Nan Chaoyin picked up the paper covered in names from the table and placed it on the flickering candlelight. The paper was instantly consumed by the flames, turning into ash. He brushed some ashes off his sleeves and inquired about the details of the Imperial Guards' search of his residence.
Wang Yu Yi from the Dali Temple, who was skilled in Qimen formations and mechanisms, had practically turned the Southern Residence upside down. Before the Imperial Guard Commander ordered their withdrawal, he was having men chisel through the frozen lake.
There was nothing under the lake water; the real hidden spot was in the rock garden!
"So, Qing Yuan is still loyal!"
After listening to the secret guard's verbal report, Nan Chaoyin rubbed his sleeves, still harboring an inexplicable suspicion towards Qing Yuan.
Hearing Nan Chaoyin's murmurs, the secret guard lowered his head further. So, the master's purpose last night in uniting court officials and leading a hundred officials to impeach Ji Jinmo was merely to ascertain whether Qing Yuan had betrayed him?
He was willing to risk exposure, willing to ruin his carefully cultivated reputation over decades, just to test if Qing Yuan had developed ulterior motives?
Was it worth it?
If he were to ask, Nan Chaoyin would surely say it was worth it.
He remained silent for a few seconds, then suddenly asked, "What do you think is the relationship between the current Emperor and Ji Jinmo?"
The secret guard was momentarily stunned. Did this even need asking? Even a three-year-old child knew the relationship between Emperor Lin Yuan and the Regent: "It's naturally like fire and water!"
"Is that so!"
Nan Chaoyin's eyelids drooped slightly, and a flickering, sinister glint appeared and disappeared in his eyes, hidden by his eyelashes.
Are they truly at odds like fire and water?
...
Thunder rumbled, and lightning tore through the night, illuminating the room as if it were day.
Yu Chengxuan waved his folding fan, his temple hair gently swaying. The rich fragrance of irises wafted into Hui An's nostrils, and Hui An momentarily found herself in a daze.
She finally understood why she felt a sense of familiarity when she first met Nan Shiying.
It was the scent!
Yu Chengxuan looked at Hui An. As his sword-like eyebrows relaxed downwards, his eyelids pressed down on his eyeballs, lending his gaze a sharp and indifferent air. Yet, the corners of his mouth curved upwards, making him appear contradictory and unsettlingly fearsome.
"Sister, the tea has gone cold!"
Hui An detected the chill in his words. The tea is cold, you should leave!
Hui An was not annoyed. She let out a chuckle, drank the already cold tea from the cup, put down the empty cup, and rose to take her leave.
The mud from the rainwater that had dampened the soles of her shoes had already dried. She stood and took a step, leaving no footprints on the ground. She followed the footprints she had left on the ground earlier, which had dried to only faint outlines, and walked out of Yu Chengxuan's room.
Ji Wu saw Yu Chengxuan's fierce expression, as if harboring murderous intent, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. He remained in a posture of stunned standing, momentarily unsure whether he should sit down or leave.
Yu Chengxuan turned his gaze and looked at him.
Ji Wu instantly understood, briskly paid his respects, and withdrew. As he bent down to retrieve his shoes at the doorway, he bumped his head against the closed door, almost sending himself away.
Yu Chengxuan frowned.
These good-for-nothings from the Longxi clan!
...
"Master, Hui An's letter!"
Xuan Yi knocked on the door and handed the letter to Nan Shiying. Nan Shiying gestured to Ji Jinmo, signaling him to come and read it together.
Ji Jinmo put down the old, black-covered book and walked over to Nan Shiying, sitting beside her. He reached out and drew her into his embrace, resting his chin on her shoulder. The hot breath exhaled from his nose tickled Nan Shiying, causing her to shift her shoulder and turn her head to nudge his head away!
"Stop fooling around!"
Ji Jinmo said.
Nan Shiying's eyes widened instantly. She wondered who was fooling around!
Ji Jinmo had no choice but to shift his gaze from Nan Shiying's crystal-clear neck and turn to look at the letter.
"Upon my return yesterday, I suspect Yu Chengxuan already knows of my actions. He came to my door to warn me. Today, as you instructed, I visited him to confess, but he appeared excessively nonchalant. I cannot fathom him, so I gained nothing from the attempt. However, I did learn one thing from him—that thirty years ago, during the war where Da Li and Lin Yuan joined forces to annex Xi Liang, the grandson of the Xi Liang Emperor escaped!"
"I do not know if this news is true, nor can I discern Yu Chengxuan's intentions in revealing this matter. I am merely informing you of everything that happened and was heard today."
"Finally, I still believe that Yu Chengxuan has always wanted you!"
After Nan Shiying and Ji Jinmo finished reading the letter, their expressions were grim.
Although Hui An did not explicitly name anyone, the combined information conveyed by these words caused their complexions to change. Nan Chaoyin could very possibly be the grandson of the Xi Liang Emperor who died outside the royal city all those years ago?
Ji Jinmo's gaze was fixed on the last line of the letter. Yu Chengxuan's excessive enthusiasm for Feng Luan, along with his inexplicable familiarity and indulgence, had already greatly angered Ji Jinmo. Now, seeing this statement, his rage flared, and his jealousy boiled over!
The atmosphere fell silent.
Nan Shiying felt the rolling cold wind beside her, like winter frost and biting winds. Even though his physique was robust and his blood burned hot, it did not bring any warmth to Nan Shiying, who was held in his arms.
She turned her head and looked at his broad nose, taking in the anger on his face. She turned back, cupped Ji Jinmo's face, and gently nuzzled his nose. She raised her hand and stroked Ji Jinmo's head, her eyes sparkling as if filled with stars as she looked at him. However, their distance was too close, and Nan Shiying had become cross-eyed.
Ji Jinmo endured for a moment, but couldn't help it and burst out laughing.
Seeing him laugh, Nan Shiying also began to laugh. Ji Jinmo's eyes had been gathered at the corners, making him cross-eyed, which was simply too… Wait, if Ji Jinmo was like this, didn't that mean she was too??
Nan Shiying realized it and pounced like a hungry tiger, grabbing Ji Jinmo's neck, "You're not allowed to laugh!!!!"
"Alright, alright, I won't laugh, I won't laugh!"
Ji Jinmo nodded repeatedly, supporting Nan Shiying's waist with one hand and propping himself up on the couch with the other, afraid she might roll off the couch accidentally.
"Hmph!"
Nan Shiying slapped away his hand, flashed to the side, and picked up the letter that had fallen on the couch.
"You say, how much of the content in this letter can we trust?"
"Five parts!"
"You also think that the information Yu Chengxuan revealed might not be true?"
Ji Jinmo looked at her with a strange expression.
Nan Shiying frowned slightly. Seeing that he not only didn't speak but also looked at her with a gaze filled with grievance, sadness, disbelief, and questioning, she looked around and reached for the low table on the couch.
Ji Jinmo grabbed Nan Shiying's hand and asked her, "So, Hui An's words are true?"
"What?" Nan Shiying was utterly bewildered by the question!
"Yu Chengxuan wants you?"
Nan Shiying: "..."
Are you f**king crazy!