At this moment, the scene was chaotic.
People on the periphery were still fighting, and Chu Shao and the Crown Prince had even moved their confrontation from one side to the other.
However, centered around Xiao Jin’s wheelchair, there spread an aura of tranquility and absence of killing intent.
Xiao Jin believed that the Prince Shen’s death was imminent, and the words he spoke should be true.
Because she believed it to be the truth, she needed to confirm something else. “Regarding the mysterious character in Princess Qi Yun’s name, which ‘xuan’ character is it?”
Prince Shen hesitated for a moment and replied, “It’s the ‘xuan’ character from ‘The Xuan of Beautiful Jade’.”
Xiao Jin looked into the Prince Shen’s eyes for a long time, remaining silent.
Prince Shen, however, embraced Xiao Qing and brought her to Xiao Jin’s side, whispering, “Qing’er, from now on, you will follow your third older brother. You must listen to her and not cause trouble for her everywhere.”
Xiao Qing’s eyes reddened, and she looked at Xiao Jin with slight unease. Before she could say anything, Xiao Jin abruptly said in a somewhat stiff tone, “No need.”
Prince Shen was taken aback. Xiao Jin, on the other hand, was startled by being called “Third Older Brother” by the Prince Shen.
She thought people in ancient writings truly couldn’t see retinas. The original owner didn’t resemble an older brother at all.
But since they had come this far in the conversation, Xiao Jin thought for a moment and continued, “What I meant was, Prince Shen, you have a good relationship with Princess Zhao Yang, so she should have her own considerations.”
Implied in her words, Xiao Jin believed that since Xiao Shuang specifically told her not to worry about tonight’s matter, it meant the other party should handle it.
After all, after the alliance between Prince Shen and Xiao Shuang, Emperor Qi had completely harbored murderous intent towards him.
Prince Shen could be considered as a chess piece that could be used. Given Xiao Shuang’s temperament, she probably wouldn’t easily abandon him.
However, it seemed that the Prince Shen didn’t feel reassured after hearing Xiao Jin’s words. Instead, he shook his head and said, “I hope so.”
Xiao Qing looked at Prince Shen, then at Xiao Jin, and finally, cautiously called out, “Third Brother, can you take Father with you?”
This address made Xiao Jin’s head ache.
Firstly, she wanted to persuade Xiao Qing not to call her “Third Brother” because anyone called by that name didn’t have a good outcome.
Secondly, not to mention being called “Brother,” in this situation, even if she were called an ancestor, it wouldn’t help.
The Crown Prince had already arranged his men to surround the entire area, and reinforcements would definitely come soon.
Once there were more troops, Xiao Shuang probably wouldn’t lend a hand. She didn’t have the ability to take away a treasonous minister in front of everyone’s eyes.
Prince Shen observed Xiao Jin’s expression and was about to reprimand Xiao Qing when a large number of burning torches in the distance interrupted his next words. The blazing fire was particularly dazzling in the darkness, causing the fighting crowd to stop and cast vigilant gazes towards it.
Xiao Jin raised her eyes and saw a person riding a jet-black horse with sideburns, their amber eyes shimmering with a deep and cold light in the night. In an instant, she suddenly felt that Tang Ling resembled a pack of wolves howling at the moon, creeping up the hillside under the cover of darkness.
Because those amber eyes never revealed a hint of innocence, their shallow and clear color concealed a sharpness, carrying a hidden savagery.
Tang Ling rode on the horse, surrounded by numerous torches, and the blue robe he wore had a patchwork of golden and red stains. It must have been very hot at the moment, but his expression was extremely relaxed as he stared at Xiao Jin and continued to smile. “Your Highness Yan, under the orders of Her Highness Zhao Yang, I have come to escort you back to camp.”
Xiao Jin looked at Tang Ling without speaking.
Tang Ling added, “Tonight’s matter actually has little to do with you. It’s better to mind one’s own business. You don’t need to intervene.”
Xiao Jin calmly asked, “Why?”
This time, Tang Ling fell silent.
Not only Tang Ling, but even the people who had stopped fighting stared at Xiao Jin sitting in the wheelchair, feeling a sense of admiration.
Only Xiao Jin, who had grown up under Xiao Shuang’s protection, dared to challenge the two Tangs.
Everyone knew that Tang Yu and Tang Ling were like two mad dogs under Xiao Shuang’s command.
One was crazy enough to shoot through the head of the Empress’s father, while the other was heartless and unscrupulous, willing to endure for decades in order to achieve his goals, even betraying her former close friend.
And now, Xiao Jin asked Tang Ling a seemingly simple question that was difficult for the other party to answer.
Why couldn’t she intervene?
This question was profound, so Tang Ling’s answer was equally profound. “Before I arrived, you probably didn’t want to intervene.”
Tang Ling guessed right.
Xiao Jin hadn’t planned to get involved in this matter.
But now that someone suddenly told her not to intervene, she wanted to try if she could. Thus, she earnestly said, “I want to intervene now.”
Tang Ling furrowed her brows slightly. “But you can’t.”
Xiao Jin nodded. “But I want to intervene now. Commander Tang, as a subject, it seems you also have no authority to restrain me.”
This statement sounded a bit convoluted at first, but when spoken by Xiao Jin, it caused Chu Shao to lightly chuckle.
The disciples of Tianya Sect saw Chu Shao laughing, although they didn’t understand why, after a moment of exchanging glances, they also laughed along with Chu Shao.
In the midst of the laughter, Tang Ling’s eyebrows furrowed even tighter. It had to be said that the Prince Yan and the Princess were indeed very talented at putting her in a difficult position.
Her appearance in this place clearly indicated Princess Zhao Yang’s stance—Prince Shen was already a discarded piece.
But Xiao Jin didn’t back down. She went against her previous thoughts and even defied Princess Zhao Yang’s will.
If anyone else did such a thing, it would be considered highly irrational. However, when it happened to Prince Yan, Tang Ling felt it was perfectly logical.
After all, the Prince Yan had never been someone who gave people peace of mind.
Tang Ling suddenly became curious about what Prince Yan had in mind, so she asked, “What do you want to do?”
Xiao Jin raised her hand and pointed to Xiao Qing, who was trembling beside her, and said, “I want to take her away.”
Tang Ling didn’t give a direct answer and only said, “It’s difficult.”
“How difficult?”
“In any case, I don’t have the authority to do it,” Tang Ling paused and smiled, “Of course, Your Highness Yan, you don’t have the authority either, because capturing traitorous ministers is a royal decree, it’s the Emperor’s will.”
Xiao Jin spoke in a calm voice, “So, in Commander Tang’s eyes, Princess Qing is also a traitorous minister.”
“Her Highness Yan, regarding this matter, you should ask the Emperor instead of asking me. The purpose of my visit this time is just to deliver a message on behalf of Princess Zhao Yang and escort you back,” Tang Ling said.
Xiao Jin understood and then said, “I don’t want to go back.”
Headstrong, truly headstrong.
Except for Chu Shao, everyone present couldn’t help but have this thought.
Of course, Chu Shao’s thoughts could be ignored.
After all, Xiao Jin had a filter with her.
Prince Yan was the Prince Yan, and the Princess was the Princess.
Xiao Jin, who called her ” Princess,” could do anything she wanted.
Tang Ling was obviously not Chu Shao and didn’t have a filter for Xiao Jin.
She remained silent for a long time, about to handle the matter in an official manner, but was suddenly interrupted by a familiar voice from behind, “You want to take Qing’er away?”
Xiao Jin turned her head and looked at the figure slowly walking out of the bright flames, dressed in a red robe. The color on her fingernails was like the glow of clouds, freshly dyed tonight.
Facing Xiao Shuang standing in front of her, Xiao Jin remembered many things.
But in the end, Xiao Jin just nodded and replied, “Yes.”
Xiao Shuang stood in front of Xiao Jin, her red robe as bright as blood.
After a while, she nodded, “The palace allows it.”
….
For many people, tonight was undoubtedly a thrilling night.
Prince Shen was captured by the Crown Prince on charges of rebellion, and the Emperor Qi, who knows what he said to the Empress, suddenly spat out blood and fell seriously ill.
However, in the tent of Princess Zhao Yang, there was no heavy atmosphere spreading.
After settling Xiao Qing, Xiao Shuang pushed a teacup in front of Xiao Jin, saying very casually, “This is tea brought from the Western Regions by Tang Ling. It was delivered by fast horses, so it’s still fresh.”
Xiao Jin thought of Tang Ling’s wolf-like eyes and recalled that she had seen Xiao Jin standing up in the cave.
But strangely, Xiao Shuang seemed unaware of this.
Although Xiao Jin wasn’t sure if Xiao Shuang knew about it, she didn’t have the mood to drink tea. She took a sip out of courtesy and went straight to the point, “Does Auntie know that the Crown Prince will go to capture Prince Shen?”
Xiao Shuang nodded, “Yes.”
“And you also know that Father’s cough will worsen?”
“Mm.”
Xiao Jin fell silent.
Xiao Shuang looked at the tea cup held in Xiao Jin’s hand and knew what she wanted to ask.
She calmly said, “The news of the Crown Prince going to capture Prince Shen tonight was intentionally leaked by the palace for the Empress to hear. The pills that the Emperor regularly takes were also developed by people from the palace.”
“In other words, it’s not Prince Shen who should be executed, but the palace itself. The palace has committed the crime of regicide, and even if it were to be torn apart by horses, it would be justifiable.”
“According to the laws of Qi Country, that is indeed the case. However, who dares to bring the palace to the execution ground and tear it apart by horses?”
Towards the end, Xiao Shuang’s tone even sounded somewhat indifferent.
This casual attitude was incredibly arrogant and proud, but when it came from Princess Zhao Yang, it didn’t make people resentful.
Because she had the capital to be arrogant.
Although Xiao Shuang had the right to say such things, openly discussing the act of regicide in the tent was only possible because of her status. She was completely uninhibited.
It was only at this moment that Xiao Jin realized she had never truly understood Xiao Shuang.
She didn’t completely see Xiao Shuang as a paper figure, but since she arrived here, she had always maintained an indifferent attitude towards everything here.
However, in reality, Xiao Jin hadn’t been completely indifferent.
At the very least, from the beginning until now, her words had always been about going home, yet she had done many things unrelated to going home.
To the point that now, Xiao Jin couldn’t deny that she had never understood the people here. She had already seen them, but she was unwilling to admit it.
She refused to admit the bamboo rib umbrella that opened over her head in winter, the two sets of footprints left in the snow.
She refused to admit that the spring in Qingzhou was actually warm, with the sound of flutes drifting through the streets, and the melody played by Chu Shao’s lips was unparalleled in its elegance.
She refused to admit the lotus blossoms that grew from the pond in summer, the pearl earrings that sweated in the palm of her hand, and the fact that the rain in the cave was truly cold, but Chu Shao’s embrace made her feel warm.
There were too many things that Xiao Jin didn’t want to admit.
Even the moment when Xiao Shuang picked up a wooden comb and passed it through her hair, that casual and ordinary moment, was seen as an obstacle by her.
Because she knew very well that in this unfamiliar world, no one could stop her from going home.
Except herself.
But she truly liked Chu Shao.
She liked her in spring, liked her in summer, and autumn hadn’t come yet, but Xiao Jin could already envision herself liking her in advance.
If she could watch the snow with Chu Shao before going home, that would be wonderful.
If she could see Chu Shao in spring, summer, and autumn, that would be even better.
However, Xiao Jin knew that such good things didn’t exist in the world. People always had many dissatisfactions and desires that couldn’t be fulfilled.
She had thought too much already, so she shouldn’t think any further.
But she really liked Chu Shao.
Just the thought of it made Xiao Jin almost succumb to her own infatuated mind.
She kept thinking, kept thinking, still thinking.
Enough was enough.
Xiao Shuang didn’t let Xiao Jin wander in her daze for too long. She deliberately placed the tea cup back on the table.
Xiao Jin looked at Xiao Shuang’s hand and then at her face, instantly becoming clear-headed.
Because the face of Princess Zhao Yang clearly displayed the words “serious drama.” Even if she had fallen into the frequency of love, she couldn’t relax upon seeing her.
Following that, Xiao Jin started to recall where Xiao Shuang had left off.
Oh, they were talking about the Crown Prince’s nighttime capture of Prince Shen, and Xiao Shuang’s plan to poison the Emperor.
So Xiao Jin asked, “Auntie, why?”
She asked this way because it was a versatile phrase. Before fully understanding the other person’s thoughts, it was best to pretend to know nothing and engage in a shallow conversation.
Xiao Shuang didn’t explain, so she didn’t explain.
On the contrary, if Xiao Shuang did explain, then it would be a gain.
As it turned out, even though Xiao Jin had done many things that went against her own intentions, Xiao Shuang still cared about some unclear emotional bond.
She lightly replied, “The palace won’t save Prince Shen for two reasons. First, he has become useless, and he came to the palace that day because he sensed that the Empress and the Emperor wanted to deal with him. After all, his existence… indeed poses a threat to the Crown Prince.”
Xiao Jin nodded, “Auntie only mentioned one reason. What about the second?”
“The second reason is that the rumors spread by the palace recently are not enough to pose a threat to the Crown Prince. However, if the Crown Prince kills Prince Shen tonight, it will make the people feel fearful.”
Xiao Shuang smiled and said, “After all, the Crown Prince of Qi Country has always presented himself as virtuous and benevolent. In this way, the palace doesn’t need to do anything, and rumors will naturally spread throughout the streets.”
“But the Crown Prince is following the imperial edict, and if we examine it closely, there is nothing inappropriate about it.” Xiao Jin furrowed her eyebrows slightly, stating a harsh truth.
Xiao Shuang chuckled softly, “Subjects should naturally follow their ruler. The common people understand this principle, but they are often foolish and won’t blame the ones giving the orders. Instead, they will curse at the ones executing them. It’s a common occurrence.”
Having reached this point in the conversation, Xiao Jin could only maintain her composure and draw a conclusion, “So, Prince Shen must die.”
“Yes, he must die.”
Xiao Shuang’s face once again revealed an indifferent expression, “He thought the palace didn’t know, but he was actually involved in that matter back then. The palace has always known and hasn’t forgotten. If he doesn’t die, then who should?”
Xiao Jin asked, “What about Father?”
A moment of silence ensued.
After a while, Xiao Shuang unexpectedly smiled, “The only reason why your father should die is simple.”
Xiao Jin stared at Xiao Shuang, almost thinking that she was about to reveal the truth.
But Xiao Shuang just casually dropped a sentence, “If he doesn’t die, how can you take that position?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Translator’s note: But she doesn’t want that position, she just wants to go home, to enjoy modern life.
TO BE CONTINUE…
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