Chapter 50: Borrowing Money Part 1

Ana Yanran paid no attention to Xun Yisu’s mockery. She met her direct gaze without evasion. The courtyard, filled with firelight, suddenly fell silent, creating an eerie and chilling atmosphere. After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, soldiers carried out many weapons and suits of armor from the backyard.

She strolled over casually and kicked one of the weapons with her foot. The iron clanged—it was real iron, not made of bamboo. She said indifferently, “The mansion has privately hidden weapons. Can you give this princess an explanation?”

Xun Yisu never interfered in what Ana Xuan did, but that didn’t mean she was unaware. She had heard rumors about the weapons hidden in the mansion, but she neither investigated nor spoke of it because she knew Ana Xuan harbored great ambitions. Interfering would only harm herself.

To hear and see nothing was the guarantee of survival.

She hurried down the steps and slowly walked to the pile of weapons on the ground. Dressed in a pure white knitted embroidered skirt with wide sleeves fluttering, she moved like pure clouds drifting across the night sky. The firelight reflected in her eyes, still showing the serenity and chastity of the past. “This princess should ask Ana Xuan that. Ever since I married here, she has guarded me like a thief. How would I know her affairs?”

Ana Yanran stood with her hands behind her back, her brows filled with an arrogance Xun Yisu had never seen before—completely different from the quiet Pingnan Prince’s Consort she had known in Great Qi. She smiled and said, “Saying you don’t know now is too late. Ana Xuan intends to rebel, and you can’t escape either.”

“The princess is mistaken. I come from Great Qi. To kill me, even your lord probably wouldn’t dare. If I die, the two countries will raise armies and reignite war. I’m afraid that’s not a situation your lord wishes to see.”

Ana Yanran smiled, suppressing the hatred in her eyes, and said coldly, “But it’s a situation I’m very willing to see!”

With those words, Xun Yisu felt a chill. She finally understood that Ana Xuan had likely been implicated by her, and Ana Yanran’s goal was to kill her and provoke conflict between the two nations. The Borderlands’ desire to rebel against Great Qi was no new matter.

Fear, cold, and bewilderment surged into her heart all at once. Xun Yisu froze. Shao Yun was not frightening, Xun Yiran was not to be feared, but the person before her was the most terrifying. She could stand silently before you and slit your throat with a knife, leaving you with nothing but shock.

“What is your true purpose? If I die, news of your appearance in the Borderlands will immediately reach the Imperial Capital. Xun Changqing will be abandoned by Great Qi because of you. Before you achieve your goal, she will die first.”

What should have been a well-intentioned reminder only provoked Ana Yanran’s furious glare. She stepped forward, seized Xun Yisu’s throat with one hand, and lifted her up effortlessly. She sneered, “Your Great Qi people’s infighting has nothing to do with me. Xun Changqing is not my child. Xun Yi and I are merely nominal spouses. Who knows where he picked her up from some corner.”

Xun Yisu’s neck was gripped, forcing her upward. Meeting the hatred in her eyes, she froze again. Ana Yanran hated Great Qi so much—why had she willingly come for the marriage alliance back then?

Her vision blurred red. Just as Xun Yisu thought she was about to die, Ana Yanran released her hand. She fell awkwardly to the ground, gasping for the precious air. The firelight reddened her dark eyes. Her mind was filled only with thoughts of Yuan Man. If Yuan Man knew of this, would she rush to the Borderlands to save her regardless?

She longed for that person to come, yet hoped she wouldn’t.

If she came, it meant she valued her, that she held her in her heart—but it would also be a path to death. How could she choose between her homeland and her?

Yuan Man, what would you do?

Tears streamed down suddenly. Her former hopes and longings vanished in an instant. She clutched the dirt on the ground tightly and pleaded softly, “Princess, spare Yuan Man.”

It would be better if she didn’t come!

In this moment of peril, she remained so calm. Her watery eyes gazed at Ana Yanran, her delicate brows furrowed. A single tear finally couldn’t be held back and slid past her lips. “Princess Consort, Yuan Man is the Border City garrison general, but she is also your old acquaintance. Could you show mercy?”

The old form of address did not soften Ana Yanran’s heart. “As long as Yuan Man does her duty as Border City garrison general, nothing will happen to her. If she crosses the border, once the lord knows, even I won’t be able to protect her.” Ana Yanran looked down at Xun Yisu. Tears hung on her pale cheeks like glistening pearls, but no one pitied them.