Fear Exit
One wave subsides, another rises.
The reason this rumor is circulating now is clearly because it's aimed at Rong Xuan.
Its authenticity is unknown, but it is enough to cause a stir.
Even wanting to rest, Yan Qing couldn't get away; she hurried back to the Cat Tea House with a furrowed brow.
She wanted to see what was really going on in the palace.
In the past, Yan Qing had always been able to handle things with ease, but now one thing after another was happening, and she didn't have three heads and six arms.
The cat monitoring system that I used to think was all-powerful is now showing its flaws.
Yan Qing could only stare at the same place at the same time.
But it seemed like the others had anticipated this, acting simultaneously from all sides, leaving her only able to defend what was in front of her.
Helpless, she could only focus on what was in front of her for now.
She chose the little black cat kept by Consort Shu, and the scene before her eyes transformed into the palace.
Fortunately, she caught the main event.
At this moment, the little black cat's perspective is directed at the Empress. Judging from the scene, it should be Chenhua Palace. Why is the Empress coming to Consort Shu's bedroom?
They weren't exactly mortal enemies, but there were bound to be some friction between them. They couldn't possibly be mortal enemies in public and then kiss each other in private.
This crucial juncture must be about Rong Xuan.
Over there, the Empress exclaimed, "It's been so many years since I've been here."
"What brings you here today?" Consort Shu's attitude was very cold, and it was clear that she was not very welcoming.
Despite being treated this way, Jiang Yi was not angry. Instead, she reminisced about the past, saying, "Back when you entered the palace, no one disliked you. Even I felt sorry for you. I never imagined that you would end up like this."
She paused for a moment, then continued, "Your relationship with Cheng Yue is as good as ever."
Deng Anhua was very impatient and said, "You've come all this way just to reminisce? What, has the Crown Prince come up with another clever way to win back his father's love?"
Hearing this, Jiang Yi's expression changed, and her tone turned cold. "Cheng Yue is also a fool. She was completely fooled by you."
Deng Anhua glanced at her, his expression shifting slightly.
Seeing her reaction, Jiang Yi smiled and continued, "If you want to know when our relationship started to deteriorate, it probably started when you began to covet the throne. You were even capable of doing such a thing for Rong Xiao. You really went to any lengths."
At this moment, Deng Anhua's expression had completely changed. He stopped stroking the little black cat and did not respond to her words.
"Look at you, you haven't improved at all. You wear your heart on your sleeve. Are you like this in front of Cheng Yue too? How could you hide it from her for so long?"
"What are you saying? I don't understand, and I don't have time to play riddles with you." Deng Anhua spoke quickly and was about to get up when Jiang Yi's next words froze him in place, unsure of what to do.
"When you're facing Cheng Yue and Rong Xuan, do you really not feel the slightest bit uneasy?"
After saying this, Jiang Yi admired her disheveled appearance for a while, then got up and left, leaving Deng Anhua standing motionless in the empty hall for a long time.
Listening to these words is no different from solving a riddle.
But recalling the rumors she had heard that evening, Yan Qing felt that the situation was even more serious than she had imagined.
She had already figured out the emperor's family when she first came into this world.
The emperor had five sons: Crown Prince Rong Zhang, Prince Qi Rong Xiao, Prince Ning Rong Xuan, and the third and fourth princes who died young.
The key point is that the Fourth Prince and Rong Xuan are the same age, and their birth dates are only two days apart.
Based on the Empress's recent conversation with Consort Shu, she had two guesses.
Firstly, Deng Anhua was involved in the death of the Fourth Prince, but if that were the case, Rong Xuan would have nothing to do with it.
That leaves only one other possibility, which is the one Yan Qing least wants to know but is also closest to the answer.
Rong Xuan was originally the son of Consort Cheng Yue, but he was replaced by the son of Deng Anhua.
The answer to who would do this is obvious.
If that's really the case, with his elder brother murdered first and his biological mother being someone else, such a devastating blow would make it difficult for Rong Xuan, no matter how resilient, to be distracted from fighting against the Crown Prince.
Yan Qing had a headache. Was she really going to let them lead her by the nose? No, there must be other ways.
She detached herself from emotional distractions and thought about the whole thing again.
If Deng Anhua's alleged baby swap is confirmed, Rong Xuan's status will be significantly different. With the Cheng family backing him, it will be difficult to determine who wins and who loses between him and the Crown Prince.
But they dared to expose this matter because they were betting on whether Rong Xuan could hold on.
However, in this matter, although they are very reluctant to accept it, their chances of winning are extremely high.
It is highly likely that Rong Xuan will not be able to hold on. Over the years, all his schemes have been for the benefit of Rong Xiao. This shows that his feelings for Rong Xiao and Deng Anhua are far from as indifferent as they appear.
It's even terrifyingly deep.
Not to mention that he had no interest in the throne in the first place.
The Crown Prince and his entourage must have figured this out as well.
She couldn't put all her bets on Rong Xuan; she needed to find some more allies.
She currently has Rong Xiao by her side, but Rong Xiao has already passed away. Once the news reaches the capital, those who followed him in the court will scatter like monkeys falling from a tree. As a confidante of Prince Qi, without Prince Qi, she will naturally find it difficult to command them anymore.
Yan Qing thought of someone, someone she hadn't seen in a long time.
Li Yueshu.
She didn't have much time left, so she headed straight for the Princess's residence.
After a servant went in to announce her arrival, Yan Qing was led to her courtyard.
"A rare guest, what brings you to my place?" Li Yueshu sat under the pavilion, a smile on her lips.
Upon seeing Yan Qing, the princess jumped out of her arms and into Yan Qing's arms on the opposite side. She slurped a few times as if she were carrying water, and then returned to Li Yueshu's arms in the next instant.
Its actions amused both of them, and the atmosphere became less tense. Yan Qing then revealed the purpose of his trip.
"Would the princess be willing to travel with me?"
She didn't explain it very clearly, but Li Yueshu understood.
She said, "These days, the Empress's people often come to the residence to discuss my marriage with Rongzhang."
Yan Qing's expression changed, but she quickly regained her composure. She had been dealing with too many things lately and was finding it difficult to control her emotions.
"You still haven't agreed."
Li Yueshu nodded. She still had that calm and unassuming appearance, yet she saw things more clearly than anyone else.
"They're about to make a big move; this is their final invitation."
"You don't want to be with them?" Yan Qing pressed.
“He’s not someone I can follow, nor someone I can entrust my life to. I have no reason to choose him.” Before she could ask anything, Li Yueshu continued, “Do you know why he insists on marrying me? It’s because when we were kids, I snatched the candy he wanted and gave it to him. Does he love me? Not necessarily. He would have loved that candy no matter who gave it to him. All he ever wanted was that candy. He’s too obsessed, otherwise he wouldn’t be in this situation now.”
So, you're willing to come with me?
She shook her head. "Whom are you asking on today?"
Yan Qing understood what she meant. On the surface, she had pledged allegiance to Rong Xiao, but recently she had been getting very close to Rong Xuan. Li Yueshu was asking her who she was truly plotting for from the bottom of her heart.
She answered firmly, "Myself."
Whether she chooses Rong Xiao or Rong Xuan, it's just a path she's chosen. She truly cares for only two people: herself and the people.
Although she didn't want to admit it, the common people gradually came to make up half of what she sought. It had nothing to do with the mission; she had simply seen all living beings and couldn't forget them.
Li Yueshu paused for a few seconds after hearing her answer before speaking again, "You have quite the ambition."
Yan Qing shook his head and explained, "On the contrary, I have no ambition; I simply follow the people's lead."
"So, you're still on Rong Xiao's side. What about Rong Xuan, who's been chasing after you?"
Yan Qing hesitated for a moment. She couldn't say anything directly about Rong Xiao, so she asked in a more tactful way, "You don't think highly of Rong Xuan?"
Li Yueshu rarely frowned. "I used to think I understood him, but now I feel it's not enough. It's best not to get too close to someone like that."
After saying that, she asked, seemingly out of context, "Do you think I can do what your sister can?"
It's not surprising that Li Yueshu knew the true nature of her relationship with Yan Yang, and even now, Yan Qing isn't surprised at all.
But her question was very interesting.
Yan Qing thought for a moment and said, "She is working for the people in Yunzhou, while the princess is in the capital. Such an opportunity is even more rare. But how will we know it won't work if we don't try?"
"Haha, I guess I wasn't wrong about you." Li Yueshu suddenly became very happy and extended her hand to her. "In that case, we should work together towards the same goal."
Before leaving, Yan Qing was still a little worried and asked one more question: "Is the Princess's residence really something you can decide?"
Her reply was: "If I had other brothers and sisters, what you said would have some meaning."
Yan Qing smiled apologetically and left under the guidance of a servant.
She was extremely nervous, fearing that something else might happen.
With Li Yueshu's help, they had an extra bit of strength, but they still couldn't avoid Rong Xuan.
Since he was destined to know this news, and destined to have his past shattered.
Then she'll be the one to break him.
Then I pieced it back together by hand.
Yan Qing understood what this decision meant.
She could no longer control her dark side, and seeing Rong Xuan in such a state, she even felt a sense of pleasure and relief.
It was only because she suddenly realized that Rong Xuan was just like her, and that at this moment, it was she who needed him, and it was he who was calling for help.
Rong Xuan's heart, which had become increasingly firm with each knock, relaxed easily at this moment.
Looking inside, Yan Qing saw herself, saw herself as a child watching her companions leave, saw herself with her head down, hiding from being adopted, and looked even deeper.
It is fear, the fear that has always been covered and hidden by the idea of 'not needing', the fear that love will eventually dissipate, the fear of loving and longing for love within oneself.
But things are different now, completely different from before; those past events seem like things from a previous life.
Now she has close friends who share joy, warm elders, and a heart willing to do her best for the people.
She saw her fear clearly, and for the first time, she met it with such peace, simply because she saw the exit of her fear, from which a few slivers of light were already spilling out.
She will walk the remaining steps on her own.
She wanted to control everything about Rong Xuan.
Only in this way can she truly take complete control of herself, becoming a person without fear in her heart.
With no time to wait, Yan Qing boarded a carriage and headed straight for the Ning Prince's residence. From Jingyuan to Rong Xuan, the journey was unimpeded.
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