Chapter 14: Seeing It Part 2

For instance, Pingnan Prince’s Mansion’s rebellion was likely because the new emperor, Xun Yiran, couldn’t tolerate his powerful uncle who overshadowed the throne. The current emperor and Pingnan Prince weren’t even blood brothers—just cousins through an aunt. With Xun Yiran, the blood tie thinned further, breeding deeper suspicion. Reducing feudal power was inevitable.

After rebirth, she knew things others didn’t—like when the emperor would die, when Pingnan Prince’s Mansion would strike back. She could prepare. These were her opportunities.

Only now did she understand: power in hand was no blessing, but without it, one was at others’ mercy—equally heartbreaking.

Her thoughts stretched far, and suddenly Xun Changqing realized another truth: the Empress and Xun Yiran weren’t as harmonious as they seemed. If Xun Yiran learned the Empress had sent killers after Wei Lingci, would the affectionate Second Imperial Prince clash with her?

Compared to the confusion and helplessness right after waking, she was gradually adapting to her surroundings. The dim darkness now welcomed faint sunlight.

A maid brought in hot water. Xun Changqing sat in a chair, looking bored. She pouted, her eyes darting around, her short legs swinging. The maid approached to help her change and bathe, but she waved her off. “I’ll do it myself. You go out.”

Once the servant left, she fetched brush, ink, paper, and inkstone from the desk. She wrote a few words, sealed them in an envelope—not as meticulously as the last one to Gu Liang Gan. She casually pinched the seal shut, called a guard, and ordered him to deliver it to Pingnan Prince’s Mansion.

Empress Shao Yun’s people had all died in the alley—she’d get no report back and would be anxious. When Pingnan Prince’s Mansion’s messenger passed, she’d surely intercept it to check the situation.

The letter’s words were false: it claimed Wei Lingci was gravely injured. Once the Empress learned that, she’d temporarily recall any remaining agents.

After the messenger left, she summoned the one always guarding the door—a seemingly ordinary maid, but actually a hidden guard. Xun Changqing had known of her in her past life, though the impression was faint. When she was captured and taken to the Imperial Capital, this guard had tried to intercept the prison cart but fell to the Imperial Guards, outnumbered.

Zi Jin was only twelve but much taller than Xun Changqing. Entering the room, she saw the steaming water and assumed she was called to help bathe her young mistress.

Once inside, Xun Changqing stood by the desk, looking up at her. As a subordinate, how could she let her master strain like that? Zi Jin bowed low, awaiting orders.

Xun Changqing noted these details and felt more at ease. She didn’t know who backed Zi Jin or if she could be trusted—beating around the bush was pointless. “You’re a hidden guard? Whose? Father’s or mother’s?”

Zi Jin froze. Xun Changqing’s face was serious—no jest. As she opened her mouth to deny, Xun Changqing cut in: “If you lie, I’ll send you back. I don’t want you—and especially not a lying hidden guard.”

Xun Changqing’s temperament was domineering; Zi Jin knew it from the mansion. Unused hidden guards faced grim fates. She knelt and kowtowed. “This subordinate belongs to the Princess Consort. The road is unsafe, so she ordered me to protect you closely.”

Mother’s person, then. Xun Changqing didn’t bid her rise. Instead, she stared her down. “I have a task for you. Fail it, and I still won’t keep you.”

This… Zi Jin couldn’t refuse such unreasonable dominance. She lowered her head. “Yes.”

“Simple: go to the Imperial Capital. Leak some news to the Second Imperial Prince about today’s events. Fan the flames—say Wei Lingci is badly hurt. Hint that the Empress is behind it.” Xun Changqing patted her shoulder with her small hand, her face blooming into a smile. “Succeed, and I’ll take you to Lingyun Mountain.”

Zi Jin’s face darkened. She shook her head. “If this subordinate leaves, your safety…”

“What are you afraid of? Wei Lingci’s here. Go and return quickly.”

This move was just Xun Changqing testing Zi Jin. Hidden guards thrived in shadows; if clever, she could stand in the light at Xun Changqing’s side openly.

Escalating conflict between Xun Yiran and the Empress—that was her true goal. Even if he took the throne, a fractured mother-son bond would keep the Shao Family busy mending ties with the emperor, buying Pingnan Prince’s Mansion time.

Crucially, the Empress shouldn’t have sent killers after Wei Lingci. This was the first time; without retaliation, there’d be a second, third… endless until death.

After bathing, she dressed herself, dried her hair—no need for servants. She tidied up alone and headed out. A servant relayed that Wei Lingci had called for her.

Heeding the lesson from their first meeting, Xun Changqing knocked on the door from outside. Only after hearing permission did she push it open and enter.

No one was in the main hall. She looked around—no one in the outer room either. The State Guesthouse rooms were identical; hers was a suite, so the bedroom must be inside.

She headed toward the bedroom, eyes wandering. Suddenly, she froze. Wei Lingci sat before the bed, wiping her hair—her robes disheveled. Xun Changqing’s mind buzzed. Too late to flee. She clapped her plump little hands over her eyes, blocking her view, and stammered self-deceptively, “I… I saw nothing… You told me… to come in.”

Damn it. She’d forgotten: in this life, she was a ‘boy.’ She should have waited in the hall, not barge in like her past life.

Author’s Note:

Author and the peanut gallery: Tsk tsk tsk. Little disciple, if you want revenge for your master, just say so. No need for all these twists.

Xun Changqing blushed silently, gazing at her master with a smile: Your love life isn’t bad either. Let me make use of it.

Wei Lingci: That’s not peach blossom fortune I invited.

Xun Changqing: Then what is it?

Xun Changqing: It’s a cactus the author jammed in.

Author: What the hell kind of play is this?