Chapter 130
130
Prince Ning'an was held firmly in his chair by Qin Sang's silver needles, unable to move. He gently raised his eyes and said, "I understand. You usually go out to investigate information on your own?"
Qin Sang was slightly taken aback, her eyebrows curving into crescent moons to conceal the slight embarrassment in her heart, and said, "Of course not. I have quite a few men under my command, who are you underestimating?" As she spoke, she pulled out all the silver needles and put them back into her bag.
"Then I won't bother you any longer, I'll take my leave now."
Prince Ning'an did not stop him, but just stared at the other person's figure, finding it amusing.
He waited until the person reached the door before speaking again: "Aren't you afraid they'll attack you?"
Qin Sang didn't even turn her head: "Don't worry, I didn't let them see my face."
After leaving the Ning'an Prince's residence, she went straight back to the Xie residence. The message had been sent out; the rest was up to the Ning'an Prince to investigate. This matter was of great importance. If it was truly discovered that the Crown Prince's faction had engaged in favoritism and fraud in the imperial examinations, recruited a large number of their own people, and killed entire families as easily as slaying ants, the Emperor and the court officials would likely be furious.
Depose the crown prince. This is an inevitable thing to do.
Then the Crown Prince's faction will inevitably resort to desperate measures, depending on whether the Emperor and Prince Ning'an are prepared.
Factional struggles are bloody, and whoever controls the military has a greater chance of winning.
Thinking about it this way, the Emperor's personal transfer of Xie Sui'an to the Imperial Guard might not have been an unplanned move. However, Xie Sui'an has shown no unusual behavior lately, and the Emperor's superiors haven't paid much attention to him, the grandson of the former dynasty's pillar.
Thinking about it this way, she became worried again. She decided to go to Xie Sui'an to find out about the situation inside the palace.
However, before she could even step out of the courtyard gate, the old nanny stopped her and said, "Miss, you've already gone out today. You should stay at home."
Qin Sang wasn't afraid of the old women, but if she forced her way in, she would inevitably be lectured by Wang Huiwen afterwards. So she had no choice but to retreat and secretly send Lingding to deliver a message.
In the evening, Qin Sang was brewing tea by the stove when a knocking sound suddenly came from the back window.
Looking out the window, Xie Sui'an stood outside, looking travel-worn and covered in the chill of an early autumn night.
"Come in quickly." She took a step back.
Xie Sui'an jumped in through the window: "You have something to say to me?"
Qin Sang gently helped him into a seat. The red glow of the heater made his face appear flushed, lessening some of his fatigue. However, he still looked much more weathered than before. Qin Sang felt a pang of heartache at the sight, as if something of hers had been ruined, and she blamed herself for not protecting him properly.
She asked, "You've been on duty so many times lately, why do you look so haggard?"
Xie Sui'an poked at the sweet potatoes on the grill with his bare hand and laughed, "No, what's wrong? Feeling sorry for me?"
"Yes," Qin Sang replied.
Xie Sui'an was slightly taken aback, looked up at Qin Sang, his eyes deep and his emotions complex.
Qin Sang understood him; he was striving to make a future for himself, and the young man was trying his best to fulfill his promise, snatching food from the tiger's mouth.
"You're about to marry someone else, and you're still saying this to me? Are you trying to kill me?" After a moment of silence, Xie Sui'an laughed.
Qin Sang also sat down, enjoying the warmth of the fireworks, and also wanted to get a little closer to him.
Their hands were placed on the stove rack, so close yet they dared not touch each other.
No one knows what the future holds, but until then, they should not overstep any boundaries.
Of course, Qin Sang didn't think that way, but Xie Sui'an had to consider her reputation and protect her honor, so even though he felt bitter inside, as if he had been scratched raw by a cat, he could no longer act on his own whims.
To prevent this silent suffering from festering, Qin Sang got down to business: "Are you aware that the Crown Prince's faction engaged in favoritism and corruption in the autumn imperial examinations?"
Xie Sui'an wasn't surprised: "I could guess. At least half of the newly appointed top ten scholars in recent years have served the Crown Prince after entering officialdom. If they weren't people they had arranged beforehand, how could they be so blatant?" As he spoke, he turned his head, "What clues have you found?"
"Yes, it was a coincidence." She recounted in detail what she had seen and heard recently, and Xie Sui'an's face darkened. "They actually replaced the successful candidates?"
"Yes, that shows how rampant their power is. This battle against Prince Ning'an will be difficult. By the way, what about the situation inside the palace? Has His Majesty noticed anything? I heard before that he refused to see the Crown Prince and even confined the Empress, but when I went to the palace to pay my respects last time, I saw that although the Empress looked a little haggard, she was still in good spirits."
Xie Sui'an nodded: "That's right, His Majesty has indeed made preparations." Recalling some of the things the Emperor had said when he summoned him alone, he forced a smile, "Now everyone is just waiting to see who will make the first move."
"It's already come to this?" Qin Sang was slightly surprised.
"Perhaps it was already at this point when my grandfather had his accident. It's just that we reacted too slowly."
"Then... will you be in danger?"
Xie Sui paused for a moment, then said, "Instead of worrying about me, you should worry about the safety of the Xie family. If the Crown Prince really intends to start a rebellion..."
"The executioner's blade will first fall on the ministers and officials who do not associate with the Crown Prince," Qin Sang continued.
Xie Sui'an's eyes were firm: "So, I've already told my mother to make preparations as soon as possible, just in case."
"What preparations?" It can't be that the whole family is evacuating from the capital. How could such a commotion not alarm the Crown Prince?
Xie Sui'an laughed and said, "You'll find out when the time comes."
Seeing his confident demeanor, Qin Sang didn't press the matter further. She then speculated that if clues about cheating in the imperial examinations were uncovered and the evidence was presented to the Emperor and the Cabinet, it might very well be the day the Crown Prince's faction rose in rebellion.
Xie Sui'an didn't speak, but after a moment he forced a smile and reached out to lightly stroke Qin Sang's temples: "It's getting late, get some rest. Be careful, don't go out and wander around lately."
Qin Sang had a feeling that he seemed to know something, but he had already gotten up and left. She was a little annoyed; she had shared all her clues and guesses, but he had kept them to himself—how unfair!
After everyone left, she sat in the chair and warmed herself by the fire for a while, her mind wandering. Finally, she let out a deep sigh, "It's finally coming to an end."
I can't help but wonder, after it's over, should I go straight back to the Heavenly Realm, or stay for a few more decades? Should I just consider it a tribulation?
She ordered someone to put away the oven, and after washing up, she lay on the couch, tossing and turning for a long time, before finally succumbing to drowsiness and falling asleep.
In the dream, Xie Sui'an, dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit, held a long sword, his face cold and stern. Facing the charging soldiers, he swiftly swung his sword, killing them one by one, bright red blood splattering on his face. However, unexpectedly, a cold arrow shot out from nowhere, heading straight for the man's heart. Qin Sang didn't have time to warn him before the arrow pierced the man's flesh with a soft thud.
She watched as Xie Sui'an staggered backward, almost losing his footing, and barely managed to support himself by lowering his long sword.
Then more soldiers swarmed towards him...
Overwhelmed by immense fear, Qin Sang wanted to fly over but her steps were slow, she wanted to shout but couldn't, and could only stand there anxiously, her heart pounding wildly.
As countless heads passed by her, and dark shadows surrounded Xie Sui's safety, she heard the sound of cleavers cutting into bone, and finally woke up with a start.
It was late at night, and she was wrapped in a blanket, covered in sweat, her heart still pounding, and her throat dry and hoarse.
"Is it a prophecy?" she asked herself hoarsely, "or a nightmare?"
As she spoke, she looked up at the sky, her voice trembling, "Siming? Siming, are you there? Can you tell me, what will become of Xie Sui'an in the end? Will he... will he die?"
After asking herself that question, she felt as if her heart had been emptied out. She clutched her chest and began to sob softly, unable to suppress the emotions from her dream.
The lonely night watchman finally heard the commotion and came in: "What's wrong, young lady?"
Qin Sang grabbed her hand: "Lingding, go and ask her if Xie Sui'an entered the palace tonight." Seeing that Lingding was still confused, she raised her voice slightly, "Go quickly!"
After a long while, Lingding returned and reported that the Second Young Master Xie had not entered the palace to keep watch tonight.
Qin Sang's tense heart had calmed down. With Lingding's comforting words, she lay back down on her pillow, but she couldn't fall asleep with her eyes open. Every time she closed her eyes, she could see Xie Sui'an kneeling on the ground, hacked to pieces.
“If you’re having nightmares, young lady, you might want to visit Hanshan Temple tomorrow. I heard from Miao’er, the lady’s maid, yesterday that she’s going to pray to the Bodhisattva today,” Lingding said.
Qin Sang didn't say anything, but she thought to herself that she was already a Bodhisattva, so why should she worship anyone?
Despite saying this, Wang Huiwen indeed sent someone to invite her the next day, asking her to go to worship Buddha together.
Qin Sang couldn't refuse, so she went along.
Seeing that she was not in good spirits, Wang Huiwen did not say much, only saying, "We were born into such a family. Since we enjoy wealth, we must also bear responsibilities and risks. No one in this world can live according to their own wishes. We can only accept it. Don't make yourself suffer anymore."
Qin Sang quickly understood what she meant. She probably thought that she looked so haggard because of the wedding, but that was probably true. After all this, she was bound to suffer some hardships, she thought.
The carriage was cozy, and the driver steered the horses steadily, making their way towards Hanshan Temple.
Today is the fifteenth of the lunar month, and there should be more people going to Hanshan Temple to worship Buddha, meaning the closer you get to Hanshan Temple, the more bustling it should be outside. However, when Qin Sang realized this, it was completely silent outside the carriage, with only the chirping of birds in the forest and the rapid breathing of horses.
She quickly lifted the carriage curtain and saw that it was indeed not a main road outside. The carriage had somehow veered off course and ended up in a wooded area in the suburbs.
Seeing this, Wang Huiwen also realized something was wrong. She reached out and knocked on the carriage, calling the driver's name, but no one answered.
The two exchanged a glance, and Wang Huiwen's face changed drastically, turning deathly pale. Qin Sang, being a well-informed immortal, immediately pulled Wang Huiwen under the car upon hearing the slightest sound.
Sure enough, the arrow pierced through the window, making a muffled thud.
"They've made their move so quickly?" Though surprised, her hands didn't stop. She pulled a longsword from under the seat cushion and swiftly cleaved the wooden planks of the carriage. After whispering a "hide it well," she leaped up, smashing the roof of the carriage with a single palm strike, and flew out.
She blocked the rain of swords with her sharp sword, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw that the coachman was already dead, an arrow in his chest and blood at the corner of his mouth. While cursing herself for her carelessness, she cut the rope pulling the carriage from behind the horse with her sword.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
