Standoff (Part 3)

"Nonsense!"

Consort De, who was standing nearby, suddenly spoke up, bowed to Emperor Zhaowen, and said quickly, "Your Majesty, this woman is talking nonsense. Everyone inside and outside the palace knows this. Prince An is with her day and night, and their affection is deep."

"Recently, the Empress Dowager and the Princess Consort have been busy with their marriage arrangements. How could he not know her true identity?!" She then pointed at Xie Xiangsi kneeling on the ground and said sternly, "She is clearly..."

As she was speaking, Consort De suddenly stopped and knelt down on the ground with a "plop".

"Your Majesty, I have misspoke."

Even if Zhou Yanzhi has his faults and problems, he is still surnamed "Zhou". His affairs are for Emperor Zhaowen to judge, and it is not up to her, a mere palace concubine, to criticize or doubt him.

Her actions were extremely rude.

She was too impatient for the plan to come to fruition.

Thinking of this, she secretly pinched her palm, glancing at Xie Xiangsi kneeling upright beside her, a fierce glint flashing in her eyes. If she hadn't pulled that stunt earlier, would she be in this situation?

I underestimated her. She's blind and deaf, yet she still managed to notice something was wrong with that pipa. She truly is Xiao Yunyan's son; she's just as astute as him!

...

The atmosphere in the main hall turned cold once again because of Consort De.

After a long silence, Emperor Zhaowen, who had kept his eyes closed and remained silent since Consort De spoke, slowly opened his eyes. His gaze swept across the entire hall, and as he looked at the people kneeling on the ground, a sense of desolation inexplicably rose in his heart.

Is he really unsuitable to be the emperor?

If Xiao Jiu were still here, would things be different now?

His gaze lingered on Consort De for a moment, then he sighed imperceptibly, a hint of sadness flashing in his eyes before quickly disappearing.

An emotionless voice echoed in the deathly silent hall.

"Xiao family girl, I'll ask you one more time, does Ce'an know anything about this?"

Jie Xiangsi blinked and calmly raised her head: "He doesn't know."

Emperor Zhaowen lowered his voice: "The truth?"

After a long silence, Xie Xiangsi smiled, a faint smile playing on her lips. Her tone was calm, yet exceptionally firm: "To be honest, Zhou Ce'an truly doesn't know."

From their first meeting in the capital, to their shared suffering in Yangqu, their love blossoming in Danzhou, and their return to the capital, the two of them truly never discussed this matter once along the way.

He didn't ask about her unusual behavior, and she didn't tell him about her background.

Thinking of that person who looked so beautiful in blue, the corners of Jie Xiangsi's lips, which had been curving upwards, gradually flattened, and her palms, hidden under the white sleeves, were pinched even more raw and bloody.

When she spoke again, her voice became even more indifferent.

"How could I possibly let him know my true identity?"

"Everyone knows that Zhou Ce'an is extremely rigid. If he finds out about this, how can I possibly use him to overturn the case?"

"Moreover, everyone in the capital knows that the eldest daughter of the Xiao family and the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review are irreconcilable enemies, born to be mortal enemies."

Fake.

She liked him, always liked him, ever since she was Xiao Yan. They first met in the outskirts of the capital when they were young, and she fell in love with him the moment he stepped into the chinaberry grove.

"It just so happens that he is fond of me and bewitched by me. He is nothing but a pretty face. How can he compare to the lives of my entire Xiao family?"

At this point, Xie Xiangsi chuckled softly, a barely perceptible red tinge appearing at the corners of her eyes. Her hands, hidden in her sleeves, clenched tighter and tighter, and crimson blood beads gradually soaked through her plain white clothes, just like the day she died as Xiao Yan.

It's like red plum blossoms blooming on a snow-white field.

What she just said is true, but not entirely true.

She had made a promise with him that once the Xiao family case was resolved, they would go to Xiangguo Temple together. This was not only to pledge their love and pray for a long and lasting relationship, but she also wanted to take the opportunity to tell him her true identity.

Taking a deep breath, she continued, "But I really didn't expect that Minister Zhou's willpower was so weak. In just one or two months, he fell deeply in love with me. He is a rare and devoted lover."

"It's just a pity that he met a heartless person."

She couldn't tell whether what he said was true or false.

She didn't know if she would have chosen to get so close if Zhou Yanzhi hadn't been in charge of the case. But she knew that she had her own selfish reasons for choosing this method.

She did it on purpose; she wanted to get close to Zhou Yanzhi. Their first encounter was so embarrassing, and she wanted to see if he would like her if their first meeting was different.

But to my surprise, the result was quite different.

In that case, returning to the way things were before is a good option.

He continued to be the upright and respected Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, while she became the daughter of a disgraced official, reviled by the people and feared by the emperor.

It's time to wake up from this beautiful dream...

...

The heavy curtains fell to the ground in layers, the sun was setting in the west, and the light and shadow falling on the embroidered curtains moved slowly, but the cold atmosphere in the hall remained.

The woman kneeling in the center of the hall was still dressed in a thin, plain robe. An endless chill crept up from the black bricks, climbing inch by inch up her knees and up every part of her body...

A chill spread silently.

Jie Xiangsi, however, remained oblivious, and continued, "However, I must thank Minister Zhou for his affection, which allowed him to follow my plan step by step to this point. Otherwise, I don't know how long it would have taken for me to turn the tide for my family..."

"Enough!"

Emperor Zhaowen clutched his chest, staring incredulously at the person kneeling on the ground, and asked incredulously, "You've been using Ce'an all along?!"

Xie Xiangsi smiled and said calmly, "Your Majesty is mistaken. There is no question of exploitation between us; it is merely a matter of each taking what they need."

Emperor Zhaowen stared at Xie Xiangsi with a complicated expression. Her words really made her sound like a heartless person.

Even the other officials in the main hall couldn't help but cast complicated glances at Jie Xiangsi. They thought their own affairs were already unfaithful enough, but they never expected this Miss Xiao to be so—

Even less intentional.

After a long silence, Emperor Zhaowen spoke again: "You are indeed honest."

Jie Xiangsi remained unfazed and accepted the sarcastic remark: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

My eyes, hidden beneath long eyelashes, inexplicably became sore.

Just now, she smelled a medicinal fragrance, the same one she had smelled in the Imperial Hospital. If she was not mistaken, it must be Qi Minghua.

I'm afraid that after today, every word she said in the Zichen Palace will reach his ears, and he... will probably hate her, right?

Gently touching her wrist, Jie Xiangsi's lips curved into a faint smile.

Fortunately, she had taken off the bracelet before going to Xiangguo Temple.

...

A gentle breeze began to stir, softly rustling Jie Xiangsi's robes that hung to the ground, like countless white butterflies with broken wings struggling. She simply kept her head down, letting those gazes—some filled with admiration, some with disgust, and some with fear—look over her.

After a long silence, Emperor Zhaowen slowly spoke: "The girl from the Xiao family."

Hearing the sound, Jie Xiangsi looked up.

"I have already ordered people to investigate your Xiao family's case. As for right and wrong, I will tell you first on the day I draw my conclusion."

Jie Xiangsi smiled with relief and bowed her head, saying, "Your subject, Xiao Yan, thanks Your Majesty!"

"but."

Emperor Zhaowen's tone suddenly turned serious: "As a member of the Xiao family, you are still a criminal awaiting punishment until the case is concluded. According to the law, you should be imprisoned in the imperial prison to await questioning."

Jie Xiangsi's expression remained unchanged: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Emperor Zhaowen raised his hand slightly, and the next second, two guards came out from the side hall and took Xie Xiangsi away.

...

"But before Miss Xiao could be officially imprisoned, the Fourth Prince led his men into the Zichen Palace, intending to force His Majesty to issue an abdication edict on the spot. However, His Majesty suddenly fell ill, vomited blood, and fainted."

Qi Minghua sighed, "His Majesty instructed me before that if there were any disturbances in the palace, I should take this imperial edict out of the palace to you and have you take it to Baiyangpo."

At this point, his eyes darkened.

"The Crown Prince is ordered to lead troops to purge the court of corrupt officials."

After a moment of silence, Zhou Yanzhi said in a hoarse voice, "I understand. I'll leave the city immediately."

Qi Minghua looked at Zhou Yanzhi beside her, whose breathing had become unsteady, yet he still seemed to want to say something but hesitated. She sighed helplessly, raised her hand and patted his shoulder, comforting him, "Upon learning that the Fourth Prince had launched a palace coup, the Empress Dowager's confidants took Miss Xiao out of the palace. She is currently in the dungeon of my residence."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yanzhi's eyes lit up, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

It's alright, it's alright...

Seeing his state, Qi Minghua said with a hint of disappointment, "Look at yourself now. She lied to you, and you're still worried about her. You should worry more about yourself."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yanzhi glanced at Qi Minghua, then stood up and walked towards the door, clearly not taking his words to heart.

After taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped.

She turned her head slightly and smiled at Qi Minghua and Su Feng, saying, "I knew she was Xiao Yan all along."

Her clumsy acting skills couldn't fool him.

"And can't you all tell? Her words today were clearly meant to absolve me of this matter." Zhou Yanzhi's eyes gleamed, and his tone carried a barely perceptible hint of smugness.

"She clearly...likes me a lot."

Qi Minghua: "..." So you were happy when you were breathing unsteadily just now?

Su Feng: "..." Is this what they call a devoted lover?

They looked at each other blankly and said in unison, "Ce'an, you're hopeless."

Zhou Yanzhi didn't care at all: "So what?"

He once said that he was willing to be the knife in her hand.

Whether it was for his own benefit or just for show, as long as she was moved, he was willing to be captured by her.

...

Perhaps because the Fourth Prince dared not make a fuss about what happened today, the guards in the capital did not obstruct Zhou Yanzhi much as usual. After he showed his token, they opened the gate and let him leave the city.

The horses galloped away, quickly leaving the city and heading towards Baiyangpo.

The sky tore through the thick clouds, and a dreamlike, fiery red glow fell against the dark night, carrying countless stars as it chased after Zhou Yanzhi as he sped away.