95. Guess
◎Did the late emperor leave another will?◎
Chapter 95
The rain stopped outside after nightfall, leaving only the occasional dripping sound.
In the night, she stared straight ahead at the pitch-black darkness. She immediately withdrew her hand, grasped the one covering her mouth with both hands, and rubbed it, feeling the bones of her fingers, a hint of coldness, and began to sob softly.
She wanted to cry so much.
She missed it so much.
This is the smell of Jian Xi's brother and the warmth of her husband.
These days, she was extremely lonely. Even though she looked calm and composed, she was afraid. When she smelled his scent, memories came flooding back like a flood. It seemed as if she had found support again. She was no longer fighting alone.
After a long time, seeing that she no longer struggled, Ji Ci slowly let go of his hand.
In the blink of an eye, she quickly stood up, rushed forward, hugged his waist tightly, tightened her arms, buried her face in his chest and took a deep breath, her violent and rhythmic heartbeat in her ears.
She was finally sure that it was really him and she was not dreaming.
Ji Ci didn't hug her back immediately until Jiang Qiuye called out softly, "Brother Jian Xi, Ye'er misses you so much."
After a long pause, he finally raised his hand and gently stroked her back.
It wasn't until the dark clouds on the screen parted, revealing the moonlight, that Jiang Qiuye looked up and finally saw Ji Ci's dark eyes clearly. She could no longer hold back the tears in her eyes, and they all burst out directly, but she didn't dare to make a sound to alarm the palace maids and guards outside.
He sat down on the bed, raised his hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and rubbed the black hair on her head. A familiar voice came into her ears in a low voice, "Ye'er, dear, you have worked hard these days."
As soon as she said this, the emotions that she had been able to suppress finally broke down. She cried loudly, suppressing her voice, and went forward to hug him again, as if she was afraid that the phantom would disappear.
She cried for a long time, and a large area of Ji Ci's shirt was wet. He kept patting her back to comfort her. Finally, he gently lifted her chin, looked at her tear-stained face, sighed, and kissed her lips.
It was like some kind of mechanism. The moment it was touched, thousands of arrows were fired and hit his heart.
A long-lost delicacy, soft and sweet, surging in his mouth, numbing and trembling. As the kiss deepened, she trembled uncontrollably in his arms, and he squeezed her shoulders tightly, as if wanting to swallow her whole.
Although he had hinted to her countless times that it would be most advantageous for her to give up herself and become Ji Kang's empress. It was far less risky than staying with him, a sinner with an unknown future.
But when he really touched her, he suddenly felt regretful, he still couldn't let her go. In the end, he was still willing to give it a try.
The moon's shadow was distant, and now they were tightly pressed together, leaving no gap. She felt her body go limp, and suddenly she was drowning in this fierce kiss.
Ji Ci kissed her, his desire rising. He pushed her onto the bed and kissed her earlobes and neck. His hot hands slid across the thin fabric, leaving a trace of heat. Just as he was about to untie her clothes, she suddenly reached out and grabbed it tightly.
He didn't understand why, so he pushed himself up, feeling a little disappointed. He thought she still wanted to be the queen, so she didn't want to have too much contact with him. Although disappointed, he didn't say much, but just let her go and sat up obediently.
Jiang Qiuye keenly noticed his change in mood, knowing that he must have misunderstood her. She stood up and said nervously, "Husband, I don't look good right now... I can show you after a few days, okay?"
Ji Ci paused. He knew that she had been tortured in the imperial prison, but he never thought that she cared so much about the marks left on her body.
He felt even more pity and heartache in his heart. Thinking of how she usually dressed up gorgeously, and now she was wearing a plain white dress, he finally chose to respect her. He withdrew his desire to see her scars and nodded, saying, "Okay, I'll see them when you're willing to let me see them."
Jiang Qiuye nodded happily, holding his hand tightly, and suddenly asked curiously: "Husband, the guards in the imperial prison are so strict, how did you get out?"
Ji Ci said: "Well...dug a road."
Jiang Qiuye: “…”
Seeing her dumbfounded look, he couldn't help but smile, "Don't forget, I'm very familiar with the Imperial Prison."
He held her hand in his, "It was a group of secret guards I trained. After Ji Kang issued the decree, they dug a secret passage from the outside to the inside and rescued me."
"Secret passage! Now there's another secret passage in the Imperial Prison!"
Good rustic way...
"Yeah." Ji Ci turned his gaze away, as if he didn't want to talk to her about this matter anymore, but his eyes were dim. "I'm sorry, Ye'er. It's because I'm useless. Not only did I make you suffer, but I also ran around for me like this."
The clean wind after the rain outside blew into the hall through the gaps in the lattice windows. A few strands of Jiang Qiuye's long hair floated up, blocking her view. She reached out to smooth it, and then shook her head.
"I'm not suffering. Actually... they didn't torture me much. Maybe they took Ji Kang into consideration." The wound still hurt, but she chose to hide it. "As long as my husband is okay, Ye'er is not afraid of anything."
"Silly!" He reached out and poked her forehead. Having been in charge of criminal law for many years, how could he not guess what kind of punishment she had received? But he didn't expose her, but simply hugged her tightly in his arms, his heart aching.
After a long silence, he finally said, "Ye'er, I have another apology to say to you."
"Hmm?" Jiang Qiuye raised his head in confusion. The dark clouds once again covered the moonlight, and his expression could not be seen clearly in the darkness.
His voice was very low. "Perhaps... you can no longer be the Queen, and can only continue to be the Princess of Qi."
Jiang Qiuye was confused by what he said, "Huh?"
"If my guess is correct, the will produced by the deposed Empress Dowager Huo was a forgery." He frowned, "It could be Huo, or it could be Ji Kang, who participated in the regicide. But no matter who it was, a man like Ji Kang is without moral integrity. I cannot tolerate such a person sitting in that position, otherwise the Great Jin will repeat the shame of the past."
She was delighted when she heard this, and immediately stood up and asked in a low voice, "Could it be that my husband intends to rebel?"
"Yes." He nodded, staring at her with an unclear expression, "But I still can't be the emperor, so you still can't be the queen. I hope you are disappointed."
She was stunned. It sounded like Ji Ci chose to support another new emperor.
Jiang Qiuye immediately shook her head, blushing, "I don't want to be Ji Kang's queen, I just want..."
She only wanted to be Ji Ci's wife, and she wanted to follow him even if he was demoted to a commoner.
She hadn't finished her words, but Ji Ci's heart suddenly blossomed with joy. It turned out that she didn't want to follow Ji Kang at all.
He pressed his lips together, then said calmly, "Eunuch Li, who once served the late emperor, was found dead a few days ago, having committed suicide. It was said that he intended to follow the late emperor. However, my subordinates have discovered too many suspicious points in the case. If he didn't commit suicide, then he was murdered."
"At this critical moment, not long after the late emperor's death, the death of Eunuch Li can only mean that the person who killed him had a guilty conscience and wanted to silence him. Eunuch Li has always been the person closest to the late emperor, so I suspect..."
Jiang Qiuye immediately understood what he meant, her eyes lighting up. "My husband is suspecting that either Eunuch Li knew about the forgery, or that the late emperor had another will?"
"Yes, but... firstly, whether there is a will or not is not certain. Secondly, if there is a will, I don't know if the person who succeeded to the throne is still Ji Kang. So, Ye'er..."
He raised his hand and gently stroked her long hair, his gaze following it down to her knuckles, which were still a little bruised. "So, Ye'er, your husband will be away from here for a while. Ji Kangying has already discovered that I left the Imperial Prison and is searching for me. You should stay in the Pepper Room, where you will be safe."
Jiang Qiuye's heart tightened. She didn't expect that he was about to leave after just seeing him for a moment.
She was extremely reluctant to leave, so she grabbed his sleeve and shook her head desperately, saying, "I want to be with my husband. Wherever you go, I will go. Could it be that my husband dislikes me being a burden?"
"Of course not, Ye'er, I can only do it if you're safe."
Seeing her spoiled appearance, he felt sorry for her, but he still hardened his heart.
Furthermore, she had been staying safely in the Pepper Palace. If his rebellion failed, she would not be implicated and could continue to be the queen.
However, his only worry was that the poison in her body had not yet been eliminated.
I heard that although Fei Zhi suppressed the poison in Jinhong's body, he still had no idea how to remove it.
After hearing what he said, Jiang Qiuye finally stopped pestering him and just nodded in agreement, "Then my husband, you must be careful in everything."
She lowered her eyes, not knowing what she was thinking about.
Suddenly, she thought of her confession and decision before Ji Ci went to prison, and her heart began to beat like thunder as she looked at him in front of her.
"Husband, actually I..."
Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by a light cough outside the window. Ji Ci turned his head and looked outside. It was the shadow of Tian who came to inform him of the news. He clenched his fist.
"Ye'er, I have to leave. Remember to stay in the Pepper Room."
Seeing that he was anxious, Jiang Qiuye took back the words that were about to come out of his mouth.
Next time.
But she did not agree to what he said.
If it comes to whether the late emperor left behind another will, given her identity and position, perhaps she is the only one who can do something now.
After he finished speaking, he took out something from his bosom and placed it in Jiang Qiuye's palm. She felt a chill in her palm and looked down. It was the hibiscus jade pendant.
"this?"
"I took it back before I left the Imperial Prison. Keep it safe."
Jiang Qiuye looked at the jade pendant, which shone white in the night sky. There was a small chip on the edge of the petal. With a surge of excitement, she gripped it tightly.
Ji Ci stood up, held her face in his hands, leaned over and gave her a big kiss on the lips, looked at her deeply again, turned around and left through the window.
In the blink of an eye, the bedroom became empty and the lingering scent of bergamot in the air disappeared, as if he had never been here.
…
The next day at dinner time, Ji Kang came to the Jiaofang Palace. He knew that this woman was increasingly disgusted with him, but he didn't care at all. He would find time every day to come here and endure her sarcasm.
Today, Jiang Qiuye, for once, did not mock him. Instead, she observed him and suddenly gave him a coquettish smile. "Your Majesty comes here every day, but never eats here. How about tonight...stay for dinner?"
Ji Kang narrowed his eyes, feeling that her appearance was really unusual, and did not answer her.
Seeing this, Jiang Qiuye said, "Your Majesty, after spending so much time in this palace, living a life of luxury, I've gradually come to my senses. Why should I bother with wealth and splendor? To be honest, although I have ambitions for the position of Empress, I cannot bear to share a husband with anyone else."
"Your Majesty, you will know when you meet Prince Qi. There are no concubines or harems in Prince Qi's mansion. I really don't like backyard fighting. Your Majesty, remember that Zhao Wan'er by the pool almost died at my hands. I don't want to lose control in the future and kill Concubine Duan..."
She glanced at Ji Kang, who was standing there, and saw him begin to reminisce. Her eyes flickered slightly. Her peach blossom eyes immediately lit up, and she giggled. She turned around, her long black hair brushing against his face with the wind and her movements, tickling him. In a flash, she entered the dining hall and disappeared from his sight, like a dream, setting his heart racing.
Ji Kang was attracted by her laughter just now, and followed her with amorous feelings. After entering the dining hall, he saw the table full of delicacies from land and sea, which were colorful and fragrant.
"Sister Ye'er, what does this mean?"
Jiang Qiuye skipped lightly to the table and sat down, looking at him sideways.
"Your Majesty, as I just said, although I'm interested in becoming the Empress, I don't want to share a husband with anyone, even if you're the Emperor. If you want me to be Empress willingly, then depose Concubine Duan for me." She picked up the silver chopsticks on the table, brought them to her lips, and nibbled them. "If Your Majesty agrees to this proposal, then you can stay tonight and dine with Ye'er."
Jiang Qiuye pronounced the word "dinner" in a frivolous tone, as if hinting at something. Coupled with her somewhat transparent black gauze dress, although it covered her tightly, it was even more alluring.
Ji Kang stood there for a long time, and then suddenly laughed out loud. Sure enough, this selfish and vain look of hers was really her. It was not the way she had been a few days ago, mocking him for Ji Ci.
He hesitated for only a moment, looking at her captivating, sensual eyes. A wave of heat surged through his lower abdomen. He turned and ordered all the guards and maids in the Pepper Room to leave. He quickly sat down at the table, his eyes fixed on her.
She covered her mouth with her hands, smiled, raised her eyebrows, and began to eat with her chopsticks. Seeing that he didn't move, she pursed her lips and said, "Your Majesty, don't you want to eat?"
Ji Kang then picked up his chopsticks, watched her eat whichever dish she was eating, and then followed her to eat that dish.
His defensiveness towards her was obvious.
During the meal, she licked her lips and said unconsciously, "It's just that, although I'm in the Pepper Room, I've heard some rumors that make me uneasy."
"What rumor?" His eyes moved down from her cheek and stopped at the most alluring part.
Jiang Qiuye didn't care about his gaze. "I heard that because of Eunuch Li's death, some people began to secretly suspect... suspect that Your Majesty's position was not legitimate."
Ji Kang froze, stopped eating with his chopsticks, and looked back at her still smiling face with a sinister look. The corner of his eye twitched slightly as he said, "It's just a rumor."
"Well, I've been very worried these days. Could there be another will out there?"
Ji Kang's chopsticks holding the meat shook and fell to the table. He looked back at her and pretended to be calm, "Of course not. I told you, it's all rumors."
Jiang Qiuye clearly felt the scrutiny and silent questioning emanating from him, so she said, "Well, it's fine if it's just a rumor. I'm just worried that my position as queen will be unstable."
Ji Kang originally felt a little guilty, but after hearing this, he put aside his doubts and said with a sinister smile, "Don't worry, sister Ye'er. I will kill anyone who says such things in the future."
She carefully observed his expression, and though she tried to conceal it, her anxiety and uneasiness still shone through. She was 90% certain that the deposed Empress Dowager Huo had indeed forged the will, and Ji Kang had yet to find the true edict.
The clepsydra ticks and time passes.
Ji Kang swallowed the fish fillet in his mouth and looked at Jiang Qiuye, whose smile had faded across from him. He began to feel dizzy. He shook his head vigorously, leaning forward unconsciously, and leaning hard on the table. Looking at the leftover food, he finally realized that he had fallen into her trap.
"You, you drugged me? But why?"
Why did she have no reaction when he ate the same dish as her?
Jiang Qiuye did not answer. The smile on her face had long disappeared, leaving only a cold expression. She watched quietly as Ji Kang fainted in the blink of an eye, and his forehead hit the food table hard, leaving a red mark.
Why?
She smiled bitterly. She had only used the simplest drug. Since it wasn't poisonous, the silver chopsticks naturally couldn't detect it. And this drug had no effect on her at all.
It was this idiot himself who was so blinded by the beauty that he asked the guards to leave the Pepper Palace.
Although Ji Ci had told her to stay safely in the Pepper Palace, she knew very well that what Ji Ci was doing was extremely dangerous.
If she could help him find the will, perhaps unnecessary bloodshed and casualties could be avoided.
For him, she was willing to take another gamble.
The author has something to say:
Tian Qu: Master is such a beast, what does he want to do secretly in such a short time?
Ji Ci: Don’t you know you are in the way?
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