Even though Hongyi noticed something was off about Guxi, she didn’t dwell on it too much, because she didn’t really understand him to begin with — the two of them simply weren’t cut from the same cloth.

The one who was cut from the same cloth as Guxi was Shiliang. No matter how Hongyi asked — whether bluntly or by beating around the bush — Guxi’s answer was always the same: he didn’t know.

“You don’t know anything? Then what DO you know?” Hongyi finally snapped, furious.

“I only know what Her Highness the princess consort has instructed me to do,” Guxi said flatly.

“You!” Hongyi choked with anger, unable to argue back — because that really was the proper way to serve one’s master.

Unable to get anything out of Guxi, Shiliang had no choice but to wait patiently for a chance to ask the princess consort privately later. Meanwhile, in the main hall behind her, Consort Yiqing had talked herself hoarse, yet the two masters of the house remained as unmoved as two great stone Buddhas.

“Beiyue, even if I have to beg you, please. I know your second brother is narrow-minded, and it seems he’s always held things against you since childhood, but he’s still your elder brother after all. Just one word from you — just one word — and it wouldn’t matter whether it’s the Emperor or the Western Chu emperor, they’d all give you face!”

Consort Yiqing was certainly no fool — even while begging, she didn’t forget to flatter Jun Beiyue. While Jun Beiyue had been away in Nanzhao on his diplomatic mission, Jun Beichen had been sent to the Three Western Cities for no apparent reason. And what kind of place were the Three Western Cities? Three cities seized from Western Chu by Da Zhou — guarded by none other than the White Tiger Army, one of Jun Beiyue’s three elite tiger legions!

Never mind that Jun Beichen was a young man who only knew empty theorizing and hadn’t even cut his baby teeth yet — even a seasoned general wouldn’t have accomplished anything by going to the Three Western Cities.

Unless someone had deliberately arranged for Jun Beichen to do something there, sending him to the Three Western Cities was practically the same as house arrest!

There was no doubt about it — this was a trap Jun Beiyue himself had set. He had long, long wanted to help Western Jing; all he’d needed was a scapegoat.

It was Jun Beiyue himself who had pushed Jun Beichen out to serve as that scapegoat — how could he possibly let him off easily now?

Consort Yiqing’s pleading was, in truth, utterly futile.

And yet, Consort Yiqing understood the current situation all too well — she understood perfectly that no one but Jun Beiyue could save Jun Beichen’s life.

Western Chu had already surrendered, Western Jing had withdrawn its troops from the Three Western Cities and out of Western Chu’s territory, and the two rulers were now simply waiting for the peace conference. This conference was to be held in Da Zhou’s Three Western Cities, with Jun Beiyue invited as witness. Without question, the Western Chu emperor would demand an explanation, accusing Jun Beiyue of tearing up their old treaty of friendship. And Jun Beiyue would naturally need to hand over a scapegoat to the Western Chu ruler — even to all the surrounding nations — to prove that Da Zhou’s intentions had been sincere all along.

Even before Jun Beiyue’s return, the Empress of Eastern Qin had already approached her, and Chu Tiange’s people had approached her as well. The Empress wanted information about the Charm Incense, and as for Chu Tiange — if it weren’t for the fact that Consort Yiqing held the secret of the Charm Incense, he likely would have sent someone to kill her long ago.

Consort Yiqing pleaded for a full two hours, and still neither Ziqing nor Jun Beiyue reacted — truly treating her like thin air.

Just then, Ziqing lazily stretched, and casually glanced at Jun Beiyue — finally about to speak. Consort Yiqing’s heart leapt with joy; what she feared most was an immediate refusal, because an immediate refusal would mean there was no hope at all. The fact that they hadn’t refused outright and sent her away meant they were hesitating — meaning there was still a chance!

Consort Yiqing tensed up at once, but to her surprise, Ziqing said flatly, “Yingzi, why hasn’t Prince Baxian arrived yet?”

So it turned out — they weren’t hesitating at all. They were simply waiting for Prince Baxian!

Consort Yiqing’s face fell at once with disappointment. Yingzi was stunned — Prince Baxian hadn’t said he was coming. For all they knew, Prince Baxian didn’t even know yet that Prince Yao had returned to the capital.

Jun Beiyue looked at Ziqing, a flicker of amused, doting affection passing through his eyes, though he remained outwardly unmoved.

But before Yingzi could even answer, Consort Yiqing suddenly shot to her feet. “Han Ziqing, I’ll tell you where the Charm Incense came from — just let my Chen’er go, will you?”

At last — Consort Yiqing had finally brought up the matter herself.

Only then did Jun Beiyue finally turn his gaze toward her properly, saying coldly, “Consort Yiqing, you colluded with the enemy and betrayed your country. Do you truly believe you have any bargaining chips left to negotiate terms with this prince?”

“The origin of the Charm Incense…” Consort Yiqing, who had rambled on all evening, finally got straight to the point. “And also — the secret behind the emblem you’re using to frame Chu Feiyan!”

She didn’t know a great deal, but she didn’t know nothing either. She had originally still been weighing her options — deciding between Chu Tiange, the Empress of Eastern Qin, and even Xuanyuan Lige.

But this whole affair with Jun Beichen had finally made her give up any illusions. This matter could only be resolved through Jun Beiyue.

Jun Beiyue and Ziqing exchanged a glance. Hearing the words “Charm Incense” hadn’t surprised them much, but the secret of the emblem brought them no small amount of delight.

Whether it was Jun Beiyue’s influence rubbing off on Ziqing, or Ziqing’s habits rubbing off on Jun Beiyue, the husband and wife were growing more and more alike, more and more like a pair of cunning old foxes — hearts pounding with excitement on the inside, yet outwardly betraying not a ripple. After all, if they could crack the secret of the emblem, there was a good chance they could crack the secret of Lishang as well!

Their reaction left Consort Yiqing’s once-resolved heart suddenly suspended in midair. She knew perfectly well that the Empress of Eastern Qin and Chu Tiange had already tried every combination of threats and favors to pry the secret from her hands. If it weren’t for the fact that only Jun Beiyue could save her son, and only with Jun Beiyue’s approval could her crime of colluding with the enemy go unpunished, she would never have come to beg him herself!

As for the purpose behind the two of their trip to Nanzhao, she understood it just as clearly as Chu Tiange did — they were desperately trying to uncover the secret of Han Ziqing’s true origins!

But Jun Beiyue’s thoughts were beyond her grasp, and Han Ziqing’s reactions were even further beyond her expectations. Consort Yiqing couldn’t help but worry that the bargaining chips in her hands had already lost their appeal to this man.

Seeing that neither of them reacted much, Consort Yiqing initially held back, unwilling to say more. But in the end, she simply couldn’t compare to the composure of Ziqing and Jun Beiyue, and before long she couldn’t help herself and spoke up, abandoning her pleading tone entirely for something far more direct. “Jun Beiyue, spare my son and me, and I’ll tell you where the Charm Incense came from, and where that emblem came from too. What do you say?”

Jun Beiyue finally reacted, giving a cold snort. “Spare you how?”

“Release Beichen, don’t pursue our crime of colluding with the enemy, and guarantee our wealth and status for the rest of our lives. I promise Beichen will never trouble you again — he’ll become the second Old Ten.”

Consort Yiqing had actually thought all of this through long ago. Given the current situation, she was utterly powerless to fight back — she couldn’t rely on Chu Tiange or the Empress of Eastern Qin either. To preserve everything she currently had, surrendering to Jun Beiyue was her only option.

What she was asking for wasn’t much — or so she believed, at least.

Jun Beiyue gave a cold smile and glanced over at Ziqing. Ziqing’s face was utterly expressionless. Seeing this, Jun Beiyue suddenly found it amusing, and let out a burst of laughter. Even this woman’s expressionless face could delight him — what would it be like if her face were full of expression instead?

He said, “Consort Yiqing, you’re offering two secrets in exchange for three conditions from this prince. Don’t you think you’re overestimating yourself just a little?”