Undercurrents and Tests

He didn't look at Jiang Wanzhi; his gaze, like a solid icicle, was fixed on Zongzheng Mingchen. His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying a chilling coldness.

"Brother Ming, the matter of my assassination attempt will be thoroughly investigated. Miss Jiang is also a victim in this matter. Brother Ming, you are making baseless speculations and defaming her reputation without any evidence. What is your intention?"

He walked step by step, the hem of his dark cloak brushing against the snow, making a rustling sound. Each step seemed to tread on the tense heartstrings of everyone present.

"Could it be..." Zongzheng Hengyu stopped a few steps away from Zongzheng Mingchen, a dangerous glint of inquiry surging in his eyes, "Brother Ming, do you know the identity of the assassin that night? Otherwise, how could you be so certain that the assassin's target... would be her?"

He turned the tables on them! He used their own methods against them!

Zongzheng Mingchen's smile froze instantly, a hint of shock, anger, and apprehension flashing in his eyes. He hadn't expected Zongzheng Hengyu to appear here in person!

"Ninth Brother, what are you saying!" Zongzheng Mingchen forced a smile, trying to salvage the situation. "I was just worried and confused. Seeing Miss Jiang so frightened and weak, and with you so seriously injured, I made an inappropriate joke in a moment of weakness. Why are you so angry, Ninth Brother? Be careful not to aggravate your wound."

"A joke?" Zongzheng Hengyu snorted coldly. "It concerns the reputation of the Prime Minister's daughter, and the serious crime of assassinating a prince. How can you make such a joke, Brother Ming?"

Inside and outside the pavilion, all was deathly silent. Everyone was stunned by the sudden, tense confrontation between the two princes.

Su Yuyue also suppressed her curiosity, her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly. She looked at Zongzheng Mingchen, whose face was ashen, then at Zongzheng Hengyu, whose face was pale but whose aura was intimidating. Finally, her gaze fell on Jiang Wanzhi with a complicated expression, a thoughtful look flashing in her eyes.

Jiang Wanzhi stared blankly at the tall, dark-clad figure standing in front of her, his injuries not yet healed, yet remarkably upright. She watched as he, despite his injuries, bravely confronted Zongzheng Mingchen in public to protect her.

Zongzheng Hengyu…is he trying to get me out of this predicament?!

Why did he do this? Was it to save face for Prime Minister Jiang?

“It’s windy here, and Miss Jiang is not yet fully recovered, so it’s not advisable for her to stay any longer.” Zongzheng Hengyu’s cold voice interrupted her thoughts.

He stopped looking at Zongzheng Mingchen, whose face was grim, and turned his gaze to Jiang Wanzhi, his tone leaving no room for argument, "Yan Cheng, prepare the carriage. Send Miss Jiang back to her residence."

He didn't consult her opinion and gave the order directly. His demeanor was still that of the all-powerful Prince Heng.

But at this moment, the order was like a lifeline, freeing Jiang Wanzhi from the gaze of everyone in Meixiang Courtyard.

"This subject takes her leave." Jiang Wanzhi lowered her head, her voice trembling slightly, and hurriedly bowed in the direction of Zongzheng Mingchen. Then, as if fleeing, she followed Yan Cheng and quickly left this place of trouble.

The dark carriage was once again traveling on the road back to the Prime Minister's residence.

Zongzheng Hengyu remained leaning against the car wall, resting with his eyes closed.

Jiang Wanzhi sat in the corner, hugging a hand warmer, and secretly glanced at the man opposite her. Including today, he had saved her twice.

Once by an assassin's arrow, and once in a verbal dispute with the Ming King.

But he is Zongzheng Hengyu! He is the ultimate villain in the book who will eventually kill the emperor and his father, be cold-blooded and ruthless, and throw her into the cold palace to torture her to death!

A tremendous internal conflict tore at her heart. Reason screamed at her to stay away from danger, but witnessing Ming Wang's wickedness firsthand, experiencing the assassination attempt firsthand, and seeing Zongzheng Hengyu's unwavering protection... made her perception of this "villain" begin to waver.

Right! Should we tell him? Tell him about the Ming King's power on the frontier? And his ambition to attack Lin'an?

The idea grew wildly like weeds. She opened her mouth, but her throat was dry and tight.

"Your Highness..." she began tentatively.

Zongzheng Hengyu slowly opened his eyes, his deep eyes looking at her calmly, with a hint of inquiry.

"Thank you so much for saving me today, Your Highness." Jiang Wanzhi avoided his gaze, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her dress. "What His Highness Prince Ming said just now was truly absurd..."

She carefully observed his expression, trying to steer the conversation toward the King: "How could a mere woman like myself attract such a dangerous assassination attempt? There must be someone plotting something behind this, trying to take advantage of the situation, or even... frame someone else?" She was implying something.

Zongzheng Hengyu's gaze deepened as he looked at her flickering eyes and probing words.

His voice was low, carrying a hint of barely perceptible fatigue, yet still steady, "Miss Jiang, who do you think is plotting something? And who do you intend to frame?"

He countered with a flat, emotionless tone, as if he were discussing a matter unrelated to himself.

Jiang Wanzhi's heart tightened; he was indeed meticulous!

"This humble woman does not know. I only feel that His Highness Prince Ming seems to... have feelings for Your Highness..." She carefully chose her words, not daring to be too direct.

"How have you treated me?" Zongzheng Hengyu raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze sharpening as if he could see through her thoughts. "Are you harboring resentment? Or do you have other intentions?"

He continued, "In the imperial court, it is quite common for brothers to quarrel, each with their own ulterior motives."

He paused, his voice turning colder, "I have already sent people to investigate thoroughly and will surely find the mastermind behind this and give Miss Jiang justice."

His words were impeccable. His attitude appeared fair, but in reality, it was vague and ambiguous. He was unwilling to discuss Ming Wang in depth, and he did not reveal the slightest wariness or hostility towards Ming Wang.

Jiang Wanzhi's heart sank. He didn't believe her?

Or... does he actually know the true nature of the Ming King, but simply choose not to reveal it to her?

Or perhaps, in his heart, Jiang Wanzhi, this insignificant little person, was not enough to make him reveal even a shred of his true thoughts?

Seeing him close his eyes to rest and refuse to talk any further, Jiang Wanzhi swallowed back the words that were about to come out of her mouth.

"Never mind," she silently told herself. He was Zongzheng Hengyu, the biggest villain!

What good would it do to tell him about the King of Light's conspiracy? Who knows if this isn't just using one tiger to devour another?

He is just like the Ming King; in the struggle for that position revered by thousands, he is a man who will stop at nothing. She cannot gamble on this!

The carriage arrived at the Prime Minister's residence in silence.

"Thank you for seeing me off, Your Highness," Jiang Wanzhi said softly, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible disappointment and estrangement.

Zongzheng Hengyu nodded slightly, without saying much, and simply instructed Yan Cheng: "Send Miss Jiang inside."

Yan Cheng accepted the order and escorted the slender figure until they disappeared behind the vermilion gate.

Only when the heavy door completely blocked his view did Zongzheng Hengyu slowly withdraw his gaze. The upright posture he had been maintaining instantly relaxed, as if his bones had been removed.

He sank deeper into the backrest, his long, slender, yet icy fingers pressing hard on his throbbing temples, his brow furrowed with an intense weariness and suppressed pain.

The light filtering through the gap in the carriage curtain made his face, already pale from blood loss, appear even more ashen.

Yan Cheng quickly turned back, lifted the carriage curtain, and saw his prince in such a weakened state, his heart tightened.

He strode onto the carriage, his voice filled with undisguised anxiety and heartache: "Your Highness! Your injuries..."

His gaze swept over the dark bloodstains on Zongzheng Hengyu's shoulder blade, visible even through his clothes, and his tone grew more serious, "The Imperial Physician repeatedly instructed that you must rest! You must not exert yourself further and aggravate the wound! Moreover... this wound... is highly poisonous! How can your injury withstand today's confrontation at Meixiang Courtyard?!"

Zongzheng Hengyu simply shook his head and said, "It's alright."

“Jiang Wanzhi…is very important to me.”

A few words, nothing more. Yet, like a stone thrown into a deep pool, they created silent ripples in the oppressive air, telling the story of how he disregarded his injuries and bravely stepped forward to shield her from the King of Ming's arrogant words.

Yan Cheng stood there, stunned, looking at his prince's pale and silent profile. All the words of advice stuck in his throat, and finally turned into a silent sigh.

…………

Back in her familiar boudoir, after dismissing everyone around her, Jiang Wanzhi immediately fell into a chaotic mental storm.

Why? Why has everything changed?!

Su Yuyue did not fall in love with the gentle and refined male lead, Prince Zhao. Instead, she fell deeply in love with the ambitious, ruthless, and vicious second prince, Prince Ming.

Zongzheng Hengyu... He saved her and protected her, but his attitude towards the Ming Prince was ambiguous and unspeakable!

Did he truly not know the King of Ming's wolfish ambitions, or... was he pretending?

The clear character settings and plot developments in the book shattered into fragments before her eyes.

Just how big of a storm did her butterfly effect as a time traveler stir up?

"That's it! King Zhao!" Jiang Wanzhi's eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had seen a ray of light in the fog of despair!

She suddenly recalled the description of the male protagonist, Zongzheng Zhaoran, in the book: benevolent and kind, with the world in his heart, he was the only wise ruler who could end the chaos and create a prosperous era.

Although his gesture of offering the heater last time had an element of trying to win him over, at least he is the officially designated positive character in the book! He is the only major character who did not turn evil or die a violent death at the end!

She cannot trust the unpredictable and enigmatic villain, Heng Wang.

But King Zhao… he’s the protagonist! He’s surrounded by a halo! He’s the embodiment of justice in the world of the book! Tell him that Zongzheng Mingchen’s conspiracy might save countless lives!

A surge of desperate courage welled up within her. She had to grasp at this last straw!

"Chuntao! Chuntao!" Jiang Wanzhi suddenly stood up, and her vision went black again because of the sudden movement, but she didn't care.

"Miss?" Chun Tao hurriedly pushed the door open and came in.

"Quick! Help me with my hair and makeup! I need to go to... Prince Zhao's residence!" Jiang Wanzhi's voice was filled with unprecedented urgency and determination, her eyes gleaming with a do-or-die spirit.

She was going to see Zongzheng Zhaoran! She was going to expose the Ming King's conspiracy! She was going to tell this future wise ruler to be wary of his treacherous brother! This was the only path she could think of, and the one she believed to be the right one!

“Miss…you look so pale, and you’re not fully recovered yet. How about we reschedule for another day…” Chun Tao said worriedly, looking at her mistress’s distraught yet unusually excited state.

"No! It has to be today! Go now!" Jiang Wanzhi interrupted her abruptly, her tone resolute.

…………

In the study of Prince Zhao's residence, the air was filled with the gentle fragrance of sandalwood, yet the atmosphere carried a subtle sense of stagnation.

Zongzheng Zhaoran personally poured Jiang Wanzhi a cup of hot tea. The rising steam blurred his gentle and refined face.

"Don't worry, Miss Jiang." Zongzheng Zhaoran gently pushed the teacup in front of her, his voice still gentle and soothing.

"Such an assassination attempt on a prince has occurred right under the emperor's nose, alarming the court. His Majesty has ordered a thorough investigation and will surely find the mastermind behind it all, bringing justice to Miss Jiang and Ninth Brother."

Jiang Wanzhi held the warm teacup, but her fingertips were still icy cold. Looking at Zongzheng Zhaoran's flawless and gentle smile, she took a deep breath, as if summoning immense courage, and looked up at Zongzheng Zhaoran with just the right amount of confusion and unease in her eyes.

"Your Highness... I am truly terrified. Today at Plum Blossom Courtyard, His Highness Prince Ming said that the assassin might be targeting me. Could it be that His Highness was trying to frighten me with those words?"

She paused deliberately, observing Zongzheng Zhaoran's reaction. He paused almost imperceptibly in the hand holding the teacup, then resumed his normal posture, his face still displaying that gentle, attentive expression: "Oh? What makes you say that, Miss Jiang?"

"Your Highness! Don't you think... Prince Ming's hostility towards Prince Heng and me is too obvious?"

Zongzheng Zhaoran listened quietly, his gentle smile unchanged, but a complex light flashed in the depths of his deep eyes. He put down his teacup and lightly ran his fingertips across the smooth tabletop.

“Miss Jiang,” he began slowly, his voice still steady, yet carrying a penetrating power that seemed to see into people’s hearts, “the struggles in the imperial court are unpredictable and treacherous. The hostility you see may only be the tip of the iceberg. Sibling rivalry has existed since ancient times, driven by a variety of motives, such as power, profit, and fame.”

He leaned slightly forward, his gaze like invisible threads, entwining Jiang Wanzhi's tense mind: "I understand your suspicion of Prince Ming. But this matter is of utmost importance. Without solid evidence, mere conjecture will not only fail to accuse a prince, but may also backfire, plunging you into an abyss of no return."

A profound sense of powerlessness and a deeper fear overwhelmed her. She realized that the path she was taking with King Zhao was also a dead end. At least for now, she had nothing to offer him that could convince him.

"Your Highness...you are right." Jiang Wanzhi's voice was filled with deep disappointment.

Waaaaah, my attempt to play the victim failed, and I even got a lecture from the big shot. What a social disaster!

"It was my oversight that caused you such distress. I am so afraid of disturbing Your Highness today." She stood up, bowed, and took her leave, her back view conveying a sense of forced fragility and deep bewilderment.

Jiang Wanzhi walked towards the entrance of Prince Zhao's mansion, inwardly screaming: Other people's transmigration stories are like palace intrigue thrillers! Mine is a survival challenge on hellish difficulty! I can't even find a strategy forum! Help!!

Zongzheng Zhaoran did not try to stop her, but simply watched her leave in a daze, the complex emotions lingering in his deep eyes for a long time.