Chapter 39: I Know Everything. Part 1

If the Left Prime Minister had given birth, Headmaster Yuan could have simply denied it.

But she hesitated. A person’s expression betrays their heart. Headmaster Yuan’s hesitation proved this point. Xunqi smiled faintly, a bitter smile. After all this searching, it was just a dream. She said, “Alright, Academy Head, you don’t need to answer.”

Yuan Fusheng felt the world spinning, as if the sky had collapsed. She hurriedly tried to explain. “Xunqi, I never took her pulse. Don’t overthink this. Is the Left Prime Minister not treating you well?”

“She treats me as if I were her own flesh and blood.” Xunqi shook her head, her heart feeling as if a mountain were pressing down on it. No matter how she thought about it, it was uncomfortable. “She treats me better than the Madwoman did.”

The Madwoman taught me how to survive. The Left Prime Minister taught me how to stand proudly before others. She gave me power and wealth. How is that not good?

It’s precisely because it’s so good that I feel uneasy. Why is she so good to me?

“Since she’s good to you, why do you…”

“Because she has never experienced love and doesn’t know what love looks like.” Xunqi said. “The Madwoman said she had loved someone. When drunk, she would often call out that person’s name. That is love. If she truly loved, there would be a portrait of my father in the Left Prime Minister’s room, even in her study. Even a lifeless object. But there is nothing. Nothing at all.”

“Because she doesn’t love, or has never loved. If she has never loved, why would she give her body to someone she doesn’t love? Why go to such lengths to bring me back, willing to ruin half a lifetime of reputation just to give me a status?”

Xunqi’s reasoning was sound, leaving Yuan Fusheng speechless. She had to admit the Left Prime Minister had too many holes. The Left Prime Minister had never experienced love. How could she pretend to be deeply in love?

For a moment, the private room was silent.

Yuan Fusheng thought for a long time, then asked, “Do you hate her?”

“I love and respect her. Why would I hate her?”

Yuan Fusheng fell silent again, helplessly taking a sip of tea. She couldn’t tell Xunqi about her origins. If she did, all of the Left Prime Minister’s schemes would be for nothing. At this point, the Left Prime Minister had lost her reputation. If she failed again, it would be too unfair to her.

“Xunqi, it’s enough that you love and respect her. Why dig into the past? Why think so much? Be her daughter. She’s happy, you’re happy. Isn’t that good?”

“Will she abandon me?” Xunqi asked back. “Do you know what abandonment means?”

Yuan Fusheng’s heart was shaken. Her gaze seemed indifferent, but it was just a shell covering loneliness.

Xunqi said, “Like my birth mother abandoned me.”

Yuan Fusheng took a sharp breath, her heart and lungs turning cold. Abandonment? So this was what she was worried about.

“Xunqi, she won’t abandon you.” She explained. “The Left Prime Minister is a solitary person. She seems to smile at you, but in her heart, she keeps you at a distance. I’ve loved her for many years. I can wait for her, but she says she doesn’t understand love. A person like that seems gentle, but is actually very heartless. It’s been over ten years. Even an iron tree would have blossomed. If she’s good to you, she won’t abandon you.”

“You also said she’s very heartless. In the future, once her goal is achieved, she might abandon me.” Xunqi was very clear-headed. “Those who hold office are all ruthless.”

“She won’t.” Yuan Fusheng explained again.

Xunqi smiled self-deprecatingly, lowered her head, and refused to listen to her explanations anymore. She said to herself, “Regarding today’s matter, I hope you won’t tell her. I will obediently be her daughter, the Young Mistress of the Yan family.”

If that day truly came, she wouldn’t just sit and wait for death.

Yuan Fusheng stayed in the capital for over a month. After that day, she changed her itinerary, reducing the month to half a month.

Yan Zhi’an was surprised, but it was Yuan Fusheng’s decision. She had people prepare some women’s clothing and jewelry to give to Yuan Fusheng.

On the day Yuan Fusheng left, she didn’t inform Xunqi. Instead, she invited Yan Zhi’an to see her off. Yan Zhi’an agreed, taking a special leave to send her off.

At Shili Pavilion, the autumn scenery was bleak, desolate everywhere.

Yuan Fusheng sat inside the pavilion, quietly admiring the autumn view outside. Words were stuck in her throat. Yan Zhi’an, sensing something was wrong, said, “Are you in a hurry to leave because something happened at home?”

“The Yuan family’s matters are just trivialities.” Yuan Fusheng lowered her eyes, feeling ashamed. Then she changed the subject. “Left Prime Minister, in three years, will you let Xunqi return to the Imperial Clan? Have you asked Xunqi’s opinion?”

Someone as clever as Yan Zhi’an understood immediately. “Xunqi is suspicious?”

Yuan Fusheng didn’t answer.

After a moment, she stood up. “The wind is picking up. I should go. I’ll take good care of your mother. Yan Zhi’an, I will wait for you for three years.”

After saying this, Yuan Fusheng raised the wine cup on the table, drank it all in one go, and strode away.

Yan Zhi’an didn’t move. She quietly watched her retreating figure. In her mind, Xunqi’s small face appeared. Was Xunqi suspicious?

After seeing Yuan Fusheng off, Yan Zhi’an returned to the government office. Coincidentally, Chancellor Xu had come to see the Vice Minister of Revenue. Chancellor Xu came to greet her. “Left Prime Minister.”

“Chancellor Xu.” Yan Zhi’an nodded.

Since Sima Xun’s death, the Female Emperor had given the Ministry of Revenue to Yan Zhi’an. Now, Yan Zhi’an held the Ministry of Revenue, her position in the court even higher.

“I came to ask about the funds for this year’s repairs to the Imperial Academy. They haven’t arrived yet. Can you look into it?” Chancellor Xu spoke officially, getting straight to the point. Her gaze lingered on the Left Prime Minister’s face for a moment, then she thought of the Young Mistress Yan again. The two had not a single similarity.

Yan Zhi’an noticed her gaze and turned slightly. “I’ll urge them. Don’t worry.”

“Thank you.” Chancellor Xu said sincerely, turned, and left.

After walking two steps, she looked back at the Left Prime Minister. At that moment, the Left Prime Minister also turned and walked into the building, leaving her back to her.

She thought for a moment. Something was wrong. But she couldn’t say what. Still, she remembered Xunqi’s features.

When news of Princess Zhaohui came back, the first snow of the capital had fallen. In Jiangnan, there had been an autumn drought, and the people were destitute. Princess Zhaohui had led people to stay there, scattering her family fortune to aid the people. After this, everyone knew of Princess Zhaohui’s compassionate heart.

When Prince Ji heard the news, he was so angry he smashed his inkstone. “What does Yan Zhi’an mean by this? A fallen princess has no money. She’s deliberately building up the princess’s reputation. This person is too ruthless.”

An advisor suggested, “Since Princess Zhaohui’s whereabouts are uncertain, why not eliminate the Left Prime Minister first? This person is clearly trying to support Princess Zhaohui. She is a major threat.”

Prince Ji’s chest heaved with anger, his expression vicious. Yan Zhi’an was deliberately opposing him. The Crown Prince would be eleven after the New Year. There were still seven years. At this time, Princess Zhaohui’s prestige among the people was too high. How could the Crown Prince compete?

He wanted to kill Yan Zhi’an, but what use would that be? If Yan Zhi’an died, the Female Emperor, being biased, would still give the throne to her daughter. They still couldn’t refuse.

The best way was to kill the sovereign. If the Female Emperor died, the Crown Prince would ascend the throne immediately. What could Zhaohui do even if she returned?

Kill the Female Emperor!

Murderous intent surged in Prince Ji’s heart. “Killing Yan Zhi’an is useless. If she dies, there will be another Zhang Zhi’an or Li Zhi’an. They still can’t suppress Zhaohui’s momentum. The only way is to eliminate the source.”

The advisors exchanged glances, understanding his meaning, but their hearts trembled. This was regicide.

But Prince Ji said, “What kind of sovereign is she? She’s nothing but a usurper. She killed the late emperor and stole her son’s throne. How is such a woman fit to be emperor?”

His good nephew had eagerly made her empress, not taking any concubines. Yet she had taken the opportunity to kill him. A vicious woman.

“I’m going to the palace.” He had to tell the Crown Prince that his father was killed by Sima Shenrong. Now was the time to avenge his father, kill Sima Shenrong, and offer a sacrifice to the late emperor.

Prince Ji hurried into his carriage and left the residence. He hadn’t been out for long when he encountered the Patrol Battalion.

It had snowed heavily last night, and many commoners had frozen to death. The homeless had died on the streets. The Patrol Battalion had no choice but to collect the bodies, wrap them in straw mats, and send them out of the city for burial.

Xunqi looked at the bodies on the ground, silent for a long time. A subordinate came to report. “Deputy Commander, Prince Ji’s carriage is coming.”

“Make way.” Xunqi waved her hand. These imperial clansmen had big airs and made grand displays, but they didn’t even hold a real position. They were arrogant, but already strong on the outside and weak on the inside.

But she still gave them face. If they got into a fight, it would delay their work.

The Patrol Battalion made way. Prince Ji’s carriage slowly passed. Prince Ji lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside, just in time to see Xunqi lowering her head to speak with her subordinates. The cold wind was biting, freezing her nose red. Even so, she didn’t leave.

Prince Ji felt the cold wind rush in and quickly put down the curtain. He sighed. “Yan Zhi’an’s daughter is just like her. She’s a real person!”

The bodies were wrapped in straw mats, loaded onto carts, and taken out of the city for burial.

Xunqi watched, pity in her heart, gripping her waist sword. The poor people feared winter the most. Summer was easy to get through, but in winter, without clothes, they couldn’t even survive.

When she returned to the residence, she summoned the steward. “Open a congee kitchen. Distribute some rice porridge every day. Also, buy some charcoal. Let’s try to save a few lives.”

“Young Mistress has a compassionate heart. I’ll do it right away.” The steward agreed, not forgetting to flatter.

Xunqi was used to it. Now, wherever she went, people flattered her. She was no longer the little beggar of the past.

As she walked in, the gatekeeper chased after her and handed her a letter. “This was sent from the Zhou family.”

Xunqi glanced at it. It was from Zhou Wanshu. She opened the letter and skimmed it. It turned out the Zhou family had broken off the engagement, and the Shangguan family had started looking for a new match for their son. Zhou Wanshu had escaped the fire pit and felt the Shangguan family shouldn’t continue to harm others, so she had sent someone to inform that family. Sure enough, the Shangguan family’s marriage prospects were ruined again.

Now, many families knew about the Shangguan family’s rule and didn’t dare push their daughters into the fire pit. The current dynasty had open customs. Which prominent family didn’t love their own children? Who would be willing to bury them alive at birth?

Xunqi burned the letter, changed her clothes, and went to pay her respects to her mother.

Yan Zhi’an had also returned and had also received a letter from the Right Prime Minister. The Shangguan family had failed to arrange a marriage three times and had now set their sights on Xunqi.

The Shangguan family currently had a Right Prime Minister, and the Shangguan children were also promising. They felt they were on par with the Yan family. Marrying Xunqi would be a match of equal status. They boldly asked the Right Prime Minister to be the matchmaker, to propose marriage to Xunqi for their son.