64. Zhong Ao offers a plan

I had no intention of killing Chen Zhan.

"Bang!" A teacup shattered on the ground. The Second Princess was too lazy to maintain her gentle and graceful facade in the Pixiang Palace.

With tears in her eyes, she looked at Madam Guo and said, "Mother, I will never allow that village girl to marry Xiu Yuan. How could Xiu Yuan marry her!"

When Madam Guo saw her daughter so angry, she was shocked. Her daughter had gone out happily today, under the pretense of visiting that village girl to see Sima Hong, but returned so angry that she lost her usual princess demeanor.

"What are you saying? How could such a country bumpkin marry Sima Xiuyuan? She's not even worthy of carrying your shoes. Unless Sima Xiuyuan is blind, he would never look at her. Besides, someone like Sima Taigong would not allow the Sima family to marry such a matriarch."

Because the Emperor often visited, Madam Guo had heard about the Sima family from him. Sima Hong's marriage was not something Zhang Ling could easily manipulate. Back then, when the Emperor invited Sima Taigong to come out of seclusion, he said that the imperial family could not interfere in Sima Xiuyuan's marriage.

Therefore, unless Sima Xiuyuan was willing or Sima Taigong approved, it would have been impossible for Zhang Ling to marry her lowly daughter to Sima Xiuyuan.

He secretly resented Shen Wei for his incompetence. He had planned to have him capture Chu Qigu so that everyone would see her naked on the streets of Chang'an the next day, making Zhang Ling look foolish. But Shen Wei, that idiot, failed, causing his brother to send assassins to silence her, resulting in the loss of several assassins he had trained at great expense.

The Second Princess thought of the strange atmosphere between Chu Qigu and Sima Xiuyuan, as well as what Sima Xiuyuan had said today. Sima Xiuyuan had never treated any other woman like this before. Even with him, he was always more polite than affectionate.

But today, she discovered that Xiu Yuan was showing a very natural intimacy towards Chu Qi Gu. Yes, that's right, that natural closeness, as if the two had known each other for a long time!

How could this be! They've only known each other for a little over two months! How could they be so familiar with each other? Something must be wrong!

"Damn it! That poisonous Zhang woman and her daughter dared to ruin my daughter's plans." Madam Guo walked to her daughter's side, holding her arm. "Rong'er, now is not the time to cry. From today onwards, we, mother and daughter, can no longer wait for your father."

Chu Yongrong stared at the point in the void that did not actually exist, yet was there, and said fiercely, "Yes, what is mine, I must get."

Seeing her two masters looking so eager to prove themselves, Zhong Ao straightened her chest, finally it was her turn to perform in front of them.

"Madam, Princess, I have something here that I guarantee will be useful. No matter how you use it, it will help you get the result you want."

"Oh, Aunt Zhong has this skill too." Madam Guo said in surprise, her eyebrows, as straight as distant mountains, furrowing slightly. "Why didn't you show it to me earlier, so that you could share my son's burdens sooner?"

Zhong Ao could only smile and say, "Please don't be offended, Madam. You should know that some things only work when the time, place, and people are all in sync. Now is just the right time."

Zhong Ao mysteriously took something out of her purse. This thing was so precious that she carried it with her at all times, knowing that she would need it sooner or later. There was a reason why she was chosen to serve in the palace.

Madam Guo and the Second Princess surrounded Zhong Ao, listening to her explain what the thing was and how to use it. Madam Guo was amazed after listening and immediately burst into laughter in a voice as melodious as a nightingale.

"Aunt Zhong is truly quite capable." She thought to herself that if the plan succeeded this time, Sima Xiuyuan would surely submit obediently.

Aunt Zhong smiled slightly, "You flatter me, Madam."

Chu Yongrong held the things Zhong Ao handed her, her eyes flashing with a mysterious light. Zhong Ao's method was indeed good, but it was too conservative.

She tucked the items into her sleeve and said to Aunt Zhong, "Aunt Zhong's plan is good, but I have another one. If it works, it will ensure that the village girl never has a chance to rise again and will never dare to covet what does not belong to her."

The second princess put on her mask again, still the beautiful, noble, elegant, and gentle princess, as she emerged from the Pixiang Palace.

Just then, Aunt Lin walked by, looking preoccupied and with her head down.

"Stop!" Lin Ao stopped in her tracks. "Second Princess, is there anything you need?" Lin Ao asked.

Her days in Pixiang Palace were not easy. Not only had she been sent to the outer courtyard by Madam Guo, but she also realized from Zhong Ao's attitude and words that her situation was quite dangerous.

Thinking back to the day he went to the Grand Princess's residence to do things for Madam Guo, he feared that the day his misdeeds were exposed would be the day he died.

Recently, Aunt Lin has been unable to eat or sleep. Even when she does fall asleep, she has nightmares in which she dreams of dying a violent death.

She wanted to find the Empress, but she was surrounded by spies. She believed that if she dared to step out of the Pixiang Palace, she would die without even knowing how. Her body might be thrown into a well in the Changyang Palace and never be discovered.

After thinking about it for many days, she came up with a way to save herself, and today was a good opportunity.

The Second Princess looked at the hunched and ashen figure kneeling on the ground. A drowning person would definitely grab onto the rope tightly. Chu Yongrong showed a concerned smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Aunt Lin, how come you've lost so much weight in just a few days? Are you sick?"

Lin Ao thought that everyone in the palace praised the Second Princess for being beautiful, kind-hearted, and having the most princess-like demeanor. If she could get the Second Princess to plead for her in front of Madam Guo, would she be able to save her life?

Everything went as she had planned, so she choked out, "I'm alright. I'm so grateful for your concern, Princess. I'll be leaving the palace soon, and I will pray to Heaven every day to bless the Princess, the Second Prince, and the Lady with peace and good health." Lin Ao bowed deeply.

Chu Yongrong pretended not to know, and asked with a hint of doubt, "Is Aunt Lin preparing to leave the palace?"

Lin Ao smiled reluctantly. According to the Empress's rules, she could indeed leave the palace to enjoy her old age with Madam Guo's permission. However, Madam Guo would not let her go easily, and that Zhong Ao was not well-intentioned either.

She sighed and said, "As the Second Princess knows, with Zhong Ao serving you now, I'm really superfluous. And with the Empress thoroughly investigating the expenses of the palace staff, I'm just... superfluous..."

In fact, it wouldn't be a problem for a few of the concubines who had gained favor to keep them, it just depended on whether they wanted to or not. But Madam Guo not only didn't want to let her go, she also wanted her to take the blame.

Lin Ao was truly regretful. When she heard that she had been assigned to Madam Guo's quarters, she was overjoyed. If she had known, she should have made up her mind to leave the palace when the Empress was taking stock and dismissing the original palace servants of Changyang Palace. It was all her fault for being so ungrateful.

Thinking about these things now is useless. Since we're going to die anyway, we might as well go all out and fight for a way to survive!

“Your Highness, this old servant does not want to leave Pixiang Palace. Ever since His Majesty entered Changyang Palace and I became his wife, I have watched you and the Second Prince grow up. Now, I cannot bear to leave you…”

Having spent many years navigating the complexities of Changyang Palace, Lin Ao naturally possessed some skill. Seeing her sincere and earnest demeanor, the Second Princess, if she were a fool like Ninth Sister, might have genuinely pleaded for her.

Unfortunately, she wasn't a fool like Ninth Sister. The Second Princess squatted down, her previously gentle eyes now turning icy. "Is that so, Lin Ao? I'm not like my mother. If I protect you, what can you give me?"

Lin Ao was startled by the Second Princess's sudden change in expression. She lowered her head, not daring to look directly at her. She had thought the Second Princess was a living bodhisattva, but now she felt a sinister, ghostly aura about her. But now, she had no choice but to cling to the Second Princess's coattails.

Fortunately, she came prepared today. "Second Princess, a few days ago when I passed by Yuhua Palace, I heard a little girl named Honghu hiding in a corner crying. So I chatted with her for a bit."

"Oh." Seeing that the Second Princess seemed genuinely interested, Aunt Lin continued, "So, it's because on the day the Eldest Princess was kidnapped by villains, Honghu neglected his duties and was punished with 15 lashes by the Empress. I heard how aggrieved she was, and I chatted with her for a bit. Sigh, this girl is such a pitiful child..."

Chu Yongrong touched the things in her pocket. It was truly heaven's help. As Zhong Ao said, the timing, location, and people were all in sync. Indeed, now was the perfect opportunity.

She regained her kind expression and personally helped Lin Ao up, saying, "Lin Ao, you've spent your whole life in Changyang Palace. How will you adapt to life outside?"

Lin was thrilled. Did this mean she had agreed? Was her old life saved? Then she heard the Second Princess say, "Lin, I am different from my mother. As long as you can help me, I will guarantee you wealth and honor."

Forgetting the cold look in the Second Princess's eyes just now, Lin Ao quickly said, "Don't worry, Second Princess, this old servant understands. At this age, I dare not think of wealth and glory. I only wish for peace and good health, and I will be content." She only wanted to save her life.

“Once things are done properly, all of these things will come together, you understand?”

"Yes, I understand, I understand."

In the Empress's Changxin Palace, Qi Gu's first act upon returning to the palace was to see her mother, handing over the "little hoe" around her neck.

The Empress Dowager took the hoe and examined it. She broke it open from the handle and found it to be empty, containing a small, secret letter.

Qi Gu's eyes widened. She had handled this thing several times before and had never discovered such a mechanism.

Empress Zhang opened the secret letter right in front of Qi Gu, and it turned out to be a map.

Empress Zhang was puzzled, thinking it was the method of casting iron, but it turned out to be a map.

Suddenly, Empress Zhang remembered the legend that the Prince of Yan received divine guidance and obtained an inexhaustible iron mine!

Could it be that it wasn't just a legend, but that iron ore mine really existed? And what he held in his hand was a map of that iron ore mine!

Even Empress Zhang could hardly remain calm in the face of such an unexpected joy. She looked at her daughter and wondered why Chen Zhan had given her such an important gift.

Do you know what this is?

Qi Gu shook her head, "This doesn't seem like the method of casting iron." Could it be that Sima Hong guessed wrong, and the method of casting iron wasn't in his hoe?

Empress Zhang looked at her daughter, who was still unaware of what she had received, and shook her head. "Qi Gu, are you and Chen Zhan really just friends from your time in Li Family Village?" Why would Chen Zhan give Qi Gu something so important? Are they really just fellow villagers? Empress Zhang couldn't help but doubt their relationship.

Qi Gu noticed that her mother was acting strangely; her hands were trembling with excitement, and her question seemed to imply that Chen Zhan and she had a close relationship.

Honestly, she knew Chen Zhan was a man only in the last month or two. "Ah. We've only been from the same hometown for a few years, what does that have to do with this map?"

"Do you know how valuable this map is?" Empress Zhang asked, her voice steady.

It seems this map is so valuable that even the Empress Dowager couldn't believe it. She herself didn't know why Chen Zhan would hide such a map in a small hoe and give it to her.

She thought that Chen Zhan might not be a good person, but he wasn't a bad person either, at least not to her. So she said, "Mother, since this map is so important, could you... spare Brother Zhan's life?"

"Brother Zhan? You call him brother?"

Qi Gu thought to herself, "Actually, I would rather call him Sister Cheng, but Sister Cheng will never come back."

The Queen regained her composure from the great shock.

She thought back to the days when she was a prisoner in the Yan King's camp, which could be considered the third darkest period of her life.

In the Yan King's camp, she encountered Zhao Ji, a woman who was different from what she had imagined and from the rumors she had heard.

She was neither weak nor dependent. She stood there like a sharp sword, her back straight and her eyes resolute. She was not, as the rumors suggested, more like a subordinate of the Prince of Yan.

During the six months she was a prisoner in the Yan King's camp, she witnessed Zhao Ji's wisdom, decisiveness, and helplessness.

If their positions hadn't differed, and if the time and place of their meeting hadn't been wrong, perhaps they would have become...confidantes. It's a pity that such a woman ultimately died in such a tragic way. I really want to ask, Zhao Ji, have you ever regretted it?

However, she thought that people like Zhao Ji would not regret their choices; they were actually the same.

Zhao Ji, I never imagined that our fate would extend to our child.

The affairs of this world are truly unpredictable. Since you have given me such a generous gift, I should return the favor.

Empress Zhang waved her hand, and Qi Gu was disappointed. Yes, Chen Zhan was of the blood of the Prince of Yan. How could the Empress Dowager possibly let her go? Not to mention that the Empress Dowager had been captured by the Prince of Yan, the Emperor would not allow Chen Zhan to live.

As Qi Gu left in disappointment, the Empress called her back, "Qi Gu, I had no intention of killing Chen Zhan. Back then... never mind, it's all in the past. Go back now."

Qi Gu didn't know what her mother had left unsaid, but the fact that her mother didn't intend to kill Chen Zhan was an unexpected surprise for Qi Gu.

Although he will most likely be imprisoned for life, at least he can live! Aunt Qi thought she would tell him this good news next time! He would finally no longer have to live in fear.

[Author's Note]

Happy holidays everyone! I originally planned to focus on writing during the break, but I indulged myself for two days. Tonight, I sat in front of the computer at 10 PM. I usually finish writing before midnight without any problem, but tonight I didn't finish a single chapter until almost 3 AM. My focus was completely off. I even got distracted by playing on my phone for a while. I can't let my rhythm break, otherwise it'll be so hard to get back into the flow. I'm setting a goal: starting tomorrow, I'll write 6000 words a day, and I'll update twice a day occasionally! [Sunglasses] Please support me with your favorites and comments! And a special thank you to all my supportive friends! [Owl]