The evening breeze brought wafts of fragrance, but Yi Xiao had no mood to appreciate the elegant pavilions and winding corridors nestled among the flowering trees. She felt like the soul of a warrior who died on the battlefield. If asked why he didn’t fight harder or break through the enemy lines, he would say that before his death, he had struggled and fought desperately, but it wasn’t enough. When he had used his last breath, he could only be captured, but he didn’t want to be a prisoner, so he chose to die in battle.
If she couldn’t break free, she too could only die fighting.
Qin Yi hadn’t come again, and Feng Suige hadn’t appeared for several days. From the occasional conversations among the servants, Yi Xiao learned that he had been staying at the Qin residence these past few days. Yi Xiao smiled calmly—she didn’t want to owe too much, because debts incurred in this life would have to be repaid in the next, and the next life, she didn’t want to return to this world.
The soft sound of footsteps stopped a few yards away. “Greetings, Junior Consort,” said a maid, sounding somewhat uneasy when facing Yi Xiao alone since the incident with Yun Yi. “Mr. Qin requests an audience…”
“Isn’t the Prince staying at the Qin residence?” Yi Xiao asked without turning around.
“Mr. Qin is here to see the Junior Consort,” the maid replied timidly. “If the Junior Consort doesn’t wish to see him…”
“Please invite Old Qin in,” Yi Xiao said, smoothing her wrinkled skirt as she stood up from the stone steps. The maid didn’t move. “Junior Consort… receiving external officials should be done in the main hall, otherwise…”
“Otherwise what?” Yi Xiao raised an eyebrow, amused. “With so many people coming and going in the inner quarters, do you fear I might have an affair with Old Qin under everyone’s watchful eyes?”
The maid’s face instantly turned pale. She knelt, repeatedly kowtowing. “Junior Consort, please spare me. I had no such intention.”
“No one’s after your life,” Yi Xiao waved her hand helplessly. “Go quickly!”
Moments later, Qin Yu walked in, laughing heartily. “The Junior Consort indeed acts differently from others. This is the first time in my life I’ve met a noble lady in the inner quarters.”
Yi Xiao gave a slight bow. “Old Qin jests. How could I be considered a noble lady?”
Qin Yu stopped in front of Yi Xiao, bowed, and looked her up and down. “The Junior Consort is straightforward, so I won’t beat around the bush either. I’ll speak plainly. I’ve come today at Prince Feng’s request.”
“Feng Suige?” Yi Xiao asked, slightly surprised. “What game is he playing now?”
Qin Yu smiled mysteriously. “I heard that a few days ago, Prince Feng and the Junior Consort had a small disagreement. Would the Junior Consort be willing to hear a few words from this old man?”
Yi Xiao slapped her forehead in frustration. “I already regret saying so much to him that day. I didn’t expect him to run and tell you—did he call it a small disagreement?”
Qin Yu smiled and glanced around before lowering his voice to ask, “Would the Junior Consort be interested in holding the Empress’s seal in the future?”
Yi Xiao’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of the Empress’s seal. Qin Yu maintained his casual demeanor, but his eyes betrayed a hint of eagerness.
“How much do you know about what I said that day, Old Qin?” Yi Xiao suddenly smiled.
“The Prince told this old man everything about that conversation,” Qin Yu said confidently. “The Junior Consort’s concerns are indeed real, but if this old man says he’s willing to help the Junior Consort, would you be willing to take a gamble?”
“Gamble? Why does Old Qin want me to gamble?” Yi Xiao frowned. “Or perhaps I should ask, what stake is Old Qin prepared to put down, and what benefit does he hope to gain?”
“This old man is a businessman. Everything depends on one’s judgment. I believe the Junior Consort has the ability, but currently lacks the necessary support. So, if the Junior Consort is willing, this old man’s stake would be all of the Qin family’s manpower, resources, and wealth. As for the benefit,” Qin Yu hesitated slightly but continued, “Because Susha has always looked down on merchants, no matter how much wealth the Qin family possesses, we’re still considered a lower class in Susha. Under the joint exclusion of noble families for generations, we’ve never been able to marry into political families. So, ahem—actually, this old man hopes to ride on the Junior Consort’s coattails to make the Qin family’s foundation more secure.”
Seeing her still somewhat puzzled expression, Qin Yu grinned. “Let me put it this way: if Susha can establish a commoner as Queen, those in court won’t be able to oppose marriages between political and merchant families in the future.”
“What about Feng Suige? What did he promise you?” Yi Xiao astutely asked about the person Qin Yu had intentionally or unintentionally avoided mentioning.
“The Junior Consort is indeed perceptive,” Qin Yu said, rubbing his hands somewhat awkwardly. “Prince Feng promised that if this old man could help him establish the Junior Consort as Queen, um, regardless of whether Xiao Yi bears a son or daughter in the future, the Qin family will be joined in marriage with the Feng royal clan.”
Yi Xiao’s expression gradually grew cold. “Does Old Qin think I will agree?”
Seeing her expression, Qin Yu answered cautiously, “I used to think so, but when Prince Feng relayed the Junior Consort’s words from a few days ago, this old man realized that I had misstepped before, or rather, I had been completely off the mark.”
“But Old Qin still came,” Yi Xiao said, holding back her emotions. “Or perhaps I could say since our first meeting in the banquet hall, Old Qin’s help to me has been obvious. I guessed then that Old Qin must have something he needed my help with. And today, Old Qin brings these exchange conditions that are meaningless to me, to trade for my promise and freedom—I don’t mean to mock you. On the contrary, I’m even more interested in what makes Old Qin so confident. Could Old Qin enlighten me?”
“It’s Prince Feng’s determination,” Qin Yu said steadily.
“Determination?” Yi Xiao was surprised.
Qin Yu nodded. “This old man watched Prince Feng grow up. After learning about the various incidents between the Prince and the Junior Consort, I initially thought that given the Prince’s competitive nature, his affection for the Junior Consort was all because he hadn’t won her heart—a form of rebellion against the King and those old ministers. So when this old man came to attend the birthday celebration for the Prince and the Junior Consort, I didn’t prepare any special gifts.”
Yi Xiao nodded unconsciously. Qin Yu continued slowly, “But this old man can see that the Prince is truly sincere this time.”
Yi Xiao smiled gently, looking steadily at Qin Yu. “Then can Old Qin see Yi Xiao’s decision?”
“The Junior Consort still doesn’t believe,” Qin Yu smiled helplessly. “How about this: this old man dares to request the Junior Consort to go to a certain place. Once there, the Junior Consort will understand.”
Yi Xiao pondered for a moment. “Please lead the way, Old Qin.”
Just as they reached the door, two men dressed as servants suddenly appeared from the shadows, blocking their way. They bowed to Yi Xiao before turning to Qin Yu. “May we ask where Mr. Qin intends to take the Junior Consort?”
Qin Yu calmly took something out of his pocket and showed it to them. Both men were startled but quickly retreated.
Yi Xiao had been watching silently, and now she laughed coldly. “This is part of his determination too, I suppose? How many junior consorts has Old Qin seen treated like this?”
Qin Yu didn’t explain, just smiled and continued leading the way.
Along the route, there were several more hidden guards, all of whom Qin Yu dismissed with the same object as before. But at the main gate of the Prince’s residence, a sturdy gatekeeper who looked like a farmer refused to let them pass, mumbling, “The Prince instructed that no one is to take the Junior Consort away while he’s not here.”
Qin Yu tried his best to persuade him but couldn’t get him to make an exception. Yi Xiao finally saw clearly that the object Qin Yu had been using to dismiss the guards was a dark gold token.
“Your name is Gu Yu, isn’t it?” Yi Xiao asked gently. She had heard servants say that Feng Suige had found a very burly simpleton to be the gatekeeper, but she thought it was a joke. She didn’t expect it to be true. “Mr. Qin has no ill intentions, and I’m just going out for a while.”
“Y-yes, Junior Consort,” Gu Yu stammered, fidgeting with his fingers nervously. “But the Prince told Gu Yu to watch over the Junior Consort. Otherwise, the Prince will be angry!”
“How about letting Gu Yu come with me?” Yi Xiao thought for a moment, looking to Qin Yu for approval. With no other option, Qin Yu nodded.