Chapter 78: Scheme Part 1

Just past Chen hour, a plain blue-cloth carriage stopped in front of the bustling Pingnan Prince’s Mansion. Its unassuming appearance drew no sideways glances from passersby. A woman in her prime jumped down from the carriage and called at the mansion gate, but after just a few words, she was chased down the steps.

She walked back to the carriage in frustration, lifted the curtain, and looked at the Wise Noble Consort meditating inside with closed eyes. Helplessly, she said, “Your Ladyship, the gate guards demand a calling card. This servant forgot to bring it.”

The Wise Noble Consort slightly opened her eyes. “Then use the Radiant Benevolence Palace token. Are we not going in today?”

Qingyao hesitated for a moment, clutching the token in her hand, and gently reminded her, “Your Ladyship, we slipped out of the palace quietly. Using the Radiant Benevolence Palace token might not be appropriate. The Pingnan Prince’s Mansion has many people with loose tongues—if word gets out, it won’t look good.”

“What if word gets out? Even with a calling card, we’d have to wait half an hour at the gate. If the steward refuses, we’d still have to leave. Just use the token. If they still won’t let us in, we’ll have Xun Yi summoned back from the Forbidden Palace.” The Wise Noble Consort showed no hesitation. She lifted the curtain and glanced at the imposing mansion gate, then said frankly, “This prince’s mansion runs deep.”

Qingyao obediently handed the token to the guards. They took one look and hurriedly ran inside. Moments later, the steward rushed out. He spotted Qingyao, and his expression changed slightly. Glancing at the carriage outside, his heart trembled. He quickly sent a servant boy to the Forbidden Palace to fetch the prince back.

With only the Heir Apparent’s wife inside, it hardly seemed appropriate for her to receive the noble guest in the carriage. A servant boy led a horse from the back gate and hurried toward the Forbidden Palace.

Lately, Xun Changqing had been rising late. Each day, aside from reading intelligence reports from various places and the occasional letters from Wei Lingci every few days, her life had been quite comfortable. Beyond her courtyard, she couldn’t be bothered with what others thought or stirred up—as long as her own days were good, that was all that mattered.

She lounged reclined on the soft couch, holding Wei Lingci’s letter in her hand. Gu Liang Gan had already rendezvoused with them, but they had still lost several cities. The borderlands army was incredibly fierce, now allied with Western Fan, their forces stronger than ever. They advanced unstoppable, blockading the north with hundreds of thousands of troops. Gu Liang Gan had been confident at first, but after arriving, he gradually found himself overwhelmed. After all, the enemy outnumbered them—this battle was a tough one.

The letter mentioned it in just a few words, with Wei Lingci glossing over it. But between the lines, the disadvantage of Great Qi’s army was clear. Besides the borderlands situation, it also instructed her to rest and recover well. Once the military situation stabilized, Wei Lingci would withdraw.

After all, that wasn’t her battlefield. She had only been held back by Yuan Man. Once reinforcements arrived, she could return both emotionally and logically. Xun Changqing glanced at the letter a few times, her mood lifting. She lay on the couch, curving her lips into a smile. Suddenly, a voice came from outside: “What are you giggling about? Tell This Palace, and let me share in the joy.”

Xun Changqing jolted in shock and quickly sat up straight from the soft couch. She glared at the maids on either side—someone had entered the courtyard without notice. Her eyes, which had been foolishly joyful moments before, now looked entirely different. The Wise Noble Consort laughed and poked her forehead, chiding her, “I thought you were sick from anger over the outside rumors. Who knew you’d be giggling to yourself here, unaffected by the world. I rushed all the way from the palace for nothing.”

When the Wise Noble Consort entered the courtyard, she had dismissed everyone and ensured no one notified Xun Changqing. Fortunately, it was her—if anyone else had seen, tongues would wag again. Xun Changqing naturally pulled the Wise Noble Consort to sit down. With no one else around, she knew the consort wanted to discuss private matters.

After several months apart, the Wise Noble Consort’s complexion had improved greatly. It seemed that avenging her son’s death had pulled her from hatred and sorrow. With no one in the palace daring to oppose her now, her days were even more comfortable than during the Empress’s time.

The Wise Noble Consort’s gaze swept over her, landing on the paper in her hand. Suddenly understanding, she teased, “So it’s a letter from her that has you this happy. If she returns, you’ll be over the moon, with no room in your eyes for any of us.”

Xun Changqing handed the letter paper to Zi Jin, who had just entered, and sat up straight. Tilting her head with a smile, she said, “How did Your Ladyship come out today? Why didn’t you tell Changqing in advance? I should have gone to the gate to welcome you.”

Her complexion was a bit poor, but her spirits were fair. The Wise Noble Consort placed her hand on Xun Changqing’s injured shoulder and patted it gently, her tone softening. “Now that you’ve seen her letter, do you still have those thoughts? You won’t shed a tear until you see the coffin. Does the prince know about this?”

With no one else in the room, the Wise Noble Consort’s concern was natural. Xun Changqing’s eyes darkened, and she smiled bitterly. “I’ve pretty much given up on that now—it’s for the best. On my way back to the capital, I wrote to Father informing him. When I returned, the steward told me Father had already removed Ana Yanran’s name from the clan register. I don’t even know if I’m legitimate or illegitimate now. Everyone in the mansion is watching me like a joke.”