Chapter 38: The Left Prime Minister Has Never Given Birth! Part 2

“Yes, why are you so cold?” Yuan Fusheng looked up and closed her eyes, avoiding her gaze. Her feelings made her speak, and also made her deeply embarrassed.

But as long as she didn’t marry, she would keep waiting. Yuan Fusheng understood this, and it was painful. “If you don’t marry, I feel there’s still hope.”

Yan Zhi’an understood her meaning. She turned to look at the setting sun. The sun rose and set, another day passed.

“I don’t marry because there is no one I want to marry. Yuan Fusheng, what is love? I still don’t understand to this day. When you talk to me about love, you’re only tormenting yourself.” Yan Zhi’an sighed softly. “A person like me, steeped in the court for years, also having to manage the family, where would I find the time for such things?”

Yuan Fusheng disagreed. The affection in her eyes was no longer hidden. Her gaze drifted from the void and landed on her profile, as beautiful and striking as it had been years ago, as if it had never changed.

“Yan Zhi’an, don’t you feel lonely?” She didn’t understand. Yan Zhi’an was so solitary. Had she never thought about love?

People in the mortal world experience the seven emotions and six desires. Was Yan Zhi’an just a wooden dummy?

“Lonely? I don’t feel lonely.” Yan Zhi’an laughed at the sound. “After Xunqi came, she’s been my companion. It’s quite comfortable.”

Xunqi? Yuan Fusheng was puzzled. Her expression seemed to move, but her heart was churning. She reminded her, “Xunqi is not an ordinary person.”

“Hm?” Yan Zhi’an murmured softly. “What do you mean?”

Yuan Fusheng lowered her head, her long eyelashes hiding the emotions in her eyes. She brushed the dust from her hands and changed the subject. “Nothing. Xunqi is very adorable. In just a few months, she’s improved a lot. When she came to the dock to pick me up, she gave me a sense of security. It’s like, when she’s there, you feel very at ease.”

Young people are reckless and unstable, but Xunqi gave a different feeling. She had a sense of strength. Perhaps this was why Yan Zhi’an was so satisfied with Xunqi.

The setting sun slowly fell upon the two. Yan Zhi’an’s expression was indifferent, her body bathed in glass-like sunlight, dispelling the coldness around her.

When Xunqi was mentioned, the coldness in Yan Zhi’an’s eyes was dispelled. She instinctively praised Xunqi to Yuan Fusheng. “Commander Zhao often praises Xunqi, praising her martial arts skills, her steady temperament, her ability to handle matters with ease. She’s not greedy, not lazy, and doesn’t make enemies.”

The only time she had made an enemy was when she cut off Third Young Master Sima’s manhood with one stroke.

“You rarely praise people.” Yuan Fusheng said.

Yan Zhi’an smiled, stretching her spine. “Perhaps because I raised her, I always hope she does well, hope she establishes herself soon. When others praise her, I am very happy.”

“You truly treat her as your own child.” The doubt in Yuan Fusheng’s heart dissipated. The Left Prime Minister’s feelings for Xunqi were those of a mother and daughter.

The two faced the setting sun and talked for a long time, from Xunqi to the court situation, to past events. They could talk under the eaves like this, a rare opportunity.

They talked from sunset until nine o’clock. Xunqi couldn’t wait any longer and went back to her room to sleep.

The next day, Yuan Fusheng went to teach at the Imperial Academy. Xunqi followed a family surnamed Zhou up the mountain.

It was autumn, and everything was withered, easily making people sentimental. Autumn came later in the mountains. Climbing to the mountainside, one could see the mountains were still lush and green, the branches and leaves verdant, a pleasing sight.

Zhou Wanshu had followed her mother to the temple to burn incense and ask about her marriage prospects. She happened to draw a fortune stick. The old monk took the stick, spoke of marriage, then of offspring, saying she would definitely have twins in the future.

The Zhou family was overjoyed. Twins were a great omen! They happily paid the incense money and led their daughter back to the residence.

Halfway there, they suddenly heard people discussing. “I heard the young lord of the Shangguan family is about to get engaged.”

“That’s right. The Zhou family’s daughter. What a pity, such a good girl, about to be ruined by the Shangguan family.”

“What do you mean?”

The Zhou mother and daughter heard this and trembled. Madam Zhou didn’t alert the speakers. She pressed her daughter’s hand and quietly listened.

“The Shangguan family comes from beyond the pass. They have a family rule. If twins are born, whether boys or girls, they can’t keep both. They must keep the elder and kill the younger. You know? They bury the one born later alive.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? I’ve never heard of this. Don’t spread rumors.”

“It’s not a rumor. It’s true. Think about it. The Shangguan family has been in the capital for over a hundred years. Have you ever seen twins born to them?”

Madam Zhou’s face turned pale. Not only hers, but Zhou Wanshu’s face also lost all color. Madam Zhou didn’t even comfort her daughter. She hurried away.

Watching the Zhou family go down the mountain, the two people who had been discussing the Shangguan family behind the trees poked their heads out. They were Xunqi and Wuming. The two were dressed in short robes and straw hats, disguised as farmers.

After the people had gone far, Xunqi brushed the dust off her clothes, her eyes sharp. “Let’s go down.”

The two took off their short robes and straw hats, returning to their usual appearance.

Horses galloped much faster than carriages. Xunqi returned to the city first, leading her horse and wandering near the city gate. She watched the Zhou family’s carriage enter the city, moving much faster than when they had left.

She mounted her horse and followed the carriage.

After returning to the residence, Madam Zhou immediately sent someone to invite the matchmaker. The matchmaker was a grandaunt of the Shangguan family who had married out. She arrived quickly.

Madam Zhou questioned her about the Shangguan family’s rule of keeping the elder and killing the younger for twins. Shangguan Min was stunned. “Where did you hear this? I’ve never heard of it.”

Hearing this, Madam Zhou backed down, looking at Shangguan Min hesitantly.

Meanwhile, Xunqi had slipped over the wall into the Zhou residence. Following the maidservant’s footsteps, she found her way to Zhou Wanshu’s boudoir.

She climbed in through the window, scaring Zhou Wanshu into a scream. She immediately pounced over and covered her mouth. “Don’t scream. I’m Xunqi, Deputy Commander of the Patrol Battalion. I’m the Left Prime Minister’s daughter.”

Xunqi’s name had made waves in the capital more than once. All the official families knew her name. Zhou Wanshu blinked and nodded.

Xunqi released her, sighed softly, and smiled at her. “I came to find you because I have something important to tell you.”

The young person had fair skin, wore a narrow-sleeved robe, and had picturesque brows and eyes. When she smiled, her eyes curved, making Zhou Wanshu’s heart race. Just as her face flushed, she heard Xunqi speak. “I heard something at Her Majesty’s side. After thinking it over, I decided to tell you.”

“Young Mistress, please speak.” Zhou Wanshu’s voice was soft and pleasant.

Xunqi took a step closer, leaned in, and whispered in her ear. “You can’t marry into the Shangguan family. They have a rule: if twins are born, they keep the elder and kill the younger. I know you might not have twins, but I still wanted to tell you. What if it happens in the future? They’re your children. If they’re killed just like that, wouldn’t it be like cutting out your heart?”

Zhou Wanshu’s body felt half cold. She glanced at the person before her, her heart leaping. The person before her exuded a faint fragrance.

“Did you hear me?” Xunqi waited for a while, but Zhou Wanshu just lowered her head and didn’t speak, as if she had been scared silly. She asked in confusion, “Did I scare you silly?”

“Oh, no.” Zhou Wanshu came back to her senses, smiling shyly, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. “I understand. Thank you.”

Xunqi saw she was dazed and, afraid she hadn’t heard clearly, repeated it again. Then she said, “I’ll be going now.”

With that, before Zhou Wanshu could speak, Xunqi climbed out the window and left, her movements agile. Zhou Wanshu chased after her for two steps, but the girl’s figure had already vanished.

Why had this person come all the way to tell her this?

In the front courtyard, Madam Zhou saw Shangguan Min off. She went back to explain to her daughter, but halfway there, she saw her daughter rushing over. She was surprised. Her daughter spoke urgently. “Mother, I want to break off the engagement.”

“Xiaoshu, this is a misunderstanding.”

“Mother, it’s not a misunderstanding. The news came from Her Majesty’s side.”

Madam Zhou was suspicious. “Where did you get this news?”

Zhou Wanshu was anxious. “Mother, listen to me. Better to believe it exists than not. We should break off the engagement as soon as possible. Use this as the reason.” I believe the Young Mistress Yan won’t lie to me.

After patrolling a circuit, Xunqi galloped to the gate of the Imperial Academy. She waited for half an hour before the new Chancellor escorted Headmaster Yuan out.

The original Chancellor Fang had been demoted by Her Majesty and sent out of the capital to be an official elsewhere. The new Chancellor was a woman, thirty years old. Seeing her come out, Xunqi stepped forward and bowed. “Chancellor Xu.”

The new Chancellor was Emperor Ming’s cousin. Her mother was the aunt of Emperor Ming and Emperor Hui.

“It’s the Young Mistress Yan.” Chancellor Xu’s eyes lit up. The girl stood below the steps, her features bright, her brows and eyes heroic. She stared at her, feeling a sense of familiarity, as if she had seen her somewhere before, but couldn’t remember where.

Xunqi picked up Headmaster Yuan, dismissed the driver, and sat in front of the carriage. Chancellor Xu stood at the gate, watching the carriage from afar, frowning in confusion.

Where had she seen her before? Xunqi’s features didn’t resemble the Left Prime Minister’s. There wasn’t even a hint of similarity. Her features must resemble her father’s. Since they resembled her father’s, why did she feel a sense of familiarity?

Chancellor Xu’s figure was left behind. Xunqi drove the carriage slowly towards the Eastern Market.

Entering the Eastern Market, the noise was loud, and the smell of smoke and fire hit them.

Yuan Fusheng lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside. Her expression changed slightly, but she didn’t say anything.

Xunqi stopped the carriage outside Mingyue Tower. A servant ran over to greet them. Xunqi tossed him a golden bean. “A private room.”

Yuan Fusheng followed her steps, glancing at the extravagant girl. In just two years, Xunqi had transformed from a down-and-out little beggar into the heroic Deputy Commander before her.

It was clear that Yan Zhi’an’s upbringing had completely remade Xunqi.

The two entered the private room. A waiter served tea, then closed the door.

“Why did you invite me here?” Yuan Fusheng got straight to the point, looking up at the girl before her.

Xunqi lowered her eyes, still looking obedient. Only after Headmaster Yuan’s words landed did she look up, her expression fierce. “I want to ask the Academy Head to tell me: has the Left Prime Minister ever given birth?”

Hearing this, Yuan Fusheng’s face changed drastically. “What are you trying to do?”

Xunqi raised her hands and placed them on the table. Gone was her usual obedient demeanor. She looked at the other seriously. “Because I am not the Left Prime Minister’s daughter.”

“You’re trying to trap me into telling you?” Yuan Fusheng was very wary. She knew Xunqi inviting her to dinner was ill-intentioned. She never expected that Xunqi had already discovered her own origins.

Xunqi smiled, her gaze pressing on the other. “I know you can tell by taking a pulse whether a woman has given birth. You’ve held her wrist and felt her pulse, haven’t you?”

Little thing, so cunning!

Yuan Fusheng was in a dilemma. If she admitted it, she would be betraying Yan Zhi’an. If she denied it, when the truth came out in the future, the Yuan family would be in deep trouble.

While she hesitated, Xunqi set another trap for her. “Your hesitation, Master, shows that the Left Prime Minister has never given birth.”