It was just dawn, and Qi Yuyao led her palace maids as usual from her residence to Shoukang Palace to pay respects to the Queen Dowager.
Zhao Yan’er followed behind her, yawning loudly. She found it strange that Qi Yuyao, who appeared so energetic, never seemed tired at all.
“Yuyao, we both get up early every day, why don’t you look a bit tired at all?” Zhao Yan’er asked.
Qi Yuyao chuckled, “That’s because you stay up late every night. I heard from the palace maids that you went to sleep around the time of the Rat1around 11 pm to 1 amyesterday.”
“Who asked them to gossip so much,” Zhao Yan’er grumbled. She thought it was quite an achievement to be able to fall asleep at midnight. Back in her previous life, she had stayed up all night playing games.
She felt that her current life was much healthier than before.
When they arrived at Shoukang Palace, Qi Yuyao followed the palace maids to pay respects to the Queen Dowager. However, she was surprised to find two unexpected people in the Queen Dowager’s palace: Qin Shi and Zhao Jing.
“Paying respect to the Queen Dowager,” Qi Yuyao and Zhao Jing both greeted.
“Yuyao is here too,” the Queen Dowager smiled and waved. Qi Yuyao pursed her lips and then turned to Qin Shi. “Paying respect to Mother.”
Zhao Yan’er also kneeled and said, “Greetings, Madam.”
Qin Shi remained expressionless and didn’t speak. Zhao Jing couldn’t help but secretly laugh. Even her biological daughter couldn’t win over Qin Shi’s favor.
The Queen Dowager’s expression soured slightly. “Qin Shi, when Yuyao paid her respects to you, did you not hear? Or do you feel dissatisfied with me for keeping Yuyao in the palace, so you intentionally displayed this attitude to express your displeasure?”
“I dare not,” Qin Shi forced a slight smile towards Qi Yuyao. “Mother just got distracted and didn’t notice Yuyao’s arrival. Please rise, Yuyao.”
Qi Yuyao straightened her posture, and Zhao Yan’er quietly squeezed her hand to offer comfort.
“Yuyao, come closer to me,” the Queen Dowager said.
Qi Yuyao hesitated for a moment, knowing that the Queen Dowager was trying to support her. She nodded and walked over to stand next to the Queen Dowager, while Zhao Yan’er followed her. Palace attendants brought a chair for Qi Yuyao to sit on.
“I originally thought that since Yuyao has just returned and I kept her in the palace, as you are both mother and daughter, I intended to summon you to the palace to give you a chance to get closer to Yuyao. But it seems I was mistaken,” the Queen Dowager remarked.
Qin Shi concealed her true feelings and responded earnestly, “Queen Mother, your words are too harsh. Yuyao is my biological daughter, and naturally, I love her.”
“Yuyao is the only daughter of Heng’er. Qin Shi, no matter what’s in your heart, I don’t care, but Yuyao must not be bullied by those unscrupulous people.”
The Queen Dowager’s words carried a veiled meaning, and her gaze shifted briefly towards Zhao Jing. Zhao Jing, who was standing behind Qin Shi, felt as if she had been slapped. Her nails dug into her palm, and her face burned with embarrassment.
Zhao Yan’er, standing behind Qi Yuyao, let out a cold snort and glanced at the resentful Zhao Jing. She immediately chimed in, “With Queen Mother here, no one dares to bully our Yuyao.”
“Yan’er, I like to hear you say that,” the Queen Dowager said, looking at Qin Shi’s frustrated yet powerless expression, feeling quite satisfied.
“Yan’er is so charming; it’s no wonder Heng’er told me before his departure that he plans to formally adopt Yan’er as his foster daughter.”
Huh?
Zhao Yan’er looked utterly baffled. The terrifying Prince Chen wanted to adopt her as his foster daughter?
The Queen Dowager’s revelation was startling. Qin Shi was so taken aback that she accidentally knocked over her tea cup. She didn’t even pay attention to the scalding water on her wrist as she urgently inquired, “What did you say, Your Majesty? The Prince wants to adopt this wild girl as his foster daughter?”
“Indeed,” the Queen Dowager responded nonchalantly, glancing disapprovingly at Qin Shi. “Can you be deceived? You’ve always been the one handling matters in the Prince’s Mansion. Didn’t Heng’er discuss this matter with you?”
Qin Shi felt a pang of unease, and an odd expression flickered across her face. “I recall now that the Prince Consort did mention something about adopting a foster daughter. I thought he was referring to Jing’er.”
“Her?” The Queen Dowager sneered, “Qin Shi, you’ve mixed royal bloodlines without repercussions, and you’re already benefiting greatly from the Emperor’s grace. Yet you still want to adopt her as a foster daughter? Have you considered the feelings of Yuyao?”
Qin Shi’s face turned ashen with anger, and she bowed low. “Your Majesty’s admonishment is just, and I acknowledge my fault.”
“Enough, both of you, leave now,” the Queen Dowager waved her hand, then turned to Qi Yuyao, pulling her hand gently. “Yuyao, I suppose you haven’t had breakfast yet. Why don’t you stay and have a meal with me? And Yan’er, I hear you haven’t eaten either.”
Qi Yuyao suppressed a smile and nodded, “Alright, but Yan’er hasn’t had anything to eat either.”
“Together, together,” the Queen Dowager chuckled, “When your father returns, I’ll have two granddaughters.”
Zhao Yan’er couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Qi Yuyao’s beautifully clear face. She wondered if she had truly gained the female lead’s halo, allowing her to rise from a sparrow to a phoenix.
…
In the guesthouse in Fufeng City, Qi Heng descended the stairs first, with Qi Shao and the carriage driver, Zheng Er, who held a package, following closely behind.
“Are you leaving, sirs?” the innkeeper asked in surprise.
“Our family has a seriously ill relative and we need to return as soon as possible,” Zheng Er returned the room number plaques to the innkeeper. Qi Shao’s eyes were red from crying, and he sniffled from time to time.
The innkeeper nodded understandingly, “You must hurry then; any delay would be unfortunate.”
Outside the guesthouse, the elegant carriage they arrived in was waiting at the door. The three of them boarded the carriage, and Zheng Er drove them towards the city gates.
“Uncle, can you please release the effects of the medicine on me now?” Qi Shao hiccuped, tears streaming down his face. He had never cried so much in his life, and he was sobbing uncontrollably in front of everyone.
These tears seemed to be falling like they were free, and Qi Shao was convincing himself of his own act.
He hiccuped again and suddenly felt something fly into his mouth. Before he could react, he felt a cool sensation in his throat.
Qi Shao covered his neck with both hands, pretending to be fierce as he asked, “What did you give me to eat?”
“I’ve given you an antidote. This is to temporarily suppress its effects. After a couple of hours, the effects of the medicine will dissipate,” Qi Heng calmly replied. Qi Shao, upon hearing this, felt a sense of relief and wiped his eyes. Sure enough, he no longer had uncontrollable tears.
Qi Shao, feeling relieved, suddenly realized that he had used up the antidote earlier. “So, the antidote you gave me earlier was for this purpose?”
To make him cry uncontrollably, confirming the bad news of his family’s troubles, it was a clever way to discreetly leave the inn.
Qi Heng closed his eyes and did not respond, tacitly confirming Qi Shao’s suspicion. Qi Shao was furious, thinking that Qi Heng, that black-hearted schemer, had given him the antidote for no reason. It turned out he wanted to use him as a prop for their act.
The carriage stopped briefly at the city gate, where it was carefully inspected by the gate guards before being allowed to pass. Once they had left the city gate, Zheng Er drove the carriage onto another side road.
Qi Shao noticed the unusual silence around them and opened the carriage curtain. He saw a dense forest of trees. “This isn’t the way back”
“Where are you taking me now?” Qi Shao was displeased. He had thought they were heading to Anling City, where he could restart his life of luxury and escape from Qi Heng’s oppression.
Qi Heng ignored him, and after about an incense stick’s worth of time, the carriage gradually came to a halt.
“I respectfully welcome Your Highness,” a voice said.
“Qin Yue’s voice? What’s he doing here?”
Qi Shao was taken aback and opened the curtain to look outside. There were more than a dozen soldiers on tall horses, and the leader was none other than Qin Yue!
As soon as Qi Shao appeared, he was met with several hostile glares. Qin Yue sneered and raised his hand to stop them. “Don’t be nervous; he’s not just anyone. This is our Crown Prince.”
Qi Shao clenched his teeth. Qin Yue, just like the people under his command, was utterly detestable.
“Step aside,” Qi Heng’s icy voice sounded behind Qi Shao. Without thinking, Qi Shao took two steps to the side, nearly losing his balance at the narrow carriage entrance.
Qi Heng got off the carriage and walked towards the other side of the forest. Qin Yue signaled the others to stay put and immediately followed him.
Qi Shao was too far away to hear clearly, but he caught words like “defense,” “map,” and “timing.”
He nudged Zheng Er. “Can you hear what they’re saying?”
Zheng Er glanced at him and slowly nodded, raising Qi Shao’s hopes. “Yes.”
Qi Shao waited for a moment, but Zheng Er remained silent after saying “yes.” It was clear that this man had no intention of telling him!
After a while, they returned. Qin Yue suddenly turned to look at Qi Shao. “What about him?”
Qi Heng furrowed his brow. “Take him back, and assign more people to protect him.”
Qi Shao frowned, wondering what their conversation meant.
“What? Uncle, what are you going to do?” Qi Shao felt like he was going crazy. He didn’t want Qi Heng to take him along, but if Qi Heng really left him behind, he felt somewhat unhappy.
Qi Heng ignored him, got back into the carriage, and soon came out wearing black clothes with a demonic mask on his face.
“Please be careful, Your Highness,” Qin Yue bowed and then lifted Qi Shao, placing him in the carriage. He followed by jumping onto the driver’s seat and driving the carriage away.
…
Night fell.
The State of Wei launched a surprise attack on the State of Jin, which had insufficient troops. Jin’s forces were forced to retreat to the city of Anling.
Under the walls of Anling City, the 200,000 troops of the State of Wei tightly surrounded the city. Fires raged, and countless siege ladders were set up against the walls. Jin’s soldiers continuously fired arrows, trying to fend off the Wei forces.
A figure appeared on top of the city walls. Sun Hua squinted his eyes and carefully observed. He then chuckled, “General Qin, as men, why hide on the city walls like turtles?”
“General,” Sun Hua’s adjutant sniffed, “the air here doesn’t feel right. Is it a trap?”
“It doesn’t matter. The troops in Anling are now less than half of ours. Have you notified Qi State to move?” Sun Hua asked.
“The 50,000 elite troops from Qi State have already gone to Zhao Pass.”
“Good. Let’s see what Qin Yue is capable of.” Sun Hua laughed heartily. “Spread the order: attack the city with all our might. Whoever opens the city gate first will receive a rich reward.”
Underneath the city walls was a sea of people. Countless guards were hitting the city gate with wooden logs, causing the walls to tremble.
“General Qin, should we wait any longer?”
Qin Yue furrowed his brow without blinking. “We wait for the right moment.”
Suddenly, fireworks lit up in the direction of the State of Wei. Following closely, the night sky was engulfed in a red glow. The cold night wind blew, and the fiery light rapidly spread across half the sky.
