Chapter 18 Love Lasts Forever

"Do you believe it?" Qiu Xuan couldn't help but ask Feifei.

"I believe a person's luck can be good or bad," Feifei whispered. "I also believe there are people in this world who can use witchcraft to make fortunes and change their luck."

"However, if they can really kill people from a distance, then why do we need to go into battle and kill the enemy? Can't they just chant a spell and solve everything?"

She gently squeezed Qiu Xuan's hand: "Don't be scared by him."

"I just can't understand why the old lady is so afraid of him," Qiu Xuan said. "Even if he still holds the emperor's favor, he can't just come and deal with the Marquisate without any regard for the consequences."

Feifei rolled her eyes and asked, "Did they have a feud before?"

"Probably not." Qiu Xuan thought for a moment. "The old lady used to be the Queen's Grand Chamberlain. Later, her eldest son died of illness. She was so heartbroken that her health deteriorated, so she resigned from the position."

"When did that happen? Had the two charlatans already entered the palace at that time?" Feifei asked again.

"It seemed to have happened more than ten years ago, when they first entered the palace," Qiu Xuan recalled. "Sixteen years ago, I remember, when it happened, Youzhen had just been born."

"I always feel like there's a conspiracy." Feifei touched her chin, "But I have no evidence."

"You mean, the two of them have been planning to overthrow the queen since sixteen years ago?" Qiu Xuan asked.

"Yes, yes, yes, you're really smart. That's exactly what I meant." Feifei added, "But now's not the time to talk about this. If he dares to come once, he can come a second time. If he comes again, leave it to me."

"I'm with you."

"No need." Feifei flexed her wrists. "I've been sitting in the house all day with nothing to do. I'm so lazy I'm just using him as a practice."

*

A few more days passed like this.

Ji Tiao had done everything properly, and Ji Zhuang had no idea who took the wizard away.

When Jing Beian came back, he brought Qiu Xuan a piece of news: Ji Zhuang had been so angry that he had beaten two of his men to death.

"This matter can't be resolved peacefully. He killed those close to him, and now he's going to start killing outsiders." Jing Beian said to Qiu Xuan, "You'd better find the person quickly."

"If we find them, I'm afraid they'll be dead."

"You have to find it, if you don't, it will be bad if someone else finds it."

"In that case, lend me two people." Qiu Xuan said immediately.

Jing Beian looked at Qiu Xuan in surprise, was stunned for a moment, and then smiled.

"So you've already thought about it."

Nonsense, Qiu Xuan thought.

She and Feifei discussed it all night and both felt that they must find Ji Yao, but they didn't have anyone on their side, so no matter how many plans they had, it would be useless.

It was Feifei who came up with the idea: "Go ask him for people. The people he brings are all very smart."

"Ji Yao is at least a well-known figure in Dadu. If he hasn't shown up for a few days, the Ji family can still find an excuse. If he's missing for a long time, someone will definitely ask about it."

Qiu Xuan poured herself a cup of tea, but it was snatched away by Jing Beian.

"Besides, using your people will make sense to the Ji family. It's only natural for a brother to help his sister."

"You're still her sister-in-law."

Qiu Xuan raised her hand to stop Jing Beian's words: "That's wrong. My marriage to the Marquis's Mansion doesn't really count. It's better to say that this is just a way for the old lady to pray for the afterlife."

Qiu Xuan borrowed the etiquette and legal books from the Princess's Mansion from Xu Sheren, and only then did she realize that in her situation, she could leave her husband's family after spending three to five years.

Jing Beian held the teacup and pondered for a while: "What good will it do me?"

"You want to stay in the capital," Qiu Xuan said firmly. "Don't rush to refute. If you wanted to return to Liangzhou, you could have petitioned the court long ago."

"Go on." Jing Beian put down the cup.

"You want to stay in the capital, but you can't stay idle at home. The best thing is to join the Northern Army."

Qiu Xuan thought that it was really easy to get things done with someone in the court, and that the news that Xu Sheren shared with her was enough for her.

"A captain of the Northern Army is in mourning, and someone is needed to replace him. You are undoubtedly on the Princess's shortlist, but there are many people eyeing this position, and Ji Zhuang is a very threatening opponent."

"Since you say he's a big threat, what are my chances of winning?"

"The Northern Army already has two eunuch captains," Qiu Xuan explained. "No one wants a third."

"That makes sense." Jing Beian nodded, "But what does this have to do with finding the Ji family?"

"His brother has a good relationship with that captain. Wouldn't it be great if he could recommend him?" Qiu Xuan poured herself another cup of tea and finally drank it. "It's not like the Ji family doesn't want to find him, but they've been searching for three days with no success, which means they're helpless."

"People have already escaped from Dadu."

"No, the shaman has already found the horses."

Yesterday, Ji Zhuang brought his horse to the Ji Mansion to cause trouble. Ji Tiao showed him the theft list that he had reported to the government a month ago.

Unable to find any flaws, Ji Zhuang dragged the horse to the main gate of Ji's mansion and chopped off its head. This angered Censor Ji so much that he complained to the Empress Dowager.

"Without mounts, and with the city gates strictly guarded these days, they can't leave the city," Qiu Xuan concluded.

"They can't even find their own family members, but you can?"

"How about we make a bet?" Qiu Xuan suggested.

"Interesting. If you want to make a bet, then I have no choice but to lend him to you." Jing Beian teased, "Fei Fei taught you, right?"

"As long as it works, you dare to bet on it."

"You should ask yourself that question." Jing Beian moved closer to Qiu Xuan. "After all, you don't have much that can interest me."

"I won, and you have to tell me the purpose of staying in the capital."

A fake is still a fake after all. Instead of leaving Beijing quickly, he wanted to stay.

"Change it." Jing Beian said immediately.

"Let's talk about it later. Lend me the person and I'll need him tomorrow." Qiu Xuan said, then stood up and said, "I'll go first."

*

The next day, there were indeed two young men who looked very smart waiting with Xu Qi for Qiu Xuan to go out.

"Madam, where are we going today? Are we going to the Princess's Mansion again? Can we bring back some snacks from the Princess's Mansion this time?" Gan Tang's mouth was watering just by mentioning those various cakes.

"Let's go somewhere else to play, and when we come back let's go to the East Market." Qiu Xuan coaxed.

"Madam." Xu Qi saluted Qiu Xuan.

"Let's go to the south of the city first. I'll show you the way."

Then Qiu Xuan instructed the two guards, "Follow behind the car first and watch out for anyone following us."

"Don't worry, we are familiar with this kind of thing."

Qiu Xuan nodded and took Gan Tang into the car.

There were many more soldiers patrolling the streets. Although Ji Zhuang couldn't get the Northern Army's token, no one dared to neglect him. Most of them had almost gone out to look for him in person in the past few days.

Qiuxuan first went to the temple in the south of the city and added some fragrant oil to the Jing family's eternal lamp.

Then she took Gan Tang through the monks' quarters and left from the back.

The two guards sent by Jing Beian followed them closely and provided protection.

After walking for about a quarter of an hour, Qiu Xuan asked Gan Tang to wait outside with the guards.

"Watch my gestures later and report to the Ji Mansion."

Then he knocked on the small door on the corner.

"Today is the day of the new moon, come and have some tea." Qiu Xuan said softly.

When the door opened, a female voice exclaimed:

“Who are you!”