Chapter 75 Wei Qin told her to be serious and not to act recklessly…

The snow was crisscrossed with tire tracks, mixed with yellow sand and mud, staining Jiang Yinyue's delicate little boots.

In the dead of night, when her breath turned to mist, Jiang Yinyue appeared on the long street wearing only a thin dress.

The moonlight rippled gently, and the rustling north wind pierced through the silk that offered no warmth. Jiang Yinyue lifted her skirt and ran, her hair bun askew, her hairpins falling off, and her crimson dress swaying, becoming a vibrant splash of emerald and crimson amidst the silver-clad landscape.

Not long ago, she received a message from her father, who had sent someone back to inform her that Wei Qin was seriously injured. Her beautiful face was frozen in the snow, and she rushed out of the mansion without a care.

In the distance, scattered jade fragments appear, indistinguishable as frozen plum blossoms or plum blossom-like white snow.

She saw a group of people drive into the city gate, followed by a carriage.

The wind howls, the moon weeps, and people grieve.

Jiang Yinyue ran forward and reached out her hand beside the slowing carriage, but her father pulled her onto the carriage aisle.

Her throat was throbbing painfully, and she looked at her father with sorrow, silently asking if he was alright.

Jiang Song comforted him, "I'm fine, go see him."

Jiang Yinyue lifted the curtain and crawled into the carriage, only to be terrified by the scene before her, bursting into tears.

Wei Qinping lay on the bottom of the car, which was covered with thick bedding. His bare chest was wrapped with a clean white cloth, and the plum blossoms were stained with snow, turning them bright red.

He was injured again, and this time it was more serious than ever before.

Jiang Yinyue moved closer to the man, but dared not reach out to touch him, and did not even have the courage to wake him up.

Wei Qin, you promised me you wouldn't get hurt again.

Hot tears fell.

The man's face was deathly pale, his lips were bloodless, and he showed no reaction whatsoever.

Jiang Yinyue sat to the side, leaning close to his face, tentatively feeling his breath.

Her breath was faint and weak.

She took a deep breath and gently leaned against his chest, not daring to press down on him, yet wanting so much to be close to him.

Tears streamed from the corner of my eye, down the bridge of my nose, and into my other eye, leaving a stinging, slightly painful feeling.

Wei Yihe, please don't get hurt again.

The convoy headed straight for the Imperial Hospital.

Unbeknownst to Jiang Yinyue, as she drew ever closer to Wei Qin, the unconscious man raised his hand amidst a familiar pear scent, making a gesture of embracing, but then, unable to support himself, it fell limp.

**

As Jiang Song escorted his son-in-law and daughter to the Imperial Hospital, he led the officials of the Ministry of Justice out of the hospital's gates. Hundreds of imperial guards and eunuchs were waiting outside in the midst of a snowstorm for the Minister's orders.

"Follow me into the palace."

The crowd formed a grand and imposing formation.

Jiang Song did not change into clean official robes. Covered in blood, he entered the palace gate and drew his sword to slash at any guards who tried to stop him.

He held the imperial sword in his hand, having received it from his son-in-law.

In front of the Emperor's sleeping quarters, the guards of the Twelve Imperial Guards retreated like waves.

Jiang Song carried a severed head and threw it in front of the guards.

It was the head of a commander of the Twelve Guards.

“I am ordered to protect Your Majesty. Anyone who dares to obstruct me will be just like this man.”

He casually remarked something and strode forward, forcing the "waves" to part and make way for him, creating a straight path.

Inside the main hall, an old eunuch holding a whisk curled his lips and said with deep wrinkles around his eyes, "Minister Jiang has finally returned."

Jiang Song sheathed his sword. "If we don't come back soon, some clowns will really think they can control the inner court."

Emperor Shunren, supported by two men, stepped down from the dragon bed. His thin body, wrapped in a bright yellow dragon robe, looked frail and emaciated. He gazed at the snow falling outside the palace gate, and in a daze, the snowflakes transformed into human figures, graceful and dignified, serene and composed.

"Zitong, is that you?"

"You've forgiven me?"

Jiang Song and Cao Angui exchanged a glance.

The emperor only ever called one person "Zitong," and that was his first wife, Empress Yide.

Is he having hysteria?

Jiang Song warned, "Your Majesty, the Eldest Princess hired someone to commit murder and obstructed my return to the palace to protect you. Her intentions are despicable."

Emperor Shunren was pulled back to his senses, nodded vigorously, and said through gritted teeth, "The ungrateful wretch, she must die! I want her dead!"

While the princess's palace was surrounded, the jeweled woman was still enjoying a foot massage from her male favorite.

She lay on the rocking chair, glancing at Jiang Song who led the way in, "As expected of the Minister, he is blessed with good fortune and a long life."

Gambling always involves winning and losing.

If Jiang Song dies, she wins. If Jiang Song lives, she loses.

Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war, and the eldest princess, who was used to bloodshed, did not show much emotional fluctuation.

Jiang Song wasn't in a hurry to arrest anyone. He kicked aside the panicked male concubine, pulled up a chair, and sat down with a relaxed posture. "Your Highness should know the consequences of murdering a court official. Will Your Highness go to the Ministry of Justice prison by yourself, or will we have to carry you there?"

"Jiang Song, I have no choice."

Was he explaining and apologizing? Jiang Song was slightly taken aback, but he wasn't moved.

It's like a venomous snake crawling into his sleeve, claiming he just wanted to avoid the wind and snow.

"The Crown Prince hasn't made a move yet, why is Your Highness so eager to prove your loyalty and achieve merit?"

“It is the Crown Prince’s indecisiveness that has harmed me.”

Jiang Song is His Majesty's right-hand man. Without Jiang Song, His Majesty loses his trump card to turn the tide. The Crown Prince should mobilize the Eastern Palace forces to intercept and kill Jiang Song to eliminate future troubles.

Indecisiveness hinders great achievements!

The eldest princess didn't think her decision to assassinate Jiang Song was wrong; she simply misjudged him and placed a bet on the wrong person. Those who aspire to great things must avoid indecisiveness, wanting both the throne and a good reputation, thus missing opportunities—this is the root of failure.

There's no such thing as perfection!

"Jiang Song, I want some dignity."

"good."

The wind howled as the eldest princess, her face ashen, walked out of her palace with the imperial guards.

When she caught sight of Empress Dong in the distance, she chuckled. Dong Qiaowen, who had risen to power through cunning and yet craved the emperor's favor, was ultimately not a true phoenix and could not rest easy.

Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river.

A trusted aide from Kunning Palace leaned closer to Dong Qiaowen and asked, "Your Highness, will the arrest of the Eldest Princess implicate the Crown Prince?"

The Crown Prince severed all ties with the Eldest Princess to avoid being implicated. Dong Qiaowen clenched her sleeves in the wind, hoping that her son would be decisive this time and not hesitate to sever his aunt-nephew relationship with the Eldest Princess.

**

At the gate of the East Palace, heavily guarded, Fu Zhongcai, who rarely interfered in court affairs, stood at the front row, facing Jiang Song.

"What does the Princess's murder of Minister Jiang have to do with the Crown Prince? His Highness the Crown Prince not only rejected the Princess's proposal, but also tried to stop it. He has already sent some of the Princess's associates to the Ministry of Justice. Minister Jiang will find out when he interrogates them."

"As far as I know, the Eldest Princess has always maintained close contact with His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Isn't it normal for aunts and nieces to interact?"

Jiang Song had been in office for more than ten years and had engaged in heated debates with countless civil and military officials, but he had never confronted the kind-hearted Fu Zhongcai. The two were not only nodding acquaintances, but would also occasionally joke around. However, things changed in a short time.

"What about the Crown Prince's imprisonment of His Majesty?"

"Where does this talk of confinement come from?" Grand Secretary Zhou Yujin stepped out from the heavily guarded wall of men. "His Majesty is sometimes clear-headed and sometimes confused. If he is not kept in his bedchamber, who will be responsible if something happens?"

"According to Chief Minister Zhou, having the Crown Prince act as regent is also a way to share His Majesty's burdens?"

"If the Crown Prince isn't going to act as regent, does that mean Minister Jiang will have to?"

Jiang Song didn't engage in verbal sparring. When it came to sophistry, which of the six ministries in the cabinet was clumsy and tongue-tied?

Continuing to argue is a waste of breath.

The Crown Prince should be thankful that the Emperor suddenly suffered a hysteria; otherwise, everyone in the Eastern Palace would have been punished by the Emperor for attempting to usurp the throne.

The emperor, who suddenly developed hysteria, became a patient that Zhou Yujin said needed to take care of.

Fu Zhongcai stepped forward and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "His Highness the Crown Prince couldn't bear to keep Minister Jiang in the dark, so he specially ordered me to send Minister Jiang a sorcerer."

What do you mean?

Fu Zhongcai lowered his voice again and explained the reason to Jiang Song.

Jiang Song's peach blossom eyes were even more chilling than frozen plum blossoms.

The emperor once sent a sorcerer to find an opportunity to murder his daughter, but the attempt failed.

**

After returning to the Jiang residence from the Imperial Hospital, Jiang Yinyue wrung out a damp cloth and carefully wiped the dried bloodstains from Wei Qin's body.

Wei Qin woke up three times from his coma, each time gently calling out to his mistress. Only when Jiang Yinyue appeared before him could he fall back asleep peacefully.

Jiang Song visited his son-in-law in the back room, without mentioning the sorcerer. The Crown Prince's plan was nothing more than to sow discord between the emperor and his ministers, but now there was no need for that; he wanted to support the eldest prince, who had risen from the ashes.

The more Jiang Song thought about it, the more emotional he became. He sighed softly, pulled his daughter over, and in front of the unconscious Wei Qin, advised, "He lied to you, but he also saved your father. Can we just wipe the slate clean?"

Jiang Yinyue countered, "What does Father think?"

"As your father, I think it's about right."

"Yeah, pretty much."

The father and daughter discussed the matter and found a way to back down gracefully.

Jiang Song hugged his daughter and said, "From now on, my daughter Niannian will have someone in her heart who is just as important as her father."

Jiang Yinyue did not deny it. With tears in her eyes, after her father left, she held Wei Qin's cold hand and pressed it against her cheek. "I'll count to ten. If you wake up, I will completely forgive you."

"One, two... nine..."

Jiang Yinyue stomped her foot. "Didn't you hear me? I'll count again."

"One, two..."

"I heard you."

Jiang Yinyue's heart skipped a beat as she felt Wei Qin weakly grip her hand. She immediately gripped his hand back, bursting into laughter through her tears, yet still feeling lingering fear.

The hidden arrow pierced Wei Qin's chest, less than an inch from his heart.

"You're not allowed to get hurt again."

Wei Qin gently pulled his hand away from hers and used his thumb to wipe the tears from her face. "Don't cry."

"It's because you're always getting hurt."

The woman's voice choked with sobs.

Wei Qin was weak and let his hands hang down on the edge of the bed. "Miss, don't forget to feed me my medicine."

"I remember, it's not time yet."

"Um."

Jiang Yinyue belatedly realized that the way to administer medicine was mouth-to-mouth.

"You can take the medicine yourself."

"Alright."

Jiang Yinyue couldn't tell if he was taking advantage of the situation. This man had a cold and aloof face, and he seemed sly and wicked.

The night was deep, the wind rattled the window. Jiang Yinyue glanced at the water clock, took out the medicine from the warming dish, sat back on the embroidered stool by the bed, and gently called to Wei Qin.

The person who had fallen into a deep sleep did not wake up.

Jiang Yinyue took a mouthful of bitter soup, skillfully pried open Wei Qin's jaw, aimed it at his lips, and fed him the medicine little by little.

Her eyes were bright and sparkling, staring unblinkingly at the magnified face in front of her, as if afraid he would suddenly open his eyes.

It's a little embarrassing, even though this isn't the first time I've given medicine to someone.

"cough."

The man who had choked suddenly propped himself up on his elbows, turned his face to the side, and coughed lightly.

Jiang Yinyue quickly patted his back, watching as blood seeped through the white cloth wrapped around his chest.

"I'll go and fetch the physician."

"Need not."

Wei Qin pulled her back, took the bowl of medicine, and gulped it down in one go. "Is there any candied fruit?"

Jiang Yinyue, who was unprepared, wanted the maid outside the door to bring the box containing various candied fruits, but Wei Qin stopped her again.

The man, who had lost his strength, pulled her down onto the bed with a slight tug. He explained in a hoarse voice and then precisely sealed Jiang Yinyue's lips with a kiss.

"No need for that."

The young lady's lips were much sweeter than candied fruit.

"You...can't use force..."

Jiang Yinyue, caught in his kiss, didn't know whether to push him away or embrace him, worried about touching his wound.

Wei Qin used his thumb and forefinger to lift her face, telling her to be serious and not to move around.