onlookers
The journey back to Beijing was quite different from the way there.
The convoy remained the same, the guards remained the same, and even Tsukimi was still by his side.
She woke up at the Nanque Pass Inn that day and almost fainted from crying after learning of her wife's death. Now that she saw Xu Qingyao return safely, she stayed by her side, as if afraid that she would disappear again in the blink of an eye.
The difference lies in Xiao Zhouyan's attitude.
He no longer placed her under strict protection, but instead allowed her to get out of the car occasionally and even asked her if she wanted to try the local snacks when they passed through towns.
He remained calm and taciturn, but his inquiry and scrutiny had transformed into a deeper, ineffable sense of tolerance and certainty.
Xu Qingyao was happy to have some peace and quiet and truly became a spectator.
She watched as Xiao Zhouyan handled government affairs along the way and met with local officials, everything was in good order, as if the thrilling siege and killing in Nan Yue had never happened.
It must be admitted that this man does indeed have the ability to control the situation.
[Host, your energy has been restored to 65%. Based on behavioral pattern analysis, Xiao Zhouyan's trust in you has increased to 'high dependence,' while his suspicion has decreased to 'low alert level.']
The system finally spoke again, providing a new assessment.
"Dependence?" Xu Qingyao raised an eyebrow in her mind.
Yes. He no longer tries to uncover your secrets, but instead incorporates you into his decision-making system, treating you as a trustworthy 'one of his own.' This shift is more conducive to the host's survival.
Xu Qingyao remained noncommittal. Looking at the scenery flashing past the window, she thought to herself: Being one of Xiao Zhouyan's own people probably isn't so easy.
**
The capital city, the Zhenyuan Marquis's residence.
The carriage did not enter through the main gate, but instead silently entered through an inconspicuous side gate, directly into a separate courtyard deep within the inner courtyard, Tingxuexuan.
The place was quiet and secluded, heavily guarded, clearly a spot Xiao Zhouyan had prepared long ago.
"Please stay here for a few days." Xiao Zhouyan settled her in and said calmly, "The news of your 'death' has not yet subsided. We need to find a suitable time to bring you back to life."
Xu Qingyao nodded in understanding.
She knew that this was not only about protecting her reputation, but also involved political maneuvering in the imperial court.
The sudden resurrection of a "dead" Lady Hou requires sufficient reason and groundwork to avoid arousing suspicion, especially... to prevent the emperor from becoming suspicious.
Xiao Zhouyan did not stay at Tingxue Pavilion for long. After settling her in, he hurriedly went to the palace to pay his respects.
Xu Qingyao was happy to have some free time. With Yuejian's help, she washed and changed her clothes, returning to the everyday clothes of the Marquis's wife. Looking at herself in the mirror, which was both familiar and unfamiliar, she felt as if she had been through another world.
The next few days were calm and peaceful.
Tingxuexuan seemed isolated from the world, but Xu Qingyao knew that things were not peaceful outside through the system's limited scanning and the occasional snippets of information brought by Yuejian.
Xiao Zhouyan made his first public appearance since the "loss of his wife." He remained composed, but his brows betrayed his deep sorrow. The emperor, moved by his loyalty and bravery, offered him much comfort and granted him permission to continue recuperating.
The Fifth Prince Chu Huaijin had not returned the military affairs he had handled on his behalf, and there were rumors circulating in the court that His Majesty intended for the Fifth Prince to gradually take over the military power in the northern frontier.
Regarding Xu Qingyao's "death," the official explanation is that she accidentally fell off a cliff while attending a ceremony in Nanyue, and her remains were never found.
Although the Duke of Wei's family was grieved, they accepted the fact.
However, some noble ladies in the capital who had interacted with Xu Qingyao couldn't help but sigh at her tragic fate.
Xu Qingyao listened to these words without any emotional fluctuation.
She, being a "dead person," can conveniently observe this drama from the sidelines.
Late that night, Xiao Zhouyan arrived at Tingxuexuan, his clothes damp with the chill of the night dew.
He dismissed his attendants and placed a secret report in front of Xu Qingyao.
"Take a look at this."
Xu Qingyao picked up the secret report, quickly glanced at it, and her eyes narrowed slightly.
The secret report said that although the second prince was under house arrest, his remaining forces had been active recently and seemed to have made contact with some tribes in the northern frontier.
The Fifth Prince, however, was somewhat hasty in his efforts to win over the civil officials who originally belonged to the Second Prince's faction.
"Fifth Prince... is a bit impatient," Xu Qingyao said softly, putting down the secret report.
According to the original novel, the Fifth Prince should indeed have begun to actively make plans at this time, but among those he was trying to win over were several people who were actually spies planted by the Emperor in secret.
Does Xiao Zhouyan know this?
Xiao Zhouyan looked at her, his eyes deep: "Your Majesty is in the prime of life."
With just this one sentence, Xu Qingyao understood.
The emperor has not truly favored any particular prince, and the fifth prince's actions have likely aroused suspicion.
Xiao Zhouyan clearly had no intention of interfering in the struggle for the princes' positions; his loyalty lay with the emperor and the stability of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
"Any news about Shen Rou?" Xu Qingyao changed the subject.
"News has come from Li Kingdom that Yan Zhan has 'recovered from his illness' and is governing with even more ruthless methods than before, purging many opponents. Shen Rou... seems to have vanished into thin air." Xiao Zhouyan tapped his fingertips lightly on the table. "But she must still be operating in secret. With the Nan Yue altar destroyed, she must be seeking other methods."
Xu Qingyao recalled that in the original novel, Shen Rou did indeed master a more bizarre, witchcraft-like spell in the later stages, which could injure people invisibly from thousands of miles away.
Is this what she's preparing right now?
“We need a reason,” Xiao Zhouyan suddenly said, “a reason that allows you to be reasonably resurrected and to participate in certain things in a justifiable way.”
Xu Qingyao looked up at him: "General, you already have a plan?"
Xiao Zhouyan took out an invitation from his sleeve and placed it on the table.
The gold-embossed post comes from the Princess's residence: Three days later, the Princess will hold a plum blossom appreciation banquet at her villa, and the Marquis of Zhenyuan and his family are specially invited to attend.
"The Eldest Princess and His Majesty share a deep sibling bond, and she is His Majesty's favorite, and also the most... insightful." Xiao Zhouyan's tone was calm. "In her early years, she encountered a remarkable person and learned some physiognomy and traditional Chinese medicine. If she 'accidentally' discovered that your destiny is unusual, not that you are destined to die young, but that you have a secret mission and need to 'fake your death' to avoid a calamity, and now that the calamity has passed, you will naturally return... What do you think of this reason?"
Xu Qingyao was stunned.
The eldest princess?
In the original work, this eldest princess is indeed a detached character who occasionally does some surprising things, and even the emperor is very tolerant of her.
If she were to come forward, it would indeed save a lot of trouble and explain her previous "death" and current "resurrection".
He actually planned even this far?
Not only did they calculate the situation, but they also calculated people's hearts, and even took advantage of the eldest princess's... quirks?
"Will the Princess agree?" she couldn't help but ask.
Xiao Zhouyan's lips curved into a very faint smile: "Your Highness, the Princess, has always been very concerned about my marriage."
He looked at Xu Qingyao, his gaze meaningful, "Especially since it concerns the important matter of the succession of the Marquis's sons."
Xu Qingyao: "..."
She suddenly felt as if she, the spectator, was about to be pushed onto the stage.
Xiao Zhouyan had clearly paved the way for her, waiting only for her to take that step.
This control terrified her, and it also made her...
A faint sense of reassurance crept in.
At least, under this man's wing, she seemed to be able to temporarily unload her burdens and quietly watch the show.
I just don't know...
Beneath this stage, how many turbulent undercurrents are hidden?
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