Yelu Qianqian had woken up!
Her wide, hazy eyes blinked open in confusion, glancing suspiciously at Ziqing, then at Situ Haonan, before sweeping across everyone else present.
After surveying the scene, she remained utterly bewildered. What on earth had happened? Why didn’t she remember anything? Why was she even here?
All she could recall was Han Ziqing fighting the fierce leopard, and herself and Situ Haonan rushing to help!
At that thought, Yelu Qianqian turned to look at Ziqing again, and burst into loud sobs, throwing her arms around her fiercely. “Han Ziqing, are you all right! If anything had happened to you, I couldn’t have lived with myself!”
Han Ziqing had only come on this hunt because of her—if something had truly gone wrong, she would never have forgiven herself for the rest of her life!
“Waaah, I shouldn’t have dragged you along! Are you okay!”
As she spoke, Yelu Qianqian quickly let go of Ziqing, looking her up and down anxiously, completely oblivious to the wound on her own chest.
Ziqing was left utterly baffled by how incredibly scatterbrained this girl was, and everyone around them was equally confused, including Situ Haonan—none of them had expected Yelu Qianqian and Han Ziqing’s relationship to be this close!
Yelu Qianqian’s guard had turned deathly pale. Whatever the two women had said or done to each other back in the envoy’s residence before, whatever rumors could have spread from the arrow incident—
All of it would end here and now!
At last, the Empress of Eastern Qin, ever composed, shot the Second Beast Young Master a venomous glare, her displeasure unmistakable.
Such a flawless plan, and it had all collapsed because of one Baili Weisheng. He was the beastfolk clan’s veterinary consultant, present right here—surely the Second Beast Young Master should have investigated this in advance!
And yet, he’d known nothing at all, letting Baili Weisheng not only save Han Ziqing, but also wake Yelu Qianqian from her poisoned sleep!
If this wasn’t the Second Beast Young Master’s fault, whose fault could it possibly be?
Yelu Qianqian, still clutching Ziqing in confusion, continued sobbing uncontrollably. Ziqing normally disliked overly weepy girls, but at this moment, she found herself absolutely loving this crybaby.
Held so tightly in Yelu Qianqian’s arms, Ziqing had no idea what to do with herself.
Fortunately, Situ Haonan hurried to pull them apart, saying with displeasure, “You scatterbrain, Ziqing wasn’t hurt—you’re the one who got hurt! Thank goodness you’re finally awake, otherwise your… your guard would have gotten both Han Ziqing and me killed!”
At Situ Haonan’s words, Yelu Qianqian’s sobbing cut off instantly. She looked up sharply, utterly confused, then glanced down at herself—and the moment she saw the wound on her chest, she immediately burst into tears again.
Ziqing and Situ Haonan exchanged a helpless glance.
But this time, Yelu Qianqian’s tears vanished as quickly as they’d come, her eyes wide and pitiful as she looked at Ziqing. “What… what exactly happened here! Who wants to hurt you two?”
She’d only just registered that she herself had been injured, without catching the word “guard.”
Situ Haonan pursed his lips and gave a brief, concise account of the entire incident. The more Yelu Qianqian listened, tear-streaked face growing more and more furious.
Finally, the moment Situ Haonan finished speaking, she whirled around and slapped the guard hard across the face. “Who do you think you are? Do you have any right to speak here? How dare you stir up such trouble—let me tell you something, Han Ziqing is my sister, remember that. Everyone in this world might wish me harm, but not her—not her, understand?”
The sheer force of these words not only stunned the guard, but left most of the surrounding onlookers awestruck as well. Who would have guessed that this weepy scatterbrain could carry such commanding presence—truly worthy of being a nation’s princess!
Ziqing knew that Yelu Qianqian was just a little muddled, not foolish. This declaration was clearly meant to deflect rumors and counter the scheme meant to drive them apart—deliberately exaggerated for effect.
Still, hearing the word “sister” sent an inexplicable warmth through her heart, and she suddenly recalled a saying: “A friend is family you choose for yourself.”
But this girl was the princess of Western Jing, while she was the Princess Consort of Prince Yao of Da Zhou. The situation between Western Jing and Da Zhou was ever-shifting, and no one could say how things would unfold between them.
And soon enough, this girl would be married off far away to Western Liang—going so far away, there was no telling how many years might pass before they saw each other again.
At that thought, a wave of bittersweet emotion rose in Ziqing’s chest, and she found herself instinctively reaching for Yelu Qianqian’s hand.
But at that moment, Yelu Qianqian raised her hand again, not even noticing Ziqing, delivering another fierce slap to the guard. “Say it. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I understand, I understand!” There was no way the guard would dare not understand!
“Let me tell you something—no matter what my father the emperor or Jun Beiyue decide, Han Ziqing and I are sisters, period. Don’t you dare try to drive a wedge between us! If there’s a next time, this princess will kill you with her own hands!” Yelu Qianqian said seriously—though these words weren’t really meant for the guard at all, but for whoever was pulling strings behind the scenes.
She knew her own guard well. For him to stir up such discord while she’d been unconscious, someone must have threatened or coerced him into it.
“Yes, yes! I understand!” the guard nodded rapidly, like a chicken pecking at grain.
Nearby, a flicker of murderous intent crossed the Second Beast Young Master’s eyes. He knew—if this guard wasn’t silenced, he would surely expose him eventually.
Ziqing shot Situ Haonan a look, and he understood at once—this guard absolutely had to be protected.
Of everyone present, none was happier than the beastfolk clan leader, grinning so widely he could barely close his mouth, thanking Baili Weisheng again and again.
“Thanks entirely to Master Baili—saving two lives in one stroke!”
Yelu Qianqian hurried to her feet, saying earnestly to Baili Weisheng, “Thank you for saving me!”
Baili Weisheng showed little change in expression, maintaining his usual leisurely, indolent air, smiling as he said, “Princess Qianqian, you’ll need to nourish yourself daily from now on, or you could fall unconscious again at any moment. I merely happened to have a tonic pill on hand that saved you, that’s all.”
This was clearly modesty on his part. Ziqing smiled and added seriously, “Thank you again, this time.”
Hearing this, the beastfolk clan leader hurried to ask, “You two… know each other?”
Baili Weisheng said, “We’re fairly familiar, I’d say. I’m even more familiar with Prince Yao, actually. Speaking of which, why hasn’t Prince Yao come along this time?”
At these words, Ziqing’s face nearly darkened.
“Heh, this old man would like to meet Prince Yao himself—after all, given everything that’s happened, there’s much to explain to him!” the beastfolk clan leader said seriously.
Until everything had been resolved, he naturally hadn’t dared say anything to anyone. But now that the crisis had passed, it was still necessary to give a full account to both Prince Yao and the King.
Hearing this, the Second Beast Young Master hurried to agree. “Indeed, indeed! We should head back to the capital right away—I’ll personally call on Prince Yao to apologize!”
Ziqing had no idea exactly where Jun Beiyue was at this moment, but she was certain of one thing: he hadn’t yet made it back to the capital. Otherwise, he would have already come looking for her.
If they returned to the capital now, after all these days, and he still couldn’t be found, would the excuse “he’ll explain himself to His Majesty personally” still hold up?
The Second Beast Young Master’s failed attempt on her life had clearly been aimed at Jun Beiyue all along.
…
A note to readers: Crawling and rolling to beg for monthly votes! It’s the end of the month.