a tearful “Your Highness.” Meixiang stumbled in from outside.

This maidservant always followed at Princess Yongning’s side. Clearly Princess Yongning trusted her greatly and regarded her as a confidante. Meixiang threw herself before Princess Yongning’s couch, crying, “It’s all this servant’s fault! This servant failed to protect the little highness…”

Princess Yongning closed her eyes, then suddenly slapped Meixiang hard, raging, “It’s all you! If you had been more alert and discovered this person earlier, if you hadn’t been knocked unconscious, my child would not have died! Wretch!”

That Meixiang received a slap for no reason but said not a word, only covering her face and sobbing. Princess Yongning watched and watched until her own tears began streaming down as she cried mournfully, “My child…”

She had married into the Li family to preserve this child, had rushed to enter the household, all to give the child in her belly a proper identity. Now the child was gone. Everything she had done before lost all meaning. What was the point of remaining at the Li residence now? Moreover, she had married Li Xian for nothing. If she had known this would happen, she should have listened to Concubine Liu’s words earlier, or done as Shen Yurun said—directly taken medicine to abort this child. Then she need not have married into the Li family. She would still be free now, and when the opportunity came, could still marry Shen Yurun.

Right now she had lost both the soldier and the battle. Princess Yongning did not know where her future lay and felt utterly lost.

Seeing her dejected appearance, Li Xian could not help feeling another surge of satisfaction. This Princess Yongning treated the Li family like fools, thinking she could marry into the Li family with child without asking whether the Li family agreed. Now the child was gone, yet she put on this heartbroken appearance for others to see. But the Li family all knew this child was not Li Xian’s. Therefore, they would not shed a single tear of sorrow for this child.

Why bother?

He perfunctorily comforted Princess Yongning with a few words. The more he did so, the less Princess Yongning wanted to see him. If not for going to Li Xian’s courtyard, why would she have suffered this calamity? Princess Yongning blamed everyone she could possibly blame.

After Li Xian left, Princess Yongning leaned against the couch, staring blankly at the sky, saying, “Everything’s ruined…”

Meixiang sobbed, “Your Highness must not say such things.”

“What should I do?” Princess Yongning seemed not to hear. “Now I’ve become a Li family member. The child is also gone. All of this has lost its meaning. Young Master Shen won’t want me anymore. I don’t want to marry Li Xian either. Everything is ruined…”

“Your Highness, you absolutely must not say that.” Meixiang crawled before Princess Yongning. “Even for the sake of the deceased little highness, you must pull yourself together! This time, someone clearly schemed against you. You must still avenge the little highness!”

Princess Yongning seemed to be awakened by Meixiang’s words. Looking at Meixiang, she said, “Right… I must still avenge my child. On that path, there was clearly someone scheming against me. Someone didn’t want me to bear his child and wanted to harm my child… I will definitely find him!”

Other things aside, a black-clothed person suddenly appeared at the Right Chancellor’s residence who did not take Meixiang’s or her life but pushed her down—clearly targeting the child in Princess Yongning’s belly. Who would want to harm her child?

The anger and hatred in Princess Yongning’s heart nearly reached their peak in this instant. She had compromised and yielded for this child, yet in the end was still schemed against and lost this child. Whoever the opponent was, she would make them regret it for life!

“This person should still be at the Right Chancellor’s residence.” Meixiang said. “Your Highness, at this time especially, you cannot leave the residence. Do not speak of returning to the Princess’s residence or going to the palace to recuperate. Since that person appeared at the Right Chancellor’s residence, and outsiders don’t come to the Right Chancellor’s residence during the day, perhaps it’s someone from within the residence. Search carefully and you’ll always find some trace. Your Highness, this servant will find out who the opponent is and avenge the little highness!”

As if infected by Meixiang’s emotion, Princess Yongning also slowly calmed down. She said, “Exactly. I cannot just leave like this. I want the Li family to give an explanation. This is the Li family’s dereliction of duty. Once we find that person, I will make him repay a hundred, a thousand times over. He will definitely pay a bloody price!”

……

What Princess Yongning and Meixiang said, no one else in the Li family knew. On the other side, Li Xian was speaking with Li Zhongnan and Li Lian.

“This truly wasn’t your doing?” Li Zhongnan asked.

Li Xian shook his head. “I would not use such a direct method to leave evidence for others.”

Li Zhongnan looked at Li Lian. Li Lian also said, “It wasn’t me either. Elder brother’s matters—I’ve never dared interfere.”

Li Zhongnan said strangely, “This is odd. Could it be an assassin truly entered the residence? I’ve already sent people to investigate today. There’s nothing amiss in the residence.”

“Or was it elder brother’s trusted subordinate who solved it for you?” Li Lian asked. “Knowing you were troubled by this matter, they took initiative?”

“How is that possible?” Li Xian said. “If they had done it, naturally they should come to claim credit. Yet now we haven’t even seen anyone. But no matter what, this has resolved one of my worries. I should thank them.”

“It may not be a good thing,” Li Zhongnan frowned. “She ultimately suffered this accident at our residence, and in the guise of an assassin. Princess Yongning has always been arrogant and domineering. Concubine Liu may be manageable, but if this matter is told to Prince Cheng and exaggerated, Prince Cheng will probably have criticisms of our Li family.”

“Speaking of who wronged whom, isn’t that woman more wrong to our Li family? Prince Cheng still wanted to give us a cuckold’s horns to wear. Never mind that we don’t know who did this—even if it truly were us, wouldn’t Prince Cheng be the one in the wrong? He can’t expect our Li family to raise someone else’s son, can he? Why doesn’t Prince Cheng raise the child himself?” Li Lian said.

Regarding Princess Yongning having secretly conceived with someone long ago, the Li family finally harbored resentment toward Prince Cheng. This matter was truly done too poorly.

“That may be so, but right now he is our master. His arrangements—we can only accept them.” Li Zhongnan’s face was grave as water. “Xian, I think you should still thoroughly investigate this matter in the residence. If you truly cannot find anything, then think of a way to give Princess Yongning the explanation she wants.”

This meant finding a scapegoat. Princess Yongning’s search for the culprit was nothing more than seeking an outlet for her feelings. If this culprit could not be found for a long time, Princess Yongning would probably direct her anger at the Li family. If they found her a “culprit” to vent her anger and hatred upon, the matter would be settled.

Li Xian said, “I understand, Father.”

Li Zhongnan looked out the window. The night sky was thick as ink, deep and pitch black. He said, “At this critical juncture, accommodate her in everything. Absolutely do not quarrel with Prince Cheng. Everything—we’ll discuss after the fact.”

……

At the Right Chancellor’s residence, news of Princess Yongning’s miscarriage had not yet spread, but Zhao Ke informed Jiang Li at the first opportunity.

“So quickly?” Jiang Li asked Zhao Ke. “Did Princess Yongning and the Li family become suspicious?”

Zhao Ke shook his head.

Jiang Li felt relieved. Presumably what the Li family and Princess Yongning were most concerned about now was who the culprit was. As for whether the goods in Princess Yongning’s belly were genuine or fake, they had not investigated carefully. She did not know what methods Ji Heng’s people used, but even the miscarriage was executed flawlessly, perfectly covering up the matter of the drug’s effects disappearing and pregnancy symptoms vanishing after three months.

Under heaven, there was probably no difficult problem he could not solve.

“Princess Yongning wants to find the culprit. The Li family, to keep the peace, will inevitably present Princess Yongning with a ‘culprit’ within the next few days. They will fabricate it convincingly, and Princess Yongning will be no exception. Moreover, with Princess Yongning’s intellect, she won’t doubt its authenticity and will only vent her anger first.”

Zhao Ke listened attentively, knowing Jiang Li was about to give instructions.

Sure enough, Jiang Li turned to him and smiled. “What comes next will trouble Brother Zhao.”

“Second Miss, please speak,” Zhao Ke said.

“We need to find a way to tell Princess Yongning that the one who wanted her unborn child dead was none other than her husband, Young Master Li. Young Master Li has already learned the secret that Princess Yongning cuckolded him. For fairness’s sake, Princess Yongning should also know one of Young Master Li’s secrets.”

“We must let Princess Yongning discover Young Master Li’s secret,” she said.

Zhao Ke shivered, thinking this Second Miss Jiang was truly formidable. Without lifting a finger, just speaking a few words from afar, she could make the Li family and Princess Yongning tear each other to pieces. This was watching the Li family and Princess Yongning’s grand spectacle—no, perhaps not a spectacle, but rather watching their downfall.

What grudge or grievance could warrant this?

Zhao Ke accepted the order and left. Jiang Li looked out the window. In spring, the stars in the sky gradually multiplied, twinkling brightly.

Tomorrow’s weather will surely be fine, she thought.