Yan Huisheng was silent for a long time before he helplessly massaged his forehead.
He had always reserved his feelings for Su Rong, thinking that there was no need to rush. After all, when she was living in the Eastern Palace, she had not called off her betrothal to Zhou Gu. It wouldn’t be fitting for him to make any untoward moves while she was still engaged to Zhou Gu. It wasn’t gentlemanly, and it also ignored the sincerity with which Zhou Gu treated him. However, after she terminated her engagement with Zhou Gu, he hadn’t seen her in person until today. Furthermore, she would have to go to Nanchu to vie for power in the future, and as the Crown Prince of Daliang, the future was uncertain. Therefore, regardless of his feelings, he could only suppress them.
However, despite his shrewdness, he never anticipated that she would be betrothed to Ye Guixue in just a few days. Especially since they had only exchanged glances today.
He massaged his forehead until it was red, yet he didn’t utter a word.
Seeing this, Su Rong became curious and waved her hand in front of him, "Crown Prince?"
Yan Huisheng regained his composure, put his hand down, and asked her with an unaffected expression, "Why are you rushing so suddenly? You didn’t inform me in advance. I’m quite surprised."
Now Su Rong understood. Negotiating with your ally is the correct approach to collaboration. She immediately replied seriously, "Indeed, it was quite sudden today and I just reacted accordingly. Now, I’ll explain everything to you in detail so that you will understand."
With that, she recounted her conversation with Ye Guixue to Yan Huisheng.
Yan Huisheng was equally surprised to hear that Ye Guixue’s betrothal gift was the Tiger Talisman, which could summon an army of a hundred thousand Nanchu soldiers. As the Crown Prince, he was well aware of how important military power was. Because he had Zhou Gu as his companion in studies, effectively having the backing of the Duke Residence, he was not perturbed even when the Yue Family of the Crown Prince, who was the son-in-law of Marquis Nanping, and the son-in-law of the Pingxi General, the second prince, commanded armies. This was the main reason.
When Su Rong went to Nanchu to seize power, Ye Xiang Residence was indispensable. If she had an additional hundred thousand soldiers, it meant a significant safeguard.
At this point, even Yan Huisheng was at a loss for words.
Whether it was Zhou Gu or himself, what Ye Xiang Residence and Ye Guixue could provide, they could not. Daliang was a long distance from Nanchu, and even if they could reach in, it would be like trying to stop a chariot with a mantis’s arms. The Ye Xiang Residence was different; it had deep roots in Nanchu.
Yan Huisheng started rubbing his forehead again, leaving himself out, but turned the conversation to Zhou Gu, "Did you know that today when I visited the Duke Residence, I happened to run into Zhou Gu leaving with a sullen face? Apparently, he had just heard the conversation between Yan Li and Ye Guixue."
With a calm expression, Su Rong nodded, "I heard."
Zhou Gu was a person who couldn’t be ignored no matter where he went. Therefore, the fact that he had left with just a sentence "annoying person" at the Duke Residence banquet today had stirred up quite a disturbance. It was said that the Crown Prince was so angry that his face turned green.
Yan Huisheng looked at her, "Zhou Gu probably knows too. He has been sharp since childhood. If he wanted to investigate something, he could always find out. If he has already learned about your identity, it shouldn’t be hard to guess who Ye Guixue was referring to when he mentioned the betrothal. After all, it’s a coincidence that it was decided today."
"If he knows, he knows." Su Rong had no other way, "We’ve cancelled our engagement anyway!"
Yan Huisheng understood that he just wanted to say something. He sighed, "Now that things have come to this, when are you planning to go to Nanchu?"
"There’s no hurry. Let the people of Nanchu fight first. I’ll stay in the capital to break the deadlock." Su Rong had already planned it out. "After all, I require assurance that the person sitting on Daliang’s throne in the future is you, and you are to assist me in securing my position in Nanchu. Only then can we join forces against Dawei."
Yan Huisheng immediately smiled, "Agreed."
Being the Crown Prince, he naturally couldn’t indulge in sentimental matters. If Su Rong could do it, he must do it too.
After discussing Ye Guixue, Su Rong asked, "What about the person currently imprisoned in the Dali Temple’s dungeon? Have they not been questioned yet?"
On mentioning this, Yan Huisheng replied, "The Madam died before sundown today. She was poisoned. The coroner found that the poison was hidden in her hair bun."
Surprised, Su Rong asked, "Didn’t the people from the Dali Temple search her before locking her up?"
"They searched her and confirmed that there was nothing." Yan Huisheng replied, "The poison must have been delivered afterwards."
Su Rong narrowed her eyes, "Who?"
"The investigation is ongoing." Yan Huisheng shook his head, "There are people from our side in the Dali Temple, but also people from other parties. We can’t confirm who made the move yet."
Su Rong tapped the table, "The assassin who shot the cold arrow committed suicide, but the Madam did not. She obviously did not want to die. Someone had contact with the Madam and delivered the poison. The Madam is dead too. Has her life been investigated?"
"It is being investigated." Yan Huisheng replied, "I suspect that the person who attempted to kill you this time might not be an assassin from Nanchu. Didn’t you say that you didn’t leave any survivors among the several waves of Nanchu assassins on the way to the capital? Therefore, in such a short time, Nanchu should not have received the news that their assassins were killed, and thus would not send people again. The timing doesn’t fit."
Su Rong sat up straight, "So, Your Highness thinks the person who tried to kill me this time is a citizen of the capital."
"Correct." Yan Huisheng nodded, "The Nanchu Queen was able to reach my mother, so she could possibly reach others as well. I suspect it’s either people from the Virtuous Consort or the Benevolent Consort, perhaps from Marquis Nanping, or maybe from the Pingxi General. It’s unlikely to be people from Yan Li or Yan Lun since they don’t seem to know about your identity at the moment."
"Of course, it could also be court officials or someone else from the court, but the possibility is small." Yan Huisheng said, "After all, in Nanchu, they must find someone who is capable of killing you and who would also be competent in cleaning things up afterward."
"For example, the assassin is dead now, and the Madam was poisoned and murdered." Su Rong added, "We should quickly follow the lead. If it turns out to be the people from Virtuous Consort, Benevolent Consort, Marquis Nanping, or Pingxi General, this could be your chance, Your Highness."
Yan Huisheng nodded, "I hope it is them."
After an hour of discussion, it was getting late. Yan Huisheng stopped talking and asked Su Rong, "Do you want to stay tonight or go back to your courtyard?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
Su Rong shook her head, "No, I should go. If my elder brother doesn’t see me tomorrow morning, he will lecture me again for being unruly."
Yan Huisheng chuckled, "Since you’re leaving, be careful on the road."
With an affirmative noise, Su Rong set off. She was straightforward and efficient. After leaving the study, she walked straight to the wall and climbed over it.
Yan Huisheng stood by the door of the study, watching her silhouette merge into the night until it disappeared completely. He quietly sighed, this bird nourished by the Eastern Palace, will not land in his Eastern Palace after all.
In that moment, he unexpectedly envied Ye Guixue.
The second son of the Ye Xiang Residence of Nanchu was much luckier compared to others. For example, Zhou Gu, or himself. Such is the luck of the draw.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
