After Jiang Zhaohua shared the good news with Duan Jinxing, he initially refused to believe it.
But once he was certain that Jiang Zhaohua was telling the truth—that she had truly become close friends with the Prince of Yanbei’s favored concubine and had even secured an audience with the Prince on his behalf—Duan Jinxing trembled with excitement.
Jiang Zhaohua was just a woman who knew nothing; she had no idea what it meant that the Prince of Yanbei had left his fiefdom without permission and sneaked near the capital.
Leaving one’s fiefdom without authorization was a matter punishable by death.
The Prince of Yanbei must have grand designs.
Duan Jinxing asked Jiang Zhaohua how she had befriended Hu Ji and exactly what she had said to her. Jiang Zhaohua recounted everything in detail.
After she finished, Duan Jinxing let out a long breath.
Jiang Zhaohua understood nothing, and Hu Ji was even more reckless, yet unexpectedly, these two foolish women had done something that greatly benefited him—through Hu Ji, Jiang Zhaohua had revealed to the Prince of Yanbei that he had achieved the highest honors in the imperial exams three times in a row but was humiliated by the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord and had endured disgrace at the horse stables for a long time.
He must hate the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord to his core.
As long as the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord held power, he would never have a chance to rise again. Therefore, he was someone extremely useful to the Prince of Yanbei, who would surely be willing to help him overthrow the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord.
The Prince of Yanbei’s willingness to grant him an audience wasn’t because Jiang Zhaohua and Hu Ji had become close friends—it was because the Prince knew Duan Jinxing would definitely choose him and never betray him.
Duan Jinxing was so excited that he couldn’t sleep for several days.
He rehearsed in his mind over and over what questions the Prince of Yanbei might ask and how he should answer them, how he should present himself before the Prince…
Finally, the day of the audience arrived. Duan Jinxing found an excuse to slip out of the capital quietly. The Prince of Yanbei’s location was even closer to the capital than he had imagined…
Duan Jinxing poured all his intelligence and wit into impressing the Prince of Yanbei, and sure enough, he gained the Prince’s favor.
The Prince entrusted him with an important mission!
Using his connections, the Prince of Yanbei promoted Duan Jinxing to the crucial position of commander at the Central City Military Office.
In the days to come, Duan Jinxing would use this position to assist the Prince in accomplishing a great task…
When the Prince’s plan succeeded, Duan Jinxing would share in the glory.
After returning home, Duan Jinxing immediately shed his previous gloom. His eyes shone brightly, as if he had become a completely different person.
Duan’s mother thought he had been promoted, jumping from a low ninth rank to a respectable sixth rank, and she was delighted.
But Jiang Zhaohua could see that Duan Jinxing’s excitement wasn’t because of the promotion—he was harboring something far more significant in his heart.
Since Jiang Zhaohua had become pregnant and given birth, the couple had not been intimate even once. Duan Jinxing had always made excuses to sleep in his study. Now, for the first time in a long while, they had made love again.
But this time, Jiang Zhaohua suffered greatly. Duan Jinxing was like a ravenous beast, paying no heed to her feelings.
Before, when he avoided her, Jiang Zhaohua felt heartbroken. Yet after this long-awaited reunion, she felt worse than before.
Enduring the pain, Jiang Zhaohua seized the moment when Duan Jinxing was most relaxed after their intimacy to probe him.
“Husband, you’ve been different these past days. What’s really going on?”
Duan Jinxing’s eyes glowed faintly in the darkness. “Thanks to Madam’s help, I’ve managed to get in touch with the Prince of Yanbei. The Prince has entrusted me with a great mission.”
“When I accomplish the Prince of Yanbei’s grand task, endless glory and wealth will follow…”
Even Jiang Zhaohua, not the brightest, understood what Duan Jinxing meant.
At first, she was afraid. But after the fear passed, excitement gradually welled up in her heart.
The Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord had brought ruin upon their family. If they could eliminate him and follow the Prince of Yanbei, wouldn’t a bright future be waiting for them?
The Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord was just a eunuch who had thrown the court into chaos—he deserved to be executed.
The Prince of Yanbei was a legitimate royal, wielding real power in the court. Surely that was far more righteous than the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord.
By siding with the Prince of Yanbei, they would be on the side of justice!
When the Prince’s plans succeeded, Jiang Zhaohua looked at Duan Jinxing with hope. Her husband would have made a name for himself as a loyal supporter and would surely be appointed Chancellor!
Her husband was born to be Chancellor.
Her whole life was meant to be spent as the Chancellor’s wife.
That night, Jiang Zhaohua dreamed of the Prince of Yanbei ascending the throne, Duan Jinxing becoming Chancellor, and her being granted the title of First-Rank Lady. Meanwhile, Jiang Yunshu and the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord lost their heads together…
In her dream, Jiang Zhaohua laughed with joy.
—
Spies continuously brought back news about Duan Jinxing and Empress Dowager Wu.
“Furong, a maid from the Duan household, reports that Duan Jinxing and Jiang Zhaohua have been spending a lot of intimate time together lately…”
Jiang Yunshu widened her eyes. She had said there was something going on in the East Factory!
After hearing the spies’ report, Xie Lin pondered, “Whoever Duan Jinxing has connected with must be a powerful figure.”
Xie Lin’s suspicion of the Prince of Yanbei deepened.
“Duan Jinxing is so excited, it’s not just about choosing sides. The person he serves has probably already assigned him a task, using him as a commander in the Central City military to act on their behalf…”
Jiang Yunshu was stunned. How did Xie Lin manage to deduce so much from just some gossip?
After thinking for a moment, she caught up with Xie Lin’s reasoning: power is the best aphrodisiac!
She just hadn’t expected that Duan Jinxing, so young, couldn’t function without it… Poor Jiang Zhaohua.
Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Wu remained lodged at the inn. The spies reported back to her with increasing urgency each day, but no one had come to pick her up.
Their opponent was even more cautious than Xie Lin had imagined. He had already sent people to scout the Prince of Yanbei’s military situation, trying to find out where his troops were stationed.
This time, it was clear they were plotting something big.
Jiang Yunshu and Xie Lin thought alike. Jiang Yunshu said, “Duan Jinxing is only a Central City military commander. What could he possibly do? Could it be opening the city gates?”
The more Jiang Yunshu thought about it, the more plausible it seemed!
If the Prince of Yanbei’s army attacked, someone inside the capital opening the gates to welcome them…
Jiang Yunshu’s expression changed. “If our guess is right… how many people do you think the Prince of Yanbei would recruit to open the gates?”
Xie Lin looked at Jiang Yunshu. “Why do you think the Prince of Yanbei wouldn’t recruit more than just Duan Jinxing?”
Jiang Yunshu replied, “If I were the Prince of Yanbei, I definitely wouldn’t rely on only one person.”
Besides, Duan Jinxing just showed up as the Central City military commander. Nobody even knew if his subordinates respected him.
If it were Jiang Yunshu, she would never entrust such a critical task to only one man. Having more people involved would mean greater assurance.
Xie Lin chuckled softly, “Your Highness is right.”
It was probably only a fool like Duan Jinxing who would think that the Prince of Yanbei valued him so highly as to entrust such an important task to him alone.
Jiang Yunshu sought confirmation from Xie Lin, “Did the Eastern Depot find anyone else resembling Duan Jinxing?”
Xie Lin nodded, “There is one more.”
Jiang Yunshu’s suspicion was confirmed, but instead of feeling relieved, she grew even more anxious. “Only two have been found?”
If she were the Prince of Yanbei, she wouldn’t settle for just two—she’d be searching for five, six, seven, or even eight.
Xie Lin said to Jiang Yunshu, “With so much unrest in the capital, Your Highness should stay at one of the palaces for a while.”
Was Xie Lin planning to cut off the problem at its root again?
Jiang Yunshu asked, “Which palace?”
Xie Lin pulled out a map, marking all his palaces. “Your Highness can choose whichever you like.”
Jiang Yunshu’s eyes widened in surprise as she took in the map. Xie Lin had so many palaces outside the capital!
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine… they were scattered in every direction—east, south, west, and north.
She was even more surprised to discover that besides the palaces outside the capital, Xie Lin also had other residences within the city. She pointed at the map, “The Xie Residence…”
The Xie Residence was marked not far from the city center—she had no idea such a place existed.
Seeing Jiang Yunshu’s astonishment, Xie Lin smiled, “That’s a private residence of mine in the capital, known to very few.”
In the past, when Xie Lin felt suffocated at court, he would retreat to the Xie Residence for a couple of days, visiting a few times each year.
But ever since meeting Jiang Yunshu, those moments had vanished. He had almost forgotten he even had such a place in the capital.
Xie Lin said to Jiang Yunshu, “If you’re interested, I can take you there sometime.”
“The Xie Residence and the various palaces outside the city… you can manage them all in the future…”
Before Xie Lin could finish, Jiang Yunshu immediately refused, “No, thank you!”
She was a professional dancer, not a hotel manager!
If the housekeeper could handle it, why should she bother?
Xie Lin laughed at her reaction. “Then Your Highness can first choose one of the palaces outside the city.”
Jiang Yunshu studied the map carefully. These palaces were spread in all four directions—some closer to the capital, some farther away; some perched on mountains, others beside water…
She asked, “Do many people know about these palaces under your charge?”
Xie Lin nodded, “Of course.”
Such grand palaces required staff, and this matter wasn’t something to hide.
Suddenly, Jiang Yunshu had an idea. “So the place with the fewest people who know about it is actually the Xie Residence in the capital?”
Xie Lin nodded again, “Exactly.”
Jiang Yunshu’s eyes lit up. “In that case, I could take a carriage around the palaces outside the city, then secretly return to stay at the Xie Residence in the capital—completely unnoticed.”
Xie Lin looked at Jiang Yunshu. “If a real battle breaks out, Your Highness staying in the capital—aren’t you afraid of being trapped like a turtle in a jar?”
Jiang Yunshu replied confidently, “I trust the Chancellor won’t be defeated.”
Xie Lin smiled, “Your Highness places such trust in your humble servant?”
Jiang Yunshu said, “If the Chancellor truly falls, where else can I possibly escape to outside the capital?”
She had long been tightly bound to Xie Lin. If Xie Lin were defeated, the enemy wouldn’t spare either of their lives. It would merely be a matter of whether they were caught inside the jar or outside it.
Her feint was just that—a feint. Staying inside the Xie Residence in the capital might actually be the darkest place under the lamp.
The most dangerous place is often the safest.
Xie Lin smiled. “Then we shall follow Your Highness’s wishes.”
The next day, Jiang Yunshu and Xie Lin left the palace. Their long caravan headed straight for the suburban palace outside the capital.
Once inside the suburban palace, the two changed their disguises and switched to an inconspicuous little carriage, leaving their attendants and luggage behind. Quietly, they returned to the capital and slipped into the Xie Residence without drawing attention.
This was Jiang Yunshu’s first time visiting the Xie Residence. Xie Lin hadn’t been there for nearly two years. His sudden arrival startled the steward, who barely slept all night, leading all the servants to meticulously inspect and clean every corner of the residence.
What Jiang Yunshu saw today was an exceptionally spotless Xie Residence—and the steward with a large patch of dark bruises under his eyes.
When the steward responded to Xie Lin and Jiang Yunshu, he stood at a distance, deliberately positioning himself downwind.
“Reporting to the Chancellor, all servants in the Xie Residence have been restrained and will not appear before the Chancellor.”
Jiang Yunshu paused, then recalled Xie Lin’s obsessive cleanliness—his aversion to the scent of others.
But she thought Xie Lin’s condition had improved quite a bit recently.
Reflecting on it, Jiang Yunshu remembered that Xie Lin had been receiving reports directly from his spies and had been in frequent contact with the steward of Weiyang Palace. The clearest sign was… her gaze shifted to Lichun and Chunfen, the two little eunuchs attending Xie Lin.
These two had long since passed the age of ten.
Previously, Xie Lin only kept eunuchs under ten by his side, replacing them as they grew older. But now, Lichun and Chunfen had long outgrown that age, yet Xie Lin showed no intention of replacing them.
After the steward left, Jiang Yunshu looked at Xie Lin curiously. “Has the Chancellor’s condition improved?”
Xie Lin pursed his thin lips, a cold smile flickering across them. “Your Highness’s courage grows bolder by the day.”
Jiang Yunshu admitted openly, “Because the Chancellor treats me better and better.”
“The Chancellor is becoming more approachable,” he replied.
Xie Lin knew exactly what Jiang Yunshu meant. He was indeed less averse to people now, but those attending him still had to bathe, wash their hair, and change clothes daily.
He was used to Lichun and the others, which was why he hadn’t replaced them despite their age, but with unfamiliar people, he still preferred they keep their distance.
Jiang Yunshu had only known Xie Lin suffered from obsessive cleanliness before, but now she realized it was likely a form of post-traumatic stress.
The symptoms were easing, which meant the trauma was gradually healing—a good sign.
Jiang Yunshu wandered around the Xie Residence and noticed its style differed greatly from the Yun Residence built later.
The Yun Residence’s luxury was tinged with comfort, while the Xie Residence’s opulence was cold and unwelcoming at every turn.
Jiang Yunshu thought to herself, perhaps when these two residences were being built, Xie Lin’s state of mind was different?
She didn’t like the cold, unwelcoming style of the Xie Residence. In contrast, the Yun Residence felt so much more comfortable to live in—every detail seemed to have been crafted perfectly to her tastes…
Suddenly, Jiang Yunshu turned to look at Xie Lin. “So the Yun Residence was built according to my preferences.”
Xie Lin froze, a faint blush creeping up his ears. He was desperately scrambling for an excuse to deny it, but it was already too late.
Jiang Yunshu’s expression brightened with realization. “So it really was…”
Only then did Xie Lin realize that although Jiang Yunshu’s tone sounded certain, she was actually testing him!
If he had responded faster or denied more firmly, he might have gotten away with it. It was his hesitation that gave him away.
After uncovering the truth with a playful ruse, a hint of surprise flashed in Jiang Yunshu’s eyes—she hadn’t expected it to be like this. After all, the Yun Residence had been built a long time ago, back when they were far from being in sync with each other’s feelings.
“Thank you for the effort,” Jiang Yunshu said sincerely.
Looking into Jiang Yunshu’s eyes, Xie Lin felt no regret for not denying it sooner.
