Chapter 61: Jiang, stabbed in the back by his two brothers...

At 2:45 AM, the warm curtains were half-open, and the young woman nestled in the quilt was breathing evenly, sleeping peacefully.

Wei Qin sat on the edge of the bed until nearly dawn, when the driver urged him three times before he slowly got up.

The door opened, and the morning breeze rushed in, billowing the man's thin official robe.

Beneath her official hat, stray strands of hair brushed against her temples.

The head maid whispered to the young master, "Go and fetch him a cloak."

Even though she knew her son-in-law was sensitive to heat, she always dressed lightly.

Jiang Song, who was waiting in the carriage, was suffering from a hangover. His peach blossom eyes were hazy and glazed over by the smell of alcohol. He was listless and did not blame his son-in-law for being late. He raised his sleeve and signaled the driver to speed up the journey.

Wei Qin lifted his robe and sat down beside Jiang Song, silently massaging his father-in-law's forehead.

"Thank you for your help, son-in-law."

"Father has worked hard, and this is all the help I can offer."

The pressure applied to his forehead was neither too light nor too heavy. Jiang Song squinted and enjoyed it, his beautiful face showing signs of fatigue and a somewhat sloppy expression.

"My dear son-in-law should know the sorrow of his father."

"From the very beginning, the Dong family never intended to recommend my father for the position of prime minister."

"But the Crown Prince is the legitimate heir."

"His Majesty broke the rule of primogeniture, not meritocracy, and from that moment on, things were destined to be unpredictable. The so-called legitimate heir of the Eastern Palace is nothing more than a concubine's son whom His Majesty forcibly elevates."

Jiang Song, who had been half-closing his peach blossom eyes, suddenly opened his eyes.

The wind stirred the curtains, and the painted curtains were filled with swirling smoke, dreamlike and ethereal, drifting and swirling throughout the carriage.

The eyes are blurry.

"What does my son-in-law mean?"

"I hope my father's situation will take a turn for the better."

Jiang Song was not pleased and was absent-minded all day. Suddenly he remembered his wife's concerns: Wei Qin was thoughtful and good at hiding his talents, and was probably not someone to be underestimated.

The son-in-law in the morning mist lost his refined appearance and gained a hint of sinister gloom, much like a reed under the hazy moon, budding and waiting to bloom, biding his time.

Even Jiang Song, who had seen countless people, suddenly became unsure whether he had understood the ambition in the eyes of this aloof and taciturn scholar back then.

Is standing out from the crowd just the tip of the iceberg of ambition?

Could it be that they want to change the crown prince? And which prince do they want to support to ascend the throne?

"Minister, the Grand Secretary has been chosen."

The subordinate's report pulled Jiang Song back to reality. Jiang Song pressed his nose and pulled his feet back from the table. "Who has been chosen?"

"Minister of Personnel"

Jiang Song scoffed. So the marriage between the Crown Prince and the daughter of the Minister of Personnel has been settled, right?

Autumn colors painted the oranges and pomelos red, a rare splash of vibrant color amidst the bleakness. Wei Xichen sat on a chaise lounge, peeled an orange, and handed it to Jiang Song, who was leaning against the table.

If it weren't for that twist of fate back then, the two of them would have become father-in-law and son-in-law, and there would be no Minister of Personnel for them.

The infighting among powerful officials ended up benefiting the kind-hearted Minister of Personnel.

Jiang Song took the orange, peeled off a segment and put it in his mouth. He didn't taste any sourness, but rather sweet and refreshing. "Your subject has come to congratulate Your Highness on finding a good match."

Thank you.

"It seems there's nothing more for me to do."

Grand Secretary Dong always considered the Crown Prince's interests, recruiting talented individuals and strengthening the Eastern Palace's influence. The Minister of Personnel, the newly appointed Grand Secretary, was different; he would exclude colleagues who competed with him for favor in the Eastern Palace.

"Does the Minister resent being alone?"

Jiang Song smiled, but his peach blossom eyes, which could no longer shimmer in the autumn light, dimmed. "Which matter is Your Highness referring to?"

Wei Xichen was splashed with the juice from the orange peel, which stung his eyelashes amidst the refreshing sensation.

Even when the atmosphere was tense, everyone left politely.

Wei Xichen was left alone in the bedroom, continuing to peel oranges in the empty hall.

Fu Zhongcai walked in carrying the little tabby cat, placing it on the ground. "Your Highness, why don't you appease Minister Jiang? What if Minister Jiang switches allegiance to the Third Prince..."

“Zhou Yujin is different from my maternal grandfather. He is not someone who thinks of me in all matters and cannot tolerate powerful ministers who compete with him.”

Two tigers cannot share one mountain. The two powerful ministers, both vying to become the Crown Prince's most trusted confidants, will inevitably fight each other to the death, causing chaos and destruction, unless one side is willing to concede defeat.

"This old servant feels weary for Your Highness."

Wei Xichen put a segment of orange in his mouth and swallowed it along with his weariness and bitterness. He was not only mentally exhausted, but also guarding a big secret. If Jiang Song and his son knew that the emperor intended to take Jiang Yinyue's life, the two of them would be like throwing an egg against a rock.

No matter how powerful Jiang Song was, if he defied the emperor, it would be like throwing an egg against a rock. Jiang Song's power was granted by the emperor after weighing the pros and cons.

Parting ways could be a fatal blow to Jiang Song and his son, but in that case, Jiang Yinyue would also be implicated.

Wei Xichen let the rich juice of the orange flow through his fingers.

The little tabby cat tried to lick it, but Wei Xichen picked it up and placed it on his lap.

After the frost, the palace woods displayed their final splendor, the maple forest ablaze with color, before the leaves fell one by one. Jiang Song gathered his crane-feather cloak, his feet treading on the dried, withered leaves, the sound of the falling leaves echoing in his heart.

He was always competitive and always wanted to be the best. His sudden defeat was more disheartening than the falling leaves before him.

If we follow Imperial Censor Zhang's advice, the Emperor is in his prime, and the young princes are growing up strong. The outcome is still uncertain. He could feign dealings with the Crown Prince and secretly look for a prince to support. However, he has the conflict between his beloved daughter and the Crown Prince, and he is also embroiled in a dispute with the Minister of Personnel. His relationship with the Crown Prince has already become fraught with tension, and he is no longer capable of feigning dealings.

The same applies to the crown prince.

A relationship where both parties see through each other will only exhaust you if you just go through the motions with superficial social interactions.

Jiang Song walked slowly, not encountering the Third Prince who was always trying to win people's hearts, but instead met Cui Shengzhi walking towards him.

The old man held a feather fan and slowly fanned himself. "Oh, Minister Jiang is quite clever."

Jiang Song nodded. "Where is the Grand Tutor going?"

"I forgot."

"......"

Cui Shengzhi tapped his forehead with his feather fan, smiled and shook his head, "As I get older, I forget many things, but I remember one thing: I always want to find an opportunity to have a drink with Minister Jiang."

The old man approached Jiang Song and said, "There's no better time than today, would you do me the honor of joining us?"

Jiang Song raised his eyebrows, scrutinizing the old man's sincerity.

"Respect is not as good as obedience."

**

When Wei Qin returned home late at night, Jiang Yinyue was still holding a wine jar and guarding the door of her father's study.

Upon seeing Wei Qin, she did not immediately jump off the corridor railing, but instead rested her chin on her hand and murmured, "The county princess told me that wine can relieve all sorrows, and getting drunk is all that matters."

"Where's my older brother?"

"I've gone to find Sister Hongmei."

Wei Qin walked up to his wife and tried to take the wine jar from her arms, but she raised her arm to avoid him.

"This was prepared for Father. Grand Secretary Wei cannot take what belongs to others."

The woman smiled brightly, her face radiant and charming, showing no signs of hangover or memory of the previous night.

Wei Qin carried her, along with the wine jar, in his arms and carried her to the back room.

Jiang Yinyue didn't hesitate and leaned on her husband's strong arm. "You can also help me persuade Father that if he can't be the Grand Secretary, he'll have a more relaxed life."

In the past, Grand Secretary Dong worked through the night, becoming so thin he was practically skin and bones.

Wei Qin didn't answer, but used his elbow to push open the door to the boudoir.

He placed the person on the tea table and removed the wine jar from his wife's arms. "How much do you remember about last night?"

Jiang Yinyue, her mind blank, felt a little guilty, wondering if she would lose her composure.

Wei Qin stood in front of Jiang Yinyue, his strong arms bracing against her sides. "Miss said she likes me."

"Ah, ah..."

Jiang Yinyue thought to herself, thankfully she hadn't lost her composure. She could only say that she was more courageous when she was drunk, and courage should be used in one go, then it would wane and eventually be exhausted! Having said that, she took a deep breath, cupped Wei Qin's face, and solemnly said, "That wasn't drunken talk."

That's the truth.

She smiled after saying that, revealing her red lips and white teeth.

The smile of the one you love is as sweet as a cherry blossom on a cherry blossom.

Wei Qin heard it clearly, distinctly. He closed his eyes, pressed his forehead against hers, and placed his large hand on the back of her neck. "Wei Qin will always be loyal to Miss."

Jiang Yinyue drew out her words suspiciously, then smiled and cupped Wei Qin's face in her hands again, "Loyal to me?"

"Um."

"Shouldn't it be... liking, admiring, or being fond of me?"

Wei Qin was so arrogant that he would never submit to anyone he disliked, was not pleased with, or did not like. He gently stroked Jiang Yinyue's nape and said in a hoarse voice, "I have a secret."

"Is it that secret from the Zhou family clinic in Yangzhou last time?"

"yes."

Jiang Yinyue suppressed her excitement and listened attentively to his secret.

Looking at the obedient and gentle woman, Wei Qin picked up the candlestick and lit it.

A fierce flame danced in his dark phoenix eyes, embers still lingering within them. "I fear fire."

Jiang Yinyue, who had been holding her breath, almost fainted. She looked up and laughed, "I thought it was some big secret, but I know!"

Her heartstrings were tugged, and she straightened her posture. Was Wei Qin about to recount his tragic childhood experiences? Was his insignificant biological father the root of his fear of fire?

“I am afraid of fire because I survived two fires. Once, my birth mother committed suicide, and I rushed into the fire and was knocked unconscious by a collapsing roof beam. The other time, I committed suicide and fell off a cliff during the explosion.”

"What...are you saying?"

“My ancestral home is not in Jinyang, but in the capital. My birth mother is Cui Yinghan.”

Cui Yinghan, Empress Yide.

Jiang Yinyue stared blankly at Wei Qin, who was shrouded in lamplight. Before she could even empathize with his tragic childhood, she was stunned into silence by the name of Empress Yide.

His face was deathly pale.

What are you saying?

"Miss heard that."

"What are you saying?!"

Jiang Yinyue suddenly shouted, startling the maid and old woman who were keeping watch outside the door.

"Miss?"

"Step back."

Jiang Yinyue stared intently at the man who was half a step away from her, a tear welling up in her eye, "Your name."

The shout turned into a hoarse question, with a faint chill in his voice.

"Wei Yihe".

Jiang Yinyue lowered her head, her shoulders trembling in the silence.

The swallowtail butterflies on the dress were wet, as if their wings had been soaked, and they no longer displayed their ethereal beauty.

Everything flowed smoothly and coherently. Wei Qin's superb martial arts skills, eloquence, knowledge, and courage, as well as his awkwardness, coldness, taciturnity, and stubbornness, could all be explained. For her, it wasn't a sudden realization, but a wake-up call.

Cui Shihan!

No wonder he was willing to jump into the water to save people; no wonder there was a subtle bond between them.

Everything makes sense now.

She was completely deceived.

Wei Qin's marriage into the Jiang family was a scheme orchestrated by the Cui family. Their target was her father, to force him to compromise and become their sharpest weapon.

There is no more reasonable explanation than this.

Jiang Yinyue raised her tearful eyes, as if the perfect match was just a mirage. She had once again staked her true feelings on it, only to find it was all a joke.

"Miss."

"Don't touch me."

Tears streamed down her face.

“Grand Secretary Wei, no…” Jiang Yinyue rubbed her eyes with her hand, “The Crown Prince is so cruel, adding insult to injury when I was already being verbally abused to the point of being utterly humiliated.”

Deceit and exploitation, taking advantage of her when she was at her most helpless.

Jiang Yinyue, who died three years ago, seems to have come back to life.

Jiang Yinyue, who had been stabbed in the back by the two brothers, regained consciousness amidst her pain.

-----------------------

Author's Note: My little sister before and after knowing the truth, hehe, no hehe.

50 small red envelopes