Several days later, the day before the palace siege.

The General’s Manor.

Four days had passed since Ji Yunshu’s execution, and Ji Wanxin had cried for four days. Her eyes were swollen, she had lost considerable weight, and she couldn’t eat anything.

When Ji Shuhan learned of this, he hurried over.

“That rebellious daughter is dead—Heaven has eyes. Why must you cry and wail for her?”

“Father, Yunshu was still your daughter.”

Bah!

“The Ji family has no such person. More than half a year ago, she was already expelled from our Ji family genealogy.”

Ji Wanxin twisted her handkerchief to wipe her tears, choking out, “Father, even if Yunshu was wrong in a thousand ways, her wrongs didn’t warrant death.”

“Enough. You needn’t say such irrelevant things. In a while, you’ll be marrying into the Shen family. If your health collapses, how will you marry?”

In the end, it was still all about power and status.

Ji Wanxin said nothing more and sat before the mirror wiping her tears.

Ji Shuhan was both angry and helpless. This daughter of his was sickly—he couldn’t beat her or scold her, which made him grind his teeth. He said, “As long as you obediently marry into the Shen family, you’ll have good days ahead. In a few days, once your elder sister becomes Empress, naturally the Shen family won’t lack for benefits. By then, your elder brother and second brother can command Great Lin’s army of hundreds of thousands, and our Ji family can establish a foothold in the capital.”

Hm?

What did that mean?

In a few days, elder sister would become Empress?

Her crying ceased. With reddened eyes, she looked at her father in confusion and asked, “Father, what do you mean by this?”

Ji Shuhan had never been guarded around her, so naturally there was no need to conceal certain things. But he couldn’t speak too plainly either. He said in a deep voice, “In any case, you needn’t concern yourself with anything. Just stay obediently in the manor and wait for your wedding day.”

Having thrown down these words, he left.

Ji Wanxin was left deep in thought. After a long while, she summoned a maid.

She asked, “Where has the eldest young master been these past few days?”

The maid replied, “I don’t know. He went out several days ago, though he came back once yesterday. After speaking with the master in his room, he left. According to Little Li, the eldest young master hasn’t been fishing at Chenghu Lake either. His whereabouts are unknown.”

Too strange!

Ji Wanxin’s mind was meticulous. Combined with what her father had just said, how could she not sense something suspicious?

Following the thread, she understood immediately.

“Could it be?”

Eh?

She didn’t dare think further. She quickly grabbed the maid’s hand and instructed, “Go out and inquire. See what the situation is at Prince Rong’s Manor.”

“Second Miss, what are you—”

“Hurry!”

The maid panicked and quickly nodded, rushing off.

About an hour later, she returned.

“All of the capital is talking about it now. Teacher Ji is dead, Prince Rong is ill. After the divine physician from Yuhua Pavilion examined him, he said there was no way to save him.”

“What?” She rose abruptly, her face tense with worry. She shook her head. “I cannot just watch and do nothing.”

So she quickly wrote a letter, pressed it into the maid’s hands, and instructed, “Go to Prince Rong’s Manor and deliver this letter to Prince Rong. Quickly.”

“Yes!”

The maid acknowledged the order. But before she could leave, she ran head-on into Ji Li, who was clad in full armor.

His expression was stern, his eyes a complex mix of emotions.

There was disappointment, anger, murderous intent…

The maid’s body trembled. The letter in her hand was snatched away by Ji Li, who then barked, “Get out.”

“Yes.” The maid kept her head down and fled in panic.

Ji Wanxin’s already pitiful-looking eyes filled with tears. She stared at the man before her, somewhat panicked, her hands and feet suddenly ice-cold.

“So… last time it was also you who tipped them off, telling Prince Rong that I had deployed troops outside the city, wasn’t it?”

“I…”

She had no defense.

Ji Li snorted and tore open the letter in his hand. When he saw its contents, he was absolutely furious. But he forcibly suppressed it, folded the letter, held it over a candle, and burned it to ashes.

Ji Wanxin watched as that letter was burned until nothing remained. A breeze scattered it completely.

She retreated two steps. Ji Li stepped forward and grasped her wrist, lifting it. “How has the Ji family wronged you? That you wholeheartedly side with outsiders and even want to tip them off?”

“Elder Brother, please stop!”

“Stop?” Ji Li laughed coldly. “If not for Prince Rong, I wouldn’t have been stripped of my position, and your second brother wouldn’t have been sent to the frontier by His Majesty to fight barbarians.”

“It’s not the same, Elder Brother. What you’re doing now is rebellion!”

“Listen well. You stay here obediently. Otherwise, don’t blame me for not remembering our kinship.”

Having said this, he forcefully pushed her away.

Already frail and delicate, with this push, her entire body crashed hard against the cabinet behind her. The bracelet on her wrist struck the mirror with a “bang,” instantly breaking in two. The mirror also shattered into pieces.

“Crash, crash.”

In the broken mirror fragments, Ji Wanxin’s deathly pale face was reflected.

She crouched on the ground, sobbing quietly.

Ji Li ordered someone to watch her closely. Before tomorrow’s palace siege, she was not to be allowed out.

That night, the capital’s city gates were firmly closed.

Throughout the capital, soldiers were everywhere. Many citizens thought enemies had attacked the capital and packed their belongings overnight, preparing to flee as soon as the gates opened.

Hearts were in turmoil.

Inside the Imperial Palace.

Jing Xuan heard the sounds coming from outside—chaotic and confused, with fires blazing red everywhere.

She didn’t know when the palace had become so lively.

How could she know that at this moment, every part of the palace was filled with soldiers? Every entrance and exit of every palace gate was heavily guarded.

Truly watertight!

Once dawn arrived, Great Lin’s situation would likely be completely overturned.

Jing Xuan smiled bitterly, looking at her own wretched face in the mirror.

Suddenly—

“Knock, knock.”

Someone knocked on the door.

“Princess?” A weathered voice came from outside.

“Nanny Zhang?”

Jing Xuan stood and walked to the door. She vaguely saw Nanny Zhang outside holding a lantern, wearing a black cloak.

“Nanny Zhang, how are you here?”

“This servant has come to rescue the Princess.”

Hm?

Nanny Zhang produced a key from somewhere and opened the door.

The two eunuchs who had been guarding outside had disappeared?

“Princess, quickly come with this old servant.”

Jing Xuan didn’t understand. She asked, “What’s going on?”

Nanny Zhang explained, “The palace is now surrounded. Once daybreak comes, I fear Prince Yi will head to Fuyang Hall.”

“What?” She widened her eyes.

Nanny Zhang sighed. “Prince Yi is staging a palace siege.”

Ah!

As expected, the great upheaval had come.

She just hadn’t expected it to come so quickly.

However—

She asked, “But Nanny Zhang, where are you taking me now?”

Nanny Zhang: “This servant knows the Princess has always wanted to save that Young Master Wei. I’m taking you to him.”

“You know where he is?”

“I do.”

Jing Xuan’s heart was tight. She looked around and nodded forcefully. “Good, then let’s hurry.”

She absolutely could not let anything happen to Wei Yi!

She absolutely could not let Wei Yi become Jing Yi’s final chess piece!

Absolutely not!