Chapter 66 Part 1

Xun Changqing immediately calmed down, pinching her own ear and saying oddly, “I’m yours, and you’re mine—it’s all the same. Why fuss over it?”

Wei Lingci was used to her nonsense and didn’t bother arguing. She leaned back in the carriage, and after about half a cup of tea’s time, the carriage stopped—the distance from the main gate to the back gate was very short.

Lifting the carriage curtain, a gentle breeze brushed in, clearing Wei Lingci’s mind. She recalled the day’s events, unsure whether to tell her. After a moment’s hesitation, Xun Changqing leaned over and whispered, “Let’s find a time to go to Ji Province. Anyway, the Imperial Capital’s chaos has people handling it.”

Since there was something to discuss, Wei Lingci lowered the curtain, not understanding her meaning. “What for, going to Ji Province?”

Xun Changqing glanced at the person standing outside the curtain and said softly, “Yuan Man sent a letter saying she’s getting married and wants us there as witnesses since no one else will attend. The date is set for the sixteenth of August.”

The sixteenth of August was already autumn. Wei Lingci lowered her gaze in thought—the Emperor could pass away at any moment. If they left now, the forces behind Pingnan Prince’s Mansion would all fall to Xun Yi, which wouldn’t benefit them. But if they gave those up, they might not even have the means to protect themselves later.

She shook her head. “It’s not suitable to leave now. We’ll go later, after His Majesty… Once the situation stabilizes, then we can head to Ji Province. Besides, with Xu Ke missing, the roads aren’t safe for us.”

The carriage curtain trapped the heat, so Xun Changqing lifted a corner. The cool night breeze felt comfortable, but a stone weighed on her heart. “I don’t understand—how did Xu Ke know it was us behind it all? He seems to know so much. Master, don’t you find it strange?”

What Xun Changqing said aloud was exactly what puzzled Wei Lingci. She gazed at the slender hand holding the curtain, a ambiguous smile playing on her lips. “I don’t know either. Perhaps the mansion is benefiting now, and with us in the Imperial Capital and my involvement in the iron mine matter, he guessed from that. Xu Ke is highly skilled in martial arts—you shouldn’t go out for the next few days, in case he takes the chance to kill.”

But this explanation still didn’t reassure Xun Changqing. She glanced at Wei Lingci, still frowning in confusion, her eyes dim without their usual trust. She added, “Or maybe… is there a problem among our own people?”

This raised the issue of an insider. Wei Lingci’s eyes flashed cold, faint veins appearing on her forehead. The night deepened, the breeze through the curtain lifting her dark hair, fluttering in the air.

In her previous life, after the prison escape, waiting bitterly by the riverbank behind Mang Mountain for the rescue boat that never came—if not for betrayal and lack of pickup, why would Xun Changqing have jumped into the river to clear her name? Why would she have married Xun Yiran? Everything stemmed from someone leaking her plan.

She said nothing, standing stiffly under the dim candlelight, her eyes blazing with a fierce flame utterly different from usual. Xun Changqing sensed the thick killing intent, her nerves tightening again. She swallowed. “I was just guessing wildly. Zi Jin is from the previous life, and Xianyun and Xanyu are your trusted aides. It must be a problem elsewhere. Don’t overthink it.”

In truth, Xun Changqing had always felt Wei Lingci’s methods were too ruthless. She didn’t know what happened in the previous life’s end, but Wei Lingci’s behaviors suggested she hadn’t had it easy—and that she couldn’t forget the past. Xun Changqing found it somewhat cruel; those unhappy memories lingered in the mind, tormenting day after day.

She didn’t know how to comfort her, but she felt the insider issue was real. Xu Ke knew they were behind everything but not their specific plans in advance, meaning the traitor wasn’t someone close but some ‘outsider’ handling external tasks.

Wei Lingci’s gaze unsettled her heart, surging with unease. She gently wrapped her arms around Wei Lingci’s waist, habitually leaning against her, and said softly, “Even if there’s an insider, it’s not someone close. Have people investigate the periphery. Don’t be so suspicious. Even if there is one, what can they do to me? How about this: we go to Ji Province first. Sister Amani’s wedding has no witnesses anyway—let them hold it early, we catch up, and return. His Majesty can hold on for a month. It’ll also let you relax a bit, okay?”

The little milk cat had gone boneless again. Wei Lingci felt hot but didn’t push her away, her mind in chaos. Better to try listening to her. “Fine, as you say. But the trip to Ji Province can’t be delayed. Write to Yuan Man—we’ll go see. Marriage is a big deal; we need gifts. But is Yuan Man the bride or groom to Xun Yisu?”

Xun Changqing paused, unsure if Yuan Man was marrying or being married. She said oddly, “The letter didn’t specify, just asked us to come. I guess she’s marrying Sister Asu. If it were the other way, why no news from Commander Yuan? Yuan Man’s bold—she’d do it privately knowing Yuan Qingming won’t agree. Once it’s done, he’ll regret it too late; her mother might break her legs with a stick.”

Wei Lingci thought elsewhere, worried. “She should be marrying Xun Yisu, but Xun Yisu is the border princess consort—how did she return? Would Ana Xuan let her go? Or has something happened at the border?”

The old fox always thought too much— no wonder she had headaches, her mind turning nonstop twelve hours a day; headaches were the least of it. She reached out to rub Wei Lingci’s temples. “We’ll know when we get there. If it’s good for Sister Asu too, I’ll prepare two gifts. I bet Yuan Man lacks silver—might as well send her some.”

They sat in the carriage for half an hour, the waiting maids’ legs aching from standing on the steps. Fortunately, no mosquitoes here, or they couldn’t have endured.

After deciding in the carriage to head to Ji Province the day after next, if Xu Ke followed, it would be good—they had enough people to capture him. But he probably wouldn’t; killing them was pointless now, with Lingyun Mountain under Mu Chen.

At this point, they exchanged a glance. Xun Changqing spoke first. “Maybe Xu Ke wants to reclaim Lingyun Sect and must kill Mu Chen first.”