108 The First Fish

The sunlight warms one's heart and fills one with sweetness.

In the dimly lit dungeon, Qi Gu saw Chen Zhan sitting under a beam of light, writing.

He looked up, his stunningly handsome face smiling faintly, and the entire cell lit up.

"Aunt Qi, you've arrived."

His composed demeanor, devoid of sorrow or joy, resembled that of a Taoist practitioner who had renounced all worldly thoughts, free from desires and wants.

Standing in the cell, Qi Gu felt that it didn't look like a prison at all, but rather like a Taoist temple.

"Brother Zhan, are you alright?"

"Aunt Qi, I have never felt so peaceful in the past eighteen years."

But Qi Gu knew that Chen Zhan would spend his entire life in a dark and sunless dungeon.

“Aunt Qi, I have a request,” Chen Zhan said.

Qi Gu took out the food she had brought for him and asked, "Brother Zhan, tell me what you need to do, and I will do it for you."

Chen Zhan said, "Song Shi... she is a woman, as you already know. I can only spend the rest of my life in this dungeon, but she is innocent. Please set her free."

Qi Gu thought of that loyal woman. She didn't harbor much resentment towards her. She didn't want to kill her, otherwise she wouldn't have survived.

However, she asked, "Is Song Shi willing to leave?" Song Shi's loyalty to Chen Zhan had reached the point of obsession; she dared to come to the capital alone to rescue him. Asking her to leave would probably not be as easy as asking her to come.

A rare tenderness appeared in Chen Zhan's eyes as he said, "She would be willing."

He then said to Qi Gu, "If you can convey this message to me: your father and mother were killed by my father, then my relationship with you as master and servant will be severed."

Qi Gu hadn't expected Chen Zhan to be so ruthless. "Brother Zhan, why are you doing this?" Moreover, knowing the truth would only cause Song Shi even more pain.

Chen Zhan smiled bitterly and said, "I did it for Song Shi's own good. Back then, I guessed that my father killed her parents so that Song Shi would have no worries. But all these years, in order to use her, I have despicably kept the truth from her."

The truth is so bloody; for Song Shi, it's hard to say whether it brought more relief or more suffering.

She thought that if she were Song Shi, she would rather not know the truth; the truth was too cruel.

Qi Gu did not go to see Song Shi. She did not blame Song Shi, but she still thought about the fear she felt after being kidnapped that day.

She had someone relay Chen Zhan's message. According to Huang Bing, after hearing what Chen Zhan said, Song Shi almost couldn't stand up on the spot and cried bitterly in the prison cell for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

"After the young woman had cried enough, she stood up again, wiped away her tears, and acted as if nothing had happened. She accepted the travel money the princess had given her and left without looking back."

Qi Gu looked at the horizon: "That's good." Song Shi was also a pitiful person; she was free.

She asked in a low voice, "So, have any of the fish taken the bait yet? Song Shi should be out of danger, right?"

Huang Bing also whispered, "Princess, don't worry. Those people's target was Chen Zhan. Song Shi let him go quietly, so there's no problem."

Huang Bing didn't know why he was speaking so furtively. There were people all around them, but if the princess liked it, then so be it.

Qi Gu nodded, indicating that the task assigned by her mother was complete.

Next, we just have to wait for the fish surnamed Guo to take the bait.

The night was dark and the wind was high. It was the height of summer, and a full moon hung high in the sky above Changyang Palace. Qi Gu stood outside the window, looking at the bright moon. It looked just like the moon she had seen in her past life.

Qi Gu thought of Sima Hong again, of his warm chest, and how he had stood in front of her that day, disregarding his own safety.

Then she shook her head. Oh, Aunt Chu Qi, Aunt Chu Qi, be more reserved!

The silence of the night, punctuated by the chirping of cicadas, was broken by the sound of hurried footsteps.

Huang Bing came running over with messy steps, his face beaming with joy: "Princess, the fish has taken the bait."

Qi Gu pushed open the door, stood in the doorway, and looked at Huang Bing's smiling face, which was so wide that his eyes were almost closed. "Really?"

"That's right, the captain surnamed Cao who serves the Second Prince has been arrested."

Qi Gu felt something was amiss and asked, "What about the Prince Yi?"

"Only the captain surnamed Cao who serves the Second Prince has nothing to do with the Prince of Yi."

"Oh? It's the Second Prince?" Not the Prince Yi?

"Yes, even the Second Prince can't sit still anymore. Such a huge mine, who knows how many weapons it can forge. Let's see how the Second Prince will try to deny it when the Emperor returns!"

Qi Gu knew that the focus was not on the Second Prince, but on the Righteous Prince.

How could someone as shrewd and calculating as Prince Yi not understand this? It can be said that the Guo family and Prince Yi both used each other and checked each other, each fearing that the other's power would become too great and they would be unable to control the other.

Qi Gu looked towards the direction of her mother's Changxin Palace. The Guo family was just a side matter; the real target her mother wanted to catch was Prince Yi.

The next day, Zhang Jun, who had just finished his shift, saw Qi Gu in his palace.

"The princess has arrived. Greetings, Princess." Zhang Jun teased Qi Gu in a fake manner.

Qi Gu was surprised by her cousin's mischievousness and said with a smile, "Oh~ cousin, is this a new official who doesn't recognize his cousin anymore?"

"Hehehe" asked again, "You came to see me because you wanted to ask about the Guo family's affairs yesterday?"

Qi Gu nodded, and Zhang Jun said, "Why don't you go ask that kid Sima Xiuyuan?"

Since the matter between Qi Gu and Sima Hong became clear, Zhang Jun gave up the idea of ​​marrying Qi Gu. He knew that the two were in love, so he would not interfere. He only wanted Qi Gu to be happy.

"So, will another big fish take the bait next?"

Zhang Jun shook his head: "I guess Prince Yi saw through it long ago. He just sent that guy surnamed Cao to test the waters. The Second Prince also died because he was too greedy and was tricked by Prince Yi."

Now, Zhang Jun is leading the Jinwu Guard to protect Changyang Palace. They are fully aware of any unusual activity within the palace. It's laughable that the Guo family is so smug, thinking that they have gained a great advantage by not being punished for sending assassins to kill Sima Hong and his cousin. They are truly short-sighted.

Qi Gu couldn't help but think that her father still wanted to pass the throne to the second prince, but little did he know that with such a powerful maternal relative, how could the Great Jin Dynasty be stable in the future?

"So that's it? You just arrested a lowly captain serving the Second Prince?"

"Just wait and see. Prince Yi won't give up so easily. It's one thing if he didn't know about that iron mine, but it was right in front of him, yet Xiuyuan and his aunt took it away right under his nose. How can he be willing to accept that?"

The two had just come out of the Jinwuwei garrison when they bumped into Sima Hong.

Zhang Jun looked at Sima Hongxiuyuan and found him to be quite handsome, with decent literary and military skills.

But that was before. Now, looking at him from the perspective of his future brother-in-law, he just doesn't see anything right about him.

He thought critically, "His clothes are too white, his face is too white, and he's as cold as an ice cube every day. He's not just a pretty boy, he's a cold-faced pretty boy."

He deliberately forgot about Sima Hong cutting off Arunji's arm with a single stroke.

Zhang Jun looked disgusted. If someone like that were his brother-in-law, wouldn't Qi Gu be suffocated to death?

Sima Hong glanced at him, his eyes icy cold. "Brother Zhang, you've had a hard day yesterday. You should go back and rest as soon as you're off duty."

Zhang Jun cleared his throat, intending to maintain the airs of an elder brother-in-law, but for some reason, looking into Sima Hong's cold eyes, he couldn't say anything else, only managing to stammer, "Then I'll be going now."

You can't really blame him. The Zhang family is most afraid of people with a cold, scholarly appearance like him. Only my cousin is lucky enough to enjoy it.

Seeing her cousin acting as if a dog was chasing him, Qi Gu said with amusement, "My cousin seems a little afraid of you."

Sima Hong took Qi Gu's hand and said, "Although we are cousins, we should still be mindful of the proper separation between men and women."

When Sima Hong saw the two of them walking out chatting and laughing, he almost thought he was having another nightmare.

After all, the Empress seemed to intend to marry Qi Gu to Zhang Jun.

Qi Gu felt that Sima Hong's hand was holding hers very tightly; he was very nervous.

She was about to tease him for being petty when she saw the unease and restraint in his eyes, and she froze.

This Sima Hong had lost his former aloofness and coldness; his eyes now held the warmth of human connection, the emotions and desires of an ordinary person.

Some people are unsure how to handle such complex emotions, appearing naive and clueless.

For some reason, she suddenly felt a sense of satisfaction at having her wish fulfilled, yet also a sense of reluctance at the thought of the bright moon being disturbed by dust.

"Sima Hong, relax. I won't run away. Since I agreed to give it a try with you, I won't easily say I'm leaving again." Qi Gu didn't want him to be anxious and insecure like she was in her past life; that wouldn't be right.

"Try it?" Sima Hong frowned. "So in your opinion, we're just trying it out now, and if you think it won't work, you'll still leave?"

As expected of Sima Hong, Qi Gu chuckled dryly, "Haha, if you hadn't provoked me, I wouldn't have left so easily..."

“This standard is too broad, Aunt Qi. You need to be clear about the circumstances under which you will not leave and the circumstances under which you will leave, otherwise I cannot feel at ease.”

Sima Hong was like a child who had just learned to make demands. His stubbornness was a stark contrast to the Sima Hong who was calm and self-possessed in everything before.

Seeing him acting like a child, asking for a pinky promise, Qi Gu chuckled, "Do you want me to write you a written agreement?"

That would be best.

Looking at Sima Hong's serious expression, Qi Gu said, "I... I was just joking."

“I didn’t have one.” He lowered his head and planted a kiss on Qi Gu’s lips. “This is a seal.”

Hongyan and Fulian quickly turned around.

Qi Gu looked at Sima Hong with bright eyes, "Naive!" But she felt a sense of novelty in her heart, seeing another side of Sima Hong, stubborn yet sincere.

After escorting Qi Gu to the Jade Flower Palace, Sima Hong held her hand and said, "Don't run around these two days. I'll come find you when I'm done with this."

Qi Gu immediately understood and asked, "In the next few days?"

Sima Hong nodded, "Three days later."

Qi Gu nodded and then asked him, "By the way, how has Father been lately?"

“Ah Xiang has been following Mr. Li. These past few days, I have also told him to stay at the other residence and not to go anywhere else.”

Qi Gu said, "That's good. Then I'll see if there's anything I can do to help."

Sima Hong said, "Just keep an eye on the Second Prince and the Second Princess." Give her something to do, so she won't run off.

"Okay, I understand. You should leave the palace now."

Sima Hong hugged Qi Gu again, reluctant to part, and took a deep breath from her hair. The fragrance filled his nose, and his fatigue vanished. His voice became a little lazy, "Be good, don't run around, okay?" The shadow of his past life was too great, and he couldn't help but remind her again.

Qi Gu hugged his thin waist, tiptoed on his toes, rested her chin on his shoulder, and patted his back. "I know~" she said, drawing out her words, somewhat lazy and with a hint of coquetry.

Sima Hong's heart softened as much as the soft flesh of her waist. He remembered the second day of their marriage in his previous life. After he got up, Qi Gu half-opened her eyes, watched him get dressed, and lazily called his name: "Xiu~ Yuan~"

"Why are you no longer willing to call me Xiuyuan?" Sima Hong asked.

Qi Gu snorted on his shoulder, "I'm going to call you, Sima Hong~" She deliberately blew a breath into Sima Hong's ear, then suddenly let go of Sima Hong and ran into the hall.

Sima Hong, with a smile playing on his lips and undisguised doting in his eyes, was left standing at the door for a moment before departing.

Qi Gu leaned against the door, secretly watching as the long, elegant figure in the afterglow of the setting sun walked away and disappeared.

The golden sunset warms and soothes the heart.

[Author's Note]

The cloying sweetness of young couples' love is something our Aunt Qi has truly experienced firsthand, so she doesn't want others to feel the same way.