Undercurrent
The new emperor had just ascended to the throne, leaving much to be done. Prince Bao, now the new emperor, Liu Heng, swiftly stabilized the court, purging the remaining followers of the false emperor and appeasing the imperial clan and court officials. The bloody odor from the throne room still lingered, but superficially, the capital had returned to its former order.
The Ning County Prince's Mansion had been renovated and officially renamed the Ning Qin Prince's Mansion. Baili Hongyuan rode back from the northern border at full speed, exhausted and dusty, but all his fatigue vanished when he saw the slender figure standing waiting at the mansion gate.
"I'm back." He dismounted, took a few steps forward, and hugged her tightly in his arms, with such strength that it seemed as if he wanted to knead her into his bones and blood.
Qin Yousi felt the steady beat of his heart against her chest, and the scent of wind, frost, and dust mingled with his body at the tip of her nose. Her heart, which had been hanging in the air, finally settled. "I'm glad you're back," she whispered, reaching out to hug him back.
Inside the mansion, red silk was hung high, and wedding characters filled the windows, creating a festive and peaceful atmosphere. Great revenge had been achieved, grievances had been redressed, lovers finally got married, and everything seemed to be moving in the best direction.
However, the scene inside Princess Linglong's mansion was quite different.
Deep within the palace, the air wafted with the scent of incense. Princess Linglong stood by the window, gazing at the withering begonias in the courtyard with a cold gaze. Matron Cao stood silently by, not daring to utter a single breath.
"Prince Bao... no, he's the Emperor now." The Princess's red lips parted with a hint of sarcasm. "He's quite resourceful, cleaning up the mess and calming the people, and he's done it flawlessly. But he's forgotten who made this smooth transition of power possible."
Nanny Cao whispered, "Your Highness, the Prince... Prince Ning had no intention of..."
"He's not interested?" The princess spun around abruptly, her gorgeous palace dress slicing a sharp arc. "He's not interested, but what about that girl named Sang beside him? The Qin family murder case has been exonerated, how high is her reputation among the people now? How much does Prince Bao rely on her? For her, Hong Yuan would even give up the throne of Beiliang, willing to stay in the capital as an idle prince! But how long can this 'idleness' last? When the new emperor secures his throne and the bow is put away after the birds are gone, how will these two, a son of the previous dynasty, and an orphan returned for revenge, make a living?"
She walked over to her dressing table and picked up an exquisite Xizhu-style gemstone brooch, her fingertips whitening with the effort. It was one of the few old items she had brought back from the Xizhu Palace.
"In my life, I was first used as a tool by my father to consolidate his power. I was sent to Xizhu to marry a foreign prince. After escaping humiliation, I was then sent to Beiliang as a hostage, euphemistically under the pretext of 'appeasing a neighboring nation.'" Her voice was filled with deep hatred. "My marriage, my fate, have ever been my own decision? Have the Liu royal family ever truly treated me as a human being?!"
She put down the brooch, her eyes filled with a desperate determination: "Now, my son has the ability, the military power, and the status! Why can't we, mother and son, control this country? Only by holding the highest power in our own hands can we be truly safe and truly free from control by others!"
"But Your Highness, the prince certainly wouldn't want to..."
"If he doesn't want to, I'll force him to!" The eldest princess's eyes were sharp. "Go inform our people and proceed according to the plan. Also, prepare that thing."
Madam Cao was startled, realizing the princess was referring to the "Red Flame Fruit" she'd painstakingly obtained. She'd initially assumed it was a trump card to manipulate Sang Liuniang, but now it seemed her majesty's scheme was far more profound than she'd imagined.
Prince Ning's Mansion, study.
Baili Hongyuan dismissed his attendants, leaving only Qin Yousi by his side. He held her hand, his brows furrowed slightly. "Mother has been quite active lately... She's contacted many of her former subordinates, even leveraging some of the hidden connections between Xizhu and Beiliang."
Qin Yousi took his hand in hers, feeling the calluses on his palm and a subtle tension. "She's afraid," she whispered. "She's afraid of the new emperor's suspicion, afraid that we won't be able to protect ourselves, and even more afraid... of losing control of your life."
Baili Hongyuan was silent for a moment, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "I know. I talked to her, told her that the new emperor wasn't as suspicious as the previous one, and promised to keep her honored and safe. But she... wouldn't listen." He looked at Qin Yousi, his tone firm, "Sisi, I will never go down that path. Not for Prince Bao, but for you, for this newly stabilized country, and for... the last bit of mother-son love between me and my mother. Rebellion and claiming the throne is not what I want, nor is it the way for you and me to find a stable life."
What he pursued was never the pinnacle of being alone, but the world of fireworks to walk hand in hand with her.
Qin Yousi leaned on his shoulder and whispered, "I understand. No matter what, I'm with you."
Outside the window, the autumn wind blows, blowing up fallen leaves, foreshadowing the coming of a storm.
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