Is Yu Nanqing going to seize power?

If Yu Nanqing doesn't take power, then who will? The young emperor?

If it were a young emperor, he would simply be falling into one puppet regime after another. Don't forget that Empress Dowager Xia Yunshang is still lurking in the palace.

The power struggle between the Empress Dowager and Yu Nanqing may ultimately allow the Xia family to reap the benefits.

If it weren't for the young emperor, who else could the power be placed in? The Great Jin Dynasty can't be without someone in power.

Su Wanyan wanted to ask, but ultimately held back. There's no fixed path for the future; she just needed to stand firmly on Yu Nanqing's side when he made his choice.

"What are you thinking about, Yan'er?" Just as she was lost in thought, Yu Nanqing's voice rang in her ears again.

Su Wanyan smiled and said, "I won't tell you."

Upon hearing this, Yu Nanqing smiled and said, "By the way, I haven't seen Yan'er's newly made weapon yet."

Su Wanyan turned around: "I'm not telling you this either."

Taking advantage of the assassination attempt, Prince Gong's Mansion had closed its doors to visitors since the Mid-Autumn Festival. On the Double Ninth Festival, the city of Fu was bustling with activity as people and tourists flocked to climb the mountain.

But the entire palace seemed to be silent, and it looked very deserted from the outside. Even the number of maids and servants who came out to buy things was half that of usual.

In October, the weather in Fucheng was not cool at all; it was still a bit hot during the day, and only at night could you feel the change in the weather.

In the main courtyard of Prince Gong's Mansion, the room was brightly lit, and Su Wanyan, dressed in her undergarments, was fiddling with her bottles and jars.

Several white powders were placed on the table, with medicine paper underneath them.

She used a bamboo tube to take a little powder, put it into the baked medicine shell, and then applied a layer of sticky ointment.

The medicine shells were no bigger than soybeans. Su Wanyan held them firmly with bamboo tweezers. After finishing, she put the shells into a small white jar to dry.

Looking at the small white jar again, it's already half full.

Qiu Ye came in carrying a thin blanket. The sound of her footsteps made Su Wanyan look up. After Qiu Ye closed the door, she turned her attention back to the medicine box in her hand.

The windows and doors were tightly closed, and there wasn't a breath of wind inside.

Qiu Ye walked carefully, afraid of disturbing her master.

After spreading out the quilt, Qiu Ye was about to leave when she heard Su Wanyan look up and ask, "Is the Lower Yuan Festival coming soon?"

Qiu Ye lowered her eyes and replied, "Your Majesty, it will be the day after tomorrow."

Su Wanyan nodded: "Let's go for a stroll in the streets on the Lantern Festival."

"Yes." Qiu Ye replied, but seeing Su Wanyan engrossed in her work again, she couldn't help but whisper a reminder: "Your Highness, it's already very late. You've been sitting all day. What if you ruin your health? Perhaps... you can continue working tomorrow?"

"Okay." Su Wanyan didn't refuse Qiu Ye's kindness: "Rest after you finish this."

Qiu Ye smiled and said, "I'm right at the door. Your Highness can call me anytime."

"good."

Seeing that Su Wanyan agreed, Qiu Ye quietly withdrew.

After the Double Ninth Festival on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, Yu Nanqing had already left Fucheng.

The Prince's Mansion kept the news of Yu Nanqing's departure from the city a secret, and the officials in the city were also unaware of it. Every few days, official documents would be sent to the mansion.

To avoid arousing suspicion, Su Wanyan imitated Yu Nanqing's handwriting to write the official documents and also began to handle the important matters sent by the prefect, the patrol officer, and the education commissioner.

Of course, she didn't do everything herself and avoided overdoing things. So, for some minor matters, she sent them back to the officials in Fucheng to make their own decisions.

Besides keeping it a secret from the city, even the maids and servants in the mansion were unaware that Yu Nanqing had left Fucheng.

Even before leaving, Yu Nanqing had been going out early and returning late for a period of time. The servants in the mansion rarely saw Yu Nanqing, and with this operation, he became even more elusive.

It has been almost a month since Yu Nanqing left, and there has been no unusual activity in the mansion.

As for purchasing, keeping watch, and the mobilization and arrangement of guards in the manor, Su Wanyan took advantage of her spare time to go through it all, so that she could quickly find a solution if something happened.

Yu Nanqing knew that Su Wanyan didn't like dealing with these things, so he had already told her before leaving that she only needed to wait for him to return at the Prince's Mansion, and that Wang Zhang should handle the rest.

Su Wanyan verbally agreed, but both she and Yu Nanqing knew that she was not as 'dutiful' as she appeared on the surface.

It must be said that Su Wanyan was already adept at handling these matters during the years when Yu Nanqing was injured, so now it's just a matter of 'returning to her old ways' for her.

Although Wang Zhang had been the steward for several years, he was more than willing to let Su Wanyan take charge of the Prince Gong's Mansion. Compared to him, Su Wanyan was more decisive and ruthless in handling certain matters.

If anyone could truly win his heart, it would be Su Wanyan. Even his prince would have to rank behind his princess. The reason is simple: it was Su Wanyan who led Yu Nanqing and the Prince Gong's Mansion to a miraculous rebirth from the brink of despair.

His ability to handle the housekeeping matter so well was entirely due to Su Wanyan's training over the years.

So whatever Su Wanyan wanted to do, Wang Zhang cooperated with her completely without the slightest hesitation.

On the fifteenth of October, the Lantern Festival, Su Wanyan made a grand trip to the temple.

She was assassinated at the temple on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival. This time, she came under the guise of praying for blessings, but her main purpose was to show her face to the people.

The temple also arranged a hall for her to listen to the sutras. Su Wanyan stayed there from morning until noon before leaving the temple with the abbot's respectful farewell.

The building was filled with smoke.

Su Wanyan requested a private room. The waiter from Yanmanlou brought out the dishes, and as soon as she picked up her chopsticks, Qiuye served her the dishes.

Su Wanyan took her hand and pulled her to sit down together: "Let's eat together."

Having spent a long time with Su Wanyan, Qiu Ye didn't stand on ceremony and sat down as Su Wanyan suggested.

Su Wanyan placed a dish on Qiuye's plate, and Qiuye quickly caught it in her bowl.

Just then, Su Wanyan deliberately lowered her voice and said, "Are Huang Ye and Luo Xue ready?"

Qiu Ye nodded: "Everything is ready. Your Highness, you can act whenever you wish."

As she spoke, she looked at the food in her bowl, hesitant to speak further.

Su Wanyan smiled with satisfaction: "That's good."

She buried her head in her food and ate a mouthful, which immediately eased her hunger. She had almost fallen asleep while listening to the sutras in the temple, and she had nearly yawned several times.

"Your Majesty," Qiu Ye finally spoke, "Are you really not going to reconsider?"

"I've thought about it long enough." Su Wanyan picked up a piece of food and put it in her mouth.

Qiu Ye opened her mouth, then suddenly closed it again.

Su Wanyan laughed and said, "You should eat. I'm starving. Don't look so gloomy, it'll affect your appetite."

Helpless, Qiu Ye could only pick up her chopsticks and put the food from the bowl into her mouth.

At night, Su Wanyan was fast asleep.

The sound of a night watchman's gong echoed through the streets of Fucheng.

A moment later, the door creaked open, and Qiuye appeared inside, holding a candle.