Chapter 99: Weakness (19+20, two-in-one, dinner party, today...

——————

Yan Siqing had the patience to speak to the emperor because he was the emperor.

Regardless of whether the other party repeatedly tests her or uses the power of thunder to force her to submit, she is always in the lower position.

There's nothing to feel wronged about.

Because everyone in the world is like this.

Who would not submit under the emperor?

But in front of Shen Zangyu or Qi Wuhui, she seemed to have no such patience. She frowned, her expression cold and unconcealed. Just as she was about to speak...

"Lord Yan?!"

Princess Huaixuan came and greeted them with surprise. There were a bunch of palace maids around her. When she came, Chen Cangyu had to bow.

Huai Xuan seemed to have just noticed his presence and glanced at him. "Ah, who are you?"

How could she not recognize it?

It was intentional, with a contemptuous tone and without even giving me any glances.

Actually, it wasn't that bad. No matter what, she was still the emperor's favorite. Huai Xuan had always been smooth and tactful. Although she was favored and arrogant, and had a bad reputation, the court officials never had any major opinions about her. This was because she always respected civil and military officials and had never committed the serious crime of favoritism and abuse of power. Compared with those royal family members who bullied men and women every day, she was much better. After all, it was said that she was very generous to her favorites, and they were truly willing. They were all pampered and lavished. Many talented scholars and poets wrote masterpieces and even competed for her favor, vying to show off their talents...

There's nothing much to say about that.

Chen Cangyu sensed Huai Xuan's deliberate hostility. He knew that he now had a very bad reputation in the court. After all, the title of a slave of three surnames was no joke, and all the civil and military officials looked down on him.

But Huaixuan definitely didn't do that. She has always been able to pretend, and that was just to pretend to be like Yan Siqing.

But so what, he was in power.

There is ample time.

He saluted in a neither humble nor arrogant manner, "Madam Shen, we will talk again another day."

Huaixuan had a slight expression on his face and was about to chase and kill him.

Yan Siqing: "They all say that General Qi is a slave of three surnames."

Chen Cangyu paused and stared at her, "Do you think so too?"

He clenched his fists.

Yan Siqing saw that his emotions were out of control, and knew that if this man was as patient as the rumors said, he would not dare to do that just now.

It could have been missed and nothing would have happened.

He insisted on tickling.

"No."

"Aren't they all the same surname?"

"They misunderstood you."

She was still tolerant, but this time her tolerance was tinged with disgust and impatience.

Even explicitly aggressive.

Huai Xuan instantly saw the blood drain from the face of this favored minister who had suddenly gained power.

Yan Siqing is a very interesting person. She never verbally insults others.

Unless, it's really disgusting.

Obviously, this favorite minister also knows this...

Chen Cangyu moved his mouth slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but Yan Siqing walked over.

It wasn't him who came over, it was her who walked over.

Walk past him.

"Are you trying to persuade me or protect me?"

"What else can you say?"

“But I said it, but I can’t do it.”

"What kind of man is that?"

She roams among the powerful and deals with the wealthy and powerful, and because of the state of the world, most of these wealthy and powerful are men.

She had no awe for them.

Especially the man she had first despised.

She wasn't always graceful.

Especially when the other party loses his composure first.

Yan Siqing was in a bad mood, so she humiliated him, but when she looked at Huai Xuan, she smiled gently again.

"The princess is here to enjoy the flowers?"

"No, I came to see you, but it's also a flower viewing... and it's more than just flowers."

Yan Siqing smiled, but did not accept the princess's friendly gesture with shining eyes, but followed her out.

Chen Cangyu stood there with a gloomy expression.

He can act arrogantly in front of everyone, and he doesn't care even if others insult him.

But he was still certain - he would never be able to raise his head in front of her.

I was reminded of the way couples bowed to each other when they were young.

In fact, they can't see each other's appearance.

Later, he lifted her red veil. He had no real love for her in his heart, but was calm after weighing the pros and cons. However, when he saw her gentle smiling yet slightly uncomfortable face, he felt hesitant and uneasy.

But that was the time when he felt the most conscientious in his life.

Now, when there is no turning back, it should be completely annihilated.

He turned around and stared at her back, his eyes growing colder.

——————

Huai Xuan still reminded Yan Siqing.

"When villains succeed, they can be very harmful."

"But I know that you, Lord Yan, will definitely have a way to deal with this kind of villain."

Yan Siqing actually knew that Chen Cangyu dared to provoke her like this only because she saw that she had no power at the moment.

She posed no threat to him, and he had other confidence, so he could approach her on impulse.

Don't worry about the consequences.

"Your Highness's first words are correct, but the latter part is incorrect."

"I have no power, there is nothing I can do."

Huai Xuan laughed, "Power is the most empty thing. It comes from nowhere and can be taken away at any time."

"If you rely on power to survive, you will be destroyed by it at any time. Unless you have the wisdom to fight for power, that is the only long-term solution."

"See that?"

Yan Siqing followed her gaze and pointed. That was the entrance and exit of the garden, which she had seen when she came here.

"This place is called Qinghuang Garden?"

"Yes, it's a garden named after the emperor and empress of the previous dynasty."

This is a taboo, but for the royal children, it is not too taboo. After all, the tombstone is there, which shows that the emperor has no taboos.

Huai Xuan mentioned the name, and Yan Siqing, who was not illiterate, naturally recognized it. After a moment's hesitation, he slowly said, "I remember there is also a 'Blue Phoenix Courtyard' over at the Hot Spring Villa, which is where you, Princess, live."

That day, she stood under the plaque.

"Yes, that place was actually chosen by Empress Xie back then. They went there to soak in the hot springs, but my father was not shy about it and even forbade others to move the stone tablet."

Yan Siqing: "Your Majesty is tolerant."

Huai Xuan had a strange expression on his face, then he said in a low voice, "Perhaps it's because the deposed emperor died here."

Yan Siqing paused, as if looking at an ancient stele.

It was as if I saw the former emperor, at the time of the fall of his kingdom, wearing a dragon robe, walking here step by step in the rain, touching the stone tablet where he and the queen had once enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the world, and finally committing suicide here.

Blood irrigates this delicate soil of power, making it bloom every year.

"If a man dies while his people prosper, it is also a good thing."

Yan Siqing said softly.

Huaixuan was a little distracted, but there were some things she couldn't say.

For example, emperors are the most fickle people in the world.

The emperor has no home.

"Let me escort Master Yan out."

"It's late at night."

Yan Siqing glanced at the other person's half-finished makeup. Such a refined and hedonistic person came in a hurry.

She came to ensure that Yan Siqing could leave the palace.

She Huaixuan never owes anyone a favor.

Yan Siqing's eyes softened a lot, and he looked at the stele again.

"Then, I'll trouble you, Your Highness."

——————

At the palace gate, Huaixuan still couldn't help himself.

"Master Yan, are you sure you want to go to the Kingdom of Daqin?"

“There are other ways.”

Now the news is flying everywhere.

She came to the palace to look for someone based on her judgment.

After finding it and sending it away, it can be considered as a relay with King Yan, but she can't stop the future.

Yan Siqing's situation seemed to be locked.

Huai Xuan actually felt uncomfortable - she saw how radiant and capable the other woman was in turning the tide.

I saw the other party's helplessness again.

And the ones who forced the other party were his own father and so-called new brothers.

The court remained silent on this matter.

Among them were many people whose lives were saved by Yan Siqing at the hot spring villa.

Just as it corresponds to Zhan Tianli's penetrating question that night: If, one day, she is like this, what will you do?

Since ancient times, evil people have better understood the evil in human hearts.

How ridiculous.

Even she can only do this much.

Yan Siqing was beside the carriage. The rain had stopped, but the sky and the earth were still damp, and the ground was wet. The accumulated water slowly flowed out of the palace and was sent into the ground along the route designed by top craftsmen since ancient times to send the dirty water.

She was distracted at first, but came back to her senses after being asked.

No one wants to be away from home, that is the worst option.

But she would still choose this.

"Well, the envoy from the Arab Empire should be arriving soon."

"Your Highness, don't feel sorry for me."

"The world is vast, and I'm a businessman by nature. It's good for me to be able to understand the economy and expand trade far and wide."

"Besides, Hai Fugui is the person I trust the most. I have never had any other choice."

Huai Xuan hesitated, but was still very determined, "What about Chi Lin? You, why don't you make another choice."

Women understand women better.

She can see what is true and what is forbearance.

If you want something, you need to endure it.

Only restraint is needed.

He seemed to be silent, then smiled.

"If the result has already been chosen."

"Then there's no need to regret."

"I also hope that Your Highness can help me block some of the news and prevent it from reaching the border, as that would be detrimental to the war. I will also have such arrangements at Prince Yan's Mansion."

"He will have a better future, and better people will stand in his way."

She left.

Huai Xuan stood there in a daze, then smiled.

What Yan Siqing meant was that no matter what, Jiang Hui was the person she was determined to give up after weighing all the pros and cons.

Whether it's for her mother, for her daughter, or for herself.

She had given up on Jiang Hui.

This decision has never been overturned.

After getting on the carriage, she was not thinking about Jiang Hui.

But it is hidden jade.

This man is indeed a threat.

She was debating whether to just get rid of him.

But what if he is eliminated, and Zhao Zhao grows up and finds out about these things...

Yan Siqing hesitated about this.

Xiaoyun: "Boss? Are you going back home? I just got the news that the city gate is blocked."

It’s not surprising that Yan Siqing came back to his senses.

"Your Majesty is doubting me."

Xiaoyun has always been curious, but she doesn’t understand why the emperor would doubt Yan Siqing if he was not after wealth?

She didn't ask, but she didn't expect Yan Siqing to say it herself.

"Maybe he's suspecting that I'm not my parents' daughter."

Xiaoyun: “???”

Yan Siqing leaned against the carriage, closed his eyes and rested, his voice very faint.

"He's been looking for his kids."

"He suspected that the Yan family had given away the baby from that year. Could it be that he suspected me?"

"He is even more suspicious than the current King of England."

She smiled.

Looking at Xiaoyun's frightened expression, he reached out and touched her.

"Don't be afraid."

"If I really am your prince's aunt."

"That might be a good thing for him."

What a good thing.

The prince will go crazy!!

"Boss, don't scare me. You just don't want us to spread the news to the border."

"Yeah, that's really smart, so don't tell me."

Xiaoyun was almost crying.

What to do then?

"But the prince will have to know this in the future... In fact, before he left, the prince said that no matter what happens, just tell him and he will have a way to deal with it. Even if it's something on His Majesty's side, he has a way. He was prepared before he left."

"You trust him more, he said..."

Yan Siqing turned away and said calmly, "No need."

"By then, it was done and I was married."

"Besides, if she marries overseas, I'll never see her again. She's out of my sight, so it'll pass quickly."

"Don't underestimate your Highness the Prince."

"He's not that fragile."

——————

Yan Siqing went to the palace and came out safely. It seemed that the emperor acquiesced to her previous refusal of marriage. Soon, news came from the Ministry of Rites that the envoys from the Kingdom of the Arabs would indeed be visiting... A marriage between the two countries would bring huge profits.

Arranged marriages seem to have never existed.

The King of England said nothing.

But the generals at the Chang'an city gate also received an order - Yan Siqing and her entourage were not allowed to leave Chang'an.

Zhan Tianli was still like a dead fish, not speaking or changing his words. Every day he was like a piece of wood, just staring at the ray of white light outside the skylight.

After nightfall, it lay there like a lonely stray dog.

Yan Siqing spent a few days sorting out the financial affairs of the shop. The Ministry of Revenue, having changed its previous attitude, became much more accommodating, releasing the people directly and even widely publicizing that the previous incident was a malicious report... Some officials handled the matter improperly and are now under investigation. Some of her shops were even commended for their outstanding tax collection, benefiting the country and the people...

Those are all for the person in charge to deal with.

Yan Siqing stayed in Prince Yan's mansion for a few days, and everyone was talking about her getting married...The King of England seemed to have accepted his fate.

Just the day before King Lie was about to be beheaded, Zhan Tianli was also about to be executed.

The people of Chang'an celebrated privately, but since he was the emperor's son, they did not dare to be too blatant. They just talked about it occasionally, and after drinking a little wine, it became a bit lively.

Yan Siqing dealt with the affairs of his subordinates and also inspected other shops, but he met with Xie Juanshu at the store on North Street.

The two companies discussed some business matters.

The other party was in a position to make the decision, and still negotiated a deal with Yan Siqing despite her uncertain future.

Yan Siqing didn't ask her why she was so bold...

Xie Juanshu took the initiative to say: "Anyway, if there is a loss, it is the family's money, not mine."

Um?

Ha ha.

Yan Siqing was amused, "Well, that's very wise, thank you Miss."

Xie Juanshu also smiled and asked the servants to send some famous tea. "When it comes to food and beverages, I dare not compete with Miss Yan. Fortunately, I can still send some tea and books."

Yan Siqing thanked him and indeed liked it, but he could also see that the man hesitated to speak several times under his smile.

"About my marriage?"

Xie Juanshu paused and asked her if she wanted to make other choices.

She wanted to mention Jiang Hui.

It seems that everyone wants to mention him.

If push comes to shove, maybe he's best?

Yan Siqing felt a little embarrassed: Is it so well known to everyone?

She was helpless, but also embarrassed. "I thought you would ask me to find a man I could control. It seems that throughout the dynasties, noble ladies have used this kind of legal system to cheat marriages."

Didn’t Xie Juanshu fool people like King Ling before?

Xie Juanshu paused and said, "I'm afraid you'll be blamed."

"And I hate that I'm not a man."

Yan Siqing was drinking tea at first, and laughed when he heard this, as if he was looking at a confused little girl.

"Then it's a pity for you indeed."

"Marry me, it's a lot of money."

She was elegant and calm, and didn't seem to take the matter seriously, which made Xie Juanshu feel very helpless, but he also wondered: maybe this was also under the other party's control, and was also a good way out she believed in.

Well, maybe there is no need for outsiders like them to worry.

In their opinion, the Arab Empire is far inferior to their own Celestial Empire, but perhaps it is more free?

Xie Juanshu accepted it anyway. "You can live in China permanently in the future. You're going to do business anyway, right?"

"Well, maybe. There's a lot of business on the sea, so we travel back and forth frequently."

Yan Siqing didn't say anything about death. After the two of them signed the contract and were about to leave, they ran into people from the Imperial Hospital at the clinic opposite.

Both sides were surprised. After the imperial physician saluted, he told them that they were here to persuade the doctor of this clinic to work in the Imperial Hospital.

There is a severe shortage of female doctors. Now many female doctors have been persuaded to join the government, where they receive state salaries and enjoy high status. Only one is unwilling to do so.

The Imperial Hospital knew of his extraordinary talent and visited him three times...with the intention of persuading him.

This was what Yan Siqing and the other man ran into.

Yan Siqing stopped when he saw Chen Xu.

Chen Xu was also surprised. After some explanation, he found out that this pharmacy was also the place where Chen Yue was cured.

That is indeed an extraordinary skill.

"If you really don't want to, forget it. The people and the government are all here to save people."

Yan Siqing said it casually, and Xie Juanshu also said a few words. The imperial physician accepted it. After thinking about it, he gave the token and said that even if it did not belong to the Imperial Hospital, if there were any troubles in the future, he could still be affiliated with the Imperial Hospital.

As long as it doesn't offend the powerful people above, the Imperial Medical Service still has some face. After all, every household has urgent matters to deal with. Ordinary civil and military officials are happy to make friends with the Imperial Medical Service, which does not threaten power or interests, and will not offend it easily.

The clinic was familiar with Chen Xu, and since there was a good thing going on right now, they accepted it.

Yan Siqing left quickly, but when he left, he had a pot of fine wine in his arms.

Chen Xu came to the clinic to give her friend some wine—she became friends with the doctor.

I sent a few jars, and suddenly wanted to give one to Yan Siqing, but Yan Siqing only took one pot.

After she entered the clinic, she apologized to her friend and explained.

The female doctor laughed and said very reasonably, "Do you think I have never drunk alcohol? I have drunk so much. Besides, Mr. Yan is a good man. We ordinary people know that. However, you have to go back and make up for it."

"No problem, I'll go get it."

Chen Xu left happily.

The female doctor narrowed her eyes.

"We finalized the deal with the Xie family so quickly. Furthermore, the Xie family has recently been expanding into overseas tea business, and their trade route passes through the Kingdom of Daqin."

"Is she really married? Isn't this just a temporary solution?"

She looked confused and uncertain, but she was still cautious and quickly wrote a secret letter.

"Send it to the border quickly."

"Let His Highness know."

She is actually Jiang Hui's power!

——————

The next day, Prince Lie and Zhan Tianli waited for him to be executed.

After tossing and turning.

That night, King Lie's head appeared in front of a cemetery on a mountain in the corner of Chang'an.

The person holding the human head....in the moonlight, his face was as beautiful as a jade.

When the head was placed in front of the grave, there was a young man beside it...turning Buddhist beads.

Bald head, white clothes.

"Your Highness, you are a little scary at night."

The King of England turned around and smiled.

"Are you so timid? Didn't you even go and talk to my princess?"

The muscles on Chen Cangyu's cheeks trembled.

He is not just a slave of three surnames, but of four.

No, it’s always the same surname.

"I thought His Highness was just using the marriage to force her, deliberately using her to cause Jiang Hui to lose his mind, and forcing Prince Yan's Mansion to fight against His Majesty in order to disobey His Majesty's order."

"Once Prince Yan and his son die, you will be the only one who can inherit the throne."

Chen Cangyu had a heavy expression on his face, still thinking that Wei Chen was joking.

Liaochen: "Since I am the future emperor, I will naturally choose the best woman in the world to share supreme power with me."

"Do you think I'm as stupid as you?"

Hidden Jade: “…”

The three princes who tried to curry favor with him all had improper thoughts about his ex-wife.

He had a blank expression on his face, but he couldn't say anything to belittle Yan Siqing.

"Just kidding."

"As a monk, I don't care about this."

"But Yan Siqing is so calm that he didn't let the news get out. If I deliberately sent someone to the border to deliver the message, if they were discovered, it would be like exposing my own flaws."

Chen Zangyu had to remind him, "Now it seems that not only did she not fall for the trap, but she also plans to use the Daqin Kingdom to escape from these traps. Once the marriage between the two countries is completed, she will marry the barbarians from the Daqin Kingdom..."

The King interrupted him.

"This won't happen."

Chen Cangyu raised his eyebrows, "Your Highness, do you have a good idea?"

"Yes, she has a unique flaw."

"I already have it."

Chen Cangyu saw that the man was holding a small jade pendant in his palm, but it was dark and he couldn't see the quality of it.

He was puzzled.

The next day, this small jade pendant and a secret letter were delivered to Yan Siqing.

Yan Siqing sat on the chair with a pale face.

That afternoon, she went to the meeting room in Queguan Tower. There was no one else in the room except Lachen, and Yan Siqing did not let anyone else accompany him.

Before she could speak, Lechen walked over.

"Madam, with the help of your ex-husband, I finally got to see your beloved daughter. She is so lovely, and I am honored to be her father."

Yan Siqing was almost amused by the anger and glanced at this nasty man who had completely changed his image as an enlightened monk.

"Are you really the emperor's son?"

“I don’t think so.”

"Otherwise, why would you cling to me so tightly? Are you short of money to deal with Prince Yan?"

"Too poor?"

Yan Siqing walked away, not wanting to get too close to this person.

Lechen was not angry either. He took the initiative to pour tea, as if to apologize, "Miss Yan, why are you angry? But I am indeed the son of the emperor. It's just that unlike His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who was brought up by His Majesty since childhood and has the bearing of a royal family, I am just an ordinary person."

"No prince can tolerate it."

"Am I wrong to want the best?"

Yan Siqing ignored his words and sneered: "Since ancient times, those who have vested interests are often the ones who started the trouble. Are you and Chen Cangyu really worth considering?"

"Aren't you afraid of His Majesty's suspicion if you act this way?"

Lechen: "Aren't we all the same? We are all suspected."

"However, Your Majesty suspects that you have the Xie family's treasure."

Earth-shattering.

Yan Siqing frowned, said nothing, and looked at him with strange eyes.

Liaochen smiled faintly, "Back then, your Yan family helped my mother rescue me from the sea of ​​fire. It was out of gratitude that I remember. So we were one from the beginning. But I was too young at the time to directly inherit everything that my mother left me."

Yan Siqing: "Are you crazy? What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Why bother pretending? My biological mother is not some traitor who defected to the new monarch beside Queen Xie. She is Queen Xie."

Liaochen poured tea, lowered his eyes, and had a sad look on his face.

"He just didn't dare admit it. He admitted that he forced the previous queen to give birth to this wicked child like me, so he just said I was the son of a spy."

"Just think about it, if I wasn't the son of Empress Xie, why would the Yan family, who had received Empress Xie's favor, risk saving me? Without the Yan family saving me, would I have been able to escape?"

"Empress Xie was able to mediate the situation. She and the deposed emperor managed to turn the tide in the last three years and almost ended the chaos. This was due to her immense wealth, which allowed her to stabilize the economy and support the military. Unfortunately, she lacked time and was unable to stop General Jiang's million-strong army, thus ending in complete defeat."

"She became a prisoner and was forced to have a son like me."

"How can the Empress and others tolerate this? They want to kill two people with one body."

"But my wicked son survived a great disaster... but there's nothing I can do. The eldest son is the legitimate heir, and Prince Yan is like a mountain."

Liaochen supported his chin and looked at Yan Siqing gently.

"You and I have a common enemy, and we should be one."

"As long as you are willing, I will treat Zhao Zhao as my own child."

"You don't have a choice."

"So promise me... to hand over the Xie family's treasures and the previous dynasty's treasury treasures. Oh, and more."

He paused, then said four words more gently.

"The Imperial Seal."

This is also the fundamental reason why Emperor Heng seems to be testing her, investigating her, but is afraid of being exposed in the end.

Yan Siqing: “….”

"What makes you think I have these things?"

"Even if you were Empress Xie's son and she held the secrets, and she revealed these things before her death... she wouldn't have handed them over to an old medical officer. The fact that you're still alive and have the planning power you have today means you must have Empress Xie's former subordinates helping you. Even if you were too young to inherit, you could have handed them over to them. There's no way they would have given it to my great-grandfather."

Yan Siqing coldly rejected his request.

Liaochen's eyes were gloomy and uncertain, "I checked, they really don't have it."

"And they also said that the person Queen Xie trusted the most was your great-grandfather. When she was pregnant, she didn't let anyone else get close except him."

The words seem to be indifferent.

Lechen couldn't threaten too much, mainly because he was not sure who had the imperial seal, but he had to get the power from Yan Siqing.

"If you don't join forces with me, do you think His Majesty will let you go?"

"After all, I am his son. In this world, it's either me or Prince Yan and his son. You have always refused to accept Jiang Hui, isn't it because you know that Empress Yuan is the culprit who killed your Yan family?"

"You didn't have a choice."

"No one can let you go."

Lechen sneered.

The real dead end is whoever holds her daughter, and she has no choice but to compromise.

She looked at the small jade pendant in her hand and said, "She is not in Chang'an, you don't have to lie to me."

"I've been in contact with them. Everything was fine during the last contact. Even if you found her later, it would only be six days. There's no way you could have brought her to Chang'an."

"This jade pendant is not the one she has."

She turned and tried to leave.

"Yeah, it's not. You're too calm."

"But, I did find her place. She's still in Narrow City. I just didn't have time to send her to me. But I can temporarily copy the appearance of this jade pendant, so I can find someone to forge one."

"Just think about it, if we hadn't caught the real person, how would we know what the jade pendant she was wearing looked like?"

"You won't come to see me either."

"You might want to send someone to rescue your daughter, but won't that buy time? Even during this time, you have to obey me, lest I send a pigeon and have my men kill her directly. Do you dare to bet?"

"Or would you seek help from King Yan? Ask His Majesty?"

"They are more your enemies than I am."

The words seemed to stop there.

————

The next day, the envoy from the Arab Empire had not yet arrived in Chang'an, but everyone in Chang'an knew about it.

During the court meeting, the King of England asked for marriage for the second time in the palace.

The emperor raised his eyes and said, "It seems that the girl has not agreed... She has someone else in her heart. Old Fifth, are you making things difficult for her?"

The King of England lowered his head and smiled, "Your Majesty, she agrees."

Jian Wuliang and others were shocked. Zhou Li's brows were cold and he subconsciously looked at the emperor.

The emperor raised his eyebrows, his eyes dim and unclear, and glanced at Prince Yan, who had an expressionless face.

"That's fine."

"I agree."

News of the arranged marriage was flying everywhere.

Yan Siqing stood on the eaves of a tall building in Prince Yan's Mansion, looking into the distance, his back alone.